Modern Dance     Workshop

Zahira’s modern dance classes are Humphrey-based. Usually the class starts while lying on the ground and connecting to our breath and awareness of being, of touching the ground on the body and allowing the ground to touch us. From there, the sequences progress in diagonal and contrasting movements, which aid in warming up the spine and exploring our extremities and extensions (some Laban elements). The floor sequences progress to mid-level and to standing, usually returning to the floor. In the ‘choreographic’ phrase, Humphrey principles of fall & recovery are utilized in combination with efficient breathing. Zahira approaches her class as a metaphor of life: falling and getting back up, sometimes rigid, sometimes fluid, something gasping for air, sometimes free flowing. But at the top of her list is that dancers may truly discover themselves and from that authenticity become

 seasoned artists.