Thread: Best Lebanese dance teacher?

Arty and I were discussing this last night. We could only come up with one or two. What are your opinions?

Shadia of Boston. She is fabulous!

Helena Cremona,no doubt.
Or do you mean teachers based in the US or Canada?

Suha Deeb and Amani are the only two I can think of off the top of my head.

Originally Posted by emma-bessa

...Or do you mean teachers based in the US or Canada?

Thank you for your answers. We were curious in general. Amani and Suha were the ones we came up with, too, Shems, (but we weren't sure if Amani was on the workshop circuit). We were wondering about any others.

I believe Aradia teaches Lebanese style

I've been to one of Amani's workshops when she was here in London a few years ago - and she was an absolutely fabulous teacher. She is also a really great, down to earth, friendly, sweet, and very generous person.

A couple of years back, she had her own festival in Lebanon. For some reason I can't get onto the website or her own website at the moment, but here are the addresses.

http://www.amanionline.com/

http://www.amaniorientalfestival.com/

I do have somewhere on my PC e-mail addresses for Amani and her manager Ali Reda, so if you need them Serpentine, just send me a PM and I'll find them for you.

Meissoun also teaches Lebanese style. Not sure about Mark Balahadia--I know he uploaded an article in GS not too long ago about traveling to Lebanon.

Princess Madiha (Norma's teacher) is originally Syrian, but I think she is closer to Lebanese style than Egyptian. Just by the nature of working in clubs, Madiha has bits of Egyptian and Turkish styles fused into her dancing, but then again, Amani does some pretty fusion-y stuff herself sometimes (e.g., those Esmerelda-esque tambourine dances).

Does Howaida Hachem teach?

I don't have much to contribute, but if you sponsor Amani, you & Artie had better plan time before or after for my private lessons with YOU because I will COME, and I desperately want to take more lessons from Artemis- so for that plane fare, I want to take advantage of being there!

Sometimes I hate living in Alaska. Just not enough to move.

I've heard Shadia's name come up too but haven't seen anything about her other than her name- website link? Now I want to know...

I've heard Shadia's name come up too but haven't seen anything about her other than her name- website link? Now I want to know...

Unfortunately she doesn't have a website. She has a facebook page as Christine Shadia Tohme and a fanpage for 'Shadia Costuming and Dance Classes'. Meiver's MassRaqs page has a good bio, a video clip of her troupe, and some workshop descriptions:
http://massraqs.com/index.php?option...ctors&Itemid=2
Here is one of her Lebanese Oriental workshop descriptions, this one from Za-Beth's Diva Pageant weekend:
"Start with her popular, signature warm-up and the DANCE you through an entire Lebanese Style Oriental Routine that includes dramatic opening with veil, taqseem( beledi & instrumental ), drum solo, folkloric section and finale. She will familiarize you with all the rhythms used in this piece focusing on Soudasi and Chobi which give this routine it’s distinctly Lebanese flavor. Please wear a shoe with heel (Ballroom or character) and bring veil, full skirt, and zills. Notes, music and brief translations of songs available for purchase. Shadia/Christine [shadiabead@verizon.net]"
I attended that workshop and have hosted her for other workshops. She is great to work with and always comes prepared with informative handouts. I highly recommend studying with her if you get a chance!

You guys are GREAT! Thank you. This has to do with our upcoming workshop series *Vive la Difference* We want to include Lebanese, Vintage Orientale and Tribal Fusion with our Turkish and Egyptian. We are having so much fun creating this ..g.:

Again, thank you.

Originally Posted by Asra*

I believe Aradia teaches Lebanese style

She does, and she is awesome. I don't have much Lebanese experience to compare it to, but I took her lebanese workshop and loved it!

Originally Posted by Lara L

... if you sponsor Amani, you & Artie had better plan time before or after for my private lessons with YOU because I will COME, and I desperately want to take more lessons from Artemis- so for that plane fare, I want to take advantage of being there!

If we can entice you to DC, I promise we will make it worth your while. Anyone who loves finger cymbals like you do has a special place in our hearts!

Recently came back from Lebanon where I had lessons with Helena Cremona.

Seems like Amani has completely dissapeared.
And Suha Deep is not known there either (she used to be a student of Helena's even though she won't admit it).

And yes, I teach the style as well :-) Although unfortunately here in Europe there is little interest in it - everybody is into Egyptian or Fusion or whatever.

MEISSOUN

Originally Posted by meissoun

Recently came back from Lebanon where I had lessons with Helena Cremona.

Seems like Amani has completely dissapeared.
And Suha Deep is not known there either (she used to be a student of Helena's even though she won't admit it).

And yes, I teach the style as well :-) Although unfortunately here in Europe there is little interest in it - everybody is into Egyptian or Fusion or whatever.

MEISSOUN

Dear Meissoun,

Suha never studied with Helena Cremona. However, Suha did rent her studio for her classes for a time. If you have seen Suha teach or perform it is clear that Suha and Helena are completely different in technique and style.

Suha was recently featured on a TV show hosted by the famous Egyptian actress, Yousra on Masriyye TV/Egypt One. The show features the most successful Arabs in their respective fields in culture and science. Although she may not be known by everyone yet, her star power is definitely rising. She is well-known amongst art circles and intellegensia in Beirut.

Regards,

Mark

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

Meissoun also teaches Lebanese style. Not sure about Mark Balahadia--I know he uploaded an article in GS not too long ago about traveling to Lebanon.

Princess Madiha (Norma's teacher) is originally Syrian, but I think she is closer to Lebanese style than Egyptian. Just by the nature of working in clubs, Madiha has bits of Egyptian and Turkish styles fused into her dancing, but then again, Amani does some pretty fusion-y stuff herself sometimes (e.g., those Esmerelda-esque tambourine dances).

Does Howaida Hachem teach?

In response to whether I teach Lebanese style, I do and I have taught several workshops on this subject including in NYC.

I also have a pretty extensive knowledge of Lebanese dance history. Currently, I am working on an article on this very subject although I probably won't have it done until late December.

My dance style use to be greatly influenced by Modern Lebanese especially Nadia Jamal and Samara but I have shifted more to Classical Egyptian (i.e. Tahia Carioca etc) and Classical Lebanese stylings. However, I cannot completely beat the Modern Lebanese out of me and it occasionally pops up randomly.

So although I can teach Modern Lebanese style, in practice my dancing has become very traditional and old school. I prefer this change because as I have matured as a dancer, I have found Modern Lebanese to be too fast and aggressive for my taste.

Originally Posted by Mark Balahadia

However, I cannot completely beat the Modern Lebanese out of me and it occasionally pops up randomly ... but my dancing has become very traditional and old school. I prefer this change because as I have matured as a dancer, I have found Modern Lebanese to be too fast and aggressive for my taste.

Wow. That's quite a switch of opinion. ..g.:
I look forward to seeing your new style. YouTube clips?

I'm currently taking intermediate classes from Rahma Haddad (rahmahaddad.com) in Vancouver, a second-generation Lebanese-Canadian who has been dancing and teaching Egyptian and Lebanese folkloric and cabaret styles for the last 30 years. She was a modern dancer before she switched to bellydance and actually advised me to cross train in modern rather than ballet. She is an amazing dancer and teacher, so check out her videos on Youtube.