Meet Valarina

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Valarina (Valerie Rushmere): The owner of Studio 1831 and founder/artistic director of The Shake Charmers Dance Company, Valarina is renown for teaching and performing throughout the Philadelphia area. She has studied in New York and in Egypt and has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad.

She's a regular performer at The Casablanca Restaurant in Wilmington, DE, and The Marrakesh Restaurant in Philadelphia, PA. Valarina has taught at The University of the Arts and currently teaches at Temple University and Studio 1831.

Learn the secrets of dynamic zill techniques from Valarina, whose musicality, dazzling speed, and mastery of complex rhythms has impressed audiences for more than two decades. Learn to dance with finger cymbals as easily as walking and talking at the same time! Learn the basic techniques for playing zills, including how to recognize, play, and improvise with common Middle Eastern rhythms. Learn various zill strikes that will enhance your ability to highlight the music. Bring your own zills or purchase zills at the workshop. Part I will cover rhythms and techniques and part II will cover dancing with zills.

As an added bonus, Valarina will teach a brief session on Floorwork.