NADIAH BIDDLE

Dance instructor / performer / competition judge

Krump dance 

From Perth, Australia, Nadiah started dancing in 2012 undergoing diverse training amongst Perth’s finest crews and embedded herself in the street dance community.
Greatly adding to her Hip Hop movement and understanding of the culture, Nadiah’s major discipline is in the freestyle dance known as Krump under the moniker HAZE.

Her training overseas from Singapore to Los Angeles introduced her to the international dance community. During the LAtitude program in Los Angeles, Nadiah trained under top choreographers such as Codie Wiggins (Usher), Aisha Francis (Beyoncé), Mikey Pesante (Britney Spears) and Jayson Wright (Justin Timberlake). She also received the opportunity to personally train under the Creator of Krump, Tight Eyez. His respect and recognition of her, has placed her among the top females in Australia, as a leader for the women in the movement under the guidance of Straight Krump – South.

Expanding her talents across the world through; back-up dancing, TV commercials and music videos, she also, participates in national and international competitions, amongst some of the best. While being an advocate for Hip Hop/Krump culture, she teaches, performs, judges competitions and works in the industry, consistently improving as a mentor and student. In hope to guide and and share her expertise with each student.

Currently working in studios and with the dance community around Melbourne she continues to spread the message, knowledge of life skills and other major benefits that street dance can offer the wider community

Dance with Nadiah Fridays 6:00pm – 7:00pm West Coast Street Dance (Krump) course

Dance instructor / performer / model

Afro-Colombian dance

Karen Bravo is a interdisciplinary artist from Colombia who specialises in Afro Colombian folklore dance and movement. She draws influence from her African roots and fuses it with traditional rhythms from the south pacific coast in Colombian. She has incorporated music and dance in her artistic creative processes as a form of inspiration and as tool to show her culture. Karen is currently working as a dance performer for the band Digital AfriKa, performing at festivals and running dance workshop.

Dance with Karen 

Thursdays 6:00pm – 7:00pm Afro-Colombian dance course

Dance instructor / performer / competition judge / host / Jamaican cultural ambassador

Jamaican Dancehall 

Chuby Dice is one of the top dancers in Jamaica and leader of Jamaican dancehall crew Black Dice. He featured on the big screen in films including ‘Intent 2’ and ‘King of the Dancehall’ directed by Nick Cannon, and music videos for top artists including Vybz Kartel, Busta Rymes, Shawn Storm and Australian producer Monkey Marc. His team Black Dice have gained much street cred and global recognition over the past few years for bringing the fire back to Jamaican Dancehall street parties with their pyrotechnic displays, and creation of popular party steps such as ‘Swing It’ and ‘Move a Foot’.

In Australia, Chuby has performed at festivals including MONA FOMA, St Kilda Festival and Moomba, supported international touring artists such as Konshens, and judged the Australian Dancehall King and Queen competition. As a highly knowledgeable and sort after dance instructor he has delivered workshops in Melbourne, Perth, Canberra and of course back home in Jamaican with students traveling from all over the world to learn authentic Jamaican dance from the source.

Based in Jamaica, with regular visits to Australia annually Chuby Dice is available for live performances, video & film projects, dance workshops, lectures, competition judging, and promotional work worldwide.

Dance with Chuby Dice 

Mondays 7:00pm – 8:00pm Jamaican Dancehall foundation course

Thursdays 6:00pm – 7:00pm Jamaican Dance fitness / Hot Steppaz male dance crew practice

Saturdays 10:00am – 11:00am Jamaican Dance fitness / Jungle City student team practice

Dance instructor / Dance performer / model

Styles: Hip Hop / Urban / Street Jazz / Traditional Fijian dance

MIISS LORA Teacher, Choreographer and Performer. Born and raised in Melbourne with a Fijian and Australian background. Lora begun her career in dance from her first dancehall class with Kitty Kat. Now, Lora has trained internationally at Broadway Dance Centre in NYC and at Millennium Dance Complex in LA. Having performed at multiple community festivals, dance in music videos, being a back-up dancer for upcoming artist and choreographed and directed movement for community theatre plays and dance concerts. Lora is well rounded with training in dancehall, hip-hop, street jazz and contemporary from some of the top teachers in the world.

