Samadhi brings Aerial Artistry to Corporate Events, Stage Productions, Dance & Theatre Shows, Nightclubs, Music Awards, Private Functions, Grand Openings, Polynesian Luaus, Fundraisers, Community Festivals, etc. Both Indoor and Outdoor.
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Samadhi Team:
Andrea Torres
Samadhi Founder/Director
Performer
Aerial Instructor
Andrea Torres is a pioneer of Aerial Dance in Hawai'i. Her journey started at age 10 in her native Brazil, where she took her first ballet class. Soon after, Andrea earned a full scholarship in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary Dance. For the next eight years, she danced 5 days a week, 5 to 8 hours a day and represented her dance school in many festivals around Brazil. She ultimately won First Place Professional Ballet Category Pas de Deux in Festival Nacional de Danca de Joinville; today a second home to the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet. From 1995-1998, she worked as a Latin Dance Choreographer and Soloist for entertainer Charo, performing nightly in Waikiki and dancing in Reno, Los Angeles and on Cruise Ships through the Hawaiian Islands. After landing a role in the Maui production of "Ulalena," Andrea was sent to Montreal to learn basic aerial skills. As the original cast member and inspiration for Hina, the Goddess of the Moon, she developed her own movement language and choreography on the double-ring (her favorite apparatus). She was hooked, so to speak.
In 2004, she co-founded Samadhi Hawai’i (with fellow "Ulalena" cast members on Maui) as the Islands’ only aerial acrobatic performance troupe. After re-locating to Oahu, she invited fellow Iona dancers to join the company which soon grew into an aerial school. Andrea takes to the regular practice and teaching of Yoga in order to maintain the balance, flexibility, and strength that is required in aerial work. This has led to the distinct teaching style she shares with her aerial students at the Samadhi Hawai'i Aerial Dance School, which she started upstairs of Boca Hawai’i (her brother's shop). In 2010, she headed the collaboration of a Performing Arts Summer Experience entitled, "What If..." She has planted these seeds to hopefully grow into her dream Performing Arts School. Andrea also teaches annually at Kalani Performing Arts Festival, at Kalani Oceanside Retreat on the Big Island of Hawa'ii.
Her aerial work has appeared with Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, Tau Dance Theatre, Sonny Ching's Halau Na Mamo o Pu'uanahulu in Hawai’i and Japan, I ka Wa Kahiko-Haleakala Productions, Honua'ula Luau at Maui Marriott Wailea, and at many other local events. A highlight in her career was performing aerial dance for the first time at NaHoku Hanohano Awards (the Hawaiian Grammy's) with Nohelani Cypriano. Andrea is most proud of sharing the art of Aerial Dance, with live music in the most amazing outdoor locations in the Hawaiian Islands. She has been described as being one of the islands’ most breathtaking performers.
Nicole Young
Company Member
Assistant Director
Aerial Instructor
Co-Director/Co-Founder Volary Aerial Burlesque
Years of Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Ballet, Jazz, and Modern dance has brought Nicole Young to Samadhi Hawai’i where she can express her creativity at new heights. As a child she put on a variety of shows at home with her sisters. Today she still gets to play dress up while lending her performing talents to Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, Tau Dance Theatre, and Upside-Down Dance. Nicole has formerly worked with Hawai’i Opera Theater, and Derek Daniels Productions.
Through the University of Hawai’i, Nicole graduated with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Psychology, earned a scholarship to attend the London Contemporary Dance School for a semester, attended the American College Dance Festival with her Senior Project, and was awarded the Yasuki Sasa Award for Excellence in Dance. She has taught at Mid-Pacific Institute, Allegra Performing Arts Center, The Pacific School of the Performing Arts, Tri-School at Mililani, The Honolulu Boys Choir, Dance Central, and The Movement Center. Nicole is currently an Upside-Down Pilates certified instructor. Her other job performing hula on the Navatek has inspired a passion for painting Hawaiian-themed watercolors.
