Dance Instructors
Adriana Echeverri,
Director
Sandy Reyes-McCormack, Bellydance
Teacher
Desire Sanchez , Flamenco Master Teacher
Ana
Herminia Illas, Flamenco Teacher
Monica
Gonzalez, Bellydancer Instructor
Alexandra Shepherd, Yoga Instructor
Adriana Echeverri, Director
Adriana
was born in Colombia, raised in Miami, Florida from a very early age.
From the age of 5 she was performing in “La Academia de Bellas
Artes” in Colombia. Her background in classical ballet was developed
and her love for dance was born. From dancing modern dance in her school
years to the sensual dance of Tango with Jorge Nel. Adriana was soon
participating in dance competitions in her teenage years in Miami. Adriana
was then introduced to bellydance at a very early age attending numerous
of workshops and intensive classes, nationally and internationally with
world acclaimed dance teachers.
Adriana began her true journey of teaching when she moved to Curacao, stepping back from the stage and coordinating numerous of shows she then decided that teaching was filling her soul. She began large and many different classes in Curacao, N.A. when she started teaching and choreographing at Ana School of Flamenco. Producing “Arabian Nights”. She then moved to Europe and co-founded the first bellydance school in Ireland: MUSES BellyDance School, also producing events and workshops as well as The Gathering of the MUSES annual show. With great amount of success in Europe. Adriana and her company Moon Dance Productions produced the second chained event (show) ”Arabian Nights in Cork, Ireland” with amazing success and appearance in the local news paper she continued teaching and traveling throughout Ireland giving workshops and intensive classes.
Aside from being a dancer/performer/choreographer and teacher she has also published her first book A Tangled Heart, in date, and has had the honor of having her poems included in several published books, Eternal Portraits Series, released in the summer of 2003, Theater Of The Mind, also released in the early summer of 2003, as well as internet sites where her poetry is displayed. A poet, choreographer, producer, and teacher are the roles Adriana uses to express her feelings.
Sandy Reyes-McCormack, Bellydance Teacher
Sandy
Reyes- McCormack born and raised in Miami. Has always had a love for
the performing arts, since early on in childhood she studied Ballet and
Jazz. She continued to explore other venues to express her self with
visual arts. Her school days were filled with classes in musical theater
and advance placement art. She began her journey in the belly dance ten
years ago during her college years while attending Florida International
University Theatre program. She continued her training in belly dance
on and off for the next several years attending classes and workshops
with local leading teachers and exploring other dance forms such Irish/
Scottish and Latin dance.
Sandy began her travels in her early twenties to Europe. Ireland left an imprint on her sprit and with a new lust for life. She decided when she came back to Florida that she would pursuit a career in the art of belly dance. With her foundations in American Cabaret she began to move towards American Tribal Style Belly dance, Folkloric and Tribal Fusion. Is known to perform Celtic cabaret and Celtic Tribal fusions and is forming her first belly dance troupe The Electric Celtic Tribe. She is currently working on fusing traditional dance forms of Colombia into her dance styling and is known as the Emerald Goddess. A name chosen because it fused Colombia the birth place of both of her parents and where the purest and riches emeralds are found to that of Ireland the Emerald isle her spiritual home. Recently, performing with Lotus dancers headed by Alina of Shri~Shambhala at various events through out South Florida. She is known her patience manner of teaching her students while focusing on posture and technique. She has also dance solo with various local musical talents. She is an avid rock music fan and enjoys dancing with UV a U2 tribute band through out Florida.
Sandy is also an active promoter of the South Florida Belly Dance community forming The Broward County Belly Dance Meet- Up group in April of 2005.A non for profit group. She is also the new Vice President for The Middle Eastern Dance and Culture Association Florida Chapter. A Nationally known and acclaim non for profit organization that unites the middle eastern dance community and helps performers, teacher, studio owners, vendors, and students network.
Adding on to Sandy's eclectic background she is a proud vegetarian since the age of seven, happy to promote a healthy life style. Is also currently the US representative to Homeland Music Inc. A Scottish independent music label base out of Scotland helping to bring musical acts from the U.K. to the U.S. . Above all is has a new found drive to succeed because she is a proud mother to Sean Patrick a beautiful toddler.
