Cairo Caravan 2010 Workshop Schedule
MECDA's 33rd Annual Cairo Caravan, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA,1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802
Click this link to purchase now! http://www.cc10workshops.eventbrite.com
The mail-in Order form is No longer available.
Workshop registration open to MECDA members only until February 25th, they will be open to the general public starting February 26th. All Pre-sale registration closes on May 28th. PRESALE REGISTRATION EXTENDED (FOR ONLINE TICKETS ONLY) UNTIL JUNE 1ST!!! GET YOURS NOW! All tickets after this date may be purchased at the door on a first-come, first-served basis (based on availability). Cash Only At Door!
Workshop Packages are PRESALE ONLY.
3 or more workshops $31 each ($41 non-members)
6 or more workshops $28 each ($38 non-members)
9 or more workshops $25 each ($35 non-members
Individual Workshop Prices:
$35 each MECDA Member/ $45 non-member (advance sales)
$45 each MECDA Member/ $55 non-member (at the door)
(Please note that workshops are in multiple locations.)
Friday, June 4th—Britannia Salon
3:00 – 5:00 PM
Cassandra Shore: Khaleegy (Arabian Gulf) Women's Dance
Cassandra will teach typical moverments from this Saudi/Kuwaiti women's social dance. The word khaleegy means "from the Gulf region." Khaleegy dance is performed traditionally at women-only celbrations like wedding parties throughout the Arabian Gulf countries. An intrergal part of the dance is the colorful and beautifully embroidered thobe nashal (embroidered big dress). We will do the stylistic techniques and learn the traditional setting for dances at womens parties. If time permits we may learn to sing a short song…I will bring a few extra thobes. If students don’t have one, a large skirt will suffice…
5:30 – 8:30 PM
Leela: Belly Thriller! Calling all belly dance ZOMBIES!!
Learn all the COOL MOVES from 'Thriller', and dance it Belly Dance Style! You KNOW you wanna rock it like M.J. and the Zombies: Includes all the technique and choreography, even a mini-Drum Solo finale for that Super Hot Belly Dance POP! Workshop includes written choreography notes. Amazing 'Belly-THRILLER!' instructional DVD available for purchase, DVD includes FREE music CD for your 80's style undead-dancing pleasure!
VERY SPECIAL INVITATION for WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS from Leela: Learn the piece on Friday, June 4th; then dance it onstage with Leela on Saturday, June 5th! TWICE!! YES! YOU can dance in Leela's Saturday afternoon show at Cairo AND in the very special EVENING SHOW that night as well! No previous dance experience required, costuming will be EASY, Leela will get you completely prepared to perform 'Belly-THRILLER!' with her Troupe, and off you go! Wooooooooooo-Hooooooooooooooo!
Leela's Cairo Caravan show for 2010 is entitled 'Pop! Pop!!: Songs You Know, Dances you LOVE, All with the Leelabellydance Twist!' Questions? Please contact Leela: LeelaBellydance@gmail.com, 818.601.7882
Friday, June 4th—Britannia Salon Outdoor Deck
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Jeremiah Soto: Drummer/Dancer Communication
OPEN TO ALL DRUMMERS AND DANCERS! Learn how to talk with and understand what a dancer wants for her set. Make suggestions, but most importantly, work with each other. It will make the musicians and dancers look good! Bring notes!
Friday, June 4th—Windsor Salon
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Amy Sigil: Hi! My Name is ITS!
Hi! My name is Improvisational Tribal Style, 'ITS' nice to meet you! This workshop starts at the very beginning of UNMATA's improvisational vocabulary. The concepts, the stall moves, leader postion, lead changes, circles and choruslines. Inspired by Carolena's American Tribal Style, then re-vamped and re-styled to fit the powerhouse that is UNMATA.
Saturday, June 5th—Britannia Salon
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Mira Betz: The Art of Professional Performance
This innovative workshop is open to dancers of all levels and backgrounds. After hours of preparation in classes, practice in front of the mirror, and rehearsal, how are you at presenting yourself as a professional performer?
This workshop offers the tools—both practical and theoretical—to break into or enhance your professional appearance. It will provide insight into job-seeking, costuming, make-up tips, promotional packages, as well as explore the elusive notions of stage presence, charisma, "handling" the audience, and much more.
This workshop is tailored to the participants present. Bring any promotional material you have on yourself, dance photos, your make-up, a costume you are working on, and dress in comfortable clothing.
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Princess Farhana: Great Eights "ALL FIGURE EIGHTS, ALL THE TIME!"
This workshop is dedicated to the belly dance staple, The Figure Eight, in all its myriad forms! No matter what style of belly dance you perform, you will be able to incorporate these unique Figure Eight variations into your dancing.
After warming up and stretching, we will go over safe posture, knee and pelvic placement and postions, and Figure Eight foundations for the hips and upper torso, and the expand on them to include unique variations on the basics, including shimmy layers, uneven eights, speed and level changes, combining them with undulations, as well as traveling and turning with eights. We will go over footwork and floor patterns for some luscious combinations, as well as beautiful arm work to frame them. This class is open to all levels. Class notes provided.
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Ariellah: Darker Fusion Belly Dance Combinations and Choreography
Learn Ariellah's unique style of belly dance by working with her on dark fusion belly dance combinations and choreography. The workshop includes a yoga-infused warm up and repetitive drilling of dark fusion-infused belly dance combinations. Students will learn a short piece of choreography that infuses the combinations learned in the workshop.
