Dance Teachers (Subject to change)

• AISHA ALI (Egyptian cabaret)
• KATARINA BURDA (Belly dance technique)
• KAJIRA DJOUMAHNA (Tribal style belly dance)
• Dr. ROBYN C. FRIEND (Persian and Tajik dance)
• L'EMIR HASSAN HARFOUCHE (Lebanese dabke)
• SOUHAIL KASPAR (Rhythm & Movement)
• AHMET LULECI (Tukish folk dance, karsilama)
• KARIM NAGI (Egyptian cane dance)
• SHOSHANNA (Raks Sharki Combos & Four Yard Veil)
• BAHIA SULTAN (Rhythm & Movement)
• SUZIE TEKBILEK (Turkish style belly dance)

AISHA ALI (Egyptian cabaret) is an internationally recognized authority on the dances of Egypt and North Africa. Following her successes in the United States, she performed widely in Europe and the Middle East. For over twenty years she directed her folkloric ensemble, the Aisha Ali Dance Company.

In 1971, Aisha traveled to the Middle East to observe firsthand many traditional styles of dance not seen in the United States. She made subsequent visits to Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia from 1973 to 1997 to document folkloric materials that were fast disappearing. As a result, she has released numerous audio and video recordings.

In 1973, while a featured soloist at the Municipal Theater in Sfax, Tunisia, the Maison de la Culture asked Aisha to form a dance company. Later that year she stayed among the Ouled Naïl in Algeria, a tribe famous for its dancing women. Over the years she has frequently danced at celebrations in Upper Egypt with the Banat Maazin, a Nawar gypsy family of Ghawazee.

In the United States, Aisha directed the North African performers at the Los Angeles Olympics opening festival in 1984 and was soloist at the grand opening of the LA Festival in 1993. In 1994, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the American Academy of Middle Eastern Dance in New York, and in 2000, she was an honored speaker and soloist at the International Conference of Middle Eastern Dance. Recently she was featured in a folk dance program at Cornell University.

For many years, Aisha contributed articles to Arabesque magazine, and continues to write articles for Habibi. She has contributed articles to numerous publications, including an article on the Ouled Nail published by the International Institute for the Study of Islam, the section on Egypt for the JVC/Smithsonian "Anthology of World Music and Dance," and articles on Algeria and the Ouled Naïl in the International Encyclopedia of Dance published by Oxford University Press.

In addition to teaching classes at her Los Angeles studio, Aisha gives lectures/demonstrations at universities such as UCLA and Cornell, and conducts workshops and master classes in North America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. She is presently editing her latest Egyptian footage.

KATARINA BURDA (Belly dance technique, North African Drumming) is the daughter of old-world folkmusicians and innkeepers; she was raised in a village setting with festivals, customs, processions, seasonal and religious events that are now largely a thing of the past.

She studied oriental dance primarily with Jamila Salimpour and was solo dancer and choreographer in the famed Bal-Anat Company. She studied Moroccan social and trance dances mainly with Robin Al Gnaoui and Hassan Wakrim, New York, Moroccan music with Yassir Chadly, Berkeley, and Near Eastern and Balkan music and dance with many excellent teachers.

Katarina performed in Arabic and Greek cabarets in the Bay Area, throughout the continental USA and in Europe. She formed and directed folkloric dance companies Inanna and Aywah! and a Guedra ceremonial group. Katarina has been teaching for 30 years, nationally and abroad; at the Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp as well as other Music and Dance camps. Her company Aywah! was popular and influential in the San Francisco Bay Area, and produced a number of excellent and versatile performers.

KAJIRA DJOUMAHNA (Tribal style belly dance) is the creator of the KD/BSBD Format for ATS BD and the Founder and Teacher of BSBD and its earlier incarnations, as well as hundreds of other individuals and troupes around the world including Taiwan’s Shimmy Tribe, led by Certified KD/BSBD Teacher and Honorary BlackSheep, Betty Lee. Kajira and BlackSheep BD feel technique is necessary only to facilitate the experience of the loftier goal of complete and total JOY while in the moment with others! They feel this format and the way it is taught is a vehicle for healing on so many levels. It is much more than a series of steps...