Desire Sanchez, Flamenco Master Teacher
Desire
was born in Ibiza, Espana. From a very early age she was influenced by
the dance. She started her studies in dance in Ibiza, at the (Academia
de Danza Maria Martin) she studies classical dance, classical Spanish,
as well as Bolera and Flamenco. At 18 years of age she moves to the capital,
Madrid, in where she studies for a few consecutive years the art of classical
Spanish dances as well as Flamenco in the international acclaimed academy
of “Amor de Dios” with master teachers: Paco Romero, Maria
Magdalena, and Pedro Azorin to name a few.
She then expands her horizons in Sevilla and Barcelona with master teachers: Luis Principe, Quety Cavijo, and Jose Galan. It was then when she began her career as an artist. She founded her dance company in which she included diverse dances and compositions of the Spanish classical dances, and Flamenco offering performances in different countries of Europe, including Morocco as well as South America. Her traveling continued to expanded because of her success as an accomplished dancer and choreographer.
Desire has been exclusively teaching for the past five years between Miami and Spain. Offering workshops and classes to children and professional dancers. Her patience and artistry are a few of the amazing characteristical traits Desire offers in her creative classes. She is now a part of Moon Dance Productions and will be giving exclusive classes at our premises, offering the powerful dances of Spain with her talented ways of teaching. We are delighted to have her abroad! Desire is also available for private classes and workshops.
Ana Herminia Illas, Flamenco Teacher
Ana
Herminia Illas was born in Venezuela, dancing from a very early age:
ballet, Tap, and Flamenco. In 1984 she begins her intensive studies in
Flamenco at the Lizarragas in Valencia, Venezuela. Ana moved to Curacao
in 2002, where she opened: Ana Flamenco Dance School. She then travels
to Spain frequently and receives classes with Maria Magdalena, Mariby
de Cordoba, and in Madrid at the “Escuela de Arte Flamenco Amor
De Dios” where she studied for 3 consecutive months with Master
Cristobal Reyes, uncle and teacher of the International acclaimed Joaquin
Cortes. She has produced over 5 different shows which include “Noche
de Gitanas”, and “Solo Flamenco”, receiving honors
and appearing in the local newspaper and media for her success.
Ana has traveled internationally giving intensive workshops in Europe. In 2006 she travelled to Jerez for the largest Flamenco Festival, and under the teachings of Bailaora Merche Esmeralda and Guajiras with Bailaora: Lola Greco. Back in Madrid she continues her advanced studies with Cristain Almodobar, Cristobal Reyes, and Miguel Canas. In 2007 she is under the teachings of Belen Cabanes from Jerez, learning (Castanuelas) and with Domingo Ortega, and in Madrid with Antonio Reyes.
Currently Ana is producing “Furia Flamenca” with her company. Now Ana will join Moon Dance and Spa, as a Master teacher and producer for our studio.
Monica Gonzalez, Bellydancer instructor
Monica
Gonzalez is of Peruvian, Nicaraguan, and European descent. However,
she has resided in Florida since her early childhood. Her interests lie
in holistic health. Monica discovered the art of Bellydance through
her Master Teacher Samay and since has been captivated by its aura.
In June, 2006, Monica traveled to Egypt to attend the International Festival
Ahlan Wa Sahlan where she witnessed and learned varying styles of dance.
While there, she had the privilege to study with Masters Raqia Hassan,
Momo Kadous, and the legendary Nagwa Fouad. Inspired by this experience,
Monica has continued her studies attending countless workshops with
acclaimed instructors, including Bellydance Superstars Ansuya and Jillina.
She studies with many master teachers and local teachers, striving
to be a well rounded dancer and has performed in Joharah's bi-annual
hafla as well as productions directed by Samay.
Alexandra Shepherd, Yoga Instructor
Alexandra Shepherd earned her B.A. in Theater and Dance from The George Washington University. She has been teaching yoga and meditation for over 4 years in Washington, DC and Miami. She is certified in both Kundalini Yoga and Bodhisattva Yoga styles. She incorporates yoga postures, deep breathing exercises, and meditation into every class. Currently studying for her Master of Public Health degree, she is dedicated to helping everyone become happy and healthy.