OUR TEAM

Jennalee and Ria are longtime friends and creative partners, finding a particular niche in educating youth through dance, and innovative creative pieces using cultural fusion. As educators, they aim to facilitate energetic, positive, and accessible learning spaces for dancers of all ages and levels.

Ria is a respected dance artist who has trained in a variety of styles including Bharatanatyam (a classical Indian dance), Bollywood, Bhangra, Hip Hop, and House. After acquiring a Master’s in teaching, Ria has dedicated her life to fusing teaching and dance. She is currently a part-time faculty member at Centennial College where she teaches an Indian dance course and a faculty member at the renowned downtown studio City Dance Corps.

Jennalee is a professional dancer, instructor and choreographer with a diverse background of dance training including Hip Hop, Waacking, Jazz, and Musical Theatre. She has spent ten years teaching in vulnerable communities in Ottawa and the GTA for companies such as Culture Shock Canada and VIBE. She is currently a part-time faculty member at Seneca College and the Youth Program Director at City Dance Corps.

ARTISTS

TANVEER ALAM

Born and raised in Montreal, Tanveer Alam started his dance training in Kathak, an Indian classical dance form, under Sudeshna Maulik. He continues to develop his craft under guru Sandhya Desai and is graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre’s Professional Training Program.

Alam has performed professionally across North America, and has presented his own works at the Dance Ontario Dance Weekend 2019. He hopes to continue to create works that evoke a sense of togetherness, and demonstrate his passion for dance.

ERIKA SUAREZ

Erika is a professional dancer and anthropologist from the Javerina University in Bogotá, Colombia. She conducted her thesis in San Basilio de Palenque, and investigated corporeal organizations in relation to dance and everyday life. 

Erika worked in Portales for several years at various dance academies and a Montessori school. In 2017, she was awarded “Artistas Jovenes Talentos” from the ICETEX program, and participated in an artist residency in Madrid Spain. Erika currently dances for the Ballet Creole company and teaches at the Annex Dance Academy.

Zahra Badua

Zahra is from Ghana but grew up in Montreal, Quebec. Her passion for dance started at a very young age as a means to understand and learn about her African heritage. She has trained in traditional West African and Afro-Caribbean folklore dances styles as well as Dancehall and Soca. 

Recently has been a member of the Coco Collective, Alpha Rhythm and Roots, Unrulygyal Performing Team, and the BlackStars Collective. Zahra also teaches across the GTA promoting and educating students about the culture and beauty of the Diaspora.  

JASMINE HUANG

Jasmine is a graduate from Ivey Business School and the Earl Haig Secondary School’s Dance Program. She has studied Chinese Folk dance, ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop since the age of 4. 

Jasmine has completed all grade levels from the Beijing Academy of Dance's Chinese Folk dance curriculum and received the highest grade in Ontario on the final examination. She has been teaching Chinese Folk dance for the past 10 years to children of all ages and levels of dance.