Kajira has taught workshops, master classes, teacher certifications and several-days-long study programs in Germany, England, Austria, Taiwan, Canada and throughout the US so far. She’s lucky to be invited to return to many places for more workshops and is traveling monthly in 2008 to continue sewing the seeds of this new tradition. Other teaching highlights include teaching and performing onboard a cruise ship for 4 years and as a teacher, performer and judge at the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition (BDUC) on 3 separate occasions. She holds an honorary award for “Lifetime Achievement in Middle Eastern Dance and the Arts” from the same.

She is author and purveyor of the famous Tribal Bible (on its 3rd printing), is the featured Tribal-and-Alternative Q-n-A columnist for Zaghareet! Magazine for over 2 years, has 2 DVDs out (Vol. 1 having been honored as one of the “Top 25 DVDs for Belly Dancers” by Shira of shira.net and the *only Tribal one* to make the cut!), is a performer and teacher of *many* dance styles (just ask!), is producer of Tribal Fest (a 3-time winner in Zaghareet! Magazine’s Golden Belly Awards for Fave Event/Promoter), has won the Instructor of the Year award from IAMED (International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance) and Favorite Instructor twice in Zag! Mag’s Golden Belly Awards!

Her Instructor Certification Program has teachers now in many states and countries. Kajira feels that the measure of a great instructor is the students she leaves to continue their living legacy, and Kajira is grateful to have accomplished this.

CLASS DESCRIPTION FOR KAJIRA DJOUMAHNA

Tribal Belly Dance and Traditional Hand Percussion for Any Dance Style
I promise you will leave with an understanding of how synchronized group improvisation, the hallmark of this style, works for use in any performance application and all tempos. Bring questions and an open mind, notebooks are optional. Rhythm handouts provided, too!“It’s much more than a series of steps.”...

Also included in our time together will be learning to play cymbals and kashiklar (Turkish wooden spoons used for dance for centuries). Kajira’s method of teaching zils (zilyar) with basic moves makes one wonder why they haven’t been playing all along, it is so easy - guaranteed!
What’s even more wonderful is that this part of class is not “style-specific” - any form of the dance you enjoy will benefit from learning to play hand percussion. Learn how to count simple music, find the “one” or downbeat, upbeat, and what’s in between; count the steps and a few basic patterns to start with or to use as embellishments to basics you already know. I promise that you won’t even know you’re working, this will be so surprisingly simple. We will reinforce our dancing and playing abilities each day, so bring your sagat to every class, and prepare to have fun! (If you’re an advanced player, I’ll give you “extra” challenges, don’t worry!)

Material builds throughout the week to culminate in our Camp Recital on Sunday, but you can drop-in as you like. All classes are open to all levels. I always credit my teachers, sources and inspirations as well. Warm-ups are kept brief so we can use our time together actually dancing! Stretches are included at the end of each class.

Dr. ROBYN C. FRIEND (Persian and Tajik dance) is a singer, dancer, choreographer, and linguist who specializes in Iranian and Turkic folklore, and has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and in Central Asia. She has studied with noted teachers in Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the U.S., and continues to do research both at home and abroad. Her choreographic credits include work for the AMAN Folk Ensemble, the Duquesne University Tamburitzans, Het Internationaal Danstheater of Amsterdam, and the University of California Santa Barbara Near Eastern Ensemble. With her husband, musician Neil Siegel, Dr. Friend performs the classical music and dance of Iran, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, traditional songs and dances from the Near East and the Balkans, and other European and American repertoire. Dr. Friend uses her extensive training in dance and Pilates to provide students with an understanding of how proper posture will improve all aspects of a dancer's technique; she is especially known for her ability to teach the delicate arm and hand movements necessary for Persian and Central Asian dance, in a way that will improve a dancer's arm movements for all forms of Middle Eastern dance. Dr. Friend teaches and performs, mostly for the Iranian community, in Los Angeles.

L'EMIR HASSAN HARFOUCHE (Lebanese dabke) has been a professional Dabke dancer, choreographer and teacher for over 20 years, performing all over the world. His early training was with Mirwan and Wadia Gerrar. He later began a long association with Keram, the founder of stylized Dabke. He has been a coach and teacher, played the Mehbaj, and has given seminars all over the United States.

SOUHAIL KASPAR (Rhythm & Movement) utilizes the classical Egyptian approach to teach traditional Raqs al-Sharqi. His workshop includes the historical development of rhythms, folkloric movement modifications for and the cultural standards and expectations of Raqs al-Sharqi. Learning the exact downbeats and accents of the rhythms is the beginning for training. Some Egyptian schools require the dancer to learn the rhythms before learning the dance. Culturally, if the rhythms cannot be seen on the dancer’s body she will lose the respect of the musicians and her audience.

