Dance & Fitness
Group led by Mo Desir in a DanceHall Fitness demonstration produced by Black Humboldt 3/2019
Join us X2 a month for CHURCH!! Zumba style class, easy to follow Hip Hop, Dancehall & Ballroom moves to Beyonce’s Renaissance! 5$ suggested
Mo Harper-Desir is from Western Massachusetts and now resides in Humboldt County. She entered into classical dance training at age 6, but has always had a beat and a Rhythm in her step, growing up in Caribbean culture surrounded by music. Throughout adolescence, Mo studied with Footloose studios: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, and Modern, and performed with Hip Hop Performance group Project 2050: Hip Hop, Stepping, African, Latin American and Bomba. Throughout Adulthood Mo continued to perform in Hip Hop Theater Production group 2050 Legacy, expanding her knowledge of performance, Hip Hop and collaborative techniques.
DanceHall Cardio Youtube Playlist:
Zumba generally takes influence from Spanish dancing and dance styles like Bachata, Merengue and Salsa. Dancehall Cardio reaches beyond to include within that basic Zumba, West Indian dance styles and cultures. Mo Desir has taken a piece of her heritage and added it to the mix placing a large emphasis on Caribbean dance styles like Samba, Dancehall and more from countries like Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Hispaniola, to create a total body workout that includes cardio and fun!
The class can range from an hour to an hour and a half. Participants will dance through 6-12 songs including a warm up, stretch and cool down.There will also be at least one song dedicated to cardio, arms, legs and abs, as well as a feel good song to get energy and confidence levels high. The class is very hands on and inclusive and we want all fitness levels and body types to participate. Class leaders take the time to teach moves slowly and correctly, as well as keep a strong dialog during the class to encourage high energy and involvement from participants. Group ethic is also a large theme within this class with participant chants are placed into the dances and participants are encouraged to sing along to the songs they know.
CLASSES AVAILABLE:
Renaissance Church:
Zumba/Cardio Class - full body workout and stretch utilizing Dancehall, Hip Hop, Ballroom and Twerk choreography to Beyonce’s Renaissance Album. Easy to follow steps, all levels encouraged to join. FREE $5 suggested donation.
POP UP SCHEDULE
Dancehall Cardio:
Full body workout utilizing cardio techniques and West Indian choreography to all genres of Reggae, Dance Hall and Hip Hop.
Classes accommodate all dance levels. 50min with light full body stretch.
Dancehall Choreo:
Deeper dive into West Indie choreography and technique, through the whole catalogue of Caribbean music and rhythms. Exploring the attributes of attitude and free-styling in the world of Dance Hall. Learn challenging choreography and make it ya own to West Indie chunes and vybz. 120 min intense full body stretch.
Hooping for Beginners:
Step by step break down of beginner moves and tips to get everyone moving! Participants will need their own hoops. Free flow time and full body stretch! 60 min class.
Fusion Choreo:
Fast paced, non traditional approach to classical Modern dancing. Brings latin styles and paces together with Hip Hop precision and the flow and emotion of Modern.
Very technical class with wide variations of counts and steps. 75 minute with intense, full body stretch.
Only Skin Deep
is a show for dancers of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and Mixed Heritage in Humboldt County.
This show is a thoughtful collection of stories and perspectives from our artists and their ancestors and a chance to share the unique experience of being a person of melanated, marginalized or mixed heritage with one another. This show is an opportunity to start a deeper conversation about our place in this world and for those who know their place in this world to welcome in those who might not. Next series scheduled for April 2023
Join dancers Efrain Colon & Mo Harper-Desir, as they tell a tale of their Afro Caribbean heritage.
Choreography by Efrain Colon, Mo Harper-Desir & Dionna Fletcher.
Sept 2020
Freestyle groove featuring Mo Harper-Desir tap dancing and Efrain Colon doing a fusion of modern & Hip Hop.
Featured in the opening ceremony of Artists Dismantling Capitalism-
Feb 2021.
Ballet, Lyrical & Hip Hop influenced piece with choreography by Mo Harper-Desir.
Featured in “Only Skin Deep: Shadow” show.
Dec 2023