We're thrilled to announce we've added three workshops to our spring performance series! More workshops means more opportunities to train. Check out our featured instructors below. Registration for our 8-week and 5-week series is still open. See pricing options below.
Rae Studios Performance Workshop Series series includes 8-weeks and 5 week set of rehearsals. Single ticket drop-ins are allowed for the first two classes for students to test out the class. Classes are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance. Join one of our artists in a training series for the chance to perform for our 4th showcase on April 28th and second time performing at The Great Star Theatre! Please note, performing at the showcase is not required, as we respect the individual growth process of every dancer. Performing on stage is encouraged, but sometimes dancers need more room to prepare for the big stage. For those that are unable to attend the showcase, or do not want to perform live, you are still able to sign up for the series. Now, let's begin!
Location for Rehearsals:
Rae Studios, 414 Mason St., #705, San Francisco CA, 94102
8-Week Series (March 3rd - April 27th):
$250 Full Series + Showcase | $225 Member's Discount
$35 Single Session (available for first 2 sessions)
(Sales end 03/24)
5-Week Series (March 24th - April 27th):
$175 Full Series + Showcase | $150 Member's Discount
$35 Single Session (available for first 2 sessions)
4-Week Series (Salsa) (April 1st - April 22nd):
$150 Full Series + Showcase | $125 Member's Discount
$35 Single Session (available for first session)
2-Day Series (Hip Hop) (April 7th - April 14th):
$150 Full Series + Showcase | $125 Member's Discount
Show Date & Location:
Sunday, April 28th, 2023 at Great Star 636 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Register now on Eventbrite or using the MindBody app.Venue for Sunday, April 28th, 2023: Great Star | 636 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133
2024 Spring Showcase | Early Bird Tickets On Sale!
Train with one of your favorite instructors and showcase your journey.
Each workshop series instructor is highly trained and knowledgeable in their practice and will guide you through a series of rehearsals to build a deeper relationship in their movement background. At the end of the series, Rae Studios will host a live showcase featuring all of our performance workshop instructors, students, plus special guest performers.
As a participant, you will receive personalized training, feedback, and resources from our instructors. You'll learn, rehearse, and perform a set personally made for your cohort. You'll also have the chance to show your friends and family all the progress you've made in your workshop series.
Guidelines and Policies:
Students are expected to attend all the weekly sessions for their registered workshop series. Students are not required to be at the showcase.
Students who purchase single session tickets will have those tickets subtracted from the full series total should they choose to move forward with the full series. Avail for both 8 and 5 week series
Attendance policy - Any missed session will be forfeited and credits are not transferable. Missing 3 or more rehearsals may result in removal from the series.
Students are expected to provide their own makeup and outfit for the showcase unless indicated otherwise by the instructor or management team.
Students are encouraged to invite friends and family to see the showcase.
Specials Partners, Vendors, and Amenities:
Each student participating in a workshop series will receive a special discount code to share with friends to receive 30% off on tickets for the show. Discount code will be available when ticketing launches.
Participants get to attend the Rae Studios Showcase for free.
The showcase event features other performance workshop series groups and guest artists with a featured host.
Performance Workshop Mentors🎉 | Full Line-Up Here
Salsa [Intermediate] (4-Wk)
Mondays, 9pm-10:30pm
Dates: 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22
Ava Apple (She/Her), a San Francisco native, has been dancing professionally for over 40 years. She has competed, performed & taught throughout the USA, Hong Kong, Italy, and The Netherlands and has received awards for her contribution to the world of Salsa & Latin Dance at the 2002 West Coast Salsa Congress, the 2003 SF Salsa Congress, and the 2003 Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts 25th Anniversary celebration.
Many well known dancers got their start in Ava’s classes, and on her dance team The Latin Symbolics - brother/sister duo Junior & Emily Alabi, Alex Lee & Chi Le, Jhon Narvaez & Liz Rojas are just a few that have had successful dance careers after studying with Ava.
Ava and her dance partner Rodolfo Guzman, are well respected for teaching Salsa On 1 & On 2, Bachata, NY Hustle, and Partner Lifts & Drops, and she was one of the first dancers to teach “Same Sex Salsa” classes in the mid-’90’s, in S.F.