Dance with Lora Tuesday’s 7:00pm – 8:00pm Hip Hop Dance Fitness / 8:00pm – 9:00pm Street Jazz Inters

Dance Instructor / Performing Artist

Styles: Ballet / Contemporary / Lyrical / Jazz / Musical Theatre / Burlesque / Heels / House / Commercial / House / Hip Hop

Jemma Townsend is a technically trained dancer in Ballet and Jazz having studied at the VCA and Ministry of Dance in Melbourne. Her knowledge and experience is diverse ranging from cheer-leading to Burlesque, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical theater, Heels, Commercial dance right through to House and Hip Hop styles.

Dance with Jemma Wednesdays 6:00pm Hip Hop Dance fitness / 8:00pm Heels Dance intermediate.

Dance instructor / Performer

Samba No Pe / Forro, Axé / Funk / Belly Dancing / Lambada / Zouk Lambada.

As a Director of Eevie Dance, dancer, instructor, choreographer, MC, Stylist, make-up artist, stage manager, operations manager and client liaison Elena is a versatile individual. Lived and trained in Brazil with top dancers in the industry.

Dance with Elena Tuesdays 6:00pm – 7:00pm Brazilian Funk 

The 3rd annual Jungle City Jam festival is taking place at Jungle City studios from Friday 27th March – Saturday 4th April 2020.

Jungle City Jam is a celebration and education about dance, music, and culture with roots from the African continent that have evolved across the African Diaspora over the past 60 or so years – making up much of today’s popular music and dance worldwide. The aim of this festival is to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to collectively explore these dance and music forms in a space that values the history and is respectful to the people of which it originates, and to promote an Australian dance community that holds this integrity in their practice of these dance forms.

The full festival line-up and program will be released Friday 20th December,  so for now save the date and lets dance!

Jungle City Jam also coincides with the annual Australian Dancehall Queen and King competition presented by I Love Dancehall on Saturday 4th April.

Lee aka VizuaLee was born in Zimbabwe but was raised for most of her life in New Zealand and migrated to Australia in 2015, with her parents and younger sister. Being raised in a family with strong community and Christian values VizuaLee has pursued a career in the community sector and completed her studies in Youth Services. As a dance teacher and performer she has gone from strength to strength as a member of Melbourne based dance crew Burncity Queenz and as a solo dancer and instructor – often combining her youth service skills and dance as a means of inspiring and empowering young people and traveling the world doing what she loves. VizuaLee has been dancing for as long as she can remember – predominantly in the style of Hip hop but since landing in Melbourne and meeting Kitty Cat on a youth work placement and discovering Melbourne’s Dancehall scene Lee has fast become one of the dominant and sort of Dancehall and Afro dancers in Melbourne. Lee became Australia’s Dancehall Queen in 2016 and traveled and trained in Jamaica in the same year, she has also performed for big name artists such as Baker Boy and Sampa the Great name a few.

In 2019 Lee was appointed as Jungle City’s first Youth Program Coordinator, facilitating various projects, including our Culture Queenz youth team, and Jungle City Jam Youth Engagement project supported by the State Government’s Multicultural Community Participation program. Lee also teaches weekly classes at Jungle City and is available for privates lessons and performance bookings.

Dance Instructor / Performer / Choreographer / Youth program coordinator 

Dancehall / Afrobeats / Hip Hop / Australian Dancehall Queen 2016 / member of Burncity Queenz

Dance with Lee 

Tuesdays 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Afro Dance course

Thursdays 8:00pm – 9:00pm – Afro Dance intermediate

Fridays 4:15pm – 5:00pm – Hip Hop 5 – 7 kids

Fridays 5:00pm – 5:50pm – Hip Hop 8 – 12 kids

Saturdays 12:00pm – 1:00pm – Jungle City youth performance team

Dance Instructor / Performer / Choreographer 

West African traditional dance / Afro pop / West African street dance

Originally from Ghana, Kwame specialises in traditional Ghanaian dance as well as modern west African popular dances. Kwame not only teaches but performs dance and drumming all over Melbourne and Australia

DANCE WITH KWAME 

Thursdays 7:00pm – 8:00pm – West African Dance casual

Sundays 11:00am – 12:00pm – West African Dance course

Dancehall is both the adjective describing the place, and the name of the culture lived by Jamaica’s underprivileged communities who find meaning, purpose, status, and a means of survival through being part of the Dancehall fraternity, both past and present. Dancehall is not just a dance style, but a way of life as a creative expression of life experienced in Jamaica, where dancers and dance teams create dances that become their very own historical signature and mark on an ever evolving culture

Brazilian Samba

Beyond all the stunning feathers, glamour, queens and parades we see footage of from RIO Carnival, Samba has an innate spiritual intention behind the rhythm and history of where it came from.

