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TRIBAL FEST™ 12: “The Year of the Unicorn” CLASS SCHEDULE for SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2012
* FAIRFIELD INN! NEW this year! Classes at your hotel! (1101 Gravenstein Hwy. South, Sebastopol 95472) This is a new idea and the classes held here are very special. We’ve worked with the teachers closely on this to find offerings that will benefit you the most in this very intimate, one-on-one teaching and learning experience. Only 14 lucky dancers will get to take these classes, so don’t wait to sign up. Do double-check your Tribal Fest™ site classes to make sure you allow time to get to and from The Inn and back to Tribal Fest™, and that none of your classes overlap. There are no mirrors and the floor is carpeted. Here are today’s Fairfield Inn offerings:
Teacher: Donna Mejia Class
Title: Digital
Diasporas and Transnational Dance Communities: Examining the Formation
of Identity and Collective Cultural Memory in the Age of the
Internet How has the Internet changed how humans galvanize personal identity and collective cultural meaning in traditions such as dance? How has Internet Technology transformed and impacted the way humans formulate individual identity, collective cultural values, and the expression of meaningful traditions such as dance? How has Internet usage transformed aesthetic expectations amongst dance audiences and spectators? How has the Digital Diaspora affected thresholds of cultural tolerance and discourse between dance participants? How has the immediacy and abundance of Internet video modified the agency individuals employ in approaching unfamiliar movement traditions? How have Tribal Fusion community members normalized online/real-world behaviors that might be perceived as collective desensitization or culturally disruptive to future aspirants? How is the global popularity of Tribal Fusion viewed and/or manifested in Arab cultures? These questions will be examined with surprising and often amusing insights about our global citizenship.
Instructor Bio: Donna Mejia is a choreographer, lecturer, teacher, administrator, and performer specializing in contemporary dance, traditions of the African and Arab Diaspora, and emerging fusion traditions in Transnational Electronica. She is the first Tribal Fusion dancer to be awarded a full-time collegiate appointment, and developed the first history and theory course in transnational dance. For 10 years she was a faculty member at Colorado College and Director of the Colorado College International Summer Dance Festival. For twelve years she served as managing director of the award-winning Harambee African Dance Ensemble of CU-Boulder. With Harambee she was awarded the prestigious El Pomar Foundation grant, was featured in the March 1996 issue of Dance Magazine, performed for President Bill Clinton and Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and was hailed as the “Best of Boulder” for 3 years running. Donna is an authorized instructor of Brazilian Silvestre Modern Dance Technique and is a primary person assisting in codifying this esoteric study of dance and the body after 20 years of practice. Donna was the Guest Artist in Residence for Smith College Dance 2006 through 2009, and has been awarded extended residencies at the Naropa Institute, Mt. Holyoke College, Hampshire College, University of Northern Colorado, Taipei National University of the Arts, Bucknell University, Colorado State University, EarthDance, Jacob’s Pillow International Dance Festival and the Bates International Dance Festival. Donna achieved honors marks in the completion her Master of Fine Arts degree on full fellowship (which she will celebrate by participating at Tribal Fest 2012). She is director of the Sovereign Collective, a social action and performance ensemble. Additionally, she consults for publishers, theatrical productions, community organizations and nonprofits; is writing articles based on her research and teachings in the evolving field of identity/collective memory in the digital diaspora, ethics/integrity in global dance culture; and the deconstruction of the femme fatale caricature in dance. Her choreographic commissions and performances continue to generate outstanding critical reviews from print and digital press.
