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PROGRAM BOOK

On behalf of Rae Studios, we’d like to start the show with a warm welcome to new and returning community members. Rae Studios is a local dance studio in San Francisco’s Union Square district. On February 11, 2026, we celebrated our 15th year in business. We wouldn’t be here without the continued support of our students and community members.

 

This showcase marks our 8th show since 2021. We are proud to bring you another full lineup, with 150 dance performers to fill tonight’s stage.

 

A special thank you to Palace of Fine Arts for opening this beautiful space, housing all our dance creatives and their choreography.

Thank you to you, our audience, for being here. Your presence in this theater is the best gift we can ask for. Be sure to make some noise for those you see on the big stage.

 

Enjoy the show!

MEET THE EMCEE

Tiana Hester.jpeg

TiAna Hester

It looks like you may have a “little dancer” - as her mother would tell the story about what the doctor said during her ultra sound. TiAna- in the womb, with the heel of her foot in her mouth, was literally born to dance. In just the small city of Antioch, California at Delta Ballet Academy, TiAna started training recreationally at just eight years old in Hip Hop with LaTonya Watts. She then started training in Ballet, as it became a requirement for her to continue with a competitive team. Her Ballet teacher expressed to her mother that there was no way it was her first time training in that style.​ It was then that she knew dance was not just a “talent” that she had picked up, but a gift. TiAna continued to expand her training in other styles such as Jazz, Lyrical, and Contemporary. At the age of twelve, she started competing and traveling as a dancer. She continued to pursue her career throughout high school and started teaching dance after she graduated in 2008.​ Rae Studios is thrilled to introduce TiAna as our official emcee for this season’s showcase!

SHOW PROGRAM

01

5:05 PM

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Dance into the Neon Night

Take Me Dancing by Doja Cat ft. SZA, 100% Pure Love by Crystal Waters, Fantasy by Jade, Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics, Won't Cry by Amber Mark, Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite

Elizabeth Viera, Sassi Fran

Ali White, Danny Green, Huy Tu, Julie Vernarr, Kevin Ng-Tang, Kimberly Liu, Sandra Biliran, Sarah Chang, You T

02

5:12 PM

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2000s Bops

Like This by MiMS, Peaches & Cream by 112, Kiss Kiss by Chris Brown feat. T-Pain

Dione Dacuycuy

Andy Garcia, Diamond Jarrell, Gabrielle Nayale, Hailey Jang, Jessie Ying, Johnnie Lo, Justin Guest, Justine Trieu, Katherine Liu, Liz Kanovsky, Sabrina Tu, Tanaka Muchemwa, Tashi Cowan, Ting-Ting Liu, Tweety Hsiao, Yishuang Chen

03

5:17 PM

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ShuffleBreak: Rising Stars

Get Up Offa That Thing by James Brown, Come Baby Come by K7, Levels by Avicii, Asterisk by Orange Range

Jasper Sanchez

Amamda Moe, Bethany Hill, Chris Luong, Christian Moran, Florence Kong, Hazel Peralta, Isabel Rich, Julie Lehrman, Korie Franciscus, Pooja Kabra, Rene Vargas Zamora, Yueyi Cheng

04

5:24 PM

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Chapter 2

Wipe Me Down by Trill Family, Walk It Out by Unk

Ryan McKee

Ainsley Gage, Arianna Kegg-Crechriou, Arya Ahrens, Danika Gunderson, Ella Castigador, Jase Bisetti, Kyndall Kegg-Crechriou, Sammi Calon, Sophia Kelly, Vanessa Bisetti

05

5:27 PM

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Reggaetón Americano

J Balvin featuring Jowell & Randy (DJ Haku Remix)

Sara Templeton

Carmen Flanigan, Chels Watkins , Julie Vernarr, Noel Cruz, Yiyun Rao

06

5:33 PM

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Super Dope

Miles Minnick, Missy Elliot, Black Eyed Peas, PLo

Ariel Krystyne

Gabriella McHugh, Lexi Marion, Zoe Walker

07

5:36 PM

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K-Ground

BTBT by B.I., PLAY by Chung Ha, Gabriela by KATSEYE

YoungBeen Joo, Shawn, Sohey Sugihara, Grant Gilmore, Choi Rian, Shin Ji-won, Sim Hee-jung, Jackson Tran, Caroline Zeng

Alliyah Pacional, Anne Wen, Bea Aycardo, Bella Tumaneng, Cindy Lee, Jessica Kim, Joanna Kuo, Jonathan Yip, Kevin Geng, Kira Foglesong, Saya Kim-Suzuki, Sophy Peng, Trang Ngo, Vanna Cgen, Varsha Bodepudi

08

5:42 PM

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Bollywood: The Eras

Shah Rukh Khan Medley Tujhe Dekha To | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | Lata Mangeshkar, Kumar Sanu Chaiyya Chaiyya | Dil Se | A.R. Rahman, Sukhwinder Singh, Sapna Awasthi Banke Tera Jogi | Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani | Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam Koi Mil Gaya | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik Ramta Jogi (FarooqGotAudio Remix) Ramta Jogi | Taal | Sukhwinder Singh, Alka Yagnik, A.R Rahman Garmi Shop Remix - Aurora Beatz (Shivali Tandon) ft. DJ Amsal Garmi | Street Dancer 3D | Badshah, Neha Kakkar Candyshop | 50 Cent O Saki Saki | Batla House, Nora Fatehi, Tanishk B, Neha Kakkar, Tulsi Kumar Cono | Jason Derulo Gas Pedal | Sage The Gemini, Mix -- Danny Green Media

