DJ Skills for Conscious Dance Teachers
Make your music just as powerful as your teaching.
We haven’t set dates for our next course (yet!)
The quicker the waitlist fills, the sooner we’ll do another.
Join and be the first to hear about it.
You’ve already poured tons of sweat and tears into thousands of hours of training and teaching.
You know how to hold powerful space, navigate the nervous system and bring movers through rage and grief into bliss.
But you still don’t have the DJ tech skills to match.
Maybe it’s intimidating, you haven’t had time, you don’t know where to start or you’ve tried and it made things more complicated!
Whether the idea of tech skills triggers excitement, curiosity, desperation or terror — they’re likely the key to unlocking your next level of leadership.
This is a six week dive into essential and practical skills you can apply to everything you do.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
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Know Your Context
The History of DJing
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WTF do I do with these Buttons?
Navigating Your Gear
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The Basics of Mixing
Seamless transitions with No Sync
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All the Tricks you Need
Looping + Effects
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Music Theory Made Easy
Song Structure + Phrasing
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Advanced Blending
Make Your Sets Sound like BUTTAH
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Shaking it Up
Jumping BPMs + Mixing Genres
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Music Library Organization
Exactly what you need, when you need it
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Putting it All Together
Crafting Sets like a Pro
My Goals for You
Total command of the skills essential for every truly great DJ
An unshakeable sense of active connection and collaboration with your conscious dance colleagues around the world
Music prep that inspires you and gives you goosebumps
Dance floors that blow your mind every time
Participants who write you love notes for days after each dance
The ability to use not just your tracks, but also your transitions to create intentional energetic changes for your dancers
The freedom and flexibility to play what you want without getting trapped in certain genres or BPM ranges
No more sacrificing smooth transitions for the right track
No more messy transitions or train wrecks
No more accidentally dropped momentum
No more guesswork
No more insecurity
The next time someone asks if you DJ, your answer is YES.
Our Curriculum
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We kick off with an opening call to introduce the course, orient you to our course platform and get to know each other.
Each week, you’ll receive a new set of video tutorials that take you step by step through the core skills that build your DJ Essentials. You’ll use those videos on your own time, pausing as needed to put it all into practice.
Throughout the week, you’ll have 24/7 access to your community, our team and lots of support through our online platform on Circle.
We’ll host at least one weekly live Tech Office Hours lead by our tech support maestro Ziad Saab — king of holding a regulated nervous system whilst troubleshooting the impossible.
For those ready to get inspired, we’ll also host a weekly skillshare session cohosted by me + 5Rhythms teacher Nico Allen, in which everyone is invited to nerd out, trade learnings and demo their discoveries.
Every week I’ll host a Q+A covering the skills we’ve built that week, with a specific focus on how we integrate and implement those skills into our facilitation.
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A brief history of DJing (know your role!)
What most people think DJing is VS what it ACTUALLY is
Choosing the right gear *
* We’re teaching this course on Native Instruments’ Traktor product line. Their products are widely used in the conscious dance community, and the most accessible / intuitive industry-standard program out there.
While we also teach on Rekordbox/Pioneer in PhDJ, we’re keeping this program simple with Traktor.
If you’ve already been using Rekordbox/Pioneer and are interested deepening your tech skills with us in this course, shoot us an email at hello@phdj.dance — we can probably make it happen!
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Plugging everything in
Cables, connections, electricity oh my!
Navigating your Settings + Preferences
What to change and update right now
What you might want to change later
Anatomy of a setup
Orienting to your gear
Which buttons actually matter
Downloading music
Curated crate of tunes for this course
Get comfortable downloading music from the most useful platforms right away
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Playing Your First Track
Loading
Hot Cues
Basic Transitions
Finding the 1
Understanding + fixing your beat grid
Manual beat matching (no sync buttons here!)
Using Your Headphones
Includes silly footage of Tasha trying to wear headphones like a scratch DJ
Mixing with Volume
Now you’re actually DJing!
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Understand Phrasing
The 1 simple rule that applies to 95% of the music you’ll play
Transform how you think about and use music to create powerful mixes
Train your ears to know exactly when to mix in + out for maximum effect
Song Structure
Did you know it’s a formula and almost every single track you’ll play follows it?
How to use that knowledge to create incredible, impactful transitions
Application + Practice
How to leverage your knowledge of Dance Music Theory using your hardware + software to make DJing a thousand times easier than you thought
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The Art of Blending
Understanding 3-band EQ to make your mixes SMOOTH AS BUTTAH
Turn your transitions into works of art that create exactly the impact you want — whether that’s building energy, catalyzing catharsis, cultivating trance or creating more space.
Effects
How to spice up your transitions and add texture to your tracks
What you need and what you don’t
The Magic of Loops
Your secret weapon for mixing in phrase, extending edits, effortless intros and playful surprises
Jumping BPMs
How to go from 70 to 130, 120 to 150 (etc) without missing a beat
Know when you don’t actually need to beat match … and when you really should
Mixing Genres
So you wanna go Dubstep > Drum+Bass > Melodic House > Afro House > Gqom > Grime > Footwork > Hip Hop > Moombahton > Big Room?