She credits Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre for providing the opportunity to learn and perform Aerial Dance. She has attended the Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Festival and has studied with David DeBlieck, Liz Cooper, Elizabeth Rose, Jordann Baker, Cheetah Platt, Daniela Steiner, Shana Lord, Nathalie Gaultier, Hope Hall, Nathan Dryden, and Ana Prada. Nicole also co-founded and co-directs Volary Aerial Burlesque. She is proud to work side by side with her mentor/director Andrea Torres and is excited to share her knowledge with the growing school of Samadhi aerial students.
Jamie Nakama
Company Member
Director Samadhi Youth Performance Company
Aerial Instructor
Jamie lives all of her passions! She was born in Honolulu but began her dance training in Minneapolis where she studied a variety of dance forms, everything from West African to Contemporary Dance and Contact-Improvisation. She moved back to Oahu in 2000 and shortly thereafter started dancing with IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre, which, in 2004, granted her the opportunity to dance in the air! She joined Samadhi in 2006 and loves teaching Aerial Dance because not only do students gain physical strength and flexibility, but also a deep awareness of the body-mind-spirit connection.
Locally, Jamie has choreographed and danced for Convergence Dance Theater and currently dances with IONA, Tau Dance Theatre, and hula halau Ka La Onohi Mai O Haehae. In 2002, Jamie started training with Capoeira Besouro Hawai'i and currently teaches capoeira for kids and adults. Another art form of which she can’t imagine life without!
Jamie holds a bachelors degree in Individualized Studies (Life Sciences, Visual Arts, and Dance) from the University of Minnesota, and a master’s degree is Ecological Anthropology from the University of Hawai'i. And yes, she also has a day job! She is the Education Program Manager at the Hawai'i Nature Center and teaches anthropology at Kapiolani Community College. Jamie loves to laugh and enjoys traveling, Yoga, and gets in the ocean as much as possible! Whether it is Aerial Dance, environmental science, or anthropology, she expresses her deep gratitude for life through the gift of teaching others.
Danielle Cohen
Company Member
Aerial Instructor
Co-Founder Volary Aerial Burlesque
Danielle Cohen was born and raised in Canada, where she began her lifelong involvement in the arts from an early age. Throughout her youth, she studied dance and visual arts intensively. In 2002, Danielle graduated from Sheridan College with a Degree of Applied Photography. She continued to work within this field until 2007, when she moved to Hawai’i to further pursue her education - and her love of tropical weather! Since moving to Oahu, Danielle has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Social Relations and a Minor in Dance from the University of Hawai’i, Manoa. Her southern migration also provided her the initial opportunity to explore her curiosity of Aerial Dance as one of Samadhi Hawai’i's first students. Since then, Danielle has had the privilege to travel within the United States and abroad to study with several distinguished aerialists such as Fred Deb', Jo Kreiter, Nancy Smith, Anje Lockhart and Amelia Rudolph of Project Bandaloop, and Elsie and Serenity Smith. Danielle currently works with children diagnosed within the Autism Spectrum as a Behavioral Skills Trainer. She is elated to be able to share her love of aerial dance and her passion for teaching as an instructor and performer with Samadhi Hawai’i.
Katie Duman
Company Member
Aerial Instructor
Co-Founder Volary Aerial Burlesque
Katie Duman’s first encounter with the aerial arts came at a drop-in tissu class in Portland, OR, just hours prior to boarding an airplane to move to Honolulu, Hawai’i. Immediately entranced by the beauty and grace of aerial, she watched Samadhi Hawai’i perform at the Hawai’i State Art Museum upon her arrival on the islands. One year from that day, she performed as a student with the company as one half of a trapeze duo. Two years from that day, she performed as a company member, fulfilling a dream of hers. Formerly an NCAA Division 1 athlete, most of Katie’s movement technique reflects her generalist athletic background. Currently, Katie performs trapeze with Samadhi Hawai’i and Volary Aerial Burlesque, and teaches trapeze and tissu classes with the Samadhi Aerial School. In her “other” life, Katie works as an environmental scientist with a local consulting firm. She is immensely happy to have the opportunities to learn, teach, and perform with Samadhi.