She is a highly respected Wedding dance coach/choreographer and LOVES helping couples get ready for their “First Dance”, whether it’s a slow, romantic, Ballroom style they are looking for, or something up-tempo and playful.
Ava has danced in commercials for Fitbit, and Next Insurance, and was a featured extra in “Spirit of ‘76”, and “Center Stage”. She also has danced in music videos for Linda Ronstadt, Rick Springfield, and Timmy Spence.
Workshop Description: Salsa [Intermediate]
Salsa is a Latin dance, associated with the music genre of the same name, which was first popularized in the United States in the 1960s in New York City. Salsa is a partnered dance where the lead takes the follower through a series of spins and turn patterns to music. This workshop is for students who have an understanding of fundamentals or for those who have a secure grasp of the basic elements of salsa and partnered dancing. In this workshop students will spend four weeks learning a choreographed routine focusing on performance quality and execution.
SIGN UP: HERE
Mariel Aquino
Heels [Beg/Int] (5-Wk)
Wednesdays, 9pm-10:30pm
Dates: 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24
Mariel is a Chicago-born 23-year-old that has loved dancing and expression her whole life. She got her start experimenting with choreography with friends in high school, then went on to dance competitive hip hop at Cal. Finding great joy in creating and communicating with groups, she went on to choreograph for various competition and exhibition teams in the Berkeley Dance Community. She's been active in the Chicago and Berkeley hip hop dance scenes and trains in LA when able. In terms of choreography, Mariel draws inspiration from commercial and lyrical hip hop, as well as R&B and 90s grooves. Outside of this, she is currently training in ballet to push her artistic discipline, technique, and athleticism. Ultimately, she aims to offer a class that is not only great exercise, but a safe space to practice creative expression, making mistakes, and enjoying the process!
Workshop Description: Heels [Beg/Int]
The history of dancing in heels goes back to the early 20th century, However, the teaching of the art of Heels was popularized around the globe in the early 21st century by artists such as Aisha Francis, Danielle Polanco, and Yannis Marshall. Heels is a choreographed dance class for beginner/intermediate students utilizing any type of high-heeled shoes, not necessarily character heels. This class combines styles of dance from Jazz, Street Jazz, Hip Hop and Commercial dance. In this class, you will begin with a warm up focusing on strengthening the ankles, glutes, hips and core and finish with a short technique portion. This class heavily focuses on learning technique and choreography.
SIGN UP: HERE
Darian Gemora
Commercial Hip Hop [Intermediate] (5-Wk)
Wednesdays, 9pm-10:30pm
Dates: 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24
Darian is a Bay Area native growing up in the ‘fog’ since he was born. He started his dance career sophomore year of high school being personally recruited into Funk Beyond Control a hip hop team led by Darnell Carroll. He has trained with So You Think You Can Dance award winning choreographers Phoenix and Pharside Jennings while on the youth team of Academy of Villains. Darian is an avid choreographer for social change and has participated in many Mental Health Awareness performances with Str8jacket for the San Mateo County. During his time in high school he was a lead in his school plays as well as Director of Dance for the rally committee. His training started with Hip Hop but he later dabbled in Contemporary, Lyrical, and Jazz Funk. Darian recently finished back up dancing for the TNT Boys World Tour in 2019 while working on his marketing degree at SF State. His goal is to inspire his students to gain more confidence and help them tell their own stories through dance. If you could sum him up in a few words it would be funny, quirky, and creative.
Workshop Description: Hip Hop [Intermediate]
This began forming as a culture and art movement in the Bronx of New York City in 1970. Hip Hop dance is a range of street dance styles primarily performed to Hip Hop music or sub-genres of Hip-Hop music that has evolved as part of Hip Hop culture with various elements of dance styles. Learn the freshest street moves like the ones on popular TV shows and Crews and traditional Hip Hop elements & styles. Classes will consist of Commercial & traditional Hip Hop style routines.
SIGN UP: HERE
Register now on Eventbrite or using the MindBody app.