The dancer will understand how to present a complete visual experience of the music in the Raqs al-Sharqi (dance of the East) dance style be learning the art of showing the rhythm and the melody simultaneously.

The drummer will be able to read the rhythmic language of movement by learning the movements that complement the downbeats and accents of each rhythm. A whole new perspective is gained regarding drum solos.

Once the participants are able to demonstrate an understanding of the rhythms, Souhail progresses to teaching the movements and defining the specific body parts that represent the various rhythmic aspects. Each rhythm has a different presentation. He completes the musical picture with movement instruction for the melody and addresses the differences regarding full orchestration and takasims (solo improvisations). Dancers perform the movements and drummers play the rhythms with Souhails vigilant eyes and ears attending to proper execution of both. With the concepts taught in this workshop, drummers and dancers of any level will gain a clear understanding of traditional Raqs al-Sharqi and can become an active participant in preserving its cultural integrity.

AHMET LULECI (Tukish folk dance, karsilama) A native of Turkey, Ahmet is an accomplished choreographer, dance teacher and performer as well as a researcher of Anatolian culture. Since the age of eight he has danced with numerous school ensembles and private associations, many of which won outstanding awards in city wide and National-International competitions. Between 1973 and 2004 he participated in International dance festivals and competitions throughout Europe and North America. In edition, him and his ensembles appeared in more than 80 programs broadcast nationally in countries such as Turkey, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, USA, Canada,
Brazil, Japan and Germany.

Since arriving in North America in 1985, he has taught many workshops and
camps throughout the United States as well as Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Hong
Kong, Holland, England, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Norway,
Italy and Australia. He has set innumerable suites of dances for the stage
working with dance organizations around the world. Some of the notable
performing ensembles with whom he has worked include AMAN of Los Angeles, BYU dancers of Provo, BUDLET of Hong Kong, LES SORTILEGES of Montreal, and VINOK of Edmonton.

In his native Turkey, he choreographed for HOYTUR, TURHOY and GEHEM of
Ankara, ANADOLU UNIVERSITESI of Eskisehir, GAZI UNIVERSITESI of ankara, BUTFOD of Bursa and FOLKTUR and CAGDAS of Istanbul. In 1991 Ahmet joined the Artistic Staff of AMAN as resident choreographer. Prior to his departure for the US, Ahmet also served as Director of Dances for HOY-TUR, long considered Turkey's leading dance association.

KARIM NAGI (Egyptian cane dance) Karim Nagi is a native Egyptian drummer, DJ, composer, and folk dancer. He specializes in the Riqq tambourine, Arabic Tabla, Sagat/Zills finger cymbals, as well as Arab folk dances. He is the creator of Turbo Tabla, and has released two internationally distributed CDs of this unique brand of Arab House/Electronica, using acoustic instruments instead of keyboards. Karim has authored instructional DVDs for the Tabla/Doumbek and Riqq tambourine, as well as two Arab rhythm compilation CDs. He is also well versed in the ultra-traditional styles of music and dance as the leader of the Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble, and the creative director of the Arab Dance Seminar. He has recorded music for Bellydance Superstars, Bellyqueen, and the Bellytwins, as well as mainstream artists like Alicia Keys, and The Urban Griot Project. His performances boast a dynamic concoction of live drumming and dance, done in unison. Because of his proficiency in both music and dance, his workshops deliver students to a new physical understanding of the connection between these two disciplines. Karim Nagi is a true crossover artist, uniting Tradition and Modernity, Ethnic and Urban, Cabaret and Tribal.

ESSENTIAL TAHTEEB & ASSAYA: Dancing with sticks and canes is a quintessential expression in Egyptian village dance. Most prevalent in Southern Egypt among the "Saidi", Tahteeb (for men) and Raqs Assaya (women) is a bold yet graceful dance with the cane prop. A unisex style is taught that contains both the male Tahteeb bravado and mock combat, along with the Assaya flirtation and spunk. Karim teaches with the strait cane (any dowel between 3' and 4') and covers all the basic spins, flips and strikes. He stresses ambidextrous technique and utilizes both hands for the entire lesson. Double Cane is also taught, culminating in a short standard "friendly battle" choreography to a classic Egyptian Saidi song.

