The DanceVersity instructors are a diverse blend of professional artists and instructors who are accomplished performers, well-known in their respective communities, and wherever possible, native to the communities they represent.
Hannah Romanowsky – DanceVersity Founder and Faculty, Founder of Scheherazade School of Sacred Movement
We invite you to be a part of the DanceVersity Family!
If you are a dancer and have experience teaching youth, we would love to invite you to join our faculty. Please contact us!
Past Instructors
Fall 2017 – Winter 2018
- Portsha Jefferson: Haitian Folkloric, Faculty since 2005!
- Kamala Devam: Kalaripayattu (S. Indian Martial Arts) and Classical Indian
Summer 2017
- Hannah Romanowsky: Persian & Egyptian
- Portsha Jefferson: Afro-Haitian
- Netza Vidal: Ballet Folklórico Netzahualcoyotl
- Kyoungil Ong: Korean dance & drumming
- Johnny5 Lopez: TURF (Oakland based street dance)
- Samia Karimi: Afghan traditional dance
- Bella Qureshi: Bollywood
Spring 2017
- Kamala Devam: Kalaripayattu – S. Indian Martial Arts (youth and adult classes)
Summer 2015
Week 1: ELEMENTS – Exploring the elements reflected in dance styles and cultures
- Tina Cruz: Filipino Dance
- Hannah Romanowsky and Tom Mayock: Swing Dance
- Melody Takata: Taiko Drumming
- Portsha Jefferson: Afro-Haitian
Week 2: RHYTHM – Experience the rhythms created by dancing
- Meredith Belany: Ballet Folklorico
- Flo Dabokemp: Hip Hop
- Shabnam: Bellydance
- Naby Bangoura: West African
Week 3: STORIES – Focus on historical and creative storytelling
- Elizabeth Strong: Turkish Roman Dance
- Jenna Anjali: Odissi Dance
- Bella Qureshi: Bollywood
2014 Summer Camp
Week 1: Americas
- Portsha Jefferson
- Luisa Martinez
- Kyla Portugal
- Anya de Marie
Week 2: Asia & Middle East
- Katy Alaniz Rous
- Bella Qureshi
- Hannah Romanowsky
- Jenna Anjali
Week 3: Europe & Africa
- Nick Brentley
- Aya Safia
- Katy Alaniz Rous
Winter, 2014: Afro-foundations / Dancehall
- Anya de Marie, M.A. – educator, dancer and activist who is deeply passionate about dancing for the love of it, reclaiming culture, and healing from violence.
Fall 2013 Class: Inspiration India
- Antonia Minnecola – Kathak
- Isabella Qureshi – Bollywood
2013 Summer Camp Instructors
Week 1:Americas
- Portsha Jefferson
- Katy Alaniz Rous
- Tom Mayock
Week 2: Asia & Middle East
- Kamala Devam
- Hannah Romanowsky
- Bruce Bierman
- Abigail Keyes
Week 3: Europe & Africa
- Sarah Romanowsky
- Amel Tafsout
- Monica Berini
- Julia Chigamba
Past Instructors cont.
2012-13 Class Instructors
- Isabella Qureshi – Bollywood
- Hannah Romanowsky (DanceVersity Director) – North Africa
- Nicholas Van Eyck – Cuban Salsa“
- Mary Kay Stuvland – Polish
- Katy Alaniz Rous – Brazilian
2011-12 Class Instructors
- Carmen Roman – Afro-Peruvian
- Portsha Jefferson – Afro-Haitian
- Hannah Romanowsky (DanceVersity Director) – Roma (Gypsy)
- Julie Marques – Bollywood
- Karen G Guzman – Hip-hop
2011 Camp Instructors
- Eddie Madril – Native American
- Carmen Roman – Afro-Peruvian
- Karen G Guzman – Hip-Hop
- Chris Montiel – Professor Recruta – Capoeira
- Serena Lim – Hawaiian
- Portsha Jefferson – Afro-Haitian
- Sarah Romanowsky – Theatre Arts
- Schenell Crichlow – Latin American Social Dance
- Kompiang Davies – Balinese, Gamelan
- Serena Lim – Tahitian
- Kyoungil Ong – Korean
- Julie Marques – Bollywood
- Farima Berenji – Central Asian – Azeri
- Hannah Romanowsky – Turkish Roma (Gypsy)
- Monica Berini – zills (hand cymbals)
- Lara Brotslaw – Jewish
- Melissa Cruz – Flamenco
- Hassania Walker – Morroccan
- Portsha Jefferson – Afro-Haitian
- Sarah Romanowsky – Theatre Arts
- Mary Kay Stuvland – Polish
- Pam Askin – Turkish
- Farima Berenji – Banderi
- Naby Bangoura – Guinean
2010-2011 Dance Class Instructors
- Emelie K Coleman – Ethno-Contemporary
- Hannah Romanowsky (DanceVersity Director)- Central Asian, Middle Eastern, North African
- Clara Rodriguez – Flamenco
- Julie Marques – Bollywood
- Portsha Jefferson – Afro-Haitian
- Tom Mayock – Creative Movement, Jazz
- Holly Shaw – Contemporary Modern
Other Faculty
- Jade Itiene – Global Groove/Camp Counselor
- Melanie Hogan – Arabic/Qi-gong
- Miriam Peretz – Central Asian and Middle Eastern
- Vicki Virk – Bhangra
- Jade Raybin – Ethno-Contemporary
- Mary Ellen Donald – Middle Eastern percussion
- Mariam Gaibova – Tajik
- Lateef Swain – World Hip Hop
- Julia Tsitsi Chigamba – Zimbabwean
- Bruce Bierman – Israeli, Ashkenazi, Yemeni
- Renata Marson Teixiera de Andrade – Brazilian
- Damian Alvarez
- Azriel “El Moreno” Goldschmidt
- Cera Byer
- Fabio Moura
- Kamala Deva
- Lily Storm
- Mira Betz
- Ramon Ramos Ayalo
- Tara Pandeya
- Sara Ayala
- Barbara Framm
- Xiomara Salinas
- Daniel ‘Brav’ Brevil