Classes
Studying movement and massage with Shakti gives you grounded glimpses into your inner world. Strengthening your touchstones with your somatic self, daily life deepens, grows richer, has more meaning, and is more fun!
Upcoming Classes:
Authentic Movement Workshop, Taos, New Mexico
Fall of 2013
Details TBA
inquire@ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
****************************
Contact Improvisation at Movement Research
May, 2013
New Time!! 5 Wednesday Evening classes, 6:00-8:30PM $14
Eden's Expressway, 537 Broadway, Manhattan
"Wake up your Improviser, Soften your Body, Hone your Skills.
This class is an open level class, for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. In a safe and grounded space we'll visit some fundamental Contact skills and awareness exercises. We'll cultivate these with enough subtlety for the seasoned dancer of Contact.
Classes will include long, luscious warm-ups and plenty of dancing. Deepening our connection with the form, we'll find greater ease in being upside down and explore new possibilities for lifts and ledges. These explorations will be supported by experiential anatomy, which develops our structural understanding of the body."
See Movementresearch.org for more information.
********************************
Recent Classes:
Inner Body Dancing: Meditation into Movement
Barefoot Boogie, Insight Meditation Center
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Inner Body Dancing: Meditation into Movement
(For this special Thanksgiving Class, we'll begin with some Gratitude and Purification Stations; using sage, bells, tuning forks, and writing).
@Barefoot Boogie
Saturday night, November 24, 2012
Insight Meditation Center
Chelsea, NYC, $10-15
8-9:30
(8-8:30 warm up music
8:30-9:15 Inner body Dancing class)
Followed by the rest of the Barefoot Boogie
*******************
THE CLASS:
Inner Body Dancing: Meditation into Movement
Meditate. Breathe. Dance.
Come dive into your Stillness/then Expand and Unwind into your Dance. Starting in Meditation, then exploring the inner body via experiential anatomy, yoga, toning, and energy practices, one is gradualy guided from Silence into luxuriously full on embodied dancing.
For more info see BarefootBoogie.org
*******************************************
Thai Yoga Massage Workshops:
Sunday, October 21, Kingston, NY
Part of Dance New England's Fall Weekend
Sunday, December 30, Brooklyn, NY
3-5PM
at Shambhala Yoga and Dance
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Register at Shambhala
*****************************
Meditation Foundations:
Sundays at the Dojo
Sunday, October 14, Shakti teaches 'Meditation: An Embodied Approach'
3:30-5:30
Martial Arts USA, StudyMartialArts.com
759 Washington Avenue, btw Sterling and St John
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
**
For those of you feeling the call to meditate and/or integrate a daily practice into you life. Each month we visit different meditation practices, experiential anatomy of the breath, and ways to sit comfortably in your practice. All Levels Welcome. Donation:$20. Bring a cushion or mat to sit on.
Shakti Andrea Smith, took her first meditation class as a teen, and has been practicing for over twenty years. She has explored both Buddhist and Yogic traditions, including retreating for periods of silence and meditation lasting from 7-12 days. She is currently studying the Tibetan Aro tradition, and focusing on daily practice, integrated into everyday life. Meditation supports her dance and bodywork practices. For more info on Shakti see MassageandMovement.com.
**
This workshop is by donation
suggested donation $20
plesae bring a small cusion or blanket to sit on
*****************************************
Dance New England
In August, Shakti teaches Inner Body Dancing and Open Level Contact Improvisation at this Dance Retreat/Camp in Maine: http://www.dne.org/
A Taste of Honey:
an hour long Contact Improv class with Shakti Andrea Smith,
followed by the JAM
Stone Ridge, NY, April 1
5-7PM
(Honey segways to Jam)
We'll warm up the body, while embodying an internal space of organs, energy, and light. From this attuned, and tuned up, place and space we'll meet others in the dance of Contact...while learning some skills and styles of the form to assist us in meeting our first dance partners of the evening. Our taste of honey class will flow seamlessly into the Jam.
Honey=Sweetness. Also: Superfood.
"Superfoods are a special category of foods found in nature. By definition they are calorie sparse and nutrient dense meaning they pack a lot of punch for their weight as far as goodness goes. They are superior sources of anti-oxidants and essential nutrients - nutrients we need but cannot make ourselves" Food Matters, Permacology Productions.
Contact=Sweetness+Superfood (calorie sparse..nutrient dense...goodness...nutrients we need but cannot make ourselves)
________________________________
Shakti Andrea Smith has been dancing Contact for over 20 years, and has taught weekly classes, week-longs, and weekend intensives at Movement Research in NYC, Earthdance Retreat Center in the Berkshires, Boston area Studios, Dance New England, and as far flung as India. She is a dancer and Healer/Bodyworker with a practice (Massage and Movement) centered in Brooklyn at Shambhala Yoga and Dance; She continues to develop Inner Body Dancing: Meditation into Movement and Prema Healing--energetic and breath infused bodywork and life counseling. You can also purchase tools to support your spiritual journey and body wellness from her ShaktiShop. Shakti lives in NYC with her fiance Stewart and their cat Chatty. www.MassageandMovement.com.
