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Asharah (Washington, DC) www.asharah.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Asharah first came to my attention because of her articulate writing on Tribe.net and in her blog. To find out that she is an amazing dancer and teacher has pleased me to no end and I can't wait to share her with you!
youtube.com/watch
youtube.com/watch
Asharah has been performing since the age of six as a dancer, figure skater, and singer. As a bellydancer, she is best known for her dramatic fusion of tribal and cabaret styles, but also has extensive experience in Turkish, Egyptian and American bellydance. She recently earned her Level 2 certification in the Suhaila Salimpour format, and aims to blend this format with American Tribal Style bellydance. Her technique, musicality, and finger cymbal playing skills have been noted and admired across the country. She is deeply grateful to Alexia (Kim Leary), Artemis Mourat, Suhaila Salimpour, and others who have guided her along the way.
In addition to traveling around the country to teach sold-out workshops, she teaches regular tribal belly dance classes at two of the Washington, DC, area's finest dance studios, Joy of Motion and Saffron Dance. She currently performs around the country and periodically at the Shisha Lounge in Sterling, Virginia. She will be releasing her first instructional DVD Modern Tribal Bellydance, produced by WorldDanceNewYork, in January 2008, and she is featured on the groundbreaking DVD Gothic Bellydance: The Darker Side of Fusion, produced by World Dance l;New York. From 2003-2005 she performed with the avant-garde troupe Martiya Possession and before that was a two year member of Raks Odalisque, Princeton University's Middle Eastern dance troupe. She also provided live percussion and graphic design for Maduro's debut release Shimmer Sustain.
Asharah is not only an accomplished dancer but also has a B.A. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University. Ever since her childhood, Asharah has been deeply interested in Middle Eastern arts and culture. 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.
Friday : 11:45-1:15pm
Asharah : The Cymbalist Movement, Integrating Finger Cymbals into Your Dance - Finger cymbals are an integral part of American Tribal Style bellydance, and can be a lovely accompaniment to a solo performance. However, many dancers often feel daunted by cymbal playing and have been using them less and less... Finger cymbals aren't scary, and this workshop will help you approach cymbals as an instrument and as a way to enhance your performance. With the right exercises, anyone can play cymbals and dance! Asharah will lead you through an intense warm up, teach drills that layer movements and cymbal playing, introduce common cymbal patterns found in Middle Eastern music, and teach a short dance combination focusing on the playing of your cymbals with the music and your movements.
Sunday : 10:00-11:30am
Asharah : Pops, Locks, and Tick-Tocks, Technical Tricks to Mechanize your Movement - Inspired by robots, experimental electronic music, and the poppin' and lockin' B-Boys of the 70s and 80s, Asharah has integrated mechanical movements into her expressive tribal fusion performances. In this workshop, Asharah will lead students through an intense warm up and then will show students how to break down traditional bellydance movements such as vertical hip figure-8s, shoulder rolls, torso undulations, turns, and arm waves into smaller and sharper parts to give your performances a robotic and creepy edge. After drilling these movements, she'll teach a short combination that demonstrates how these movements can be used in a performance. She'll also briefly discuss concepts of electronic music, how it is created, and how to listen to the nuances of music made by machines and computers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Donna Mejia (CO) www.donnabodyvision.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Donna has a growing fan base in the Tribal belly dance community for a very good reason...Tribal dancers love fusion and hers is not just bellydance fusion but dance fusion with a love for Tribal bellydance added in!
youtube.com/watch
Donna Mejia is a choreographer, lecturer, teacher, administrator, and performer specializing in contemporary dance, traditions of the African Diaspora, and new fusion traditions in world electronica. She taught at Colorado College for 10 years and was Director of the Colorado College International Summer Dance Festival for the last half of her term.
For twelve years she served as managing director of the award-winning Harambee African Dance Ensemble of CU-Boulder. She continues to teach, choreograph and perform Modern dance, Improvisiation, Hip Hop, Jazz, Arabic Tribal Fusion and traditional dances of the African Diaspora for Colorado College as well as colleges and dance festivals internationally. Donna is an authorized instructor of Brazilian Silvestre Modern Dance Technique.
Beginning September 2006, Donna will be in Massachusetts for a two-year assignment as Guest Artist in Residence with the Smith College Dance Department and the Five College Dance Department.
Donna shares her life with husband, Shatta (educator and musician); and daughter, Ajah (born 2001).
Thurday :
Donna Mejia : Presentation/Lecture - For the Love of the Craft: A Thoughtful Approach to Our Dance Legacy. Donna Mejia is the first to hold a Tribal Fusion position in the higher education system and will overview her provocative research regarding the ethics of dance fusion. The exploration of ethnic/cultural dance fusion mandates that artists reconcile the values of indigenous dance traditions with agendas of the entertainment world. This presentation will explore the inevitable transformation of old and new dance traditions in performance, and seek to define what responsibility choreographers/performers have as cultural ambassadors in a “cut and paste” environment. With her usual candor and humor, Donna will address the very controversial issues we have all encountered at one time or another in our love for, and dedication to, this genre.
