Cassandra's College

Festival Forum
October 15-21, 2007

Cassandra's College is proud to present
the Second Annual Upper Midwest Festival of Oriental Dance
at Jawaahir Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Experience the diversity of Oriental Dance styles from folk styles to the classical Raqs Sharqi, to contemporary works of exploration and fusion. We’ll have classes, discussions, lectures, music, performances, and vendors — all with the express purpose of helping to improve your dance and performance skills. Whatever style you choose to perform, you’ll benefit from these experienced professional teachers. Come be inspired!

Enjoy classes and lectures by some of the world’s most respected and inspiring artists working in Middle Eastern dance forms. Our esteemed guest instructors include Faten Salama, an Egyptian dancer now residing in D.C., and Hadia, a Canadian Oriental and Flamenco dancer of international reputation. Joining this excellent staff will be Nicole LeCorgne, musician and percussionist. She’ll offer classes in music for dancers, as well as drum workshops. for both beginning and experienced players. Cassandra will add her experience in special classes during the week as well. Other instructors include Maleeha (Iowa), Ruby Jazayre (Indiana), Yasmina Amal (Michigan), Shira (Shira.net), and Jawaahir Dance Company members. See more detailed biographies below.

Two morning and two afternoon classes daily Tuesday through Sunday at Jawaahir Studios.The Festival Forum will offer classes appropriate to students of all levels.

Open Stage Night! Wednesday 7:00pm is Open Stage Night for you to strut your stuff! There are 20 slots filled on a first-come basis. All performance slots are 7 minutes maximum, including set-up and tear-down time. Performance in the Jawaahir Studio Theater. Free.

Friday performance featuring Faten Salama, Cassandra, Jawaahir Dance Company, Kahraman Near East Dance Ensemble, Maleeha, Ruby Jazayre, Shiara, and Zulaika
Performance begins at 7:30 pm in the Jawaahir Studio Theater.

Saturday performance featuring Hadia, Cassandra, Jawaahir Dance Company, Lilah, Shira, Tara, and Yasmina Amal. The show is followed by a dance party DJ'd by Cassandra.
Performance begins at 7:30 pm. Bring your favorite CD for the party.

Vendors: Alsadu, Ancient Traditions Mehndi, Dahlal, Magical Fashions, Sharifwear

Levels: Cassandra’s College contains courses appropriate for students of all levels. (To enroll in a course above your level of experience, you will need to obtain permission from the instructor.)
The course levels are:
   U = Undergraduate: 0–2 years of Middle Eastern dance study
   G = Graduate: 2–5 years
   P = Professional: 5+ years

Schedule of Events

Class Descriptions
(Add $5 to these prices if you register the day of the workshop.)

Beginning Arabic Drumming
Nicole LeCorgne, Monday 1-3pm, U, $45
Designed for beginning drummers, this class will teach you the basics of the Arabic hand drum, or tabla. You will learn how to make the basic sounds necessary for the most common dance rhythms, as well as learning a few more complex rhythm patterns. Bring your drum!

Advanced Arabic Drumming
Nicole LeCorgne, Monday 7-9pm, GP, $45
Designed for the drummer with basic skills, this class will take you farther along the path to hot drumming for solos and group work. Bring your drum!

Veil Management
Cassandra, Tuesday 10am-12pm, GP, $45
Don’t let your veil dominate you! Be in control with these tips and tricks of working with all types of veils; different shapes, fabrics, and sizes. Bring your veil. (Some veils available for use at the studio.)

Arabic Music for Dancers
Nicole LeCorgne, Tuesday 10am-12pm, UGP, $45
Nicole will help you to understand the dance rhythms and instruments that help to fuel a dancer’s performance. She’ll break down a well-known complex Oriental dance introduction and open the door to new understanding of Arabic music.

