The Performing Artists of the World Arts West Dance Festival
Calpulli Tonalehqueh
Calpulli Tonalehqueh is an Aztec Dance community based in San Jose, CA and founded in Oct 2004. “Calpulli” is from the Nahuatl word meaning “Reunion of Houses” or “community” and Tonalehqueh means “guardians who accompany the sun. Calpulli Tonalehqueh’s work is founded on the concepts of: Wisdom, Harmony, and Culture.
Wisdom involves seeking, obtaining, sharing indigenous knowledge and traditions. Harmony involves striving for harmony with self, mother earth, the creator, and others. Culture refers to walking the Red Road, which includes: native arts, cultural productions, and a native worldview.
Tonalehqueh is a multilayered metaphorical term. It means “Those who accompany the sun along its journey.” It refers to those who individually and collectively strive to meet their full potential on earth, and who take the characteristics of the sun as their goals for personal growth and existence. Like the Sun itself, they seek to be resplendent, strong, steady, life-giving, balanced, humble, virtuous, and creative.
Photo Credit: Darryl Kelly
Calpulli Tonalehqueh is an Aztec Dance community based in San Jose, CA and founded in Oct 2004. “Calpulli” is from the Nahuatl word meaning “Reunion of Houses” or “community” and Tonalehqueh means “guardians who accompany the sun. Calpulli Tonalehqueh’s work is founded on the concepts of: Wisdom, Harmony, and Culture.
Wisdom involves seeking, obtaining, sharing indigenous knowledge and traditions. Harmony involves striving for harmony with self, mother earth, the creator, and others. Culture refers to walking the Red Road, which includes: native arts, cultural productions, and a native worldview.
Tonalehqueh is a multilayered metaphorical term. It means “Those who accompany the sun along its journey.” It refers to those who individually and collectively strive to meet their full potential on earth, and who take the characteristics of the sun as their goals for personal growth and existence. Like the Sun itself, they seek to be resplendent, strong, steady, life-giving, balanced, humble, virtuous, and creative.
Photo Credit: Darryl Kelly
Diamano Coura West African Dance Company
Diamano Coura is a not-for-profit community African arts organization with a cultural focus. Located at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts in the City of Oakland, the Company is dedicated to: The preservation, education, and appreciation of traditional West African music, dance, theater, and culture through public benefit ventures. The mission of Diamano Coura is to provide global audiences access to the richness of indigenous African cultural tapestry through professional classes, performances, and the accurate depiction and perpetuation of African folklore indigenous Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Liberia, and Ivory Coast, whereby it can be understood and appreciated by all. Diamano Coura is committed to partnering with other artists and community members to use the inherent power of the arts to break barriers that stagnate to open corridors that encourage social and economic development, while fostering health and spiritual health and well-being. Diamano Coura in the Senegalese Wolof language means "those who bring the message."
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
Diamano Coura is a not-for-profit community African arts organization with a cultural focus. Located at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts in the City of Oakland, the Company is dedicated to: The preservation, education, and appreciation of traditional West African music, dance, theater, and culture through public benefit ventures. The mission of Diamano Coura is to provide global audiences access to the richness of indigenous African cultural tapestry through professional classes, performances, and the accurate depiction and perpetuation of African folklore indigenous Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Liberia, and Ivory Coast, whereby it can be understood and appreciated by all. Diamano Coura is committed to partnering with other artists and community members to use the inherent power of the arts to break barriers that stagnate to open corridors that encourage social and economic development, while fostering health and spiritual health and well-being. Diamano Coura in the Senegalese Wolof language means "those who bring the message."
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
Ilê Aiyê
llê Aiyê is a carnival block from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. It is located in the Curuzu/Liberdade neighborhood, the largest afro-descendent population area of Salvador. The name stems from the Yoruba language: Ilé - home; Ayé - life; which can be loosely translated as 'earth'. It was founded in 1974 by Antônio Carlos "Vovô" and Apolônio de Jesus, making it the oldest Afro-Brazilian block.
llê Aiyê works to raise the consciousness of the Bahian black community. Persecuted by the police and the media during its first years, and still controversial for only allowing blacks to parade with the group, llê Aiê is a renowned element of Bahia's carnival. The group pioneered the type of carnival group known as the bloco afro, featuring themes from global black cultures and history, and celebrating the aesthetic beauty of black people. All other Afro-Brazilian blocos borrow elements originally created by llê Aiyê, including such groups founded shortly afterwards, such as Olodum and Malê Debalê. During Bahian carnival, the group includes hundreds of musicians, dozens of dancers, and thousands of members.
