Welcome to Wassa Dance

join us in the heart of rhythm

Wassa Dance is a lively accessible mix of traditional and contemporary poly-rhythmic movement. Inspired by the elemental roots of music and styles from Africa and the Americas, this class is suited to all levels of bare foot movement enthusiasts.

This unique Afro-infused dance class melds elemental movement and music in a joyful mix.

• The choreography is deceptively simple.
• New students can pick it up with ease.
• Experienced dancers find new challenges and unexpected depths.
• Dancers range in age from well tended children to wily septuagenarians.
• Drop-in dancers are always welcome!
  

"Each class with Wassa is a welcome surprise;
there is always something new, unexpected,
and deeper to work and play with." - Jenny E.

WASSA DANCE from a participant perspective:
"Lara McIntosh is one of Seattle’s best kept secrets. The people who dance with her and the musicians who play for her classes have an allegiance to her vision that’s unparalleled in the region. If you can imagine an ethnomusicologist partnering with a finger-on-the-pulse choreographer who believes that in everyone exists the joy of dancing, then you can imagine Wassa Dance. Lara eats/drinks/sleeps the music of Africa and the continent’s widely tossed musical net. Mali meets Paris meets Rio meets the Dominican Republic meets the streets of Philadelphia in a one hour class. And while you’re seduced by the beat she carefully makes you aware of your own body’s structure and capacity for movement. In words and actions she teaches what is true and perhaps invisible to you in the music that compels you to move. She’s a consummate teacher, decades into her musical/choreographic work and she really knows her stuff. She’s the real deal.

So if you have always wanted to connect the rhythmic beat blasting your way from KBCS or KEXP or Pandora to that itch to dance, Wassa Dance is your answer. I’m 10 years into dancing with Lara and can’t begin to describe the benefit to me personally. My music library alone owes its diversity to her. If you’re hearing a tune that grabs you as I’m writing this, you can bet she’s already heard it and pulled it into her class repertoire. No question, Lara McIntosh and Wassa Dance is the class you’ve been waiting for."

-Mary Ann Peters, artist 2009