American-Style Veil Work and Wraps
Cassandra, Tuesday 1-3pm, GP, $45
Veil dancing in the USA evolved some beautiful wraps and removals that correspond to reveal and conceal concepts of feminine beauty. As a professional performer in the clubs in San Francisco and the Twin Cities, Cassandra developed many unique ways of artistically wrapping and removing the veil during her routine. She’ll teach her wraps as well as demonstrating some of the signature veil wraps of the stars of the era. Bring your veil. (Some veils available for use at the studio.)

Beginning Veil
Kathy McCurdy, Tuesday 2-4pm, U, $45
This class is an introduction to the veil; how to choose the fabric, what shape to make it, whether to decorate it, and how to handle and control it. This class is designed for the beginning student who has not had any veilwork experience, as well as for the veil-phobic. Bring your veil! (Some veils are available for use at the studio.)

Costume Couture (lecture)
Peg Deppe, Tuesday 6pm, free to all
From Street to Stage: Adaptation and Evolution of the Egyptian Beledi Dress

Shimmies, Vibrations, and Layering Movements
Cassandra, Wednesday 10am-12pm, GP, $45
A technique class designed to perfect your shimmies! We’ll shimmy everything — a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on!

Beginning Shimmies
Toha, Wednesday 10am-12pm, U, $45
Toha’s patient and thorough teaching style will help you to get started on learning to shimmy. She’ll work on shimmies of all sorts, from shoulders to hips!

Using Shimmies and Vibrations Effectively
Cassandra, Wednesday 1-3pm, P, $45
Tired of seeing dancers who overload their show with shimmies? Learn how to use your layering movements and shimmies with taste and excitement. This class will cover the where, when, and why to use these exciting moves!

Introductory Veil Choreography
Kathy McCurdy, Wednesday 2-4pm, UG, $45
Kathy will teach a beautiful veil routine that is appropriate for beginning and intermediate veil users. Bring your veil! (Some veils are available for use at the studio.)

Open Stage Performance
Wednesday 7pm, free to all
The Jawaahir studio theater is open to all who wish to perform. Just come at 6 pm and sign up for the evening. Show order will be determined by our Stage Manager, who will assist you backstage and pick up any props you may leave behind. Be prepared with your CD and costume, and feel free to enjoy the rest of the show before and after YOUR performance! We welcome all styles; soloists, duets, groups, and musicians! We have a large dressing area for women, with bathrooms and mirrors. Men have a small dressing space behind the stage.

Egyptian Raqs Sharqi
Faten Salama, Thursday 10am-12:30pm and 1:30-3:30pm, GP, $100
Raqs Sharqi is the female soloist's perfomance dance of Egypt. No matter whether you call it Dance Orientale, Belly Dance, Middle Eastern Dance, Arabic dance, or Raqs Sharqi, it is the soloist's physical and emotional expression of the music. You will learn from one of Egypt's best, Faten Salama, in her inimitable style.

Belly Dance Fundamentals with Ruby
Ruby Jazayre, Thursday 2-4pm, U, $45
The fundamentals according to Ruby J…Recognized for her ability to make every student feel at ease in her classroom, Ruby has fine tuned her methodology so that every student can visualize the isolations and technique that Ruby has become known for. This class will examine the articulations that allow the isolations to become the most that they can be, and then build upon them as we explore the technique of creating movement to become dance.

Melaya Leff
Faten Salama, Friday 10am-12:30pm, GP, $60
Faten Salama will teach the flirtatious Alexandrian dance stylings using the wrapped modesty cover called Melaya leff. Bring a melaya or 3 yard heavy veil.

Dance Stylings of Raqia Hassan
Cassandra, Friday 10am-12pm, GP, $45
Cassandra was one of the first American dancers to discover, absorb, and incorporate the steps of the famous Egyptian dance coach, Raqia Hassan. She will clearly explain and teach some of the well-known signature movements of this influential artist.

Nubian Dance
Faten Salama, Friday 1:30-3:30pm, U, $45
The folkloric dance style of the Nubian people from the far southern part of Egypt. This dance is fun to do and is a great starter for party dancing!

