This class offers the opportunity to study the purest form of traditional Haitian dance while getting an intense workout. The students are encouraged to recognize rhythms and match the correct dances with them. Live music accompaniment by master drummer John Amira. 

 

Mona Estimé Amira is one of Haiti’s top dancers.  Born and raised there in the Vodou way of life, she learned the religion, the songs and the various forms of indigenous dance from her mother and other family members before going to New York.  Once there, she earned her B.A. in health education at Lehman College and went on to establish a career in both dance performance and instruction. She has continued to return regularly to Haiti researching regional dance and song styles.

               

Mona was the lead dancer with the Nago Dancers and Marie Brooks Dance Company and has performed at Carnegie Hall with Haiti’s top singer Emeline Michel.  She has taught at many universities such as:  Antioch, Bates, Dennison, San Francisco State, Sonoma State, Duke, Occidental, Middlebury, Kentucky State, and Vassar; and for organizations such as Naropa Institute, Omega Institute, Rara Tou Limen, Lisangua Ya Bato, Spirit Of The Congo, and Compaña Productions.  Mona travels extensively to give lectures, demonstrations and workshops, and has ongoing classes at the Rod Rodgers Dance Studio in New York City, where she is based.