DANCE WORKSHOPS
Orientale Bellydance - Folkloric - Persian - Dabke - Tribal FusionDUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THE CAMP IS POSTPONED UNTIL 2O21. DATES WILL BE ADVISED AS SOON AS WE HAVE CONFIRMED OUR VENUE BOOKING.
Below are all the dance workshops for the 2018 program. The 2020 program is currently being prepared. Stay tuned for updates – or join our Facebook group and mailing list (links are at bottom of page) to stay informed!
A wide variety of specialised music and dance workshops is on offer throughout each day. The only problem is figuring out which ones to do! Some of the workshops occur once during the camp and others are progressive. Once you are at the camp you can go to any of the workshops on offer. Schedules are given out upon arrival and can also be downloaded (above). Beginners are welcome and all levels of skill are catered for.
Vintage Egyptian Orientale Dance - Nikki Irwin - 4 sessions - OPEN LEVEL

Egyptian Shaabi - Xaeda Raqasa - 4 sessions - OPEN LEVEL

Feel It! - Paivi Mielikainen - 2 sessions - OPEN LEVEL

Discover Real Tahtib - Rachel Bond - 2 sessions - OPEN LEVEL (men and women welcome)


In these workshops you’ll learn about historical and cultural aspects of Tahtib. Understand the structure of a game as we start with the typical opening sequences or ‘taheya’, be introduced to some fundamental concepts of attacking and defensive moves, and explore more movements both with a partner and solo. As well as learning more about tahtib for its own sake, folklore and oriental dancers will become more adept at handling a stick and uncover ways to give their stick dancing a more authentic Saidi look and feel. Eventually, we aim to re-enact a tournament – in slow motion of course!
While traditional Tahtib is only practised by men, women are of course also welcomed at these workshops. If possible, bring a strong, straight stick (approx 100-120cm). Limited sticks will be available for loan.
Nubian Joy - Rachel Bond - 3 sessions - OPEN LEVEL (men and women welcome)

Learn the most popular rhythms and social dance steps from the Kenzi and Fajiki tribes of Lower Nubia, making you ready to party! Explore how the moves can be adapted and extended for group choreographies on stage, while retaining their authentic flavour; potentially including props (head veils, baskets and flag fans) as well as elements of story-telling. Formation work is a big part of Nubian stage choreographies too, so be ready to play with lines, circles, partnering and more. Ultimately, we’ll create a choreography to be performed at the Saturday night concert.
Nubian dance is done by everyone, regardless of age or gender. It’s not physically or technically demanding, so the workshops are open to all levels of fitness and dance experience. If you plan to perform, please bring a galabeya. Dancers taking the female role should also bring a head veil (or heavy veil plus handband).
Arosak-e Sang-e Saboor (The Doll of Stone Patience) Persian Dramatic Narrative Performance - Directed by Cindy Schwenn in collaboration with the Persian Ensemble class and all Persian dance classes - 3 sessions - OPEN LEVEL

The ancient Persian tradition of dramatic narrative dates back at least 2500 years. This Pre-Islamic theatrical tradition conveys story and ritual through a combination of art forms such as storytelling, music, dance, puppetry and mime, performed in both courts and villages without class distinction. Contemporary Iranian theatre carries elements of this tradition through to audiences today. This performance shall be a reimagined form of the ancient tradition.
The narrative to be performed is based upon an Iranian folk story, ‘Arosak-e Sang-e Saboor’ (The Doll of Stone Patience), a male sleeping beauty tale of love and deception. The story will be poetically narrated and enacted physically (mime). A Persian folk dance will be paired with daf rhythms, expressing the ancient female fertility origins of the daf. Persian classical dances shall express female beauty, grace and love. Persian classical singing will covey the story’s deep emotional journey and ensemble and choir express the passion of falling in love… and shopping at the bazaar. These art forms poetically combined will touch and delight Sunday night audience.
Persian Minature Dance - Michelle Ridsdale - 1 session - OPEN LEVEL

Iranian Folk Dance with live percussion - Michelle Ridsdale - 1 session - OPEN LEVEL

Classical Persian Dance - Michelle Ridsdale - 1 session - OPEN LEVEL

Datura Style - Alice Knox - 4 sessions - OPEN LEVEL

Datura Style is modern belly dance created by American dancer Rachel Brice. It fuses Oriental dance with Western and World dance styles. Find out more about Rachel Brice, her approach and inspiration.
Alice is the first dancer in Australia to complete Rachel Brice’s Eight Elements training program and gain certification as a Datura Style teacher. For camp Alice will be offering four workshops that explore the distinctive qualities of Datura Style. In these workshops we will play with combinations and choreographic devices. We’ll drill dance technique with the option to incorporate complex zill patterns.
This workshop series offers an exciting possibility to explore Datura Style in an immersive environment. These workshops will progressively build however it is possible to dip your toe in for a single workshop and come away with a range of new content and ideas. Alice is thrilled to welcome and guide dancers on a modern belly dance adventure through an unusual, challenging but beautiful style of dance.
Turkish Romany 9/8 Dance - Margaret Cunningham - 3 sessions - OPEN LEVEL

This year the focus will be on getting the feel and pulse of the music into our blood. I will be teaching two traditional Roman steps per session and all their variations. Whether you attend one or all sessions, you can join the performance at the camp concert on Sunday night with just the moves you have learned. Sound tricky? ‘Tricky’ has never stopped us before!!!
Spectacular Veils and Swords - BellaDonna - 2 sessions - OPEN LEVEL (kids are welcome too!)

BYO props – BellaDonna will have some spare veils and a couple of child sizes to borrow and may also have some to sell. Parents, if your kids would like to learn double veil it will help if you can make some for them. Measurements for veils (if pre-making your own) are:
Width: across the full arm span plus 20cm each side (Adults plus 30cm each side).
Length: from shoulder to the back of the knee.
If you would like to preorder veils you can contact BellaDonna before camp.
Palestinian Dabke - Sameer Ellagta - 1 session - OPEN LEVEL

With dabke you will learn the traditional ways of celebration of the land and people deep within the Palestinian villages, the formation and the calls that accompany the invigorating and reviving music of Dabke.