Djam NYC Monster Mash

May is for Monsters! Enter the shadows… if you dare.

Join us for DJAM NYC: Monster Mash — a thrilling night of music and spellbinding dance at the Secret Room NYC. Featuring the electrifying sounds of Rob Mastrianni, this fun evening brings together an incredible lineup of performers including Brenna Crowley, Eliran Amar, Elizabeth Khard, Irina Akulenko, Kaeshi Chai, Lorena Ayub, Renata Bergan and more.

Expect mysterious creatures, playful mischief, and powerful performances as dancers unleash their inner monsters on stage. From eerie elegance to wild and whimsical, anything can happen when the monsters come out to play.

Come dressed as your favorite monster and join the fun, whether silly, glamorous, or otherworldly.

One night. Live music. Daring dance.
DJAM NYC Monster Mash at the Secret Room, where the show is so good, you will want to eat it alive!

FEATURED MUSICIAN
Rob Mastrianni

MC
Brenna Crowley

FEATURED DANCERS
Brenna Crowley
Eliran Amar
Elizabeth Khard
Irina Akulenko
Kaeshi Chai
Lorena Ayub
Renee Renata Bergan

SOLOISTS
Anastasia Pridlides
Lexi Pritchett
Shayna Maleson
Samantha Tonn

GROUP PERFORMANCES
Brenna Crowley Students: Lexi Pritchett, Christine Feller, Doreen Correia, Gail August, Karess, Luca Ferrel, ViviMar Chan

Irina Akulenko Students: Angela Ng, Christine Feller, Jennifer Gal, Jenny Topolski, Karess, Luca Ferrel, Manli Li, Shayna Maleson

Kaeshi Chai's Students: Anja Roelli, Bernice Perez, Eulalia Arango, Gabriela Benedek, Irene Weydig, Janina Ferbinteanu, Jennifer Peng, Pamela Weinstock

EVENT DETAILS
Venue: Secret Room New York
707 8th Ave (Downstairs), New York, NY 10036
Located between W 44th and W 45th Streets

SCHEDULE
6:30 PM: Doors Open
7:00 – 9:30 PM: Show

SHOW COST
$25 / $30 at the Door / $35 VIP Seat at a Front Row Table
Plus 1 drink or food item if seated at the bar, or 2 drinks or food items if seated at a table

* Drinks and food are NOT included in the ticket price
Tickets are non-refundable

TABLE RESERVATIONS
Email Jenny jenn.topolski @ gmail.com with your name, ticket tier and number of people you want seated at your table.

MENU
https://bellyqueen.com/djam-nyc
...................................................................................................

Detailed Biographies (Listed Alphabetically)

...................................................................................................

Brenna Crowley is an artist, dancer choreographer, instructor and producer based in NYC, and has performed and taught locally and across the country since first walking into her first dance class in 2004.

She has performed as a featured soloist, as a member of Sera Solstice's Solstice Ensemble, as part of many collaborations as well as her own collective, Zilla Dance Ensemble.

Currently teaching classes at Bellyqueen School, she has taught for Serena Studios, Solstice Studio and at Ailey Extension. Partnering with founder Giselle BellydanceNYC, they co-produce the theatrical dance events, the Witching Hour Boo-tique and Baile Noir. She also partnered with founder Danielle Hutton on Love Letters 2 and 3. She is also a proud ambassador for the dance clothing company D. Webb Designs.

When she’s not dancing, Brenna is crafting wreaths and home decor, listening to too many spooky and true crime podcasts, dabbling in SFX makeup, pretending to work for QVC and wrangling her four turtles and 40 houseplants.

https://msha.ke/brennzilla/
...................................................................................................

Eliran Amar is an internationally recognized belly dancer, instructor, choreographer, and event producer known for creating the CoreDance style, a form of Tribal Fusion belly dance. With over 20 years of experience, he has specialized in blending traditional belly dance movements with modern fusion techniques.

...................................................................................................

