In this workshop we will tackle the sometimes terrifying and always exciting solo improv. Performance tonight? No choreography? No problem. Through musicality, simple go-to combos, and creative filler you can improv. We will pair up classic movements with different parts of the music, learn a few basic yet very adaptable combos and discuss creative ideas for engaging the audience. Bring a notebook and an adventurous spirit!
Mia is the artistic director of both Unveiled Bellydance Ann Arbor and the Lunatic Vagabonds troupe. Bellydance with a twist is her personal mission and she believes that dancers should feel free enough within the art to take risks. She first studied with Nagwa and Cedena, then moved on to Princess Madiha's class. Madiha is an expert performer and instructor and from her Mia learned killer shimmies and true cabaret style. Currently, Mia teaches at Unveiled Dance Studio. She is artistic director of Lunatic Vagabonds and Unveiled Dance-Ann Arbor. She also performs as a soloist.
30 minutes each in 2 hours! And everyone leaves with a 10 song CD!
One: New Layers - Take it to new heights! There's a new concept in layering shimmies for COMPLETELY new layered moves & it's moving throughout the bellydance world! Get it here first! Brand new shimmy gushy, popping layers that look great on a stage! Tribal & Cabaret dancers will want this!
Two: Put the Arab in Arabic Dance - Do you know the moves, the accents, the facial expressions to please the toughest Arabic eyes? Bellydance originated in the Middle East & sure you can impress new American audiences, but this puts the "authentic" in bellydance. Cabaret dancers will want this to add dimension to their dances and tribal dancers will have a new way to deliver their dance! Remember Rachel Brice had 10 years cabaret before going tribal!
Three: Combos, baby combos - The new combos learned here will have those Arabic accents listed above & we will apply them to both cabaret and tribal fusion music.
Four: 10 Bellydance Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know - and how to dance to them. These are some of the most important songs in bellydance. Learn their meaning, how to dance to them and how to end your numbers with a bam!
One: New Layers - Take it to new heights! There's a new concept in layering shimmies for COMPLETELY new layered moves & it's moving throughout the bellydance world! Get it here first! Brand new shimmy gushy, popping layers that look great on a stage! Tribal & Cabaret dancers will want this!
Two: Put the Arab in Arabic Dance - Do you know the moves, the accents, the facial expressions to please the toughest Arabic eyes? Bellydance originated in the Middle East & sure you can impress new American audiences, but this puts the "authentic" in bellydance. Cabaret dancers will want this to add dimension to their dances and tribal dancers will have a new way to deliver their dance! Remember Rachel Brice had 10 years cabaret before going tribal!
Three: Combos, baby combos - The new combos learned here will have those Arabic accents listed above & we will apply them to both cabaret and tribal fusion music.
Four: 10 Bellydance Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know - and how to dance to them. These are some of the most important songs in bellydance. Learn their meaning, how to dance to them and how to end your numbers with a bam!
Founder of Detroit Bellydance and co-founder of Detroit Raqs, Lana produced the instructional improvisational DVD “Authentic Bellydance” that is selling worldwide, from Iran to Japan, from Spain to the U.S. Lana has performed as a guest dancer with the Bellydance Superstars, for singer Usher, turned down an invitation to perform for the president of the U.S. in 2006 and performs with world-renowned Middle Eastern musicians. A regular performer in the Arabic nightclub scene, she had her busiest weekend in February 2010 with a whopping 13 shows in 2 days in four cities! Lana often hosts workshops in Detroit including those featuring Rachel Brice, Ansuya and Petite Jamilla, and she helps host the Bellydance Superstars shows every year. www.detroitbellydance.com
This workshop will focus on adding zils to basic movements and combinations. Appropriate for the “never played them,” “don’t like them,” or for the instructor wishing to foist them on their students! A simple method for zilling on the accents, traveling, and counting. Percussive multi-tasking made easy.
