Thread: San Fransisco?

Alrighty then. . .

I am interviewing for a job which will relocate me to the SF Bay area. I have had a 1st interview and they are scheduling a second! EEEP! the pay is good, they seem receptive to the fact that I have to be in LA on a regular basis, which is good.

Now the question is, classes? I am an American cab girl with lots of Egyptian leanings. While the company's offices are solidly in SF proper, if this happens, I will probably be living in Berkley with my father's cousin. they have a big house with a guest apartment over the garage. What can I say, in the '60's the family had money.

any thoughts? Suggestions? words of warning? And will I need to buy a real winter coat?

{{{HUGS}}}

Suhaila's school is in Berkely highly recommend.

Hiya Tahira! I lived there for just 8 months, but it is really beautiful and incredibly diverse. That's exciting, there's so much going on there! Besides Suhaila and Jamilla, Amina Goodyear(spelling?)is across the bay in San Fran.
As far as the weather, I don't think it really gets too much colder than here, it just stays that way for more of the year, rains more, and San Francisco's summers are strangely cold, but Berkeley will be warmer. Berkeley is really pretty, bring a bike and good walking shoes! How fun!

Drat! I guess this means I really will have to be in LA every weekend. I am training to compete at AwS and the main requirement is Egyptian style!

This does make the 24/7 requirement of the job a little trickier!

Anyone else?

{{{HUGS}}}

Huh? No Egyptian here in the Bay Area? There's Hala and Sausan. For American style there's Shabnam who will kick your butt in condition classes (Oakland).

I've been here for two years now and I wear a light jacket in the winter season, but I'm more inland. You may want to wear a warmer jacket because you will be closer to the water. It rains quite a bit (more than LA, I'm sure) in the winter months but in the spring/summer it's pretty dry - being close to the water you will see temps 10-15 degrees cooler than say Pleasanton or Sacramento, which are inland. The hills turn a pretty green in the winter months but start turning yellow to brown starting in the spring and throughout the summer.

I was also about to recommend Shabnam, I'm forever amazed by her one-legged backbend. I think to myself, maybe one day I can do that.

But it seems to me there are tons of fabulous dancers in the Bay area. There's a slim possibility that I may relocate there in the next year and have been doing my research:

In addition to Suhaila and Shabnam, there's Sandra, Michelle Joyce, Nana Candelaria, Mira Betz. Lot's to choose from!

And our own fabulous Monica!

And slightly to the south you have Malia de Felice - Belly Dance Classes and Performance with Malia, Raqs Sharqi, Tunisian and more

well, another option is to find soemone who will put me through my paces up there and then on school weekends (when I have to be in LA) schedule privates?

More things to think about.

{{{HUGS}}}

Amina Goodyear teaches primarily Egyptian style - with emphasis on music interpretation. I'm available for private lessons in finger cymbals, Egyptian style cane, survival Arabic vocabulary.

A person that may be available for privates is Debbie Smith (formerly known as Debbie Lammam). Let me know if you're interested and I would be happy to forward your info to her.

Debbie is a great Egyptian style dancer with an eye for detail AND she speaks pretty good Arabic along with having great knowledge of the culture. She's one of those "not so widely known - but should be" people.

I assume that you already have a good base in Egyptian technique if you're planning on competing at AwS, so Debbie would be great for pumping up your expression and more intricate understanding for your piece (as she doesn't teach regular classes).

I personally recommend her or Amina for Egyptian if you're competing in Egypt...Layla Lanty and Monica are also good resources, as mentioned already. The other dancers mentioned are great at what they do, however, with your focus in dance and the purpose you're training for.

Suhaila is great for muscle and body awareness. Sandra is great for elegance. Michelle is great for tips and tricks and cheekiness (no phun intended). Shabnam is fab at what she does - but I dont know how her material would go over in Egypt. Nanna is great at fusion. Mira Betz is a ridiculously versatile dancer (in a good way), but I dont know how she would approach the task at hand (competition prep for competing at AwS).

As I have seen you dance before, I think that Debbie and Amina would be good matches for you :)

/// shameless plug /// I do performance reviews if you're interested in my feedback, Tahira. Just send me a video/DVD of yourself and I'd be happy to help out. The review would be a 2 part deal - one in writing and one demonstration on video with verbal explanation and breakdown /// shameless plug over ///

DaVid

I would like to second the Debbie and Amina recommendations - they are both FABULOUS dancers and really amazing women. Both have a beautiful sense of the dance, music and culture -- you'll be in good hands either way :)
I'm a local (live in the East Bay - actually looking to move to Berkeley from Walnut Creek), work my day job in SF, and dance at several restaurants in the area. My coach is further east, but I'd be happy to send you her info as well. Feel free to drop a line if you end up heading this way!!

The lovely Bhuzzer Aazura is in the Bay Area as well. :o)

It's been cold. You'll need that coat! We just had snow in the hills and in Tilden Park (in Berkeley).

Ditto what everyone said about Debbie Smith, Amina, Monica and Hala. They also sponsor workshops with folks such as Tito, Raqia, Astryd, etc. And, I'm not sure if they teach, but the fabulous Shaunte and Ahava are up here in the Bay Area, too.

In addition, I highly recommend Terry raksthome

She teaches in San Anselmo (Marin County) at World Dance Fitness. That is a little out of the way for Bay Area living, but totally worth it. She has a beautiful classical style and is excellent with musical interpretation. She has a 1.5 hour intermediate/advanced class on Thursday nights and a 2hour intermediate/advanced class on Saturday mid-mornings.

Good luck with the interviews!

Oh yeah, I forgot to second Shabnam. I had my behind kicked by her for a couple of years and owe my shimmy to her. Great conditioning in her classes and she teaches zills very well to untrained musicians (like myself).

How about Asia? She's expanded from her Pacifica classes to include teaching Saturdays from 1:30 to 3 pm at "City Dance" in S.F. at 32 Otis Street, and she includes zills and it's to live drumming - it's multi-level class Saturday and definitely kicks my butt!,r:;