CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
**NEW!** THE COMPLETE BELLY DANCE SET (3 or 4 hours) *Bring a veil
CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Every serious belly dancer knows a proper performance set complete with intro, taksim, drum solo and exit. This choreography-intensive workshop explores the intricaces of entering and exiting the stage, as well as transitioning between songs and moods. Your full performance set will be choreographed from start to finish, leaving you completely stage ready.
(Music: songs used will depend on the length of the length of the workshop, as will the duration of the choreography)
**NEW!** THE PERFECT TAKSIM (2 or 3 hours)
CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
An ooey gooey, improvised taksim will leave the audience wrapped around your little finger. Explore the sultry, free feeling of losing yourslef in the slow, emotional taksim balady. We will emphasise the contrast between pauses and movements, between sharp and soft, and between resistance and flow. Strong emphasis will be placed on projecting to the audience and expressing emotion through movement and facial expressions. Learn how to build a "skeleton choreography" that leaves breathing room for improvisation.
(Music: Balady Ala Accordion by Hassan abou el Seud. This song can be downloaded on Amazon, iTunes, or the physical album can be purchased here)
**NEW!** FAN VEIL BASICS (2 or 3 hours)
CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Learn why fan veils are currently the most popular new prop in belly dance. Michelle guides you through basic technique then puts it all together in an explosive and vibrant choreography.
3 SONGS EVERY BELLY DANCER SHOULD KNOW(2 or 3 hours) *Bring a veil
CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Every belly dancer has to have choreography to the classics up her sleeve if she is to consider herself truly literate in this art form. Studying the classics will not only get you in touch with the pure essence of raks sharki style, but it will help you to request songs when working with a live band (or in other on-the-spot situations). In this workshop we will be learning a few combinations to go with some of the classics.
(Music: any combination of Aziza, Leylet Hob, Mishaal, Enta Omri, or Alf Leyla)
AMERICAN/EGYPTIAN POP CABARET BELLYDANCE(2 or 3 hours)
CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Learn an American-style, pop cabaret belly dance routine with Egpyptian influences. This choreography emphasizes unexpected direction changes, traveling and sharp isolations. We will discuss the dynamics of a successful cabaret routine while learning a fast and sassy choreography.
(Music: Efred by Dr Samy Farag from the CD Midnight Magic This song can be downloaded for $0.99 here.)
Please note that this workshop can be taught to an alternate piece of music if requested in advance.
CLASSIC BELLY DANCE ROUTINE(2 or 3 hours) *Bring a veil
CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
This is a classic raks sharki choreography with a veil entrance. With an emphasis on veil work, rhythm changes, and expressive styling and gestures this choreography explores all the key ingredients to capturing the Arabic flavor of the music. We will work on cultivating an unhurried and confident attitude toward the dance.
(Music: Olooloo by Cairo Orchestra from the album Aziza Raks. This song can be downloaded for $.99 here.)
Please note that this workshop can be taught to an alternate piece of music if requested in advance.
ADVANCED DRUM SOLO CHOREOGRAPHY(2 or 3 hours)
CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
This advanced level drum solo choreography is not for the faint hearted! We will be using layered shimmies, freezes and lots of tight isolations to put together a show-stopping drum solo with an exciting climax.
(Music:Balady Malfuf by Tony Mouzayek)
SHIMMIES AND ISOLATIONS/ DRUM SOLO CHOREOGRAPHY (2, 3, or 4 hours)
TECHNIQUE AND CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
In this workshop we will work on shimmies, belly rolls, hip locks, and chest isolations. We will drill the moves individually, then we will put them together as we work on layering. We then put these techniques together into a drum solo choreography.
(Music: Sawraji Tabla from the Layali Al Sharq album. This song can be downloaded for $0.99 HERE)
(alternate music: Tabla Solo 4 by Drumspyder from Kytheria. This song can be downloaded here for $0.99)
VEIL TECHNIQUE/ CHOREOGRAPHY(2 or 3 hours) *Bring a veil
TECHNIQUE AND CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
We will learn combinations that are full of interesting veil tricks. From basic veil technique to difficult release and grab tricks, this workshop will discuss everything you need to know about doing veil. Time permitting, we will put learn a choreography.