Malvika Raj

Anjali Kayal, Catherine Chen, Elizabeth Viera, Geetika Aggarwal, Jyoti Suri, Kajol Gulabani, Kush Gupta, Madison Delgado, My Doan, Payal Raj, Rene Vargas Zamora, Shayna Kothari, Shyra Alam, Suruchi Tayshete

09

5:48 PM

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Ethereal Sights

"Delicate Sounds" by Emmanuel Hernandez

Emmanuel Hernandez

Hazel Peralta, Joslin Badrian, Kaycie Luna, Kim Verzano, Kimberly Liu, Margaret McCarthy, Michelle Chang, Michelle Lee, Olivia Ahmed, Shauna Sapper, Tiffany Zhang

INTERMISSION

10

6:36 PM

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The Real Deal

Redlight by A$AP Ferg, Break Ya Neck by Busta Rhymes, Sound Distribution Loft Party #16 by Raymond (Shake It To The Max, Work It, Squabble Up), Where the Hood At by DMX, Ante Up Remix by MOP, Arena by Fabian Mazur & Snavs

Kait Skye

Eric Lum, Eshe Hawash, Gabrielle Nayale, Janel McDowell, Jessica Pham, Kaycie Luna, Meghan Grott, Michelle Reap, Quentin Rice, Rhealyn Serrano

11

6:44 PM

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little memories

Moments Like This by Julie London

Erica Knox

Abby Laporte, Emma Capelli, Ines Bonilla, Joyce Guo, Melissa Moore, Yiyun Rao

12

6:48 PM

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The Chain

Fleetwood Mac

Gwen Hamler

Colbie Garbiele, Catherine Hendry, Elisabeth Hendry, Lexi Marion, Gabriella McHugh, Zoe Walker

13

6:52 PM

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Mawood

Mawood by Abdel Halim Hafez

Andrea Sendek

Alisa Grant, Anca Negoiu, Tulle Kane, Eric Lum, Erica Moses, Michelle Su, Nancy Hernandez, Nicole Jazayeri, Pratistha Bajracharya, Raya Cannan, Sonia Dias

14

7:02 PM

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White Noise

Forest Frank and Stevie Rizo

Luma Prudente

David Zhang, Jingwei Huang, Maria Marin, My Doan, Nana Aikawa, Shannon Colin, Tashi Cowan, Thais Freitas, Thuong Tran

15

7:06 PM

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A Night at the Club

“Get Low” × “Freek-A-Leek” (Mashup by DJ917Josh) Original Artists: Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz; Petey Pablo Produced/Mixed by: DJ917Josh Music: Get Low / Freek-A-Leek (Mashup by DJ917Josh)

Inez Schynell

Alexia Reyes, Alexus Smith, Brenda Joy Gabbac, Drew Kaitgbak, Holly Hudson, Rachel Wilson, Shawn Ho

16

7:11 PM

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PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dope Asian Swag)

Omote by Yuki Chiba, Mic Drop by BTS (custom mix by Matt Pumanes), Dat $tick by Rich Brian (custom mix by Matt Pumanes)

Jayzel Ramold, Chloe Gerungan and Andy Santiago, Justin Magbanua, Wen Sabaj

Andy Santiago, Angela Hou, Celine Galang, Chloe Gerungan, Chloe Ghent, Clove Waldrep, Jess Lim, Kimberly Arce, Kristina Didero, Nikki Schulte, Paulina Huynh Nhu, Rachel Garcia

17

7:15 PM

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NΞBULA // PH∆SE ØNE

GALA by XG, Supernova by aespa, Aliens by BTS, NASA by ATEEZ. Mix by medz.

Sienna Lalau, Yeojin, LaChica, Bada Lee, Sarah Medley, Andy Nguyen, BBTrippin

Alex Leu, Alex Rhodes, Anjana Iyer, Anjana Vas, Anne Wen, Bella Tumaneng, Elizabeth Viera, Harika Gopi, Jasper Sanchez, Joe Delgado, Jonathan Yip, Kiana Eaves, Kira Foglesong, Mounika Gopi, Pauline Nguyen, Rachel Rabkin, Rhealyn Serrano, Stone Yang, Trang Ngo, Wylder Mistriel

18

7:22 PM

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Override

WHO TF IZ YOU by J.Cole, Nosebleeds by Doechii, The Next Episode by Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Now or never by Kendrick Lamar & Mary J Blige, LIGHTS GO OUT by John Summit, Pepper by Flowdan, Lil Baby & Skrillex, Music mixed by DJ Atty (Atland Sayarath)

Mahiro O'Haru

Anjali Kayal, Cam Ho, Dahlia Moutal, Eustyn Trinh, Jace Curtin, Jonathan Muniz, Olivia Du, Teesa Manandhar, Vaishnavi Dhulkhed

19

7:28 PM

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HOUSE OF DOLLS

Song 1: "Eye of the Tiger", Remix Survivor | Song 2: "London Bridge", Fergie, | Song 3: "Doesn't Really Matter", Janet Jackson | Song 4: "Beautiful Liar", Beyonce & Shakira | Song 5: "Toxic" Britney Spears | Song 6: "Wild Thoughts" Rhianna | Song 7: "Dangerous" Michael Jackson | Song 8: "Club Song" Pussycat Dolls