Risa Ono
Hip Hop [Int/Adv] (5-Wk)
Fridays, 9:00pm-10:30pm
Dates: 3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26
Risa (she/her) is a Tokyo native dancer and represented by Rae Dance Agency. She has started dancing Hip Hop, Lock, Street Jazz since she was 16. Once she started her dancer journey, she has performed in multiple events and started making choreography for her school performances / her hip hop team in Japan as well as New York. While she was in New York, she also trained Heels from Army of Sass but also joined a bachata team led by Daniel y Desirée who is the world's most famous Bachata dance couple. The dream job she recently did was making a musical promotion PV for Dokkyo university in Japan as a director/choreographer. Her dance style and choreography focuses on musicality piece so that all of dancers are able to enjoy dancing through the music as well as express/discover themselves. She is currently teaching Hip Hop at Rae studio as well as UN Plaza.
IG: sonrisa_ddd
Workshop Description: Hip Hop [Int/Adv]
Hip-Hop is an artistic and cultural movement that started in the 1970s in The Bronx of New York City by Black and Latiné youth who expressed joy through Hip-Hop during a time of oppression. Hip-Hop dance consists of Breaking (commercially known as Breakdancing) and Hip-Hop Party Moves (e.g., Bart Simpson, Biz Markie, Roger Rabbit, Running Man). Students in this class should have more than a basic understanding of hip hop terminology and movement. Class to feature longer combos focusing on musicality and performance quality.
SIGN UP: HERE
Ryan McKee
Hip Hop [All Levels] (2-Day)
Sundays, 3:30pm-6:30pm
Dates: 4/7, 4/14
Ryan McKee has been dancing and choreographing hip hop for roughly 15 years. Some of his largest achievements during this time include getting 4th place on the reality show "Jabbawockeez: The Movement", choreographing an award winning music video for Armaan Malik's song "Aaja Na Ferrari Mein", and dancing in the movie "Manifest Destiny Down 2: Spacetime". His classes focuses on pushing dancers energy, strength, and performance. In which he will also work on building confidence and having fun.
Workshop Description: Hip Hop [Int/Adv]
Hip-Hop is an artistic and cultural movement that started in the 1970s in The Bronx of New York City by Black and Latiné youth who expressed joy through Hip-Hop during a time of oppression. Hip-Hop dance consists of Breaking (commercially known as Breakdancing) and Hip-Hop Party Moves (e.g., Bart Simpson, Biz Markie, Roger Rabbit, Running Man). Students in this class should have more than a basic understanding of hip hop terminology and movement. Class to feature longer combos focusing on musicality and performance quality.
SIGN UP: HERE
Spotlight Artists: Andrea Sendek | Ava Apple | Darian Gemora | Grace Dong | JanJan Chan | Jessica Rae | JJ Ghera | Ki To | Kylie Ireland | Natalie Sklovskaya | Risa Ono | Ryan McKee | Sara Templeton | Tashi Cowan | Tiana Hester | Valeria Bernal
IG: @andreasendekbellydance | @avaandrodolfo | @dariananthony_ | @gxdong | @janjanxchan | @jraesf | @jjthekillah | @kithetiger | @kyliecircus | @natsklov | @sonrisa_ddd | @ryanmckee90 | @coqui.sf | @tashitheeterminator_ | @tianahester | @vbmalek
Location: Rehearsals and Showcase are at Rae Studios, 414 Mason St. 705 San Francisco, CA 94102
DATES:
Rehearsal Dates: March 3rd - April 27th, 2024
Show date: Sunday, April 28th, 2023
8-Week Series Rates:
$250 Workshop Series (8 rehearsals + Showcase date)
$225 Workshop Series | Member's Discount
$35 Single Session (Drop-in available for first 2 sessions)
5-Weeks Series Rates:
$175 Workshop Series (5 rehearsals + Showcase date)
$150 Workshop Series | Member's Discount
$35 Single Session (Drop-in available for first 2 sessions)
Registration is required for this workshop series.
Register now on Eventbrite or using the MindBody app.Our mission is to merge the ideologies of popular dance culture by bridging fitness gym and traditional dance studio mentality into a place that welcomes all levels of dance & fitness in a healthy progressive environment. Our goal is to provide San Francisco dance seekers with community, growth, and participation through artistic outlets of music + movement. Our culture is simple; create a space for dance and community to thrive, water the roots of our passion, fuel our dreams by action, and inspire others to do the same.
Follow us!