Skill Level: Open to All What to Bring: Notebook What to Wear: Anything you like, this is an interactive lecture class
Teacher: Deb Rubin Class Title: Dance Therapeutics: Low Back, Hips & Pelvic/Leg Relationship Description:
Drawing from Yoga Therapy, Traditional Thai Yoga Massage,
Feldenkrais and Deb’s personal “stash” from 15 years working in
the field of mind-body medicine, this workshop will focus on therapeutics,
proper alignment, injury prevention and self-care for the lower
body-a necessary tool in every dancer’s repertoire. A
Instructor Bio: At the root of it all, Deb Rubin just really, really likes to dance, and will forever consider herself a student on this path. She is extremely grateful to her teachers and inspirations, who have paved the way, encouraged her growth, and helped awaken a sense of possibility, artistry, tribe, personal power, and potential in both her dancing and her life. At the end of the day, that is what she holds most dear about this journey. Deb is very honored to be teaching again at Tribal Fest 12, to have the opportunity to gather with other dancers in our global tribe and share her passion, depth, experiences, and inquiry of this evolving art form from her unique, somatic perspective. One of the internationally-acclaimed tribal fusion belly dance artists coming out of the San Francisco Bay Area, Deb is honored to have shared the stage as a guest artist with some of her biggest musical and dance inspirations: Balkan Beat Box, Beats Antique, Brass Menagerie Balkan Brass Band, EOTO, Lynx&Janover, David Starfire, Vibesquad, Zilla, Fishtank Ensemble, Hamsa Lila, and Urban Tribal Dance Co. She plays with the juxtaposition of ancient and modern, vintage and contemporary, and how to create a tension of opposites in her dancing. Currently, Deb teaches and performs around the globe, sharing her unique stylization and yogic perspective of the dance. Her solid foundation of Tribal Fusion was seeded through her 5 years as a member and collaborating choreographer with Ultra Gypsy Belly Dance Theater, and as a regular sub for Jill Parker's classes (until 2007), who is known as the Mama of Modern Tribal Fusion. Deb is extremely influenced by her long-time teacher and major inspiration on this path, Rachel Brice, with whom she began studying in 2003, was honored to assist at Tribal Massive, 2008, and with whom she continues to study. Deb’s dance is also heavily influenced by her long-term, extensive studies with Mardi Love, Zoe Jakes, Heather Stants, Suhaila Salimpour, and her continued learnings from Cera Byer, Aubre Hill, Kami Liddle, Mira Betz, Amy Sigil, Carolena Nericcio, and Jamila Salimpour. A holistic health counselor, somatic educator, yoga teacher, and integrative bodyworker, Deb is also the founder of SattyaBody Women's Health. She teaches workshops and retreats around the globe fusing women's health and empowerment with yoga, tribal fusion belly dance, nature/sustainability, and creative expression. She is also the creatrix of SF Mecca Immersion, the world's premiere retreat intensive into the heart and soul of San Francisco Tribal. (www.sfmeccaimmersion.com) As a massage therapist and Yoga teacher for the past 12 years, Deb specializes in injury rehab for dancers and women's health. She is greatly influenced by her studies of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage in the hill tribes of Northern Thailand under the lineage of Asokananada, her vision quest experiences in the Northern California desert, and her Yoga teacher trainings with Integrative Yoga Therapy and AcroYoga, and Yoga studies with Darshana Weil, Shiva Rae, and Gary Kraftsow. She is currently working on an upcoming DVD of her dance therapeutics material. Deb has a BA in pre-med and psychology from Princeton University, and an MA in Holistic Health Education from JFK University, with an emphasis on Mind-Body Medicine and Somatic Psychology. You can find her writings published in Yoga Journal Magazine and in FUSE magazine. Currently, Deb is continuing her Yoga studies in the Viniyoga tradition with Gary Kraftsow, Mirka Kraftsow, and Rachel Brice, immersing in her belly dance studies with Rachel Brice, Suhaila Salimpour, Kami Liddle, and continuing to study modern, ballet, contact improvisation, and tango in the vibrant community of San Francisco. Deb was featured in FUSE magazine's Winter 2011 edition as "The Best Kept Secret in Tribal." For more on Deb, please visit: www.sattyabody.com
Skill Level: Open to All What to Bring: Yoga mat, strap or scarf, water What to Wear: Comfy dance workout attire
3:30-5:30
p.m. Teacher: Asharah Class Title: Mindful Fusion: Belly Dance, Culture, and Conscience Topics to be explored include:
Instructor Bio: Asharah is internationally renowned for her strong technique, dramatic fusion of tribal and cabaret belly dance, and concise teaching style. She has taught sold-out workshops throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe; her 2008 instructional DVD, Modern Tribal Bellydance with Asharah, has received rave reviews from dancers of all levels all around the world. She holds a B.A. from Princeton University in Near Eastern Studies, a Level 2 certification in the Suhaila Salimpour belly dance format, and a Level 1 certification in the Jamila Salimpour belly dance format. After living on the East Coast for 12 years, she has returned to her home state of California, and now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a student of Middle Eastern history, she believes that every belly dancer must know the history and culture of this dance, whether she is performing it in its traditional forms or fusing it with others. Read her blog on dance, art, integrity, and business at www.bdpaladin.com, and learn more about her upcoming events at www.asharah.com.
