2009 photo by AustinImagesPhotography

At age 10, Toha (Sarah Jones-Larson) made her stage debut in New York’s Lincoln Center performing Classical Spanish Dance with New York’s Philharmonic Orchestra. Already adept on the castanets at age 12, she appeared in The Philadelphia Opera Company’s Carmen with Robert Merrill and Joanna Simon. Sarah has spent her life pursuing a love for teaching others and performing.

Teaching Skills

As a university faculty member in Arabic Dance, Toha was rated above the 99th percentile by the University of Minnesota Office of Measurement Services for her teaching skills (read testimonials). She has taught literally thousands of very popular and well-attended dance classes and has given instruction at a wide variety of venues across the U.S. and around the world.

Currently a popular bellydance teacher at the Cassandra School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she is also a member of the professional belly dance touring group Jawaahir Dance Company and has danced with the Habiba Dance Ensemble in Philadelphia.

Mideastern Dance

Sarah joined the Jawaahir Dance Company in 1994, which inspired her to immerse more deeply in Arabic music and culture. In 1999, she completed two years of Arabic at the University of Minnesota, then spent two months traveling alone in the Arab world to practice her language skills.

In 2001, with Cassandra and other members of Jawaahir, Toha performed at the Second International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance in Costa Mesa, California. Later that summer, she made her Arabic singing debut with the Georges Lammam Ensemble in "Orientalia" in Minneapolis.

Toha is known for her grace, compelling taxims, and excellent technique, and is an expert on the finger cymbals. Arab audiences say she has the correct feeling for belly dance music.

Other Forms of Dance

Sarah danced with Philadelphia’s Ballet Des Jeunes for five years, performing ballet, jazz, and Spanish dance throughout the New Jersey and Philadelphia area, with semiannual European tours.

At age 15, she joined Ecos De Espana in New York City, performing Classical Spanish, Escuela Bolero, Jota, Flamenco, and folk dances of Puerto Rico. She performed as a Flamenco soloist at The Sangria in Greenwich Village on weekends, and after completing high school in New Jersey, moved to Manhattan to pursue a career in dance full time.

Later, she danced with the ACT Studio Dancers in Denver, Colorado, and in Minneapolis has performed with Zorongo Flamenco and Theatre De La Jeune Lune.

Travel and related teaching

She has taught stage makeup for Oriental dancers for the Guild of Oriental Dance, at Oasis Dance Camp, regional workshops, and for individuals since 1994.

In trips to the mideast, she has brought back costumes and products for dance students. She has presented dozens of educational talks on mideast family culture to schools and non-profit organizations.

Voiceover for Radio and Television

"Sarah's very loyal following for her belly dance classes extended across several cities. Her warm personality makes everyone feel at ease and her students definitely have fun!   "Her teaching style is both professional and easy-going. Many of her students continued through several levels.   "I highly recommend hiring and working with Sarah! She was thorough when planning upcoming classes or administering current ones, and easy to work with." - Allyson Rudy Adult Programs Planner, Minnesota, District 112 · allyson_rudy @ yahoo.com

Outside of dance, Toha (under her birth name, Sarah Jones) is in demand as a voiceover performer and voiceover coach. She has provided the voice on hundreds of commercials, training videos, telephone systems, and computer games for companies as diverse as 3m, GM and the Mayo Clinic and United Way

Radio Personality and Actress

She has also worked as a radio announcer in New York, Philadelphia, Denver, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Her accomplishments in radio are detailed at voiceresults.com. Also, as an actress, she has performed on-camera or live for Comedy Central, 3M Medical, AMC Jeep, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and others.

Community Involvement

Her community involvement has led her to present dozens of educational talks on Mideast family culture to schools and non-profit organizations. Additionally, she co-founded New Reality Delivery for disadvantaged youth (with her husband) to teach group skills to adult volunteers, theater skills to youth, and provide targeted theater services for disadvantaged youth. She is also a volunteer and Sunday School teacher for her church.

Q: What did the teacher do that most helped your learning? (Survey results) Student comments:

• Sarah was VERY attuned to her students' needs -- one of the best professors I've had yet! She always made sure to ask if anyone had questions, and sent out emails with reminders, directions and additional resources.
• Sarah was very good at getting everyone excited and interested in the subject. My skills have greatly improved. She was always happy and willing to help if there were any problems. The environment was inspirational and fun and I intend on continuing my exploration of the dance. The class was highly enjoyable and I am very glad I took it!
• I would strongly recommend Sarah as an instructor. She made learning Arabic Dance easy, fun and enjoyable. She broke down the dance steps in a very understandable way, and then taught us how to add more fluidity and style.
• Sarah has an amazing variety of teaching methods. I especially loved saying the funny sentences out loud to help learn the different rhythms!
• Sarah was a very thoughtful and experienced instructor who took the time to help every student individually. She often asked for feedback as to how effective her explanations were and if we could see and hear her clearly. She took the time to individually go over my movements with me and show where I could improve. It was always fun to attend every class, and I would love to take another class with her anytime!
• She made it fun, and was very positive and patient. Always smiling. I very much enjoyed her class. She had much information about various cultures where this dance is prevalent as well.
• She was a wonderful teacher. She demonstrated all the moves, helped us whenever we needed and would do moves along with us to help. I enjoyed the class and it was tons of fun. Sarah made the class fun and interesting.
• She paused and carefully showed us the dance moves multiple times. She also explained where each move was from and explained why it was the way it was.
• She had many different ways of explaining moves for all different types of learners. She was great! Very understanding, friendly and approachable. Provided lots of ways to make up classes.
• Sarah made it clear it was NEVER a problem to ask questions and was VERY respectful and always full of energy!
• Awesome instructor!! Would recommend her to everyone! Great experience with class! Helpful feedback, clear instructions.
• She gave me personal attention and pointed out little things I could work on.
• Sarah created a great learning environment. I loved this class! Very fun. The live music helped me learn, and the different ways of counting the steps out loud was good.
• She showed, explained, directed and was fun, funny and informative!
• She was great. She was willing to listen and re-explain things. She's a very good dancer.
• Sarah made it a fun class!! I loved Arabic Dance with her!
• I enjoyed the classes and learned many things other than dance.
• She paused whenever we needed it to explain more. I had a lot of fun!

*As reported by the University of Minnesota Office of Measurement Services
with student questionnaires** totaled by giving answers the following values:

**Highest and lowest values removed

"Highly competent, inspirational, wise, and compassionate, Sarah encourages and challenges students across all levels. She is a master teacher.

  "She creates a safe and fun learning environment with humor and humility, and draws usefully on her experience presenting seminars nation-wide, developing fit-dance in fitness centers, instructing professional dancers and maintaining a demanding rehearsal and performance schedule.

  "Her lifelong classical and ethnic and dance training and her knowledge of alignment and fitness principles gives her teaching the grounding, inter-cultural zest and style dancers are seeking these days, from beginner to advanced, fitness-dancer to professional.

  "I value her work very highly for students of every level. Please contact me should you need more specific detail on her work."

- Karma Carpenter
LICSW, RYT · Professional yoga teacher, dance therapist · 971.241.7011

Getting the next generation started in Oriental Dance!