International Dance Day

International Dance Day

Highlighting Black / Caribbean Owned Dance Studios in the GTA

Wishing everyone a happy international dance day!

Dance is and will always be something in my life that I cherish. It has given me discipline, a way to share my culture, and provided an outlet for me to express myself. So blessed to have transformed my passion for dance into a business, a lifestyle, and a source of inspiration for others. With dance as a foundation of Simply Shakera, I have been able to grace many stages and be featured by: CP24, The Canadian Olympic Committee, The Marilyn Denis Show, Breakfast Television, etc. while simultaneously teaching 100s of women and children dance over the years. 

Similar to me, there are other artists in the General Toronto Area who are passionate about dance so much so that they founded companies to share their passions with the world. I have compiled a list of local Black / Caribbean Owned Dance Studios.

Over the past few months I have seen many lists of small businesses and/or Black owned business to support and often I see this group left out. These companies need support just as much as retail stores and restaurants. They provide training, variety and most offer styles rooted in culture.

Support local. Support the arts.

Without continued participation in virtual classes, competitions and conventions etc. these companies will be negatively impacted. Check out the list below and if I missing any, please add in the comments! Support can be in the form of participation or amplification.

Afiwi Groove School

Aifwi Groove aim to empower, educate, and inspire all ages through African and arts and culture. Their programs promote positive self-esteem, confidence and an active lifestyle while educating and connecting participants to arts and culture of the African Diaspora.

400 Monarch Avenue. Unit 11. Ajax, ON. L1S 2G6

https://afiwigroove.com

https://www.instagram.com/afiwigroove

A New DAEI Dance School

A New DAEI Dance School is an award-winning family-friendly community space for toddlers, children, tweens, teens and adults. 

1 Nelson St W (Inside the Art of Dance Centre). Brampton, Ontario, L6X 1B6

https://anewdaei.com

https://www.instagram.com/anewdaei

City Centre Dance 

City Centre Dance is the hottest drop-in dance studio located in Downtown Mississauga, offering a wide-selection of classes in various styles and levels for people of all ages and abilities.

68-5359 Timberlea Blvd Mississauga, ON L4W 4N5

https://www.citycentredance.com

https://www.instagram.com/citycentre_dance

DOAHL Dance Academy

DOAHL provides a full dance curriculum for dancers age 3 and up looking to make dance as a career, and for those who simply want to enjoy the art of dance, learn new skills, and make life-long friendships.

50 Anderson Ave,Markham, ON,Canada L6E 1A5

https://www.doahl.com

https://www.instagram.com/doahlacademy

Industry House Studios

Industry House Studios an elite dance training facility located in the Stockyards District.

100 Symes Rd Unit 202 & 203

https://www.industryhousestudios.com

https://www.instagram.com/industryhousestudios

Jade's Hip Hop Academy (JHHA)

JHHA is the only all Hip Hop and street dance studio in Toronto, the GTA and one of the few of its kind in Canada.

1310 Steeles Ave E Unit 6, Brampton, ON L6T 1A2

https://jadeshiphopacademy.com

https://www.instagram.com/jadeshiphopacad

Riddim Fitness Wellness Centre

The Riddim Fitness Wellness Centre serves the community by offering fitness programs, personal training and dance classes for children, youth and adults that also want to live their best lives and take the journey to wellness in a fun, welcoming and supportive environment. 

845 WESTNEY ROAD SOUTH, UNIT#7. AJAX, ONTARIO 

https://riddimfit.com

https://www.instagram.com/riddimfit

Socacize

Socacize Fitness is a creative blend of authentic Caribbean and African dance techniques, in harmony with effective fitness moves, resulting in a unique, non-judgmental and exhilarating dance fitness program.

2811 Weston Road. North York, ON M9M 2R8

https://socacize.com

https://www.instagram.com/socacize

The Space

The S.P.A.C.E. is a full performing arts centre focused on building self-esteem. They encourage students to dream, challenge them to develop determination and perseverance along with technique and give them the confidence both to get up on stage and perform and to believe in themselves.

