Another Finding a Teacher Thread DC and NYC Area

[kina]

OK, so I've decided that I'd like to travel, hmmm, probably every 2 months to somewhere still on the east coast, and need to find a teacher.

I've pretty much settled on which states I'd go to, but need to figure out a teacher in these areas.

I'm not very sure what my style is, but the music that moves me tends to be Egyptian, although I enjoy Turkish stylings as well, and really enjoy a good 9/8 ..g.:

How does one go about choosing a good teacher long distance?


Recomendations? I'm looking at NY and Washington, DC areas specifically.

I like working hard in dance class and nothing thrills me more than working up a good sweat. I love drills and technique classes, but also would like to work on musical interpretation and combinations.

I suck at musical counting. Choreography and I have an uneasy relationship, once it's muscle memory, I never forget it, but it MUST get into muscle memory, which means drills.

I crave constructive critique, but don't like being yelled at and, yes, being yelled at will make me cry. Especially in front of others.

Am open to doing big workshops, but would like to develop an ongoing relationship with a teacher who will work with me on my developing as a dancer.

Help!

and TIA

[kina]

anyone?

[shems]

I private messaged you, but if you put the area in the thread title, I think you are more likely to catch the attention of the people in the areas you are looking at. If you click edit, then while in edit mode click edit again it will let you edit the title. I'm thinking people are just assuming you mean in your current local area and aren't reading past the title of the thread.

[bdaddiction]

I don't know of any instruction in NYC or DC.

But, I can tell you that Belly Dancing -- Art Of Middle Eastern Dance -- Bellydancing in Iowa City, has a list of instructors on her site by state. Some have websites. I have tried emailing a couple, but they must be hella busy, because I haven't gotten a responce back. Guess I need to call.

LOL...

[kina]

thanks fo rthe tips! will change the header.

[MakedaMaysa]

Thankfully, we have a wealth of good teachers in the D.C./Baltimore area. If you're looking for Egyptian and Turkish technique, you may want to check out: Yasmin, Faten Salama, Yucy, Artemis, Kostana. If you're willing to come down to Baltimore, my teacher/mentor Lotus Niraja is not to be missed!

[kina]

So that's two for Lotus, and I'm intrigued by her style. How far is Baltimore from DC?

I'm thinking about taking a train there from Boston, which is relatively easy. But i woudn't have transportation there...

[Surida]

I took a Lotus workshop - awesome energy!

[jmdruadh]

Artemis Mourat is fantastic. I took her Monday night classes and one private when The Company That Shall Not Be Named had me traveling to DC all the time. She's a really nice lady (hugged me the minute I stepped through her door), a very giving teacher, and she has a lot of really valuable material to share. And if you're looking for 9/8 instruction, you can't do any better.

Melina's sister Piper is in Baltimore. She guest-taught one of Melina's classes when she was in town for a visit, and I really enjoyed it.

[Azhia]

DC area: Faten Salama, Lotus Niraja.
NYC: Nourhan or Yousry Sharif, Morocco.
Philadelphia: let me know if Philly is an option for you. ;0)

[mehndidancer]

I reccomend depending on style NYC area: Egyptian/AB Cab:Morocco, Norhaun,Samara, Ranya, Rayhana. Tribal: Sera or Mimi Fontana Turkish/Arabic:Anahid Sofain, Azsmara, Layla Mary Also Dalia Carella,Andrea Anwar, Elena too many dancers that are good.If you log on to hip circle dot com they have the latest of nyc events. I didn't know what style you want so I gave a few suggestions.(there are too many to list)And our own Daneila. All are great teachers in their own right. Not sure of Baltimore/dc area

Alrana

[mariyah13]

I would recommend Dalia in NYC.

[phillyraqs]

Hey Kina, what about the Philly area? There are many great teachers in Philly, and two have studios right in Center City, so it would be easy to get to them from the train station.

PM me if you would like more info.

[HotDogYogini]

I agree with above. We have great teachers in the DC area. A couple more I am fond of are Noor Jihan (DC Dance Collective, Studio 116 Old Towne Alexandria, Lady of America in Woodbridge) & Saphira (Saffron Dance). Avoid Yasmin. She is rough on people. She is quite open about it.

[HotDogYogini]

Baltimore is about an hr. from DC.

[SamiraShuruk]

Avoid Yasmin. She is rough on people. She is quite open about it.

Have you taken from her HotDogYogini?

[HotDogYogini]

Yep - talked to you about it last Sat. I love the dancers of the past film clips thing tho!

[HotDogYogini]

We should also mention that Sahara Dance has many good technique workshops & I think some of the current ones are drop-in.

[HotDogYogini]

I guess I should also say, as pointed out to me by Samira Sharuk, quite rightly, that Yasmin teaches & coaches a pure old style Egyptian cabaret, so, it that's what you want, you may like her. She is known for her precision & for drilling & turning out professionals. My skin isn't thick enough though. I am just a student dancer & I dance for fun & exercise. A lot of criticism doesn't do it for me.

I have also heard that Yousry Sharif (NYC) will yell at students. However I have never had his class, so that is pure hearsay.

