After 15 years at Windward Mall, longtime choreographer and dance instructor Marcelo Pacleb will open a new studio in Kapolei this month.
Pacleb founded 24/7 Danceforce in 1991, and his former students have toured with big-name music acts and appeared on television dance competitions.
He said his new Unity Dance Lab, located within the American Renaissance Academy at 300 Franklin Ave., will offer Leeward Oahu residents access to the same caliber of instruction currently available at his Kaneohe studio.
“We always wanted to try the west side,” Pacleb said. “Kapolei is blowing up.”
Unity Dance Lab will host the first Kolab Dance Konvention, April 21-22, with guest choreographers Tricia Miranda and Logan Hernandez. Miranda has worked with major stars like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez, while Hernandez recently appeared alongside Hawaii’s Mark Villaver on the latest season of Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Pacleb, 59, will serve as Unity Dance Lab’s executive director. Inviting Miranda and Hernandez to participate alongside eight local instuctors will give students a chance to learn both hip-hop and contemporary dance routines. In addition, along with daylong instruction both days, students will be able to attend a pool party and family movie night at American Renaissance Academy on Saturday. The second day of the Kolab Dance Convention will wrap up with a Q&A session with the choreographers and an open house/dance showcase.
“It’s all about social media now. So at the end of the two-day convention, they’re going to pick two kids and feature them on their social media,” said Pacleb of his guest instructors. “It’s kind of like a contest, an incentive. And (the students are) always on their phones, so I said, ‘Why not?’ This is the hook.”
Classes start at 9 a.m. both days; tuition is $175 for keiki ages 4-11, $250 for intermediate level students ages 12 and up, $300 for advanced students ages 12 and up. One-day rates are available; visit 808ne.ws/kolabkonvention for more info, or follow @unitydancelab96707 on Instagram and 247 Danceforce on Facebook.