BALADY STYLING A LA FIFI ABDO:
Baladi - it's a people, a rhythm, a musical style and a dance style. In Arabic, the word Baladi means "my country" or "my hometown". Baladi dance is the original women's solo dance from the Middle East and therefore a precursor to and fundamental influence of Raks Sharki (belly dance).
In this workshop, you will explore Baladi styling and the roots of the dance with movements that capture the earthy elegance and laid-back simplicity of great Egyptian dancers like Fifi Abdo, Nadia Hamdi and Aida Nour.
You will walk away with steps and styling that can be immediately incorporated to develop and refine your own personal style and improve your overall dance presentation.
Get ready to bring out the Baladi in YOU!
BALADY TAQSIM: THE ART OF IMPROVISATION
Baladi Taqsim is a musical style and a formula for improvisation that pairs "salt of the earth" sensuality with artistic virtuosity.
In this workshop, you will learn to understand and interpret the improvisational nature of the Baladi Taqsim. This formulaic style of music encapsulates the very heart and soul of Arabic music with inspired melodic solos, call and response, and a paced rhythmic build that finishes in a frenzy!
You will walk away with ideas and concepts that can be immediately incorporated to develop and refine your own personal style and improve your overall dance presentation. Get ready to bring out the artist in YOU!
COMBINOGRAPHY: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN IMPROVISATION AND CHOREOGRAPHY
Setting out on the journey into the world of belly dance student are routinely presented with technique drills and choreography but are often left with significant gap in their education in regard to improvised performance and creating dance.
In COMBIN-OGRAPHY, I will share with you my unique approach to bridging the gap between improvisation and choreography. We will study elements of dance paired with steps and combinations. You will learn new moves but also deeper purpose and core concepts such as: Pacing your performance, spatial awareness, direction change, body line, level change, floor patterns, tempo change, repetition, variation and sequenced movement.
Combin-ography is your recipe for success! You will have the ingredients and spices you need to create your own delicious dance dish!
SH-SH-SH-SHIMMY!
Shake it up with shimmies of all shapes and sizes! Unlock the secrets to the shimmies of Egypt and all their vibrating variations. Class include warm-up, strengthening and dexterity exercises, technique, theory, cultural context and practical application.
