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 ACE-certified, TAHYA is a vibrant and natural dancer with over 30 years of Danse Orientale teaching and performance experience both nationally and internationally.
She offers on-going dance and frame drum classes and weekend workshop/retreats which explore multi-cultural sacred and secular dance traditions. The Tahya Technique™ "Healing Dance" program uses ancient dance traditions as a pathway to relaxation and healing. Her grounded, earthy, sensual style celebrates the beauty within and her artistry has led her to collaborations with internationally-acclaimed artists/musicians/composers including David Amram, Paul Chou, Lori Cotler, Mimi Janislawski, Paulo Mattioli, Morocco, Grant Smith, and Glen Velez. To date, her art has led to engagements throughout the U.S. continent and Hawaii, Bali and Scotland. In 2006 she succesfully passed the certification examination for ACE (American Council on Exercise) Group Fitness Instructor.
OBJECTIVE: Promote, preserve and present music and dance traditions of the Middle and Far East as a means of kindling one's creativity and the healing potential within. Utilizing drumming & dance movements "grounded"/rooted in the sacred and secular traditions of North Africa, and the Middle & Far East, the intent is to introduce these arts as accessible tools for relaxation, reconnecting with our deeper selves (and each other), increasing individual creativity and reviving one's health & well being.
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE: Recognized as the Lehigh Valley's leading authority on Eastern arts, Tahya captures the mystique of Middle and Far Eastern cultural traditions. Her artistic expression celebrates a grounded, earthy, sensual style while simultaneously building cultural awareness and dance appreciation, replacing misconceptions with informed concepts and boosting a respect for art forms steeped in antiquity.
US: CALIFORNIA - COLORADO - HAWAII - MASSACHUSETTS - NEW YORK - PENNSYLVANIA / UK: SCOTLAND
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1977-present
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Community and collegiate classes & performances ~ musicals, drama, comedy theatre |
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1977-1978
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Troupe Member, Maiat, Zem Zem, Boulder, CO |
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1981
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Troupe Member, Storm Mountain Folk Dancers, Denver, CO |
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1981-1982
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Colorado State University Opera Theatre |
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1983
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Colorado Dance Festival |
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1982-1984
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Founder, Director and Troupe Member, Raks Al Bannat, Fort Collins, CO |
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1984
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Allentown (PA) Arts Festival |
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Aladdin (formerly known as Beirut) Restaurant, Allentown, PA |
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1984-2004,
2007-Present
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MUSIKFEST, Bethlehem, PA |
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1985-Present
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Founder, Director and Troupe Member Bannat Tahya, Lehigh Valley, PA |
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1985 & 1991
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Kutztown University with the Noga Group sponsored by Human Diversity Series |
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1988-2000
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Benefit performances at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, Allentown, PA |
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1988, 1990-97
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Phoebe Nursing Home & Mountain View Manor (Nursing Home), Allentown, PA |
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1988, '93-95, '98, '00, '03
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MAYFAIR Festival of the Arts, Allentown, PA |
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1991-98
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ROSE GARDEN CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL, Bethlehem, PA |
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1991-92
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FIRST NIGHT, Bethlehem, PA |
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1991
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Binney and Smith, Inc., International Executives Conference |
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1995
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United Nations Anniversary Celebration, Luther Crest Village, Allentown, PA |
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1995
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Loveland (CO) Gallery Museum, Loveland, CO |
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1996
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Lehigh University Cultural Affairs Program, Bethlehem, PA |
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1999
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Inaugural Gala, ASAMed, New York, NY |
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2000, '01, & '02
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Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission Summer Sculpture Garden Performance Series |
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2001
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Vine Leaf Restaurant, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND, UK |
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2001
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Riverside Festival of the Arts, Easton, PA |
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2002
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"First Night" State College, PA |
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2002
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THE WATER CEREMONY, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA |
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2005
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Cable television appearance, Cape Cod, MA |
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2005-present
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Raubsville Inn, Raubsville, PA |
TEACHING EXPERIENCE: Recognized as the Lehigh Valley's leading instructor of Eastern dance, Tahya has developed a program utilizing Middle and Far Eastern cultural traditions that gently strengthens and tones muscles, improves coordination and flexibility while liberating new dimensions of self-expression. Participants in her programs express appreciation for an expansion in their imagination, creativity, individual growth and fulfillment ~ important components to recovering a personal, spiritual connection to health and well-being.
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1980-Present
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Private and group lessons in private/home studio
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1984-1988
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Pennsylvania Dance Academy, Allentown, PA
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1989, 2000, 2001
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Muhlenberg College, Dance History Guest lecture/Demonstration, Allentown, PA
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1994
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Guest Choreographer, Cedar Crest College Annual Dance Concert, Allentown, PA
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1995
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Diocese of Allentown Department of Education, Allentown, PA, Arts-in-Education Teacher In-Service: "Movement Skills Workshop" in partnership with B. Pearson
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1996-97
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Lehigh University Mini-versity course: "Creative Movement with Tahya" Bethlehem, PA
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1998
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Artist-in-Residence, East Stroudsburg High School, East Stroudsburg, PA
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1998 & 1999
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Guest artist, Northwestern Lehigh High School, New Tripoli, PA
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1999-present
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Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA
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1997-present
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National & International master class/workshops at retreats & dance associations
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2001
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NADA, Edinburgh, Scotland
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2001-2004
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Member of facilitator team, Rhythm Journey Retreats, Maui, HI
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2001-2005
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Lehigh County Senior Center, Allentown, PA
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November, 2003 & 2004
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Lehigh Valley ACS Annual Cancer Survivors Conference Workshop
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April, 2005
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Gilda's Club New York City
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2005-2007
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LA Fitness, Allentown, PA
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2005-2012
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Lehigh Valley Hospital & Health Network 'Healthy You' Programs, Allentown, PA
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2006
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Center for Health Care Education, Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA
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2011-present
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Cancer Support Community Greater Lehigh Valley, PA
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OTHER:
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1984-Present
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Member, Lehigh Valley Dance Forum
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1990-Present
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Member, Lehigh Valley Council on the Arts; sub-committee member Lehigh Valley Arts-in-Education Coalition; contributing writer to Artlinks Resource Book
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March, 2000
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Professional Development: 'The Arts & Healing' / Seminar with Gianna Volpe, Sponsored by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
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2000-Present
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Self-produced instructional DVD and three guided visualization/meditation CD's with percussive "soundscapes" provided by prominent master drummers
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2006-Present
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Hostess, World Rhythms Program WDIY.FM |
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2006-Present
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REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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