Jessica Rae

Alliyah Pacional, Allyson Lin, Andrea Stephany, Anna Bolender, Brandon Kraft, Catherine Chen, Cici Zhou, Claire Strom, Diamond Jarrell, Elani Cassero, Gaby Benitez, Julia Bergeron, Marisol Phillips, Michelle Lee, Queenie Li, Raven Taylor, Suzanne Earle, Teema Yassine, Xochitl Butcher

MEET THE CHOREOGRAPHERS

Andrea Sendek

BIO:

With a rich background in the performing arts, Andrea Sendek brings a lifetime of passionate involvement in acting, music, and dance to her role as artist, teacher, organizer, and director. Andrea integrates philosophies into her work learned from training and performing, for over 2 decades, belly dance and other dance genres. Andrea began learning belly dance with Mesmera in Los Angeles from 1996-2004. In 2004 she relocated to the Bay Area and began her studies at The Salimpour School of Dance where for 10 years she trained under and assisted both Jamilla & Suhaila Salimpour. Since 2015 Andrea has been learning Arabic drumming and music with Susu Pampanin and Amina Goodyear. In June of 2021, Andrea began studying extensively with Egyptian master Tommy King. She Has taken countless workshops from Egyptian teachers throughout the years some of which include, Dandesh, Yossry El Hefni, Karim Nagi, Tito Seif, Adia Nour, and Mohammed Shahin. As a performer, Andrea has an extensive background. Some notable performance venues are The Palace of Fine Arts, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Brava Theatre, and The Shelton Theatre. She has performed and taught across the United States and internationally; some highlights of her itinerary include appearances in Egypt, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, and Chile. Andrea is the founder of Khepri Dance Comapny and Khepri Productions. Khepri Dance Company was featured in the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival in 2016. Khepri Productions produces The Catwalk, a local variety show, Cirque Arabesque, and hosts notable artists from Egypt in San Francisco for workshops and shows. My dance goals are to keep developing my technique, my understanding of my art form, grow my student body, and speak Egyptian Arabic fluently. My big dreams would be to have a fully funded dance company and a regular venue where we can perform weekly with a live Arabic band and do classic shows to sold out crowds!

Andy Nguyen

BIO:

Andy Nguyen (he/they) has been captivated by K-Pop dance since 2007, when the choreography, music videos, and energy first sparked his curiosity. He trained throughout the Bay Area with a variety of studios, teams, and teachers, eventually joining hip-hop crews such as Funksters of Funkanometry, Project M, and Groove Against the Machines. With these groups, he’s performed and competed at major events like World of Dance and Prelude, proudly earning several wins along the way. Andy taught his first class in 2016 and quickly discovered how fulfilling it is to share dance with others. He’s especially inspired by how accessible and inviting K-Pop makes dance for people of all backgrounds — the same feeling that first motivated him as a young fan. Through his classes, Andy hopes to spark that same excitement, whether it’s the thrill of learning a new combo or the confidence that shines the moment you step on stage. IG: Andyluvskpop

Caroline Zeng

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Caroline (she/her) is a dancer and choreographer raised in Minnesota and now is based in San Francisco after moving to California in 2019. Her journey with dance kicked off with joining collegiate teams at Stanford University where she learned K-Pop and open style choreography, founded a K-Pop cover dance team, competed at World of Dance Bay Area, and discovered her love for teaching. Caroline continues her dance journey training in a variety of styles including Hip Hop, Jazz Funk, Heels, and Contemporary at studios throughout the Bay. She is excited to share her Hip Hop Fusion choreography with the Rae community and dance together with everyone. IG: @zeng_zeng_jr

Dione Dacuycuy

BIO:

Dione (he/him) began his dance journey at UCLA on collegiate teams, starting with no prior experience. Over the past 11 years, he has cultivated his passion for movement and artistic expression, training with renowned Bay Area teams such as Project M, Groove Against the Machine, and most recently, Str8Jacket. Drawing inspiration from styles like Hip-Hop, K-POP, and House, Dione integrates these influences into his choreography while honoring the rich histories of the dances he learns. Most recently, he was an instructor at City Dance Studios Fall 2024. Dedicated to growth and sharing his craft, Dione creates dynamic, expressive, and enjoyable classes that emphasize musicality, performance, grooves, and textures. He strives to inspire through movement and foster a love for dance in his students. Check out more of his work on Instagram: @dcuycuy.

Elizabeth Viera

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Elizabeth is a lifelong dancer with over 25 years of experience. She began her training in competitive jazz, tap, and ballet, building a strong technical foundation that continues to shape her performative style. While she’s explored many genres over the years, she found her true love in jazz-funk, K-pop, and musical theater — styles that let her fully embrace character, storytelling, and expression. Now based in San Francisco, Elizabeth brings a bright, energetic presence to everything she does. She is the creative director of the Baybaes, a casual K-pop cover group, and an avid weightlifter. She blends artistry and athleticism in her approach to dance, with a focus on helping people feel strong, confident, and at home in their bodies — wherever they are in their movement journey. Her classes emphasize performance and are infused with influences from many styles and cultures. She’s trained in four languages across Detroit, New York, Toronto, Tokyo, and San Francisco. After three years as a dancer in the RAE community and participating in four performance workshops, Elizabeth is thrilled to join the RAE teaching team. You can find her on instagram @shiny.eliza.

