Hi, I’m April Rose

I dance. I also love to play frame drum, finger cymbals, and sing.

I believe movement and rhythm are technologies that help humans access presence, connection, and liberation: tools for remembering our oneness with mother nature and the sacredness of all of life.

Known as bellydance and raqs sharqi, I teach and perform Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic, Turkish, Central and South Asian inspired fusion dances. As an Italian-American, I am a grateful guest in the M.E.N.A.H.T. dance community living in Austin, Texas on the unceded territory of the Comanche, Lipan Apache, Coahuiltecan, and Tonkawa peoples.

Studied by thoughtful and creative dancers all over the world, my particular bellydance style and Dance Cohesion format is known for elegant technical precision, incorporation of percussion, cued group improvisation, and meaningful choreography that highlights the timeless beauty and modern versatility of bellydance. I am humbled to have been invited to teach and perform in over 25 countries and I love performing for special events and celebrations.

In addition to my annual intensive trainings and weekly bellydance and frame drum classes in Austin, Texas, I am proud to offer the most comprehensive online teacher training and performance development program for aspiring and professional bellydancers, The Cohesion Collective, where I share all the best practices and behind the scenes skills needed to become a successful professional bellydancer.

I earned a master’s degree in Culture and Performance, and a bachelor’s in Dance from the University of California at Los Angeles in 2012, where I investigated bellydance history and was trained in choreographic method as well as a variety of dance disciplines.

Since my raqs sharqi studies began in 1999 with Daleela Morad in Sacramento, California I have enjoyed touring with many classic and fusion artists, including Bellydance Superstars and UNMATA.

I directed Rose Movement Studio in Austin from 2013 to 2018 where I developed a passion for hand percussion, gained valuable lessons on teaching and leadership, and made many cherished memories.

I like to take a thoughtful and playful approach to teaching dance which is shaped by my mentors and loved ones. They include my mother and studio director Ann DaPrato, my fusion dance teacher and friend Amy Sigil, the Egyptian dancers of the golden era, my raqs sharqi idol Aziza, Persian dance innovator Sharhzad Khorsandi, my yoga teacher Dixie Metz, frame drum teachers Miranda Rondeau and Marla Leigh, my graduate advisor Vic Marks, as well as friends, students, and colleagues from Rose Movement Studio and beyond.

Thank you to all the dancers who paved the way for me.

DANCE THOUGHTFULLY, DANCE PLAYFULLY,

AR

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