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
llê Aiyê is a carnival block from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. It is located in the Curuzu/Liberdade neighborhood, the largest afro-descendent population area of Salvador. The name stems from the Yoruba language: Ilé - home; Ayé - life; which can be loosely translated as 'earth'. It was founded in 1974 by Antônio Carlos "Vovô" and Apolônio de Jesus, making it the oldest Afro-Brazilian block.
llê Aiyê works to raise the consciousness of the Bahian black community. Persecuted by the police and the media during its first years, and still controversial for only allowing blacks to parade with the group, llê Aiê is a renowned element of Bahia's carnival. The group pioneered the type of carnival group known as the bloco afro, featuring themes from global black cultures and history, and celebrating the aesthetic beauty of black people. All other Afro-Brazilian blocos borrow elements originally created by llê Aiyê, including such groups founded shortly afterwards, such as Olodum and Malê Debalê. During Bahian carnival, the group includes hundreds of musicians, dozens of dancers, and thousands of members.
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
Melissa Cruz Flamenco
Melissa Cruz is a Bay Area-based flamenco professional and has been a full-time flamenco artist and instructor for the past 15 years. She began training with the Bay Area’s acclaimed flamenco master Rosa Montoya and soon thereafter, joined Ms. Montoya's professional company. Melissa has performed as a soloist in the San Francisco International Arts Festival and has presented in eight San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festivals, twice as a featured soloist. In 2013, she was commissioned to present a solo representing the genre of flamenco in the San Francisco Isadora Duncan Awards Ceremony. She teaches a full schedule of classes and mentors her students in their development of flamenco knowledge and interpretation culminating in formal annual recitals, of which she has produced eight consecutively.
Enjoying a concurrent musical career, she is percussionist/drummer/dancer with several active musical projects. She currently continues as principal dancer and choreographer for the San Francisco Flamenco Dance Company and has collaborated with Flamenco Fever (Dallas) Oleaje Flamenco (Seattle), Quiero Flamenco (Spokane), Arte y Pasion (San Antonio), Ballet Flamenco La Rosa, (Miami), Tuscon Flamenco Festival (Tuscon) St. Louis Flamenco Society (St. Louis MO), Flamenco Pacifico (Portland OR) Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco and Caminos Flamencos (San Francisco). Recently, she was Artistic Director of "The Flamenco Room" San Francisco’s longest running cabaret flamenco show. Summer 2021 saw Melissa featured in the one-woman flamenco theater play, "Flamenco on my Own" produced in collaboration with Ballet Flamenco La Rosa in Miami and as a featured performer and instructor at the 2021 Festival Flamenco Albuquerque presented by the National Institute of Flamenco.
From 2020 to 2022, she was a Producer for Arts in the Basin, curating the program’s Friday night live performances. This year 2023, Melissa was a featured performer in the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in San Francisco and the Peninsula International Dance Festival. In addition to her accomplished artistic career, Melissa is a Bachelor of the Arts graduate of UC Berkeley and holds a Juris Doctor degree from University of San Francisco. As described by Rachel Howard of the SF Chronicle: "Any dancer could make pained faces. But Cruz is clearly possessed by the duende -- the spirit that drives this deeply introspective art."
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
Melissa Cruz is a Bay Area-based flamenco professional and has been a full-time flamenco artist and instructor for the past 15 years. She began training with the Bay Area’s acclaimed flamenco master Rosa Montoya and soon thereafter, joined Ms. Montoya's professional company. Melissa has performed as a soloist in the San Francisco International Arts Festival and has presented in eight San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festivals, twice as a featured soloist. In 2013, she was commissioned to present a solo representing the genre of flamenco in the San Francisco Isadora Duncan Awards Ceremony. She teaches a full schedule of classes and mentors her students in their development of flamenco knowledge and interpretation culminating in formal annual recitals, of which she has produced eight consecutively.