**************************
A special Valentine's Offering:
Thai Yoga Massage for Two
With Live Sitar Music by Dawoud!
with Shakti Andrea Smith
@Shambhala Yoga and Dance
Saturday Night, February 11, 7:30-9:30
$25/40 per couple Pre-Registered, $30/$50 per couple DAY OF
***********************
Come with your partner or a friend, and learn a Thai Yoga Massage sequence infused with Metta (Loving Kindness). Learn a full body massage that cultivates awareness and nurturing touch for both giver and receiver. We'll practice a little meditation too.
Shakti has been teaching and practicing body and energywork for over twenty years. For more information on Thai Yoga Massage and Shakti, see MassageandMovement.com
Please wear loose, comfortable clothing. Singles welcome too, we'll match you with a partner.
Class Size is Limited, so do Pre-Register@ShambhalaYogaDance.com
Dawoud also recently self-published his first novel.
renegadesufi.com
********************************************
Inner Body Dancing: Meditation into Movement
@Barefoot Boogie
Saturday night, January 28, 2012
Insight Meditation Center
Chelsea, NYC, $10-15
8-9:30
(8-8:30 warm up music
8:30-9:15 Inner body Dancing class)
Followed by the rest of the Barefoot Boogie
*******************
THE CLASS:
Inner Body Dancing: Meditation into Movement
Meditate. Breathe. Dance.
Come dive into your Stillness/then Expand and Unwind into your Dance. Starting in Meditation, then exploring the inner body via experiential anatomy, yoga, toning, and energy practices, one is gradualy guided from Silence into luxuriously full on embodied dancing.
For more info see BarefootBoogie.org
*******************************
Meditation Into Dance
Fridays, starting October 7th through the end of November
8-9:15PM@ Shambhala Yoga and Dance
367 St Marks, near corner of Grand
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
$15 or $54 for 4 class card
Includes entry to first Fridays Dance Hall
***************
Come dive into your Stillness, then Expand and Unwind into your Dance. Starting in meditation, then exploring the inner body via experiential anatomy, yoga, toning, and other healing practices, one is gradually guided from a space of Silence into Embodied dancing. On the first Friday of the month this class will transition directly into the Shambhala Dance Hall (optional for class participants/included in the price).
for more directions: see ShambhalaYogaDance.com
****************
Contact Improvisation for Mixed Levels
October 15, 2011
Dance New England Weekend in Kingston, NY
For more info/to register for this event see: www.freestylefrolic.org/weekend/php
THE CLASS
In a safe and grounded space we'll visit the land of Contact Improvistaion. Class will include luscious warming up and plenty of dancing. Grounded building blocks and skills, infused with subtle awareness, gentleness, and play, will be inviting us towards a state of spntaneity and joyful partnering. Our explorations will be supported by experiential antomy, developing our structural and embodied understanding and knowing of the body.
Shakti's background: Shakti has been dancing Contact for over 20 years, and teaching weekly classes, week longs, and weekend intensives at Movement Research in NYC, Earthdance Retreat Ceonter in the Berkshires, Boston area Studios, Dance New England in Maine, and as far flung as India. She is a dancer and Healer/Bodyworker with a practice centered in Brooklyn. She is currently developing Inner Body Dancing: Meditation into Movement and Prema Healing--energetic and breath infused bodywork. Other influences include being in Nature, Sound Healing, and other pathways to being more in this moment. Shakti lives in NYC with her fiance Stewart and their cat Chatty.
******************
THAI YOGA MASSAGE
Lululemon
Thursday, October 27
7-8PM
Bergen Street, Brooklyn
Free!
*************************
Beginners Contact Improvisation
and Thai Yoga Massage
A Dancing Path event
Friday, June 8
6:30-9:30PM
@Dance Theater Workshop
219 W19th street, btw 7th and 8th
See thedancingpath.com for more details
A note from Shakti:
This class is intended for the novice to Contact Improv, as I've been told there is a great need! My friend Daniel tells me he has been to many classes, but just needs help getting off the floor--how to change levels with a partner? Another friend reminds me how precarious it feels to be upside down. We'll explore that too. You can feel confident that this is the class you can come to try on a well rounded intro to the form, including skills and states, to aid you in gaining a basic embodied understanding, that you can then take to jams, other classes, and into your own practice with friends.
The class:
Wake up your Improviser! Come check out this enlivening, playful, and creative dance form. In a safe and grounded space we'll visit some fundamental Contact skills and awareness exercises. Class will include a luscious warm up, rolling and partnering skills, sharing weight, finding greater ease in being upside down, and some visits to lifts and ledges. These explorations will be supported by experiential anatomy, developing our structural understanding of the body.