Emmanuel Hernandez

BIO:

Emmanuel Hernandez is a choreographer, dancer, and creative artist from Los Angeles, CA. currently residing in San Francisco. He started dancing at the age of 11 when he joined his middle school’s dance team and found his passion for choreography just one year later at the age of 12. Emmanuel has trained in various styles such as ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, jazz funk, and hip hop. He grew up choreographing throughout high school and college at recitals, showcases, festivals, and dance productions emphasizing on ballet, contemporary, and modern choreography. Emmanuel most recently danced with the Kenneth Walker Dance Project in Los Angeles and holds an associate’s degree in dance from Long Beach City College. Emmanuel enjoys blending movements that are free in nature along with technical ability to nurture both the body/mind connection and performance expression. Emmanuel believes that dance is what you make it and should be preserved in a way that reflects modern day society. You can find Emmanuel on instagram @emmanuelhernandezofficial

Erica Knox

BIO:

She began her dance education at three years old at the Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park, Illinois, where she studied ballet, Graham, Humphrey, and contemporary dance. Post graduation, she studied for a year at the Ailey/Fordham BFA program, attending through a full-ride merit scholarship, and ultimately graduated in IPE & History. She continued her dance studies at the Graham School, and the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program. She is currently renewing her 10+ years of experience with the Graham technique through Modern Intensive University (MIU). She works for dawsondancesf, a contemporary dance company, performs live improvisation in cross-disciplinary art settings, and choreographs on adult dancers and students. As an educator she has the great joy of teaching Graham to studio dancers at SFB, contemporary for adults at Rae Studios, general dance for children in public schools through SFB’s DISC Program as well as Nagata Dance, and more. Pedagogy: “My aim is to teach dance from the inside out; from receptive listening & intuition, to somatic sensation, then finally into energetic outburst into form and flow.”

Inez Schynell

BIO:

Inez Schynell was born and raised in San Francisco, passionately working at the intersection of justice, identity and dance. As a Choreographer, Hip Hop Educator, Mental Health Educator, Social Justice Facilitator, and Beauty-Prenuer, she embodies a multifaceted approach to her work. Inez began training at the age of 7, where she immersed herself in gymnastics, setting the stage for her future in dance. Her passion for performing led her to pursue Dance professionally with D-Fuse, a West African and Nigerian Folklore Dance Company, GRRRL Brigade, a performing arts company training in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Hip Hop, and Bellydance. Inez also trained in various prestigous studios from the Bay Area to New York. As a Notre Dame De Namur University scholarship recipient, Inez deepend her studies in dance. In 2022, she signed with Rae Agency as a talent and model, showcasing her versatility and skill beyond the realm of Dance. Significantly, Inez made her mark by choreographing 5 captivating pieces for the 50th-anniversary of Hip Hop ‘The Bronx Revolution and the Birth of Hip Hop’ Directed by Joanna Haigood and in collaboration with DJ Grandwizzard Theodre. The inventor of the scratching technique. The production celebrated the rich history of hip hop while paying homage to the origins and impact of hip hop today. Currently, Inez holds key roles as a Hip Hop History Educator, Hip Hop Dance Teacher and Mental Health Awareness Educator at MAX415. Through her artistry, Inez empowers individuals to reclaim their identity and promote justice through the transformative power of dance.

Jackson Tran

BIO:

Jackson has a diverse background in Hip-Hop, Jazz Funk, and K-Pop dancing. He is a founding member of a K-Pop dance crew based in Santa Cruz called StarChrome. Additionally, he served as a director for JK Family, a beginner-friendly choreography dance crew that blends various dance forms with a passion for Japanese, Korean, and American music. Jackson enjoys exploring new styles and merging different techniques to create choreography that transcends any single genre. Currently, he teaches choreography to students of all ages, from children to adults, at Rae Studios and other studios where he is involved. He plans to continue expanding his skills and evolving as a dance instructor who can express dance through a diverse range of styles.

Jasper Sanchez

BIO:

Starting to dance in 2009 with clubs in schools I attended, I eventually found a career in dance in 2021. I’ve always been passionate about sharing my love, knowledge, & passion for dance with others over the years. ShuffleBreak is my unique mixture of Shuffling & Breakdancing. This performance will display both styles of dance as well as moments where they’re mixed together. I’m most appreciative for this opportunity & for those I have the pleasure of sharing the stage with.

Jessica Rae

BIO:

Jessica Rae is a Filipino business owner and educator around movement and entrepreneurship. She is the founder and CEO of Rae Model & Talent Agency LLC and Rae Studios, located in downtown San Francisco, California. Jessica graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Speech and Communications and a lifetime advocate of dance and the arts. ​She is an energetic certified Group Fitness and Dance Instructor with a strong background in Cardio Dance, Kickboxing, MMA, and dance choreography. She promotes healthy minds and bodies through music and movement while building a strong community motivating people to move outside their comfort zone. Her certifications include: GF, AFAA, CPA and First Aid, Pound Pro, Cize Live, Barre Certified and has been seen coaching for Gap HQ, Athleta, Lorna Jane, Fitbit, William-Sonoma, Airbnb, Eventbrite, Salesforce, Facebook, Marriott, San Francisco Middle School, Dare to Bare amongst other established corporations. Jessica currently teaches weekly classes at Equinox and Rae Studios.

Kait Skye

BIO:

Kait Skye is a Chicago-area native performer, educator, and choreographer currently living in San Francisco. Dance has always been a part of her life; she began dancing before kindergarten and her passion for dance only grew larger over the years. She continued broadening her training across all genres through college including hip hop, ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, pointe, partnering, and more. She has a long list of training and teaching experiences including Hip Hop ConnXion HQ of which she was a company member for 11 years as well as teaching and directing at Synergy Dance Academy/M3 Dance (formerly Chicago Ballet Conservatory) for the past 6 years prior to moving to San Francisco. Kait’s biggest passion within dance is teaching - she loves passing on her knowledge to other artists and helping them become the best versions of themselves, both personally and professionally.