Dance Stylings of Mahmoud Reda
Maleeha, Friday 1:30-3:30pm, UGP, $45
Understand how Mahmoud Reda changed the face of Egyptian dance. Mahmoud Reda is the father of the theatrical Egyptian dance movement. Many of his company members and students have gone on to be famous dance teachers and performers. They have spread his style worldwide. Now you can learn what he did, and how to do it!

Dance in Egyptian Cinema (lecture)
Shira, Friday 3:45-4:45pm, free to all
This one-hour lecture/video presentation introduces how dance has been portrayed in Egyptian cinema over the 20 th century. Many Westerners interested in Oriental dance have seen compilations of dance scenes from vintage movies, but have not been exposed to the context of what these scenes represent in the films in which they appear. This presentation reveals the story behind the clips — not just the movies’ plots, but also insights into the audiences for which these films were made and understanding of how then-current events/culture influenced the portrayal of dance.

Performance
Friday 7:30pm, $15 (or $20 at the door)
Faten Salama, Cassandra, Jawaahir Dance Company, Kahraman Dance Company, Maleeha, Ruby Jazayre, Shiara

Flamenco/Arabic Fusion
Hadia, Saturday 10am-12:30pm and 1:30-3:30pm, GP, $100
Hadia is uniquely suited to teach her style of Flamenco Arabic fusion, having been professional in both forms for over 25 years. No other instructor can offer you a better blend of these exciting and beautiful styles! Her teaching style is body-friendly and she’ll work with you to master the Flamenco stylings.

Choreographic Concepts
Yasmina Amal, Saturday 10:30am-12:30pm, UGP, $45
Tired of using the same staging for every performance? Go beyond the circles and lines — put variety into your dance using choreographic forms and simple stage design.

Travel in Style
Ruby Jazayre, Saturday 2-4pm, UGP, $45
It is an art in itself to use your stage floor to its fullest potential. Whether you are circulating among tables in a club/restaurant or creating spatial design on the theatre stage, your creativity is your only limit. Explore basic ideas and patterns of movement that allow you to “travel in style.”

Performance followed by DJ Dance Party
Saturday 7:30pm, $15 (or $20 at the door)
Hadia, Cassandra, Jawaahir Dance Company, Lilah, Shira, Yasmina Amal

Turkish Rom
Hadia, Sunday 11am-1:30pm, GP, $60
The Rom are the gypsies of Turkey.

Stage Makeup for the Oriental Dancer
Toha, Sunday 12 noon-2pm, UGP, $45
Each of us has an expressive, yet differently shaped, face. Learn to accentuate the positive in your face and make your expressions “carry” to the audience. Bring your make-up and Toha will teach you how to use it effectively on your face.

Body Logic
Hadia, Sunday 2:30-5pm, UGP, $60
After an entire lifetime devoted to teaching all aspects of Middle Eastern Dance throughout the world, Hadia has devised and refined her revolutionary “Body Logic” system of technique. Hadia’s “other” career as a highly respected and skilled massage and manual therapist, allows her to specifically apply legitimate therapeutic principles (body mechanics and alignment, injury prevention, kinesiology, therapeutic exercise) to the Art of Oriental dance. This information will give you the keys needed to develop a safe, secure, solid, and unbelievably simple foundation of impeccable technique that is guaranteed to open the door to effortless, gentle and soulful Egyptian oriental dancing. Remember, with so many choices, approaches, and perspectives available today, why not put your trust in someone with 38 years of dance and teaching experience — the teacher of teachers — who is also a highly skilled therapist and teacher of therapists. The best way to know how to move your body, is to understand how your body works. And don’t forget, if it hurts, don’t do it and if it’s difficult, it doesn’t need to be.

Tribal Fusion
Tara, Sunday 2-4pm, UGP, $45
This class will offer strength and flexibility conditioning necessary for the execution of tribal fusion moves, teaching the most commonly executed tribal fusion techniques, and a series of combinations that can be added to your own dance vocabulary regardless of the style.

