THE WORLDANZ TEAM

Gina Garcia
Artistic Director and Instructor

Born and raised in Guatemala, Gina Garcia traveled to the United States at the age of sixteen to pursue her interest in art and dance. She studied at Boston University, ultimately transferring to and receiving her degree in Fine Arts at the University of California—Santa Cruz.  In addition to painting and dancing, Gina spent her time studying psychology, cultural anthropology, and traveling.  

Gina developed Worldanz in 2008 as a way in which to combine her love of dance, her unyielding interest in global cultures, and her restless desire to exercise both aggressively and unapologetically. Having spent twenty-five years studying every dance form that came her way, Gina wanted to find a way to share the unique and intricate gifts that each form provides.

Similarly, as a fitness enthusiast, Gina has remained extremely interested in helping people tap into the joy of high-intensity training. Aside from the obvious physical benefits of feeling strong, healthy, and embodied, Gina wants people to experience the mental and spiritual rewards that come with maximum athletic exertion within the ecstatic study of dance.

Carrie Flowers
​Instructor

Carrie studied various styles of dance and the discipline of choreographic analysis while at Santa Rosa Junior College. It was during those same years, that Carrie began yoga and pilates classes, cultivating a deeper awareness of body mechanics and alignment. Her repertoire of dance styles broadened during her studies in cultural anthropology. Carrie believes that one way to learn about another culture is through the music and forms of movement, and acknowledging the historical significance that dance provides. She has learned that dance is an expression of one’s ancestry and a means of social connection.
 
Carrie first met Gina Garcia at UC Santa Cruz in 2011. From day one, Carrie was enamored with the electricity Gina brought into class and found herself seeking more of what Gina offered. Carrie participated in the first Worldanz teacher training. Despite Carrie’s high energy and silly nature, she strives to provide a safe space for others to both, express their own interpretation of movement, as well as offer direction of proper alignment.  ​

Rena Dubin and Aliya Mayana Glatt 
​Instructors

Rena spent her Texan childhood at the ballet studio, which culminated in her starring role of Hansel in the ballet "Hansel and Gretel." As school and social demands increased, she stopped dancing (pointe shoes are not comfortable), which left a void that remained unfulfilled until she discovered Iyengar Yoga as a freshman at UCSC. Rena studied intensively for years with Senior Instructor Kofi Busia, traveled to meet Mr. Iyengar in person, and taught many classes a week, in addition to her dedicated personal practice.

​After her children were born, Rena had less time -- and quiet -- for practicing yoga. Luckily, she stumbled upon Gina Garcia's Worldanz classes! The joyful exuberance of Gina's classes was just what Rena needed. Her early love of dance was reawakened as she relished in the playfulness and passion for movement. Rena completed the Worldanz teacher training class with her daughter, Aliya, in 2014. 

Johanna Taylor
Instructor

Johanna Taylor graduated from UCSC in 2011 with a joint degree in Politics and Theater Arts. After being the first teacher trained by Gina Garcia, she traveled to the south of Spain to teach and spread the word about Worldanz. While in Spain, she also studied and performed with Pranadanza, an African and Middle Eastern dance troupe. 

Now back in Santa Cruz and continuing to teach Worldanz, Johanna spends her extracurricular time studying Afro-Haitian, Congolese, dancehall, and aerial dance, in addition to yoga.  More than anything, however, Johanna invites you to join her in shaking it on the dance floor.​

Audrey Stanley
​Instructor

Audrey moved to Santa Cruz about 7 years ago and discovered Worldanz. She fell in love with Worldanz which led to her passion and love for dance and fitness 

When she first started out she never imagined she could become an instructor. Audrey looked up to Gina who is the creator of Worldanz and wanted to be as much like her as possible. It was about two years ago that Audrey started her journey towards becoming an instructor. She would never have started that journey if it weren't for Gina believing in her and urging her to do so.

She is so happy and proud to be a Worldanz instructor! Her goal is to spread the excitement and joy to everyone who takes her class. ​

Shane Sanchez
Instructor

Shane Sanchez attended the University of Montana, where he received his undergraduate degree in Literature.  It was at the University of Montana where Shane first began his study of dance, training in Modern and Jazz Dance while teaching Freshman Seminar.  Shane continued his dance training in Jazz and Ballet while a graduate student at UC-Santa Cruz, where he received his master’s degree in Literature.  

Shane has been training in Worldanz since February of 2008, and remains actively grateful to Worldanz for the community of elegant dancers it reliably crafts here in Santa Cruz. Shane is now teaching Worldanz in heaven. 

