Dance Styles / Fusion, Heels, Jazz Funk
Abady (he/him) is an artist, entrepreneur, and dance educator in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is the founder and director of House of Eights Dance Studio, a drop-in dance studio in downtown Halifax, training adult dancers of all levels in a variety of styles, with a focus on commercial dance and heels. Abady has been a choreographer and performer for almost a decade, always striving to take the viewer on a journey with his choreography.
He has choreographed for several competitive teams and dance companies in Nova Scotia, and trained at various international workshops and intensives including BuildaBeast (Los Angeles), High Heels Dance Camp (Istanbul), and Camp Fabrika (Istanbul), learning from world renowned instructors such as Keenan Cooks, Kirsten Dodgen, Brian Friedman, and Yanis Marshall. Abady’s dancer credits include Air Canada Vacations, KENT The Musical, Halifax Pride, The Laing House Ball, CTV’s “I Do, Redo”, and the Creative NS Awards. Abady is committed to providing dance education, community spaces, and mentorship to the upcoming generation of dancers, while constantly striving to spread empowerment, encourage authenticity, and facilitate progress-focused growth in his community.
What do you want people to get from your class?
I am all about performance and channeling your inner superstar. Whether you just nailed a crazy combo or you’re working on the foundations, I want you to feel confident and amazing. At the end of day, it’s never about the steps, but how good a dance makes you feel.
What motivates you to dance?
Dance for me started as a fun way to get fit and escape the world, but it’s grown to become so much more! I love getting to know our diverse dance community and learning from so many different people. And I especially love watching my students grow, not only as talented dancers but as strong and confident humans.
What are some highlights of your career as a dancer/choreographer?
Training at Camp Fabrika in Istanbul was one of the best weeks of my life! I got to train with amazing instructors like Brian Friedman, Anthony Lee, and Yanis Marshall. I’m always seeking training opportunities so I can continuously grow as both a dancer and choreographer. I’ve also had the pleasure to choreograph for various performance groups and competitive teams in Halifax such as the Halifax Thunderbirds, Dalhousie’s Black & Gold Dance Team, the DalDance Society, East Coast Salsa Team, and Maritime Dance’s competitive team and elite company.