Courtesy of the artist
Rachel Hernandez
Afro-Brazilian Choreographer
Rachel Hernandez began her professional studies in Salvador, Bahia. She has had the privilege to study with landmark masters such as Mestre King, Jose Santos, Rosangela Silvestre, Vera Passos, Nildinha Fonseca, Matias Santiago, as well as at the Escola de Dança, Balé Folclórico da Bahia, and UFBA. She is skilled in Afro-Brazilian dance, modern, and ballet. Rachel danced with mestre Kings Grupo Genisis, Balá da Mata, Fusion Dance Company, Ballet Santa Barbara, Marina Magalhes, and in the legendary production Saurê.
She works for the Children’s Creative Prooject and LA’s BEST Program introducing Afro-Brazilian dance to elementary school children. She has choreographed for Ballet Santa Barbara, Viver Brasil, Ballet Folclorico do Brasil, and Amalkoba nationally as well Capoeira Batuque Japao in Japan. She has developed her signature Afro-Brazilian dance classes and Extra Ancestral Workshops, taught throughout LA County. She currently choreographs the dance component of Extra Ancestral and plays percussion with Bloco Obini. She’s taught Afro-Brazilian Dance workshops as part of our Reentry program.
