Events and Classes

All of our wonderful events will be held at the Best Western Gordon Road, Guelph, Ontario!

Friday April 25th, 2014, Evening

4pm- Check in 

5pm-9:30pm -Master Classes
10pm-??? - Haflat Helou

Saturday April 26th, 2014

9am- Check in
10am-1:15pm -Workshops and Seminars

1:30-2:30pm - Catered Lunch

2:30-6pm - Workshops and Seminars

8pm-??? - Haflat Layl Dinner Show

Sunday April 27th, 2014

9am- Check in

10-1pm - Master Classes

1:15-2:15pm - Catered Lunch

2:30-4:30pm - Workshops

Please Click Here to Register!

Friday Evening Workshops and Seminars

5-6pm: Nada El Masriya

Alexandrian ~ Learn about this sassy, flirtatious and vibrant dance with the Malaya from the city of Alexandria, Egypt. (Please bring a veil or Malaya Leff)

6:15-7:15pm: Roula Said
Zagat and Self Accompaniment ~ Learn the intricacies of zagat/zyll rhythms and how to accompany your music with dance!

7:30-8:30pm: Jalilah Zamora
Musical Interpretation and Improvisation ~ How to interpret the multiple dynamic and subtle changes in Arabic music with improvisation.

Saturday Workshops and Seminars

10-12pm: Nada El Masriya

Oriental Opening and Exits~ Learn the tricks to opening and exiting during a traditional Oriental Dance number.

10-12pm: Audra Simmons

Fusion:  the Music and the Movement - This workshop explores the give and take relationship between electronic music, and fusion belly dance with a hands (and-hips) on approach.  We'll examine how the beeps and bops of music not traditionally used for belly dance influences the movement choices and their execution in fusion dance.  Open to all levels, no previous experience in tribal or tribal fusion belly dance required.

12:15-1:15pm: Dr. George Sawa

Dance Rhythms ~ Learn about the main dance rhythms in Arabic Music, their patterns and their context.

12:15-1:15pm: Johara

Sha’aby – Cairo Street StyleSha’aby  is the name for a style of living, style of dance, and style of music. The term “Sha’aby refers to the poorer, lower class areas of the City of Cairo and the Sha’aby music is what is enjoyed in these neighborhoods.  Today’s  Sha’aby music is a product of post-revolution times and is the voice of the people. It is music that is a little bit rougher around the edges and more playful than mainstream pop music found in Egypt. In this 1 hour workshop, Joharah breaks down easy-to-learn Sha’aby style dance technique and sequences to a song that everyone will enjoy getting down to! Earthy but high energy styling be prepared to smile the entire time, feel happy and get crazy with Sha’aby technique and combos. 

(Lunch 1:30-2:30pm)

2:45-4:45pm: Dr. George Sawa and Roula Said

Arabic Musicology and Singing ~ In This exciting workshop, Dr. Sawa and Roula discuss the intricacies in Arabic Music and Song.  Learn how the songs that you dance to, work!

2:45-4:45pm: Jalilah Zamora

Ghawazee ~ After years of training with the Egyptian Ghawazee(Gypsy), Jalilah brings Oriental dance back to it's roots!  With an emphasis on authentic Ghawazee technique and musical interpretation, you are sure to be enthralled with this raw and earthy dance style.

Sunday Workshops and Seminars

10-12pm: Nada El Masriya
Saiidi ~ Learn the technique of this upbeat and traditional dance with big strong grounded movements from Upper Egypt. 

10-12pm:Hiba
Drum Solo Dynamo - Learn a dynamic and inspiring drum solo choreography that will leave your audience breathless!  

10-12pm: Jalilah Zamora

Oriental Choreography ~ Learn a beautiful Oriental Choreography in Jalilah's elegant style!

12:15-1:15pm: Roula Said

7- Waves Lab ~ Seven Waves is a movement lexicon that is deeply rooted in Arabic movement practices and is also informed by the body wisdom of many other traditions. It is relaxing, invigorating, awakening, strengthening and fun. It sloughs of staleness and stuck places, tunes the senses, and invites more life force and spaciousness into the body. It truly is a discipline of pleasure. Beware, Seven Waves can cause joyful bellydance and ecstatic whirling.

12:15-1:15pm: Joharah

Energetic & Sexy Modern Oriental – Cairo Style

In this 1 hour workshop, Joharah captures the mood, the feeling and the movements of today’s Cairo style Bellydancer! The music is exciting, sexy, powerful and full of life.  The Dancer is all of that and more ... never losing that feminine, coquettish charm that exemplifies all that Egyptian Raqs Sharqi.  Joharah will teach modern Oriental technique together with a variety of bold and playful sequences and fun footwork that is sure to add a new sense of soul to your dance.

12:15-1:15pm: Hiba

Advanced Technique ~ The Art of Layering

In this workshop, Hiba will give you tips and technique to allow your body to connect movements into layers seamlessly. 

(Lunch 1:30-2:30pm)

2:45-4:45pm: Audra Simmons

The Same, only Different - Although Tribal Fusion and traditional belly dance use a similar movement base, the way in which the movements are executed helps to create some of their visual differences.  Join Audra as she explains and illustrates the how's and why's of this aesthetic deviation as we explore the in's and out's of some original Dark Side Tribal Fusion combinations.  Open to all levels, no previous experience in tribal or tribal fusion belly dance required.

2:45-4:45pm: Dr. George Sawa

Understanding Arabic Musical Forms and their effect on Choreography

2:45-4:45pm: Johara

Romantic Egyptian Technique and Combinations - Joharah teaches technique and a variety of combinations to some of the most romantic modern Egyptian music of today. Learn how to move, express and emote and gesture with heart and soul. This is the epitome of "Dance Like Nobody's Watching!"

Friday Night Hafla

Haflat Helou 10-????

Dessert Party and Spirited Punch with Attendee Performances in a casual party atmosphere!

Saturday Night Hafla

Haflat Layl 8pm-???

Dinner Buffet
Spirited Punch
Performances by all of the Guest Artists!