Professional of the Year - Dance Education

member photo coming soon

Barbara Derecktor Donahue

Title: Owner, Teacher, Performer, Community Visionary
Industry: Expressive World Dance Arts Education
Type of Organization: Expressive World Dance Arts Studio
Major Product/Service: World expressive dance arts
Expertise: Ms. Donahue has been running the Studio for 6 years. She is a Classical Ballet, Modern Dance, Middle Eastern Fusion Dance Artist. Her studio focus is World Expressive Dance Arts for all ages and levels, beginners through advanced students. Her studio offers Adult Oriental Belly Dance Fusion, the only year long Teen Tiger Lily program on the East Coast. The studio also offers: Mother and Daughter 10 - 14 workshops, Dancers Pilates classes, Cardio Belly Dance and unique studio dance and music shows in an intimate setting. New classes for different ages and levels are always beginning as word of the dance spreads. Ms. Donahue has international students from Japan, Mexico, Costa Rico, Puerto Rico and Italy. Training on the River is a tapestry of Ballet lines, Modern Dance, Belly Dance Mystique sewn together with creative fusion. Ms. Donahue's specialties are elegant technique, rhythm education, veil work, gypsy skirt, zills and choreography. Students who are ready are encouraged to create their own dances. All classes are offered for groups, private lessons, events, shows and workshops. Ms. Donahue travels to dance studios to share Belly Dance technique, musicality and expression with classical dancers. She is a rare teacher from both worlds and loves connecting them whenever she can.
Geographic Area of Distribution: National, International
Affiliations: Middle Eastern Dance Association; New England Belly Dance; World Belly Dance Day; National Dance Week; Dance Teachers On-Line; International Shimmy Mob
Spouse: Mark S. Donahue
Children: Adam S. Donahue, Jaeke M. Donahue, Izabelle Varanga D. Donahue
Published Works: Lectures on Oriental Belly Dance; Wrote poems and articles on Oriental belly dance for magazines in the U.S., Israel and London; Blog http://thedancingspirit-barbara.blogspot.com/2011/11/dancing-spirit-of-ri-says-recently-i.html