Thread: St. Louis - Amel Tafsout and Shahna!

Anyone want to come? May 16 & 17.

Here's the website. The link to the flyer isn't working yet, but it should be fixed soon I think:Home :: DeWolf Studio You can also send an e-mail to dianaATdewolfstudio.com and request a flyer.

Shahna is one of my dance heros, I don't even know what to tell you about her except that you'll have a dance crush on her by the end of the weekend, guaranteed. She's been studying with instructors like Mahmoud Reda and Yousry Sharif since she was about 8 years old, I think, and she's a brilliant teacher. I always come away with new technique and interpretation skills.

Amel is a Berber woman raised in Algeria. I *think* she's going to teach Tunisian and some kind of Moroccan dance, but check with Diana to be sure. Her phone number is on her website.

I absolutely recommend Amel - she's not like anyone else I have ever studied with. She was here for Oasis a couple of years back. What I found then was that she taught, technically, an Algerian rai dance and a whole lot of other stuff that wasn't specifically culturally located. For instance, when we did certain things in the technique classes, she never stopped and said "this is an Ouled Nail thing" or "this is an Amazigh thing", even though she was billed as teaching that. If you want to break things down into "this style that style" it is frustrating. BUT it was the most fantastic experience to study with her and I came away wanting more, more, more North African dance. I felt that I learned nothing and also everything, if that makes sense. If I were able I would study with her any time. She's charismatic and knowledgeable and you will have a very good time with her. Her approach is quite spiritual - again, not my normal cup of tea - and yet down to earth and culturally grounded at the same time.

Shahna is AWESOME! She is sweet, amazingly talented, so spirited, technically amazing and very inspiring. Ill be in St Louis during this time...I hope I can make it!

I might be able to make it. Looks interesting.

Just bumping up this thread -- the workshops are coming up quickly and the flyer is available now at the link I gave above. I'm really looking forward to this one.

Hey ladies! Just shut the trunk - heading to the Lou - see you tomorrow!

YAY, Christine, can't wait to see you again!!!

Let me know if you want to get together tonight or Sunday brunch or something...

..cr.: Still digging out from the aftermath of the cyclonic derecho that blew through here last Friday. I so loved taking class with both of those wonderful women/instructors. But alas, my attendance at this double whammy workshop is not in the cards this time. I would SO love to be there tomorrow. ..cr.: Hmmm... We seem to need an emoticon for a stress tick (though that may be a little too small a detail).