YOU CAN DANCE,
IF YOU WANT TO
OUR STORY, MISSION AND TEAM
WE ARE AFSDᵀᴹ!
A DANCE STYLE FOR ALL LEVELS
Through our passion for African dances, we aim to inspire and educate our students about diverse styles, including folkloric, urban, and traditional forms. Afro Fusion Sharqi Danceᵀᴹ provides tools and principles for dancers to navigate their journey with respect, integrity, and honour for African culture and traditions.
Before incorporating specific elements, we emphasize the importance of education and comfort. Researching the cultural significance and ensuring respect for traditions is essential. Respect guides our choices, honouring African heritage while forging individual paths. Dance teaches values and fosters respect between performers and audiences.
We aspire to popularize Afro Fusion Sharqi Danceᵀᴹ, raising awareness of its African origins and cultural significance. We aim for dancers to embrace this style with deep understanding and respect. Not only that, but we aim to elevate African dances to a level where studying with masters in Africa becomes a natural progression for performers.
MEET THE TEAM
Tania Amaral
The Teacher
PynKsy Shell, also known as Tânia do Amaral-Ndeve, hails from Mozambique and is a passionate dancer, teacher, and cultural activist. Formerly a pharmacist, she transitioned to full-time dancing and researching African dances. After stints in Portugal and Cape Verde, she now resides in Canada, where she teaches Afro Fusion Sharqi Dance, a fusion style combining elements of African dances and Raqs Sharqi. She aims to share African culture's richness and diversity through her art. She has collaborated with notable figures in the dance community and holds certifications in various dance styles. She's also a member of the International Dance Council CID by UNESCO. In 2019, she patented Afro Fusion Sharqi Dance, which has now become a trademark, and she's currently finalizing the AFSD Manual in English and Portuguese to spread this dance style globally. More information can be found on her website or Afro Fusion Sharqi Dance's official Facebook page.
Marie-Christine Poulin
The Dance Assistant
Born in Quebec and partially raised in Northern California, MC found Vancouver Island to be the place where she feels at home. She started her career in luxury hospitality industry which led her to working off-grid for over 5 years inside the UNESCO Biosphere Region of Clayoquot Sound. Between serving from a helicopter on mountain tops to guiding people through crystal-clear, glacial-fed water immersions, MC knew she could never go back to a conventional lifestyle. The way she shows up in the world is guided by a desire to inspire individuals to unplug from technology so they can reconnect with themselves on a deeper level. Her dedication to being of service changed from a bespoke personalized approach to a holistic experience that realigns your spirit, mind and body.
Now back in civilization, her disappointment with Western culture encouraged MC to want to operate as part of a community with like-minded people who are trying to make the world a better place through real connections, mindfulness and joy as a foundation. It is in the process of pursuing her dream to dance again that she met Tania and knew right away this was going to be something greater. The unique style of Afro Fusion Sharqui Dance strongly resonates with MC’s beliefs and the significance of respecting the elements, the land, the earth and the sky, which is expressed and shines through the movements. It’s not only about the dance; it’s about valuing the importance of going back to the roots with reverence and to honour our primal state as humans, away from the complexity of modern structures. Learning and connecting with the African culture through dancing has been such a humbling and powerful experience. She recommends to anyone who wants to foster their mental, emotional, physical and social health to come and try it for themselves.
Our Community
I am a Mozambican immigrant living on the traditional and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw, Tla'amin, and Snaw-naw-as First Nations, and I acknowledge the Cowichan Tribes. I understand the negative impact of colonialism and systemic racism on BIPOC communities.
My dance classes are inclusive, welcoming everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, or physical ability. I donate 10% of my net revenue to local organizations and Milorho, a Mozambican Music & Dance Company.
To combat cultural appropriation, I ensure all dance movements, rhythms, and instruments in my classes are taught with their cultural context to instill appreciation in my students.
PynKsy Shell - Tânia do Amaral-Ndeve