1324 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON M5J 1M9

https://the-space.ca

https://www.instagram.com/thespacetoronto

Lastly, although we do not have a physical studio, I would be remiss not to shoutout my company Carnival Spice!

Carnival Spice is an award winning dance and fitness company that showcases Caribbean carnival arts. We are currently offering a variety of virtual programming HERE . You can also connect on instagram via https://www.instagram.com/carnivalspice

Get Into The Groove

Get Into The Groove

A Discussion On Dance Fitness

"Get into the groove" is more than just a phrase, it is a an action that everyone should be practicing.

I encourage you all to embrace the power of movement and if you have not tried a dance fitness workshop or class, then you are definitely missing out! I do understand however if you are unable to participate because of physical injury or other health reasons but any other concerns shouldn't stop you -  instead they should motivate you!

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of leading a dance fitness workout on an episode of the Social. To increase the difficulty of the workout I added the use of a household item that is accessible around the house. This was a perfect opportunity to incorporate my Caribbean flair; the item I chose was a flag!

Check out the full segment here:

My outfit in the segment is by Tendu Active. Their clothing is super cute and comfy plus the company is female run and Caribbean fuelled!

Dance fitness is a type of group exercise that incorporates dance moves/technique. This full body workout is tons of fun and the overall intensity of a class varies depending on the style of dance you are doing.  I often hear folks call dance fitness “ Zumba". To clarify, "Zumba" is a TYPE of dance fitness workout and one of the more popular dance fitness brands. Their instructors go through a training process based on the Zumba style, class format, and program principles. So for example, if you were to call a class I teach "Zumba", you would be incorrect for a variety of different reasons.

One of the main differences between dance fitness classes is style. There can be fifty different hip hop classes out there but I promise you they are not the same. I challenge you to try them all so you can experience the difference for yourself and feel which one you enjoy the most. 

For most of us, the way we workout has changed significantly since the start of the pandemic. Instead of hitting the gym/studio, we have been required to workout in our homes or outside. Whether in class or online there are so many great dance fitness classes out there that provide amazing results. Benefits include building your stamina and energy levels, strengthening and toning your muscles, burning tons of calories etc. Dance fitness workouts can also help you avoid or overcome plateaus because they will challenge the body in a different way. Plus most classes are super fun so you do not realize how much work you are putting in. 

Listed were only a few benefits that affect your physical state but there are amazing social benefits as well such as boosting your confidence, building your performance ability, releasing stress and meeting amazing people who are active and may also be looking for support for their workout too.  Not everyone in the class will be at the same fitness or dance level, but that is the beauty of it, you have to start somewhere in order to grow or see results. As as I would say, you have to "pace", listen to the music, listen to your body and take everything in stride. 

What you need for a dance fitness class:

• a water bottle

• comfortable fitness attire and shoes

• a yoga mat (if you have & incase there is floor work)

• and a change of clothes because you will get sweaty!

There are so many different classes to choose from out there.  Do some research and ask yourself:  What music do you like? How long is the class? Check out different videos and see how you feel while watching. 

To experience more Caribbean Dance Fitness classes, try Carnival Spice’s new Spice On Demand programming - now available online here.

Caribana Recap 2019

Caribana Recap

2019

Toronto Carnival Season 2019 was one to remember.

The #SpiceFam was alllllll ova! We hosted a few pop up dance workshops, performed at a few private events, and had tv spots on

both Breakfast Television (view here) and CP24 (view here).

Met Preedy, Kerwin Dubois, and Jillionaire, saw Blaxx, Tallpree and Shal Marshal perform live, won section of the year at Friday Night Mas, and hit the carnival road with the Carnival Spice ladies. Twas a time!

What I loved most:

• THE STAGE!!! For the first time ever, Toronto Carnival featured an elevated stage. If you followed my blog over the years, you’ll know that I’ve BEEN suggesting this! I didn’t get to see the stage in person, but based on photos and video floating around the net it looked awesome!