SHOSHANNA (Raks Sharki Combos & Four Yard Veil) is from Arcata, in the redwoods on California’s North Coast. She has danced throughout her life in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern Dance, but has found her art in the dances styles of the Middle East. She is very interested in the thoughtful fusion of diverse styles of dance, and the power of dance as a vehicle of expression and personal interpretation of music for an audience. Shoshanna’s interests lie in a strong foundation in Egyptian dance with a fusion other influences inspired by her extensive dance training. Shoshanna is a dedicated improvisational dancer who values any opportunity to perform to live music.

As a performer, Shoshanna strives to express the joy of dancing and the emotional quality of the music. As an instructor, she works to balance artistic and personal interpretation of the music with excellent technical skills, a deeper understanding of the dance form, and to instill a passion for this dance form. This philosophy holds true for any class that Shoshanna teaches.

In addition to performing and teaching workshops across the United States, Shoshanna has taught for the past seven years in the Dance Department at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, from which she earned her BA in Art History in 2003. In Arcata she also directs the Ya Habibi Dance Company, produces concerts and dance events (including the new Redwood Coast Bellydance Festival), and teaches many classes. Shoshanna earned the coveted title of Belly Dancer of the Year in 2004.

BAHIA SULTAN (Rhythm & Movement) is a dancer and instructor who upholds the classical traditions of the dance style known as Raqs al-Sharqi (dance of the East). Under the tutelage of Souhail Kaspar, Master Percussionist, Bahia has gained extensive knowledge of the traditional methods for presenting both the rhythm and the melody through dance to give a complete visual experience of the music.

Bahia has studied the various Arabic rhythms’ development, the cultural and historical movements that accompany them and the correct way to utilize the downbeats and accents to present the art of the rhythm on the dancers’ body. Her knowledge of Arabic rhythm and movement, her musical background including training as a percussionist, and her 30 years of teaching movement and several styles of dance make her an excellent instructor of the foundations that will preserve the integrity of Raqs al-Sharqi in the traditional sense.

As a licensed movement educator, she has applied her music and dance training to her work with patients and athletes in addition to teaching Jazz, Rio Samba and Middle Eastern dance styles.

She has danced for the Brazilian Consulate, for the 100th Anniversary Show of “El Show de Paul Rodriquez” and for the Ms. Fitness USA television show. She has performed on percussion with Souhail Kaspar, Dr. Ali Jihad Racy & The UCLA Middle East Music Ensemble, Fouad Jarcheh, Master Violinist, and John Bilezikjian, Master Oudist, and at the Middle Eastern Music & Dance Camp in Mendocino, CA.

Dance Training: Middle Eastern, Rio Samba, Afro-Brazilian, African, Jazz
Instrument Training: Egyptian Tablah, Riqq & Frame Drum, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Organ

B.S. in Physical Therapy: University of Washington Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner: Reese Movement Institute Certified Taichi Instructor with Grand Master Hirakawa of Tenshin-Kai Taichi & Karate

SUZIE TEKBILEK (Turkish style belly dance) Suzie was born in Ayvalik, Turkey to a musical family. Her father was a jazz drummer and music had a special place in their home. In almost every party or special occasions "Little Suzie" was encouraged to dance. She was such a natural talent and loved dancing so much that she was always a joy to watch. At the age of 12, Suzie's family immigrated to the US. Her brother Ibrahim Turmen became a well-known professional drummer. Suzie continued dancing, although not professionally yet. In 1971, at the age 15, Suzie met Omar Faruk Tekbilek. He was touring the US at that time with a Turkish ensemble. This meeting was a turning point in both their lives. In 1975 Omar Faruk returned to the US to marry Suzie. They have since been happily married and raised three children. Their children are grown up now, and are also naturally talented in music. Murat, the older son, has become a professional musician and is the percussionist for the Omar Faruk's Ensemble. On many occasions Suzie travels with the ensemble and often joins them on stage. Watching her dancing accompanied by her husband and son is exhilarating. Suzie also teaches dance workshops. She has taught classes in the Magical Retreat music and dance camp in Maui, The Dionysian Festival in Rome, Italy, in Tel Aviv, Israel, and she also teaches privately at her hometown. For many years Suzie has participated in the Mendocino Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp. Her own Turkish style has become very popular.