Sensoria at Central Piedmont Community College
April 17

Sponsored by CPCC

Click Here to Visit Sensoria Website

Free Dance Classes!
Free Performances!

Come learn new moves and try your own on the open dance floor! Teachers in a variety of dance genres including hip-hop, salsa and swing dancing will teach free dance classes for all ages!

Performances by regional dance companies, CMS dance programs and studios in a variety of dance styles will take place on the stage as well.

If you have a group who would like to perform, please email Info@charlottedancefestival.org.

11:00am – 12:00pm: Capoiera with Academia Aprende
Academia Aprende was established in 2006 following the aesthetic and teaching style of Patrick Diebel's teacher, Gerrard Taylor, of the Osto Capoeria Club in Norway , who in turn closely follows the example of Mestra Sylva and Marcos Dos Santos of the London School of Capoeira and the great Master of Sombra of Sengale de Santos in Santos , Brazil . The style of Capoeira that we promote is non-contact and non aggressive. As opposed to ‘fighting', we aim to form a dialogue between the ‘players' as a highly skilled and refined aesthetic pursuit.

12:00pm – 1:00pm: African Dance with Cynthia Poke
Cynthia D. Poke, Artistic and Executive Director of New Moves Dance Company
Director of Mixing of Souls Dance Division

Cynthia Poke, (West African Dance) holds a BS in Dance and Physical Education from Virginia State University and an MS from Indiana University in Physical Education with a Dance option. Additionally, she holds a Certificate in School Administration from Garner-Webb College . In 1998 she founded the New Moves Dance Company as its Artistic and Executive director and in 2008 she became the Director of the Mixing Souls Dance Division. She has been on the faculty of Virginia State University and is currently the dance educator at Sedgefield Middle School . Her special interest in Liturgical/Praise dance has afforded her the opportunity to present her work in regional and national conferences.  In 2004 she was honored with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and North Carolina Dance Theater Dance Educator of the Year award as well in 2004, she co-authored the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Curriculum Guide 2004.

1:00pm – 2:00pm: Latin Dance with Jebi Nivens
Jebi Nivens is a native of Charlotte and founder of Dulce Y Valiente Dance Productions, an up and coming dancer of New York Nightclub Salsa, an exciting variation of traditional salsa styles. His passion and enjoyment of this style has taken him on regular excursions to New York City and Durham North Carolina in the past two years to train in this exotic and expressive style, under the guidance of Charlotte area-salsa veteran Eric D. Anthony. Jebi's key to success and enjoyment whenever dancing has and will always be: "Let the music tell you what to do, but really listen to it.">

2:00pm – 3:00pm: Hip-hop with Jamie Drye
Jamie is a company dancer with Caroline Calouche & Co. He recently graduated from Winthrop University with a B.A. in Dance Performance and a Theatre minor. During his studies he worked with Caroline Calouche, Martha Connerton , Stephanie Milling, Stacy McConnell and Christian von Howard. Re cently recognized as most aspiring choreographer, his latest work is Love Moves (Spring 2009), co-directed and co-produced with Lauren Bohn. Outside of Winthrop he has produced and co-choreographed a full-length dance production entitled Elements (Summer 2006) held at the Duke Power Theatre in Charlotte , North Carolina . He has also performed principle roles in Asheville Ballets Porgy and Bess , and CPCC's Celestial Tapestries (Fall 2008). His stage credits include Joseph and the Amazing Techno-Colored Dream Coat, Beauty and the Beast, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Godspell , Oklahoma , and A Grand Night for Singing. In the summer he spends his time teaching at Ballibay Arts Camp, St-Arts and Smokey Mountain Dance Camp.