Aegela has been dancing since 1978 and is a true ambassador of belly dance to the United States. She has trained and performed in Cairo and Alexandria with masters of the art Mahmoud Reda and Madame Busi. In Toledo, OH she conducts multi-level classes in her studios, The Aegela Centers for Middle Eastern Dance, and provides instructors by contract to several satellite locations. As a national seminar instructor, Aegela encourages participants to “think outside the box” using traditional movements in unusual combinations, or “Aegela-isms.” www.aegela.com
During the stilts section, interested students will have the opportunity to try on and walk around with jumping stilts, and learn the differences between styles. In the fire portion we will explore common misconceptions and help students perform successfully with fire, including adapting new acts to work in a professional setting. Topics will include performing safely in small or otherwise non-ideal environments, how to make the flame 'enhance' a performance rather than dominate it, and altering choreography to fit different audiences. Tricks and tips will be discussed using poi, staff, and fire eating as examples. This workshop will be held at the Campbell Center for the Performing Arts at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor.
Andrew & Lex D'Ascenzo founded Bacchanal Promotions in 2007 after more than 10 years of performance experience. Together they took circus and fire performance arts to a new level combining and innovating new acts and performance styles, and introducing new forms of entertainment to their audiences. Though they started with fire performance and belly-dancing, they have increased their variety every season adding acts like jumping stilt acrobatics, acro-balance, sword swallowing, and many others. Andrew and Lex have performed at hundreds of events since founding Bacchanal Promotions and have adapted their performances to fit changing venues, demographics, and countless other challenges. This experience gives them a unique perspective on circus arts entertainment today. www.bacchanalpromotions.com
Learn Unveiled's signature sword dance, an audience favorite! The choreography, to Beats Antique's "The Lantern," builds on basic movements to create a dramatic and mesmerizing dance. Minor tweaks make this highly adaptable dance suitable for a variety of performance styles, from cabaret to tribal fusion. We'll teach you the whole dance and show you how to adapt it for one, two, or more dancers. Some experience with sword balancing is useful, but even if you are just curious about working with swords, you are welcome to take this workshop. We will have a few swords available, but please bring one if you can.
Kristy and Barbara are members of Unveiled Dance Company and both are instructors for Unveiled classes. Kristy began dancing at 3 years old and was introduced to bellydance by a coworker in 2005. After taking lessons with Crystal Dunlap, Kristy became a founding member of Unveiled and has performed with them ever since. Barbara also took dance lessons throughout her youth. She began studying bellydance in 2000 with Grace Lehman and danced with Grace's troupe Habibat al Fen for a number of years. Barbara joined Unveiled Dance Company in 2007. Barbara and Kristy continue their study of different bellydance styles through workshops and classes with a variety of instructors, and like sharing what they learn with their students. They enjoy collaborating on original choreographies, such as the one they will teach in this workshop. www.unveiledbelldyance.com/annarbor
Christina Abojamra - DebkeNever know what to do when the Debke music starts? Always wanted to know how to kick it up a little? Here’s your chance. In this workshop we will start with the basic party style debke and work our way up to some of the tricks and flourishes. Get your culture on and get ready to tear it up Debke style!
Christina has been dancing since she could walk. She has taught and performed Middle Eastern dance and debke in different schools and communities throughout the states of Michigan and Ohio. She was the leader of numerous debke troupes, which have performed in events ranging from the Arab World Festival and the Detroit Arts Festival, to local schools and community events. She has years of experience teaching professional and “party”/ “hafleh” debke to people of all ages. It is her passion and her pride. She is thankful for having the opportunity to share this wonderful cultural tradition with all.
Remember the way you felt the first time you walked into dance class, or when you saw your first belly dancer around a camp fire and said "Wow, I want to do that"? If it has been awhile since you just danced around your living room with no choreography in mind, or new isolation to be drilled, this class is for you. Re-embrace the joy of bellydance! In this workshop we will play fun belly dance games, bond with our friends though group exercises, and have a good laugh while trying out some silly party tricks. Not only is this workshop good for the soul, but it is also great for teachers looking for new ideas for classes and professionals looking for ideas for entertaining at parties. All skill levels welcome. Please bring a veil, and any props you like to dance with.
