Class fees:
Six week series $72.00
(No refunds on class cards once purchased)

Contact Info: 781-729-2252, polynesiandancearts@yahoo.com

Hawaiian hula is a graceful and expressive dance form that closely interprets thru movement the Hawaiian songs. Students will learn basic hula movements, utilizing them in learning a beginner level hula. In keeping with hula's story telling nature, the meanings of the dances will be explained. Students will also receive translations of the songs used in class.

Class attire: short pareo (sarong-3 yds cotton fabric), tights, leggings, shorts, t-shirt, pa'u (Hawaiian skirt--nice but not necessary). NO long pants, long skirts or baggy outfits.(knees should be seen), barefeet.

Marta Moussa has over 25 years of ethnic dance experience as a performer, teacher and choreographer of ethnic dance. She has had extensive training in ethnic dance with the late ethnic dance great, La Meri. Her training included Bharata Natyam (Classical dance of South India), Spanish, Hawaiian hula, dance composition and La Meri's teaching techique. Subsequently, Marta decided to specialize in Hawaiian hula and Tahitian dance. She studied hula with the late Rose Kapulani Joshua and Keith Awai in Honolulu, Hawaii. Marta studied Tahitian dance with Nona Robinson of Tumata's Polynesian Dance Company, of Papaete, Tahiti and Cathy Teriapaia of Honolulu. She has been performing and teaching hula and Tahitian dance since 1980.

Marta was a guest performer for the Ethnic Dance Arts Festival under the direction of La Meri. She has performed with Anjali Ethnic Dance Co., Ethnic Dance Arts, Royal Hawaiian Dancers, Ehukai Hawaiian Dance Co., and Polynesian Dance Arts.

Cost - $40 for 4 consecutive classes. $14 per drop-in. Bring a friend: 2 for $20 drop-in. Please have check or cash at 1st class, or register early by contacting Lori Green at 617-628-7884 or email lagreen27@hotmail.com

If you are just beginning a practice of yoga, are restarting your practice, or just like yoga at a slower pace than most Vinyasa Flow classes then I invite you to join us for a one hour class filled with instruction, hands on adjustments (optional), and plenty of modifications that make this class accessible to a variety of levels and abilities.

Vinyasa is a marriage between movement and breath. We will explore the use of breath through movement as well as in the stillness of postures that include standing balances, forward bends, back bends and core strengtheners that will build towards arm balances and inversions such as handstands, headstands and shoulder stand.

Variations and modifications are offered every step of the way and are useful for many reasons. You may be working with a previous injury, experiencing a lack of strength, flexibility or stamina, or have a fear of injury. Whatever the reason for the need to modify, there is always somewhere new you can take your practice. I will help you get there by offering new challenges based on your progress that will help you to build strength, flexibility, stamina and confidence as you approach your own personal goals.

This is a great opportunity to start your week awake, engaged and balanced, ready for whatever challenges come your way. We will end with a seated meditation that will leave you grounded and allow you to take your practice with you into the day and week ahead.

Please wear appropriate clothing that moves with the body.
Please bring your own yoga mat and blocks/straps if you use them.
Backjacks or cushions are provided at the studio for use during meditation.

WINTER FULL-VOICE SESSION:

8 weeks: January 31st through April 3rd
(no class on February 14th or February 21st;
snow makeup date if needed: April 10th)

7-9:15pm
$240

Singing in community is a powerful source of joy, celebration, and ritual for women around the world. The expressive and metaphorical process of creating unison and harmony while joining your voice with others is a powerful way to release stress, uplift the soul, transcend the challenges we face in our daily lives, and energize our beings. Past Art of Group Singing classes have been fun, depthful, and joyous experiences for those of us singing
in the circle together, full of beautiful music, expansive spirit, communal sensitivity, and openhearted expression.

This winter session will focus on the full-voiced singing styles of many cultures around the world (e.g. Bulgarian, Persian, Croatian, etc....). Those of you who have listened to these and similar world vocal traditions know the emotional and expressive potency of this style of singing. This session is designed to help those of you who are drawn to these dynamic cultural vocal styles learn more about:

* how to use your voice in healthy ways

* how to find the power in your voice in an opening and non-pushing way

* how to open expressively within these styles

* how to open to the exhilaration and vibrancy of ensemble singing in nonwestern voice production

* great songs from other parts of the world!

AND....save the dates for the Art of Group Singing for Women
SPRING session: 8 Tuesday Evenings: April 24th-June 12th!

7:30-9pm

Upcoming 15-week session: January 11th-May 9th
(no class on 2/29, 4/18, 4/25)
Please keep May 23rd free as a make-up date in case of cancellations.

Price: $325 for the full session, or $25/week drop-in

THURSDAY EVENINGS

Most Thursday evening class sessions are for drummers who have previously studied with Marytha Paffrath. For information on future beginner classes and workshops, please email Marytha at drumzatlibana@gmail.com

Pre-registration is required for ALL classes!!!

"Everything in the Universe has rhythm; everything dances" --Maya Angelou

Throughout time and history women have played drums for ceremony, ritual, celebration and the demarcation of seasonal and life passages. Many people believe that women are responsible for the first drums of West Africa. For many centuries, despite women's core contribution to the world of rhythm, drumming was kept from women, eclipsed by static cultural and spiritual beliefs. But in the last two decades women have been returning to the drum, reclaiming the rhythmic birthright to which we are all entitled as vibrating cellular beings.