Amanda Meyers
​Instructor

Amanda is a lifelong lover of dance. She began teaching cardio dance in 2005 and has studied several forms of dance at Cabrillo College such as Latin, Baile Folklorico, and Hip Hop. She followed the advice of a friend and gave Worldanz a try in 2015 and the rest is history.

Amanda truly found her, “dance family” in Worldanz and became an instructor in 2016. She has expanded her dance repertoire since then by taking workshops and continuously learning about different dance forms.

Dance continues to connect Amanda with the most incredible, crazy, wild, fun and creative people. It’s a way of life, good for the mind, body and soul. Come and dance with her soon.

Joan Fenwick
​Instructor

Joan discovered Worldanz in 2011 and was totally blown away from the first class. Since then, a whole new world of teachers and styles has opened up to her, and she has been taking as many technique classes and dance intensives as she possibly can, as this is a lifelong learning process.

She has enjoyed teaching and subbing, as well as continuing to be a supportive part of the larger dance community. One major incentive in getting certified was to be able to lead her nieces and nephews, from which she continues to derive great satisfaction.​

Melissa Wedlock
​​Instructor

Melissa Wedlock grew up in Santa Cruz, California. She studied to become a Registered Nurse and has her dream job working with mothers and babies in Labor and Delivery. She loves small town living and now lives in the small coastal town Davenport with her husband and son.

Melissa is an avid athlete. She has been competing in running races for 20 years and also enjoys surfing, mountain biking and snowboarding.

Melissa discovered Worldanz in 2008 and it is the only sport that will keep her indoors. She loves the physical, mental and social aspects of Worldanz. It has inspired her to learn more about dance. In 2015, she danced and performed with the Bollywood team Gurus of Dance.

Virgínia Beatriz de Melo Zanini
​​Instructor

From Southwest Brasil, where she grew up and lives currently, Virgínia was always really into sports, dance, art and culture.  She has dedicated most of her life to Ballet, Tap Dance, dancing and teaching. She also has great experience with Belly Dancing, Performing, Yoga and Martial Arts. She became the Kung fu Brasilian Champion in 2008 and was classified for the World Championship.

 When she went for an experience abroad to California, she found Worldanz and fell in love with the philosophy.

She found a way to express herself not just into dance, but into the world. She is a person who wants to explore the infinity of motion, feelings and joy. Virgínia felt she needed to bring home that new way of expression in which it is possible to travel around the world through dance in one hour. After spending two years in California and learning intensively the techniques to become a Worldanz instructor, Virgínia is now back in Uberlândia, her hometown, where the new style will be first introduced in Brasil. Now with a new baby, classes in Brasil are currently on hold. 

Kelli Maeda
​Instructor

Kelli Maeda grew up in The Deep South with quintessential dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop.  She was also an enthusiastic and competitive collegiate cheerleader. After moving to Santa Cruz, California, her love of dance and fitness was renewed when she found Worldanz!  After years of training with Gina Garcia and a wide range of dance and fitness experts from around the globe, Kelli is teaching Worldanz to adults and children around Santa Cruz County. 

​As the mother of now three talented dancers, she is even more inspired to share dance with her community as a way to connect with people on a spiritual level.  She hopes that through Worldanz you will find physical fitness, as well as new styles of dance that you can get passionate about.

Brittany Duicu
​Instructor

Brittany grew up in the LA area dreaming of being a mermaid. She was obsessed with the ocean and music. Though she did have the opportunity to study dance at an early age, her love of movement came from watching her grandmother dance and shimmy all around the house.

When she got to college, she danced as much as possible, eventually joining a professional troupe that performed regularly in elementary schools. While earning her degree in Marine Biology from UCSC, she continued her dance studies such as modern dance, ballet, jazz, yoga, and salsa.

In addition to dance and marine biology, Brittany has a rich background in marketing and event planning. She is an avid scuba diver, traveler, pilates, and deep curiosity about world cultures. Brittany has been a Worldanz Instructor since 2017. She is drawn to the joyous community that Worldanz brings together and the diverse dance forms and musical styles it encompasses. She loves how energized she feels in class and how much confidence it has brought to her life and hopes other dancers feel the same after dancing with her in a class.

Bailey Scott
​​Instructor

Bailey is first generation American, born to South African parents. She lived in Hong Kong for 6 years until her family moved to the Bay Area. Bailey grew up dancing 14 years of technical Jazz and Modern dance, and continued dancing while studying Accounting and Economics at UCSC. It was there where she discovered the universe of Worldanz with Gina, which uniquely fused Bailey’s passion for dance with international travel into the most vivacious dance fitness experience. She resettled in Silicon Valley, where she strives to share the energy and elation of Worldanz with her community.