This fun workshop will get you grooving to the sounds of Latin Rhythms with learning the basics of Merengue, Salsa and Bachata. This introduction to Latin dance is perfect for beginners learning new moves, but be prepared to break a sweat as you put it all together and pick up the pace alongside Jocelyn!

Jocelyn Azarcon, founder of Soul 2 Sole Latin Dance Company, will guide you through the basics of Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue. Soul2Sole is a Latin dance company since with multiple studio locations across the GTA. With over 20 years of experience, Jocelyn is a seasoned dance educator who brings a high level of energy and passion to her classes.

**This workshop is free, thanks to the generous support of the York Region Arts Council. Proudly presented as part of the York Region Experience Trail during Ontario Culture Days, in partnership with City of Vaughan, SmartVMC and YMCA at the at The David Braley Vaughan Centre.

A class that takes you on a tour of Africa through dance. Explore a variety of African street dance styles and learn grooves and moves including body isolations, hip movements, and footwork. Open to all levels of experience.

Zahra Badua is a Ghanaian dance educator and choreographer originally from Montreal, Quebec. Her passion for dance started at a very young age as a means to learn and understand her African heritage. Through discovery and learning she is trained in Traditional West African, Afro-Caribbean Folklore, Soca, Afrobeats and Dancehall. Zahra teaches for Dance 'N' Culture - an organization that brings cultural dance styles to schools across the GTA.

Photo by Mirna Chacin

**This workshop is free, thanks to the generous support of the York Region Arts Council. Proudly presented as part of the York Region Experience Trail during Ontario Culture Days, in partnership with City of Vaughan, SmartVMC and YMCA at the at The David Braley Vaughan Centre.

Did you know that Waltz was originally a street dance and deemed the ultimate “dirty dance” of its time? In this dance, finding connection in order to support each other through repetitive turns is a source of joy. Let’s take Waltz back to the street and find out what it’s all about! No prior dance experience necessary.

Katya Kuznetsova is a dance artist, educator and cultural producer with a focus and practice of building communities through dance. She develops and facilitates dance workshops and choreographies for beginners, as well as special workshops for the elderly, wheelchair movers and people with visual impairments. Through the Dance Together Project, Katya creates dance with “non-dancers” in a way that embraces vulnerability, builds confidence and opens access to the joy of human connection. She has developed and facilitated dance programs for Wheel Dance, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Sarah Elizabeth Centre, Sunnybrook Veterans Center and various retirement communities in the GTA. As a co-founder and co-producer of the Dance Together Festival, she is invested in opening access to positive dance experiences for everyone.

**This workshop is free, thanks to the generous support of the York Region Arts Council. Proudly presented as part of the York Region Experience Trail during Ontario Culture Days, in partnership with City of Vaughan, SmartVMC and YMCA at the at The David Braley Vaughan Centre.

Join Stephania Woloshyn (@bliskmusic , @lemonbucketorkestra ) along with live musicians Daev Clysdale on accordion and Jaash Singh on darbuka as they lead you through some fun social Ukrainian dances that combine partner and group formations, using simple repetitive sequences. The best part is you don't need to have ANY dance experience! All ages, all levels welcome! Come on out and have some fun! We guarantee you'll be giggling as you dance!

Stephania Woloshyn is a Toronto based Juno-nominated and Dora award-winning dancer/singer/musician, and multidisciplinary designer. She has trained extensively in ballet, Ukrainian, Eastern-European, Romani and bellydance, and has performed professionally world-wide as a singer and dancer with Toronto’s BLISK, The Lemon Bucket Orkestra, and Kalendar Ukrainian folk ensemble.

Photo by Mirna Chacin

**This workshop is free, thanks to the generous support of the York Region Arts Council. Proudly presented as part of the York Region Experience Trail during Ontario Culture Days, in partnership with City of Vaughan, SmartVMC and YMCA at the at The David Braley Vaughan Centre.

Learn the grooves and vibes that accompany illusionary movements to create a beautiful dance style known as Popping.

