Immersion in the Tahya Technique™ is expansive, from movement vocabulary to meditation, philosophy and more.
This training includes learning a rhythm and dance vocabulary believed to hold inherent qualities of tapping into one’s creativity, beauty and grace as well as the healing potential within these rhythms & movements rooted in sacred and secular traditions of North Africa, and the Middle & Far East.
WHAT IS THE Tahya Technique™?
This is an incredibly transformative experience that utilizes the best practices of ancient movement and drumming traditions taught be an award-winning dancer with forty+ years experience researching, studying, performing and teaching La Danse Orientale (aka Raqs sharqi, the classical Egyptian style of belly dance developed by Samia Gamal, Tahiya Karioka, and other dancers who rose to fame during the golden years of the Egyptian film industry). Read more about Tahya’s mission and expertise at the About Tahya page and/or click here to review Tahya resume.
The intent is to equip you to facilitate a Belly Dance Basics class with a solid foundation in the art and to share these arts as accessible tools for… joyful physicality, an unbridled celebration of femininity and sensuality, as well as a means for relaxation, reconnecting with our deeper selves (and each other), increasing individual creativity and reviving one’s health & well being.
Upon certification, you will have the necessary “tools” to introduce these beautiful movements providing others the opportunity to expand their imagination, creativity, individual growth and fulfillment ~ important components to an elevated sense of self esteem and connection to one’s vitality and, as needs be, one’s recovery process.
MORE: The Tahya Technique™ vocabulary for the movements of the dance stems from studies with women who served as pillars of the Belly Dance trajectory in the United States ~ among them Jamila Salimpour and members of her famed tribal fusion Bal Anat Troupe, and the legendary Morocco (see required reading below). Further inspirations were spawned by researching influential dancers of the early 20th Century, and last but by no means least, the Tahya Technique™ repertoire is highly influenced by movements and gestures from classical dances of the Far East following in-depth training with Mimi Janislawski.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAM SUITED FOR?
This program is open to any individuals, including (but not limited to) health care* professionals, who have previous yoga and/or dance training. In addition to a Certificate of Completion, participants can look forward to these transformational outcomes:
DEVELOP the skills to share INSPIRED, JOYFUL MOVEMENT
EXPLORE CREATIVE ways to CONNECT with your clients
FACILITATE classes that celebrate femininity and sensuality
IMPROVE the MIND/BODY CONNECTION
INCREASE individual creativity and reviving one’s health & well being.
LEARN innovative methods of healing through MOVEMENT and DANCE
SUPPORT an adventurous spirit with empowerment at heart
PREREQUISITE:
This program is open to any/all individuals with experience in movement classes (for ex. yoga or dance) and an understanding of anatomy as evidenced by certification ~ for ex., Medical or Healthcare; American Council on Exercise Group Fitness Instructor; Yoga Teacher Training (YTT200 or higher), an Associate (or higher) Degree in Dance.
WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME?
This is a 6-month personalized* training program consisting of 16 hours of online training PLUS documented 4-class practicum and (2) 4-hour assessment sessions in which each trainee will demonstrate comprehension of material (in-person at Lehigh Valley location TBD) scheduled approximately 6-8 weeks apart to allow sufficient time for practice as well as completing assignments and practicum at your own pace.
*Training is limited to six participants for personalized attention toward your success.
SCHEDULE ~ Next training starts Friday, October 20 2023:
ONLINE Sessions:
Friday, October 20: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday, October 21: 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Sunday, October 22: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Friday, November 3: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday, November 4: 1:00 – 5:00 pm*
*NOTE: this class will be held in-person at West End Yoga studios in Allentown, PA
Sunday, December 3: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
ASSESSMENT SESSIONS (in-person at West End Yoga studios in Allentown, PA): Trainees will be critiqued throughout training. At the assessment sessions trainees will demonstrate comprehension of material via modeling a sample program prior to award of certification.
#1 Saturday, January 20, 2024: 1:00 – 5:00 pm
#2 (Final) Saturday, March 2, 2024: 1:00 – 5:00 pm
NOTE: Please reserve March 16 as make-up date, if need be should we encounter inclement weather.
Attendance on all dates/times is MANDATORY. Training includes lecture, participatory movement, practicum and homework assignments. Assessment sessions will include demonstration of knowledge gained via modeling a sample program.
Glossary of terms, suggested music list, and lesson plans are among handouts included.
REQUIRED READING, ideally completed prior to first meeting :
HISTORY of DANSE ORIENTALE BOOKLET ~ 30-page booklet that overviews brief history of Danse Orientale compiled by Tahya to complement material covered in “Art of Being Feminine :: Belly Dance Basics” classes with Tahya (either online or in person)
WHEN THE DRUMMERS WERE WOMEN by Layne Redmond, a spiritual history of rhythm and women’s role as the sacred time keepers. SO MUCH valuable information is contained in this book that in fact it launched a worldwide wave of women resuming their role in the world with drums in hand! Read TRIBUTE to LAYNE REDMOND
GRANDMOTHER’S SECRETS The ancient rituals and healing power of Belly Dancing by Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi, translated by Monique Arav, First American edition published 1999 by Interlink Books
Articles penned by MOROCCO ~ specifically, “Belly Dancing” and Childbirth, Roots and Giving to Light: Dancing the Baby Into the World.
NOTE: See also “Recommended Reading” at Resource Page for more ~ not required but highly recommended!
WHAT IS MY INVESTMENT?
Participation in this training program is an investment in your future as a facilitator of joyful physicality of Tahya Technique™ Belly Dance Basics … and so much more.
Registration: $1,800 paid in full by October 1, 2023 via 4 payments of $450, starting now Click here
Discounted registration (due prior to September 1st and paid in full): $1,500 Click here
QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to ask questions and/or inquire about specific dates for next training* schedule ~ Contact Tahya
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Interested in Tahya Technique™ Level II certification that will take a deeper dive into these millennia-old traditions including advanced dance technique and combinations as well as the study of various rhythms beyond basic 4/4? Contact Tahya.