Hellooo Addlifers!


As the season changes from summer to fall, Addlife! is rapidly growing and transforming... This blog -- Addlife! Studio -- has long been the online home, where I publish announcements for Addlife!'s numerous events, concerts, and programs.


Now, I'd like to introduce you to the parent company -- Addlife! World -- a global African entertainment company.

The site is still undergoing updates, but I wanted you to be the first to check it out!

Since 2011, Addlife! Studio has been dedicated to teaching and training dancers, musicians, and leaders by the thousands. The studio is the teaching wing of my great operation... Addlife! World is the booking and touring hub.

Addlife! World is the go-to firm, connecting theaters, universities, and companies with the world's most exciting and entertaining African dance & music talent. A booking and performing agency, Addlife! World aims to enliven every city, every community with exceptional artistry and daring performances! I'm currently working with a top-tier fleet of artists from the U.S. to Africa, who give unmatched performances, and are innovators and extraordinary masters of movement and music.

I'm also in the lab, preparing Addlife!'s next series of concerts, researching and writing, and planning an epic 2016!

I want to thank you for being a part of this journey, of bravely and passionately Adding life, through our shared love of dance, and through your support of this important movement!

xo xo xo xo
Malena

Hark!

As the demand for African entertainment surges worldwide, I'm inspired to work with great teams to create and be a part of bold endeavors to enliven people's lives, to add life to venues, events, conferences, and stages everywhere.

This past April & May, I had the ultimate pleasure of performing and co-choreographing for the Vegas-based Cirque Zuma, a prolific, top-touring African Circus, and for its debut run at the elite Silver Dollar City Theme Park's World Fest.  In five weeks, we bedazzled more than 100,000 show-goers, performing three shows a day, five days a week, all to sold-out audiences. Many patrons were thirsty for more, and came to see our show two, three, and four times.

My parents alone couldn't get enough, and saw the show three times in a row! Now I want to share with you some of the super exciting dances we launched on stage in Branson, in hopes to wet your appetite even more for African dance, and African arts entertainment!! Take a look & get ready for the next big show!!

Thank you to all walks of life, hot-stepping babies, pro dance titans, big mammas, and firecracker teens came who out to my FIRST MEGA class in New York this past Saturday -- at the groundbreaking Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center in Brooklyn [DSPAC]!

Take a look! The babies alone will just make your heart do a happy dance!!

New York & east coast, join me for the revival of every dream >>> it's happening! >> our first free Saturdays are a thing now at the newly minted Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center, so the only way now is on and upward! Take a look!
****

I'm happy to share this video with you from my very first MEGA Addlife! African dance class in New York City -- now taking place every Saturday @ 5:30pm at the Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center in Brooklyn, Bed Stuy!
Sign up now: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/home?studioid=176099

I've teamed up with the visionary and Alvin Ailey dance titan Dwana Smallwood to provide you a fleet of action-packed African dance classes, programs, and training initiatives in her new, state-of-the art Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center in heart of Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy! Join as we enrich lives and mold elite dancers at this glorious institution, through top-of-the-line African, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Intensive programs, open classes, performances, and stunning rental space!!

June 6, we danced the great harvest dance of Kassa, from the Malinke people of Guinea! More than 40 people learned Kassa!  African dance is for all, and this is your perfect opportunity to be reawakened by all the exciting classes and resources we have in store for you!

Don't hesitate to take your craft to the next level. Join me, founder of Addlife! Studio, 5-days a week and on Saturdays, teaching an epic set of classes, from West African, Afro-Fusion, Afro-Caribbean, Gumboot & Rhythmic Stretch!

Don't stop until you get enough! Add life with every step of your life!
Visit our center's site right now for a list of all my classes!
https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/home?studioid=176099

Love in life & dance!
Malena

Friends!

This is a long time coming!!

I've accepted a full-time position with the groundbreaking Dwana Smallwood​ Performing Arts Center, [DSPAC] Inc., a new, state-of-the-art Brooklyn-based center developing elite leaders through dance and performing arts!

Talk about dreams coming true. I’ll be helping manage the office, strategically grow the business, and most exciting, choreographing & teaching African dance every day!

Now, I want to personally invite you to my action-packed super classes and into our marvelous center, bringing you an unparalleled universe of dance and artistic elevation!

Also, if you’re in need of unmatched rental space, lets chat. Please check out our hot-to-trot website, offerings, and programs. Dwana, the former Alvin Ailey star dancer, and team are as ready as ever! I would say we’ll blow your socks off, but it’s bare feet in my class!

 So I’ll just say, we’ll rock your heels from here to outer-space! It is my deepest honor to serve you and the world through dance... #LetsJourneyTogether #HigherCalling

Adding life!
Malena

Photo by Dwana Smallwood, Malena teaching the Youth Dance Ensemble @ the DSPAC, Afro-Caribbean dance.

-- Malena