I offer various types of workshops to fit your needs: ~ Oriental Dance workshops that either focus on choreography, or   concepts like creating choreography or combinations, music    interpretation, improvisation,  dancing to live bands, folkloric styling,   etc. ~ Rhythm &/or Percussion basics for Mideast dancers and troupes. ~ Also, seminars or lecture/demos for the general public (non-dancers   or dancers unfamiliar with this genre).   I have a large repertoire of original dances suitable for 3 to 4 hour* workshops, including: ~ Oriental solos ~ Dances with props such as sword, veil & double veil (regular or   3/4-circular) ~ Drum solos ~ Folkloric Egyptian (Ghawazee or Cane), etc.  * Why pay workshop prices for an exercise class? Workshop time frames quoted here are without "filler" - just a short warm-up pertinent to the particular workshop material.   However, I can add an extra hour to these classes at additional cost if you prefer longer warm-up & cool-down segments.

Workshops for General Audiences

Introduction to Oriental (belly) Dance (1+1/2-2 hours)
A brief history of this traditional women's dance of the Mideast; instruction in the basic isolations, movements and foot-patterns (active participation); followed by short performance.

Belly-robics (1 hour)
Tired of the same old exercise routine? Dance to exotic music with bellydance moves and combinations
in a workout unlike any other! Increase your flexibility and muscle tone in a low-pressure environment. Suitable for all body types. (Active participation)

Workshops for Oriental Dancers

- Concept-based workshops

Understanding Music, Rhythm & Choreography  (2-3 hours)
How to interpret music visually so your dance reflects the music's intricate and complex layers.
Choreography explained! Simple compositional techniques you can use to improve your presentation
whether improvising or creating choreography.

Aesthetics in Oriental Dance  (2-3 hours)
Underlying concepts and principles that govern movement as it's transformed into art.
The fundamentals of breath, pulse, rhythm; line, shape, and extension are incorporated into
poses, turns and movement combinations to help you identify and experience these principles.

Persian Dance Stylings for Oriental Dancers  (2-3 hours)
Add the delicate, graceful and stylized poses and footwork of Persian Dance to your movement repertoire.
Anthea shares the unusual poses, footwork patterns, and graceful arm and hand movements learned from Persian dance masters Mohammed Khordadian, Shahrazad Javaheri, and Robyn Friend. Also, examples of Persian music and how to count it.

Strictly Percussion: Ensemble Basics (2 hours; a non-dance workshop)
Create your own rhythm-songs - if you can play finger cymbals, you can play percussion!
We'll learn several dance rhythms and stroke techniques for doumbek, tar, and riq;
explore group dynamics and unravel the mysteries of interlocking rhythms and decorative accents,
adding other percussion instruments like maracas, agogos, bells. Bring your percussion instruments.

- Choreography-based workshops

Music Interpretation and Skeletal Choreography to Ba'id Anak
Combinations & concepts for the Entrance, beledi, and taqasim sections that form the traditional Oriental solo; using a short excerpt from "Ba'id Anak" (by Samir Srour), a popular Oriental dance piece.

Music Interpretation and Choreography to Zeina  (3 hours)
A beautiful solo choreography to Hossam Ramzy's rendition of an old favorite explored
and broken down - we'll focus on MUSIC INTERPRETATION on a practical level, not just theory -
a MUST for choreographers.
Also, concepts for structuring your improvisation during the taqsim section.

Village Dance: Beledi  (2 hours)
Earthy stylings to funky Bedouin music "of the Qaria" (village), released by Ibrahim Farrah.
This folkloric dance can incorporate cane or sagat.

The "Big 4/4"  (2 hours)
Masmoudi, beledi, ayub: THE most popular rhythms in Arabic/Egyptian dance music.
Learn combinations that integrate you into the rhythm. Can be performed as a solo or duet
(includes staging suggestions); optional finger cymbal patterns also.
- Additional class on Mideast percussion (1 hour): learn strokes and the "Big 4/4" patterns on
  doumbeks, tars, and riqs. (Limited instruments available to share)

Dance Combinations  (2 hours)
Simple yet elegant Oriental Dance combinations to various rhythms & tempos, including taqasim
concepts. Can be adapted for prop dancing (veil, sword, cane, sagat) also. All combinations are
listed on my Dance Combinations pages.

A Capella Finger Cymbals I  (2 hours)
(Intermediate skill level required)
Short but impressive solo dance choreography with finger cymbal accompaniment - no music!
Learn interesting cymbal patterns and distinctive touches, integrated with elegant combinations.

A Capella Finger Cymbals II  (2 hours)
(Advanced skill level required)
Anthea's exciting and unique Finger Cymbal Solo as seen on "Lifting the Veil of Time" video!
A great way to develop speed and accents in your finger cymbal playing.

- Many other choreographies available, suitable for solos & groups (intermediate level & above).