Crystal founded Unveiled Bellydance in Michigan in 2004. In 2008, she brought her unique concept to New York and Unveiled Dance was begun in Brooklyn. Crystal is especially skilled in Egyptian cabaret style and has also studied other forms like folkloric and tribal fusion. She has performed in a variety of venues and with many different musicians like Raquy and the Cavemen, Karim Nagi, and Mary Zysk. Crystal's performances are known throughout Michigan for being fun, energetic, and inspired. She is founder and artistic director of Unveiled Dance New York and a proud new mommy. www.unveiledbellydance.com/newyork
Micha Adams & Matt Buss are a part of the acro dream team at the Detroit Flyhouse.
Their sheer strength, flexibility, and sensuality generates a following wherever they perform. Both experienced yoga teachers, acrobats, and circus performers, Matt and Micha have been training and performing together for nearly two years. In their upcoming Acro playshop, you'll have the chance to learn from these charismatic teachers in a fun and supportive environment. You'll work in a group, or with one or more partners to explore the art of body balancing. This workshop is a fun and playful place to learn how to support, and be supported by another person. It's also a place to learn all sorts of fancy new tricks. No partner necessary. www.detroitflyhouse.com
When Little Egypt shimmied her hips at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, the world changed. The "belly dance" would forever alter the progress of American dance culture, and there was a fork in the road; one path leads to the belly dance we know today and the other leads to burlesque and the art of the striptease. You already know the movement: come plump your dance repertoire with devastating bumps and scintillating grinds that you didn't know could look this hot. It's all about the attitude...
Hayley Jane is an entertainer based in Detroit, MI. Raised in theatres and around garage bands, she delights in bringing her particular brand of variety entertainment to whomever wants to listen and watch. A true believer in the neo-vaudeville movement, she is herself a variety of things: a burlesque dancer, a faerie performance artist, a cabaret folk musician, a costumer, a make-up guru, and the list goes on. She’s performed all around the country, including New Orleans, Chicago, Philadelphia, and her personal favorite, Coney Island, NY. She’s happy to bring that experience with her as she balances music and burlesque, continuing to enchant audiences [sometimes literally if she's got her wings on!] with her siren song and slippery hip wiggling. www.hayleyjane.com
Jaclyn loves bringing West African Dance to belly dancers! This is an intro class that provides an amazing full body workout that you don’t want to miss! West African Dance is an accessible style that makes it great for every experience level. Enjoy exciting, high energy movement and a sense of freedom that comes from celebration and community. Get ready to sweat and have fun!
Jaclyn Morrow has explored movement in various forms for over 15 years- from modern dance to West African dance and many stops in between. Jaclyn has performed with the Blue Moves Modern Dance Company and been a choreographer for the Senior Dance Company of Middle Tennessee. She has also performed with Like Water Drum and Dance, Nomobugante at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, Nomadic Jewels Tribal Belly Dance and is currently a member of the Tree of Life Drum and Dance Society. Her study, performing and teaching has taken her to many places including California, Florida, NY, Guinea West Africa, and Jamaica. Jaclyn also teaches Youth Theatre and Youth Jazz at the YMCA in Ann Arbor, the Tree of Life Cultural Arts Studio in Chelsea and the Homeschoolers Association of Ann Arbor.
Jaclyn loves bringing West African Dance to belly dancers because they already understand how to move their body and they can have fun with an upbeat and fun dance style!
This choreography class is geared for the edgy dancer and focuses the duet or quartet. We will use energy and space to compliment two dancers and fuse styles such as samba, tribal, oriental and folkloric to create a fun loving duet that any audience will zaghareet about. Funk is a must in this class and the ability to shake your parts as needed!
Joette has earned an international reputation as an Oriental dance teacher, performer, sponsor and director. Her eclectic style and grace, balanced with her in depth knowledge of Egyptian folkloric dance, makes her one of the most sought after Oriental dancers in the Midwest. Joette ever so diligently continues to study this beautiful art form and is certified in the dances of Egypt and Turkey and has performed abroad in hotels and cultural centers. www.wmschoolofmed.com
The Law of Detachment: In detachment lies the wisdom of uncertainty . . . in the wisdom of uncertainty lies the freedom from our past, from the known, which is the prison of past conditioning. And in our willingness to step into the unknown, the field of all possibilities, we surrender ourselves to the creative mind that orchestrates the dance of the universe. - Deepak Chopra This lecture & workshop will cover detachment theory and technique as well as the idea of meditative dance & dark fusion choreography. You will need a notebook & something to write with. Bring water. No coined hip scarves please.
