What the Stars are teaching/requesting you bring:

Amy Sigil - "Just Dance!":  Ok, you can talk the talk. But now, it's time to walk the walk!  Let's turn up the volume and get down to business!  This workshop is all about being here.  Right now.  This is your chance to dive head-first into the present moment!!  Come on in, the water's fine!

Friday

Kaeshi - "BELLYPOPPING (Bellydance and Pops and Locks) Hip Pop NYC Technique and Combos":  The sound of world music is changing. Update your dance style with some funky new combinations inspired by the New York popping and Hip-Hop scene, plus learn new ways to isolate your body.  Kaeshi teaches combos taken from the very popular choreography "Hip Pop NYC" performed to "Authentic Style" by Harem.

Princess Farhana -  "Beauty an Power!  Technique, Isolations, Combinations, Musicality and Lyrical Interpretation with Princess Farhana":  What ingredients make a terrific belly dance performance of any genre? Dynamic technique, controlled isolations, great entrances and exits, musicality and interpretation, precise body lines, seamless transitions and stage presence!   After a complete warm-up, we will drill technique for mind-bending layers, abdominal isolations, speed changes plus beautiful arms and hands. Then we will concentrate on musical interpretation, integrating emotion and intent. You will learn some short combinations designed to help you trust your intuition and let your creative juices flow, and to develop the tools to spontaneously create beautiful Oriental or belly dance fusion pieces using your mind and body fully to increase your performance skills. *Open to all levels , bring a veil & cymbals if you use them.

Saturday

Tamalyn Dallal - "Gooey, Juicy Moves - Dance Like a Desert Woman!":  World traveler Tamalyn Dallal will teach the secrets of getting that yummy earth energy that makes her dance so yummy.  Grounding through your feet.  Finding those mystery muscles that add sensuality and emotion to your dance.  This class will be taught to original music from Egypt's "Golden Age", the 1930's to 1950's.  An old saying goes, "If you want to move forward, you need to lock back."

Bozenka - "The Bozenka Experience":  Let yourself be inspired, entertained and challenged in this upbeat master class with Bozenka.  Students will learn three beautiful combinations filled with Bozenka's signature moves that they can apply to their own dance repertoire.  Instruction will be given on immaculate and dynamic hip technique, graceful and fluid upper body posture, and stage presence.  Bozenka is known for challenging students while bringing out the best in each dancer at their individual level.  See why this Bellydance Superstar keeps getting invited back to teach at Yaa Halla, Y'all!

Sunday

Aubre - "Layering and the Art of Taqsim": Learn dynamic techniques and moves for show stopping taqsims, including Aubre's signature lyrical use of space and line, as well as layering technique.  Learn how to build multiple layers to create moves and steps of your own creation to more fully express your music and dynamic self.  She will also include musical exercises to help develop a deeper understanding of the complexity of the taqsim. 

Virginia - "Shaabi - Virginia Style!":  Sassy, fun, flirty, street style belly dance!  Perfect for all levels! Shaabi, which means “of the people”, is a modern urban musical style often  using western instruments which has translated into a very street-styled dance form which is a current popular phenomenon in Egypt and around the world.   Virginia will share some of Egypt’s hottest moves - laced with her signature style - filled with playful gestures and popular techniques that create that pure Egyptian feeling!  A hot new choreography for you to take to your next party or Hafla, and translated lyrics included to add credibility and meaning to your performance!  It’s no wonder Virginia is invited as the only American instructor to perform and teach in Cairo, Egypt, at the Nile Group Festival semi-annually!
 

"NEW TWIST" SEMINARS & INSTRUCTORS

Thursday

Aneena - "Double Veil Combinations":  Aneena will be teaching numerous series of veil moves that will then be put into combinations for you to learn to transition beautifully between each move.  Dramatic Double Veils can be an exciting addition to your stunning performance on stage.  *Bring two (preferably) circular veils (Practice veils will be provided for use at the workshop).

Saqra - "Shimmy Dictionary":  50+ types of shimmy and what to do with 'em!  Overlays, combos & more.  This is a workshop that normally runs three hours, so prepare to suffer!

Jayna - "A Veil & A Quarter?  Come Find Out!":  Used your rectangular veil so many times you could use it to clean your floors?  Tired of fretting about your performance wings poking people in the eye?  Never fear - the NEW circular veil is here!  Imagine an extension of your dance so compliant that it snakes around your body and adds a beautiful frame to every move.  Jayna's workshop offers creative and original technique and choreography incorporating this inventive and exciting new accessory!  *If you don't have one at home, don't fret - they will be aVEILable at the class!

