Marilyn's House of Rhythm & Dance

With 20 years’ expertise empowering people through music and movement, Marilyn Hatfield aims to share the magic
and joy of rhythm and dance with all. Well versed in myriad world drumming and dance styles, Marilyn is also the
creator of RhythmDance, an upbeat, contemporary dance fusion energy boost with global appeal, featuring elements of
Flamenco, west African, Belly, Hip Hop, Modern, Congolese, Samba and more.

Marilyn began dancing at a young age, putting on spectacular dance performances for family and friends soon after learning to walk. At the age of 8 she enrolled in Jazz, Tap and Ballet and showed a penchant for executing moves remembering choreography. It was 1994 when Marilyn first took a west African dance course in college, and her life changed for the better. That class, with its live drumming and traditional tribal dance, inspired her to buy a djembe and hitchhike to California to immerse herself in west African music and dance. From there she went on to continue her music and dance pursuits throughout west Africa, immersed in the culture exuding that potent music and movement. With a passion to share this love and joy of west African music and dance, she continued learning and began performing and teaching widely throughout the western US and Canada.

Also a drum instructor, dance teacher and choreographer, Marilyn has successfully served as founding director, choreographer, lead dancer and lead female drummer of several drum and dance ensembles, including: RhythmDance; the Afro Stylie Percussive Dance Experience, the Afreaks, YOMA's; Nyokabok, and Wara Foli among others, performing widely in California, the western US, AB and BC at festivals like: Whole Earth Festival (Davis, CA); Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (CALIF); War Child (Nelson, BC); Canmore Children's Festival (Canmore, AB); Market Fest (Nelson, BC); Shambhala Music Festival (Salmo, BC); Kelowna Life and Arts Festival among many more. As well, she has performed (drums and vocals) live on radio stations: KVMR FM (Nevada City, CA ) Radio Tamba (Tambacounda, Senega, west Africa) and CJLY (Nelson, BC).

Offering private and group lessons in varied drumming and world dance styles, Marilyn's House of Rhythm and Dance has something for the novice to the expert.

All group classes are taught in six week sessions (i.e., one class weekly for six consecutive weeks). This fall's group drumming is a djembe course called Drumming From the Heart, and the class is for beginners and will be on Thursdays 7PM, beginning Sept. 25
Group drumming is shown to boost the immune system!

The current group dance is RhythmDance fusion, and the class is on Wednesdays 6:30PM, beginning Sept. 24. RhythmDance is an upbeat, contemporary fusion of many dance styles including west African, Congolese, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Flamenco, Belly, Tap and more. The class is accompanied by live drumming. In this class we dance while waving scarves, carrying canes and beating drums. This class is very empowering and uplifting and a great way to get/stay in shape.

All dance classes are for beginner to advanced students. All drums/sticks/props provided.

Also, we offer private, one-on-one lessons in djembe, dundun, drum kit, fusion dance and traditional west African dance. The first 1/2 hour is FREE with a one hour booking, with no obligation. Please feel free to phone me at the number below to book your first hour. Private lesson times book quickly come September, so call now to reserve your spot.

I am also available for private group lessons. If you get a group of folks (min. 6) interested in participating in a 6 week drumming course, you will receive the course for 20% discount. My 6 week courses (one class per week), drums provided, cost $55.

No experience necessary!