Dance and Art News

SECOND SUNDAY with SAMRA Series

Based on requests, Samra will be offering mini-workshops on Sunday afternoons. Each workshop will focus on a theme and will include:

A comprehensive warm up applicable to the topic of the day
Detailed breakdown of the steps learned
10 combinations
DRILL of steps and combinations
Question and Answers/Review
Cool down
Written notes for home practice containing suggested list of music.

Some of the topics are available on DVDs sold at discount to workshop participants.

All workshops will be held at Moving Arts Center, 99 Coulson Street, Woodlawn, VA 24381
Time - 3:00-5:00
Maximum of 12 participants for each class.
Cost: $25 for each workshop. (only $20 if paid NO LATER than 2 weeks prior to each one). $95 for the whole series in advance, plus a gift. No refunds unless the class is cancelled, but tuition is transferable with previous approval by Samra. Participant of ALL workshops will receive a Certificate of Completion from Moving Arts Center signed by Samra. After the final workshop of the series a Hafla and dance celebration will be held.

SUNDAY, August 10
“ Keeping the eyes on the hands and… the hips!”
Half the workshop will be dedicated to graceful, communicative, and hypnotic arm and hands movements. The other half will focus on tricky hip combinations using the basic 8 hip directions.

SUNDAY, September 14
“ Fun with Fusion and Tribute to Tradition”
With the globalization of the world, fusion in the arts becomes a way of life. Many forms of dance have elements in common. Samra will teach one 32 count simple combination to each of these styles of dance, which can be incorporated into creative and interpretive dance fusion: Joged Bumbum/Jaipongan (Bali/Java), Salsa (Caribbean), Samba (Brazil), Rom (Turkey), Bollywood (India).
The second half of the workshop with be devoted to the dancers of the Golden Era of Egypt and the Middle East. Samra will share her favorite combination that she learned from Soheir Zaki in Egypt in 2001, as well as combinations learned from other dancers of the Golden Era via intensive video analysis, and from master instructors who have dedicated their lives to study their styles. 5 elegant combinations of “Classical” Oriental dance will be taught and drilled.

SUNDAY, October 12
“Unlimited Floating Objects” UFO Day.
Float on your own magic carpet. Class will focus on ways to present floating props for dramatic entrance, framing, development of the dance, exit and keeping the “mystery”. Bring what you have to play and to share if you have extras: Veils, Wings of Isis, Scarves, Big Skirts, Fans, Vois, Streamers, Ribboned Tambourines, etc.

SUNDAY, November 12
“All You Need Is Balance”
Technique, Tricks and Tips for balancing props, plus combinations that can be adapted for each. Bring what you have: basket, cane, swords, candles, shamadan, tray and more.
Some floor work will be included as an option. Bring a small towel or knee pads (optional) . During the Q &A segment, those who wish may share prop tips with each other, or how to avoid mini disasters (Like how not to propel your cane from your head onto the audience? ).

SUNDAY, December 14
“The Gift Of Love”
Bring someone your love to this workshop. We will learn simple combinations that you can do as duo, or solo. Since we will rotate partnership, partners are not required, however. We will have lots of fun. Bring Finger Cymbals and we will do a couple of combinations with partnered Zils. A relaxing way to overcome Zilphobia.

After this last workshop we will have a Hafla and Dance Games to celebrate our dance, new friends and love for all.