New York City Dance Classes
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Private Lessons
I am not teaching group classes at this time, and am available for private lessons only. Rate: $75/hour, or $130/2-hour lesson. Midtown studio, or your location. (Additional travel fee may apply.)
Popular lesson topics include:
Coaching for Professional Dancers and Serious Students
- Middle Eastern Belly Dance (Authentic Egyptian, Turkish, Lebanese styles)
- Contemporary Fusion Belly Dance
- Persian Dance
Take your dancing to the next step of precision, vitality, or authenticity, with careful attention to technique, musical interpretation, and nuance. Develop and refine your own choreography, or learn dances and moves from my repertoire.
Belly Dance for non-dancers and Absolute Beginners
Focus on fitness and recreation, with patient instruction that moves at your pace. Have fun while you strengthen and tone your whole body.
Alluring, Sensual Movement
Ooze femininity. From the soft and demure to the coy and kittenish to the uninhibited and bold. Learn sexy, provocative body language alongside moves from bellydance and jazz. Makeup, image, and costume consultation. For professionals (burlesque performers, exotic dancers, glamor models), curious every-day women, and the the trans community.
Act Development
For independent performing artists of all disciplines developing new work for general theater audiences. Hone creative context or "gimmicks" that frame and differentiate your unique skills. Fine tune your presentation and pacing to create professional work that commands attention and a top wage.
Testimonials
Autumn Ward is a superior dancer, easily rating among the best in the world. During the four years when I lived in Egypt, and the three years that I have studied Middle Eastern dance in the US, I have seen many highly-regarded oriental dancers and none of them have demonstrated the combination of rigorous technical skill, mesmerizing gracefulness, and emotional expression that Autumn conveys in her dance.
As a teacher, Autumn's method is systematic and technically precise. I have observed several other beginner classes, and none of them compare with the detailed and painstaking level of instruction that Autumn provides for her students. I highly recommend her as a teacher for those who are serious about building a strong foundation for their dance.
-- Moira Lee
I have not been able to find another teacher nor have I seen a dancer that really compares to you. (I still talk about your dancing to my friends and other teachers that I meet).
-- Joy Barksdale
It is a great pleasure to watch her dance--it's as though you become mesmerized by her beautiful movements--she makes it look sooo easy, it is almost deceitful.
-- Gina Petro
Autumn's teaching technique is amazingly easy to understand. I have been a fitness/movement class and workshop instructor for over a decade, and, knowing how difficult it is to teach a group of people something new, I highly recommend her classes to beginners and seasoned dancers alike.
-- Elie Cossa, Certified Fitness Professional, International Fitness Class Instructor
[She] made each class a joy to attend. My reservations about having the wrong 'body-type' and not being flexible or graceful enough quickly disappeared under her excellent instruction.
-- Stacey Williams
My experience studying belly dance with you was wonderful. You combine a rare technical expertise with a patient, sensitive, and supportive approach to achieve a level of teaching professionalism that is, in my experience, truly unparalleled in the field.
--Alison O'Neill
Thanks to your encouragement (and patience) I have an incredible appreciation and love of this dance form. Thanks always for that--you are a tremendous teacher!
-- Pamela Goodlow
I loved having you as a teacher. You are a true inspiration.
-- Christine Gleichert
Out of all of the classes and workshops I've taken, you are the queen of technique! It has been my experience that no one teaches technique as well as you do. You are the créme de la créme. It is an honor for me to say you were my teacher.
-- Michelle Chargois
You have a remarkable talent and are so very instructional--you really broke down the moves, so that you could understand where they are coming from and what you should be feeling.
-Beth Calmes, WDC
The DC area certainly misses your elegance and beautiful performances be it Persian or 'belly' dance.
-- El Naar Haninah
Studying with you over the past 2.5 years (or so!) has been personally rewarding. Thanks so much for the part you've played in my self-identity as a dancer.
-- Stephanie Poe