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 here. Registration for our 8-week and 5-week series is still open. See pricing options below.
This workshop 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)
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.
2024 Performance Workshop Mentors🎉

JJ Ghera
Heels [Int/Adv] (8-Wk)
Mondays, 9pm-10:30pm
Dates: 3/4, 3/11,3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22
JJ Ghera is a non-binary native Bay Area dancer/performer and choreographer. They have trained all over the world from Los Angeles to New York to London, most notably at places such as Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, Millennium Dance Complex, Studio 68, Pineapple Dance Studio, and most recently The Yanis Marshall Heels Intensive and Broadway Dance Center’s Training Program. Their training consists of various dance styles such as Hip-Hop, Jazz, Street Jazz, Contemporary, and Heels. JJ’s professional dance career has led him to work with Little Mix, Rebecca Ferguson, Aaron Carter, Xavier Toscano, Adobe, Google and many more. You can also find JJ performing in Drag at local venues in the Bay Area as Evvy Dense.
Workshop Description:
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 intermediate/advanced students utilizing any type of high-heeled shoes. 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 is heavily focused on grounding dancers, building strong fundamentals and providing a deeper understanding of musicality, performance and quality of movement.
Register now on Eventbrite or using the MindBody app.

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

Tashi Cowan
Hip Hop [Beg/Int] (8-Wk)
Fridays, 9pm-10:30pm
Dates: 3/8, 3/15 ,3/22, 3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26
Tashi Cowan is a dancer and teacher who has diverse experience in multiple forms of performance arts.
A Marin County native, she received her first formal lesson in hip-hop at ten years old and has been hooked on dance ever since. She continued her dance education while studying for an Associate Degree in Dance Performance at College of Marin and performed in the 2010 dance productions ‘Signatures of Motion’ and ‘Dance Upon a Song’.
Tashi was recognized by the College of Marin Foundation with the Saragay Stetson Dance Scholarship, a competitive award recognizing outstanding talent within the department. She also has had musical theatre training performing with the Stapleton Theatre Company’s Rendition of “Fame” where she received the Rookie Award.
A graduate of San Francisco State University, she studied abroad in London, England and was a member of the Kingston Cougars Latin Dance Team from 2017-2018, which ranked 2nd and 3rd place for Best Latin Style Dance.
In 2015 she became certified a Zumba instructor and has taught classes at Energy Dance and Fitness in San Rafael, Bay Club, San Francisco and Marin County and Mt. Tam Racquet Club. She continues to train at Mood Studio, Rae Studios, and SF ODC Dance Commons in Heels Technique, Hip Hop and Jazz Funk.
She is constantly learning and growing as a dancer and a person and believes that to dance and being able bodied is a blessing.
Workshop Description:
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). In this class students will focus on more challenging dance combos that will help with choreography, movement quality and retention. This course is a prerequisite requirement for many of our intermediate and intermediate/advanced classes. Students in this class should have a basic understanding of hip hop terminology, movement and grooves.
Register now on Eventbrite or using the MindBody app.

Ki To
Jazz Funk [Int/Adv] (8-Wk)
Tuesdays, 9pm-10:30pm
Dates: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23
“Come as you are.”
At the age of 18, Bay Area native Ki To (He/Him/They), moved to LA with only two suitcases and a dream. Ki To knew he wanted to be a part of the industry when Ki To was co-leader of the Jazz/Hip-hop dance program and joined clubs like Choreo and KPOP. In Los Angeles, he trained at studios such as Playground LA, EDGE, and was briefly a dance assistant/intern at Ruts Studios (Formerly known as Urban LA.) After building a portfolio in both dance and modeling, Ki To now works full-time as a dancer, dance instructor, and model with his main agency. (RAE) He currently teaches KPOP (Intermediate, both ORIGINALS and covers.) This class focuses on kpop dance and lip syncing/facials. He also teaches Jazz Funk (Int/Adv.) which focuses on movement quality, confidence, and power/stamina. Ki To's goal is to host a safe space to teach people how to crush the stage, and give them the tools to dance with an aura.
Ki To has danced for the “King of Viet-Pop” Aka Son Tung in a MV, Hilton, Genentech, WAYMO and modeled for brands such as BENEFIT Cosmetics, EM Cosmetics, Google etc.
Workshop Description:
Jazz Funk dance style is a super-set of Jazz, influenced by Hip Hop. This style of dance is usually fast-paced pointed gestures and quick movements. In this class, you are expected to have basic knowledge of Jazz foundations while learning quick pace combos emphasizing on feminism and intricate movements
Register now on Eventbrite or using the MindBody app.

Natalie Sklovskaya
Heels [Beginner] (8-Wk)
Tuesdays, 9pm-10:30pm
Dates: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23
Natalie was born and raised in San Francisco and began her dance journey at age 4 attending Genesis Ballroom Dance Studio. She continued ballroom dancing until age 12 where she switched to Jazz and Hip Hop dance styles. While attending UC Davis, she was a member of Agape Dance Team, where she choreographed performances, helped lead practices, and taught dance workshops. Upon graduating, Natalie was a member of Str8jacket dance team. She is passionate about creating a welcoming dance environment for all students, regardless of their experience level and focuses on emphasizing technique and performance in her classes.
Workshop Description: Heels [Beginner]
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
Register now on Eventbrite or using the MindBody app.

