Thread: Just a quick head's up for St. Louis dancers - Nisaa's spring mini-workshops

Nisaa's spring 2009 mini-workshop series begins in two weeks! This sessions's topics include:

• Traveling, Turns and Transitions - February 15, 2:30-4:30 PM
• Arabic Music 101 - March 8, 2:30-4:30 PM
• Dancing to Taqasim and Mawawil - March 29, 2:30-4:30 PM
• The Music of Farid Al Atrache - April 19, 2:30-4:30 PM

Full details and registration information available at Special Topics Classes and Workshops

All mini-workshops take place at Nisaa's studio, located at 3904 Flad Ave. in St. Louis.

[/shameless self-promotion]

Shameless unsolicited comment:

Nisaa is a wonderful teacher. I took one of her workshops last fall, plus we have exchanged peer-reviews that I have found immensely helpful.

If you are anywhere near St. Louis and you haven't experienced her teaching, you should really try one of her mini workshops. Her technique is great, she's organized, and has done her research on all of the topics she teaches.

She is definitely an underutilized resource in the dance community.

Geez...thanks Sedonia!!!

*fights urge to bask shamelessly in Sedonia's compliments*

Wow, I'm definitely interested in some of these, especially Arabic 101, and the Taqasim one.

Originally Posted by rachelw

Wow, I'm definitely interested in some of these, especially Arabic 101, and the Taqasim one.

Hope to see you!!!

Just a quick bumpity bump on this. The Arabic Music 101 workshop is fast approaching! I recommend early registration since space is fairly limited in my lil' ol' studio!

Nisaa

Some of my students were asking me what levels these classes are approprate for?

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Some of my students were asking me what levels these classes are approprate for?

I'm glad you asked!!! The Arabic Music 101 would be appropriate to all levels. There won't be quite as much dancing in that one. The dancing that it involves will just be to offer a wee "taster" of different dances to fit different Arabic musical traditions. I can vary the complexity depending on the skill level/background of the group I end up with.

For the other two, I recommend that they have completed at minimum one beginner-level class. The taqasim one, in particular, would be best suited to high-beginner/intermediate and above. With the Farid one, it will be a bit easier to tailor the complexity of the dance combinations to the group.

Hope this helps!

Thanks, Nisaa, I'll let them know. I can't make it to much myself these days, but I'd love for them to become more independent and go to things without me.

One of my students went to your assaya class, she said she got a lot out of it.

Yep, ditto on my students.

Tell them to fear not! We have lots of fun in those mini-workshops!

I think it was Beki who came to the assaya class, and as I recall she had a FABULOUS assaya!

Yup! It was me. Great class!

Thanks for the compliment on my assaya. I like it even though it is "slower" than the others and kinda threw off my timing in class. I didn't realize how much until I tried my sister's foil one. I then had an "aha" moment and realized why I seemed to have to clip my moves to stay on tempo (or in the near vicinity of tempo:Aembarassed:).

ETA a link to where I got my pretty: Belly Dance Cane - Zarifa's Touch of Egypt

Originally Posted by beki

Yup! It was me. Great class!

Thanks for the compliment on my assaya. I like it even though it is "slower" than the others and kinda threw off my timing in class. I didn't realize how much until I tried my sister's foil one. I then had an "aha" moment and realized why I seemed to have to clip my moves to stay on tempo (or in the near vicinity of tempo:Aembarassed:).

ETA a link to where I got my pretty: Belly Dance Cane - Zarifa's Touch of Egypt

Thanks for the info Beki! Hey, did you ever get my e-mail response way-back-when to the follow-up questions you sent me after the workshop? Just wanted to be sure I didn't space out and forget to respond to you...

Yes, thank you. It was very helpful.

Sorry if I didn't respond. I was on vacation (out of state) and my brain was crazy.

It seems to be crazy more often than not these days... hmmm... maybe I'm just a flake! .w.:

Originally Posted by beki

Yes, thank you. It was very helpful.

Sorry if I didn't respond. I was on vacation (out of state) and my brain was crazy.

It seems to be crazy more often than not these days... hmmm... maybe I'm just a flake! .w.:

I dunno, my brain is pretty crazy these days as well! It must be something in the air...

One more bump for this, since the Taqasim/Mawawil workshop is coming up this weekend. STL-area dancers, if you need more info, please let me know!

Aw man, I missed the original post! I would love to have come to these :(

Nisaa, do you have a summer schedule yet? And are your classes open only to "townies" or will you accept foreigners? :)

Originally Posted by aziyade

Aw man, I missed the original post! I would love to have come to these :(

Nisaa, do you have a summer schedule yet? And are your classes open only to "townies" or will you accept foreigners? :)

Outlanders always welcome!

I don't have the summer schedule finalized yet, but I should by mid-April or so. I have been trying to run 4 mini-workshops per semester (always on Sundays); I think the first summer one will fall around mid-June. I have been trying to be diligent about posting the info on Bhuz, but you can also join my e-mail list if you like (there's a link on the front page of my web site, or you can PM me your e-mail address and I can add you directly).

Let me know if you need any other info!!!

Nisaa