Shara's Bio


Shara Claire, founder of FindingRhythm, is a hand-drumming instructor, drum circle facilitator, corporate speaker/presenter, performer, and expressive arts therapist. She has been studying music since her young childhood in British Columbia, and has studied multi-cultural hand-drumming and percussion since 1998. Some of her teachers include Christopher Bertin, Arthur Hull, Ubaka Hill, Famoudou Konate, Afia Walking Tree, members of the late Babatunde Olatunji's ensemble, and Steve Mancuso. Having moved east in 2002 to train as an expressive arts therapist at ISIS-Canada, Shara now offers regular classes, workshops & private lessons in the Toronto area, provides percussion for local dance & yoga classes and facilitates rhythmic experiences for staff training days, corporate events, family gatherings, festivals, camps and conventions. She balances tradition and experimentation, and always aspires to build rhythm-based community at her events. Shara does rhythm work with toddlers, elders, and everyone in between. She is a gently directive facilitator who believes in everyone's rhythmic capabilities. Shara's textured artistic background in dance, creative writing, improv theatre, piano and arts-based psychotherapy all influence her work with rhythm and people. She has practiced yoga and meditation since 1997, and is trained as a certified bodyworker.