Instructor and Performer Biographies

Faten Salama
Faten Salama’s classical Egyptian style captures the essence of all we admire in the Egyptian Danse Orientale. In the tradition of her own grandparents and ancestors, she captures the rich treasures of the old world to enrich the culture of her new American home. Her dance is vibrant with the deep, soulful emotion and the precision rhythm that are at the heart of this art form. Faten adds to this her very own quintessential feminine grace and passionate love and joy of the dance, making her performances and teachings a very special experience you won’t want to miss.

Hadia
Although Hadia is an exquisite performer of impeccable quality, her extensive travels and deep understanding of many forms of dance, combined with her thorough knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology, make her an unparalleled master instructor. Her teaching skills blend careful disciplined technique, attentive application to rhythm and music, and encouragement of artistic expression. She has a fullness and depth to her teaching that challenges, inspires, and accommodates all levels of students from novice to professional. 

Nicole LeCorgne
Nicole is a former member of the Georges Lammam Ensemble, and has been the musical accompanist and resident drum teacher for Oasis Dance Camps since 1996. She has a B.A. in World Music and Dance from the University of Minnesota, a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University, and has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East. A recent trip took her to Saudi Arabia, where she made photographs and field recordings of Saudi folk music for Saudi Aramco World Magazine. Nicole lives New York, where she teaches, performs, and photographs. (www.nicolelecorgne.com)

Cassandra Shore
Cassandra began performing Middle Eastern dance in 1975 and has since made over 15 research trips to the Middle East. Her studies began in San Francisco with the legendary performer, Jamila Salimpour. She has studied with some of the finest teachers and choreographers of Middle Eastern dance, notably including Mahmoud Reda, Mohammed Khalil, Raqia Hassan, and the late Ibrahim Farrah. In 1989, she formed Jawaahir Dance Company, which has since been recognized for its ground-breaking repertory of traditional, modern, and fusion works of Middle Eastern and contemporary dance. Today, Cassandra is known as a master teacher, star performer, and creative artist in the field of Middle Eastern dance.

Kathy McCurdy
Kathy studied ballet, jazz, tap, and modern before discovering Middle Eastern dance in the late 1970's. She studied with Tara Auringer, was a founding member of Noor el Sahara, a dance troupe that performed in ethnic restaurants and folk dance festivals in Wisconsin, and began teaching in Madison, WI. She also studied with Dahlena in Chicago, IL, before moving to Minneapolis to study with Cassandra. She is a founding member of Jawaahir, has been teaching at the Cassandra School since 1990, and is the general manager of the Company.

Lilah
Lilah Perry has been passionately involved in the study, performance, and instruction of Oriental dance for over 10 years. Highlights of her career have included living in Egypt and traveling all over the Middle East in pursuit of knowledge of her art form. Currently, Lilah lives in Portland, OR where she shares her love of the dance by teaching and performing solo and with her troupe.

Maleeha
Maleeha, from Iowa City, Iowa, has won acclaim across the US for her teaching and performing skill, and travels frequently throughout the US. She has studied extensively in both New York and Egypt with Ibrahim Farrah, Mahmoud Reda, and Ghassan Fadlallah, gaining proficiency in many of the folkloric dances of the Near East as well as Classic Orientale. She also holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from the University of Iowa. Maleeha has performed professionally for nearly three decades and is the Artistic Director of Kahraman Near East Dance Ensemble (www.kahramandance.org ) which has completed several US tours as well as theater performances throughout the Midwest.

Peg Deppe
Margaret “Peg” Deppe, MS, is a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota in Design, Housing, and Apparel with an emphasis on dress and textile history. A long-time interest in historic and ethnic dress and current work in the area of dress ethnography combined with 20 years study of Middle Eastern dance and costuming give her a unique perspective on the interpretation of indigenous dress for dance performance. She is a graduate instructor for the fabric structure design studio in the College of Design.

