Instructor Creates Confidence Through Kids' Flamenco & Tap

Natick resident Eve Agush teaches tap, flamenco and yoga to both adults and children. By Alissa Letkowski

Throughout Natick resident Eve Agush's life, dance has always been a way for her to challenge her mind and her body. Now a choreographer and instructor, Agush is giving back the gift of self-expression to her students, young and old.

Originally a tap dancer studying at the renowned Leon Collins Tap Dancer's Paradise in Brookline, it wasn't long before Agush wanted to expand her dance expertise and try her hand at a new artform—Flamenco.

"I just wanted something more. I wanted form, I wanted to learn more about movement," said Agush, whose mother encouraged her to try the Spanish dance classes. "As I grew in Flamenco, it became a natural thing for me to want to teach what I know."

Now, Agush is spreading her passion for the dance to adults and, most fondly, to children, across MetroWest.

"I love teaching adults, but there's just something really special to me about working with children. I want them to learn, I want them to memorize, but I don't expect perfection," said Agush, who teaches children's tap and adult flamenco at Sereda DanceWorks in Natick two days a week.

"Every child, at the end of the year, feels successful because they've completed the work. They have this positive experience of working in a group situation, but on an individual art form, rather than in a sport where it's all about how the whole team is doing." 

Agush spends her week traveling to different venues in the area, teaching a wide variety of classes—from Flamenco, to tap, to yoga once a month at Brown Elementary, a program that she hopes to expand to other schools in town.

In Natick, she teaches two Monday tap classes—for kids age 6 to 9 and for those 10 and older at Sereda DanceWorks. On Fridays at Sereda, she teaches an hour-long morning flamenco class for adults and home-schooled teens.

Agush also offers a weekly yoga class for veterans at the Edwards Church in Framingham, youth flamenco and tap at the Dance Complex in Cambridge and youth flamenco in Newton. 

"I think there's something lost in not being brought up with the arts, which are very individualized forms of expression," said Agush, who said she feels schools focus too much on team sports, rather than on the arts. "It's stimulating not just to your body; it's stimulating to your mind."

Agush said she hopes to gather other flamenco enthusiasts in the area to celebrate International Dance Day on April 29 with a Flamenco flash mob, possibly in Natick.

To learn more about Eve Agush and her passion for dance and yoga, visit her blog,AlwaysBDancing.blogspot.com and like the Always Be Dancing Facebook page.

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Desk Bound Yoga-Snack: Ms. Forzaglia's class:

Today's Yoga-Snack was desk bound, offering Ms. Forzaglia some in class tools to use during her very busy school days.
1. The class started seated at their desks, arms folded on the desk, heads down on the hands, eyes closed. To help them set their minds on a positive approach and outcome to anything they want in their lives. I set these intentions for the day: being more present, powerful, enthusiastic, gentle, loving, kind, fun, grateful. Each one of us is full of infinite abilities and that it is possible under any circumstances, whether you are happy, sad, hot, cold, ill, well... to achieve your intentions.
2. Sitting up, breathing in with the nose and out, stretching our arms above our heads, fingers interlaced, feeling the full length of out spines.
3. Lifting one foot: foot circles in one direction and then the other; lower leg circles in one direction and then the other. Waggle fingers. Wrist circles in one direction and then the other. Shoulder shrugs. Shoulder rolls forward and back.
4. Seated cat and cow (spinal flexion and extension)
5. Crossing one leg over the other, with the knee out to the side, this is an excellent hip opener. Pull the toes front of the leg to align the knee then lean forward, possibly pressing the knee open a bit.This may be enough or lean over more until your hands come tot he floor. Drop your chin towards your chest and breath. Put hands to the hips and sit up feeling your long spine. Switch sides.
6. Sitting sideways on the chair, to the right side. Right hand grips the top-back of the chair to pull, left hands grips the side-back of the chair to push. gently twist towards the back of the chair, keeping hips down and feet flat on the floor. The left knee might move out forward past the right. This is fine. Twists should be done with gentle energy, rest and then twist some more-always breathing. Relax twist and switch sides.
7. Standing now at the back of the chair-we did a modified chair sun salutation:
    a. Mountain pose
    b. Up mountain, let head drop back and gaze at hands; only if this feels good to your neck (breathe in)
    c. Step left foot back (breathe out) far enough to create a lunge (right knee can be as close to a right angle as comfortable). Arms up (Warrior I) (breathe in and out a few times)
    d. Step left foot forward (breathe in) and drape over chair (maybe hands on seat) for a supported forward bend (breathe out and in a few times. Breath in)
    e. Step right foot back (breathe out) far enough to create a lunge (left knee can be as close to a right angle as comfortable). Arms up (Warrior I) (breathe in and out a few times. Breathe in)
    f. Step forward (breathe out) but have feet hip width apart and be able to lean forward with hands on the back of a chair so that you create a right angle at the hips (chair downward facing dog pose) (breathe on and out a few times).
    g. Breathe in- Come up to standing- up mountain
    h. Breathe out-mountain pose.
8. Standing poses with the chair for stability: modified dancer to full dancer; tree
9. Sit once again. Head on hands folded on desk. One minute of stillness and relaxation. Remember the intentions and go forth into the day buoyed by your intentions.

