About Us

    Paul A. Zeir and Melanie Zeir have been married and working together since 1986. They have been in an ongoing research into human development and education and have created the content and methodology for Talking Hands Talking Feet.

    Talking Hands Talking Feet provides a rich and varied range of inspired education children's songs with accompanying movement and content for teachers and parents.

Talking Hands Talking Feet has worked directly in schools, camps and workshops with over 2000 children in Washington State, Colorado, New York and New Mexico. The music has found its way to children in homes and schools in Europe, Israel, England, Australia, South Africa and throughout the United States.

Paul A. Zeir grew up in the landscape of the Colorado Front Range, where he attributes much of his natural education. He learned the basics on the piano from the age of five and took up the guitar at age 12, writing songs and composing music since he discovered the gift to be able to do so. Music, the Rocky Mountains, rhythmic sports and the longing for a sense of purposeful community were his principle mentors growing up.

Paul's search for vocation always accompanied by a sense of mission began with the Institute of Cultural Affairs where he lived and worked with indigenous people in Alaska, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. He also studied at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and Colorado University in Boulder between his travels.

Talking Hands Talking Feet emerged in response to the greater need for integration of the arts in education environments as a primary influence in human development. Paul's love of people, love of humanity and sense of purpose combined with a natural versatility makes for a very bright half of the equation of Talking Hands Talking Feet. It would not be complete without the talents and presence of his long term companion and inspiration Melanie Zeir.

Melanie grew up in South Africa. The nature and way of Africa and her people was a compelling influence upon her youth. Dance, rhythm and music are heart and soul to Africa. Thus her education and training came very naturally. It is expressed in the way she engages children and grownups in movement. Passion and grace, natural intelligence and beauty inform her arts. And it transfers to others so easily!

She left South Africa at the age of 17 having received her S.A.D.T.A (South African Dancing Teachers Association) teaching qualification. She moved to Israel to teach dance along with her dance instructor and then came to America to continue to broaden her dance & theater education where she graduated in dance and movement studies at Naropa University in Boulder Colorado. She is also certified in Electrobics® Healing Movement. In Talking Hands Talking Feet she works on developing movement programs to enhance children's development.