*********************************
Authentic Movement
May 1st
at Plaza Wellness, 36 Plaza East
Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights,
Brooklyn
5:45-7:45PM
$25 by April 30/$30 afterwards
(please pre-register by calling or writing Shakti: 917-405-5877/ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Push Hands and Contact Improvisation Lab
at the Barefoot Boogie, Saturday, March 26
8:30-9:15PM
see BarefootBoogie.org for more details
***************
Contact Improvisation, Upstate
Sunday, April 3, 4pm-6pm
MaMA - Marbletown Multi-Arts
3588 Main Street, Stone Ridge, NY
contact Dana@ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 845.532.9968.
4/17 Class $35 if paid after 4/10
Yoga:
Metta Yoga
Shambhala Yoga and Dance, 2010
Tuesdays, 1:30-3:00, $13
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
***********
This is an Iyengar Slow Flow class. We'll be cultivating Metta (loving kindness) for self, others, and all beings through meditation, chanting, and asana. Come join us in this practice. Shambhalayogadance.com
Benefit Thai Yoga Massage Workshop:
Sunday, March 21, 2010
2:45 registration
3:00-5:00 Class
$25-45, sliding scale
All Proceeds go to Shambhala Yoga and Dance Center
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
******
Class is limited to 16 Participants. To Pre-register, send your check by 3/15.
*********
Come learn a flowing Massage form to share with friends and family. Come alone (we'll match you with a partner) or with a friend for your introduction to Thai Yoga Massage. Please come on time. Shambhalayogadance.com.
"Thai Yoga Massage offered by Shakti Smith, one of our Yoga teachers and a most gifted body worker. Don't miss this! Thai Yoga Massage is a luscious, deeply nourishing and balancing journey into the wisdom of your body." Cathy Calderone of Shambhala Yoga and Dance Studio
Inner Body Dancing:
Saturday, March 27, 2010
8:30-9:30 class, followed by 9:30-11:30 Barefoot Boogie
$10-15 sliding scale admission gives you entrance to the class, followed by 2 hours of Dj'd dancing at the Insight Meditation Center in Chelsea, Manhattan
****************
We'll be blending Heart Centered Meditation with Breathing foci, Experiential Anatomy, Authentic Movement, and other practices that aid us in surfing the landscape of our Inner Bodies--gradually flowing into a state of Full On dancing, on your own and with others.
Enliven your Cells, Embody your Movement, Dance BIG
Inner Body Dancing-Dance Meditation Dance Party
Feb 7, March 31
Wednesday Night
7-8:30 PM
Greenpoint/Williamsburg
$10-20 sliding scale
*******************
Come to this beautiful center in Greenpoint, imbued with the energy of Amma--this space is lovingly held. In this environment of beauty and light, we'll dive into our practice.
Come for 90 minutes of Meditation and Dancing! We'll start in stillness: blending Heart Centered Meditation with Breathing awareness, Experiential Anatomy, Authentic Movement, and other practices that aid us in surfing the landscape of our Inner Bodies. We will meet the moment, gradually flowing into a state of Full ON embodied dancing, on your own and with others.
Dance Big and Celebrate
Shakti Andrea Smith has been guiding others into deep inner places, then outwards into celebration since leading her first meditation class on Maui in 1990. She brings Meditation and Movement together. This practice is infused by her movement research in the embodied disciplines of Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement, Dance Meditations, and Body Mind Centering. Shakti practices Massage and Movement at her office in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. See MassageandMovement.com for more information.
97 green street apt g3
the G train to greenpoint Ave, walk north on manhattan, turn left on Green. we are the cream colored warehouse on the left.
Partial Listing of PAST CLASSES:
Authentic Movement Outside: Annual Weekend Retreat, in Concord, Emerson Umbrella, MA
Authentic Movement Weekend Workshops, at Earthdance Retreat Center, MA
Authentic Movement, at the Boston Living Center for Hiv/Aids
Authentic Movement in the Afternoon, Weekly class in Park Slope, Brooklyn and at Shambhala Yoga and Dance, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Authentic Movement: Deep Listening to Body and Nature, Earthdance Moving Arts Festival
Woods Dances--Internal Movement with the Trees, Earthdance Moving Arts Festival
Contact Improvisation for Beginners, Weekend Workshop, at Earthdance and in Boston
Continued Explorations of Contact, Weekend Workshop, at Earthdance and in Boston
Contact Improvisation for Women, taught with Lisa Schmidt/Lani Nahele, Weekend Workshop, Earthdance, in Boston, and in Northampton, MA.
Contact Improvisation, 5 day series of classes, Dance New England, Portland, ME
Yoga, Weekly Class, at Earthdance and The Muscular Therapy Institute, Cambridge
Dance of the Hands, Massage and Movement Workshop, taught with Sheila Carrol at The Muscular Therapy Institute, Cambridge, for CEU credit.
MASSAGE AND MOVEMENT, with Shakti Andrea Smith, in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn