I am really looking forward to September- October as I am heading off for adventures & workshops. I am running drum workshops in a slightly new format: Focussing on rhythm in the body & doing work which is of benefit for drummers, dancers & anyone interested in integrated creative expression & ancient rhythm traditions.
There are more details on facebook here or leave me a comment below this post.

Dates are……
Sydney Sunday 11th of September
Melbourne Sunday 25th of September
Canberra Sunday 2nd of October

After a break from teaching I am really excited to start back with a new set of Frame Drums ( 10 of them) and a gorgeous new drum !
So…. Come and join me : )

$180 for 3 classes per week for 9 Weeks!!
Come to any or all classes every week for 9 weeks for $20 per week!

The Facebook page is HERE

Egyptian Style Drumming
Mondays 5.30- 6.30pm
(venue to be confirmed depending on numbers)
$15 casual $100 for full 9 weeks ($11.11 per class)
25th July – 19th September

Hilal Dance
Mondays 7pm-8.30pm
Sports Lounge at the Uni of Wollongong URAC
$15 Casual $100 for full 9 weeks ($11.11 per class)
Hilal Dance is a beautiful dance form developed by Egyptian born, European based dance artist Suraya Hilal. It draws on the folk traditions of Egypt while also expanding into a contemporary movement language and body work system which integrates body, mind and emotion. It is fantastic training for dancers from all backgrounds, total beginners and those interested in yoga, somatic work and performance techniques. A wonderful way to connect to your body, get some exercise and lose yourself in some fantastic music.

Rhythmicity with Movement and Frame Drumming
Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm
Sports Lounge at Uni of Wollongong URAC
$15 Casual $100 for full 9 weeks ($11.11 per class)

Stretch and Breath using RHYTHM.
Get the body moving with movement, frame drums and dance using rhythm as the core.

These classes are fantastic for dancers, musicians and anyone interested in being physical while increasing your rhythmic abilities.
Research points to the health and well being benefits of engaging in rhythmic activities. All systems in the body use rhythm to function. Rhythm activities relax, invigorate and recharge bodies, minds and emotions as well as increase your ability to focus in your daily life.

This year I will be continuing to work through the Song Room to deliver my Rhythm and Drumming Program. I have a new primary school program in Penrith and I will be continuing to work through Ashfield Primary as part of my Artist in Residence (see below). In 2010 I was lucky enough to work at a primary school for a full school year. It was fantastic to see what a Drum Circle program can achieve over a longer period. I developed a performance troupe who did 4 performances during the year including a 600 seat theatre! They are AMAZING! Year 5/6s from the Middle East, Africa, Pacific Islanders, amongst young people from every continent on the planet. Many of them had existing cultural rhythm knowledge and once encouraged to share it, really took the project on : ) I am working hard to find support to keep this troupe together through their transition to high school. Ideas welcome : )

Here is an outline of the program I am continuing to develop.

Rhythm and Drumming : An introduction to World Drum Circles
A rhythm and drumming program which uses rhythm, movement, percussion, vocals and drums to explore the wonder of playing music in a group.

An engaging and fun introduction to World Beat Drumming. The program will explore how to communicate through rhythm using drums, bodies and voices. Inspired by the world drum traditions including from the Middle East, Africa, India and Latin America this program taps into a cross cultural meeting point fantastic for the diversity of contemporary Australia.

Click here for more details on this program and a small video snippet of the Primary School Troupe.

I am currently Artist in Residence at Thirning Villa, Sydney. It is a great program run by Ashfield City Council. I am here until March 2011 and will be running drumming workshops leading to performances and workshops as part of the Carnival of Cultures on March 20th. You can check details on the blog I have set up specifically for the residency here. There will also be a series of dance workshops in February and an installation/performance piece.

ok so…… i am not entirely sure what has possessed me but… since my youtube video has almost 280,000 hits!…. I thought I would turn the audio into a ringtone : ) If you have an iphone, go to itunes and then the ringtone section and then search for ‘Funky Middle Eastern’. It should pop up : )

This is the art work for the drum CD I am in the process of making. I have decided to use my performing project name Mahri Autumn.

My YouTube vid has now hit over 180,000 views!

Befriend me if you hang out in Youtube : )

Term 2 – 2010 will run with the school terms
Starting the week of the 19th of April and running to the week beginning 28th of June

Wednesday and Friday ongoing groups in Unanderra and Woonona
Mondays at SOL STUDIOS : Hilal Dance Class 6.30pm- 8pm DRUM 8pm-9pm
Send me a message if you are interested in any of these and I shall give you details.