The focus of Mesmeric Belly Dance Fusion Company is on affecting an audience using music, theme & movement. With unusual music remixes, artistic director Kaylouise emphasizes precision, muscle isolation and synchronization in the original choreographies she creates for herself and Mesmeric. Kaylouise considers her performances and choreographies to be ART- not bound or restricted, a creation of movement full of beginnings, endings, mood and theme. www.kaylouise.com
Know your rights! Bring expression, grace, and confidence to your performance by exploring arm-centric techniques found in cabaret fusion bellydance. Train your limbs to balance strength and sensuality, so they'll want to bare it all!
Since her first classes with Aziza Ammar and Unveiled Bellydance, Kendra has been driven to further her knowledge of the art and develop her bellydance vocabulary. She aims to preserve the traditional aspects of "Oriental" bellydance while creating awareness of its modern interpretations. She often performs as a soloist, collaborating with a variety of dancers, musicians, and artists alike, applying world dance forms to an "Oriental" bellydance foundation. Currently, she is a member of Unveiled Dance Company, performs with Detroit Bellydance, and teaches at the Detroit/Windsor Dance Academy. For updates on classes and performance, visit www.kendrabellydancer.com
Power, grace, presence and elegance - who says you can't have it all? ATS is the building block of all Tribal bellydance. Get back to your roots and see where it all began. This class will focus on intermediate level steps and combos and will build on level 1 foundation steps. Dancers should be familiar with the following steps as done in the FCBD ATS format: Egyptian Basic, Arabic, Shimmy and Pivot Bump. Please bring your zills as we will be doing a majority of fast moves in this class.
Krisztina is the founder and artistic director of Czigany World Fusion Dance. Her formal dance training began over 30 years ago with classical ballet and she has been building on that foundation ever since. She has studied many dance styles over the years and combined them all in the formation of Czigany World Fusion Dance. Krisztina has been teaching ATS for 9 years and her ATS teaching credentials include a General Skills for ATS Certification, an ATS Teacher Training Certification, and she is very honored to be a Sister Studio to FCBD for ATS. She continues to study with Carolena directly at least two times per year to stay current in this beautifully evolving dance form. www.czigany-dance.com
The focus of this workshop is Relaxation, Sustainability and Intention. We will focus on relaxing into correct dance posture and alleviating unwanted tension in the body. Guiding you closer to effortless movement, we will cover: basic understanding of body mechanics, how to drill isolations to gain control, and how to integrate body awareness. There will be a nice warm up and cool down with elegant postures inspired by sacred temple dancers because it is very important to be kind to your body. We are here because we have found a common thread, The Love for the Dance, and we all want to dance as long as we can with ease and grace. Join in and dance from the eternal light within to heal your blockages so you can lead with your heart! Make sure to bring water, a relaxed attitude, and the readiness to get down. All skill levels welcomed.
Coming from a family of musicians and performers, Leilani dove into the Detroit electronic movement scene during the mid 90’s. Analyzing dancers and learning skills from those with as much passion as she had, fed her flame! Working on body mechanics wasn’t only intriguing, but the connections and dynamics between the music and the dance and the dancer with other dancers blew her away. Traveling abroad brought Leilani home to persue Middle Eastern Dance where she studied with Czigany in Chesterfield and Aida Al Adawi at Oakland University. Her focus on World Fusion and lead her to a new passion for American Tribal Style. Leilani is now ATS General Skills Certified as of March 2010 and is currently gearing up for her ATS Teacher Training Certification. Performing as a soloist, Leilani still goes back to those nights in the city where her heart lived with electronic music and has found a pleasurable balance between the two styles of dance creating her Tribal Fusion. She has taken intensives with Zoe Jakes, Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, Carolena Nericcio founder of Fat Chance Belly Dance, Megha Gavin of Devyani Dance Company and Zafira. Thirsty for knowledge, Leilani is always looking for the next learning/teaching experience and is completely humbled to be able to share what she knows with you. Many Blessings! ~Oneness~ www.facebook.com/pages/Leilani LeilaniDance@gmail.com
Start your show with grace and drama and power! This workshop will cover the basic parts of an Egyptian-style entrance, teaching dancers how to smoothly transition from the opening mulfuf to the beledi. We will work on fast veil technique with zils and learn traveling combinations that can fill the stage. The class will cover combinations that are perfect for an entrance. Then dancers will have the opportunity to improvise within a general choreography structure to make the entrance their own!
