Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
Ive taken lessons with her, and I consider her to be a mentor.
I can say from personal experience that Aida is one of the best teachers in MI. I would consider her to be a true master instructor, and she is a really really sweet lady.
She has a wealth of knowledge and years of experience dancing. Youll like her.
Mikky (another Bhuzzer) is in her troupe and would also be a great person to ask. But if you really want to know about her, I suggest you give her a call shes real easy to talk to, and you cant help but feel welcome when talking to her.
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Last edited by Amber_moon; 01-22-2009 at 12:19 PM.
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
I took a short workshop with her a couple of months ago. Aida is THE authority on vintage & West Coast style (read: Salimpour) dance in the Midwest. She is also extremely knowledgable about Arabic music, language, and culture. Probably the most significant thing about her is that she is, without a doubt, one of the most open and giving teachers you will ever come across. At this point in her career, she is on a mission to share as much of her years of accumulated knowledge as possible with as many dancers as she can. No matter what style you are interested in, it is definitely a worthwhile experience to study with her!
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tourbeau
I took a short workshop with her a couple of months ago. Aida is THE authority on vintage & West Coast style (read: Salimpour) dance in the Midwest. She is also extremely knowledgable about Arabic music, language, and culture. Probably the most significant thing about her is that she is, without a doubt, one of the most open and giving teachers you will ever come across. At this point in her career, she is on a mission to share as much of her years of accumulated knowledge as possible with as many dancers as she can. No matter what style you are interested in, it is definitely a worthwhile experience to study with her!
I second this. You want to know ANYTHING about ATS, American cabaret, or 1960/1970's Dance shes the one to go to.
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
ATS? Really?
My experience with her was years ago in the late 70's-early 80's in SF. I had a huge dance crush on her. She was awesome then and I'm sure she is even more awesome now. If I was anywhere near MI I would study with her, for sure.
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by dunyah
ATS? Really?
My experience with her was years ago in the late 70's-early 80's in SF. I had a huge dance crush on her. She was awesome then and I'm sure she is even more awesome now. If I was anywhere near MI I would study with her, for sure.
Yeah, She has an ATS/folkloric troupe that she trains right now. And as I understand it the whole ATS movement sprung from the folkloric style that Jamilla was teaching back in the day.
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amber_moon
Yeah, She has an ATS/folkloric troupe that she trains right now. And as I understand it the whole ATS movement sprung from the folkloric style that Jamilla was teaching back in the day.
ATS sprang from that style but it is very different from that style. There was no follow-the-leader improv and the dance movements weren't as stylized. The flamenco posture and floreos weren't used back then. Any group dances were choreographed. There were similarities in the costuming, i.e. use of natural fabrics and kuchi jewelry, assiut, etc. The big turbans and tattoos that FCBD became famous for were not known back then, though the more ethnic-style dancers liked to draw on facial tattoos with eyeliner.
I'm a dinosaur that's how I know these things. I studied with Jamila and Aida in the late 70's, early 80's, mostly at the week-long dance seminars that Jamila organized.
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tourbeau
I took a short workshop with her a couple of months ago. Aida is THE authority on vintage & West Coast style (read: Salimpour) dance in the Midwest. She is also extremely knowledgable about Arabic music, language, and culture. Probably the most significant thing about her is that she is, without a doubt, one of the most open and giving teachers you will ever come across. At this point in her career, she is on a mission to share as much of her years of accumulated knowledge as possible with as many dancers as she can. No matter what style you are interested in, it is definitely a worthwhile experience to study with her!
I'll second all of this. I was in her class in San Jose, CA (S.F. Bay Area) for over four years, late 70s-early 80s and learned a wealth of dance technique and performance skills, along with a huge amount about Arabic music and culture. Definitely worthwhile to study with her!
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
Well I just came back from Aida's --- went down on Saturday morning and back Saturday evening. Wow. Just... wow.