Skill Level: Open to All What to Bring: Notebook, an open mind, and respect for your fellow dancers What to Wear: Anything you like, this is an interactive lecture class
Now, back to the Tribal FestTM site, 390 Morris Street!
* YOUTH ANNEX, LARGE CLASSROOM – next to the Main Hall - maximum capacity 36 dancers. Mirrors, sprung bamboo dance floor. Bare feet or non-marking dance shoes only, please! 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Teachers: Rachel Brice Description: In this class we'll play with a few up-tempo combinations that Rachel's worked up just for Tribal Fest 12. The emphasis will be on precision, timing, and keeping posture while pushing beyond your perceived limits in a supportive and fun environment. All new material for your enjoyment! Instructor Bio: Rachel Brice first fell in love with Belly Dance while watching John Compton's famous Hahbi'Ru at the Northern California Renaissance Faire. She began classes immediately. 10 years later she relocated to acquire a Bachelor's Degree in Dance Ethnology from San Francisco State. While in the Bay Area she studied with Jill Parker, the creator of Tribal Fusion, Carolena Nericcio, the creator of American Tribal Style, and Suhaila Salimpour, daughter of the legendary Jamila Salimpour and creator of the equally legendary Salimpour Format. In addition to performing and teaching internationally, Rachel studies Viniyoga with Gary Kraftsow, and co-directs The Indigo Belly Dance Company with Miss Mardi Love and Zoe Jakes. 2007 marked The Indigo's first self-produced, full-length show Le Serpent Rouge, which sparked an old-timey revolution. Rachel lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Skill Level: Don't worry, only one year of belly dance experience required, but it should be a challenge for any level. What to Wear: Comfy dance workout wear What to Bring: Please bring finger cymbals, a water bottle, and a small towel. 11:45
a.m.-1:45 p.m. Teacher: Therese Wyatt Class Title: New BlackSheep Combos!!! Working in Trios- Inspired by the Unicorn Description: We will examine 3 new BlackSheep Combinations along with working in a trio and changing leads. Even if you and your troupe mates aren't familiar with the BSBD ATS vocabulary, these moves will get your troupe changing leaders and formations with ease! Let's not forget why Kajira named us BlackSheep- we will be using our left hip, giving verbal cues and taking the lead from 3 different positions. There won't be time for a cool down, we will be dancing up to the last minute. I will have hand outs so you don't need to stop and take notes. Yallah- Be there! Instructor Bio: Therese has been teaching for 22 years total. She taught as a Master SCUBA Diver Trainer for 15 years and certified over 100 students in various diving specialties such as Deep Water, Night Diving, Cold water Dry-Suit Diving, Medic First Aid, Photography, Enriched Air Diving, Rescue Diving, etc.. She started Oriental Dance in 1999 and has never looked back. Attending multiple seminars every year, she fell in love with ATS. Finding no one offering Tribal in her community she started researching and studying several different formats. She decided Kajira Djoumahna’s was the best fit because of the perfect balance in the use of hips, directions and stage. After completing her Level 1 and 2 Certification with Kajira she was invited to be a member BlackSheep BellyDance and participate with her sister Sheep as a dancer in Kajira’s 3 new Instructional DVDs. Therese is the founder of Daughters of The Dance in Springfield Illinois and is the first Satellite School in Illinois for BlackSheep BellyDance Synchronized Group Improvisation. Among many performances Therese has appeared in the State Journal Register, was featured on the cover of Illinois Times and has performed for the musical production Kismet. The Daughters perform regularly and are known for the joy and professionalism they bring to The Dance. Therese can be contacted at: Therese@DaughtersofTheDance.com www.daughtersofthedance.com