Private individual and group sessions are also available at a time to suit you.
These can be ongoing or one offs. I can provide as many drums as you can find people! If its a HUGE group I can put together a team of percussionists, dancers, facilitators. What ever the occasion needs : ) Call me on 0412 177 918

I am also working 2 days a week in disadvantaged schools running drum circles through
The Song Room
I recently conducted workshops for International Women’s day and one for Psychologists interested in using rhythm and drumming as part of their work with people recovering from abuse. Great to get a chance to pass on some of the mechanisms I have developed over the past 14 years.

Slowly but surely I am working on ways of communicating and making what I have learnt/developed more accessible to people. I am starting work on a Drum CD and learning tool as well as a written resource for community work.

The more I work on it the more I realise that there is a lot more than drumming involved in the work I am doing. Communication is paramount, self expression is paramount, tools for collective creative action is paramount and the one that I have been thinking about alot lately is… POWER IS PARAMOUNT. Drum circles allow you to explore elements of real anarchy. Not anarchy that refers to a violent, nasty, chaotic, frightening experience. But Anarchy which refers to a natural shifting of power around a group. Allowing for each person to express themselves freely within the confines of a safe structure that ensures continuity and a moving between group unison work and solo sections. I will write more on these ideas when I get the chance. Its a really interesting way of talking about different power structures and pedagogical approaches. I am far too often seeing VERY top heavy models of pedagogy at play in the school system. Control based on fear and the constant threat of humiliation completely destroys the ability of a child to think for themselves or to feel confident in expressing themselves freely. PUBLIC EDUCATION NEEDS MORE RESOURCES NOW! and on that note………

'Mizmar' Mozaic Dance Company 2008, Sidetrack Theatre

This workshop will be an introduction to Hilal Dance bodywork and traditional Egyptian ‘sha’abi’ dance. Hilal Dance is fantastic for any performer interested in exploring their physical expression as well as wonderful for anyone interested in posture, yoga, breathing, getting fit and integrating body, mind and emotion.

Suitable for total beginners as well as experienced dancers from all backgrounds-
contemporary/ movement theatre to folk, cabaret and music theatre.

Contact Manthy for more info, to book and for details of venue
info at mariantheloucataris.com

Sarah Hamilton is an accredited Hilal Dance teacher and has performed
with the Suraya Hilal Dance Company in Australia
and Europe.

For more information see www.hilaldance.co.uk
and
http://hilaldanceaustralia.com.au
and
http://www.myspace.com/mozaicdance

If there is enough interest i am looking at running a weekly training session in Wollongong after this workshop.
(led by me)

The past few months has seen me busier than ever with drumming. I am currently working with the Song Room to deliver programs in primary schools. I am using rhythm as a basis to explore creating performance material incorporating drumming, movement, words and voice. Its alot of fun and has loads of benefits for the children including | gaining self confidence, getting comfortable with ‘creating’ individually and as a group, learning about communication, focus, memory, self expression …..and the list goes on. Not to mention gaining a love for music and creative practice. I have begun writing a resource for the work I have developed over the past 12 years. Will keep you posted on that.

I am also in the middle of a youth project with the Cringilla Co-op in Cringilla working with 2 other arts workers to create performance material fusing drumming, dance, rapping, singing and story. We are also using working in a circle to develop this material.

Today I conducted a workshop for school councilors who were interested in having a fun way to conclude their conference and who were also interested in my work with young people from non english speaking backgrounds. They all had a great time and we discussed the means by which rhythm and drumming in a circle can help to develop emotional awareness and control, group bonding, improvement in integrated right/left brain function and of course just for fun and relaxation.

Meanwhile classes are going well Mondays and Fridays in Wollongong and occasional week-ends in Sydney.

Monday nights are cruising along so well we decided not to take a break. New and not so new drummers are WELCOME…..feel free to come along if you have more time in the holidays. It is a very mixed group from beginners… to folk who have been coming for almost a decade!

Monday 7pm at Manic Organic |  409 Princes Highway Woonona | (come around the back)

Fridays will resume on the 31st of July at the Kailash Yoga School. This class requires sitting on a cushion which is a great way to drum.

7pm Fridays| Note | We dont drum the first week every month as there is a kirtan on (Chanting/singing mantras to music). Please contact before you come to Fridays to make sure its on.

Classes are $15 & $12 per casual class $48 $ $40 for 4 or more classes in advance

Sydney Workshops and Classes

Let me know if you are interested in Sydney classes so i can keep you in the loop.