Saturday : 10:30-12:00pm
Donna Mejia : “How Do You DO That!?” Curves, Slides, Waves and Hits - In this workshop, Smith College faculty member Donna Mejia details signature moves that she is asked about most frequently. After a vigorous warm up and substantial stretching, dancers will receive a variety of stationary and moving progressions that are intended to give heavy emphasis to the end of musical phrases and powerful downbeat accents. This workshop is all about responding to and punctuating the percussiveness in the music we enjoy.
Sunday : 3:30-5:00pm
Donna Mejia : Clarifying Technique The Art of Refinement and Physical Integrity - This workshop summarizes and details the most efficient tools for unleashing the intelligence of the body in dance. Topics covered include breathing techniques, optimal alignment, muscle efficiency and building longevity through precision and strength. Rather than focusing on choreography, Donna will detail cross-training tips from various classical traditions that create a sophisticated and polished dancer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jas of Khafif (PA) www.khafif.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jas' rhythm classes have become staples for the TribalCon attendees each year. Last year his music editing class was one of the most talked about classes since it is a hurdle that almost all dancers and musicians have to face.
www.youtube.com/watch
Jas drums for Khafif (a Middle Eastern bellydance fusion group), the Balkan Babes (Bulgarian Folk and Vocal Ensemble), and the Vardo Sisters (Balkan Romani music). He specializes in traditional rhythmic accompaniment to folk, fusion, and belly dance music on percussion instruments such as Darabuka/Dumbek, Riqq, Daf, and Tupan/Davul. When not playing percussion he also can be found playing an ancient Turkish folk stringed instrument called a Baglama Saz.
Aside from drumming he maintains a set of web pages on Middle Eastern drum rhythms, dabbles in building traditional musical instruments, works a day job as a computer-engineer/mad scientist, teaches about traditional rhythms, is restoring his 90 year-old Arts&Crafts style house, and tries desperately to have enough time in the day to ponder the wonders of the universe.
Saturday : 10:30-12:00pm
Jas : Simple Music Editing – Want some cool music for your dance, but track 5 isn't long enough? Don't have your own band to do that special mix just for you? Confused about what sample rate means? In this class we will discuss some basic theory of digital music and figure out how to do some simple editing tasks using your computer and freely available sound editing software. The class will focus on a few common issues and should be accessible to nearly anyone who can drive a mouse.
Friday : 11:45-1:15pm
Jas : Rhythms – Bring your ears, drum, and brain! We will discuss some traditional Balkan and Middle Eastern rhythms that you might not have heard very often -- how to identify them by listening; how are they structured, played and ornamented.
Asharah (Washington, DC) www.asharah.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Asharah first came to my attention because of her articulate writing on Tribe.net and in her blog. To find out that she is an amazing dancer and teacher has pleased me to no end and I can't wait to share her with you!
youtube.com/watch
youtube.com/watch
Asharah has been performing since the age of six as a dancer, figure skater, and singer. As a bellydancer, she is best known for her dramatic fusion of tribal and cabaret styles, but also has extensive experience in Turkish, Egyptian and American bellydance. She recently earned her Level 2 certification in the Suhaila Salimpour format, and aims to blend this format with American Tribal Style bellydance. Her technique, musicality, and finger cymbal playing skills have been noted and admired across the country. She is deeply grateful to Alexia (Kim Leary), Artemis Mourat, Suhaila Salimpour, and others who have guided her along the way.
In addition to traveling around the country to teach sold-out workshops, she teaches regular tribal belly dance classes at two of the Washington, DC, area's finest dance studios, Joy of Motion and Saffron Dance. She currently performs around the country and periodically at the Shisha Lounge in Sterling, Virginia. She will be releasing her first instructional DVD Modern Tribal Bellydance, produced by WorldDanceNewYork, in January 2008, and she is featured on the groundbreaking DVD Gothic Bellydance: The Darker Side of Fusion, produced by World Dance l;New York. From 2003-2005 she performed with the avant-garde troupe Martiya Possession and before that was a two year member of Raks Odalisque, Princeton University's Middle Eastern dance troupe. She also provided live percussion and graphic design for Maduro's debut release Shimmer Sustain.
Asharah is not only an accomplished dancer but also has a B.A. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University. Ever since her childhood, Asharah has been deeply interested in Middle Eastern arts and culture. 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.
Friday : 11:45-1:15pm
Asharah : The Cymbalist Movement, Integrating Finger Cymbals into Your Dance - Finger cymbals are an integral part of American Tribal Style bellydance, and can be a lovely accompaniment to a solo performance. However, many dancers often feel daunted by cymbal playing and have been using them less and less... Finger cymbals aren't scary, and this workshop will help you approach cymbals as an instrument and as a way to enhance your performance. With the right exercises, anyone can play cymbals and dance! Asharah will lead you through an intense warm up, teach drills that layer movements and cymbal playing, introduce common cymbal patterns found in Middle Eastern music, and teach a short dance combination focusing on the playing of your cymbals with the music and your movements.
