Nives Wetzel de Cediel

So much love and respect for Nives and her powerful medicine. I love her dance classes! They are fun, challenging, and a place to find community. Nives is rich in cultural knowledge, technique, and has a gentle firm way of bringing out the best in us. Come join us! You won't be disappointed.

I've gone to several locations within the Bay Area but have found that learning from Nives to be the best match for what I am looking for. Here's what works for me:PROS: The environment is intimate and very inviting. Many of the dancers have known each other and Nives for a long time. Their comfort and openness with each other extends to new participants as well and I have felt welcomed from day one.Nives is a very articulate and motivating instructor. She is very knowledgeable about her art form both in terms of giving instructions and about the history and context of the dance forms themselves. She is patient but she will challenge you. In addition to being a wonderful teacher she is a fantastic dancer who is very fun, encouraging, and spellbinding to watch. I think Nives has great taste in music and it adds a lot to the experience when you're moving to music you love. The studio bathrooms are clean.CONS: If you're not in or close to the Berkeley area, I do not envy your commute home after two and half hours of heavy sweating. SUMMARY:I wasn't born with much, but after a couple of months at this wonderful little studio I've learned to shake what little I have and shake it well.

I was looking for a Saturday class to get my sweat on and to reignite my love for dance. These old bones were happy. Expectations met and exceeded. Great instructor and friendly class.

Nives is an incredible and inspiring teacher! I highly recommend her class to anyone who is interested in learning and dancing Samba and Dança Afro. When I first started taking Nives' class several years ago, I had limited experience with Samba and Dança Afro. Nives' ability to break down movements and incorporate a focus on technique has been really effective for me. She brings an amazing energy to the class and I appreciate how she also teaches about the history and significance of the dances and movements we learn. I also really appreciate the community feeling of this class. Nives and the people who attend the class regularly are very welcoming and supportive of dancers of all levels. I always leave class feeling more centered and relaxed than when I arrived. This class is a wonderful and challenging experience!

For someone who's always liked to dance but never studied formally at all, I have grown and learned vastly in my 6 months of Samba/Brazilian/Afro-Caribbean dance with Nives. Her teaching style is warm yet demanding, and you can expect to learn as much as you sweat. Doesn't hurt that the music is great. Highly recommend for those interested in really diving in to dance, music, and culture, in a friendly environment.

My favorite way to spend my Wednesday nights! Absolutely an amazing dance teacher - Nives breaks down every move so that each person feels comfortable and can learn. I always leave the class feeling energized, refreshed and with happily sore muscles!

A true instructor!If you want to learn Samba and Danca Afro as well as feed your soul, come to Omi Tutu..... Nives will quench the thirst of your body and soul!

I've taken Brazilian dance all over the Bay area with great instructors but Nives is THE BEST. She has immense talent as a dancer and a teacher. Her style is the most beautiful, technical, earthy, funky, and artistic of all the teachers I have trained with. Additionally she teaches many different styles of Brazilian dance so you have the opportunity to work through Danca das Orixas, carnaval style sambas, pagode, samba reggae, and more. If you learn from Nives you will have the most perfected Brazilian dance moves you can get.

Nives is an excellent teacher, educator, and dancer. Her knowledge of the African diaspora and the role of dance is an important aspect of her teaching. She holds both a dance and cultural space when she teaches. Nives' skill as a dancer is also AMAZING and is grounded in many dance forms. As a teacher she is able to teach effortlessly across many levels. She is patient and kind, and she pushes you to realize your potential starting your first class. She does not allow you to stand by and watch, she asks that you stay engaged even if it is hard. This approach allows you to learn faster and get comfortable! It works! Her classes have a comfortable atmosphere and people are similarly kind and helpful. The space is not competitive and aloof like many classes in the area, it is warm and inviting. Nives' classes make you sweat and push yourself and they also make you feel strong. I've been taking her classes for about 7 years now and it's the only place I consistently dance in, feel comfortable in, and as a result have formed friendships, bonds, and a community. As a woman of color her classes have been so refreshing, supportive, and comfortable for me. Thank you Nives!

Hands down my favorite samba teacher! She offers a unique style of teaching built on foundation, technique, and history. To compare her classes to other samba classes is like comparing apples and oranges. She's simply the best.