About Nina Soyfer as Dancer, Choreographer, and Dance Educator
Nina Soyfer was born in Vinnitsya City, Ukraine. At the age of five she started her music, dance, and art education. By fourteen years old she graduated from music secondary school, and gained professional dance experience. Since then, she performed in many professional dance ensembles in Ukraine, Russia, and Canada. Nina Soyfer successfully participated in different competitions and performed as lead dancer and within various groups. Nina toured Ukraine, Russia, and Canada with these performing groups, which include ADE (www.afridance.com), Sohnut Dance Ensemble (as dancer and choreographer), Vinnitsya Center for the Arts Trio (with funk and rock-and-roll styles), York Univeristy Dance Team, Toronto Israeli Dance (choreographer Ronit Zunich), Russian Dance Ensemble “Vozrojdeniye” (as dancer and co-choreographer), and several other groups.
Starting at just sixteen years old, Nina started choreographing and organizing dance compositions within the contemporary and Latin American Papyri styles. Nina enjoys stylizing a variety of ethnic dances of the world and creating new dance styles. Subsequently, Nina conducted several dance workshops and dance related programs, involving Israeli, African, Middle Eastern, Russian, Hip-Hop, and Funk dance styles. Nina taught dance at York University as a Teaching Assistant for African Dance and Drumming courses. She conducted workshops at York Univeristy and in Public Schools of Toronto, taught dance and dance integrated with visual arts and dance, and has developed and Integrated Arts method, grounded in scientific theory, for developing effectively artistic talents in students, as part of her PhD studies.
In 2005 Nina collaborated with Russian Celebrity Vadim Kozachenko to choreograph a Middle Eastern dance for the “Russian Matreshka 2005” festival, and performed as a first dancer. See video.
As part of the African Dance Ensemble, Nina performed for the Governor General of Canada in 2009 – see video.
She has studied Indian dance art, Israeli ancient dances, as well as Ukrainian, Russian, Latin American, Funk, Eastern, Contemporary, etc. Nina holds certification from York University in African Dance Ensemble, and she has studied African dance with Isaac Akrong, Sani-Abu Mohammed Allen, Amadou Kienou, Modesto Amegago, and Kwasi Dunyo. She studied contemporary and mixed styles briefly with Professor Terrill Maguire. Nina is currently completing her PhD in music, education, and arts, and is teaching and performing dance, most notably with the African Dance Ensemble directed by Dr. Isaac Akrong.
Dance Experience Includes:
| Choreographer and Performing Dancer in Russian Dance Ensemble “Vosrojdenie” click here to see video and images | June 2005 – Feb. 2006 |
| Teaching Assistant, Instructor, Coach, York University Music West African Drumming/Dance Ensemble |
Fall 2013 – Winter 2015 |
| Conductor of three Funk and Hip Hop workshops for public schools by contract | July 2007 |
| Performing Dancer and Actor in the folk Jewish theatre “Eneinem” (Mishpaha, Vinnytsya, Ukraine) | Feb. 2001 – May 2004 |
| Performing Percussionist, Dancer, Singer, in African Dance Ensemble | 2006 – present |
| Choreographer and Performing Dancer in Russian Dance Ensemble “Vosrojdenie” | June 2005 – Feb. 2006 |
| Invited performing actor, dancer, and singer in the Russian Drama Youth Theatre | Feb. – April 2006 |
Professional Dance:
| Dancer, drummer, and singer with York University African Dance Ensemble (ADE www.afridance.com), artistic director Isaac Akrong | Spring 2006 – present | |
| Homowo Ghanian Festival, solo and group dancer(Kpanlongo, Dipo, Kpatcha, Fume Fume) | August 23, 2014 | |
