News from Rhythm & Motion Dance Program

Amara Tabor-Smith: The Joy of Infinite Possibility
By Staci Boden

Inspirational. Gracious. Intense. Booty positive. Amara Tabor-Smith's teaching has connected students with the healing power of dance at Rhythm & Motion for the past 25 years.

Amara's relationship with Rhythm & Motion Dance Workout began in 1984 when Amara took an R&M class taught by Founder Consuelo Faust. Consuelo says, "Amara grabbed me with the same quality we see in her today: an amazing connection to music and movement that transmits joy through dancing. I remember thinking how I'd love to see her teaching with us."

Soon after, Amara joined Rhythm & Motion. Over the next 25 years Amara lived in the Bay Area and New York, teaching R&M classes while growing her dance career. In a recent interview, Amara reflected on her relationship with Rhythm & Motion.

Wherever you've lived, Rhythm & Motion has been a constant in your life. What keeps you at R&M?

The emphasis on the joy of dance as opposed to technique. I want people to come to this class and have an experience that makes them FEEL better. So that it's not about what it looks like but how it feels.

Over the years, I've watched students who are going through some really serious stuff come to my class. And it's like Yes, just keep coming. Just keep doing this because it's healing. I'm committed to that. That's why I do this. Dance is healing.

What is your favorite memory of R&M?

There are classes where the energy is through the roof. People are so in it that it looks like they've gone into an altered state. To feel like I get to be a part of that is a blessing. There was one class where a student who is more internal actually came up and was bumping and grinding with me. Later, she said, 'I'll probably never do that again.' I said, 'Please don't say that!' It was beautiful because she got swept up in the moment. And I was like YEAH, MORE!

I've also had those kinds of ecstatic experiences as an R&M student.

To me, you have to have a place where you can just let go. Where nobody's going to judge you as crazy because everybody in the room is as crazy as you are. And that's a beautiful thing. It's why I tell students who come for the first time, "You will be lost. It's exactly where you should be coming here for the very first time. That's not a problem. Have fun being lost."

It's my intention that people know that they are in a safe space to let it loose and also they are in a safe space to NOT let it loose. Come as you are.

Twenty-five years is a long relationship. How does R&M sustain you?

It's great for my own stamina and strength. It's why I continue to be able to dance with the power that I have. Also, the joy I get out of teaching. And the community--these are folks I know. People really feel that they make connections with each other.

Every day I come in, I come in new. I'm open to what that new day and that new experience has to teach me and hopefully teach others. I want to learn more about my teaching through my teaching. The students give me that.

Amara Tabor-Smith teaches Fusion Rhythms Tues/Thurs at 8:30am, Fridays at 10:00am (Extended) and Saturdays at 9:00am at the ODC Commons. Additionally, Amara's dance company, Deep Waters Dance Theater, will be presenting a work in progress piece entitled Our Daily Bread as part of Amara's artist in residency culmination at CounterPULSE March 5-7th, 2009. For tickets contact www.brownpapertickets.com.

Staci Boden has been enjoying R&M dance since 1985 and is Editor of R&M's e-newsletter. Staci is Founder of Dancing-Tree Consulting, a resource for individuals, groups and organizations to realize potential in life and business. With services ranging from individual coaching and guided visualization to group facilitation and on-going business support, Dancing-Tree Consulting helps clients transform projects, decisions and relationships.