Friday

Mia Sha'uri - "Sizzling Gypsy Skirt Fusion":  Mia Sha'uri will be teaching an Afro-Caribbean gypsy skirt fusion. You will learn how to work your skirt for a technically original and visually dazzling performance that you can combine with traditional Romany moves or subtly intertwine into a cabaret performance.

Yasmine - "Spellbinding Drum Solo!":  Yasmine is known for her unique interpretation and style with drum solos which show the power of the drums through the magic of movement.  She will present a variety of combinations that blend the strength and beauty of tribal fusion with her own flair, leading into a "spellbindingly hot" drum solo that is great for soloists and even more dynamic when performed as a group.

Frank Farinaro - "Slithery, Slinky, Snakey – With A Tick Tock & A Pendulum Swing!":  In the first half of this workshop, techniques and concepts will be taught to achieve serpentine movements and flexibility that will give your body the illusion of bonelessness.  Focus will be on fluid waves, defined undulations, smooth weight shifts and level changes.  In the second part, we will review the basic/intermediate movement vocabulary in Cabaret and Tribal styles of belly dance and break them down on an almost microscopic level.  We will explore how to punctuate, stagger, and strobe these moves with ticks, pops, and locks and how to create dramatic transitions with smooth, swinging weight shifts, level changes, and sharp spins.
 

DRUM, ZILLS & MUSICALITY INSTRUCTORS

Carmine Guida - Baby Beginner Doumbek:  In this workshop, you will learn the proper hand/finger techniques to produce clean, beautiful sounds from your doumbek.  You will learn how to play several traditional Middle Eastern, as well as how to switch between them.  This workshop is perfect for beginners or experienced drummers who want to brush up or clean up their technique.  This workshop is also fantastic for dancers who want to educate themselves about the basic rhythms.

Intermediate Doumbek:  You know a bunch of rhythms . . . now what?  Let's get "Beyond Baladi"!  You will learn practical rhythm combinations useful for playing songs and making your drum circle more fun.  You will also learn how to add fills and embellishments to make your playing more interesting.  This workshop is perfect for anyone who already knows the basic hits and rhythms.

Advanced Doumbek - Doumbek Rock Star: Roll, Pop, Slap and Snap!:  In this workshop, you will learn techniques and new hits to use on your doumbek.  These are the rock star tricks!  Learn how to incorporate these hits into rhythms and solos to really spice up your playing.  This workshop is perfect for any drummer who knows the basics.

Karim Nagi - Intermediate Doumbek:  This class will focus on rhythms (iqaat) from around the Arab world. We will learn the core rhythm, and then add the classic embellishments and ornaments. These include Egyptian vs Bedoiun Malfuf, Maqsum vs Fallahi, Moroccan Shaabi 6/8 with Karachi transition, and Khaligi rhythms. Tabla/Doumbek, Duff/Frames, and Riqqs welcome.

Advanced Doumbek:  This class will focus on creating and performing drum solos. Students will learn signature phrases and patterns the are found in Arab drum solos for both dancers and vocal songs (including Haggala, Masmudi Kabir, and various Qaflat). Students will learn how to create repeatable phrases, logical progressions, and how to lead drum ensembles using purely rhythmic "telegraphy" (musical, not verbal cues). This class is great for drummers to work in both percussion ensembles, and for dancers.

Dancing with Zills to Live Drums for Drummers & Dancers (Zill technique, movement, and drum solo):  Karim teaches Egyptian Sagat (Zills) using multiple sounds per hand. The first hour will cover multiple sounds, 5 classic A'raj (gallop) patterns, rhythms and rolls. The zill patters will be aligned with hip drop, travel and shimmy steps. Afterwards, the student will practice using the zills within an improvised live drum solo. They will learn to both lead and follow the drummer (Karim), plus call and response. They will also learn to to accent there body movements with zills, and become a "dancing percussionist".  *Please bring your zills!!

Pangia - “Musicality – Not Just a Technical Term!”:  In the first part of this workshop, Pat & Denise of Pangia will demonstrate and explain the “who, what, where, when, why and how’s” of Middle Eastern and other styles of music (Egyptian, Arabic, Turkish, Lebanese, Persian, Andalusian, etc.)) to help musicians and dancers achieve smooth and seamless  performances.

“Zillin, Drillin, Thrillin”:  In the second part of the workshop, musicians and dancers will learn how to compliment each other when performing with zills, the importance of pauses when playing zills, and how to use your zills as musical instruments, instead of just props.  *Please bring your melodic instruments and/or zills (no drums, please!!