Skill Level: Some ATS, SGI and/or ITS experience helpful What to Bring: Water, small towel What to Wear: Comfy dance or ATS attire
Teacher: Suhaila Salimpour Class Title: Ismaouni Choreography Description: Suhaila's Ismaouni ("Listen to Me") choreography is a fresh take on 1970's style choreography with finger cymbals. Based on the Jamila Salimpour format, this Folkloric Fusion choreography is "ooey gooey" with lots of juicy and percussive elements. The rhythm layering between the cymbals and movements is challenging, but the result is dynamic! Music available on the "Suhaila's Supreme Selections:
The Instructor Bio: Suhaila Salimpour is a highly acclaimed performer, teacher, and choreographer of belly dance. Schooled from an early age in jazz, tap and ballet, Suhaila began integrating her extensive classical training with the Middle Eastern dance passed on by her mother, Jamila Salimpour. The result was a true artistic breakthrough: a revolutionary foundational technique that has brought the art of Belly Dance to a new level. In the U.S., Suhaila appeared on television series such as Fame and Max Headroom and choreographed various music videos. For six years, she was the featured dancer at Byblos, a prestigious Arabic nightclub in Los Angeles, where she shared the stage with the most renowned singers of the Middle East. Miles Copeland, owner of IRS records, prominently featured Suhaila in his 2005 documentary, American Bellydancer. Comedian Margaret Cho is currently producing and directing a documentary about Suhaila, and producing Suhaila's one-woman show. Suhaila is the artistic director and producer of Sheherezade, an acclaimed performing arts spectacle that mixes belly dance with the synchronization of Riverdance, the pounding rhythms of Stomp and the aerial artistry of Cirque du Soleil. For Sheherezade, Suhaila was nominated for an Isadora Duncan Dance Award ("Izzie")-making her the first performer in the belly dance genre to receive this prestigious nomination. Today, Suhaila creates instructional and performance videos for all dance levels, as well as fully-orchestrated Middle Eastern dance musicals and CD recordings of the latest percussion artists. In addition to touring across the globe, Suhaila maintains her second-generation family business, the Suhaila Salimpour School of Belly Dance, in Berkeley, California. Suhaila has developed and implemented the first-available certification program in Middle Eastern dance. Suhaila looks forward to expanding the audience for and appreciation of traditional Middle Eastern dance in a distinctly contemporary style.
Skill Level: Open, but some bellydance experience is helpful What to Bring: Finger cymbals, small towel, water What to Wear: Comfy dance workout attire
4:15-6:15
p.m. Teacher: Mimi Fontana with Manhattan Tribal Class Title: The “ATS Meets Turkish 9/8 Rhythm Project” Description: This innovative workshop combines the beauty of Classic ATS Vocabulary in the FatChance Style with the Turkish 9/8 Finger Cymbal Pattern. First we’ll start with the zills, practicing the basic pattern and getting comfortable with playing along to music, exploring which musical tonalities to use and variations on how to play the 9/8 pattern. Delving further in, we’ll experiment with which moves work best to enable each dancer to effectively and dynamically add the accented note of the 9/8 Rhythm. We’ll dance in formations with ATS combinations to drill how to zill and dance to this rhythm all the while maintaining the character and integrity of your ATS movement in an improvised format. Please have knowledge of these ATS Movements: Arabic Basic, Egyptian Basic, Turkish Basic, Shimmy Step, Choo Choo
Instructor Bio: Mimi Fontana is a driving force in the rapid growth of New York City’s Tribal Belly Dance community. After years in competitive ice skating and a decade as a professional touring and studio musician (bass guitar), Mimi Fontana turned her prodigious artistic attention toward ethnic dance – primarily American Tribal Style (ATS) belly dance.