Nadira is one of Southeast Michigan’s finest dancers and a popular performer and teacher, known for her dynamic style, grace, and musicality. Nadira has studied with some of the most respected dancers and teachers from New York to Michigan, and her skill as a performer and teacher is also enriched by her ballet background and dramatic theater experience. Nadira has been teaching classes and workshops in Arabic dance since 2006. www.nadiradance.com
Need a sassy new drum solo to spice up your performance in 2011? Whether you are dancing a show, wedding, or festival, you will want to add this little number to your portfolio of talent! This work shop will lead the dancer thru a dynamic drum solo choreography geared for the intermediate dancer, using popular isolations, movement, rhythms and a few new ones as well! This choreography will present beautifully in a solo setting or group number!
Nashita is a professional performer dancing internationally as well as locally. She began her love of the dance, music, and culture in 2001, with Detroit Belly Dance under the instruction of Lana Mini. Throughout the years, Nashita has enjoyed cultivating her technique with the guidance of additional instructors including but not limited to Francisco, Jeannie of Chicago, Hadia, Virginia, Amel Tafsout, Cassandra Shore, Denise Enan, Sahra Saeeda, and various members of The Belly Dance Superstars. Nashita is the artistic director of Nashita Productions, and enjoys teaching and performing with her students.
"The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word." -Mata Hari
Explore the dramatic and soulful side of Tribal Fusion with Raks Incendia’s Domhnulla D
and Kat Marscelle. Learn the importance of feeling the music and finding the words within the poem of the song with your body. Throw all notions of counting out the window and focus only on the Three P’s: Dancing with passion, purpose and most importantly…personality!
“Our plan is to drill some combinations and moves, then put them together into a short
choreography. We will dance to a selection of music with different emotional themes and
show you how to manifest different reactions and feelings to convey even the most subtle
elements within a song…It should be a lot of fun and we so look forward to seeing you all!” – Domh and Kat
2007 was the year Kat Marscelle and Domhnulla D first met. They were both dancing with The Dancers of the Rising Phoenix--a troupe geared toward the traditional--and one fateful day Kat accidentally hit Domh on the bum with her asaya, to which Domh squealed, "Ooh! Do it again!" It was in that moment they realized they were destined for friendship. Later that same year, they discussed the idea of working on a song together--just one song--something that would suit their decidedly un -traditional and very Tribal tastes. Today Domh and Kat continue their shared efforts to charm and discover new facets of the Fusion side to Tribal...with a distinct flavour of the theatrical that draws deeply from the wells of soul and emotion. www.raks-incendia.com
Richard Harper - Corrective to Glamorous: Makeup for the StageIn this class we will discuss the fundamentals of corrective makeup: creating cheekbones, opening the eyes, and narrowing the nose. We will use lights and shadows to create the illusion of the perfect shape and then bring glamour through design, color and extras such as lashes, stones and glitter. This workshop will meet at Greenhills School, Campbell Center for the Performing Arts in the dressing room to take advantage of excellent mirrors and lighting. Bring a notebook and your makeup kit.
Richard Harper has had a successful career as a hair and makeup artist working on Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours and regional opera companies, as well as print work, portrait work and industrial films. He has worked for the Broadway companies of Les Miserables, Grease, Blood Brothers, Kiss of the Spider Woman, My Fair Lady, Cabaret and Sugar Babies, among others, and has been lucky enough to work with great stars of the stage: Vanessa Williams, Carole King, Rosie O’Donnell, Joel Grey, Debbie Allen, Ann Miller, Kim Criswell, Maureen McGovern, Andrea McArdle, Werner Klemperer, Lea Salonga, Regina Resnik and Kay McClelland, among others. He has received cosmetology licenses in several states, has worked as a platform artist and colorist and also specializes in wig construction, repair and design.
