austin dance collective  

A devoted yoga practitioner for about fifteen years, Chere Chancey seeks to share her own positive yogic transformations with others through teaching.  Her teaching philosophy includes creating a yoga community that diverse, flexible, and open to everyone.  She believes that yoga can be integrated beneficially into all areas of one’s life, bringing change and improvement to the ways in which we live.  Chere also enjoys teaching art, piano, and rock climbing in Austin, Texas, and is offering a Summer Yoga Retreat on the breathtaking island of Rab, Croatia from June 13-June 26, 2012.  For more information, visit http://croyoga.vpweb.com/, and look for her on Facebook! 

My love and joy with Guinea West African Dance has changed my life. As a youth I grew up uncertain about my cultural heritage. Through my desire to understand more about myself I began studying Guinea West African Dance. I have had the privilege to study with the great masters of this art; Moustapha Bangoura and Youssouf Koumbassa. I have found inspiration through these masters which has facilitated my knowledgeable understanding of the performing arts of Guinea West Africa. As a performer with Lannaya West African Drum and Dance I offer my spirit and love to inspire others to embrace cultural diversity.

Gabriel Mendez aka ‘Blitz’ has taught through numerous studios from L.A. to Texas and showcased on-going spectacular performances for The Harlem Globe Trotters, Mentos, Nike, Rock Steady Crew and the Wu-Tang clan. He is self taught and has danced since the age of 8 as a street break dancer, which progressed to an outlet of many other culture styles such as Hip Hop, House, African, Salsa and many more to be named.  Twenty years of experience has inspired this man's dream to pass the knowledge and techniques to loved ones that enjoy the culture of urban dance.  Be sure not to miss out on his classes!  It's an energetic cardio world of listening and doing because without these words, "Live, love, life" there would be no way to express dance freedom.

BellyAscenDance has been developed by Ishani Ishaya over her 16 year meditation studies and 12 year professional dance journey as a form of moving meditation. Stirring creative spinal kundalini energy and utilizing traditional bellydance technique, we can bring the full power of the mind/body connection into harmony and transform every area of life!  Balance, flow, timing and grace danced into manifestation!

"My name is Kat.  I have been practicing yoga for 12 years mostly in Austin.  I have been teaching on and off for much of that time.  My yoga classes combine the influence of styles from many teachers.  I am offering donation-based yoga classes that welcome all levels.  Yoga has been of unparalleled benefit in my life, and it is a gift I feel is important to share with others.  I believe yoga can be beneficial to everyone.  Hope you can check it out!  Namaste  =)" 

Leida Tolentino grew up in the Cape Verde Islands. A passionate student of West African and African diaspora dance styles since 2002, Leida has been fortunate to study with master dancers mainly from Guinea, Mali, and Senegal. For five years, she performed as a member of Mama Kadiatou’s Balafon West African Dance Ensemble and the Nego Gato Afro-Brazilian Music and Dance Ensemble in Pittsburgh, PA. Leida has taught dance since 2007 and currently performs with Austin’s Lannaya West African Drum & Dance Ensemble. She holds a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology and, when not on the dance floor, Leida conducts educational research. She is grateful to all of her teachers.

I will never forget the moment in summer 2006, when, after 45 minutes of dropping the hoop, it finally took flight around my waist.  That night I hooped for five hours straight and I have been hooping ever since. I traveled to Dallas, TX; Sarasota, FL; Carborro, NC; New York, NY andShropshire, England to train with internationally known hoop instructors. The hoop has made me feel younger, stronger and more fit but most importantly it makes me happy.  I am passionate about teaching hoop dance and helping people to become happier and healthier through hooping.  In addition to Hoop Dance, I have an extensive background in instructional fitness as: the leader of the choreography committee of a dance performance troupe, captain of a competetive dance team, manager of a body building gym and aerobics instructor in the 1980s and a self-defense instructor in the 1990's. I use my diverse background as a school teacher, corporate trainer, Reiki Master Teacher, energy healer and middle aged woman to teach complicated skills with simple clarity while providing an atmosphere where students can have fun, feel comfortable, learn and have the freedom to explore and discover new ways to move in their hoops. 

Sensei Leal’s started martial arts in 1973 at the age of 17 and has 19 years of Traditional Karate
training. Martial Arts and Kobudo training include Tae Kwon Do, various styles of martial arts during
military service 1974 to 1978. 1993 began training Shito-Ryu Hayashi-Ha, Kenshinryu Kobudo system. ,
Sensei Leal began training and studying Goju-Ryu Karate in late 1993 under Morio Hiagonna Sensei
IOGKF Federation, www.iogkf.com to present. In 2003 opened a neighborhood Traditional Martial
Arts Dojo, and in 2009 became an official registered IOGKF-USA member instructor/Dojo school,
www.iogkfusa.com .
As a Ni-Dan at the national level and a San-Dan at the International level qualifies Sensei Leal’s to
develop and provide traditional karate/kobudo instruction to all ages and learning levels. Sensei Leal’s
Education and Training background provide the skills and competencies to develop various safe training
curriculums with enriched and rewarding results.
Sensei Leal has a never quit passion for traditional karate/kobudo that will change ones’ life 4-ever,
and has enjoyed a very rewarding teaching career for more than 25 years.

Sunny is the founder and director of Austin Dance Collective. She trains traditional West African music and dance with master drummers, dancers and choreographers from the National Ballet of Guinea, Ballet Djoliba, and Ballet Merveilles. She performs with Lannaya West African Drum & Dance Ensemble and Drum Cafe Texas. Sunny leads the Lannaya Youth Performance Ensemble and teaches drum, dance, creative movement, improv, and  choreography to children. 

Argentine Tango is a heart centered dance.  It is danced heart to heart and likewise Stephen teaches from the heart.  Known for the musicality, dynamics, and smoothness that he brings to tango, Stephen strives to impart the techniques and elements that allow his students to find the coveted moments of tango bliss on a regular basis. 

With over 15 years of partner dance experience, Stephen originally starting with ballroom, including east & west coast swing, latin and smooth.  Eventullay he discovered Argentine tango which quickly became his primary focus for the past 9 years.  As a student who has transitioned from one dance to tango, Stephen understand the difficulties and challenges that students of other dances may face learning tango.   


He has privately studied different styles of tango, taught by many instructors but his primary dance and teaching influence is from renowned instructor and musician Alex Krebs.