You can!
When it’s a good idea
When it’s not
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How to approach building your library (whether you’re starting with zero music files or way too many!)
Creating the systems that allow you to find what you need, when you need it
An up-close look at Tasha’s music library and organizational system
The mindset you need to stay focused and avoid overwhelm
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Integrate EVERYTHING as you learn to build pro-level sets
Make cohesive sonic journeys that feel seamless, intentional and intelligent while creating massive impact for your dancers
Bonuses
Now that you’re nailing your core skills and playing like a pro, what’s next?
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A complete archive of Q+As to our most common questions including topics like Laptop & Software Setup, Music Library Management, Controllers & Hardware, Settings & Performance, Workflow & Navigation, Troubleshooting, Mixing and more.
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All the jargon you need to know as you navigate the wild world of DJing, including terms related to music, mixing, gear and club culture
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From pre-1900 to today, diver deeper into the full timeline of dance music’s biggest players and innovations, complete with next steps and resources to learn even more.
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Keep the evolution going with creative exercises that stretch your repertoire and skills.
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Once you’ve mastered the essentials, take your sets to a whole new level by MIXING IN KEY to create harmonic blends. Create intentional emotional shifts, gorgeous remixes, euphoric rises and fun mashups simply and easily without complicated music theory.
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Booked your first gig? Not sure how to prepare or what you’ve gotten yourself into? This guide covers how to work with other DJs and prepare for multiple kinds of real-world scenarios and sets.
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From our epic PhDJ community: an in-depth guide with everything you need to know when it comes to playing out, including questions to ask in advance, tech and hospitality riders, navigating different kinds of setups and even setting up your own!
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How deep does the rabbit hole go? Explore free resources from Tasha’s favorite DJs, teachers and content creators to unlock more practical, creative and career-building tools.
What It Looks Like
Weekly Step-By-Step Video Tutorials
In-depth videos will break down your DJ essentials into bite sized, manageable parts that build into a full skillset
24/7 Online Community Platform + Tech Support
Our online platform Circle hosts all your course materials and resources
It’s also where we converge as a community throughout the week for questions, support, celebration, curiosity and connection!
Weekly Live Q+A Calls with Tasha
Timing TBA
Weekly Live Tech Office Hours with Ziad Saab
Timing TBA
Weekly Creative Community Mastermind with Tasha + Nico Allen
Timing TBA
Access to the Epic PhDJ Music Library
And the opportunity to participate in our music share program ongoing
Support + Connection with Your Brilliant Colleagues
This might be the best part :)
About Your Guide
Hey! I’m Tasha.
Dancing saved my life in 2007, I found the world of conscious dance through 5Rhythms in 2009 and jumped on the teacher training path.
I never imagined I would become a DJ.
DJs were gods to me. Spotlights chose them.
I was a barefoot dancer in the dark who hoped to someday teach movement.
When several of my friends suggested I learn to DJ, it didn’t compute. I wasn’t good with tech. I didn’t own a single vinyl record. I wasn’t a dude.
My then-boyfriend traded some old gear for a Traktor DJ controller, brought it home and put it in my lap.
I froze. There were so many buttons. I didn’t know how to do this.
I wanted to exit my skin.
And I knew enough to know that feeling meant this mattered.
Deep breaths and shaky hands, I leaned in.
It was like learning to drive a car. Totally overwhelming at first, then one step at a time till you’re on the highway. Once I threw it into fifth gear, I realized I could actually do this.
It’s vulnerable to want something that’s not guaranteed.
But I couldn't un-feel the risk my body wanted, and decided to quit saying no to love.
More than a decade later, I’ve played and produced some of the wildest dances on earth. Every photo on this page is us.
From big clubs to barefoot somatic journeys, the skills I’m sharing in this course are the foundation for all of it.
And after more than three years running PhDJ (an 8-month holistic + intensive DJ initiation that integrates everything I learned along the way), I decided to make something for you.
YOU: Who’s already done your ten thousand hours and spent probably at least that many dollars on trainings.
YOU: Who’s already full-on with teaching and doesn’t have or need 8 months of a whole other thing.
YOU: Who’s been making it work with music, but doesn’t feel nearly as confident on the decks as you do in your embodiment.
I want you to know the tech piece doesn’t have to be a struggle. And unlocking it will open new worlds for your leadership, artistry and impact.
MEET THE TEAM
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Tasha Blank
Lead Teacher
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Ziad Saab
Tech Support
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Yuri Chu Su
Operations
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Nico Allen
Co-Facilitator
FAQ
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Trained Movement Facilitators of practices like:
5Rhythms
Soul Motion
Azul
The 360 Emergence
Movement Medicine
Ecstatic Dance
Open Floor
Biodanza
Trance Dance
ETC
Somatically trained, nervous system educated practitioners who want to learn to DJ
That’s it! This is a specialized training for those who’ve been doing this work to fill in their skills gaps fully and connect with their colleagues in a fun, supportive, loving environment.
