Maria_Aya
New member
Hi there
Reading the thread about the level of students in workshops started thinking some things and came up with this thread lol (seems that its a cool day today and not running around... yet lol)
So, from my crazy long experience in workshops + 70 now, just some general observations that might are helpfull for students and teachers and dancers.
First of all for me I divide the workshops depending of the background of the teacher. Seems that is very important.
So:
Arab teachers living in arab world:
From my experience at 95% there is no break down of any movement, its granded that you have a level in dance and special at arabic style of dance.
There are 2 basic categories of how to teach choreo's (usual the workshops are choreo's that give the movements of a style).
The first is the classic way the teacher gives a musical-movement phrase and repeat and proceed, the second is the known arabic system of "follow my butt" lol. Which means that teacher start to dance and you got to follow him/her. It may seem wierd, but gives the inside of the arab dance since its based on the communication movement-music.
Till now for me the 5% of breaking down movements to the point you cant get it more is Mahmoud Reda, Farida Fahmy, Suha Azar and Mohamed Shahin.
Arab teachers living abroad
Here they have in general a very good system of teaching, breaking down info, giving advice etc, also there is a good level of communication in the language.
My fav are Hossam Ramzy (ok he is my favorite anyway lol) for his musical interpretation workshops and understanding arab music and he is an experience by his own, Khaled Mahmoud (privite lessons with him are Heaven on Earth) and Yousry Sharif, and I've heard the best for Momo Kadous
Big names
Well.... you can get from the best to the sh...
Ohh my they can be moody !!!! Dont want to share stories here.
When I decide to go to a BIG name workhsop, i'm prepared to learn more about the person than the dance. And its not bad, cause we can actual learn many things about how to evolve as dancers and professionals.
Of course there are the great ones also, as Reda and Fahmy
American Instructors
In 90% extremly teqnical aproach of the dance, and the choreo.
I prefer them when I want to learn something in details.
What is missing on my opinion is that the very teqnical aproach takes away the heart and the soul of the dance.
BUT... on my opinion American Instructors are the best if you wanna study Tribal. And the soul is there !!!
European Instructors
We are the crazy ones !!!! lol
An experience by its own.
You never know what you are gonna be getting.
It may be the best it may be the worst, but you are gonna have fun lol
Subjects that you can get:
Astrobellydance, Explore your inner self with bellydance, BellyYoga, BellyReiki but ofcourse all the arab styles and all the international styles of bellydance.
My fav is Chryssanthi, that have the ability to explain the difficult things and make them easy to get, and Serkan because of his personality and patient in class.
So from all different teachers we can gain things.
Even from workshops that we dont like 100% we can learn what not to do !!!
Maria Aya
The workshop investigator
Reading the thread about the level of students in workshops started thinking some things and came up with this thread lol (seems that its a cool day today and not running around... yet lol)
So, from my crazy long experience in workshops + 70 now, just some general observations that might are helpfull for students and teachers and dancers.
First of all for me I divide the workshops depending of the background of the teacher. Seems that is very important.
So:
Arab teachers living in arab world:
From my experience at 95% there is no break down of any movement, its granded that you have a level in dance and special at arabic style of dance.
There are 2 basic categories of how to teach choreo's (usual the workshops are choreo's that give the movements of a style).
The first is the classic way the teacher gives a musical-movement phrase and repeat and proceed, the second is the known arabic system of "follow my butt" lol. Which means that teacher start to dance and you got to follow him/her. It may seem wierd, but gives the inside of the arab dance since its based on the communication movement-music.
Till now for me the 5% of breaking down movements to the point you cant get it more is Mahmoud Reda, Farida Fahmy, Suha Azar and Mohamed Shahin.
Arab teachers living abroad
Here they have in general a very good system of teaching, breaking down info, giving advice etc, also there is a good level of communication in the language.
My fav are Hossam Ramzy (ok he is my favorite anyway lol) for his musical interpretation workshops and understanding arab music and he is an experience by his own, Khaled Mahmoud (privite lessons with him are Heaven on Earth) and Yousry Sharif, and I've heard the best for Momo Kadous
Big names
Well.... you can get from the best to the sh...
Ohh my they can be moody !!!! Dont want to share stories here.
When I decide to go to a BIG name workhsop, i'm prepared to learn more about the person than the dance. And its not bad, cause we can actual learn many things about how to evolve as dancers and professionals.
Of course there are the great ones also, as Reda and Fahmy
American Instructors
In 90% extremly teqnical aproach of the dance, and the choreo.
I prefer them when I want to learn something in details.
What is missing on my opinion is that the very teqnical aproach takes away the heart and the soul of the dance.
BUT... on my opinion American Instructors are the best if you wanna study Tribal. And the soul is there !!!
European Instructors
We are the crazy ones !!!! lol
An experience by its own.
You never know what you are gonna be getting.
It may be the best it may be the worst, but you are gonna have fun lol
Subjects that you can get:
Astrobellydance, Explore your inner self with bellydance, BellyYoga, BellyReiki but ofcourse all the arab styles and all the international styles of bellydance.
My fav is Chryssanthi, that have the ability to explain the difficult things and make them easy to get, and Serkan because of his personality and patient in class.
So from all different teachers we can gain things.
Even from workshops that we dont like 100% we can learn what not to do !!!
Maria Aya
The workshop investigator