I really can't say enough about this lady -- she WAS welcoming and her insights were amazing. I drove the 5 hours (back to Columbus, Ohio) mostly stunned. I've been dancing for nearly 5 years and the time I spent with Aida totally restructured my brain.
I can't wait to go back in July.
Thanks for all the comments about her. You were right --- she truly IS a gem.
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
Gilded Serpent has been trying to get Aida's story for years now. I thought we were close once but then she gave it to Suhaila. I'm not sure what happened to it after that. GS has a history section on the San Francisco scene from the 60s through the 80s called North Beach Memories. ~45 people have contributed there stories so far, either through their own writing or through interviews that all have had the final approval of each person. It would be wonderful if someone would interview Aida and get her story written down for us so that it can go with the rest of the collection and fill out a much needed vewpoint. Anything would help, just make sure that she approves of the final version. We currently have a few stories on Aida told my others who were that at that time. They are not told by disciples but collegues. Have a look and maybe someone will be inspired to help get her story. The Gilded Serpent presents The Stars of North Beach, San Francisco
The above video is wonderful! I may have to just make a scrapbook page with the photos and bits that we have so far until we can get something deeper on Aida. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
There isn't a better teacher or instructor on the planet than Aida...gosh I've seen so many. (As we all have). And there's a lot of good, but Aida is a master.
People think they gotta go to the west coast for the best, teeeheee we have her right here in Michigan!
You can come to her workshop at the bellydance convention May 15-17. www.detroitraqs.com
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
I haven't been on here in ages (bad purchase burned me out), but I'm so happy to see all the positive notes on Aida - all of them true of course!!! I haven't been making it to class or any performances lately due to the fact I am moving and trying to pack my life up and let me tell you - Aida and her classes are like a drug. You go for a while without and you just start jonesing for them. I die a little every week that I cant be there...
Hugs to all!
Michelle
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amber_moon
Ive taken lessons with her, and I consider her to be a mentor.
I can say from personal experience that Aida is one of the best teachers in MI. I would consider her to be a true master instructor, and she is a really really sweet lady.
She has a wealth of knowledge and years of experience dancing. Youll like her.
Mikky (another Bhuzzer) is in her troupe and would also be a great person to ask. But if you really want to know about her, I suggest you give her a call shes real easy to talk to, and you cant help but feel welcome when talking to her.
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
YES! I have got to remember to sign up!!!!! Remind me!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lana
There isn't a better teacher or instructor on the planet than Aida...gosh I've seen so many. (As we all have). And there's a lot of good, but Aida is a master.
People think they gotta go to the west coast for the best, teeeheee we have her right here in Michigan!
You can come to her workshop at the bellydance convention May 15-17. www.detroitraqs.com
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
I was a student of Jamila Salimpour in the '70s when she taught at the Poultry Company in San Francisco, Aida would teach the class when Jamila was performing with Bal Anat at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire...also, Aida would demonstrate different techniques Jamila was teaching so the rest of us could see how it was done properly.
A truly beautiful dancer...San Francisco Bay Area really misses her.
Re: Aida Al-Adawi of San Francisco (And Michigan!)
I love Aida! Like others have said she has such a wealth of knowledge and experience and shares it all.
I really do miss taking her classes but I did see her with the troupe at the Michigan Renaissance Festival when I was up there over Labor Day.
Lynette, if you come back, when I first started taking classes with her I did mention the Gilded Serpent articles and that they were looking for her to tell her story. She was not interested but I can't remember why (it's been years since this happened).
She is on Facebook under her dance name and has wonderful picture up if anyone would like to see.
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Our biggest disappointments in life come from having unrealistic expectations of others. And the most unrealistic expectation of all is that others will see things the same way and react the same way.
Yes this is from the 80's when she was touring with "Holiday in Greece". I got to tour with them as well in the late 80's. They were a Toronto based group and we toured practically every major town in lower Canada from Toronto to Vancouver and the San Fran area as well. Every night a new town. It took 3 months.
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