• Meeting the Real Housewives of Atlanta was pretty cool too. In addition to being a huge fan of the show, I’m so happy I could share my culture with them! ...Gahhh! That’s all I can say for now.

• The King and Queen competition had a great vibe this year. Speeches were LONG, but kudos to MC SKF for keeping the crowd’s energy up. I personally enjoyed the performance by Lil Natty & Thunda but the audience was tough. Lol. Twas clearly a trini crowd. Congratulations to all the winners. My favourite was this year’s queen from Toronto Revellers! Her costumed radiated the moment the lights hit it on the stage.

• Big up Cantu Beauty for giving away full sized products from their hair care line on the road!!! They had a tent set up and offered hair tips, products, and more.

Least favourite moments:

• The same day I was on Breakfast Television dozens of people forwarded me a CBC article where my photo was used to promote a campaign that I had no affiliation with. I suspect a band who I modelled previously for submitted the photo without my knowledge. This is SUPER frustrating considering they could and SHOULD have used photos from their 2019 season! Plus I personally don’t support the campaign in relation to carnival. Apparently topless masqueraders were to appear at the parade this year - cool, do your thing but leave me out of it. I advocate for cultural arts and the history of mas… which in my opinion doesn’t correlate with being nude.

• Although I commend Shea Moisture Canada for hosting a fun filled & educational event surrounding black women and black hair, I’m quite disappointed that the featured Caribbean Carnival models/dancers they used didn’t reflect their audience! In my opinion, if you are hosting a Caribbean Carnival event hiring samba performers as the entertainment is a miss. An even bigger bonus would have been if they used black models. They had photo booth activations at some of the costume launches earlier in the year - why not hire one of the models from the show??? There were so many models/dancers to choose from… And nooo, I’m not salty that Carnival Spice wasn’t called - lololol. I’m simply mentioning this so they can do better next time around.

• Lack of attractions along the parade route was a big miss by the festival organizers. I understand that the Grand Parade is suppose to have masqueraders and spectators - HOWEVER, sadly the mentality in Toronto is that Caribana is a street party and the issue of “storming” exists year after year. I feel like if their were more attractions along the route it would redirect people out of the parade. I commend initiatives like the Winedown Festival and Island Mix for hosting limes along the sidelines; those events visibly made an impact on the amount of congestion on the route.

Now that we finally have a stage I may consider playing mas again in Toronto… I would only be open to partnering with a section leader or band who is trying to push the culture forward and respects their masqueraders. When I play, I roll DEEP; so I’m especially mindful that everyone who plays with me has a great time.

It has been heartbreaking seeing all the recent press regarding poor masquerader experiences! Negative media attention doesn’t just affect the band in fire it effects the entire festival and carnival community.

Let’s all vow to do better.

SO HOW ABOUT YOU - HOW WAS YOUR TORONTO CARNIVAL 2019 EXPERIENCE?

Did you play mas? How’d you like your costume? The band? The new route?

Did you just fete? What was your fave party?

Did you escape and go to the cottage?

Let me know in the comments?

Introducing Carnival Spice 2019

Introducing

Carnival Spice 2019

When most hear my name they cannot help but think of Caribbean Carnival. WHY? Well, aside from me being a proud Jamaican Canadian, in 2013 I founded CARNIVAL SPICE fitness, entertainment, and community. The company was launched with an intention to bring movement to beautiful mas costumes through dance performances and costume showcases. I am forever grateful for how much it has grown! Many artists of color have come through our doors and blossomed into beaming talent. Our fitness clients continue dance, sweat, connect, and transform to the Caribbean vibes. Plus we’ve touched a variety of stages from television, to weddings, to festivals and more. 