Brazilian SAMBA is danced with 3 steps to 2 beats of music, which makes it a challenge to grasp initially however very rewarding once you conquer it.

Brazilian Funk 

From the Favela’s of RIO to inner city Puerto Rico this course takes you on a journey through Brazil and the Spanish speaking Caribbean to learn popular dances created through the rise of Baile Funk and Reggaeton music with influences from Hip Hop, Dancehall and Latin styles of dance.

An element of female Dancehall, Stylish Moves is described as ‘Dancehall with a touch of class’. Created by Latonya Style, an influential and integral member of the Jamaican Dancehall fraternity and CEO of Dance Jamaica Academy. Stylish Moves is made up of over ninety dance moves comprising of 75% Dancehall, 5% Afro, 5% Soca, 5% Modern, 5% Jazz, and 5% Hip Hop. The style includes both masculine and feminine dance moves that are empowering, energetic, and confidence focused. It is a certified style of dance and teacher training is conducted by the creator herself annually at Jungle City studios so inquire about signing up for the next round of training.

One of the dance segments at any Dancehall party is for the females specifically where the ladies ‘Bruk Out’ or break out with a variety of dance moves, freestyle, and acrobatic and flexibility tricks. As an ever evolving culture the female element of Dancehall has also changed over the years but the fundamental components that distinguish this part of the dance is that – in Jamaica – its only for women, its made up of a variety of techniques including wining, tic-toc, juk, jiggling, and oscillations, and is expressive of a woman’s sexual power, stamina, agility, and creativity. There are many specific dance steps created by popular female Jamaican dancers and Dancehall Queenz that make up the style and are executed during this segment to specific songs and as part of a dancers freestyle. Female Dancehall is often the most broadly recognised aspect of Dancehall internationally and has become hugely popular in western countries due to its sexual empowerment for women of all shapes and sizes that often get supressed in western cultures.

***Description coming soon***

Born on the streets of New York and the Bronx, Hip Hop is a culture and a lifestyle typically defined as having four main elements: Bboyin/Bgirlin (dance); DJing/Turntablism; Rapping/MCing; and Graffiti. The original Hip Hop dance form of Breakin was developed by African-American and Latino youth choosing to battle it out on the dance floor as an alternatively to gang violence. Additional forms of Hip Hop dance found on the west-coast of America, that evolved in the foundation years of the 1970’s to accompany funk music were Poppin, Lockin, and Soul Dance – defined as the Funkstyles. Hip Hop has now become a global industry and the original hip hop styles have been adapted to popular culture forming what is now more commonly known as urban choreography, but the culture of dance from the streets and the lifestyle can still be found among those who practice the elements, and newer street dance styles that continued to evolve in urban neighbourhoods such as Jerking, Flexing, and Krump as some examples. The commonality with all these styles is that they are created by marginalized youth channelling their frustrations and disadvantage into a physical movement that allows individuals to connect with others in a safe space. There is always an element of freestyle encouraging dancers to be completely present and focused in the moment, and directing their energy into the dance space, circle or cypher. Therefore, street dances from around the world can heal and empower individuals and communities in ways beyond just dance. Street styles are very technical and take years of practice to perfect, but at the same time have elements that are accessible to everyone as the base of all movement is a groove and connection to the music that provokes rhythm in the body triggered by the beat.

Afro Dances is the blanket term covering a wide range of individual styles originating from different places across the African continent and the African diaspora such as Ndombolo from Congo, Coupe Decale from Ivory coast, trending dance styles from West Africa and South of Africa Including Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.

