Thread: Anyone taken with Mira Betz? TOTAL cross over dancer

I just spent the weekend with Mira Betz and not only is she an amazing dancer but her style is truly a cross over. She has a decade of cab, folkloric and Salimpour format experience topped with another decade of dancing where she moved into her own style (and became an amazing dancer along the way).

Her workshops were very theory based but had combos at times and used exercises so you could take away a lot lot lot more than just a couple steps or a cool more, but theories and practices to push your dancing to new levels.

Has anyone taken with her before? Do you see her as a tribal dancer? From what I've seen she's not specifically tribal... but she's not cab... she's just awesome.

I'd love to hear from other people who have taken from her and what you thought.

This has totally sparked my thoughts on taking from dancers who's styles are not my own (or where I want my style to go) but still taking away a lot from their information.

Regardless I highly suggest taking from her if you have the opportunity :)

I love, love, love her dancing. I'd definitely go see any show she's in again.

I did do a workshop with her, and I think she's very good. I'm not a huge fan of workshops, because I need more regular reinforcement and tend not to retain workshop stuff very well, so I'm not sure I'd do another (but that's true of just about anyone, not Mira, specifically).

For those who do find workshops beneficial, then I'd certainly recommend Mira's.

I haven't studied with her, but she's one of my favorite dancers. Stunningly crisp technique, amazing theatricality...

YES! Love love love her!!

I completely agree with you re her style. Certainly not 'tribal' as I am sure many people classify her as. Learned so much and her performance blew me away. Great theatricality and technique.

I am so excited, she is coming to our city in August for a three day, small group intensive called "Dancing outside the Bellydance Box"...can't wait!

She's amazing! I got to take a day of workshops with her a few years ago, and it blew my mind. She was my introduction to "this is what is called a 3/4 shimmy but it's not really a 3/4 shimmy because . . . " that I am still working on (I have no music theory background, but Bhuz discussions have helped me with this). Her performance that night made me cry, and when I stopped to tell her how wonderful it was to take the workshop and dance in the same show, I got a big hug and and many thanks. So yes, I'm a fan!

My first out of town workshop was with Mira and she was amazing. I still don't know how I survived that weekend. My whole body ached for days afterward. She's such a fully-formed artist and a wonderful teacher. One of the exercises we did (that I LOVED) was she played music and we had to express ourself to the music while only using one body part. For example, we all closed our eyes, became comfortable with the music for a few seconds and she would say "left arm" or "head" or something, and we had to dance through that part until she gave us another limb. We also worked on a ballet/jazz/flamenco/AmCab/tribal fusiony choreography in which we had to "let our inner drag queens out". I absolutely loved it! I consider her to be a tribal fusion dancer, but I think that has more to do with how she's marketed and what kind of dancers she chooses to perform with than anything else, but ultimately I really don't think it matters. She kicked my AmCab butt up and down that dance studio!

Mira is one of my favorites! I'm signed up for a 3 day intensive w/ her in August and SO excited - and even more so after hearing all the raves about her workshops :-)

I definitely consider her a crossover artist! She can pull of classic oriental, modern tribal fusion, but really shines in her own highly theatrical style. Wonderful for teaching dynamic stage presence and how to really emote, as well as giving you the tools to explore on your own. She can also give some killer drills!

I would take a class from her again in a heartbeat! We were lucky enough to have her up 3 times in just over a year- closest thing we've had to ongoing master classes! Wish someone would bring her back again! She's up there with Saqra in the well rounded, generous, favorite dancer/teacher category!

(I like her hair too )

Originally Posted by portiaangel

Mira is one of my favorites! I'm signed up for a 3 day intensive w/ her in August and SO excited - and even more so after hearing all the raves about her workshops :-)

My dance troupe and I are hosting a Mira Betz 3-day intensive in the UK "dancing through Art" in May this year (for details see: Bellydance! - Bellydance!), and I cannot wait.

We decided to get her back after attending a workshop with her at the Sirocco festival in Glastonbury and at Raqs Britannia a year or two ago and she was amazing.

I had several "lightbulb moments" during those workshops and have been practicing ever since.

Have you seen her jellyfish dance on YouTube? Amazing.

I find her very engaging to watch, and she is indeed a meticulous practitioner in her chosen subject matters.

I took a workshop with her. Of all the workshops I've attended, it was the most illuminating for me, the most useful. No choreography or involved combos, but a focus on real technique and theory, which is absolutely my sweet spot.

She paces the workshop very well and I didn't feel wrung out, as I so often do at workshops.

She's open and willing to talk, and very opinionated. Sometimes there is almost a diva-ish quality because she is not at all apologetic about laying down the law as she sees it.

Her style is unique. Although she could totally whip out a classic cabaret, modern Turkish, or edgy tribal piece, her own style is slightly less bellydance and a little more performance art.

I would love a chance to study with her again.