Thread: What should I wear to a Mdm. Raquia workshop?

I'm going to a Raqia Hassan workshop next week, and I'm wondering what kind of practice clothes I should wear? Would a plain skirt and choli do? Unitard and hipscarf? Should I even wear a coin scarf? Ballet shoes, no shoes, lyrical sandals? Should I expose my midriff or cover it up. Anyone familiar with the Saffron Dance studio in Arlington, VA would also be helpful. I've been out of the dance scene for awhile and starting to slowly ease back in (and this is my first Raqia workshop, which is really why I'm asking all of these questions).

Extra info: The workshop is 4.5 hours for two days, and I just have to wear something different on each day. ,r:;

Thanks,

BDF

I would say wear slim-leg yoga pants and a tank top you can roll up if you want to expose your midriff, or the unitard if you don't. If you wear a hip scarf, make sure it is noiseless. There is nothing worse than being in a workshop, and having the steady rattle of coins serving as a constant distraction!

As far as shoes, I would say either ballet shoes or bare feet. One may be more comfortable than the other, depending on what the floor is like.

Hot pink lycra tights?

*runs away*

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Hot pink lycra tights?

*runs away*

You are SUCH a child of the 80's!

Yoga pants, which can be rolled down if necessary, a tank or fitted tee over a sports bra. This can be rolled up as needed / desired and a hip scarf with beads or fringe but no coins.

As for shoes, I'd go with hermes sandals, ballet slippers, pendini, something light to cover your feet. Especially if you don't know what the dance floor will be like. I have been on marly which wasn't very turnable...

{{{HUGS}}}

You are SUCH a child of the 80's!

So's Raqia, evidently.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Hot pink lycra tights?

*runs away*

Ha! When I saw the title of the thread I was SO going to say exactly that! Zum beat me to it.....l;,..l;,..l;,

Wear shoes. There's a particular turn Raqia does where you spin on one flat foot, and you really, really want to be wearing shoes if you'd got to do that over and over! I got caught out in the very first workshop I ever took with her, and hurt one of my feet doing this move, but in subsequent workshops I wore shoes and was fine. Of course I may just have delicate feet

She wants to see your knees because she will check your shimmy. Also make sure that your body knows the difference between a hip drop and a twist, and when she says "push her down" it is not your partner but your big toe.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

So's Raqia, evidently.

She didn't wear them in the last workshop in MD

Definitely take advice about wearing shoes!

Still debating about going to her workshop next weekend at least for Saturday .w.:

I think you should wear your favorite flashdance outfit. Make sure to mix turquoise and pink and don't wear anything really flattering! LOL! I LOVE Raqia but sometimes the things she wears......ay!

Me too, I was going to say shiny lycra leggings and an Tweety bird t-shirt. hee.

But seriously, Damiena and Tahira have it about right.

Don't wear a skirt, you're training not performing and your instructor needs to see your legs. Don't wear coins -- some workshops even forbid them! Imagine being in the back row and trying to hear the instructor speak (with an accent, and often without a mike) while 80 or 100 dancers fidget between you and her with coins on... AAAARGHHHH!!

Whatever you wear should be quiet and make you look like a serious dance student. Some people like to wear eyeliner, earrings bracelets -- that's all OK as long as it's not noisy, but it's not the norm.

I like to have ballet slippers, or some kind of shoes (lyrical sandals, pedini).

No Sharifwear flare pants, I'm guessing?

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Me too, I was going to say shiny lycra leggings and an Tweety bird t-shirt. hee.

But seriously, Damiena and Tahira have it about right.

Don't wear a skirt, you're training not performing and your instructor needs to see your legs. Don't wear coins -- some workshops even forbid them! Imagine being in the back row and trying to hear the instructor speak (with an accent, and often without a mike) while 80 or 100 dancers fidget between you and her with coins on... AAAARGHHHH!!

Whatever you wear should be quiet and make you look like a serious dance student. Some people like to wear eyeliner, earrings bracelets -- that's all OK as long as it's not noisy, but it's not the norm.

I like to have ballet slippers, or some kind of shoes (lyrical sandals, pedini).

Lauren, lyrical sandals have somewhat of a bottom, correct?

Flares are fine. Just not is hot pink!

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by Bellydancefanatic

No Sharifwear flare pants, I'm guessing?

Depends upon if you want correction on what your knees, legs and feet are doing. Honestly in a large workshop it won't matter so much. There will be minimal individual correction, if any, from what I recall. I took last year's Raqia workshop in which she taught a lovely oriental choreography.
Others' recommendations are spot on. You're there to listen, learn and dance. For that purpose; quiet hip scarf, clothes you can move in and clothes she can see you in are the most important things.
Hot pink lycra optional.

i wore yoga pants, sleek lycra top (no midriff) and bare feet - the same is i wear to any workshop. no hipscarf either.

You'll see a lot of Sharifwear at the studio (including flares), especially since we vend for Nourhan. She was just here for the "Best of the Best" weekend and brought us a lot of new goodies! People also wear yoga pants, tank tops, dance bras, close-fitting T-shirts -- whatever you'd would normally wear for class. Most wear hip scarves; I'm not crazy about coins for class, but a few people wear them. Skirts are discouraged for the reasons stated above. The floors are only a year old and very good, but you'll probably still want to have shoes just because it's a long day.

I'm really excited for the "up close and personal" opportunity -- I've enjoyed the bigger workshops with Raqia, but it'll be really nice for once to have mirrors, good floors, and a more intimate space. The workshops are not sold out yet, so if you're thinking about it but haven't signed up, come join us! www.saffondance.com

Suzana

Originally Posted by Zana

You'll see a lot of Sharifwear at the studio (including flares), especially since we vend for Nourhan. She was just here for the "Best of the Best" weekend and brought us a lot of new goodies! People also wear yoga pants, tank tops, dance bras, close-fitting T-shirts -- whatever you'd would normally wear for class. Most wear hip scarves; I'm not crazy about coins for class, but a few people wear them. Skirts are discouraged for the reasons stated above. The floors are only a year old and very good, but you'll probably still want to have shoes just because it's a long day.

I'm really excited for the "up close and personal" opportunity -- I've enjoyed the bigger workshops with Raqia, but it'll be really nice for once to have mirrors, good floors, and a more intimate space. The workshops are not sold out yet, so if you're thinking about it but haven't signed up, come join us! www.saffondance.com

Suzana

Hi Zana,

Still debating on going...GRRR. I'm going to Nourhan on Sunday and wondering if I could do VA one day and NY the next. We shall see!

Hugs!!!

*hoping hard*

Originally Posted by Zana

*hoping hard*

I'm thinking of taking just the day w/ Raqia but I need to find a place to crash that night. Do you know of any good local hotels?

Oops, I'm hijacking. Drop me an email at csouffra@yahoo.com ;)

Hotel, shmotel. You stay with us, silly!

I need to run and will be out for the next few hours, but e-mail me what you're thinking about in terms of arrival and departure and we'll make it happen.

*excited shimmyshimmyshimmyshimmy*

(Sorry for the hijack, BDF.)