Introducing the creative minds and captivating spirits behind the magic of World Dance Workout – our Featured Artists. Each artist is a luminary in their dance form, an ambassador of culture, and an inspiration to all who seek the rhythm of life. 

With 15 years of training and industry experience under her hip belt, Kendra Ray serves as a dance ambassador to the bellydance diaspora in Michigan. Known for her musicality, stage presence, and blending classic Raqs Sharqi with modern Bellydance styles, she is also versed in MENAHT folkloric dancing, tribal fusion, and dabbles in other various dance genres.

Having lived near a large Arab, Middle Eastern, and Greek population in Detroit, a city historically known for its diverse music scene, Kendra had the unique advantage of developing her skills alongside a wide range of world-renowned musicians in night clubs, weddings, concerts, and cultural events. Additionally, her work in the entertainment, film, media, art, and wellness communities in Michigan and Toronto gives her performance and teaching style a dynamic flair, landing her onstage with top local and international entertainers.

Kendra has been featured on a number of media outlets including Comcast, CBC, PBS, NPR, Almas TV, The Arab American News, The Toronto Star, Arab America, and The Ice Network. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Tableau Cadre Movement Ensemble, a multicultural and multidisciplinary performance collective, and provides consultation, choreography, academic presentations, and lessons to a vast number of studios, schools, projects, and clients of all ages in the USA and Canada. She is currently based in East Tennessee and offers virtual class options.

For more info, visit www.kendrabellydancer.com

Kendra Ray
main: 707-786-3858 / cell: 734-680-9167 
Like me on Facebook | Follow me on Instagram | Follow me on Twitter
www.kendrabellydancer.com

Heather Mitchell is an African Diasporic Dance performing artist in the Kalamazoo community for over 10 years.  Her work also includes Choreography at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, The Civic, and Farmers Ally Theatre. 

She is Teaching Artist with Education for the Arts, and has been involved with several collaborations including Women Empowering Women, Freedom Schools, Caring Network, Rootead, Wellspring Cory Terry and Dancers, Kalamazoo Juvenile Home and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. 

As a dance artist Heather has facilitated numerous workshops and classes that sought to connect people of various backgrounds, socioeconomic status, and abilities to the cultural knowledge, joy, and sense of community that African Diasporic dance brings.  She believes that dance is the language of the spirit and is meant to be shared with the community! 

Fabio Cosmo da Cunha, known in the capoeira world as “Mestre Lobinho” began training in 1998 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lobinho has been teaching in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area of Michigan for 4 years. Lobinho has taught kids programs from ages 2 to 18, adults, and specializes in persons with disabilities. 

As a young boy, he was a student of a non-profit in Brazil to help underprivileged kids in the community.

Coordinated by his teacher and under his guidance, Lobinho had the opportunity to train and participate in many capoeira events around the world and is well-known across the globe. By the time Lobinho was 16, he was already teaching classes to other adults. When he was 18, he was working in local preschools teaching capoeira full-time in Brazil. 

Lobinho has extensive knowledge of capoeira and is a wonderful teacher for persons of all ages.

website: http://annarborcapoeira.com/
Lobinho, 734-985-1532 • capoeiraannarbor@gmail.com

Yoshimi is a multidisciplinary and multicultural performance artist, choreographer, and teacher that has been serving the Metro Detroit area for 15 years. Having grown up in a family of musicians and performers, Yoshimi started dancing as soon as she could walk.  Embracing both sides of her cultural roots and heritage, she developed a love for Hip-Hop dancing and various dance styles from the Pacific Islands – which she would later infuse into a unique dance and fitness practice of her own. 

As well as being self-taught, she studied and trained in various styles of dance. She has performed in and alongside several Polynesian dance, Hip Hop, belly dance, and Latin dance groups in and out of the state of Michigan. With hard work, Yoshimi has come into her own as a multicultural dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She’s performed in countless festivals, weddings, and competitions and is always eager to do more.  Yoshimi loves to share her knowledge and skills on utilizing dance as a tool for inner and physical healing.  She currently offers virtual private lessons, online classes, and different meditative dance workshops for women. 

For more info, visit www.yoshimishelton.com

IG: @YoshimiShelton

Phone: 734.957.6726

Email: yoshimilotushoney@gmail.com

David Elegbede (popularly called “hollardave” or “dancing nurse”) was born in the 80s in the ancient city of Ibadan, located in Oyo state in Nigeria. His love for dancing erupted while growing up in the church, and he has been dancing ever since.

 His professional dancing career started while pursuing his first degree in industrial chemistry, being part of an energetic dance team called “KC & IJ dancers”, a dance ministry of the fellowship he attended.

He has taught numerous dance classes both local and out of state, organizing dance classes at Kola lounge, Farmington Hills, while also teaching dance classes in states such as Texas, Maryland, New York, Ohio and Utah.

 He is currently a nurse working on an ICU-Step Down floor, using his dance to bring smiles to patient’s faces. He is available for both in-person and online dance classes, as he continues to spread his tentacles across the country and the globe at large.

IG: @dancingnurseola
Phone: +1 2146606110
Email: Dancingnurse17@gmail.com

Shantese Robinson is the epitome of dance, born and raised in Muskegon Heights, MI, & she has studied at Western Michigan University. In the beginning of her dance journey, at 2 years old she started off singing & dancing in her mothers salon and they knew she was going to be a star.

During her teens, she studied Modern & Jazz at HBCUs Summer Band Camps and used that to pursue further in her dance persona. Over the years she has performed at word-renowned venues such as the Apollo Theater and she has been featured in John Ruffin’s Theater 47 production “Takin Back My Name” by world-famous musician Ike Turner playing one of the lead roles an Ikette, Melvin Elijah from The Temptations production “Motown Live”, and Choreographer/Author Wink Atme production “Tour Secrets as a lead dancer. She teaches jazz/modern/hip-hop/majorette & lyrical in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids & Muskegon, MI to all ages.

Her work also has been featured in churches, schools, and some theater productions. Most recently, She’s also a part of a collaborative initiative team called Trap Fitness MI which specializes in Yoga, Zumba, Afrobeat, and Twerk. Her signature class is the Fearless Jazz Hip-Hop Fusion, a very high energetic & sharp form of dance. Self-impressions, fun sequence combinations, building endurance, confidence, & SASS!

Back in 2019, she traveled to Nigeria, to learn some of their culture artistry. Coming back home to the U.S. she decided to start teaching Afro beats/West African dance. In early 2021, she received a KADI grant from the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo organization for her biggest dance video project yet called ‘Dance Figures’. The production was a celebration of African-American dance and astounding tributes that shed light on Black Choreographers/Dancers throughout various time eras starting with the 1920s. Shantese will continue to soar high and reach her highest goals by keeping God first, creating a legacy & opportunities, inspiring movers to succeed in dance, and last but not least LIVE FEARLESSLY!