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We’re teaching this course on Native Instruments’ Traktor products because they’re the simplest and most intuitive industry-standard gear. This means they’re high quality and can do everything you need — and they’re accessible for those of us who are less than tech savvy.
A Traktor S2 is a great place to start and the controller I’ll be using to demonstrate the concepts in this course. If you want to step it up with the Traktor S3, you can do that as well.
If you’re currently using the Traktor X1 and/or Z1, you can navigate the course with those, but I do love the S2 for it’s portability combined with functionality.
For speakers, you can get away without these for a while, but they’re extremely useful to have for your practice sessions and recording.The highest quality you’ll need are the KRK Powered Studio Monitors. A less expensive option are Pioneer’s DM 40-Ds. You can also find less expensive ones online. Be sure to get 2!
Lastly, if you don't already have a pair of headphones you like using, we recommend the Sennheiser’s HD 25. -
All timing is TBA.
But if you can’t make calls live, there will always be a recording.
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We won’t let that happen. After nearly four years running live DJ courses, I’ve learned so much about how different folks learn, and what different learning styles and aptitudes need to succeed.
All of this is integrated into how I teach and how we’ve structured this course.
I’ve had students who were allergic to tech, got unlucky with computer issues, or hit points where they felt like they’d never get it — and every single one who didn’t give up made it through with flying colors, surprising and delighting themselves in the process.
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If you’re already well-versed in Rekordbox or Serato, it’s unlikely you need this course.
But if like many conscious dance teachers, you’ve been stuck using Algoriddim djay Pro or VirtualDJ - this course is an invitation to step into more fluency and deeper command of your music.
I’ve designed everything to be completely accessible to folks just getting to know Traktor, building your skillset step by step from the ground up.
If there was ever a time to upgrade your DJ setup, this is it.
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I designed this course for folks who are already at least semi-hacking it on the decks.
You’ve probably got a setup and may have been playing tracks for years!
We start from square one and don’t skip a single step because:
1) You may be using non-industry standard software like Algoriddim djay Pro or VirtualDJ and switching to Traktor for the first time
2) You may have accidentally skipped some basics as you were learning on your own or piecing together random YouTube tutorials
3) You may have picked up some less than helpful habits from other DJ courses, and I want to make sure you’re not making your life harder by doing the wrong things.
Now, all my past students will attest that I’m rarely a right/wrong thinker. Once you move into the truly advanced and creative aspects of DJing, there’s no right or wrong.
But when it comes to your essentials, there absolutely is.
And getting them right will make your life SO much easier.
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What should you do it you’re a trained embodied facilitator and you’ve been considering PhDJ, but this course also feels like a great fit?
You don’t have to choose!
Doing this course first will set you up with such a solid foundation from which to begin PhDJ, that we’re excited to empower anyone from this course who decides to join PhDJ by applying your DJ Skills tuition to PhDJ.
So there’s nothing to lose if you decide to do both.
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I (Tasha) will be your primary teacher. The video tutorials that provide the foundation of your learning are 100% taught by me.
I’ll also lead our Saturday Q+A calls, in which we’ll actively integrate the lessons from the videos into your practice as a DJ and facilitator.
We’ll also host a weekly live creative group mastermind with me + Nico Allen. We LOVE to nerd out together on new creative discoveries, and you’re invited to jump into our nerdfest :)
Throughout the training, I’ll also be assisted by PhDJ rockstar graduate and tech maestro Ziad Saab.
If you’ve got a tech issue during our course, you’ve got a grounded and present tech whiz on your side.
Ziad came to PhDJ as both a software engineer and engineering teacher who’d been running his own software engineering school for many years.
It was no surprise when he caught onto DJing right away and quickly became a tech resource for his classmates.
I brought Ziad onto our team because of his innate ability to figure out seemingly insurmountable tech problems AND because he maintains a very regulated nervous system in the process!
If you’re one of those folks who get freaked out by tech issues, not only will Ziad help you fix them - he’ll model a new approach
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You’ve got access to these materials (tutorials, replays and all resources) as long as there’s an internet to host them, so you can return to them again and again as you evolve and deepen your skills.
We do recommend attending as many of the live sessions that interest you + you’re able, since this will be a special opportunity to connect with the global conscious dance leadership community.
There will always be recordings of all our live Q+A sessions and tech office hours for anything you need to miss, and you’ll keep ongoing access to those as well.
You’ll also have 24/7 access to the community through our course platform on Circle during our time together. This is a perfect place for those who can’t make live calls (and everyone else!) to share wins, ask questions, get support and connect with each other.
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Yes!
That said, there will be lots of space for emergence as a community around how we talk about it.
I’m here to make sure you’ve got your essentials DOWN and feel super confident using them to explore new creative possibilities.
You’ll also be in a container with many incredible colleagues.
Since it’s rare that we get to come together in this way, refine our skills and be inspired by each other, you’ll also have lots of time and space to mastermind, explore and share your creative breakthroughs, ideas, tricks and learnings.
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Great! Email us at hello@phdj.dance.
