Ranya of NY

[kina]

Why is there not more buzz about her?

I took a private lesson from her last week and loved her!

here is her webpage you can watch clips of her, lovely dancing and a very giving teacher.

[SanaaAmel]

A friend of mine from Boston had went to New York to take a workshop with her and was saying the same thing. She said Ranya is one of her favorites!

[Suzana]

She's an amazing dancer, tremendously vibrant and musical, and I'd be in every class she offered if I lived nearby. I'm really looking forward to seeing her new videos. Maybe she's been just too busy/content in her niche in NYC to promote herself much out of town?

[leenanyc]

By far my favorite performer in the city. Great teacher, she has sooo much to offer her students. Just love Ranya.

[anala]

I am starting a new thread with one of these clips....It has to be seen!

[amyraks]

Ranya has been one of my main teachers for a few years now, she has totally changed the way I dance and perform. Her performance skills workshops are the best! I made two performance DVDs for her that are available to buy on her website
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC-kBA2utFs]YouTube - Bellydancer Ranya Renee Asfour[/ame]

Also she will be shooting 2 instructional DVDs with WorldDance NY to be released in the fall ( I think).

[akashablue]

Someone a few years back brought her to Boston for a workshop and she was great!!!

I learned quite a bit from her workshop and still remember a lot of what she taught and try to remember it throughout my performances :)

[SanaaAmel]

I am definately going to have to make my way to NY for one of her workshops, but DVDs would be awesome, I will have to keep my eye out for those! Any idea if they will be beginner or intermediate/advanced?

[Surida]

I've been lucky enough to attend a few of her workshops over the years. She is wonderful!

[badriya_al_ahmar]

Someone a few years back brought her to Boston for a workshop and she was great!!!

There has been some talk of bringing her back--if anything comes of that, I'll pass word along!

[sumayasaahir]

Waves! Im a fan! I think its because she doenst self-promote all that much. I LOVE her style...

[SamiraShuruk]

I've only seen her dance on video, but have always the videos I saw. She's great. I met her in NYC at Mezzo Mezzo last year- she was really sweet.

[Rafiqa_Sadah]

I've been lucky to take a few workshops (3 or so) with Ranya over the years as I live in the town where her parents live (where she grew up).

I must say her breathing technique and how it translates to working and connecting with an audience has made a difference in my performing, and that goes beyond dance. A couple of weeks after that workshop I auditioned for a musical and got a part that I probably shouldn't have, but keeping her instruction in mind helped me nail the audition.

I love her dancing though I've only seen her perform a couple of times. I think she should visit her folks more. :-)

[kina]

I've been lucky to take a few workshops (3 or so) with Ranya over the years as I live in the town where her parents live (where she grew up).

I must say her breathing technique and how it translates to working and connecting with an audience has made a difference in my performing, and that goes beyond dance. A couple of weeks after that workshop I auditioned for a musical and got a part that I probably shouldn't have, but keeping her instruction in mind helped me nail the audition.

I love her dancing though I've only seen her perform a couple of times. I think she should visit her folks more. :-)

She went through the breathing technique with me. I've been practicing it but haven't had occasion to use it yet, we'll see after Saturday how it goes!

She was spot on with her observations of my technique and really hepled me to identify and (more importantly, fix) the areas that I've been struggling with.

I've been trying to blog about the private lesson, but it keeps getting eaten by cyper space, four time so far!

She is a warm, generous teacher who worked hard at conveying what she wanted me to learn.

She will be teaching/performing at the conference in Toronto, you lucky Canadians!

[honoluluhabibi]

she is 100% fabulous- the feel, her dancing, spirit, creativity, sharp mind and fierce intellect! a lady with a lot of integrity!!!

[Mark Balahadia]

I met her at the IBCC. She's so much fun and her troupe Maqamikaze is so FAB!

[*Shira*]

I saw her troupe Maqamikaze perform their comedy Alf Leyla wa Leyla last night and I LOVED it! It was hilarious, and I was laughing constantly! And I also really like the way she dances - her musicality is very nice.

[nadira82]

Ranya is an amazing dancer and a masterful teacher as well as a real scholar of this dance. I feel incredibly lucky that I studied with her in NYC. Everyone should jump at the opportunity to take a workshop with her. Glad to hear more people are finding out about her.

[elljay]

My own teacher brought her here to vancouver YEARS ago and I just fell in love with her. Two days of her "sharing the air" changed my dance (and in fact, a good portion of my life) forever. Its really all I preach now - probably more so than techniqe. She is so knowledgable, and so increidbly passionate about what she does and is so genuine. Really, it has always amazed me that she doesn't seem to be more popular or well-known. The bellydance world is really better off for having her in it.

[kina]

My own teacher brought her here to vancouver YEARS ago and I just fell in love with her. Two days of her "sharing the air" changed my dance (and in fact, a good portion of my life) forever. Its really all I preach now - probably more so than techniqe. She is so knowledgable, and so increidbly passionate about what she does and is so genuine. Really, it has always amazed me that she doesn't seem to be more popular or well-known. The bellydance world is really better off for having her in it.

it feels so good when your fan girl crush gets validated ..g.:

[badriya_al_ahmar]

There has been some talk of bringing her back--if anything comes of that, I'll pass word along!

Replying to myself--it was confirmed this weekend that Najmat and Lola will be bringing Ranya up to Boston in September, the 20th I think. Which means I get a workshop with Ranya for my birthday ..g.:

[Sabra26]

For those of you who are close to Rochester, New York, Ranya is coming the weekend of June 6th to teach a full 6.5 min. choreography and other specialities as wanted!!! You can send me a pm if you'd like to be added to the list for more information.

Sabra
www.goddesshour.com/events

[RaqOn]

Does anyone have any info when she's bringing Outi in June?

[kina]

Does anyone have any info when she's bringing Outi in June?

Who's bringing Outi?

[Nepenthe]

I'd consider coming down to New York for Outi.

[outi]

Ranya is sponsoring my workshops in NYC.
She didn't fix the dates yet - least I don't know them, but they will be between 18th and 25th of June.

[flimflamgirl]

Ranya was my first teacher, quite by accident - she just happened to be the teacher at the Y across the street from my house. I so totally lucked out. She's still my most important teacher, and my favorite as well. She's the kind of teacher who can teach a dancer at any level, from the very first class to the deepest professional level. A born teacher!

- Leela

[Elianae]

Ranya is an amazing dancer! I love how soulful she is. What a performer. She's not plastic, I'll tell you!

[jocelyn]

I am bumping this one up. I'm a huge Ranya fan, and I can't wait for her next set of DVDs.

[ouroboros]

Ranya is fabulous! Every dancer should have her DVDs. She is a fantastic person to boot!