Samba Dance Instructor / Choreographer / Performer / Kinesiologist

Brazilian Samba

Olivia, founder of Intuitive Movement, and Samba Joy dancers and qualified Kinesiologist

DANCE WITH OLIVIA 

Tuesdays 7:00pm – 8:00pm – Brazilian Samba course

Tuesday 8:00pm – 9:00pm – Brazilian Samba intermediate casual

Dancehall Instructor / Performer / Cultural Ambassador

Jamaican Dancehall

Shamar Morrison (well known as Rasta Huxx) is an international dancer, teacher, choreographer and lecturer from Jamaica. He is a former member of one of Jamaica’s well-known dance crews called Overload Skankaz. Rasta Huxx was part of the group for 5 years before dancing solo and touring different countries such as Russia & Australia, to teach his famous dance moves and choreography.

Dance with Rasta Huxxz

Wednesdays 7:00pm – 8:00pm – Jamaican Dancehall beginners course

Wednesdays 8:00pm – 9:00pm – Dancehall choreography intermediate casual

Dance instructor / Choreographer / Performer

Dancehall / Afrobeats / Traditional West African dance / Hip Hop

Giselle’s passion and love for dance began at the tender age of thirteen when she began her dance journey through the style of Hip Hop and Urban Choreography when she join her first crew A2D. As a member of A2D Giselle represented Australia in the World Hip Hop Championships in 2011 which was a huge accomplishment and set her standards high right from the beginning.

In 2012 Giselle discovered her genuine love for Dancehall and has made it her mission to become educated in not only the dance but the culture of Jamaican Dancehall as much as possible. She has participated in the annual True Jamaican Dancehall Camp for two years running, learning from pioneer such as Latonya Style, Craig Black Eagle, and Killer Bean. She has had performance opportunities including the annual Jungle City Bashment (Dancehall), Stringbark Festival (West African Dancing) and Federation Square New Years Eve 2015 (Dancehall and Ragga Fuzion – style created by Nadiah Idris).

Giselle’s dance style is currently more influenced by West African dances and Dancehall and will reflect this in her classes. Giselle’s classes are designed to be fun for everyone while sharing her knowledge and passion about dance.

Dance with Giselle

Wednesdays 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Stylish Moves dance course

Wednesdays 7:00pm – 8:00pm – Dancehall Queen dance course

Thursdays 4:00pm – 4:50pm 5 – 7 yrs / 5:00pm – 5:50pm 8 – 12 yrs with KITTY CAT

Term 1 2020 commences Thursday 30th January. Enrollments Open Friday 20th December 2019

Learn fun kid friendly dance steps from both Afro dances and Dancehall that are easy to learn but challenging to master. Kids develop their technique, musicality, stamina and flexibility while exploring their own creativity as a dancer, building self-confidence through performance skills. Students have the opportunity to perform twice yearly at our mid-year and end-of-year concerts.

Fridays 4:00pm – 4:50pm – 5 – 7 yrs / 5:00pm – 5:50pm 8 – 12 yrs with VIZUALEE

Term 1 2020 commences Friday 31st January. Enrollments open on Friday 20th December 2019.

Kids Hip Hop is a fun choreography based class for kids who want to build their skills in dance and have plenty of moves to rip out at their next birthday party to impress all their friends. Students will build routines using old and new skool Hip Hop styles over each semester that they will have the opportunity to perform at our mid-year and end of year productions

To book in for term one class and course go to https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/junglecitystudios

For further inquiries email us at admin@junglecitystudios.com.au

Join us on July 2nd and be part of the Magic in the Jungle! Spells are being cast… Fairy dust is falling… Genie’s are granting wishes…Love is in the air.. and if you see what some of our ladies can do in a pair of heels…well need we say more….

Magic in the Jungle is our mid-year student and teacher showcase featuring performances by all our classes from pre-schoolers through to adults and our in house dance crews Jungle City dancers, Culture Queenz and Burncity Queenz, plus special guest appearances by our extended dance family of studio hirers including Intuitive Movement Samba dancers, Kwame’s West African dancers and many more!

Seats are limited so book in early before they disappear like MAGIC!

