Deeper Dance Podcast

Michael ‘Piecez’ Prosserman is a bestselling author, B-Boy (“breakdancer”), university instructor, and certified coach who specializes in scaling start-ups, team culture, fundraising, and succession. In Michael’s new book Building Unity: Leading a Non-Profit From Spark to Succession, he shares practical tools and stories to launching, leading and leaving a sustainable organization. He scaled a grassroots organization from the ground up as the Founder of Unity Charity, an organization using Hip-Hop to improve youth mental health. Over 15 years Michael grew Unity from a volunteer group to employing 80 staff, raising $7 million, and having an impact on 250,000 youth. Link: https://www.epicleadership.ca/about

The Founder of dance Immersion, Vivine Scarlett is an administrator, choreographer, and instructor, whose artistic goals and aspirations are rooted in the love of dance. As former Artistic Director and performing member of the Usafiri Dance & Drum Ensemble, Vivine created and presented works in both traditional influenced African and contemporary African dance styles. Vivine’s contributions to the field of dance are generated from an energy that has fuelled her passion, leading her on a journey for over 34 years of giving and serving through the arts. Drawn to all kinds of dance expressions and movement, Vivine’s passion has manifested many experiences that have served Canadian artists of African descent with opportunities that have laid a foundation for continued growth and representation. Vivine is the recipient of the 2011 Planet Africa Heritage Award received for her contributions. In 2008 she received a Chalmers Arts Fellowships to work with youth in Ghana, West Africa. Her choreographic endeavours in the theatre production of “The Adventures of a Black Girl in search of God” won her a Dora Mavor Moore award in 2002 and her work in “The Freedom of dreams: The Story of Nelson Mandela” received a Dora nomination in 2003. Ms. Scarlett is the 2005 K.M. Hunter Dance Artist award winner and has taught for numerous institutions and organizations throughout Canada. She continues her creative explorations as a freelance choreographer. https://danceimmersion.ca/

Jaicyea is an Egyptian-Style bellydancer born and raised in Toronto Canada. Since 2009, Jaicyea has expanded her knowledge by training with world-renowned instructors in Egypt and North America such as Nada El Masriya, Yasmina Ramzy, Abigail, Melissa Gamal, Emilia Moon, Sahar Samara & Sadie Marquardt. She has spent recent years participating in a variety of festivals (Youth Day Yonge-Dundas Square, DESIFest, Taste of the Danforth, DanceOntario events and music videos (Fethi Nedjem Single Release, 2020). Jaicyea is most proud of her work with Moskitto Bar, an arabic-balkan fusion band taking Canada by storm. Together they have performed as honorary guests at the Aga Khan Museum, Lee's Palace, Drom Taberna and the Opera House in Toronto. Improvisation and choreography to traditional music comes naturally to this eclectic creative. Jaicyea has been known to experiment with non-traditional sounds such as Hip Hop/Rap, Rock & Roll, Soul and Jazz to add a unique element to her work. Jaicyea's community work is rooted in celebrating the inner and out beauty of women and girls and is the Program Co-ordinator of Her Buddha Belly, an initiative supported by Art Starts and Toronto Arts Council. She has recently joined the likes of Brandy Heyward, Michelle Hasna, Sabia Nayeli and Maiea Williams in an incredible project called Asmara Bellydance Intiative. Together, they are planning the worlds first global bellydance festival that prioritizes and subsidizes costs for dancers of color to train and perform with live musicians and respected performers from around the world.

Mervat Bahlawan was born in Syria in 1988. Her first encounter with gymnastics was at the age of 6 years old, in which she obtained several medals on a national scale in Syria, and then participated in competitions on a wider scale internationally, as well as being a part of several gymnastics camps in multiple countries (Romania, Egypt, Iraq).Mervat journey with gymnastics ended in 2002,and that’s when her journey with dancing started, In 2013, Mervat graduated from the High Institute of Dramatech of Arts in Damascus University, with a degree of “excellent” as a professional dancer, later she attained several experience certificates from the Russian Center Institute in Damascus and she Participated in numerous professional courses in both ballet and modern dancing. Mervat worked as a dancing instructor in both Choueifat School, and in Damascus university High Institute of Performing of Arts in Syria , she worked as a ballet teacher in the School of Ballet in Damascus, and in other private and cultural schools in Syria. Mervat Participated in the Arabic version of the international TV competition show “So You Think You Can Dance” and she was chosen among the first best sixteen dancers , and she Participated in several dance shows with Inana professional dancing group in multiple countries in the Middle East and worldwide ,Mervat Participated in the Arabic version of the TV competition show “Arab Got Talent” and she reached the Semi Final In 2015 Mervat Worked as a choreographer and also a dance trainer in Inana Ballet Academy.

