Workshop Descriptions & Instructor Biographies

African Street Dance Fundamentals: Kwasi Obeng-Adjei 

Kwasi Obeng-Adjei is a Canadian multidisciplinary artist, emerging choreographer and dance educator based in Brampton who has performed in multiple award-winning productions with world-renowned dance and music artists.

Class description: This class focuses on the fundamental movements that form the foundation of core African street dance styles. Blending traditional and street dance forms from Ghana, participants will explore the cultural and rhythmic connections that unite both styles.

Rwandan Traditional & Contemporary Dances: Isaac Gasangwa 

Isaac Gasangwa, widely known as Izo Dreamchaser, is a creator, educator, and leading ambassador for African cultures in Vancouver hailing from Rwanda, where he pioneered the country’s first dance festival in 2011 and co-founded its inaugural dance studio at Club Rafiki, aiding post-genocide rebuilding by providing a purposeful outlet for orphans. He relocated to Vancouver in 2014.

Class description: Experience a vibrant fusion of heritage and innovation through Rwandan Traditional and Contemporary Dance. Whether exploring ancestral rhythms or fluid athleticism, this workshop provides a space for creative growth and cultural connection. Designed for all levels, it is a celebration of resilience that honors the past while pushing the boundaries of the future.

Authentic Jazz Dances: Natasha Powell 

Natasha Powell has collaborated on and created over 20 dance works for live performance, and in 2016, she founded the award-winning company, Holla Jazz, a home and meeting place for practitioners in jazz and street dance forms to create works in collaboration with designers and musicians.

Class description: Authentic Jazz Dance is a collection of dances created in African-American communities from the late 1800’s through the mid-1900s, set to jazz and swing music. From the Suzy Q, to the Charleston, we will explore what it looks and feels like to dance to jazz music, including the tips and tools that help bring these moves to life.

Bahamian Caribbean Folk: Reequal Smith 

Reequal Smith is a Bahamian-born multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, educator, and cultural leader based in Prince Edward Island who founded and directs Oshun Dance Studios, where her practice centres Afro-Caribbean dance, Bahamian Folklore, contemporary dance, storytelling, and community connection.

Class description: Step into the rhythm, culture, and spirit of The Bahamas through this lively Bahamian Folk Dance workshop! Rooted in a rich blend of African movement traditions and European influences, Bahamian folk dance reflects generations of cultural exchange, storytelling, celebration, and community.