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Middle Eastern Dance
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HISTORY
Raqs Sharqi or belly dance, as it is commonly called in
MY JOURNEY
My love for belly dance started in 1999 during a mini workshop. It took all of two hours to discover that I adored belly dancing and I'd only gone to the workshop out of curiousity...and a suggestion from a girlfriend who said I would love it. She was right. Belly dancing has turned into another outlet for my creative expression.
I’ve studied with several teachers
including Winnipeg’s
Shayera,
Nicola
and Jamiila.
After
taking classes for over a year, I began intensive studies with Nicola,
both
at her
My first workshop was with Denise Enan and now here I am, just 40 minutes from Hull and her studio, Dance Oasis. I've also studied over the past two years with Jalilah (of the 6 CD Raqs Sharqi series). Both of these women are wonderful teachers and amazing sources of historical dance information. I'm so lucky to have the opportunity to learn from both.
TEACHING, WORKSHOPS and PERFORMANCES
I started teaching belly dance classes to women and teens in 2002 in Winnipeg. About a year after moving to Québec, I began teaching in Mayo (near Buckingham) and now teach weekly classes at various community centres and schools in Ottawa. (See teaching schedule below.)
I offer group, private and semi-private lessons, workshops in beginner and intermediate level belly dance, zill/sagat (finger cymbal) technique and Rromany (Gypsy) Dance.
In 2000, I developed Sha' Vega Malibu's In-Home Belly Dance FUNshop (Sha' Vega Malibu being my dance name) and dubbed it "More fun than a Tupperware party!" And that it is! A belly dance FUNshop is a wonderful activity for an all-girl get-together. Why not consider a FUNshop for a baby or bridal shower, or a birthday party?
Create a special memory by adding a belly dance performance to your celebration. Whether it's a milestone birthday, retirement, corporate or family function, a belly dancer can add some sparkle to your party.
For additional information and rates please contact me at potbellyATlablanchepoterieDOTcom
MY CREDENTIALS
First, please let me explain that belly dancing is a tradition passed from woman to girl and is observed and performed as a social dance in North Africa, the Middle East and the Near East. It is my understanding that learning the dance via professional instructor was unheard of until some point in the early 1950's. The dance form is not standardized like ballet for example, therefore certification in belly dance instruction is non-existant. There is no one except you who can judge who or what makes a compentent teacher. Listen to your heart on this and remember that your dance classes should be fun to attend. If you're not having fun, or your body aches after taking class then maybe your current teacher and you were just not meant for each other.
I am not a certified fitness instructor, but I do have a background (as a student only) in aerobic fitness and weight training that goes back to 1995. I’ll always be a student of the dance and I will always be training in the gym. With my health issues (and who doesn't have them?) you can be assured of a few things: I understand the need for daily exercise and stretching in a safe way. I understand that we all have physical limitations as well. My goals as an instructor are to make sure you sweat and have fun in my classes!
MY DANCE PHILOSOPHY
It has been said that the dance form originated as part of the ritual celebration of childbirth. Women danced the child into the world. It's a beautiful sentiment. I feel that we all ought to be dancing more than we do because it's a natural and a form of self-expression and dancing is a celebration of life. This is very much an important facet of belly dance.
Sometimes we feel that we aren't cut out for a certain kind of dance because of our body type. Luckily in belly dance all shapes and sizes of women are acceptable. In fact, one of my students, while at her first hafla (party), said,
"No matter what size you are, every woman looks beautiful when she is belly dancing!"
During the 2nd World War, a woman named Badia Masabny opened a nightclub called The Casino Opera. Badia hired musicians, comedians, singers and belly dancers too. Suddenly the dance was on a theatrical stage! In my research I have read that Ms. Masabny was influenced by Hollywood glamour and the two piece bedlah (bra and belt costume combination which often bares the midriff) came into vogue with belly dancers in Cairo. Keep in mind that belly dancing is more or less folk dancing and what one wore or wears is often depedent on what one has in their closet, ruck sack, trunk, or caravan! Art is highly personal and you can make this dance something just for you. Remember that it is a dance for all women, not just a select few.
Belly dancing is being much sought out these days as a way to fitness. It's true that belly dancing can be a great cardio workout, but first you have to learn a few basic steps. Be patient with yourself.
