Music For Dancers & Choreographers

"I had a great time at your workshop--not many teachers can keep my interest for four hours! I'm now spending considerable time enjoying critically listening to swing music at a level I was unable to before your class. And thanks for suggestions, including the reminder to be present and enjoy the moment. I look forward to the next workshop..."

-- Paul Bernatis

"Since Michael's workshop 'Let The Music Guide Your Dance', I've been listening and dancing to music with a much greater understanding and feeling. I now have an awareness of the architecture of a song, and how changes in beat and tempo can be incorporated into my dancing to make it more fun and interesting. I've been encouraging all my friends in my dance classes to take the class next time it's available."

-- Darrel Lager


Isn't it time for you to experience more clarity, grace, and grounded-ness in your dancing? No matter what style you love ~ from modern, ballet, ballroom, and jazz (incl. western swing) to African and Latin traditions ~ you'll find the music will help unlock your body's understanding of dance.
Dancers find it easier to build their confidence and expression by exploring the music that they're working with. I'll show you how to really feel the beat and feel the rhythm. From there we'll work on phrasing and song structure so you TRULY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME. Syncopation, instrumental cues, and presentation are also covered. Choreographers, this training is a must! You'll get grounded in all of the essentials of how to fit your dance ideas to pre-existing music, as well as how to better organize your own choreography. And I'll give you the tools to systematically research new music and even design your own scores!
Discover effective grounding techniques Play different percussion instruments Sing essential harmony & bass parts Distinguish blues (swung) styles from pop-based styles Create original steps that reinforce & contrast the music Develop a whole new vocabulary of listening	"I had a great time at your workshop--not many teachers can keep my interest for four hours! I'm now spending considerable time enjoying critically listening to swing music at a level I was unable to before your class. And thanks for suggestions, including the reminder to be present and enjoy the moment. I look forward to the next workshop..." -- Paul Bernatis "Since Michael's workshop 'Let The Music Guide Your Dance', I've been listening and dancing to music with a much greater understanding and feeling. I now have an awareness of the architecture of a song, and how changes in beat and tempo can be incorporated into my dancing to make it more fun and interesting. I've been encouraging all my friends in my dance classes to take the class next time it's available." -- Darrel Lager

Michael Smolens is an award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist, dance accompanist, recording artist, and teacher. He has accompanied jazz and modern dance for UC Berkeley, University of San Francisco, UC Santa Cruz, and Footworks Dance Studio as well as ritual dance in the Sufi and West African traditions. His last workshop for dancers took place at the "Two Left Feet" dance studio in Danville. Michael's jazz ensembles have performed at major west coast venues and his works have been commissioned by Meet The Composer, the Bernard Osher Fund, the UCSC Dance Dept., and numerous individuals. His eight CDs feature S.F. Symphony members as well as jazz legends Stefon Harris (vibes), Paul McCandless (reeds), and Zakir Hussain (tablas).
Michael Smolens can be reached at (510)649-7993 / if no answer, please try (510)684-4852. You can email him or read more at his website, www.SecondSightMusic.com Unlimited support for your lessons: call or email me and I'll answer any of your questions that same day. Great Berkeley location ~ just minutes from the Bay Bridge. You can also read advice on practicing and musical creativity or read some of the Words of Appreciation. *Intro Sessions are 45min., regular sessions are 90min.