Learn how to manipulate both your fan *and* your fans with this flirty vaudeville style tribal fusion choreography! Bring your fan and sense of humor. Fans of all types and sizes are usable during
this choreography and you will only need one. The recommended fan is available for
sale at www.bohemetribal.com
Sarah Schneider Koning began her studies in Middle Eastern Dance in 1995. Over the past decade, Sarah has worked to bring Tribal home to Michigan, by hosting workshops and performance opportunities that are Tribal-friendly. Sarah is also well versed in Orientale and folkloric styles of Middle Eastern dance, and finds great interest in Middle Eastern culture and customs. She is the artistic director of Boheme Tribal Belly Dance and teaches Tribal Style classes daily in Kalamazoo, Portage and St. Joseph, Michigan. As a supporter of the historical and cultural aspects of the dance, Sarah's instruction provides the dancer with an authentic backdrop upon which to weave the tribal fusion style. www.bohemetribal.com
Slow ATS moves with skoosh and goosh including Circle Step w/ Turn, Torso Rotation w/ turn, Taxim, and a smattering of slow turns.
Valizan began his journey into Middle Eastern dance in 1995 when he joined The Society For Creative Anachronism, an educational group that learns about the Middle Ages by recreating it. Teachers Rayah Bint Youssef and Moria The Black instilled basic technique, while classes with the sublime Roula Said took him to a new plateau. Current influences include Yasmina Ramzy, FatChance Bellydance, Jillina, Rachel Brice and Francisco Carranza.
He has become a sought after solo performer and teacher for his powerful style and energy. He also heads up his own tribal troupe, Shades Of Araby. Local appearances include Arabesque Dance Company's Asala, The International Bellydance Conference Of Canada, Tribally Inspired, Northern Migration, The Dark Side and Face Zenna at the Royal Ontario Museum. He also headlined In The Heat Of The Hafla in Milwaukee, Belly Boo Bash in Dayton, Ohio and appeared at Cabin Fever and The Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, NY.
He began teaching American Tribal Style bellydance at Arabesque Academy in 2004, and became an apprentice in the Arabesque Dance Company in November 2005 when he began training in Egyptian Folklore with master teacher Yasmina Ramzy. He is honoured to be a lead dancer in the Arabesque Dance Company, and in the new project, The Righteous Rogues Of Raks.
Valizan holds a degree from The Ryerson School Of Journalism, took the Arabesque Academy Pro Course, is the first male to graduate from the FatChanceBellyDance Teacher Training program and recently became the first FatChance BellyDance Brother studio.
Come and get a taste of the exciting, colorful world of Bollywood Dance! Go on a journey of love and relationships as we learn fun, upbeat choreography to the hit Hindi tunes “Touch Me,” “ Dhoom Again,” and “Mind Blowing Mahia.” You will be doing movements from Classical Indian dance, Raks Sharqi, African, and even a little Funk and Hip Hop. No experience is necessary, just be prepared to moved at a fast pace and have the time of your life!!!
Ziva began moving and tumbling even before she was born, as her gymnist mother continued to do flips and tumbles while pregnant. At the age of five, Ziva began the world of competitive gymnastics and by the age of 15 found her true calling as a dancer. Since then she has not only taught and studied several dance forms, including tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, hip hop, acro-jazz, liturgical, sacred, contemporary, improv., modern, bollywood, raks sharqi (belly dance), and various ballroom and period dances, but has also had the experience of performing in various competitive dance teams, troupes, and companies. She has danced on national and international TV in venues such as the Bollywood Movie Awards, Naya Andez, APPNA, the Philadelphia Phillies, and Fox's So You Think You Can Dance. In the past three years Ziva owned her own studio and has taught workshops all over the country and at conventions such as the Great Lakes Belly Dance Convention in 2008 and 2009, and Shimmy Tecumseh in 2010. Ziva's mission as a teacher and dancer is to share the joy of dance with the surrounding community, to educate people on the history and purpose of dance, and to inspire everyone to partake in the universal language of dance. Her motto is "When in Doubt...Shimmy!"
a