Luma Prudente

BIO:

Luma Prudente is a dynamic and experienced dance instructor with a rich background in both classical and contemporary styles. Born and raised in Brazil, Luma started dancing at the age of 2, specializing in classical forms such as ballet, which she practiced for 9 years, along with jazz, flamenco, and contemporary. Over time, she expanded her skill set to include circus arts, jazz funk, zumba, heels, Afro, and hip hop, which has become her primary focus. While in Brazil, Luma led a dance workshop and choreographed a team for a major performance, showcasing her leadership and creative vision. At 18, she moved to the Bay Area to pursue further opportunities and deepen her dance studies. Now 20, she is a member of the professional dance team Sauce and has performed at notable events such as World of Dance Bay Area. Her performances have also included dancing at the Oakland Arena as a backup dancer for an international singer. Luma is passionate about continuous growth and sharing the joy of dance with others. Her teaching style combines her classical foundation with modern dance forms, creating engaging and inspiring classes for dancers of all levels.

Mahiro Oharu

BIO:

Mahiro/Mahi (she/her), a passionate dancer, is from Illinois and recently made San Francisco her home. She started her dance journey at the age of three with ballet training at Fauborg School of Ballet and went on to perform in multiple shows. Transitioning to a competitive dance team, Mahiro embraced styles like jazz, pom-dance, and kick-dance, even achieving a top 5 placement at Nationals in 2016. As a choreographer and team leader, she honed her skills, fostering collaboration and guiding fellow dancers for four years. In college, despite the limited opportunities for dance, Mahiro found ways to continue sharing her love for dance. She choreographed and taught group dances for professional business organization competitions, raising funds for various charities. She traught peers with all varying skill levels. In 2021, she joined RAE Studios, where she reconnected with her passion and developed a new affinity for hip-hop, pop jam, and DRENCHED. She especially had a deep affection for DRENCHED because it promotes students of all skill levels who share a common desire to embrace dance for wellness. Under the mentorship of Jessica Rae, Mahiro's dedication and talent propelled her to become a DRENCHED teacher in less than half a year. Now, Mahiro eagerly looks forward to inspiring students from diverse dance backgrounds. With each step she takes as a teacher, she aims to ignite the same passion within her students, fostering an inclusive space where they can cultivate their creative and wellness aspirations.

Malvika Raj

BIO:

Meet Malvika, an Austin native whose love affair with dance began at age four with Bharatanatyam. That early spark ignited a lifelong passion for exploring dance across cultures—from competing with Cornell Bhangra on America's Got Talent's Quarterfinals to now teaching and choreographing in San Francisco. Today, Malvika weaves together her South Asian dance roots with Jazz Funk, Hip Hop, K-pop, and other global influences. Her Bollywood Fusion classes aim to make South Asian dance accessible and enjoyable for all, blending traditional and modern moves to create a space where everyone can discover the joy and expressiveness of dance. You can connect with Malvika on Instagram @malvika718 or email malvikarajdance@gmail.com

Sara Templeton

BIO:

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. During her hip-hop performance career Sara worked alongside notable artists Allan Frias and Jesse Lee Santos, and did 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 Bay teachers such as Janice Garrett, Robert Moses, Robert Dekkers, Brett Conway, and others. Currently Sara is choreographing the Center Repertory Company’s Spring 2023 musical production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. 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.

Sarah Medley

BIO:

Sarah (they/them) is a dance instructor based in San Francisco, originally from Southern California. Drawn to K-Pop for its precision, structure, and high-level performance quality, Sarah specializes in dynamic formations, sharp synchronization, and musical clarity. Their background in Hip Hop, Locking, and Shuffle informs a well-rounded teaching approach that emphasizes both technique and context, including the cultural and stylistic origins behind many K-Pop trends. In class, students can expect to learn choreography inspired by leading industry choreographers such as Bada Lee, Rie Hata, Back Kooyoung, and BBTrippin. Follow Sarah on Instagram for updates on upcoming classes and featured songs. IG: @saraht.onin

Sassi Fran

BIO:

Francesca Balagtas, aka Sassi Fran, was born in San Francisco but raised in Las Vegas. The styles they trained in throughout childhood and adolescence included tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, street jazz, Hula, Tahitian, and Maori. At the age of 18, Sassi moved back to San Francisco to attend San Francisco Art Institute to receive her BFA in Sculpture. Although her studies were in visual arts, she always hungered for dance. In 2015 and 2016 she began dancing with various dance groups in San Francisco such as Bay Area Flash Mob, Sexitude, and Bay Area Dancers and began teaching her own original street jazz, pop, and hip hop choreography at BAFM and BAD. In 2017, Sassi and her close friend, Patrick Santos, founded K-Pop-Up, a K-pop dance class and group as a way to find other K-Pop lovers who also want to dance. Today Sassi continues to train herself in more styles such as pole, heels, vogue, and waacking to enrich her own repertoire. Throughout Sassi’s near decade of teaching, it is always their goal to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment that is friendly to people of all dance levels. In addition to teaching dance around the San Francisco Bay Area, Sassi is a local drag performer who incorporates K-Pop and her own original choreography into many of her drag performances. Sassi produces and hosts NUNA, a bi-annual queer K-Pop dance party/drag show at The Stud in the SOMA district.