In 2006, she founded Manhattan Tribal, New York City's first ATS
dance company. Studying with Carolena Nericcio, creator of ATS and
Director of FatChanceBellyDance (FCBD) in San Francisco, Mimi received
multiple certifications in the FCBD format, and was granted Sister
Studio status in 2008. For more information please visit: www.ManhattanTribal.com YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zelb0YShcU8
Skill Level: Basic/Intermediate knowledge of using finger cymbals, plus knowledge of the ATS steps mentioned above What to Bring: Finger Cymbals, water What to Wear: Full skirt or pantaloons & choli or other comfortable dance attire
Teacher: Ariellah Class Title: Pathways to Fluidity Description: Taking our dance to the next level involves many things, one of which I have found over the years is fluidity, and not only fluidity of movement which comes from muscle strength, but finding fluid pathways that stem from arm work and foot work. I would like to explore these pathways with you and aid the dancer in his/her quest to create a passionate flow of movement that will elevate the dancer’s technique. Instructor Bio: Ariellah is an international modern belly dance performer and instructor. She has an extensive dance background that includes a 12-year strict classical ballet training with the Royal Academy of Dance from London. She has studied and performed belly dance since 2001, commencing her training with Janine Ryle of Danse Mahgreb and as a founding member of The Indigo with Rachel Brice. Most recently Ariellah began training in classical Indian Odissi dance, studying in India at the Shakti School of Dance. Her style infuses many genres of dance, all with a modern dark flavour that is uniquely her own. She is featured on the first of its kind "Gothic BellyDance" DVD and also released her first instructional DVD, with plans for volume two up and coming. www.ariellah.com
What to Bring: Water What to Wear: Comfy dance workout attire
* YOUTH ANNEX, SMALL CLASSROOM – next to the Main Hall - maximum capacity 19 dancers. This is a very intimate dance space for one-on-one learning! Mirrors, plastic tile dance floor.
9:30-11:30
a.m. Teacher: Jill Parker Class Title: Liberation! Traveling Hip Movements for the Tribal Fusion Belly Dancer AND Shimmies Demystified & Deconstructed! Description:
In this classic
Jill Parker workshop, you will gain insight into her trendsetting
approach to belly dance. You will be asked to execute energetic
drills across the floor designed to bring awareness to control,
timing, and finesse. Jill's movement style is supple, articulate,
fluid, sensual and well-timed. With 20 plus years of teaching Jill
is masterful at building material sequentially, enabling students
access to accelerated learning. You'll find her workshop environment
insightful, challenging, supportive and most of all fun. Your traveling
hips will be stunning! Instructor
Bio: Jill Parker is
an award winning dancer and founder of the modern tribal fusion
belly dance movement. www.facebook.com/jillparkerbellydance http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2011/08/five_reasons_to_love_jill_park.php Skill Level: Open to All What to Bring: Water, a small towel What
to Wear: Comfy dance workout wear 11:45
a.m.-1:45 p.m. Teacher: Grace Constantine Class Title: Story Belly Description: In this class you will learn to harness the fairy tale for your solo performance, and learn to express deep emotion and fluid movement by living within the story. Grace will impart some of her favorite original creative concepts in her signature guided solo improv style, making creativity in movement seem effortless. After a yoga-style warm-up, you will begin with the seed of an original fairy tale, and as that story unfolds it will guide your unique solo improvisation. Be prepared to get sweaty! You will also discuss methods for using Aristotle’s three-part plot structure to form your dance, as well as Freytag’s five-part dramatic arc: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and dénouement. Come away with the tools to visualize and express elements of a story in bellydance, creating a performance that is thrilling to watch, and can be used in any style of performance. This class is useful for structuring performances with improvisation or choreography. We will begin and end with yoga-style stretching and strengthening exercises, and written class handouts will be provided. Instructor Bio: Grace Constantine is a guru of solo improvisational bellydance. She is the founder, director, and lead dancer of Deviant Dance Company, and maintains a thriving teaching practice at The Lair, her private studio in Portland, OR. She has taught