4:30 – 6:30 PM
Sabrina: Drum Solo with a Live Drummer (with Donavon!)
Learn the secrets of creating a live improvisational drum solo. Tips, techniques, and tricks to staging on the fly. Learn the skill of communicating with your drummer while improvising a show together.
Saturday, June 5th—Britannia Salon Outdoor Deck
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Jeremiah Soto: Drumming with Melodic Instruments
OPEN TO ALL MUSICIANS! There etiquette when playing with melodic instruments. Most of the time, the melodic instument's player struggles to hear or be heard. We will learn exercises on holding back and be split into groups.
Saturday, June 5th—Windsor Salon
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Dondi: Tender and Upbeat, Kick-Butt Choreography
This workshop is a little Egyptian, a little folkloric, and a lot of spicy, passionate cabaret technique. It is a tender, upbeat, and kick-butt choreography to a song that will make your heart sing and your soul come alive. Come dance with Dondi to "Ya Ghayeb" by Fadl Shaker.
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Elizabeth Strong: Free Your Feet
Layer movements while traveling and utillize your dance space with fun combos. Get your Tribal-Style moving! Learn to layer the hips and chest over fast and slow travelin steps, and learn great turns to get the energy flowing in your dance and on the stage. Then, practice it all in short combinations.
2:30 – 4:00 PM
Cassandra Shore: Combinations to "Specialty" Rhthyms
Confused as to how to deal with the spice blends of non-traditional dance rhthyms like 10/8, 7/8, 5/4, 8/4, or a funky 6/8? Cassandra will break down the rhthyms to help de-mystify them, teach you a few combinations that fit each one, and show you where the main dancable accents are so you can create your own steps to these spicy moments!
Sunday, June 6th—Britannia Salon
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Ariellah: Yoga Infused Belly Dance
Mixed Level Belly Dance and no prior yoga experience necessary. Ariellah's workshop will focus on yoga-infused strengthening and stretching exercises that directly correlate to our belly dance movements and postures. These exercises will allow the student's body to open up to the movements of belly dance, including the shoulders, chest, belly and hips. A brief drilling section will follow a long, intensive yoga session, in order to better understand how the stretches correlate to the movements, allowing students to gain a more fuid, open, strong and grounded physique to accompany their dance practice. This workshop winds down with a shorter yogic cool-down to allow the body to retain the muscle memory learned in the course.
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Elizabeth Strong: Turkish Roman Fusion with Choreography
The more you know, the more confidantly you will express your unique voice. Elizabeth draws from her extensive knowledge of Turkish Roman (Gypsy) stylings to give you a basis in the form. From this backround, we learn a fusion choreography, integrating traditional folkloric movements with modern belly-dance and jazz elements. This workshop is sure to broaden your repertoire and expand your knowledge of rhythm.
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Amy Sigil: Well...we think it's slow!
Welcome to the softer side of UNMATA. We're switching the elixer from jet fuel to chamomile tea, and taking some time to smell the roses. This workshop features a selection of UNMATA'a rarely-seen slow repertoire, vinyasa-inspired warm-ups, and a chance to catch your breath.
Sunday, June 6th—Britannia Salon Outdoor Deck
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Valentina: Beginning Hoop Dance
The Hula Hoop has evolved! Once only a way to pass time for youngsters: now, a revolution in performance art, dance and exercise. Hoop Dance is the modern way to express yourself and work out! Hoop Dance will teach you muscle control and tone your body in way you didn't think was possible. Let yourself be lost in the power of the hoop. As a circle, it is the infinite symbol of health, fitness, playfulness and pure joy!
This is a basic Hoop Dance class primarily for beginners, but intermediate hoopers are also welcome! Hoops will be available to borrow or for purchase in class, or pre-order your custom hoop at www.unityhoops.com.
Sunday, June 6th—Queen's Ballroom
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Princess Farhana: Ab-Solutely Fabulous! "ALL ABDOMINAL TECHNIQUE"
Students must have basic belly dance technique to participate. It's time to BELLY dance...this special workshop will focus exclusively on abdominal technique and core strength, laying the foundation for truly incredible abdominal work. Learn how to flutter and achieve amazing belly rolls—we'll drill rolls upwards, downwards, and from side to side! You will also learn how to LAYER your abdominal movements, like the amazing "flundulation," a flutter layered over a belly roll; or combining abdominal work with figure eights and upper torso isolations. Also: stomach pops, many types of body waves and undulations, muscular and breath control. Pretty soon you'll be yellin', "That's Just How I Roll!" Class notes included.
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Dondi: Zambra Mora
Though there is little recorded about Zambra Mora, many maintain that it was the precursor to Flamenco. It is a sensual, emotional dance fusing two cultures and successfully combining Spanish passion and Arabic technique. Zambra Mora has been called one of the hottest dance styles in the belly dance world. Come learn a modern Zambra Mora choreography from Dondi!
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Mira Betz: Hip, Pow, Bang!
Get more "bang" out of every move! This class focuses on developing clean technique and bringing articulation, fluidity and grace to your every movement. Keep your audience's attention with sharp hits, strong form, beautiful poses, and distinctive combos; explore that extra edge that brings music to your dance!