1001 Nights Workshops with Liz Strong & Devi Mamak
November 17-20th
Workshop Schedule:
Thursday: 6:30-9pm
OLD SCHOOL TRIBAL COMBINATIONS. with Devi Mamak- Thursday Night 6:30-9pm
Inspired by Bal Anat, Hahbi Ru, and the Ghawazi dancers of Egypt Devi will use her knowledge of folkloric steps passed down to her from her first teacher Kaiya Seaton and her knowledge and passion for Tribal style Bellydance. These original combinations created by Devi will have the raw and grounded nature of folkloric dance coupled with the elegant grace of tribal style belly dance which you can inject into your next show stopper!
Friday:
6-8pm Upper Egyptian Survey and Choreography "Tfarag" with Liz Strong
The Egyptian region along the Nile south of Cairo is known as Upper Egypt and has a rich tradition of music and dance. This workshop will cover important cultural background and traditional movements from this region. With a focus on choreography to a favorite Saiidi song “Tfarag”. This workshop is a great way to learn about culture while joyfully dancing!
-Handout will be provided.
8-9:30pm ARMS FROM THE HEART- Devi is well known for her graceful yet powerful arm movements world wide. In this work shop Devi will share with you her method of mastering strong and graceful arm lines. Starting from your core, we will look at using your larger and smaller muscle groups to create meaning and intention in your arm movements at each moment right through from the centre of your body to your finger tips. She will then take you through a series of arm exercises, drills and movements to get you started which can then be used for performance.This workshop is suitable for the tribal dancer looking to improve on her upper body technique or the oriental dancer wanting a more stylistic range of motion.
Saturday:
9:30am-12pm NEW TRIBAL & FUSION COMBOS. with Devi Mamak
Come & learn some exciting new combos [Aussie style!] suitable for both Tribal & fusion styles of dance. Devi has carefully Selected & created these steps so that they work well within Ghawazi Caravans favourite dance styles including Tribal, Flamenco, Indian , oriental & fusion. This workshop will have plenty of variety to suit everyone’s taste & dance ability & you will find them easily injectable into your own dance style!
Break til 1pm
1-4:30pm Turkish Delight in 2 Parts (with 15 min break) with Liz Strong
1.5 hr Fancy 9/8 Footwork of the Turkish Roman - Part One
This introductory course to Turkish Roman Dance will cover everything from toes to head, arms to belly. Fiery, fun footwork, and story telling gestures make this dance totally unique and expressive. Elizabeth learned this dance among the Rom (or “Gypsy”) people in Turkey, and has taught and performed for almost two decades. She is sought out as one of the leading experts in the form and sited as an international bridge between cultures. The fancy, fun stylings of Turkish Roman dance are at once familiar and foreign to many belly dancers. The material offered in this class is challenging and deeply layered for all levels, offering sublime subtlety for advanced students and exciting overviews for beginners. Everyone will find a way to go deeper into their own practice while experiencing the rich and wonderfully colorful, traditionally improvisational movement of Turkish Roman dance.
9/8 footwork classes are a total workout that will make you feel great, and add depth to your own dance vocabulary, whatever your background.
-Every participant gets a bonus MP3 download of authentic Turkish Roman music to listen to at home!
(15 min break)
Turkish Roman & Fusion Choreography Part Two
Now that we have soaked in the style, let's refine it a bit, add a few extra steps and learn a fun fusion choreography! We will practice the dance in its pure form and then learn a spicey, jazz-inspired choreography to a beautiful original piano piece by Dan Cantrell. This workshop will broaden your repertoire and (further) expand your knowledge of rhythm!
**Please wear yoga or similar pants (so we can focus on legs and feet), a simple, coinless hip sash, and a comfortable top. A notebook is also recommended.
***A handout will be made available for students.
Sunday:
10am-12:30pm
FLAMENCO/GYPSY FUSION. with Devi Mamak
Ignite the fire & passion of Flamenco & inject it into your next performance! Learn some exciting new combinations that will add drama to your next showstopper! Devi has invented & adapted these movements herself and will give you some new and exciting foot, arm & hip variations & in particular body angles/variations to give you that “Flamenco “look. You will learn such steps as El Cabalo Blanco, A Seville Romance, Carmen, Russian Gypsy Step, Jrisis Flamenco Combo, The Matador, Drama Queen ..just to name a few! If time allows we will put these exciting combinations into a short choreography. Please BYO full gypsy style skirt.
workshops located: 3270 Nicholasville Rd. Lexington, Ky. 40503
(downstairs from Mattress Firm inside Artistry in Motion Studios)