Meher Malik is the foremost exponent of belly dancing in India, having spent more than 17 years learning training, maturing and teaching this dance form. She received huge recognition for her performances on India's Got Talent and just dance where she performed belly dance with grace, passion and a hint of Bollywood Spice. She is the founder of the Banjara School of Dance, a pioneering belly dance institute in the country. The journey to becoming the most popular and influential belly dancer in the country began as a hobby for Meher. It has been hard struggle for Meher to establish belly dancing in India as a dance form. She has broken stereotypes and proven that belly dance is a legitimate art form. Meher through her art and way of life sets an example to many and thereby continually inspires and empowers women from all walks of life to express themselves fully and find their true place in the world. www.banjaradance.com https://www.youtube.com/c/BanjaraSchoolOfDance https://www.instagram.com/meherbanjaran/?hl=en

Bio Matthew Cuff – (Snoopy) Voguing over 7 years ,Snoopy was a part of Canada's first official Ballroom house (House of Monroe). Matthew "Snoopy" Cuff was introduced to Vogue through YouTube, and was amazed by the performance driven dance style. Snoopy helped introduce Vogue internationally by being featured on So You Think You Can Dance Canada and CBC Arts: The Move (2018). Honing his skills in New York City, Snoopy has also learned from and battled some of the greatest Voguers! Also a graduated of School of Toronto Dance Theatre and with a background in Hip Hop, Vogueing can be influenced and interpreted from any dance style or individual. With numerous grand prizes, Snoopy continues to participate in Toronto's thriving Ballroom Scene. Through the art of Vogue, Snoopy hopes to inspire creativity while sharing his passion for dance. https://www.instagram.com/itz_snoopy/?hl=en

Francesca Anastasi (aka Sabeya) is a business growth strategist, a savvy consultant and mentor. From homeless to CEO, Francesca shares the tools, principles and systems she applied as the founder and CEO of Confidance Institute Inc. which made the company successful against the odds, generating multiple six-figure income in under three years The creator, producer and host of the Succeed Against the Odds show, she is dedicated to working with, and inspiring, entrepreneurs of all ages, which has led to several nominations and awards. Francesca offers business, personal development and advancement training programs. She is also the creator of the one-of-a-kind Magnificent You women's conference. She is also the visionary and founder of the annual, global charity event Shimmy Mob for which she received the 'Telling Our Story' Award. Link: https://www.francescaanastasi.com/

From the hallowed halls of Hampton University to the world-class stage of the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, George Curtiss Randolph Jr has always attributed his unwavering self-belief to a blessed upbringing in Red Bank, NJ. Upon wrapping his principal role with Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, George pivoted from performance to producing, opening the iconic Randolph Dance Theatre and staging the 'T.O Hot Shoe Show’, a smash featuring an international collection of dance giants from around the world. Beyond celebrating the work of industry masters, George looked to cultivate the skillset diversity of those simply studying to make it. Inspired by what could be, George challenged existing academic modules by introducing Canada to the Triple Threat Training method in 1992, housing its study in his beloved Randolph College for the Performing Arts. To this day, the program remains unrivalled, primarily due to it’s innovative approach and progressive outreach. More recently, the RCPA founder’s industry achievements have co-produced the CSA award-winning documentary ‘Unsung: Behind the Glee’, national singing competition ‘Show Choir Canada’, and a ground-breaking curriculum collaboration with Middle East arts jewel, Stardust Academy (Amman, Jordan). And while his efforts and leadership have been honoured by The Ontario Black History Society, Dance Immersion, Harbourfront Centre and Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, George continues to be most humbled by the army of actors, directors, producers, recording artists and choreographers that continue to share his legacy on stage and screen, world wide.

Yasmina Ramzy's prolific and highly sought after choreography is best known for its originality, elaborate staging and full range of emotional expression. She has created over 200 ensemble choreographies for 25 dance companies in USA and Canada including Arabesque Dance Company & Orchestra, YRA Earthshaker Dance Company, YRA Dream Company, Bellydance Superstars and Yasmina Ramzy Arts. Her passion to represent an authentic art form compelled her to direct 7 large international dance festivals featuring discussion and debate while staging as many as 150 artists in each festival and presenting over 50 master teachers such as Dina Talaat, Mahmoud Reda, Mohamed Khalil and Aida Nour. Yasmina also produced 3 large multi-cultural music & dance festivals and a monthly stage presenting all forms of movement for five years called Dancenet. Since 1981, she has taught in more than 70 cities around the world. Yasmina has performed extensively in the Middle East, primarily with the master Muwashahaat trained musicians of Aleppo, Syria. Her full length six day theatrical productions have been presented 10 times with as many as 45 dancers and musicians at a time. Some of her productions have toured in USA, Greece, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and across Canada. Yasmina has been awarded several arts grants from all three levels of government for her ground breaking and authentic choreography as well receiving awards from Arab communities for helping to nurture and uplift Arab dance and live music. In 2020, Yasmina created "Leilit Hob", a one minute video featuring eight dancers and eight musicians from several countries including Syria, Lebanon, Germany, USA and Canada partially funded by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Her 37 minute dance film entitled " Al Qamar" was released in August 2021. In 2022 Yasmina choreographed for and directed the film “Ana Masr” as well the Centerstage Theater (Michigan, USA) performances of “The Fourth Pyramid with dance artists from across Europe, Canada and the USA. She continues to direct and create choreography for Yasmina Ramzy Arts performing at many Arab concerts and festivals as well as YRA Dream Company and YRA Earthshaker Dance Company.