In this introductory workshop we will learn age-old rhythms of West Africa and the African Diaspora, focusing on technique, the language of the drum, as well as rhythm fun and playing in community. This workshop is geared toward beginners, women who have no drum or musical experience but would like to literally try their hand at it. Teenagers 14 or older are also welcome. Please bring an African style drum, (djembe, ashiko, or conga) and a rhythm-ready heart. (some drums may be available to rent for a small additional fee).

Marytha Paffrath, Libana’s principal percussionist is an innovative teacher, singer, composer and writer who believes deeply in bringing the simplicity of rhythm and song to the complexity of the world. An accomplished percussionist, she tours nationally and internationally with LIBANA and has had the honor of studying with Babatunde Olatunji, Glen Velez, Nurudafina Pili Abena, Layne Redmond, Marco Lienhard, Gordon Gottlieb, and Ubaka Hill. In performance she moves with ease between an array of world drums which includes dumbek, djembe, tapan, naqqara, bombo, riqq, and frame drum.

FRIDAY EVENINGS

6-7pm
5 classes for $60 pre-paid; drop-in rate $14
Ongoing classes will begin after the holiday season on January 6th

Please bring your own mat!
For more info: email nbrooks323@gmail.com

Join Natalie for this all levels yoga class featuring plenty of creative sequencing, music, and joy. Breath by breath we will unwind from the week and start our weekend off relaxed and rejuvenated. Natalie teaches a very down to earth class using modifications, hands on adjustments, and a non-judgmental attitude.
You will breathe, move, and melt into tranquility by class end and most importantly, have fun!

Natalie Brooks, is a Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher who teaches at the Lily Pad in Inman Square, and for Joint Ventures, a physical therapy practice in Boston and Cambridge. She believes that yoga should be a practice that all can enjoy, no matter what shape or age you are. She has been teaching joyfully for 3 years and practicing for 18 years. She leads yoga retreats each summer in Vermont and will be teaching yoga on a yacht this summer.

OPEN VOICE MOVEMENT THERAPY WORKSHOPS
with Deborah Crane, MA, VMTR

January 14th, February 11th, March 10th and April 14th

11:30am-12:30pm

Deborah Crane will be offering monthly, OPEN SESSIONS for those who are interested in this approach to voice, but are not able to commit to a workshop or individual sessions at this time. The focus of the sessions will be different each time so that those who attend on a regular basis will continue to grow in the work, but it will be possible to attend one or more sessions without committing to the whole series. The cost will be ONLY $15/Saturday - a real bargain! However, in order for this to work, pre-registration by the Thursday in advance of each Saturday is necessary so that she knows who will be attending. Hopefully this will become a permanent offering! Email Deborah at deborah@creativevoicework.com or call 978-952-2798. www.creativevoicework.com

11:30am - 12:30pm

Upcoming 13-week session: January 8th-May 6th
(no class on 2/26, 3/4, 4/8, 4/15)
Please keep May 13th free as a make-up date in case of snow cancellations.

Price: $185 for the full session, or $15/week drop-in

This class will get you moving, starting from the ground-up. It emphasizes safe and correct technique, creativity, and fun! We'll cover basic belly dance technique, including elegant belly dance posture, classic moves, graceful armwork, and
traveling steps.

This is a beginner level class suitable for complete newbies and beginners with up to a year of recent classroom experience. Also a good refresher for students who have not been taking class recently.

This class is limited to women at this time.
(Nadira's other class offerings are open to respectful male students; contact Nadira for details.)

The class is a safe and friendly place to use dance to develop your personal style of expression, have fun, and meet new friends. It is suitable for all ages (preteen+), shapes, sizes, and fitness levels.

The class is limited to 20 students, so advance registration is recommended. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.BellyDanceSomerville.com/join-the-class

1-2pm Modern Dance Technique
2-3pm Performance Workshop
(students are encouraged to attend the technique class for warm up)
Sign up for one class or both!

Six week session, February 5th - March 18th (No class March 4th)
More info at http://kddcompany.wordpress.com/classes/

Pre-registration required.
Contact kddcompany@yahoo.com or call 617-388-3247 for info.

$95.00 for whole session (per workshop); $180 for technique and performance workshops.

Technique class is for adult dancers with a little or no experience and is a great place to start if you are coming back to dance or have never created dance before and incorporate ideas from Limon, Release and Cunningham techniques. The class will move through a warm up that builds strength and clarifies alignment principals followed by fluid phrases with an emphasis on performance quality, focus and presence. Participants will get a chance to create collaboratively and explore the basic elements of dance.

The Performance Workshop will focus on a collaboratively created work of choreography over the six weeks.

Kelley Donovan's work has been named in the Top 10 performances of the Year by The New York Times, Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and The Boston Phoenix. She has performed work by Rozann Kraus, Liz Lerman and Ann Carlson and has taught dance at BCAE, MIT, Dance Complex and Umass Boston. Her choreography has been produced by World Music, MIT and The Cunningham Studio, Joyce SoHo, Movement Research and the 92nd St. Y in New York City. Kelley studied choreography with Mark Morris and Bessie Schönberg and other artists in Boston.