Music: Nova Raks from the album Shik Shak Shok. This song can be downloaded for $0.99 here
Alternate music: Yearning from the Album Unveiled. This song can be downloaded here
SWORD DANCING (2 or 3 hours) *bring a sword
TECHNIQUE AND CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Technique and drills for balancing a sword that will emphasize level changes, traveling and dynamic movement. A choreography will be taught, time permitting, that can be done to Alf Leyla Wa Leyla.
MIDDLE EASTERN FUSION CHOREOGRAPHY WITH A TECHNO BEAT (2 or 3 hours)
CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Perfect for night clubs and western audiences, this choreography takes the techno back beat of Said Mrad's "Move", this intermediate level choreography mixes some fast level and direction changes, with some classic belly dance technique. The result is an unexpected mix of sultry smoothness and raw, sexy energy, guaranteed to wake up an audience! Depending on the length of the workshop, extra technique, drills and combinations may be taught.
(Music: Move by Said Mrad from the album Another Thousand and One)
Please note that this workshop can be taught to an alternate piece of music if requested in advance.
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOPS
**NEW! SHIMMY TILL YOU DROP(90 minutes - 2 hours)
TECHNIQUE & FITNESS WORKSHOP
Ready to make a shimmy breakthrough? In this workshop we will explore all aspects of that quintessential belly dance move: the shimmy! We will work on technique, strength and stamina while adding layers and footwork. Michelle discusses timing, various methods of sustaining a strong shimmy, the many types of shimmies, and how to troubleshoot a "stuck" shimmy. Several combinations that demonstrate these techniques are also taught.
**NEW! THE WOW FACTOR: DIRECTION CHANGES AND LEVEL VARIATIONS(90 minutes - 3 hours)
TECHNIQUE & FITNESS WORKSHOP
The secret to an exciting performance is to keep the audience guessing what you will do next. Learn several tips and tricks for putting an unexpected twist on regular belly dance movements. We will focus on contrast, direction changes, level variations, interrupting the movement, playing with timing, and cute accents. You will walk away with several performance-ready combinations as well as dozens of new tools to give your dance the "wow" factor!
**NEW! THE WELL ROUNDED PRACTICE SESSION(90 minutes - 3 hours)
TECHNIQUE & FITNESS WORKSHOP
This workshop has a little bit of everything. In addition to extensive technique drilling and improving dance stamina, we will be doing a variety of acting exercises to improve our stage presence, exploring relaxation and meditation techniques, doing deep stretching, using "brain teasers" to build our ability to layer movements, and utilizing Pilates-based movements to build core strength and body awareness.
**NEW! STEP, CHASSE AND SHIMMY - TRAVELING STEPS FOR BELLY DANCE (90 minutes - 3 hours)
TECHNIQUE & FITNESS WORKSHOP
Don't get stuck in one spot, claim your territory! We will whip across the stage using chaine turns, subtly meander during a taksim, and everything in between. We will work on layering belly dance isolations with foot patterns, explore traveling steps from the modern dance world, and discuss methods of having fluid transitions between static and traveling movements.
**NEW! BELLY DANCE BOOT CAMP(90 minutes - 4 hours)
TECHNIQUE & FITNESS WORKSHOP
Fun work and hard play! Michelle draws on her training as a fitness instructor to create the ultimate belly dance workout. In addition to drilling belly dance technique and posture, we will cross train in Pilates, yoga, and ballet to achieve the strength and stamina required of any dancer. Michelle will introduce unique exercises that will help you build long, lean muscles and a dancer’s body. Time permitting, diet and long term fitness goals will be discussed.
STAGE PRESENCE AND IMPROVISATION(2 - 3 hours) *Bring a veil
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
This workshop is all about re-vamping your performance skills! Good technique is vital but it is only half the story. Michelle discusses connecting with the audience and stage presence - tricks that will set you and/or your troupe apart and make you shine. Learn the dynamics of a stage show and explore methods of adding polish and professionalism to your dance. We will also address issues of nervousness, stage fright, improvisation and accident recovery. This workshop has an emphasis on learning techniques for attaining relaxation and calmness before and while we dance - vital skills for you and your students!