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Allow me to introduce you to the 2019 team members:

MOHOGANY

TORI

CHARLENE

JESSICA

SULAIRE

ALANA

KAFI

ALYSEHIA

LAURA

JESS

ASHLEIGH

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To learn more about the company or to add some spice to your special event visit www.carnivalspice.com

You may have seen Carnival Spice in action with:

City TV

CTV

MuchMusic

Alison HInds

Toronto Star

G987 FM Radio

Jambana One World Festival

Grace Kennedy Foods

Ryerson University

Breakfast Television.

Jamaal Magloire’s Toronto Revellers

Saldenah Mas K Club

and more.

Follow Carnival Spice On Social Media:

Twitter

https://twitter.com/CarnivalSpice

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/CarnivalSpice

LinkedIn

http://www.linkedin.com/in/carnivalspiceandeverythingnice

Instagram

http://instagram.com/carnivalspice

[Giveaway] Spring Up Your Wardrobe

Spring Up Your Wardrobe

Giveaway!

The weather is warming up and it has me feeling oh so nice! I feel so relieved that I can wear a lighter jacket and not have to brush snow off of my car. Warmer weather also calls for outdoor workouts… so why not workout in STYLE! 

As a #FitSquad member for Titika Activewear, we have often collaborated on offering you free Simply Shakera dance cardio classes. Now we would like to “spring" up your fitness wardrobe! (See what I did there 😛) We're giving away one lucky winner a $50 gift card and another lucky winner thie sexy sport bag seen in my hand! 

Titika’s activewear is designed for performance, comfort and versatility so I now you’ll enjoy shopping at their store as much as I do.

How To Enter:

In the comment sections, tell me your favourite way to get FIT: Cycle? Dance? Yoga? Run? or Weights? AND tell me if you prefer online workouts or offline.

For a BONUS entry, visit this link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BwE4Y6VgLAV/

**Winner must be a Canadian resident**

Identifying Your Passion Pillars

Identifying

your passion pillars

Identifying your passion pillars allows you to live life a more intentional life. They can include your gifts (things your born to do, given by God, what’s naturally to you), talents (things you chose to do, areas you’re trained or educated in), Values (areas you hold at high regard), and/or interests (things that bring you joy).

I am grateful to have transformed my passion pillars into a business, a lifestyle, and a source of inspiration for others. Whether it’s your first time visiting my page or you have known me for years, you may have guessed that my passion pillars are Dance, Fitness, and Culture. Learn more in MY STORY about why these areas are so important to me.

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

— Oprah Winfrey

Passion is a powerful feeling that translates into intense enthusiasm or excitement towards something. That something can include love for a particular activity, great emotion for another individual, or an interest in an idea or cause.

Passion unlocks action.

It enables us to have self-confidence, trust ourselves and to take the risks!

Others can feel passion in you - that’s how strong it is!

Passion empowers us to overcome challenges and obstacles. Whether real or imagined, with passion you will overcome these challenges and obstacles and see the world as a place of infinite potential.

Pillars in this context are things rooted in the core of who you are and provides support for other areas.

Through my Passion Pillars, my goal is to bring joy to the lives of others. I would also love for you to establish your own passion pillars too!

Start by considering areas you’re strong in:

Are you always sketching designs, graphics, comics etc. on napkins?

Are you the friend everyone goes to for Life advice? Tech advice? Health Tips? Relationship help?

Perhaps you were like me and could dance before you could walk? What activity have you loved to do since you were a child? Or rather what activity have you had a growing love or appreciation for?

Does the work you do prompt results for others?

Now, use the statements below to help discover your passion pillars by filling in the (x) with the areas that immediately come to your heart or mind for each statement. Is there an area or thing that shows up more than once? Add it to your list. When making your final list of passion pillars I recommend selecting ONE, THREE, or a maximum of FIVE!

______X_____ is something I would do every day if given the opportunity.

______X_____ is something I could make a living from but would be open to do for free!

______X_____  is something that I utilize to be of service to the world.

When I practice/do ______X_____  I feel challenged to be better version of myself.

Ever since I could remember, I could be found  ______X_____ .

SENDING YOU LOVE & LIGHT!

Xo,

Shakera