Workshops

My most-requested teaching specialties include: detailed and theory-driven movement breakdowns; use of the arms and hands; creating choreography; Egyptian styling; basic Persian dance; and flexibility training. I use contemporary, commercially available music for all of my choreographies, and provide detailed notes.

Depending on your needs, my rates are negotiable, and can be based on a flat fee or percentage split. I prefer to book at least six months in advance, and am currently setting my schedule for 2009 and 2009.

I currently offer the following workshop topics. Have something in mind that’s not listed here? Please ask.

For Mixed Levels

• Egyptian Flavor (1 - 4 hours): Detailed breakdowns to highlight the nuances that give common "belly" dance movements (figures of 8, double drops, hip lifts, etc.) a specifically Egyptian look, flavor, and feel. Can include choreography.

• Oriental Elegance (1 - 4 hours): Learn tips and tricks to attain the elegant, polished look of the “trained” dancer, with a special focus on the unique and challenging alignment demand of belly dance: pairing lifted carriage with a low center of gravity. Packed with information for both dancers and dance teachers, this technique session provides a blueprint for: finding and maintaining aligned posture; keeping the chest, throat, and shoulders open and relaxed; soft graceful arms and hands; and step-by-step instructions for turns across the floor, guaranteed to help even the most turn-challenged. For turns, please bring soft-soled dance shoes.

• Ballet technique for Oriental dance (1-2 hours): Heavily influenced by visiting Soviet instructors in the mid-twentieth century, contemporary Egyptian-style Oriental dance has been shaped by a strong ballet influence. Classwork will focus on creating a “finished” look through use of the arms, feet, and legs, and conclude with a special step-by-step breakdown for turns across the floor. (Guaranteed to help even the most turn-challenged, and helpful for teachers looking for a new approach to presenting this material). This workshop is designed both for students with no ballet experience and for students seeking to incorporate previously learned ballet vocabulary into their Oriental dance. For turns, please bring soft-soled dance shoes.

• Oriental Undulations (1- 3 hours): theory-oriented workshop examining the mechanics of undulations in different parts of the body.

• Isolations and Layers (1 - 4 hours): theory/technique for building sophisticated vocabulary with precise, intentional movement.

• Introduction to Persian Dance (1- 4 hours): Different and distinct from Arabic or Turkish "belly" dance, Persian dance is characterized by light footwork, spiraling turns, and delicate movements of the arms, hands, and head. This workshop introduces the 6/8 rhythm, basic movements for social dance and classical dance, and can include a short choreography.

• Persian Technique for Tribal and Fusion Dance (2 hours): This workshop focuses on pairing the highly stylized arm and hand movements of Persian dance with the torso isolations of Arabic or Turkish style belly dance.

• Introduction to Karsilima (2 hours): Overview of the 9/8 rhythm, basic karsilima steps, and short choreography to Turkish classic "Rompi, Rompi."

• Floorwork (2 hours): Banned in Egypt and infrequently seen in contemporary performance, use of the floor is an important historical component of Oriental dance. Classwork will include floor moves and combos for Turkish, American, and fusion dance; and, especially for Egyptian-style dancers, Autumn will present Nadia Hamdi’s floorwork sequence for Mohammed Ali Street style shamadan (Egyptian candelabra.) Autumn (a former gymnast) will also demonstrate a series of safe stretches to help dancers work toward or maintain the splits. While this workshop is appropriate for all levels, it is not recommended for students who have difficulty lowering themselves to the floor or standing back up. Students are welcome to bring knee pads and yoga mats or towels.

Specifically for New Dancers

• Movement breakdowns (1-4 hours or more): specific blueprints for Oriental vocabulary.
• Musical interpretation (1-3 hours): overview of different instruments/idioms, and appropriate/conventional movements for each.
• Preparing for Performance (1-2 hours): Lecture
• Ana Fi Intizarak Choreography (3 hours): Short Egyptian style choreography with very basic moves.
• Drum Solo Choreography (3 hours)
• Introduction to Props (1-3 hours per prop): Technique and combinations for shamadan; sword and other balancing objects; veil; wings; cane; finger cymbals.

For Intermediate, Advanced, or Professional Dancers

• Oriental Choreography (Classical or Pop) (4+ hours)
• Drum Solo Choreography (2 - 4 hours)
• Sword Choreography (3 - 4 hours)
• Cane Choreography (3 - 4 hours)
• Creating Combinations/Choreography (1 - 8 hours): theory based workshop on choreographic composition

To book a workshop, contact me directly at (917) 686-1622.