Teachers

Here we present the first teachers who will help you develop new skills in February 2025. Each of them brings their own unique style, energy, and passion. In the coming months we will reveal more teachers. Keep an eye on our website and socials!

Level 1

TBA

Level 2a

Louise Marius
Louise has been giving balfolk workshops and lessons for beginners to advanced students for more than ten years. She likes to get people moving and in touch: with each other but also with theirselves. For her, the power of balfolk lies in a simple basis, which allows everyone to participate, and which gives a lot of room for playfulness, improvisation and communication. She therefore pays a lot of attention to leading and following in her workshops and lessons.
In level 2a, Louise focuses on turning in three-times waltzes, having more fun with the Scottish and jig and a more comfortable Mazurka. Whether you are advanced and want to learn complex new variations or have just started dancing, according to Louise the most important aspect of dancing is being together. That will be her overall focus.

Level 2b

Rafael and Nele

Rafael Correa Prieto and Nele de Beck met on the dance floor. There was an instant connection, and since then, they’ve been traveling the dance world together. They dance for the joy it brings, but they also aim to share their vision of dancing with others. Their vision revolves around concepts such as feeling, musicality, body awareness, and playing with your dance partner. They believe that dancing isn’t about practicing pre-determined steps and movements, but about finding the freedom to ride the waves of the music and harmonize with other dancers.

Level 3/4

Koen Dhondt

Koen (Antwerpen – 1977) was introduced to folk dance at the age of eleven. In 2000 he discovered the balfolk scene while studying in Portugal. Since then he participated in several dance festivals and stages every year and developed his own way of dancing. To contribute to the development of the Belgian folk scene, he has been teaching weekly dance classes in Brussels since 2002. Koen has his own company, Frisse Folk, which organizes dance lessons throughout all of Belgium. He taught workshops at many festivals and stages all over Europe. From the very first Dansstage in the Netherlands he has been popular amongst the Dutch dancers and we are very happy he is a regular guest!

Elena Leibbrand

We’re very happy to welcome Elena Leibbrand again, who always knows how to find the perfect balance between improvisation and tradition in bourrées, waltzes and many other dances. Elena founded her own dance school EléDanse in Belgium in 2018 to pass on to others what makes folk so special to her: the subtle combination of human warmth, exploration of movement, precision and tradition of the form/style, improvisation and playful atmosphere! She has been trained in a range of dance styles since 1995, from traditional to social and contemporary dances. She enjoys both the great potential for improvisation in modern “folk” as well as the specific beauty, precision, and connection to a territory of “traditional” dances. She has a soft spot for bourrées, waltzes, collective dances in general, and the dances from the south-west of France.

Pierre Chesneau

Join us for an enriching dance experience with Pierre, a seasoned dancer, teacher, and facilitator passionate about cultural exploration and dance pedagogy. With 27 years of expertise in folk and various physical practices, and 15 years of experience teaching Bal folk and Argentinian tango, Pierre brings a wealth of knowledge and deep appreciation to the dance floor. His methodical yet dynamic style ensures every dancer can find their missing puzzle piece to advance their journey in the joy of shared movement.

This year, Pierre offers four advanced workshops, each focusing on a different topic, that together form the foundations of his new holistic approach: ‘The Cheno Folk Method.’ Rather than simply teaching specific dances, this method aims to help participants develop the essential skills to become better learners and dancers overall, providing a toolkit to discover and explore any folk dance. The method rests on four pillars: Musical Placement, Physical Organization, Connections, and Cultural Analysis. Through Pierre’s four workshops at Dansstage, you’ll have the opportunity to explore each pillar and understand the method as a whole.

You can choose individual workshops or attend all four for a complete perspective on this innovative approach. Either way, Pierre’s guidance will inspire confidence and creativity in your dance journey!

Dani Velasco

Dani started music at the age of 7, and since then, the violin has been a life-partner for him. He was born in the Basque Country, where he lives now and has lived most part of his life. This land is a rooting land, that he loves, that is rich and unique in its character, language, landscapes, idiosyncrasy and of course… music and dances. In Basque they say: « dantzatzen duen herria ez da inoiz hilko » (a people that dances will never die). But from these roots Dani also had the chance to find the wings of travelling and discovering Europe and its cultures, living abroad for around 10 years (Belgium, France and Switzerland), and getting submerged in the rich Balfolk world, where he has a passion now to share his roots…

Fabien Bucher

He started music early, with the classical violin and the guitar. But it was only at the end of his studies that he discovered the richness and diversity of dancing music. The encounter with Balfolk has been a source of joy, profound changes and inspiration for him as a human and a musician!
This is why after more than ten years of attending balls, festivals and multiple workshops as a musician and dancer, it’s a pleasure to transmit some of what he learned. And it’s also an opportunity to explore a field that fascinates him, which is pedagogy!

Loby Lam

Loby is a passionate movement artist and founder of Kahbam in Enschede. Since 2013, he has been creating a space where different types of movement come together. His mission is to bring people closer together through playfulness and authenticity, allowing them to express themselves freely.

Other teachers for level 3/4 TBA