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.

Sara Templeton
Reggaeton [Beg/Int] (5-Wk)
Thursdays, 9pm-10:30pm
Dates: 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25
Sara is a choreographer, teacher, and dancer born and raised in San Francisco. She started her professional hip-hop career at sixteen, dancing with Culture Shock S.F. and L.A. and guest performing with independent artists throughout the Bay Area. While earning her dance degree at Loyola Marymount University, Sara expanded her training to include ballet, modern / contemporary, and dunham technique, and also began a focused re-engagement with salsa and other Latin dances connected to her Puerto Rican heritage. It was during this time that Sara truly honed in on her passion for choreography and teaching, and the ways in which the intelligence of different dance techniques could cross pollinate for the benefit of the artist. Sara has performed alongside notable hip-hop artists Allan Frias and Jesse Lee Santos, and has done commercial work with musical groups Blue Boy and Spanish Fly. Locally Sara has performed and presented work at Dance Mission Theater and ODC, and is blest to have trained with exceptional artists across disciplines including Janice Garrett (modern), Robin Dekkers (ballet), Brandi Chun (jazz funk), Pat Cruz (hip-hop) and others. Most recently, Sara choreographed the Center Repertory Company’s sold out Spring 2023 musical production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights and continues to teach a variety of dance forms around the Bay Area.
Sara strongly believes in the joy of dance, and is dedicated to fostering a safe and playful space where students can work on sound dance technique while feeling motivated to grow. When Sara is not in the studio teaching or choreographing, she is experimenting with dance for film, and running her online dance merchandise store ObjectsForArts. Besides dance, Sara is an ardent, 20-year practitioner of Iyengar yoga, and a strong believer in massages and chocolate.
Workshop Description: Reggaeton [Beg/Int]
Reggaeton is a hybrid dance form built from Salsa, Dancehall, and Hip-Hop influences. It reflects the musical and cultural journey of Jamaican migrants across the Caribbean (especially Puerto Rico, which is credited with creating 'mainstream' Reggaeton) towards Latin America and the United States. Reggaeton blends Jamaican music influences of Reggae and Dancehall with those of Latin America, such as Bomba and Plena, as well as that of Hip Hop. Reggaeton focuses on strong and sensual hip movements (commonly known as dancing 'perreo') and often incorporates Hip-Hop Grooves and Latin dance technique. In this class, students will learn choreography to gain an understanding of the genre and its associated terminology. See instructor IG to view choreography style.
SIGN UP: HERE
Register now on Eventbrite or using the MindBody app.

JanJan Chan
Contemporary [Beginner] (5-Wk)
Thursdays, 9pm-10:30pm
Dates: 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25
JanJan (any pronouns) is a gender-fluid movement artist and storyteller, born and raised in the Bay Area. They’ve been training in various styles, including ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, and more for over 10 years now. Their love of teaching started when they used to do club swimming and would teach the younger students as a side job. Although leaving behind their years and dedication of studio training, you can still find JanJan always eager to challenge themself by learning and training in new styles. Their number one priority will always be creating a safe and fun space whenever teaching, allowing dancers to not be afraid to try new things and let dance be therapeutic.
JanJan started their dance journey at the age of 6. They’ve trained all over the Bay Area, primarily with Westlake School of Performing Arts, West Coast Dance Conservatory, Krazy 8, and Poise’n Brigade. JanJan has taught at all over the Bay Area, including for CY Danceworks, West Coast Dance Conservatory, Heart Beat Dance Academy, and Saint Francis High School.
Along with dancing, you might also know JanJan from their online content on several social media platforms and their writing as an author. They are very excited to see what’s in store as a movement artist and will always be so grateful for all the opportunities they have been a part of and more to encounter. They can’t wait to see all of you grow!
Want more of JanJan? Click here for all of JanJan’s links!
Workshop Description: Contemporary [Beginner]
Contemporary dance originated from Europe and America in the 19th and 20th century with various styles of expressive dance that combines Modern, Ballet, Lyrical Jazz and other forms of Street dance movements from today. In this class you will begin center floor with a full body warm up into a beginner class combo. Your class goals are to strive to connect the mind and body through fluid dance movements.
SIGN UP: HERE
Register now on Eventbrite or using the MindBody app.

Risa Ono
Hip Hop [Beg/Int] (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

Valeria Bernal
Reggaeton [Beg/Int] (8-Wk)
Saturdays, 1:30pm-3:00pm
Dates: 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27
Valeria Bernal (she/her) is an instructor and choreographer from Panama City, Panama and currently resides in San Francisco, CA. Since she was three years old, Valeria trained classically at the Academia de Danzas Steps techniques such as ballet, modern, jazz, and tap. As an adult, she trained with other studios that specialized in ballroom dancing, latin styles, dancehall, reggaetón and hip-hop in both her hometown and the US. She is passionate about teaching dance and sharing her lively and cheerful energy with others in any city she resides. The teaching style and choreographies that Valeria has created prioritize the experience of the dancer, creating a space for all to identify their strengths, explore their individuality, and develop self-confidence.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vbmalek/
Workshop Description: Reggaeton [Beg/Int]
Reggaeton is a hybrid dance form built from Salsa, Dancehall, and Hip-Hop influences. It reflects the musical and cultural journey of Jamaican mi