Tickets are $20.00 Full price | $15.00 concession (12 and over) or $40.00 for a family pass (two adults + unlimited children under 12) | Children Five and under FREE, available at Jungle City Studios or online at https://dancestudio-pro.com/tickets/index.php?id=zaqlxajd29jd25889c56bdd25109jasdklj21dx5889c56bdd2f8

Join our event page and stay updated about our event and all the acts taking part in the show!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1684346555193720/?active_tab=about

Tickets are limited so gets yours today! Follow the link for adult and adult/concession tickets or purchase family tickets in person at the studio.

From the team at Jungle City studios have a reflective, relaxing, healing, and rejuvenating Christmas and New Year. We will be out of town until Jan 14th so for any studio bookings or urgent inquiries contact: Joanne on 0498 282 889 or email us at junglecityprojects@gmail.com

Signing out for now.. Peace and Blessings and looking forward to a new fulfilled year of dance, music, culture, and community in the Jungle…

***SPECIAL SCHOOL HOLIDAY TIMETABLE***

MON 26 SEP – 6:30pm – 8:00pm Part 2 Jungle City Auditions
*PLEASE NOTE NO AFROBEATS or DANCEHALL casual class tonight!

One hour private lessons by appointment 

Book now with our PT JOANNE SWEENEY

Whether you are trying to loose weight, or need that extra push to develop a healthy life style and get fit, personal training is perfect for individuals or small groups who want a tailor made workout regime that works for their bodies and their needs – in private without the intimidation of a gym environment. Personal training sessions can be booked for individual or for groups of a maximum 5 people per session.

(Discounts available for lesson packages)

One hour private lessons by appointment 

Book now with our diverse team of professional instructors

Select from our professional team of dancers who specialize in a variety of styles to support you in perfecting your technique, preparing for a competition or performance, expanding your dance vocabulary, or for any other reason you may require one-on-one support on your dance journey. Teachers are available by request and we offer discount rates when booking a package of sessions for individuals, couples, or small groups up to 5.

One hour private lessons with our team of Professional Dancers

Add that extra unique touch to your special day, whether its your weddings, anniversary, birthday or any other special occasion, leave your guests with something to remember by presenting your very own choreographed dance performance. Whether its a solo, couple dance, or group flash mob our team of highly skilled dancers can create your own unique dance in the style of your choice to the music of your choice. Get in touch to find out more and think outside the box for night you will never forget.

Tuesdays 10:00am – 10:50am 3 – 4 kids / Saturdays 10:00am – 10:50am 4 – 6 kids with KITTY CAT

Term 1 2020 Commences January 28th. Enrollments open Friday 20th December 2019.

A fun introduction to dance teaching basic skills in movement to rhythm and music, acro floor work, dance games, body awareness, and development of self-confidence through the freedom of physical expression and performance.

Follow Burncity Queenz Instagram and Facebook

Burncity Queenz Melbourne’s first official Dancehall Dance crew! Except no imitations! BCQs represent straight up Dancehall and Afro dance styles in Melbourne City, Australia.

BCQ are made up of five all round bahd gyal Dancehall Queenz including 2015 Australian Dancehall Queen Twinkle T, 2016 Australian Dancehall Queen VizuaLee, 2018 Australian Dancehall Queen Gizzmery, 2015 International Dancehall Queen Top Ten dancer Kitty Cat, and the original rude gals Enchante. As a crew Burncity Queenz have featured in music and promo videos for Australian, British, Jamaican and African Hip Hop, Drum N Bass, Afrobeats and Dancehall artists, featured at club nights, events, and festivals all around Australia, Jamaica and of course in their home town of Melbourne. They have supported some of Dancehall and Afro Beats big name artists including Cecile, Gappy Ranks, Elephant Man, Demarco, Leftside, Maheeda, Iyanya, Korede Bello, Stone Bwoy, Beenie Man, Konshens, Charlie Black, Kranium and are household names at Melbourne’s biggest Dancehall party I Love Dancehall. In 2019 Burncity Queenz members have performed as back up dancers for Baker Boy and Sampa the Great, performing at major festivals including; The Red Bull concert series, Lost Lands festival, and Festival of the Son to name a few.

“Our aim as a group is to spread our love of Dancehall and Afro Dance as authentically as we can with respect to the originators and creators, while entertaining and encouraging our local community to grow and embrace unity through dance and culture”

Burncity Queenz are available as a full group for showcases and live events, or as individual freestylers and back up dancers for club nights, International and local Acts, parties, themed events, film, video, or other media projects.

