Location: Brooklyn, New York (Park Slope)

Web Site: www.VocalMuse.com

EMail: VocalMuse@gmail.com

Joëlle Danant is a singer-songwriter, improvisational vocalist, and educator. As of recently, Joelle has been playing the Native American flute. Joëlle was formerly Chairperson of Music for People (MFP)'s Musicianship & Leadership Program (2001-03), and is a certified MFP instructor in music improvisation. She has served as retreat facilitator for the Foundation for Universal Sacred Music (2003), and instructor at the Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY (stress free series; 2004). Joëlle has also taught vocal music to youth, including classes on improvisational music, nature and eco-spirituality for the Urban Environmental Youth Corps/ YMCA of Jamaica (2006).

Joëlle has been teaching vocal improvisation -- sometimes combined with movement improvisation -- and sacred singing, for adults in the New York/New Jersey area since 1997, including for the Dance New England Summer Camp in Poland Spring, Maine (since 2006).

Joëlle has been studying and performing jazz, world music (especially Brazilian), sacred music, and integrated vocal & movement improvisation since 1994. Her original training was in classical piano for 7 years as a child. Joëlle was part of a multi-media performing group -- involving visual art, dance and music -- as improvisational vocalist, music composer, dancer, and co-creator of performances' conceptualizations (2003-04). She has been occasionally joining other musicians to offer improvisational music for communities of improvisational dancers in NYC (Barefoot Boogie) and in Poland Spring, ME (Dance New England), whereby musicians and dancers mutually inspire each other's creativity.

Joëlle currently serves as Academic Director at Pratt Institute's Center for Continuing and Professional Studies in Brooklyn, where her courses and workshops on voice & movement improvisation and sacred singing are available as part of a new course series which Joëlle conceptualized, called: "Creative Expression from the Inside Out".

Joëlle practices meditation, sacred singing/chanting, playing her
Native American flute, movement and yoga. In her teaching, Joëlle encourages:
- mindfulness in body, emotions, heart, mind and soul
- reverence for the Universal Source of All Creation
- connectedness among breath, feelings, expression, others, and all surroundings
- playfulness
- authentic, creative expression
- a sense of community
- a love of supporting one another

Joëlle creates customized sacred songs and chants for ceremonies such as weddings, birthdays, and memorial services. Joëlle has also been creating customized CD's of healing guided meditations, especially to help individuals maximize their healing potential prior, during and after surgery. Joëlle holds a Master's Degree in Intercultural & International Administration from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT. She is the author of the self-published book "Balance from Inside Out: Healing Ourselves, Our Relationships, Communities and the Earth." She is available for performances, sacred music services, ceremonies, workshops and private sessions. For more information on Joëlle's courses, workshops, and services, please contact her at VocalMuse@gmail.com.