Teacher Reveal: meet Carolena Nericcio!
Carolena, aka Mama C, is the legendary founder of FatChanceBellyDance® and the visionary behind the global dance phenomenon known as FCBD®Style. Her journey began at the age of eight when she requested a special ring from her father, igniting a lifelong fascination with body adornment, textiles, and a beautiful collection of jewelry from around the world.
Discovering belly dance transformed her passion into the creation of her own unique style, FCBD®Style. In 1987, she founded the troupe FatChanceBellyDance®, captivating audiences worldwide with mesmerizing performances, majestic costuming, and layers of intricate jewelry. The carefully curated music blends traditional sounds with modern fusion, giving FCBD®Style its enchanting yet contemporary flair.
Today, students can learn from Carolena through online classes and private lessons, complemented by instructional DVDs and international workshops. She also offers business consultations through FCBD® Troupe Consulting.
When she’s not traveling the globe or teaching at her studio, Carolena enjoys exercising, sewing, knitting, and reading.
We are beyond excited and honored to welcome her as one of our festival teachers!
Surprise Teacher Reveal for D!GFF 2024: DeAnna Freeman!
We’ve got an exciting announcement for you! In addition to teaching her much-anticipated intensive 'Alignment', the incredible DeAnna Freeman will be offering an extra workshop during the festival weekend!
That’s right—more chances to learn from this powerhouse of a teacher! DeAnna’s workshops are always a beautiful blend of precision, creativity, and joy, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store for this special session.
Stay tuned for more details and get ready for a weekend of dance magic!
Introducing Gesche Höhner!
Since discovering her passion for improvised ""Tribal Style"" dance in 2004, Gesche has devoted herself to this vibrant art form. After years of learning from local teachers, she began attending workshops with the amazing Wendy Allen whenever she visited Germany, who became a significant influence in her dance journey. Gesche has also learned from other talented artists like Carolena, Sandi Ball, Anita Lalwani, and Kae Montgomery.
In 2015, she took the leap to start teaching, and by 2016, she completed her General Skills and Teacher Training in Barcelona, earning her certification as a studio instructor. Since then, she has dedicated herself to teaching weekly classes and hosting monthly workshops, collaborating with renowned dancers like Wendy, Sandi, Jesse Standbridge, and Sofia Salazar-Rubio.
In 2018, Gesche expanded her offerings by creating psychology and dance workshops, which have led her to teach in various cities across Germany. She continued to enhance her skills with advanced training in General Skills and Technique for Teachers in 2022, Alignment in Munich in 2023, and Advanced Teacher Training in 2024.
Teacher Reveal: meet Rupali Ashok Modak!
Join this outstanding teacher and artist for a special workshop on one of the most elegant and expressive forms of Indian Classical Dance - which has influenced FCBD®Style immensely.
At just five years old, Rupali fell in love with the classical dance style of Kathak. After nearly 12 years of dedicated training, she began teaching alongside her instructors, initially focusing on children and later expanding to adult beginner classes. Her talent led her to become an independent dance teacher at an international school in Mumbai.
While pursuing her B.Com degree at Mumbai University, Rupali also studied Indian folk dance, earning a silver medal and a university diploma. She had the incredible opportunity to work with the legendary choreographer Mrs. Saroj Khan, choreographing and performing at various prestigious events.
In 2008, Rupali founded Zhanak Dance Academy in Mumbai, where she introduced students to the beauty of Kathak, Bollywood, and folk dance. Her journey also took her into the world of Bollywood, working as an assistant choreographer for TV serials and films.
After moving to Germany in 2015, she resumed her workshops, receiving an amazing response from students. Now, she conducts regular classes and online workshops in Hannover and nearby cities, inspiring her students and helping them build confidence through performance.
Call for Workshop!
Attention all professional and semi-professional dance teachers and artists!
We're excited to invite you to be part of next year's Dance! Global Fusion Festival happening 5th-6th July 2025 in Hannover, Germany and online worldwide.
Our 2025 edition will focus on FatChanceBellyDance® Style, with the festival theme being 'Alignment'. We're looking for instructors who can offer an inspiring 2-hour workshop connected to this theme.
We have one workshop slot available on Saturday, from 3:30pm to 5:30pm CEST!
Your workshop doesn't need to be a traditional FCBD® Style workshop or bellydance topic, but it should be relevant and beneficial to FCBD® Style dancers. We encourage you to get creative and bring your unique strengths and vision to the table!
If you're interested in teaching at D!GFF 2025, submit your application by 25th September via the following link:
application.dance-fest.com
We can't wait to see what you'll bring to the dance floor! Let's make this festival unforgettable!
For the second time, DeAnna is bringing to Germany her life-changing intensive 'Alignment', the ultimate mind-blowing training to advance your FCBD® Style technique through a full technique, mind, and body exploration.
The 25-hour intensive will take place from 1st until 4th July in Hannover, Germany. Limited number of spots available!
Pre-registration for the intensive are open! Send us an email to info@dance-fest.com with your full name and you will receive the registration form and all necessary information on 28th October 2024; three days before registration opens for the public!
The goal and dream of this festival is to create an opportunity to learn and grow together. Let us explore dance in all its diverse beauty and find a connection between each and every individual.
The Dance! Global Fusion Festival is organized by the non-profit Organization TaBeKu - Verein zur Förderung von interkulturellem Austausch durch Tanz, Bewegung und Tanz e.V. located in Hannover, Germany. We are grateful for the opportunity to create this festival, which combines our expertise in organising events with our global network of great dancers!