Fabe Gin
Company Member
Apprentice Instructor
Co-Founder Volary Aerial Burlesque
A wannabe dancer her whole life, Fabe has dabbled in all sorts of movement modalities. What was the draw to aerial arts? The challenge to the entire body, mind and spirit within, while exuding beauty and grace at the surface.
Movement background: Yoga, Pilates, Integrated Movement, Hip Hop, Pole Dance
Education: UCSB double minor in Exercise Science/Health and Personal Training; biomechanics and functional movement apprentice with Dr. Michael Luan
Aerial influences: Andrea Torres, Nicole Young, Ana Prada, Jamie Nakama, Cheetah Platt, Tania Holt
Inspiration: music that hits your bones and the moment right before a drop
Start: It all began with a spontaneous flying trapeze workshop in Austin...she was hooked. After a couple of Google searches later, found Samadhi, started taking classes, and the rest is history.
Wainani Hansen
Company Member
Apprentice Instructor
Co-Founder Volary Aerial Burlesque
Wainani Leialoha Makuakane Hansen was born and raised here in Hawai`i. She is a 2000 graduate from the Kamehameha Schools and holds a BFA in Dance Teaching/Performance, as well as a minor degree in Sociology from Chapman University. Since she was 5 years old, she was immersed in the art and culture of Hula. Her love for dance led her into intensive training in Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Ballet, Ballroom, and Aerial Silk dancing; as well as the opportunity to perform professionally throughout Hawai`i, the United States, Europe, and Asia. She has been lauded by her mentors and colleagues for her work as a performer, choreographer, and dance/movement educator. She currently trains and performs with Samadhi Hawai’i and Volary Aerial Burlesque as an aerialist. Aside from her dancing abilities, Wainani is trained and certified in Pilates (Body Arts and Science International), Yoga (Yoga Works ®, RYT), and GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® trainer – GYROTONIC® Level 1, GYROTONIC® Level 2, GYROTONIC® The Archway, and GYROTONER®. Visit her blog at http://wainaniwellness.blogspot.com/ for her teaching calendar, healthy and delicious recipes, as well as information on her Wellness Retreats.
Jesa Simpkins
Company Member
Aerial Instructor
Co-Director/Co-Founder Volary Aerial Burlesque
Co-Founder Vayu Aerial Yoga
Jesa Simpkins has a passion for the history of movement and the arts which led her to Andrea Torres and the Samadhi Hawai'i Aerial Dance School in the spring of 2009. She has trained with artists such as Alayna Stroud and Ana Prada, the Cirque Noir San Francisco aerial company, and other influential aerialists along the way. She has since become a performer and instructor for Samadhi Hawai’i, a co-founder and a co-director of Volary Aerial Burlesque, as well as a co-founder of Vayu Aerial Yoga. Jesa brings a kitschy vintage flair to her classes and draws on her experience as a certified yoga teacher to encourage injury prevention with a focus on strength, flexibility, and alignment. Inspired by her son, she developed the curriculum for Samadhi's Aerial Tots program to give the youngest aerialists in the school a chance to explore the apparatus in a fun and safe environment. Jesa also dances with Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre and is and artist at Odyssey Tattoo Gallery in Kailua.
Tracy Thorstad
Company Member
Apprentice Instructor
Co-Founder Volary Aerial Burlesque
Since Tracy could walk, she has been involved in some type of movement art. From Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Belly and Ballroom dancing, to Pole Fitness and now Aerial Dance, there is never a shortage of things to keep her busy, which is exactly the way she likes it. In addition to being a company member of Samadhi Hawai’i and Volary Aerial Burlesque, she is also a Pole Fitness Instructor and Director of Teacher Training at Fit for a Goddess, Honolulu’s very own pole fitness studio. Health and wellness are very important to Tracy, and she studied Yoga in India and completed her 200 RYT in 2011, as well as becoming a massage therapist. Tracy loves the creative process and is always passionate to learn something new.