Thank you and namaste!
Eve


   

Johara and Snake Dance Theater present: Into the Fire

Johara and Snake Dance Theater present:Into the Fire

A Fundraiser for Maiti Nepal and its founder, CNN Hero 2010 Anuradha Koirala, in their fight against Human Trafficking in Nepal and India.
To learn more about Maiti Nepal, visit www.maitinepal.org orwww.tabootrafficking.org/Taboo/Home.html

Into the Fire will appear in Cambridge, MA at the YMCA Theater 820 Massachusetts Avenue on Sunday March11, 2012 at 7-9pm, doors open at 6:30pm. — A Passionate Evening of Middle Eastern and Belly Dance Fusion, along with Flamenco, Salsa, and Brazilian Capoeira Featuring new choreography by Johara & Snake Dance Theater Company.The event is a fundraiser for Maiti Nepalin their fight against human trafficking and will include a silent auction.

Enjoy a colorful variety in the world of belly dance and beyond. Special Guests: Za-Beth, Ahlam Selene Dance Company, Axcent Dance Company, Eve Agush with Roberto Rios and Yvonne La Lyra, Salsa Y Control, Capoeira Brasil Boston Academy, Naraya, Lady Snake, the Middle Eastern Drum Ensemble, and more!

Tickets: $20 general admission, $25 priority seating, and  $10 children under10. $25/$30 at the door space permitting.

For tickets, information, or to donate to the silent auction

www.joharasnakedance.com

Join event on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/PressForTruthPresentsIntoTheFire#!/events/272774372776046/

The director, legally blind choreographer Johara, Juliette Cusick, has been producing dance concerts in the largely unknown genre of Middle Eastern Belly Dance in Boston area theaters since 2001. She has been featured on the covers of the Brookline and Watertown Tabs and appeared in the Boston Globe, Herald, and Phoenix for her work.  She has performed in Turkey, Greece, Brazil, and across the United States. Some highlights include: the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art, Chicago Turkish Festival, Turkish Festival at the New York’s Hyatt Regency, and Boston’s Jordan Hall.

About the cause: Though slavery is illegal everywhere, there are more slaves now than ever. An estimated 20,000 Nepalese girls are trafficked into brothels in India each year and the number is increasing rapidly. Founder Anuradha Koirala was named the 2010 CNN Hero for her groundbreaking work in intercepting and rehabilitating girls who were tricked into prostitution. In Nepal, these girls are shunned by their families and society, but Maiti Nepal—“maiti” means “a mother’s home” in Nepali—provides the shelter, medical care, and vocational training that the girls need to survive.

If you would like more information, or to schedule an interview with the producer, Juliette Cusick, please call 617-780-8890 or email: johara@joharasnakedance.com

Johara and Snake Dance Theater present: Into the Fire

Johara and Snake Dance Theater present:
Into the Fire

A Passionate Evening of Middle Eastern and Belly Dance Fusion,
along with Flamenco, Salsa, and Brazilian Capoeira Featuring new choreography by Johara & Snake Dance Theater Company
Special Guests: Za-Beth, Ahlan Selene Dance Company, Axcent Dance Company, Eve Agush, Salsa Y Control, Capoeira Brasil Boston Academy, Naraya, Lady Snake, the Middle Eastern Drum Ensemble, and more!

A Fundraiser for Maiti Nepal and its founder, CNN Hero 2010 Anuradha Koirala, in their fight against Human trafficking in Nepal and India. To learn more about Maiti Nepal, visit www.maitinepal.org or www.tabootrafficking.org/Taboo/Home.html



Sunday, March 11, 2012  7-9pm
YMCA Theater
820 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
$20 General Admission/$25 Priority Seating in Advance
Tickets at the door: $25 /$30  ($15 for children under 10)
Tickets: www.joharasnakedance.com
Information: 617-780-8890

2012 Dance Classes with Eve Agush

2012 Dance Classes with Eve Agush AdamAnt_Eve@hotmail.com

617-216-1643

www.AlwaysBDancing.blogspot.com

Mondays @ Sereda DanceWorks, 89H Washington Ave., Natick, MA.

Youth Tap Dance Level One 4:30-5:30PM (ages 10+)

Mondays @ Edwards Church, 39 Edwards Street, Framingham, MA

Veteran’s Yoga, 6:00-7:30PM (All veterans are invited to experience healing and rejuvenation through this free yoga class). Jointly sponsored by There And Back Again, Edwards and Plymouth Churches. Co-taught by Eve Agush, Sue Lynch and Lynn Stoller.

Wednesdays @ the Dance Complex, 536 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA

Youth Flamenco Level One 4:00-5:00PM  (ages 6+)

Youth Tap Dance Level Two 5:00-6:00PM (ages 10+): This is not a beginner level class; all students should have at least a year of tap dance and understand the basics of tap dance.

Thursdays @ 258 Mt. Vernon Street, Newton, MA

Youth Flamenco Level Two (ages 8+) 5:00-6:00PM

Fridays @ Sereda DanceWorks, 89H Washington Ave., Natick, MA

Adult Flamenco 10:00-11:00AM (Home schooled teenagers are welcome to this class)

Eve is also a gifted individual instructor for adults, teens and children. Contact Eve to schedule a private flamenco, tap or yoga session. Eve also presents school programs and birthday parties