[bintbeled]

Yasmin has a reputation as a tough teacher, and readily admits to it -- but her students love her!

Latifa

[kahaz]

I took a private with Dalia C. last year in NYC. two hours, very reasonable and worth twice as much. I've been dancing for >20 years, including a lot of Turkish, but she taught me more abuot counting and hearing 9/8 in that time than I had learned in years!

Morocco will drill you until your fanny falls off! Of course, her Orientale is second to none. Artemis is wonderful!

In Ohio, my favaorite dancer (and my favorite teacher of teaching!) is Shakira. The best sword dancer I've ever seen.

Back in NYC, if you want counting, music, drumming, and dancing to all of the above, Ramzi el-Edlibi (I've probably just massacred his name!) is a great teacher. Dancer and drummer. along those lines, Tayyar Adkeniz, who does the folk tours with Artemis in PA is a marvelous teacher.

Not my favorite performer, but a favorite teacher is Elena Lentini in NYC. She does great classes on Zambra, and her veil work is truly innovative.

[SamiraShuruk]

I guess I should also say, as pointed out to me by Samira Sharuk, quite rightly, that Yasmin teaches & coaches a pure old style Egyptian cabaret, so, it that's what you want, you may like her. She is known for her precision & for drilling & turning out professionals. My skin isn't thick enough though. I am just a student dancer & I dance for fun & exercise. A lot of criticism doesn't do it for me.

I have also heard that Yousry Sharif (NYC) will yell at students. However I have never had his class, so that is pure hearsay.

Having taken from Yasmin for over 4 years I can honestly say she has softened up over the last couple years...but ssshhhhhh!!! Don't tell anyone.
Would I call her "harsh"? No. What she IS, is honest.
For example; if you're arching, she'll tell you. She'll tell you where you are arching (cos it's not always lower back), she'll help you figure out how to fix it for your body type. Those are helpful tools for learning and improving, right? If two months later you are still arching, she'll wonder why you aren't improving something she has pointed out because she expects her students who want to improve to practice. She'll point it out again and again and again. If you don't want repeated corrections on repeated mistakes, she is not the teacher for you. She also DOES enthusiastically point out things that ARE right...or at least improving.
I want a teacher who gives corrections and I freely admit I come from a classic dance background. Yasmin's a teddy bear compared to Romanian ballet masters, any professional level jazz dance teacher or even classically trained Pilates instructors. She expects her students to work at learning and to be able to listen to honestly given critiques based on classic Egyptian style. In her more advanced classes her critiques are also based on the goal of being a working dancer and includes ethics, professionalism etc.
When I go into a class, any class, I go in to learn. For me I take critiques from a knowledgeable instructor as a "learning tool" not as a bruise to my feelings- 'cos as a student I go in to learn- I DON'T know everything...or even half or a quarter of everything ..g.: . BUT, that is also based on my goals as a dancer, which is to always improve and always learn. She is an honest and demanding teacher. She and Artemis as a team have turned out a huge percentage of the professional level dancers in this region. Artie is Yasmin's warm-fuzzy counterpart (but Artie still gives corrections!).
Dancing is a fun and wonderful exercise- and when fun and exercise are your primary goals a warm, fuzzy teacher may be the most comfortable fit...and that's really most important- finding someone YOU are comfortable and happy with.
Latifa is also a wonderful and highly respected instructor in the area. She's between Baltimore and DC and out of public transportation range, though. ,f::

[kiyaana]

I have had one workshop with Latifa and wish I were close enough to work with her more. One of my close dance friends was in her classes and troupe and loves her!

Latifa is also a wonderful and highly respected instructor in the area. She's between Baltimore and DC and out of public transportation range, though. ,f::

[kina]

Wow, these sound like great reccomendations! I'm all about being corrected, I don't want to make it sound like I don't want correction, I don't want to get yelled at. Different, both of those things.

I love love love when a teacher tells me I'm doing something wrong, so I can fix it.

i took a rokshop from Artemis last year and truly enjoyed it. When I have some time, I'll post a pic of her dancing to Freddy Elias, a venerable violinist who is much revered.

[MakedaMaysa]

Baltimore is about 45 minutes from D.C. I hope you manage to get down here - I'd love to meet you!

[SamiraShuruk]

Yep - talked to you about it last Sat. I love the dancers of the past film clips thing tho!

..g.: We did?? You didn't introduce yourself as "HotDogYogini" ..g.: ...and you don't have pics in your profile. Oh, wait- you took a workshop from her? Was that you?
We're all in the dance for different reasons- and we all gravitate towards teachers who reinforce our love for the art and help us reach our goals whatever they may be; I think it's wonderful we have such a variety of teachers.
...anyway, sorry- back to the subject.

[oreet]

anyone?

Sent a private message to you.

Oreet

[aziyade]

Sent a private message to you.

Oreet

Oh wow, if I lived in the area, I would SO be in your class!! Will you please move to Indiana?

[oreet]

Oh wow, if I lived in the area, I would SO be in your class!! Will you please move to Indiana?

If you or someone else in Indiana is interested in hosting a workshop I would be happy to come!

Oreet

[kina]

thank you oreet!