Teaching and Coaching

I teach privates,semi-privates, mini-workshops, and can accommodate your small group in Dedham, Ma. I am also available for larger workshops constructed to meet your particular needs. Contact me

Spring Multi-Level Technique Classes, Dedham
Spring Advanced/Performance Level Class, Dedham
Beginner and Beyond Beginner Belly Dance Class, Newton
Riskallah Riyad Workshop, Sun, March 21, 2010
Veil and hipwork Workshop in Rhode Island,March 28, 2010
Turkish openings and closings workshop, Spencer, MA, May 22, 2010
Available Mini-Workshops
Available Day Long Workshops

Private Coaching

I feel that a successful and well-rounded belly dancer must master four things:

belly dance technique - those movements that make belly dancing unique and distinguish it from any other dance form, such as isolations, finger cymbals, props
overall dance technique - those techniques that are universal to all dance, such as posture, and use of arms and feet
understanding the music and appropriate interpretation
performance skills - how to make yourself compelling and entertaining to watch

I am experienced both with improvisation and choreography in both Arabic and Turkish styles. I can provide coaching from beginner to professional levels.

Spring Multi-Level Technique Classes

Challenge yourself in a fun, comfortable environment. Class size is small allowing for one on one help. Everyone knows one another and supports one another. The class material is tailored to the needs of the students and I can accommodate most requests to work on particular material. We have fun. We get to connect to ourselves and to connect to others.

This is a multi level class for students with at least a basic knowledge of belly dance movements. We will work on honing and improving technique by applying proper alignment, centering, breath, and footwork to all aspects of belly dance movement. The class will consist of a warmup followed by technique for specific movements, and ending with a routine. Bring zils and a veil.

Eight week session, Wed April 14-June 2, 2010, 7:30-8:45 pm - $96 Pre-paid in advance only.

Eight week session, Sat April 10-May 29, 2010 12:00-1:15 pm - $96 Pre-paid in advance only.

No drop-ins unless you call me first.

Mail registration to Mary Anna Brown, 19 Violet Ave, Dedham, MA 02026 or pay via Paypal below.

Wed 8 week session: 100.00 via Paypal

Sat 8 week session: $100.00 via Paypal

Location and Directions - 19 Violet Ave, Dedham, Ma in my home studio

Class size is limited so you will get good personal attention. Please bring something to wear on your feet. The floor is covered by a rug.

Route 128 to route 109 towards Dedham. At the second set of lights (Mobil station on your right, Hess gas station on your far left) take a left. Violet Ave is on the right. If you come to a fork, you went too far. Take a right onto Violet Ave. I am the second to last house on the left at the end. There is a concrete table and chair set in the front. The studio entrance is under the deck to the right of the house.

Spring Advanced/Performance Level Class*

This is an advanced level class for students who either are performing or aspire to perform. We will work on stage presence, bringing musicality into your dance, and techniques for making what you know even better. Instructor permission is required.

Eight week session, Sat April 10-May 29, 2010 1:30-2:45 pm - $96 Pre-paid in advance only.

No drop-ins unless you call me first.

Mail registration to Mary Anna Brown, 19 Violet Ave, Dedham, MA 02026 or pay via Paypal below.

Wed 8 week session: 100.00 via Paypal

*Requires the permission of the instructor.

Beginner Belly Dance Lessons

Beginner class, seven week session, Newton North High School, starting Mon April 5, 2010 6:45 pm - 7:45 pm (no class April 19) for Newton Community Education, 6:45-7:45 pm. To register, see www.newtoncommunityed.org or call (617) 559-6999.

Beyond beginner, seven week session, Newton North High School, starting Mon April 5, 2010- 8:00 - 9:00 pm (no class April 19) for students with at least one beginner session. Same registration info as above.

Riskallah Riyad, Sun, March 21, 2010, Workshop and Show

As of 2/27/10 this workshop is full. Contact me to be put on a waiting list.

Show tickets are still available.

Riskallah will present a day of:

A Unique Veil Combination: "Yearning"
Short Combinations to enhance your repertoire

Riskallah Riyad is a renowned Oriental dancer and choreographer. She brings extraordinary energy, creativity, and thoughtfulness to the classroom, always seeking new ways to educate and inspire the students. Her classes are both fun and thought provoking for every level, giving material that will stay permanently in your repertoire.

