In-School & Studio Workshops
Waacking with Diana ‘Fly Lady Di’ Reyes
Fly Lady Di, a student of legends Tyrone 'The Bone' and Adolfo 'Shabbadoo' Quinones, leads a workshop focusing on the principles of waacking including posing and freestyling prompts, connection to the character and persona required to embody confidence, and knowledge sharing of the art form. Leave it all on the dance floor with a profound understanding of waacking!
Born in Toronto, Diana Reyes also known as ‘Fly Lady Di’, is a multi-disciplinary artist recognized for her work as a street dancer and DJ. Diana’s current explorations combine her ancestral Filipino heritage with contemporary concepts through performance.
Workshops available October 2024 - June 2025. Email [email protected] for more information.
Vernacular Jazz with Miha Matevzic
Join Miha Matevzic in a vernacular jazz workshop and find your inner groove! Learn the Charleston, Fishtail, Tackie Annie, Fall off the Log, and Suzy Q, play with rhythm and polyrhythm, and improvise to new musical inspirations.
Originally from Slovenia, Miha Matevzic lived and worked in London with artists such as Rihanna and Mariah Carey. Miha is currently a dancer with Holla Jazz and a Contract Lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University where he teaches street dance styles, vernacular jazz, and western dance.
Workshops available October 2024 - June 2025. Email [email protected] for more information.
Powwow Jingle Dress Dance with Madison Noon
Indigenous artist and classically trained dancer, Madison Noon, invites students to experience the dynamic fusion of Indigenous dance in a Powwow Jingle Dress Dance workshop. A traditional medicine and healing dance, Jingle Dress Dance is vibrant, dynamic, and embodies the resilience and spirit of Indigenous culture. Students will explore Jingle Dress Dance rhythms and intricate footwork and how they intersect with contemporary and classical movement styles, develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation, and participate in honouring Indigenous cultural traditions.
Madison Noon, a Nehiyaw Iskwew (Cree) from Thunderchild Cree First Nation, is a professional dancer with experience in diverse movement styles including powwow jingle dress dancing and classical ballet. In 2024, Madison was the first Nehiyaw Iskwew to graduate with a B.F.A. at Toronto Metropolitan University and is currently a dancer with the Toronto Raptors Northside Crew.
Workshops available October 2024 - June 2025. Email [email protected] for more information.
Kathak with Neetika Sharma
In Neetika Sharma's workshop, participants explore the fundamentals of kathak. Expressive gestures known as mudras are introduced to convey emotion and narrative. Subtle wrist movements called hasta-pranas are practiced for precision and grace. Basic footwork known as tatkar is taught to emphasize rhythmic patterns and the importance of ghungroos (bells tied around the ankles) to enhance the auditory aspect of the dance. The workshop will offer beginners a solid base before advancing to more complex choreography.
Born in Libya to Indian parents, Neetika Sharma is a kathak performer, storyteller, and advocate for cultural diversity. In 2019, she founded Katha-Ras Dance Lab, a program empowering underrepresented women dancers of color in Toronto. Neetika’s artistic impact spans various dance organizations, where she champions inclusivity and aims to inspire positive social change through her work.
Workshops available October 2024 - June 2025. Email [email protected] for more information.
Photo credits: Fly Lady Di photo by Wade Hudson. Miha Matevzic photo by Francesca Chudnoff. Madison Noon photo by Bert Crowfoot. Neetika Sharma photo by Alex Usquiano.