MEET THE GUEST PERFORMERS

MEET THE NEON BODIES

Jazz Funk (Beg / Int)

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Dance into the Neon Night

Elizabeth Viera, Sassi Fran

Welcome to the floor. Tonight, Sassi Fran and Eliza will Take You Dancing. Through jazz funk, vogue, and waacking, we honor the bodies that moved through the neon-lit rooms in the 80's, 90's, and modern times. This piece honors queer night life, a celebration of 100% Pure Love and queer joy.  Let's get groovy as we Dance Into The Neon Night.

DANCERS:
 

Ali White, Danny Green, Huy Tu, Julie Vernarr, Kevin Ng-Tang, Kimberly Liu, Sandra Biliran, Sarah Chang, You T

MEET THE FOUNDATION

Hip Hop (Beg/Int)

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2000s Bops

Dione Dacuycuy

Over the course of 8 weeks, these dancers were guided through beginner, beginner/intermediate, and intermediate-level choreography focused on the foundations of hip-hop — bounce, rock, rolls, and party grooves. Through an emphasis on musicality, textures, performance, and body awareness, this workshop aimed to help dancers not only deepen their understanding of hip-hop foundations, but also reconnect with the joy, confidence, and fun of movement. This performance is the culmination of that journey!

DANCERS:
 

Andy Garcia, Diamond Jarrell, Gabrielle Nayale, Hailey Jang, Jessie Ying, Johnnie Lo, Justin Guest, Justine Trieu, Katherine Liu, Liz Kanovsky, Sabrina Tu, Tanaka Muchemwa, Tashi Cowan, Ting-Ting Liu, Tweety Hsiao, Yishuang Chen

MEET THE RISING STARS

ShuffleBreak (Int)

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ShuffleBreak: Rising Stars

Jasper Sanchez

"ShuffleBreak is Jasper's unique mixture of Shuffling & Breakdancing & one of the tools he uses in his career most to inspire others to mix different styles as he believes it only adds to a performance or skillset."

DANCERS:
 

Amamda Moe, Bethany Hill, Chris Luong, Christian Moran, Florence Kong, Hazel Peralta, Isabel Rich, Julie Lehrman, Korie Franciscus, Pooja Kabra, Rene Vargas Zamora, Yueyi Cheng

MEET THE PHAMILY

Guest Performer

Hip Hop

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Chapter 2

Ryan McKee

This is the second season of The Phamily as an independent company. This year we have welcomed in several new members and continued to work on improving technique, musicality, and including more tricks and exciting movement. We are hoping to continue to develop to offer even more exciting pieces in the future.

DANCERS:
 

Ainsley Gage, Arianna Kegg-Crechriou, Arya Ahrens, Danika Gunderson, Ella Castigador, Jase Bisetti, Kyndall Kegg-Crechriou, Sammi Calon, Sophia Kelly, Vanessa Bisetti

MEET REGGAETÓNEROS

Reggaeton (Beg/Int)

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Reggaetón Americano

Sara Templeton

In 2026, reggaetoneros made American history. Whether at the Super Bowl or Coachella, this year marked the first time that these Latinx artists headlined some of the most relevant cultural events in our country.  This performance is a celebration of these moments - marking the full integration of reggaetón into the fabric of American experience, as well as the broader contributions that peoples from all cultures have made and will continue to make in the United States.

DANCERS:
 

Carmen Flanigan, Chels Watkins , Julie Vernarr, Noel Cruz, Yiyun Rao

MEET KM DANCE ARTS

Guest Performer

Hip Hop

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Super Dope

Ariel Krystyne

Choreographed by Ariel Krystyne, this hip hop trio is performed by KM Dance Arts elite hip hop team. This piece has won several overall awards and judges awards this season including first overall at Dupree in Burlingame. 

DANCERS:
 

Gabriella McHugh, Lexi Marion, Zoe Walker

MEET K-GROUND

K-Pop (Int)

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K-Ground

YoungBeen Joo, Shawn, Sohey Sugihara, Grant Gilmore, Choi Rian, Shin Ji-won, Sim Hee-jung, Jackson Tran, Caroline Zeng

Created through Rae Studios’ 8-Week Performance Workshop, this piece celebrates the versatility and energy of K-Pop through a fusion of distinct dance styles, movement textures, and performance dynamics. Inspired by the fresh, vibrant feeling of spring, the performance explores powerful grooves, expressive storytelling, confident stage presence, and synchronized teamwork through choreography inspired by B.I.’s “BTBT,” Chung Ha’s “PLAY,” and KATSEYE’s “Gabriella.”

DANCERS:
 

Alliyah Pacional, Anne Wen, Bea Aycardo, Bella Tumaneng, Cindy Lee, Jessica Kim, Joanna Kuo, Jonathan Yip, Kevin Geng, Kira Foglesong, Saya Kim-Suzuki, Sophy Peng, Trang Ngo, Vanna Cgen, Varsha Bodepudi

MEET THE ERAS

Bollywood Fusion (Beg/Int)

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Bollywood: The Eras

Malvika Raj

Bollywood: The Eras is a love letter to the evolution of Bollywood dance — from the sweeping romance of the 90s, through the bold fusion of the 2000s, to the high-energy global sound of today. Each era brings a new look, a new energy, and a new chapter of the story.

