Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristal Chinchayan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My life has always revolved around traveling for as long as I can remember. I was born in Trujillo, Peru and I started learning and dancing Peruvian Folklore since I was very young. In Peru this is almost like a rite of passage, family teaches you the importance of knowing your culture and in Peru a lot of if is through our food, music and dance. As a teen, I became part of my school’s modern dance teams by participating in competitions and performing professionally throughout to my first year in college in Trujillo.
I moved to North Carolina in 2003 as a means to focus on shifting my life and continuing my studies here. I also stopped dancing, thinking it was only meant as a creative outlet that I had outgrown and didn’t think it was something I was meant to be doing. As one can imagine, dance is not an art that you would usually receive a lot of support when you’re young. My grandfather was an engineer and I came from a family of mostly educators; three my cousins are doctors in their fields, so art is usually viewed as something you would eventually give up. But life always surprises you. Some years later I attended a community event here in NC where I first saw Peruvian folklore in the U.S. It was so unexpected then that in a way I felt that dance had found me again or it was chasing me. I joined the group soon after and I started performing with “Corazón Peruano” in Raleigh as a means to increase my experience in Peruvian Folkloric dances. I was passionate in celebrating my culture as it was one of the few ways I could reconnect with my home and the artist in me.
Throughout that experience I became interested in other latin dances as well. I began learning Samba no pé along with Brazilian Zouk, Salsa, Bachata and started dedicating several hours a day to dance. I started training and really focusing on Samba more because I loved how challenging and joyful it was for me that I would make the two hour drive all the way to Charlotte to go to class. I could really escape to another part of myself that I somehow lost when I moved away from my family. It was an incredible feeling becoming alive again that I realized it helped me become more open with others, in having fulfilling friendships and it just added so much positivity in life. I couldn’t describe it, it was just a feeling that my brain and body started connecting, I started functioning better. The more I danced, the more I thrived.
In 2015 I started performing Samba under Iyainha Silva in Raleigh, becoming more involved with Brazilian culture and shortly afterwards in 2016 NC Brazilian Arts Project was founded. We were such as small group that began dedicating ourselves to building community wellness through Afro-Brazilian dance. Years later, now, it has grown to a large dance company that performs all over NC and has three branches, one of which now I serve as director and choreographer (RDU location) .
In 2018 I accomplished a goal of mine by parading twice in Rio De Janeiro’s Carnaval, Brazil, representing two Samba Schools, Impérío Serrano and Académicos da Rocinha from Rio De Janeiro. I trained with various master teachers, coaches and got a chance to feel the culture and live it. It was so incredible. Every learning experience that I have had since my training in Rio, I bring to every single class to share with my students including the historical connection and how it’s relevant today. The biggest “full circle moment” is the joy and heart that I see in every one that comes in to my classes which is what I encountered when I started learning Samba. It touches me on a deep level and it makes me happy and fulfilled that I’m able to share this passion I have; that I’m able to be fully present, not worry about the past nor the future, just be completely in the moment. These experiences are some of the most rewarding of my life. I can confidently say that I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing at this moment and hopefully will continue for as long as I can.
As I tell others that while I teach and train, I’m still a student myself and always learning. I also strive to improve my technique and I aim to represent Brazilian Samba in the most traditional way possible while continuing to develop my style and increase my experience. I’m most inspired by the music and connection that Samba brings into my life and my community. I hope to instill growth everywhere I teach and highlight the profound culture and joy of African Brazilian art.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The pandemic was certainly a moment of struggle where I couldn’t teach as much and when I did, it was only online. I craved interactions with my students and while it was a difficult and sad time for everyone, I’m glad that we’re not there anymore. That period in time awakens you and makes you realize that we may not always have tomorrow and to always be thankful. Returning to dance was a re-discovering moment and the passion runs through so much that it has helped me more than I can imagine.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a director and a professional samba dancer/choreographer from NC Brazilian Arts Project, a dance company that focuses on educating and showcasing Afro-Brazilian art forms such as Samba, Capoeira and live percussion. We have now grown to have three locations (Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte and Winston-Salem) throughout NC and we are about fostering and honoring cultural resilience, creating community and ultimately sharing our passion with others.
I have been teaching beginner and intermediate Samba no pé classes in Ninth Street Dance studio in Durham for nine years. I also teach Samba workshops throughout North Carolina and we perform at events such as galas, festivals in Raleigh-Durham and surrounding areas.
I’m proud of being able to share my knowledge and have opportunities to educate others at different places and our schools such as NC State and Duke. I’m so proud of how our love for this culture and dance has made our team grow and become an organization that holds deep respect for the Brazilian culture. We are able bring guest artists from Brazil and other parts of the U.S. throughout the year to keep educating ourselves and to provide opportunities for others to have access to Afro-Brazilian art forms.
I’m honored to be have been one of the featured dancers in the Durham Dances book by Zoe Litaker, which showcases the various artists and performers that call North Carolina home. It’s a privilege to be able to teach samba and to be able to lead our own RDU Student Performance team “Equipe Faisca” and our professional Samba dancers at NCBAP. Each of our student teams gives opportunities to others that are beginners, to learn and grow while participating at our local community events.
Dance means something different to everyone and I love helping others to find out what that is and fulfilling their goals when they come to my classes. Dance has given me so many experiences and opportunities to connect with so many people from all over the world and I’m truly thankful for that. Every experience, every opportunity fulfills me and it makes me proud to be able to share that joy with others in my community.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
First of all, I love the triangle. The growth I’ve seen in this area recently has been so immense and it has become so diverse. I love how every town, including Raleigh, has various events dedicated to other cultures and seeing that makes you feel like you belong here no matter where you came from. A lot of the people that reside in this area has become part of this great blending of cultures while at the same time holding on to the traditions North Carolinians are known for which is great BBQ!
I have seen an increase of artists and performers in recent years and I would love to continue seeing more of that. I’m lucky enough to be able to know and work with many known artists, musicians and promoters in our local area. I would love to see Raleigh at a level that can have entertainment and a culture scene like Charlotte or Atlanta is known for, it makes a city thrive and become so welcoming. To be able to see more of those individuals and artists alike would be exciting.
Pricing:
- Wednesday Beginner Samba class, 7:30-8:30 PM : $15.00
- Sundays Intermediate Samba class, 4:00-5:00 PM: $15:00
- Fall Semester (14 weeks) : $154.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cristalchinchayan.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criss7up/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cristal.chinchayan
- Other: https://ncbrazilianartsproject.com/