FINGER CYMBAL TECHNIQUE (2 hours) *bring cymbals
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
This workshop is designed to get you comfortable dancing with finger cymbals. You will learn dozens of finger cymbal patterns, then we will put them together with belly dance combinations. Emphasis on smoothly changing between dance moves and cymbal patterns.
CREATIVE COMBINATIONS (90 minutes - 3 hours)
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
Flex your choreography muscle while learning tons of versatile and creative moves that will add unpredictability and pizzazz to your dance. This workshop will expose you to a variety of techniques, interpretations, and styles including classical, jazzy, taksim, saidi, and even floorwork. We will explore ways to adapt these combinations to different situations and discuss methods for absorbing and retaining choreography. Perfect for the student who is looking for inspiration to put the zing back into their dance.
DRILLS (90 minutes - 2 hours)
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
This class is for intermediate and advanced dancers who are interested in doing some hard work and gaining some material you can use in classes or in practice sessions.
We will do shimmy drills, traveling drills, layering drills, isolation drills, and strengthening drills that draw on Michelle's experience as a personal trainer. Use them yourself and take them back to your students or troupe to improve the strength and technique of all. Even if you own the Drills! Drills! Drills! DVD, this workshop will contain new material.
FUNDAMENTALS OF BELLY DANCE (2 hours)
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
This workshop is designed for both students who have been dancing for under 18 months as well as teachers who are looking for new ways to inspire their beginners. We will go over the fundamentals to achieve rock-solid technique. In addition to detailed breakdowns and various technique-strengthening drills, students will walk away with a hand full of combinations that are clean, simple and dynamic. Teachers will be itching to get back to their classes to try out these inspiring techniques!
VEIL POI (2 hours) *bring 2 silk veils.
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
Poi kits will be available for purchase if you don't have one.
This is a great prop that is just starting to gain popularity. We will learn basic poi technique then cover several tricks and combinations that can be done when silk veils are attached.
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH WORKSHOPS
MASTER CLASS FOR TEACHERS (2 hours)
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH WORKSHOP
This unique workshop is designed for belly dance instructors and is also suitable for aspiring teachers and troupe leaders. Michelle uses her Masters Degree in Counseling to discuss different learning methods and the psychology behind class dynamics. We will also cover methods for breaking down and drilling movements, muscle memory and breaking bad habits, motivating and inspiring students, movement safety, and how to prepare students for performing. Michelle will also teach several unusual drills that you can take back to your students. (There is a lot of talking in this workshop, so it may not be appropriate in non-English speaking countries).
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (2 hours)
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH WORKSHOP
This is a unique opportunity to discuss everything from negotiating fees and contracts to techniques for entertaining different types of audiences. Marketing techniques, legal issues, being an independent businesswoman, undercutting, creating a professional image, branching out onto the national stage, drawing boundaries with clients and performing under less-than-perfect conditions are just a few of the topics that will be covered. This workshop was inspired by the Secrets of the Stage DVD series and allows professionals in the same geographic area to discuss industry standards. (There is a lot of talking in this workshop, so it may not be appropriate in non-English speaking countries).
BEYOND THE BUBBLE: HOW TO ACHIEVE RECOGNITION OUTSIDE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY (2 hours)
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH WORKSHOP
If you have ever asked yourself “how do I get international exposure?”, this workshop is geared toward you. Don’t be known as your local community’s “best kept secret”. Burst out onto the international stage! Stop sitting around waiting to be discovered and learn practical strategies for increasing your exposure and propelling your dance career forward.
Everything from winning competitions to filming DVDs will be discussed in this one-of-a-kind seminar. Michelle will also share insider information about working with workshop sponsors, photographers, DVD producers, and event organizers. (There is a lot of talking in this workshop, so it may not be appropriate in non-English speaking countries. Having a television or laptop projector available would be preferable, but not necessary.)
Michelle's
Credentials:
In addition to years of professional, international belly dance
experience, Michelle has a Master's in Counseling and holds many fitness instructor credentials:
~ Group Exercise Instructor Certification (NDEITA)
~ Personal Trainer Certification (NESTA)
~ Lifestyle and Weight Management Counselor (NESTA)
~ First Aid and CPR certified