Elizabeth Khard is a fusion belly dancer who in 2013 founded the fusion belly dance studio "Edem" in Grodno (Belarus). "I love fusion bellydance for its philosophy, for the opportunity to be different, for the atmosphere of events and the uniqueness of images." She has taught for 9 years and currently offers classes in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
...................................................................................................
Irina Akulenko is a New York City-based performer, teacher and choreographer with a burning passion for arts of all genres. Although she discovered Middle Eastern dance purely by chance, her interest in expression started at an early age and was channeled into ballet training, in addition to piano and voice lessons as well as drawing. Since 2001, Irina explored Egyptian Cabaret and American Tribal style belly dance, Flamenco and Classical Indian dances (focusing mainly on Odissi) and now enjoys fusing these styles as well as everything in between. Today, Irina performs on various New York stages and tours nationally and internationally as a soloist and as member of various stellar projects. She released three instructional DVDs with World Dance New York and has two instructional series of videos with the popular website “Howcast.com”. Furthermore, she holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science, and has a strong interest in women's issues and visual arts. www.DanceIrina.com
...................................................................................................
Kaeshi Chai is a dancer, choreographer, designer, producer and director. Her life mission is to serve our precious planet and empower others through the vehicle of art. She co-founded PURE Globe, an international community focused on healing and social change, the Bellyqueen company and school, as well as Djam NYC shows featuring live music and dance. She has taught / performed in 48 states and 39 countries and is an alumni member of the Bellydance Superstars, Bellydance Evolution, Bella Gaia (Beautiful Earth) and Spector Dance. As a producer, Kaeshi has organized over 800 events (shows, tours, conferences). Kaeshi holds multiple certifications in movement (dance, fitness, pilates, yoga), created the Bellyqueen Teacher Training program and graduated with honors in a degree in Design from the University of Technology, Sydney. She meditates daily and practices NVC (Non Violent Communication). www.kaeshi.com
...................................................................................................

Lorena Ayub is a New York-based dancer, choreographer, and instructor from Barranquilla, Colombia, with Arab heritage. She began her dance training at age four and studied at renowned institutions such as Mónica Herrera Ballet, Ballet de Barranquilla, and Zolushka Ballet Studio. At 17, she earned a scholarship to Steps on Broadway and moved to NYC to further her career. Lorena has performed at prestigious venues like Bogotá’s Teatro Colón and the INT Theater Festival in South Korea and was a soloist in Thalia Spanish Theatre’s Añoranzas de Colombia. Her accolades include the Congo de Oro at Barranquilla Carnival and a semifinalist spot on Tengo mucho talento.

She has trained with world-renowned instructors including Raquia Hassan and Mohamed Shahin and has worked with choreographers for artists like Janet Jackson and Ariana Grande. Lorena has appeared in music videos with Jennifer Lopez and Maluma and collaborated with companies like Pajarillo Pinta’o and Tabula Rasa Theater Lab. Fusing classical technique with modern artistry, she brings passion, precision, and vibrant energy to every performance.

...................................................................................................

Renee Renata Bergan is a versatile performer—bellydancer, stiltwalker, clown, percussionist, singer, firedancer, actor, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. A member of troupes including Desert Sin, Alchemy, Sherita, Enchanted, Stilt Brigade and Fou York, she has captivated audiences across NYC and internationally. Her credits include Barclays Center, Best Buy Theater, Kings Theater, McKittrick Hotel, Macy’s Parade, House of Yes, Susanne Bartsch, Flambeaux Fire, The Stranger, and Bindlestiff Circus.
...................................................................................................
Rob Mastrianni is a Brooklyn-born guitarist, composer, recording artist and performer. His innovative compositions and guitar style are inspired by psychedelic rock, punk rock, Flamenco and percussive finger-style techniques. He also utilizes a unique 19-string electric harp guitar, the Coral electric sitar, to create a range of exotic melodies and rhythms.
He is a founder of the musical duo Beatbox Guitar with Pete List and collaborates and tours with dancers across Europe, North America. He performs regularly in NYC as a solo act and in collaboration with other artists such as Nepali vocalist Varsha Thapa, Kat Cunning, recording artist/vocalist Mina Caputo , Thunderbird American Indian Dancers and the Baroque Burlesque Dance Theater Troupe Company XIV. Rob can be heard on albums by Beatbox Guitar, soundtracks for network TV shows, 42 Carmine Street Guitars Short Film, Bellydance instructional videos and the Showtime series,” The L Word”. When not performing Mastrianni works as an Environmental Educator and specializes in rescuing birds of prey. https://robmastrianni.bandcamp.com/