West African Dance Class Dancer Registration Form
Please complete the form below to register for the free West African dance class led by Sylvia Soumah of Coyaba Dance Theater on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
Dancers 12 years and older of all experience levels are invited to attend this class on stage at TPAC!
DATE
Sunday, May 3, 2026
TIME
10:00AM-11:00AM
Dancer Registration begins at 9:15AM
LOCATION
Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College
1000 College Circle
Wye Mills, MD 21679
Stay for the World Day of Dance performances later that day! A multi-cultural dance event will held on stage at the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College from 2PM-3PM. This is a family friendly event and all ages are welcome to attend.
Join us immediately following the event for a Q&A with Deepti Mukund Navile, Rose Xinran Qi and Sylvia Soumah moderated by Carole Cascio Fund’s Executive Director, Peter Pucci. See Guest Artist bios below the form.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Peter Pucci at ppucci@carolecasciofund.org
Deepti Mukund Navile is a dedicated artist and cultural educator, committed to preserving the Mysore Style of Bharatanatyam. As Founder and Artistic Director of Natyabhoomi School of Dance in Maryland, she has shaped a few generations of students through high-quality training and cultural understanding.
Natyabhoomi has performed at leading venues in the US and India, including the Strathmore Music Center, Kennedy Center, the Barns at Wolftrap & Brahma Gana Sabha, Chennai. Its acclaimed productions include Surya, Ishani, Andal, Geetha Govindam, Rukmini Kalyanam, Alankrita, Shakuntantalam.
Deepti has been honored with titles such as Natya Kaumudi, Natya Kalashri, and Nritya Rathna. In 2024, Natyabhoomi received a Senate Citation from Senator Chris Van Hollen and Governor Wes Moore’s Citation, marking 30 years of artistic excellence and community impact. She also leads Bharatanatyam residencies and master classes in local schools and college. Through Hasta -The Creative Hand, Deepti, creates original art using terracotta, wood, and cloth.
RoseQi Dance Arts is a vibrant and dynamic dance creative program dedicated to nurturing a diverse community of dance enthusiasts, ranging from professional dancers to nonprofessional adults, competitive teens, and early training youth. This program specializes in contemporary and Classical Chinese dance forms, producing original works that resonate with various audiences. RoseQi Dance Arts has made significant contributions to numerous stage productions, encompassing cultural events, educational exchanges, dance dramas, competitions, and community services.
Under the visionary leadership of director and choreographer, Rose Xinran Qi, the organization’s choreography uniquely blends Chinese and Western dance styles, emphasizing storytelling that draws from both personal experiences and broader narratives that inspire and impact her work. Through this innovative approach, RoseQi Dance Arts not only celebrates the beauty of dance but also fosters cultural exchange and artistic expression.
Rose Xinran Qi began her professional dance training at Changzhi City Art School, specializing in ballet, Chinese folk, and classical dance. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from ShanXi Academy in China and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Maryland.
Sylvia Soumah is the Founder and Artistic Director of Coyaba Dance Theater. The company has presented outstanding performances in Traditional West African dance, drumming, and theater. Coyaba Dance Theater brings the richness of African Dance traditions from Guinea, Mali and Senega. Sylvia’s extensive training includes studies in Guinea Conakry with Les Ballet Africaines and in Senegal under the direction of Bouly Sonko, Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Senegal.
Sylvia began her extensive study of West African Dance under the tutelage of Aidoo Holmes, Founder/Artistic Director of Wose Dance Theater, with this company Sylvia not only learned the importance of the African Dance technique and solo performance, she learned to drum and sing as well.
Sylvia has collaborated with Daniel Burkhoder (My Ocean is Never Blue), StepAfrika, Kingsman Island Festival (DC), Usuthu Arts Productions (South Africa), Salamata from Ghana, West Africa, Jessica Phillips Silver: Finding Rhythm! The Journey Through The Musical Brain (2020), Inspired Child. Co-Choreographer/Performer with What’s Going On touring company under the direction of Vincent Thomas.