DANCERS:
 

Anjali Kayal, Catherine Chen, Elizabeth Viera, Geetika Aggarwal, Jyoti Suri, Kajol Gulabani, Kush Gupta, Madison Delgado, My Doan, Payal Raj, Rene Vargas Zamora, Shayna Kothari, Shyra Alam, Suruchi Tayshete

MEET THE ETHEREAL SIGHTS

Contemporary Ballet (Int)

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Ethereal Sights

Emmanuel Hernandez

Ethereal Sights is a moment of peace, tranquility, serenity, and presence. It explores the themes of change, grief, loneliness, and isolation and how these experiences can be shaped into beautiful moments. The dancers prepared for this piece by participating in improv exercises and movement exploration through imagery and musical interpretation to build trust and synchronicity between the dancers. That later took the form of choreography.

DANCERS:
 

Hazel Peralta, Joslin Badrian, Kaycie Luna, Kim Verzano, Kimberly Liu, Margaret McCarthy, Michelle Chang, Michelle Lee, Olivia Ahmed, Shauna Sapper, Tiffany Zhang

MEET THE REALEST

Hip Hop (Int / Adv)

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The Real Deal

Kait Skye

Choreographed by Kait Skye, this piece is a celebration of the work these dancers have put in—blending crisp isolations, intricate visuals, and technical precision with character, deep grooves, and effortless swag. Throughout the process, they’ve focused on control, musicality, and clarity, while learning how to layer texture, intention, and their own personality into the movement. You’ll see moments that hit hard and moments that breathe—where technique meets freedom. More than anything, this piece reflects growth: showing up, pushing past comfort zones, and learning how to fully own the space.

DANCERS:
 

Eric Lum, Eshe Hawash, Gabrielle Nayale, Janel McDowell, Jessica Pham, Kaycie Luna, Meghan Grott, Michelle Reap, Quentin Rice, Rhealyn Serrano

MEET THE MEMORIES

Contemporary (Beg/Int)

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little memories

Erica Knox

in this piece we reminisce and cherish tiny, vivid moments of love, even if it is over, or it never really was. each dancer generated movements developed from their own memories, infusing the work with personal meaning. we aimed to deeply hear the music, and each other, to embody our humanness while dancing.

DANCERS:
 

Abby Laporte, Emma Capelli, Ines Bonilla, Joyce Guo, Melissa Moore, Yiyun Rao

MEET KM DANCE ARTS

Guest Performer

Tap

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The Chain

Gwen Hamler

This is an award-winning tap piece featured by KMDA's elite tap team and choreographed by Gwen Hamler. These dancers are ages 13-17 and train in multiple styles.

DANCERS:
 

Colbie Garbiele, Catherine Hendry, Elisabeth Hendry, Lexi Marion, Gabriella McHugh, Zoe Walker

MEET THE ROMANTICS

Belly Dance Int

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Mawood

Andrea Sendek

Set to Mawood by Abdel Halim Hafez, this choreography explores the emotional cycle of romantic love through the lens of Egyptian music and dance. Moving between tenderness, longing, fear, ecstasy, and heartbreak, the piece reflects a heart that continues returning to love despite the pain it may bring. Inspired by the rich emotionality and orchestral depth of classic Egyptian music, this performance is presented by students of the belly dance program at Rae Studios.

DANCERS:
 

Alisa Grant, Anca Negoiu, Tulle Kane, Eric Lum, Erica Moses, Michelle Su, Nancy Hernandez, Nicole Jazayeri, Pratistha Bajracharya, Raya Cannan, Sonia Dias

MEET THE NOISE MAKERS

Hip Hop (Int/Adv)

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White Noise

Luma Prudente

White Noise is a reminder that in a world full of empty sound, we are set apart to carry purpose and move with meaning. Every step is intentional, every motion a reflection of grace, we move because we’ve already been blessed to move. Through freedom and individuality, each dancer brings their own story. In the middle of the noise, we choose to become a sound that carries light, truth, and purpose.

DANCERS:
 

David Zhang, Jingwei Huang, Maria Marin, My Doan, Nana Aikawa, Shannon Colin, Tashi Cowan, Thais Freitas, Thuong Tran

MEET THE BADDIES

Twerk (All Levels)

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A Night at the Club

Inez Schynell

Step into the club with Refined Chaos, where the music takes over and the energy never stops. This piece captures a night out filled with energy, attitude, and power from start to finish.

DANCERS:
 

Alexia Reyes, Alexus Smith, Brenda Joy Gabbac, Drew Kaitgbak, Holly Hudson, Rachel Wilson, Shawn Ho

MEET SIDE PIECE

Guest Performer

Hip Hop

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PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dope Asian Swag)

Jayzel Ramold, Chloe Gerungan and Andy Santiago, Justin Magbanua, Wen Sabaj

This set is heavily inspired by international artists, specifically artists from Asia. We were inspired to go back to our roots of PEMDAS: "Please Excuse My Dope Asian Swag".  Our style blends a diverse background, taking movement inspired by Jazz Funk/Femme and Hip Hop. This set is going to be high energy and hype. We hope you have as much fun watching it as we did putting it together.

DANCERS:
 

Andy Santiago, Angela Hou, Celine Galang, Chloe Gerungan, Chloe Ghent, Clove Waldrep, Jess Lim, Kimberly Arce, Kristina Didero, Nikki Schulte, Paulina Huynh Nhu, Rachel Garcia

MEET THE HEAVENLY BODIES

K-Pop (Beg/Int)

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NΞBULA // PH∆SE ØNE

Sienna Lalau, Yeojin, LaChica, Bada Lee, Sarah Medley, Andy Nguyen, BBTrippin

A signal is detected beyond Earth’s orbit. Unknown entities descend, moving with unfamiliar precision and energy. Through powerful, synchronized choreography, this piece explores first contact not through words, but through movement. As worlds collide, the line between human and alien begins to blur.