Ruby Jazayre
Ruby Jazayre, from South Bend, Indiana, is an accomplished performer, instructor and choreographer of Middle Eastern Dance, of which she has enjoyed total involvement since 1978. In the years that followed she has gained acclaim throughout the United States, becoming a popular seminar performer and instructor. Ruby thrills audiences and inspires students with her earthy dynamics, powerful hips, and bold personal style. Ruby's dance creations demand attention. Since 1981, her principal mentor was the renowned Ibrahim Farrah. In 1985, she traveled with him to Egypt and Morocco to experience the culture and dance first hand.

As an instructor, her earthy approach, style and choices of music will have everyone "feeling good." Ruby's methodology puts her students at ease so they can learn in a relaxed atmosphere. She incorporates elements of isolation and hip articulation into her combinations of movement for a "total body and mind" workout. Her unique ability to break down movement allows for every level of dancer to benefit and learn.

Shiara
Shiara is an award-winning performer, an accomplished choreographer, and a motivational instructor from Ames, Iowa. She discovered this beautiful art form in 1993, and has been studying, performing, and perfecting her dance technique ever since. In 1998 she was asked to share her passion for Middle Eastern music and dance in the classroom as both an instructor and guest lecturer. She currently offers classes in Ames and West Des Moines, in addition to traveling to teach dance seminars and private lessons. Known for her warmth and charm both on stage and off, there is nothing that brings Shiara more joy than sharing her love of this dance with others!

Shira
Shira (Julie Elliot), from Iowa City, Iowa , is known worldwide for her work as researcher, author, and publisher of information on Middle Eastern music, dance, and culture. She has been interviewed by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal for stories on Middle Eastern dance, and is highly sought after as a contributor to magazines centered on this art form. Her web site, www.shira.net, is the most comprehensive and most linked-to Oriental dance web site in the world. Although she had already been dancing many years by then, in 1997 Shira began her serious study and research into the historical and cultural foundations of Middle Eastern dance. For continuing education, she has traveled twice to Turkey and six times to Egypt.

Tara
Tara started dancing Middle Eastern style with Cassandra in the late Seventies. She performed for many years at many of the Twin Cities’ clubs and restaurants. She was a regular dancer with The Levendes, a local Greek band. She has recently immersed herself in Tribal Fusion since retiring from the cabaret stage and has studied extensively with Rachel Brice and Zoe Jake. She has also studied with Marti Love, Moria Chappel, and briefly with Ariellah.

Toha
Sarah began teaching dance when she was 15 and has taught thousands of dance classes and workshops coast to coast. In addition to Middle Eastern dance, Sarah has taught Luigi jazz, Spanish, Broadway and other dance forms. She began teaching at The Cassandra School in 1995. In May 2007 she returned to Jawaahir after spending a year in Philadelphia dancing with Habiba's ensemble and hosting a Smooth Jazz radio program. Sarah gives private lessons, and also teaches stage makeup and commercial voiceover.
 

Yasmina Amal (Garnet)
A classically trained dancer, Yasmina’s repertoire ranges from ballet and modern to jazz and beyond. A professional Middle Eastern dancer with more than twenty years experience, she has performed extensively in the Detroit area Arabic supper clubs and has studied with the legendary stars of Modern Middle Eastern Dance. She is the artistic director of the Habibi Dancers, a nonprofit Middle Eastern dance troupe located in Lansing, Michigan. Yasmina Amal offers classes at Michigan State University and through the city of Lansing Parks & Recreation Dept.
 

Zulaika
Zulaika was a founding member of Jawaahir Dance Company, a teacher at The Cassandra School, and teaching artist with the Minnesota State Arts Board. She recently moved from Minneapolis to Seattle. She is looking forward to teaching dance and presenting educational programs on Arabic dance in the Seattle area and to promoting Cassandra and Jawaahir in the Northwest.

Festival Forum Registration

We cannot reserve your place in class until we receive your payment.
Register before October 10 and save $5.

To register for Festival Forum, use our Online Registration Form.

           OR

Print, fill out, and mail the Printable Reistration Form with a check to the address on the form.
 

For Further Information

For further information on Festival Forum, please call 612-872-6050 or email csbd@jawaahir.org

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