Enjoying a concurrent musical career, she is percussionist/drummer/dancer with several active musical projects. She currently continues as principal dancer and choreographer for the San Francisco Flamenco Dance Company and has collaborated with Flamenco Fever (Dallas) Oleaje Flamenco (Seattle), Quiero Flamenco (Spokane), Arte y Pasion (San Antonio), Ballet Flamenco La Rosa, (Miami), Tuscon Flamenco Festival (Tuscon) St. Louis Flamenco Society (St. Louis MO), Flamenco Pacifico (Portland OR) Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco and Caminos Flamencos (San Francisco). Recently, she was Artistic Director of "The Flamenco Room" San Francisco’s longest running cabaret flamenco show. Summer 2021 saw Melissa featured in the one-woman flamenco theater play, "Flamenco on my Own" produced in collaboration with Ballet Flamenco La Rosa in Miami and as a featured performer and instructor at the 2021 Festival Flamenco Albuquerque presented by the National Institute of Flamenco.
From 2020 to 2022, she was a Producer for Arts in the Basin, curating the program’s Friday night live performances. This year 2023, Melissa was a featured performer in the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in San Francisco and the Peninsula International Dance Festival. In addition to her accomplished artistic career, Melissa is a Bachelor of the Arts graduate of UC Berkeley and holds a Juris Doctor degree from University of San Francisco. As described by Rachel Howard of the SF Chronicle: "Any dancer could make pained faces. But Cruz is clearly possessed by the duende -- the spirit that drives this deeply introspective art."
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
Mona Khan Company
The Mona Khan Company is one of the largest Bollywood companies in North America, specializing in dance, fitness and events. They redefine "Bollywood" by encompassing various dance genres like Contemporary Dance, Jazz and Hip Hop, in addition to Indian Classical and Folk Dance forms. The company is a leader in providing the best of Bollywood style entertainment through its elite team of professional dancers, who have performed with several Bollywood stars, including the King of Bollywood himself —Shah Rukh Khan. They were the first Bollywood dance company in the 32-year history of World Arts West to perform at the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. They were also invited to perform at an NBA Warriors’ halftime event in 2010 and competed in NBC’s top-rated show "America’s Got Talent" and made it to the Top 48 in Season 5. Besides their professional dance troupe, the Mona Khan Company offers dance classes in 10 cities in the San Francisco Bay Area for all age groups, from children 3 yrs of age to senior citizens. They are also the creators of Bombay Jam®, the fitness industry’s first packaged Bollywood certification!
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
The Mona Khan Company is one of the largest Bollywood companies in North America, specializing in dance, fitness and events. They redefine "Bollywood" by encompassing various dance genres like Contemporary Dance, Jazz and Hip Hop, in addition to Indian Classical and Folk Dance forms. The company is a leader in providing the best of Bollywood style entertainment through its elite team of professional dancers, who have performed with several Bollywood stars, including the King of Bollywood himself —Shah Rukh Khan. They were the first Bollywood dance company in the 32-year history of World Arts West to perform at the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. They were also invited to perform at an NBA Warriors’ halftime event in 2010 and competed in NBC’s top-rated show "America’s Got Talent" and made it to the Top 48 in Season 5. Besides their professional dance troupe, the Mona Khan Company offers dance classes in 10 cities in the San Francisco Bay Area for all age groups, from children 3 yrs of age to senior citizens. They are also the creators of Bombay Jam®, the fitness industry’s first packaged Bollywood certification!
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
Nicaragua Dance Ensemble
Nicaragua Dance Ensemble came together when the opportunity to represent the Nicaraguan Garífuna culture at WAW arose. We are a group of individual artists raised in Nicaragua who have found our home away from home through carrying our culture and dance within and by teaching our Nicaraguan artistic forms to our community in a way of belonging in foreign lands. Many of us in this project are of Nicaraguan descent or are dancers who participate in the African diaspora dance community. We are all proud and eager to be able to share our background on such a diverse stage and are humbled by those who have joined us to succeed in this project.
Photo Credit: Darryl Kelly
Nicaragua Dance Ensemble came together when the opportunity to represent the Nicaraguan Garífuna culture at WAW arose. We are a group of individual artists raised in Nicaragua who have found our home away from home through carrying our culture and dance within and by teaching our Nicaraguan artistic forms to our community in a way of belonging in foreign lands. Many of us in this project are of Nicaraguan descent or are dancers who participate in the African diaspora dance community. We are all proud and eager to be able to share our background on such a diverse stage and are humbled by those who have joined us to succeed in this project.
