Meet Our Talented Instructors
Starr Brown
"Dance for yourself, if someone understands good. 
If not then no matter, go right on doing what you love." ~ Lois Hurst
Starr Brown has always been a creative force with her own style. Given the name Starr at birth has made her unique, and special. Starr Brown has loved to dance since she was a young child. Starr has studied different types of dance from about the age of four. Around her teen years, she realized that she had a deep passion, and talent for Hip Hop dance. She admired and rejoiced in the freedom that came with Hip Hop dance. In her teens, she began teaching Hip Hop dance to children. She continued to study under many Hip Hop choreographers which allowed her to experience different energies, and choreography. This eventually allowed her to develop her own style of Hip Hop.
She is honored and blessed to share her love of dance with others. Currently, she resides in Dutchess County, New York, where she teaches throughout the state. She has been teaching at Dutchess Community College, since 2002. Starr receives fulfillment in teaching people of all ages. She also has private contracts with different schools, special events, and organizations. She creates classes of pulsating rhythms, which allows for the release of any negative emotions that people might be feeling. Class includes fresh, smooth dance moves. Starr also combines a Hip Hop dance routine for her students to play with. Starr is a very energetic, warm, and humorous person that draws people in. She has natural ability to connect, and interact with people. Her teaching talent reaches others in a way that they can really absorb, and get the most from her class. Starr explains modifications and accommodations to students’ needs. Given the name Starr allows her to shine, be creative, empower, and enlighten all to rejoice in the spirit of dance.
“It's what I always wanted to do, to show the laughter, the fun the joy of dance." ~ Martha Graham
Sandee Brown
From a commitment to fun, safe body placement, and an intense passion for dance and yoga, yogahiphopdance.com was born. Sandee and Starr Brown are the co-creators of this vision. Sandee, M.A. in Counseling, studied dance for over 30 years is both a dancer and choreographer. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher, with formalized training from Michael Stein, owner of “Ashtanga of New Paltz”. Sandee is also a certified Pilates instructor. Currently teaching a class entitled Yoga and Pilates in Dutchess County, NY. Her students enjoy her fluid style of body-mind movement.
Feeling the freedom of movement from the age of 5 with formalized training in ballet, tap, and jazz, Sandee continued her studies through her teens and adulthood. Later adding Hip Hop and African dance to her repertoire. In adulthood, she became a gym member and fell in love with the use of weights. This love of weights encouraged her to add light weights to some of her dance routines. Thus, she is very knowledgeable in the field of body conditioning. Sandee continued teaching dance while enriching herself in the studies of Yoga and Pilates. With this unique combination of disciplines, her classes are always electric and enlightening.
Through the union of studies in eastern and western movement, Prana Pop™ Breath to the Hip and Energy to the Pop is their newest creation. Prana Pop™, Breath, Energy and Vitality, teaches you how to oxygenate the layers of the body allowing for your own fullness of meditation and creativity in physical expression. This workshop includes breathing exercises, yoga, dance moves and liberated expression by utilizing the energy in and around us.
Both Sandee and Starr are students of Shiva Rea, the innovator of 'Yoga Trance Dance' and 'Prana Vinyasa Flow'. They follow the lineage of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and his guided teaching of vinyasa krama for yoga classes.
Sandee has inspired many to follow the road of a healthy lifestyle by offering to her students many modalities of movement. She enjoys helping people change their bodies, enter the mind body experience, and adore life!
“By remaining in your power you do not become a static energy system, one that hoards energy to itself you become a stable energy system, capable of conscious acts of focus and intention. You become a magnet for those who are illumined and those who want to be.”~Gary Zukak