improv bellydance workshops for ivy-league (Columbia University) and public schools (Portland Public School District), and has performed with countless wonderful musicians including Raquy & the Cavemen, Light Rain, & Underscore Orkestra. Grace won Zaghareet! Magazine's Golden Belly award for Best Kept Secret in 2008. She is a founding member of Dreams of Cleopatra, and a former member of Good Vibrations. She took her first bellydance classes over twenty years ago, but found her first home in 1996 while studying with Tatseena. Grace’s passion and stage presence have enthralled audiences across the country. Her fluid style is imbued with intricate, wild, and powerful storytelling. Her solo dances are always improvised. As an instructor, Grace does not teach formal choreography. She draws out the very best in her students by helping them to explore the emotional range of music with both mind & body. Grace provides fun and accessible methods for dancing extemporaneously, and becoming comfortable with interpreting music in the moment. Encouraging a focus on form and musicality, she helps dancers to develop a dance vocabulary that is natural and distinctive. The name Deviant Dance comes from the notion that each dancer’s style must be different—deviating from everyone else’s—for each dancer’s experience is unique. Grace lives in Portland with her adorable husband, a little black cat, a lizard named Trout, and a lovely garden. Her website is: www.graceconstantine.com and visit her on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Constantine.Grace Skill Level: Suitable for all levels, but some dance experience is helpful What to Bring: Water & a yoga mat, notebook optional What to Wear: Comfy dance clothes, we will get sweaty!
2:00-4:00
p.m. Teacher: Sera Solstice Class Title: Lunar Flow Description: Access the depths of the body, and the deep lineage of bellydance through movement. Lunar movement is focused upon isolations and fluidity in direct relationship to expression, and inner alignment. Meditation brings clear intention. Challenging combinations develop grace and fluidity. Also offered on Sunday is a complimentary class called “Solar Flare.” Check it out! Instructor Bio: Sera seeks to open the doorway between non-physical self, and the physical self via movement. She seeks to expand consciousness through movement, and to use dance as a method for inward journey, creating a marriage between the physical and non-physical.
Sera has chosen Bellydance as her primary medium for movement because
it is the most inward dance she has discovered. Sera believes that
some movements of Bellydance open a doorway to an ancient lineage
of women and wisdom, whereby a dancer may connect if she is dancing
in a trance-state.
Sera is director/choreographer of the dance troupe Solstice Ensemble, and
has taught numerous workshops and performed throughout Europe, South
America, and Asia. Sera's Choreography has been described as "complex,
content-rich, sublime, haunting, psychedelic, technically superb,
at the forefront of evolution of bellydance as an art form." Sera is a former core member of 3 acclaimed dance companies: Bellyqueen, The Silk Road Dance Company, and Raqs Sahara. Sera has the blessing to be able to study with many excellent instructors of our time. She credits the foundation of her technique, form, and discipline was by means of her formal apprenticeship with Rachel Kay Brookmire (of DC's Sahara Dance). More about Sera's projects at: http://www.boldbellydance.com/
Skill Level: Open, some bellydance experience helpful What to Bring: Water What to Wear: Comfy dance workout attire
4:15-6:15 p.m. Teacher:
Kami Liddle Description: Learn a playful, upbeat choreography of Kami's. This piece includes lots of surprising elements from turns, to traveling steps to gooey hip work and sharp locks. After earning her degree in Art with a Minor in Dance from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2005, she decided to pursue her passion full time and since then has performed and taught in over 20 countries. Kami toured with the Bellydance Superstars for nearly 6 years and was a contributing choreographer as well as the director of the Tribal Superstars. She is based out of San Francisco, CA and currently tours the world as a solo artist and occasionally with tours with Beats Antique.
Skill Level: Recommended for intermediate dancers as basic movements will not be broken down. What to Bring: Water, small towel if desired What to Wear: Comfy dance workout attire
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10:30
a.m.-12:30 p.m.
10:30
a.m.-12:30 p.m.
2:00-4:00
p.m.
6:30-8:30
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