Riskallah Riyad has taught workshops and weekly dance classes for over 30 years including workshops and master classes in major cities on the East Coast and California. She has performed in clubs in New York, Boston, Washington DC, and Connecticut and in stage shows including Round Hill Theater in Greenwich, CT and Columbia University in NYC. A student of such masters as the late Ibrahim Farrah, Valarie Camille, Elena Lentini, and Marta Zorina, she is herself a master teacher. She currently directs the Riskallah Riyad Dance Theatre Company, which performs in area events and theater productions. See www.riskallah.com for a complete biography.

Where: Ancient Art Studios, 590 Berkley St, Berkley, MA. (www.ancientartstudios.com)

12:00-1:30 class
1:30-2:15 break
2:15-3:45 class
3:45-4:30 break
4:30-6:30 show. Bring a pillow or cushion to sit on.

Both workshop participants and the public are invited to the show.

Dancers performing in the show will be workshop participants. There is a limited number of slots. If you would like to perform, contact Phaedra to sign up. Shows should be no longer than 5 minutes. If you can, put only your music on a CD and send it to Phaedra in advance.

As of 2/27/10 this workshop is full. Contact me to be put on a waiting list.

Show tickets are still available.

$10 show only.

Make check payable to Mary Anna Brown, 19 Violet Ave, Dedham, MA 02026.

Veil and hip work workshop followed by show, Sun, March 28, 2010

2:00-4:00 Veil work
4:15-5:30 hip work
6:00-8:00 pm show, open to all workshop participants

Location: American Legion, 830 Willett Ave, Riverside, RI.

Price before March 7, 2010: $65.00 for both workshops and show, $35.00 for one workshop, $10.00 for show
Price after March 7, 2010: $80.00 for both workshops and show, $50.00 per workshop, $15.00 for show

Contact Almasah for more information.

Mini-Workshops

The following mini-workshops are available to be taken on the road or given to your group.

Listening to the music: Exploring how what you hear can help you with what you can do to enhance both improvisation and choreography.
Harnessing the power of your hips or getting your hipwork tight, precise, and controlled. We will work on articulating the hips so that the many variations and subtleties can be appreciated and used to their fullest.
Bringing power to slow movement. We will focus on how to make slow work compelling and interesting.
Working with one and a half beledi (wad el wah nos). This rhythmic progression can be fun and dramatic. We will focus on breaking it down into it's parts, adding drama and breath to the movements, and what to do when it seemingly gets out of control.
Working with fast Armenian/Turkish music. How to "jump around" without looking or feeling frantic. Embracing the bounce.
Articulating the drum solo.
Unusual pairings. Layering shimmies with other movements. We will focus on combinations that may seem impossible but once mastered create some interesting textures and dynamic movements.
Slow movement focusing on the use of arms and upper body to create a bigger than life presence.
Movement sandwiches or techniques for improvisation and choreography for using the logical phrasing of the music to create combinations that are one with the music, interesting, dramatic, and that will serve you well when your mind goes blank during improvisation.
Comparing and contrasting movements to create dynamics, interest, and surprise, or how to get the most out of every movement.
Chifte telli, making it interesting standing up.
Techniques for improving stage presence. We will explore how the proper use of the upper body, arms, feet, and eyes, enhance and complement movement to make your dance more interesting and compelling.
Working with heavy beledi.
9/8 for nightclubs.
Working with taksims with or without rhythm.
Making a dramatic entrance. We will use classical Arabic music to explore ways to capture the audience's attention with dramatic effect.
Demystifying the drum solo with live drumming by Leon Manoogian. We will break down the common patterns in the drum solo, count them out, and experiment with variations of both movement and music.
Becoming bigger than life. Techniques for fully communicating your expression of the music.
Techniques for sharpening hip work. Have you ever wondered why some dancer's hip work is really striking and interesting and another dancer's just falls flat? This workshop will provide some techniques and combinations designed to help you sharpen and clean up your hip work so that every move is distinctly it's own.
Standing Still. Have you ever felt exhausted watching a dancer, just wishing she would stop long enough for you to appreciate what she's doing? One of the hardest things to do in dance is to stay in one place. This workshop explores why stopping is interesting and what you can do in place to various types of music.

Other Workshops

Phaedra's Finishing School^TM

Weekend Intensive

Have you ever wondered why you are compelled to watch one dancer and not another? Have you ever been surprised that the performer was smaller than she looked on stage? Have you ever wondered why some dancers look like they are doing steps, and others create magic, merging with the music?

This workshop is designed for advanced students and professionals and will answer those questions and many more. It will give you specific techniques for bringing your dance to the next level no matter what your style is.