Raised in Scarborough, A.J. Harper has been dancing since the age of 10. In 2017 he began competing in street dance battles in 2017 with his main style of dance called popping. After joining the dance collective Blvckout fam, A.J. has won 2 consecutive 2 v 2 Allstyles battles called the Jamdemic, placed 1st in an online American based dance contest as well as Top 8 to Semi finalist in battles throughout the Toronto popping and Allstyles Competitions. A.J. also teaches in various camps and elementary schools about mental health and the importance of movement using dance techniques.

Photo by Vickie Kan @vickiekan

Presented in partnership with York Region Arts Council, City of Vaughan, and Smart VMC Vaughan

**This workshop is free, thanks to the generous support of the York Region Arts Council. Proudly presented as part of the York Region Experience Trail during Ontario Culture Days, in partnership with City of Vaughan, SmartVMC and YMCA at the at The David Braley Vaughan Centre.

Come join us for a beginner introduction to Hip-Hop dance! This workshop will teach basic street dance moves to Hip-Hop and Pop hits of the 90s, 00s, and today.

Matthew Morales is a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher, and event producer. Working in the industry since 2017, his dance credits include the Toronto Raptors North Side Crew, the Toronto Argonauts A-Team, Ceréna, Nilo Blues, and choreographing for a wide variety of recording artists. As an event producer, Matthew has created over a dozen dance and youth-focused events in the GTA under his production company: xM². Currently, Matthew continues to choreograph and dance for musical artists, while teaching for First Nations communities through Outside Looking In. Blending various street styles through choreography and freestyle lessons, Matthew strives to help dancers of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels find the confidence to speak freely through their movement.

Photo by Aidan Tooth

*This workshop is free, thanks to the generous support of the York Region Arts Council. Proudly presented as part of the York Region Experience Trail during Ontario Culture Days, in partnership with City of Vaughan, SmartVMC and YMCA at the at The David Braley Vaughan Centre.

This workshop will get you grooving to Cuban Salsa, Cha-Cha-Cha, Mambo and Reggaeton. Dailyn Martinez will guide you through the basic steps and rhythms, footwork and body movement in her signature style of Shumdesalsa.

Dailyn Martínez was born in Cuba, graduated from the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Espectáculos Musicales in Havana, specializing in contemporary dance, musical theatre and cabaret. She has been sharing her passion for dance for over twenty years. In Cuba, Dailyn has taught for Teatro America and Havana Night. In Toronto, she is the Owner/Director of ShumdeSalsa Dance Company where she teaches different styles such as Cuban Salsa, Son and Afro-Cuban dance to adults and youth at various studios, including Lula Lounge, Steps Dance Studio, Royal Classical Ballet and Dance Annex. Dailyn also performs with various live musicians, including Juno Award Winners OKAN and Dayme Arocena.

Photo by Mirna Chacin

**This workshop is free, thanks to the generous support of the York Region Arts Council. Proudly presented as part of the York Region Experience Trail during Ontario Culture Days, in partnership with City of Vaughan, SmartVMC and YMCA at the at The David Braley Vaughan Centre.

This is a feel-good class known to inspire positivity, build community, and get all ages and abilities moving and grooving! We'll join together in some simple moves and make our own creative choices with each movement. Although we're all doing the same thing, we'll each look completely different while we do it! Celebrating our unity AND individuality! This 45 minute playlist will include a variety of music and dance styles, and finish with a self-guided stretch and peaceful stillness.

Libby Avalos is the co-director and owner of ARTSies Inc. in Markham, which provides musical theatre classes, camps, and exciting performance opportunities to youth of all ages. She retired from her career as a professional dancer in late 2011, after spending many years performing abroad, and refocused on her life-long passion of teaching. Libby believes deeply that the arts can change the world for the better, by changing people for the better!

*This workshop is free, thanks to the generous support of the York Region Arts Council. Proudly presented as part of the York Region Experience Trail during Ontario Culture Days, in partnership with City of Vaughan, SmartVMC and YMCA at the at The David Braley Vaughan Centre.