Follow us on our socials Instagram and Facebook to see what our teams are up to.

Jungle City student team are our student performance group specialising in Dancehall, made up of women and men from diverse cultures and social backgrounds from all works of life living and working in Melbourne. Cat Pwiti – Jungle City studios CEO -founded the group in 2011 as a gateway for ordinary women and men to do something extraordinary in their lives by transforming through dance – as an means of self-empowerment to inspire their own lives and those around them. Since its inception Jungle City student team have performed and featured in a plethora of exciting events and film projects including a youtube Ad for Mini Cooper produced by Vice, and music video for British Dancehall artist Gappy Ranks, not to mention countless club appearances around Melbourne. Many students who have joined the team over the years have excelled from their humble beginnings to becoming some of Melbourne’s most prolific freestyle Dancehall Dancers, setting fire to every dance floor they land on. Jungle City Dancers are available for showcase performances and Freestyle club appearances, music video, and as film extras.

Cat Pwiti aka Kitty Cat – Founder of Jungle City has been working in the community arts, entertainment and youth sector for over fifteen years in various roles from event management through to performance, and everything in between – giving her a vast skill set and extensive experience base in every aspect of the entertainment, and youth community arts industry. A true entrepreneur Cat’s vision and ‘Make It Happen’ attitude has seen her make the impossible possible by following her intuition and never giving up on her mission. From coordinating major Hip Hop festivals at Fed Square, to being awarded a Young Social Pioneer for her work with culturally diverse young women in the west of Melbourne, to becoming the First Australian in history to compete in the International Dancehall Queen Competition in Montego Bay, Jamaica just to name a few of her many and diverse achievements. While completing her degree in Social Science (Youth Work), Cat initiated many youth community arts projects and worked for leading organisations such as Multicultural Arts Victoria, Cultural Infusion, Western Edge Youth Arts, and The Arts Centre on many projects that, over the years gave her constant motivation and inspiration to continue on her quest to enrich and change people’s lives through their engagement in the arts, music, dance, culture, and creative processes. Cat’s vision to open Jungle City studios was driven by the need she felt, to create a supportive community space for her many projects and groups to flourish, and to provide the opportunity for other like-minded individuals to nurture and grow their own vision to create a positive and supportive community – whether it be centred around dance, music, art, media, travel, or culture – giving people an alternative to the mainstream rat race and get back in touch with what it means to be HUMAN.

Fitness Instructor / Personal trainer / Beauty Therapist

Fitness workout / personal training / Jazz

Joanne Sweeney began has danced for 14 years in classical styles including Jazz; Ballet; and Contemporary. In 2010 Joanne began to pursue her interest and passion for fitness and encouraging others, and herself to live a well-balanced lifestyle with an effective exercise regime, healthy diet, and good work/life balance.

WORKOUT WITH JOANNE

Sundays 10:00am – 11:00am Stretch & Tone fitness

Private training sessions by appointment only

Instructor / Performer / Choreographer / Dance therapy / Youth programs 

Dancehall / Afro dance / Dance therapy

Cat Pwiti aka Kitty Cat, founder of Burncity Queenz (Melbourne’s first official Dancehall dance group), and Jungle City projects. Over 10 years experience in the industry. Founder of the annual True Jamaican Dancehall Tours in Australia and Jamaica. First Australian in history to enter the International Dancehall Queen competition, and in 2015 ranked Top Ten in the 19^th Annual IDHQ Competition. She has toured around Australia sharing her knowledge and love of Dancehall and takes tour groups annually to learn first hand from the creators.

DANCE WITH KITTY CAT

Mondays 10:00am – 11:00am Afro Dance fitness / 6:00pm – 7:00pm Booty Dance fitness / 8:00pm – 9:00pm Female dancehall intermediate

Tuesdays 10:00am – 11:00am Rhythm & Dance 3 – 4 kids

Wednesdays 10:00am – 11:00am Booty Dance

Thursdays 4:15pm – 5:00pm – Afro-Dancehall 5 – 7 kids / 5:00pm – 5:50pm Afro-Dancehall 8 – 12 kids

Fridays 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Heels dance course

Saturdays 10:00am – 11:00am Rhythm & Dance 4 – 6 kids