The following topics will be covered:

Creating Stage Presence or How to Command Attention Polishing Movements or Making a Transition Without Falling Down and How Not to Look Like a Paper Doll, that is, Flat
Wowing the Audience or How to Make them Sit on the Edge of Their Chairs
Using Your Space or How not to Wear Someone's Dinner and Finding the Power Spot
Connecting to the Music or How to Dance Like You Know the Words
Individual Presentations and Feedback

What students said about this weekend:

"All dancers new and old to belly dance could and should attend this workshop. Feedback is excellent and improvements attainable."

"Too many teachers emphasize steps, and not how to create a show, be interesting, etc. They can at least get that in this workshop."

"Loved it. Would attend another Phaedra workshop anytime!"

Choreography Workshops - Learn a choreography to music that is challenging in terms of rhythm and mood changes. Learn to handle the transitions while perfecting technique through choreography.

Improvisation: How to Get it Flowing - Have you even been stuck in a seemingly endless repetition of steps? Are you frequently asking yourself what should I do next? Does improvisation seem impossible? This three hour workshop will present techniques for improving improvisation, for letting the music flow through you, and for getting the dance out of your head and into your body.

Costume Making Workshop - Learn how to construct a bra and belt and bead it in the style of Egyptian made costumes. Learn to make a one of a kind costume that fits you and costs 90% less than a commercial costume to make.

Amina Delal and I sponsored the following workshops to great reviews. We are available to take them on the road. Call for rates.

Discussion/presentation on The Show (apx 2 hours): this presentation explains the local terminology of the five part routine and the Arabic show, the differences between them, and how they have evolved. For both it explains what the dancer can expect for music, the order of the music, and what the audience expects that the dance will and will not do, including what props are appropriate. This discussion can be given on its own or can be followed by a dance class.
Discussion/presentation on professionalism (apx 2 hours): this presentation explains what is expected of you as a professional night club dancer. It includes insights from dancers, musicians, and club owners, including the "stuff no one tells you." It explains how both your behavior on and off stage effects whether you get hired again, how you get treated, and your overall experience of the evening. This discussion can be given on its own or can be followed by a dance class.
Requesting a show (apx 3 hours): This workshop can be given for either the five part show or the Arabic show. It requires hiring a band. Amina Delal and I direct, help, and provoke discussion and feedback. The class will be divided into groups of 3-5. They will select a show appropriate to the style (with our help), communicate the show to the band, and as a group perform the show. Questions and feedback will be given at the end. This is a wonderful opportunity to practice what is one the hardest things to do - ask for a show - and then to see how it manifests itself. It is also a great opportunity to tape live music for practicing.
Understanding and using the phrasing of the music. This workshop focuses on listening to and using the phrasing of the music to create interest, dynamics, and musicality in your dance. Using short combinations, we will explore how to take your dance from flat to multi-leveled, and from accidental to intentional.
Turkish vs. Arabic. We will explore the differences between these two styles and how steps, gestures, and moves need to be adjusted to work each one effectively.
Listening to and using taksims. This workshop focuses on how to listen to taksims, (a solo played by one instrument) and how to make your movement connect with the music. It will also explore the various movements appropriate to taksim and how to make them graceful and flowing.
Making smooth transitions. Transitions can put awkwardness in your dance or they can make your movement smooth, dynamic, and interesting. This workshop focuses on techniques for using the music appropriately to get from here to there smoothly.
Coaching - The group coaching sessions are designed to provide individual feedback in a comfortable and supportive setting. The intent is to share, to learn from watching others, and to provide constructive feedback from objective observance. Each session will focus on a different aspect of the show. Each participant will dance briefly followed by feedback and discussion about what worked, what did not work, and how to make it better.
Discovering the Show as You Go or Improvising a Dance- This workshop will focus on responding to the music to improvise a dynamic and expressive dance. The goal is learning how to create a dance that reflects both the mood and dynamics of the music and looks organized and pleasing to the eye By developing one's ability to identify and then put to use the music's basic phrasing and modulations, we can draw the audience in and wow them with a dance that follows and fully expresses the music. We will work on deconstructing the phrasing, examining the music's symmetry and anticipating where it will go.
Using Music You Know to Compose a Dance - This workshop will focus on the skills needed to create both compositions and choreography. The goal is to understand how to analyze and break down the music into its basic parts and progressions, and to use them to create an exciting and unique dance that communicates your specific message or mood. With these skills, you can create a dance for one or for a troupe.

Contact Information

email me

phone: (781) 329-1484 evenings and weekends. Please be patient if the phone rings and the machine does not pick up - the computer may be in use.