Sunday : 10:00-11:30am
Asharah : Pops, Locks, and Tick-Tocks, Technical Tricks to Mechanize your Movement - Inspired by robots, experimental electronic music, and the poppin' and lockin' B-Boys of the 70s and 80s, Asharah has integrated mechanical movements into her expressive tribal fusion performances. In this workshop, Asharah will lead students through an intense warm up and then will show students how to break down traditional bellydance movements such as vertical hip figure-8s, shoulder rolls, torso undulations, turns, and arm waves into smaller and sharper parts to give your performances a robotic and creepy edge. After drilling these movements, she'll teach a short combination that demonstrates how these movements can be used in a performance. She'll also briefly discuss concepts of electronic music, how it is created, and how to listen to the nuances of music made by machines and computers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Donna Mejia (CO) www.donnabodyvision.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Donna has a growing fan base in the Tribal belly dance community for a very good reason...Tribal dancers love fusion and hers is not just bellydance fusion but dance fusion with a love for Tribal bellydance added in!
youtube.com/watch
Donna Mejia is a choreographer, lecturer, teacher, administrator, and performer specializing in contemporary dance, traditions of the African Diaspora, and new fusion traditions in world electronica. She taught at Colorado College for 10 years and was Director of the Colorado College International Summer Dance Festival for the last half of her term.
For twelve years she served as managing director of the award-winning Harambee African Dance Ensemble of CU-Boulder. She continues to teach, choreograph and perform Modern dance, Improvisiation, Hip Hop, Jazz, Arabic Tribal Fusion and traditional dances of the African Diaspora for Colorado College as well as colleges and dance festivals internationally. Donna is an authorized instructor of Brazilian Silvestre Modern Dance Technique.
Beginning September 2006, Donna will be in Massachusetts for a two-year assignment as Guest Artist in Residence with the Smith College Dance Department and the Five College Dance Department.
Donna shares her life with husband, Shatta (educator and musician); and daughter, Ajah (born 2001).
Thurday :
Donna Mejia : Presentation/Lecture - For the Love of the Craft: A Thoughtful Approach to Our Dance Legacy. Donna Mejia is the first to hold a Tribal Fusion position in the higher education system and will overview her provocative research regarding the ethics of dance fusion. The exploration of ethnic/cultural dance fusion mandates that artists reconcile the values of indigenous dance traditions with agendas of the entertainment world. This presentation will explore the inevitable transformation of old and new dance traditions in performance, and seek to define what responsibility choreographers/performers have as cultural ambassadors in a “cut and paste” environment. With her usual candor and humor, Donna will address the very controversial issues we have all encountered at one time or another in our love for, and dedication to, this genre.
Saturday : 10:30-12:00pm
Donna Mejia : “How Do You DO That!?” Curves, Slides, Waves and Hits - In this workshop, Smith College faculty member Donna Mejia details signature moves that she is asked about most frequently. After a vigorous warm up and substantial stretching, dancers will receive a variety of stationary and moving progressions that are intended to give heavy emphasis to the end of musical phrases and powerful downbeat accents. This workshop is all about responding to and punctuating the percussiveness in the music we enjoy.
Sunday : 3:30-5:00pm
Donna Mejia : Clarifying Technique The Art of Refinement and Physical Integrity - This workshop summarizes and details the most efficient tools for unleashing the intelligence of the body in dance. Topics covered include breathing techniques, optimal alignment, muscle efficiency and building longevity through precision and strength. Rather than focusing on choreography, Donna will detail cross-training tips from various classical traditions that create a sophisticated and polished dancer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jas of Khafif (PA) www.khafif.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jas' rhythm classes have become staples for the TribalCon attendees each year. Last year his music editing class was one of the most talked about classes since it is a hurdle that almost all dancers and musicians have to face.
www.youtube.com/watch
Jas drums for Khafif (a Middle Eastern bellydance fusion group), the Balkan Babes (Bulgarian Folk and Vocal Ensemble), and the Vardo Sisters (Balkan Romani music). He specializes in traditional rhythmic accompaniment to folk, fusion, and belly dance music on percussion instruments such as Darabuka/Dumbek, Riqq, Daf, and Tupan/Davul. When not playing percussion he also can be found playing an ancient Turkish folk stringed instrument called a Baglama Saz.
Aside from drumming he maintains a set of web pages on Middle Eastern drum rhythms, dabbles in building traditional musical instruments, works a day job as a computer-engineer/mad scientist, teaches about traditional rhythms, is restoring his 90 year-old Arts&Crafts style house, and tries desperately to have enough time in the day to ponder the wonders of the universe.
Saturday : 10:30-12:00pm
Jas : Simple Music Editing – Want some cool music for your dance, but track 5 isn't long enough? Don't have your own band to do that special mix just for you? Confused about what sample rate means? In this class we will discuss some basic theory of digital music and figure out how to do some simple editing tasks using your computer and freely available sound editing software. The class will focus on a few common issues and should be accessible to nearly anyone who can drive a mouse.
Friday : 11:45-1:15pm
Jas : Rhythms – Bring your ears, drum, and brain! We will discuss some traditional Balkan and Middle Eastern rhythms that you might not have heard very often -- how to identify them by listening; how are they structured, played and ornamented.
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