DANCERS:
 

Alex Leu, Alex Rhodes, Anjana Iyer, Anjana Vas, Anne Wen, Bella Tumaneng, Elizabeth Viera, Harika Gopi, Jasper Sanchez, Joe Delgado, Jonathan Yip, Kiana Eaves, Kira Foglesong, Mounika Gopi, Pauline Nguyen, Rachel Rabkin, Rhealyn Serrano, Stone Yang, Trang Ngo, Wylder Mistriel

MEET THE OFFICE

Hip Hop (Int)

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Override

Mahiro O'Haru

The corporate day has a rhythm of its own — meetings, deadlines, the quiet pressure to stay in line. Override is a response to that. Not an escape from the office, but a takeover of it. These dancers bring their full selves into the space where they are most expected to shrink, finding creativity, passion, and individuality in the these everyday moments that usually go unseen. The work does not stop. It just looks different now.

DANCERS:
 

Anjali Kayal, Cam Ho, Dahlia Moutal, Eustyn Trinh, Jace Curtin, Jonathan Muniz, Olivia Du, Teesa Manandhar, Vaishnavi Dhulkhed

MEET THE DOLLS

Pop Jam (Int)

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HOUSE OF DOLLS

Jessica Rae

Tonight, we celebrate the King and Queens of Pop Culture.  Honoring artists like Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Pussycat Dolls who've dominant the space music industry along with dance, fashion and performance!  We honor this performance with attitude, confidence and Pop-Swag! 

DANCERS:
 

Alliyah Pacional, Allyson Lin, Andrea Stephany, Anna Bolender, Brandon Kraft, Catherine Chen, Cici Zhou, Claire Strom, Diamond Jarrell, Elani Cassero, Gaby Benitez, Julia Bergeron, Marisol Phillips, Michelle Lee, Queenie Li, Raven Taylor, Suzanne Earle, Teema Yassine, Xochitl Butcher

ABOUT PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS

Rae Studios’ Performance Workshop is a mutli-week series where students train with one of our featured instructors for up to 8 weeks to later perform at our annual showcase. This is our eigth series and showcase overall. Our first two showcases were led by a previous Studio Manager, Kevin, then followed by JJ Ghera. This show marks the fifth showcase produced by our current Studio Manager, Diamond Jarrell, assisted by our Assistant Studio Manager, Sarah Medley. Over the course of the past six years we’ve been able to grow the series and showcase tremendously. This year we’re proud to announce we hosted a total 18 workshops with over 180 performers for this evening’s show. Our instructors and students have been hard at work over the past 2 months preparing to bring you an amazing show. We thank all of you for your support and attendance as we close out an incredible training season. Now let the show begin!

ABOUT RAE STUDIOS

Our Story
Rae Studios is a local adult dance studio founded in 2011 located in San Francisco’s downtown Union Square. With over 60+ classes a week, Rae Studios offers a variety of classes great for all levels of dancers including Hip Hop, K-Pop, Jazz Funk, Shuffle, Bollywood, Cardio Dance and more. Rae Studios is home to dancers with varied amounts of experience. We welcome all dancers looking to start or continue their dance journey with us. Rae Studios hosts FREE outdoor class experiences in various neighborhoods throughout San Francisco including UN Plaza, Union Square, Mission Rock and Fisherman's Wharf. In addition to Group Classes we offer Corporate Wellness, Rental Services and Private Lessons. Learn more about additional services we offer at raestudios-sf.com It’s never too late to dance, let Rae Studios become the home for your dance journey! Take a peek inside our classes here.
Our Mission
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.

OUR SERVICES

CLICK ON EACH SERVICE FOR MORE INFO

Rae Studios has over 50+ dance, cardio dance, fitness classes to and 35+ instructors to choose from. Drop-in to a single class or become a monthly member for unlimited classes.

Looking for somewhere to host your next business meeting or an unique spot for your company off-site? Check out Rae Studios Rental Services.

Looking for a cool idea for some team bonding? There is no better way to give back to your employees than to give them the gift of dance. Check out our corporate wellness packages.

Are group classes overwhelming? Getting married soon? Book one of our amazing instructors for a more intimate learning experience.

NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS

We are proud to team up with the city of San Francisco, SF Recreation & Parks, and neighboring partners to bring a community driven initiative aimed to promoting health, wellness, and social connection through free, accessible dance and fitness classes. Offered to everyone of all ages and all levels, the program includes a variety of dance styles such as hip-hop, K-pop, salsa, and shuffling, as well as cardio dance and fitness classes like barre, BollyX, and DRENCHED!, a Rae Studios signature exclusive.

Check out the neighborhood we're currently offering free classes below

Explore the vibrant culture at the Civic Center UN Plaza with daily free all level dance classes.

Dance by the water of Mission Bay with Oracle Park as your background every Thursday.

Dance and explore with us every Wednesday in the heart of San Francisco downtown.

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SUMMER DEALS

SHOWCASE EXCLUSIVE MERCH

Thank you

From all of us at Rae Studios

We’d like to take a moment to say thank you for supporting local and small businesses, our dance teachers, our students and consider you all a part of our community.

Support Rae Studios

Want to support Rae Studios, but can't attend classes? You can help support us by sharing our website, social media, or making a donation on GoFundMe. Your contributions and support goes a long way helping fund showcases like this.

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VENDORS

For recap of the show, please visit our blog. If you would like to share your photos and videos, please tag @raestudiossf, @palaceoffineartstheatre with hashtag #RaeShowcase2026


Hope to see you on the dance floor.

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