dance & percussion of the Middle East

Finding soul in skill with freedom

Ah, there you are. Welcome, I'm so glad you're here.

Dancing like this with finger cymbals makes us whole.

With a vast and subtle palette of movement and rhythm, full of spirit and creative pleasure, it makes our hearts more open to the world. It can be as simple as the sound of our own feet walking - tik-tik-tik, like that.

Playful simplicity takes us straight to the childlike heart, and in this state of play we discover the fantastic complexities. These ancient arts have deep wells, so there is always room to go deeper.

Here is a place where you can learn to play with this intricate, layered movement & cymbalism, and

become more skilled

Where you can be so in-the-moment that you forget to think about whether you're skilled or not, and

love it and make it your own

Where you can merge wholeheartedly into this music and dance, and

become more yourself

When we do this, everything comes from the spirit, more lushly expressive than any skill we could ever learn to do. Then, instead of reciting the alphabet, we find fresh poetry bubbling out of us, mixed with laughter. It is the richest, sweetest freedom, and it is one that you can taste at any point in your journey - even at the beginning.

This is the heart of Oyna.

Come on in. You're home!

Jenna Woods

Author, The Dancing Cymbalist

Spiritual work is serious, but it is not solemn.
- Adnan Sarhan, Sufi Master