Samadhi Founders: Andrea Torres, Ana Prada, Marcus Quiniones, Yayoi Hara
Director: Andrea Torres
Assistant Director: Nicole Young
Aerial Instructors: Andrea Torres, Ana Prada, Jamie Nakama, Nicole Young, Jesa Simpkins, Katie Duman, Danielle Cohen
Apprentice Teachers: Victoria Moorhouse, Marie Takazawa, Xiu Xiu Cooney, Wainani Hansen, Fabe Gin, Tracy Thorstad, Keenan Fong, Sharlene Bliss
Aerial Yoga Program Directors: Ana Prada, Andrea Torres, Jesa Simpkins
"Volary" Aerial Burlesque Performers: Nicole Young, Andrea Torres, Jesa Simpkins, Katie Duman, Danielle Cohen, Fabe Gin, Wainani Hansen, Tracy Thorstad
"Volary" Aerial Burlesque Original Cast: Nicole Young, Andrea Torres, Jesa Simpkins, Katie Duman, Danielle Cohen, Stephanie Jones, Fabe Gin, Wainani Hansen, Cocoa Chandellier & Giinko Marischino
Samadhi Youth Performance Company Director: Jamie Nakama
Samadhi Youth Performance Company: Lexee Howes, Kylee Rose Howes, Emma Sage Kelly, Hebee Olivier, Juju Cooney, Alecia Griffin, Aurora Yokota, Aviva Urbanc, Kalia Ferri, Kiriana Lawrence
"What if..." Summer Performing Arts Program Director: Andrea Torres, John Signor
"What if..." Summer Performing Arts Program Performing Team: Primo Lagaso Goldberg, Gabriel Kapuni Goes, Hebee Olivier, Koa Yokota, Aurora Yokota
CIRC'OHANA Youth Exchange Program: Le Studio, Los Angeles, California
Director: Nathalie Gaulthier, www.lestudiola.com
CIRC'OHANA Youth Exchange Program 2011: Chayton Davenport, Primo Goldberg, Hebee Olivier, Alexandra Takemoto, Aviva Urbanc, Aurora Yokota, Koa Yokota
OHANA - past and future - Maria Alexandra, Wialana Simcock, Chandra Miars, Tera Beck, Kim Breitbach, Raymond Silos, Luis Silos,Ana Prada, Abby Sved, Aitara Sved, Mary Chapman, April Wagner, April Mae, Tara Mansfield, Marcus Quiniones, Yvette Richards, Darren Miller, Capoeira Besouro Hawaii, Mario Nanguse, Norbert Larsen, Cocoa Chandellier, Summer Partlon, Malia Oliver, Malia Yamamoto, KK, Chase Ren Kaminaka, Ehulani Kane, Starr Kalahiki, Doug Floyd, Brett Fovargue, Amanda Furgiuele, Julie Harris, Gabriel Kapuni Goes.
Riggers - Richard Gee, Harry Sawyer, Eric Chun
Partners in Creation- Giinko Marischino & Music - John Signor
PHOTO Credits - Sergio Goes, Paulo Mendes, Kaveh Kardan, Andrea Torres, Chris Mcdonough,Darren Miller, Twain Newhart, Joe Marquez
Videographer - Gabe Cabagbag
Supported by - The Artzone Hawaii, BOCA Hawaii, Paradise Televisions, Spa Pure
samadhi
Indian philosophy
Sanskrit Samādhi
Main
(“total self-collectedness”), in Hindu and Buddhist religion and philosophy, the highest state of mental concentration that a person can achieve while still bound to the body and which unites him with the highest reality. Samadhi is a state of profound and utterly absorptive contemplation of the Absolute that is undisturbed by desire, anger, or any other ego-generated thought or emotion. It is a state of joyful calm, or even of rapture and beatitude, in which one maintains one’s full mental alertness and acuity. Samadhi is regarded in Hinduism and Buddhism as the climax of all spiritual and intellectual activity. The power to attain samadhi is a precondition of attaining release from the cycle of rebirths (saṃsāra). Hence the death of a person having this power is also considered a samadhi. By a further extension, the site where a person believed to be so empowered was cremated is in modern times also referred to as a samadhi; thus the site of Mohandas Gandhi’s cremation in Delhi is officially named Gandhi’s samadhi.
...embracing all. past and future into the now...