Posture, form and technique are often topics in class. I teach how to be graceful and carry yourself with poise. I teach a little bit of belly dance history, some music theory and if requested by the whole class I will give instruction on how to play the zils (finger cymbals). I can direct students on how to put together an appropriate costume and I teach choreographies and how to improvise to Middle Eastern music and I coach individual dancers for performances.
This ancient dance form does wonders for a woman's body. We gain flexibility, enhanced balance (very important as we age), confidence, self-esteem and we tone muscles we didn't even know we had.
In class I make certain my students dance safely to avoid injuries and we still have lots of fun! Whether you plan on dancing only for self-enjoyment, with a few girlfriends, or in front of an audience some day, do it for yourself and do it for the love of dance!
"To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking."~Agnes De Mille, choreographer
Sha' Vega's 2008 Classes
MONDAYSOrléans – Maple Ridge Elementary School (aka South Fallingbrook C.C.), 998 Valin St.
Level 1 – 6:30 p.m. – 7:45
p.m.
Level 2 – 7:45 p.m. – 9:00
p.m.
March 31- June 16, 2008. No class April 28 and May 19
$53.50 for 10 weeks. Register NOW!
Centretown - McNabb Recreation Centre, 180 Percy St. (at James)
Level 1 - 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Level 2 and 3 - 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
April 1 - June 17, 2008.
$78.75 for 12 weeks. Registration begins March 8, 2008. Call 613-564-1070
Register online at www.ottawa.ca
WEDNESDAYS
Level 1 - 7:40 p.m. – 8:40
p.m.
$63 for 8 weeks. April 16 – June 4
THURSDAYS
Level 1 and 2 - 6:30 p.m. – 7:30
p.m.
$79 for 9 weeks. April 17 - June 12.
If you took the winter session you can Register NOW! (613)
521-1392.
Online registration starts March 6. http://hcrcc.ca/
class content or if belly dance is right for you.
Private (one person) and Semi-private (up to 3 people) lessons are
also available. I teach private lessons only at my home for very reasonable rates.
Write to potbelly@lablanchepoterie.com for more info.
Sha' Vega's 2008 Workshops
Combinations and Zil Techniques - Sunday,
Location: Routhier Community Centre at 172 Guiges (at Cumberland), Ottawa
Cost: $50 in advance or $60 at the door. Half a day, half the price.
Payment methods: You can
send me a cheque or pay me using PayPal. You can also pay at the
door. Write to me and I will send you the PDF registration form with all the information.
I will teach you how to move fluidly and own your dance
space with some creative combinations. I'll help you overcome
that hesitation that all new dancers feel when making the transition
from moving in place to actually dancing without fear of moving!
Also included in the day's schedule is techniques for playing finger cymbals
like basic patterns, when to play, when NOT to play, rolls and triplets.
Here is the day's schedule:
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Creative Combinations
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Bring your own brown bag lunch and watch a dance performance videos!
The Mini Bazaar will be opened too! Shop with our little team of vendors
for costumes, veils, jewellery and more!
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Zil Techniques.
Finger cymbals are available on request. First come, first serve.
Finger cymbals
Water
Lunch
Dance shoes (if you prefer)
Cash for the Mini Bazaar
under your hip belt, this workshop may be for you!
Improvisation and Choreography
seem to be two opposite ends of the spectrum. One is spontaneous
and the other is planned. In order to improvise you must know
"the rules" of the dance. The rhythms
and
instruments give you clues as to what you "should" be doing. In effect they are cultural cues.
This same knowledge also assists you when choreographing, but when it comes to
choreography there is much more to think about and consider.
I will
also teach how to structure your dance to Middle Eastern music so that your
performance shines!
Please send me an email for more information.
potbelly@lablanchepoterie.com
Tarot Card Readings
$65 per session
Approximately one hour
in your home* or in mine
Group Parties
Six to twelve people - $25 per person for a 20 minute session
*plus 45 cents per km traveling allowance
first 20 km are free
Lisa-Marie has been reading the Tarot since 1987.
She became interested in card reading and other forms of divination at a young age.
Her principle tool is the Mother Peace Tarot Deck.
Lisa-Marie can also use other divination tools on request.
Can't get enough of Lisa-Marie? Read her blog at: http://lablanchepoterie.blogspot.com/