Kizomba, Urbankiz & Tarraxo Instructor in Amsterdam
International workshops ā¢ Movement Lab creator ā¢ Private lessons
About Phiiaz
The instructor behind the movement
Mahmoud Fayyaz
Known as Phiiaz
I'm Mahmoud Fayyaz ā known in the Amsterdam dance community as Phiiaz. I've spent over 11 years immersed in African-influenced partner dances.
My focus is on three deeply connected dance styles: Kizomba, Urbankiz, and Tarraxo. Each has its own language ā Kizomba's grounded connection, Urbankiz's contemporary flair, and Tarraxo's slow, meditative groove ā and I love helping students discover what resonates with them personally.
My teaching philosophy is simple: I am a nerd when it comes to the details, In my prevous life as a software engineer I learned the importance of clean code and efficient algorithms, and I bring that same mindset to my dance teaching. I believe in breaking down complex movements into simple, understandable steps, and helping students build a strong foundation that they can use to develop their own unique style.
I run regular classes as Tarraxo Toolbox, intensives, and the Tarraxo Movement lab workshop series at Haven Amsterdam ā one of the city's most vibrant cultural venues. My events bring together dancers of all levels in a warm, inclusive atmosphere where curiosity is always welcome.
Upcoming Events
Join me at these exciting dance events and workshops
Tarraxo Tuesdays ā July 2026
The Tuesday evening program is changing. As of July, it runs as two classes back-to-back ā with social dancing between them. Same evening. Same studio. Two different ways in. TARRAXO TOOLBOX Ā· 19:00ā20:15 The concept class. July theme: The Conversation. Tarraxo is a dialogue between two bodies. This month we go into the mechanics of that dialogue ā what it means to offer something and receive it, what listening actually feels like in the body, how to create space and fill it, and why the pause is not the gap between movements but the movement itself. Four Tuesdays, four ideas. Each class builds on the last. Jul 7 ā Offer & Receive Ā· Jul 14 ā Listening Ā· Jul 21 ā Call & Response Ā· Jul 28 ā Silence Intermediate level. Some Tarraxo or Kizomba experience assumed. āā LA PAUSA Ā· 20:15ā20:45 30 minutes of free social dancing between the two classes. If you did Toolbox, this is where you try what you just worked on. If you're arriving for Practical, this is your warm-up. āā PRACTICAL TARRAXO Ā· 20:45ā22:00 The social floor class. July theme: No Saida. The figure, its variations, how to chain them, and how to make them feel like a choice instead of a sequence you're trying to remember. Tarraxo or Kizomba background helpful. No heavy theory required. āā Come for one class or stay for both. 4 Tuesdays Ā· Haven Studio Ā· Hendrik van Wijnstraat 10, Amsterdam Jul 7 Ā· Jul 14 Ā· Jul 21 Ā· Jul 28 Tarraxo Toolbox only ā ā¬45/month Ā· Practical Tarraxo only ā ā¬45/month Ā· Both classes ā ā¬80/month
THE DIALS ā Tarraxo Toolbox Ā· June 2026
In Tarraxo, what you move matters less than how you move it. This month we work on the controls ā the qualities that change what a move says without changing the move itself. Four weeks, four dials: Week 1 ā Medium of Motion: The same step feels completely different depending on whether you're moving through air, water, or honey. We start here. Week 2 ā Magnitude: How big or small is your movement? Most dancers have one default. This week we find it and learn to leave it. Week 3 ā Flow: Staccato or legato ā punctuated or continuous. The difference between a dance that has tension and one that just keeps going. Week 4 ā Tempo: You've worked with this one before. This week it joins the other three and we play the full panel. Intermediate level ā some Tarraxo or Kizomba experience assumed. š Haven Studio, Hendrik van Wijnstraat 10, Amsterdam. š Every Tuesday in June Ā· 20:00ā21:15. š¶ ā¬45 for the full series or ā¬15 drop-in.
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Questions? Email me at me@phiiaz.com
āReally like the safe space that you created for me and the level of depth in our conversation about the topics where I can achieve more growth. You di...ā
āReally like the safe space that you created for me and the level of depth in our conversation about the topics where I can achieve more growth. You did that with sincere questions and you're open, energetisch & authentic personality. It felt safe to be vulnerable and that is something beautiful in a session and a must for real growth. You focus on me as a dancer and what I need as a person to get more confidence in my dancing. Your preparation was on point with the topics I indicated in advance of the session. I noticed that you put some work in the preparation, that really felt professional and that you take the session seriously. And there was a nice balance between conversation and dancing. Your feedback and tips are really helpful and dosed so that it is not overwhelming. They are practical, so that I can take them with me to practice more after the session. You have a positive and realistic approach. So I'm really grateful for the time and energy that you put in the session and al the feedback and your thoughts that I received from you, the beautiful conversations and the dances!!ā
Tamara
Kizomba Private Lesson