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I am so excited to announce (and pleased to present) the amazing Lee Ali will be coming to New England in September, and we've arranged for this living legend of the dance to bring us two workshops: Gutsy Greek Bellydance and Trance Dancing! Workshops will be on September 19th - working on details for a show, hopefully the night before!
10:00am - 12pm : Gutsy Greek Bellydance
Greeks are emotional dancers. These natural storytellers of the dance world project raw sensuality, bold strength and heartbreaking sorrow, often in a single dance. This workshop will cover 3 main topics including: belly dance, folk dance, and understanding and interpreting Greek music. We will explore the differences between Greek, Egyptian, and American styles of bellydance including costumes, attitudes, and even cultural taboos.
The first hour of class will cover specific gestures that give Greek dance its signature passionate flair. The Drunken Sailor and Zorba-the-Greek are just a few famous folk images we will draw from to authentically flavor our dance. A clear explanation of Greek bouzouki music will be given throughout the class, along with a peppering of cultural tidbits that will fire the imagination and allow students to interpret their dance with “feeling.” In the second hour, we will cover Greek-style Bellydance. The Greek name for bellydance is Tsiftetelli (pronounced "Tseef tuh TELL lee." with a little snake hiss at the beginning of the word). A 3-part bellydance routine will be taught, with a bold, fast entrance, a slow section just for belly rolls, and a leave-em-wanting-more finale! This 3-part routine may be performed as a stage-ready mini show, or blended with other styles to create a Greek-fusion piece.
This class is recommended for Tribal Fusion, ATS, or Cabaret style bellydancers who want to bring a new ethnic flavor to their dance. Whether you are planning a dreamy vacation to the blue waters and sizzling night life of the Mediterranean or simply dining at your local Greek taverna, this class will inspire you to dance and shout, “OPA!” Please bring a veil and finger cymbals.
(lunch break!)
1:00-3:00pm : Trance Dancing
Trance dancing is a personal journey into altered states of consciousness and creativity. Light trancing is the ultimate stress reliever. It is a Zen exercise for learning to “let go” and dance mindlessly in the moment. As we advance, deep trance is a powerful, mysterious tool for harvesting self-knowledge and spiritual ecstasy. We will explore trance from 3 different angles. First as an ancient ritual, second, as a performance art for dancers, and third, as a traditional women’s social dance. Segment 1 of the workshop will introduce simple techniques for descending into trance as well as a rhythm drills and music suggestions for practicing trance on your own. In segment 2 students learn a 2-minute choreography inspired by the Egyptian Zar, a traditional ritual for healing spirit-possession. This routine is a theatrical version of a real Zar and may be performed as part of a tribal fusion or gothic dance piece. Segment 3 will explore group trance dancing. Part African, part Arab, these spicy movements and interactions are based on Moroccan women’s dances. This is the Moroccan version of a mosh pit! We will rock, spin, jump, flick, and shake with abandonment. Bring kneepads and eat lightly before class. This is a rhythmic and hypnotic workout!
The Details:
Where: The workshops will take place on Saturday, September 19th, from 10am-3pm (with a lunch break) at World Dance & Music Center,
925 Central Ave, 2nd floor, Pawtucket, RI 02861. There is ample free parking on the street around the building.
How Much?: Both workshops, by September 5th, $65, or $35 each.
After September 5th, $75 for both, or $40 each.*
About Lee Ali: Lee Ali was voted Favorite Ethnic Dancer and Golden Belly Award Winner, 2008. She's a multicultural shapeshifter who bridges the boundaries between East and West, modern and traditional. She's both a riveting performer and respected a folklorist in Moroccan and pan Arabic dance. With a Moroccan dancer Mom and a Turkish drummer Dad, Lee was born to dance and drum. She began as a child performer in 1970's, the golden era of Old Style belly dance. At age 13, she became a "working dancer" performing 5-nights a week for 10-solid years. On stage, she's delivered more than 2,000 dance and drumming performances in theater, festivals, cabaret and film, both in the States and abroad in Morocco, Turkey, Greece and Egypt.
At age 20, Lee became director of her own dance studio in Brooklyn, New York, where she perfected her colorful teaching style and her commitment to building community through dance. In 1996, she produced the documentary film, Belly Dancing In America: Importing Middle Eastern Dance. Her troupe, The Berber Ballet, is a dance and drum ensemble specializing in 6/8 rhythms and theatricalized trance dances. Lee holds a bachelors degree in Psychology from UC, Irvine and is currently writing a book on Moroccan dance and trance rituals. A dedicated "dance-oholic," she vows to dance 'til death.