| Mutahdi Drumming Festival, solo and group dancer (Kpatcha, Dipo, Bamaya, Sorsornie, Kpanlongo) | June 2014 | |
| Kpanlogo Choreographer for student performance at FallRecital of West African Drumming/Dance Ensemble atYork University | Dec. 5, 2013 | |
| Principal Dancer/Soloist and Singer with ADE in Xaware | Sept. 2013 | |
| Dancer/soloist, drummer, and singer with ADE Humanity in Harmony Festival at York University | October 2009 | |
| Dancer/soloist in The 21st Afrofest with ADE at Queen’s Park, Toronto, aired on Rogers Cable 10 | July 2009 | |
| Instructor and performer of African dance workshop in Winters Community Art Club | April 2009 | |
| Dancer/soloist in “Sakutosa” music and dance showwith ADE at Lula Lounge, Toronto | February 2009 | |
| Dancer/soloist, drummer, and singer with ADE annual Humanity in Harmony Festival: An InterdisciplinaryExpressive Culture Performance Collaboration (IECPC) | October 2008 | |
| Dancer/soloist in The 20th Afrofest with ADE at Queen’s Park, Toronto, aired on Rogers Cable 10 | July 2008 | |
| Dancer/soloist in “Luminat’eau Festival” with ADE at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto | June 2008 | |
| Dancer/soloist in “SEM Niagara Chapter Meeting” with ADE at York University’s Martin Family Lounge | March 2008 | |
| Dancer/soloist in “Africa Alive” show with ADE in Lula Lounge, Toronto | February 2008 | |
| Dancer/soloist with ADE for Humanity in Harmony Festivalat York University | October 2007 | |
| Dancer/soloist in The 19th Afrofest with ADE, at Queen’s Park,Toronto, aired on Rogers Cable 10 | July 7&8, 2007 | |
| Dancer/soloist with ADE for AMREF Canada’s African Marketplace 2007 | May 2007 | |
| Performer/dancer with ADE in nationally televised Convocation Ceremony attended by Governor GeneralMicheale Jean at York University | Spring 2007 | |
| Instructor and performer of Israeli traditional and ancient dance workshop in Derrydown Public School, by invitation of TheatrePeace afterschool dance program | Jan. 2007 | |
| Dancer/soloist with ADE for Humanity in Harmony Festivalat York University’s Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre | Sept. 29, 2006 | |
| Dancer/soloist with ADE for World Dance Alliance GlobalAssembly 2006, at York University’s Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre | July 2006 | |
| Dancer/soloist with ADE for 7th Annual Mahtadi International Drumming Festival at Harbourfront Centre | June 2006 | |
| Choreographer and principal dancer of eastern dance, with Russian dance ensemble “Revival” for “Matreshka 2005” at Canada’s Wonderland | August 2005 | |
| Principal dancer in stage performances of Israeli ancient and modern style, with “Rokdim” dance ensemble at Mel Lastman Square | May 2005 | |
| Solo and duet stage performances of Contemporary Jazz, Roch’n Roll, and Funk/Hip-Hop for public concerts in M.D. Leontovich Music College of Culture & Art | 2002 – 2004 | |
| Stage performance of Jewish Folk Theatre “Eneinem” in Kiev and Moscow Theatre Festivals | 2001 – 2004 | |
| Choreography and Performance of three part Latin American spotlight dance for stage, with “Sochnut and Mishpaha” Unified for Chanukah Show | Apr. 2004 | |
| Stage performances of Funk, Israeli, Yiddish, Rock’n Roll, Jazz, Modern, Gypsy , and soloist in Eastern dance, with “Sochnut Dance Ensemble” in various cities of Ukraine,including Vinnytsia and Kiev | Sept .1999 – May 2004 | |
| Vinnytsia Province Dance Competition Finals with Traditional Israeli Choreography “Chanukah”, representing Public School No. 9 | Apr.2004 | |
| Stage performances of Ukrainian folk, Contemporary Latin American, Eastern, Jazz-Popular, Rock’n Roll, and Hip-Hop Popular styles representing Public School No. 9 in Vinnytsia City at events and varsity dance competitions | 1998 – 2003 |