Photo Credit: Darryl Kelly
Ruth Asawa School of the Arts - World Dance Department
World Dance at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts is a training ground for students to hone their skills as diverse movers, critical thinkers, arts activists and dance educators. Students will train in a variety of dance forms from around the world, as well as learn to use the elements of dance and various choreographic devices in order to develop their own work. Their physical training will also be met with an exploration of the social, cultural and political themes surrounding each dance form studied. In addition, students will have opportunities to perform, choreograph and share their work with each other, their families and community! While prior dance training is encouraged, it is not a prerequisite to audition for the program. We seek students who love to dance and have a strong desire to learn about different dances from around the world!
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
World Dance at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts is a training ground for students to hone their skills as diverse movers, critical thinkers, arts activists and dance educators. Students will train in a variety of dance forms from around the world, as well as learn to use the elements of dance and various choreographic devices in order to develop their own work. Their physical training will also be met with an exploration of the social, cultural and political themes surrounding each dance form studied. In addition, students will have opportunities to perform, choreograph and share their work with each other, their families and community! While prior dance training is encouraged, it is not a prerequisite to audition for the program. We seek students who love to dance and have a strong desire to learn about different dances from around the world!
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
Te Pura O Te Rahura’a
Te Pura O Te Rahura’a is the Polynesian dance troupe of Spark of Creation Studio located in South San Francisco, California. Founded in 2006, under the direction of Marilou Ubaldo Lafon and Randy Lafon, the troupe focuses on songs and dances from the islands of Hawai’i and Tahiti, perpetuating the Polynesian culture through the performing arts. Their goal is to develop each dancer’s talents by nurturing her or his individual abilities, instilling self-esteem and encouraging an appreciation for the culture, dances and music of Polynesia.
The group has traveled and competed throughout the USA and also have performed in Tahiti, Canada, Mexico and Japan. Te Pura o te Rahura'a was awarded Best Overall Hura Tau Group at the 2017, 2015, 2012 & 2010 Tahiti Fete of San Jose dance competition. The group also traveled to Hawai’i to perform their original piece “Te Moana Nui'' in the 2014 Merrie Monarch Festival Ho'ike with Ilima Hula Studio in Hilo, Hawaii and also traveled to Tahiti where they were awarded 1st place in at the 1st Edition of the Hura Tapairu Manihini Competition in Papeete.
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
Te Pura O Te Rahura’a is the Polynesian dance troupe of Spark of Creation Studio located in South San Francisco, California. Founded in 2006, under the direction of Marilou Ubaldo Lafon and Randy Lafon, the troupe focuses on songs and dances from the islands of Hawai’i and Tahiti, perpetuating the Polynesian culture through the performing arts. Their goal is to develop each dancer’s talents by nurturing her or his individual abilities, instilling self-esteem and encouraging an appreciation for the culture, dances and music of Polynesia.
The group has traveled and competed throughout the USA and also have performed in Tahiti, Canada, Mexico and Japan. Te Pura o te Rahura'a was awarded Best Overall Hura Tau Group at the 2017, 2015, 2012 & 2010 Tahiti Fete of San Jose dance competition. The group also traveled to Hawai’i to perform their original piece “Te Moana Nui'' in the 2014 Merrie Monarch Festival Ho'ike with Ilima Hula Studio in Hilo, Hawaii and also traveled to Tahiti where they were awarded 1st place in at the 1st Edition of the Hura Tapairu Manihini Competition in Papeete.
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
Winnie Wong
Winnie Wong was born in Hong Kong and raised in San Francisco, CA. She started her training on the guzheng in 1982 at the age of four under the expertise of guzheng virtuoso, Ms. Weishan Liu. Being from a Chinese immigrant family, guzheng allowed her to stay connected to her roots, but more importantly, share with the community the beauty and importance of diversity and traditional music. In the past decades, she's founded “China’s Spirit Music Ensemble” to give her growing population of guzheng disciples a “home” to share and develop their skills and understanding for the guzheng, fell deeper in exploration into the genre of “World Music” and improvisation, is principal guzheng soloist for a world jazz ensemble, “The Ultra World X-tet” and a member of the very uniquely fused Irish-Chinese trio “The Lucky Pluckers” (combining guzheng, harp and violin folk inspired improvisations.
Photo Credit: Scott Ragle
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