To register, visit www.darklydramatic.com/lee.html
10:00am - 12pm : Gutsy Greek Bellydance
Greeks are emotional dancers. These natural storytellers of the dance world project raw sensuality, bold strength and heartbreaking sorrow, often in a single dance. This workshop will cover 3 main topics including: belly dance, folk dance, and understanding and interpreting Greek music. We will explore the differences between Greek, Egyptian, and American styles of bellydance including costumes, attitudes, and even cultural taboos.
The first hour of class will cover specific gestures that give Greek dance its signature passionate flair. The Drunken Sailor and Zorba-the-Greek are just a few famous folk images we will draw from to authentically flavor our dance. A clear explanation of Greek bouzouki music will be given throughout the class, along with a peppering of cultural tidbits that will fire the imagination and allow students to interpret their dance with “feeling.” In the second hour, we will cover Greek-style Bellydance. The Greek name for bellydance is Tsiftetelli (pronounced "Tseef tuh TELL lee." with a little snake hiss at the beginning of the word). A 3-part bellydance routine will be taught, with a bold, fast entrance, a slow section just for belly rolls, and a leave-em-wanting-more finale! This 3-part routine may be performed as a stage-ready mini show, or blended with other styles to create a Greek-fusion piece.
This class is recommended for Tribal Fusion, ATS, or Cabaret style bellydancers who want to bring a new ethnic flavor to their dance. Whether you are planning a dreamy vacation to the blue waters and sizzling night life of the Mediterranean or simply dining at your local Greek taverna, this class will inspire you to dance and shout, “OPA!” Please bring a veil and finger cymbals.
(lunch break!)
1:00-3:00pm : Trance Dancing
Trance dancing is a personal journey into altered states of consciousness and creativity. Light trancing is the ultimate stress reliever. It is a Zen exercise for learning to “let go” and dance mindlessly in the moment. As we advance, deep trance is a powerful, mysterious tool for harvesting self-knowledge and spiritual ecstasy. We will explore trance from 3 different angles. First as an ancient ritual, second, as a performance art for dancers, and third, as a traditional women’s social dance. Segment 1 of the workshop will introduce simple techniques for descending into trance as well as a rhythm drills and music suggestions for practicing trance on your own. In segment 2 students learn a 2-minute choreography inspired by the Egyptian Zar, a traditional ritual for healing spirit-possession. This routine is a theatrical version of a real Zar and may be performed as part of a tribal fusion or gothic dance piece. Segment 3 will explore group trance dancing. Part African, part Arab, these spicy movements and interactions are based on Moroccan women’s dances. This is the Moroccan version of a mosh pit! We will rock, spin, jump, flick, and shake with abandonment. Bring kneepads and eat lightly before class. This is a rhythmic and hypnotic workout!
The Details:
Where: The workshops will take place on Saturday, September 19th, from 10am-3pm (with a lunch break) at World Dance & Music Center,
925 Central Ave, 2nd floor, Pawtucket, RI 02861. There is ample free parking on the street around the building.
How Much?: Both workshops, by September 5th, $65, or $35 each.
After September 5th, $75 for both, or $40 each.*
About Lee Ali: Lee Ali was voted Favorite Ethnic Dancer and Golden Belly Award Winner, 2008. She's a multicultural shapeshifter who bridges the boundaries between East and West, modern and traditional. She's both a riveting performer and respected a folklorist in Moroccan and pan Arabic dance. With a Moroccan dancer Mom and a Turkish drummer Dad, Lee was born to dance and drum. She began as a child performer in 1970's, the golden era of Old Style belly dance. At age 13, she became a "working dancer" performing 5-nights a week for 10-solid years. On stage, she's delivered more than 2,000 dance and drumming performances in theater, festivals, cabaret and film, both in the States and abroad in Morocco, Turkey, Greece and Egypt.
At age 20, Lee became director of her own dance studio in Brooklyn, New York, where she perfected her colorful teaching style and her commitment to building community through dance. In 1996, she produced the documentary film, Belly Dancing In America: Importing Middle Eastern Dance. Her troupe, The Berber Ballet, is a dance and drum ensemble specializing in 6/8 rhythms and theatricalized trance dances. Lee holds a bachelors degree in Psychology from UC, Irvine and is currently writing a book on Moroccan dance and trance rituals. A dedicated "dance-oholic," she vows to dance 'til death.
To register, visit www.darklydramatic.com/lee.html
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Re: Lee Ali in Rhode Island! 9/19
Tue, September 1, 2009 - 5:13 PMdeadline for discounted registration is September 5th! AND! A show has been added! for September 18th, featuring Lee Ali and a LIVE
BAND - Mitchell Kaltsunas and Ensemble - plus other fabulous dancers and appetizers too! At World Dance & Music Center - only $20 in advance! Visit www.loladance.com for details.
