Dance
Grades 1 - 5
Thu from 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM
14 participants
$405 for 12 classes
Description
World Dance: Intro to Indian Kathak & Mexican Folkloric Dance (Grades 1-5)
This beginner-friendly world dance class introduces children to the lively world of Mexican folklórico dance and Indian Kathak dance. Students will explore basic footwork, dance movements from the different cultures, and foundational dance patterns while learning to move with rhythm, coordination, and confidence. Through fun activities and traditional music, dancers will develop musicality, learn Latin and Indian rhythms, and gain an appreciation for the cultural roots of Mexican folklórico and Indian classical dance. Perfect for young beginners ready to move, learn, and express themselves! Artist Biography — Labonee Mohanta Labonee Mohanta is a dynamic force in the world of Indian classical dance. A prominent disciple of the legendary Kathak maestro Pandit Chitresh Das, she began her training at the age of 8 and is now a commanding solo artist, enthralling audiences regularly across the United States, Canada, India, and Europe. Celebrated for her rhythmic brilliance, fiery footwork, graceful elegance, and some of the fastest pirouettes in Indian dance today, Labonee brings a rare blend of power and poise to the stage. She is also a leading exponent of “Kathak Yoga”—a technique in which she simultaneously recites and sings rhythmic cycles, executes intricate footwork, and plays the harmonium. Labonee has performed at prestigious festivals including the Chetla Murari Sangeet Sammelan (Kolkata), North American Bengali Conference (San Francisco and Toronto), and New York Kathak Festival. Her cross-cultural collaborations include work with ‘Flamenco India’, Toronto Tabla Ensemble, and Indo-fusion band ‘Ganapati’. She is the 2024–2025 recipient of the Dresher Ensemble Artist Residency Award, through which she created and premiered a groundbreaking, innovative production Milana, blending Kathak with Jazz, North Indian music, and South Indian percussion. Her choreography and performance work have been featured in internationally acclaimed short films such as Faceoff and Prayer for the Mother, and also in Sare Saath: A Kathak Tale of Courage. In the formative years of her professional journey, Labonee toured extensively with the Chitresh Das Dance Company, where she also served as a senior teacher and center director at her Guru’s esteemed institution. Today, as the Artistic Director of Lavanya Academy of Indian Arts in California, she leads a vibrant community of students—training members of her Lavanya Dance Company and mentoring over 70 students across three locations in the Bay Area. As a second-generation Indian-American, Labonee serves as a cultural bridge, preserving the deep-rooted traditions of Indian classical dance while pushing its boundaries on the global stage. Through each performance and every class she teaches, she continues to honor her lineage—carrying forward a timeless legacy with vision, purpose, and innovation. More info at www.labonee.com. Artist Biography — Leslie Montaño Leslie Montaño is a Bay Area–born dancer and instructor whose artistry is rooted deeply in cultural tradition and community. While earning her B.S. in Business Administration and later her MFA in Dance Design & Production at Saint Mary’s College of California, she discovered a profound passion for dance—studying ballet, modern, and contemporary techniques before ultimately dedicating herself to Mexican folk dance. As a performer, Leslie has danced with esteemed companies including Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno, Ballet Folklorico de Ruth Correa, Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro, and Kantuta Ballet Folklorico de Bolivia, where she also serves as a board member. She is additionally a current dancer with InEssence Dance Company and an active member of the Asociación Nacional de Grupos Folklóricos, where she now contributes as a board member. Leslie’s work as an educator currently includes teaching multi-level courses in Traditional Mexican Folk Dance at Cañada College in Redwood City, CA. She is passionate about uplifting the heritage, history, and storytelling embedded in folklórico, sharing its richness both onstage and in the classroom. Through performance, instruction, and community leadership, Leslie continues to celebrate and expand the cultural legacy that inspires her movement.
Location
What to bring
No supplies needed. All supplies will be provided for this activity.
Cancellation policy
If the class does not meet it minimum size, the class will have to be cancelled.
If the instructor has to cancel one class, then a makeup class will be held.
Schedule
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Enrollment
Activity days
No activity days
About the provider
