My review of Princess Farhana's Bombshell DVD in the July/Aug 2012 Zaghareet

My complimentary copy of the July/August 2012 Zaghareet just arrived in the mail this week. A while back I wrote a review of Princess Farhana's Bombshell DVD. I submitted it to Zaghareet and they accepted it. If you want to see it, and you have a copy of the latest Zaghareet, it's on page 58. If not, you can also find it here in my blog entitled "I'm a Bombshell Butterfly!"

Glowing Student Feedback for the Egyptian Dance Academy Summer Intensive 2012!

Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive for the 2012 Summer Intensive course at the Egyptian Dance Academy/Hannan’s Belly Dance Studio. The 20 hour course was held from July 4 to July 8, and was aimed at Intermediate and Advanced level students. Instructors for the course included Dr. George Sawa, Nada El Masriya, and Guests. The Intensive covered topics such as Egyptian Folklore and Props, History, Egyptian Music and Culture, Musicality and how to dance to live music, Creating Advanced Choreography, Stage Presence, Expression and Character Representation, Personalized Coaching, The Egyptian Art of Improvisation, Marketing, Professional Costuming, and Constructive Feedback.

Here are some highlights of what the students had to say:

“I really enjoyed learning about the cultural background and how it should be presented. It’s important to know this in order to dance well. Not all belly dance schools teach that.” Erin

“The whole package has been an extremely good investment. I appreciated how many opportunities there were to put the learning into practice, both individually and in the group. As a result, my confidence has really soared.” Shahmeen

“All of the activities and lessons were appropriate for all the different levels of participants. It was accessible to the intermediates but also challenging for the advanced. After so many days in a row I really felt the material being drilled into my body and mind.” Meadow

“Dr. Sawa really puts it all together.
He is one of the most enjoyable teachers I have ever worked with.”

“Nada is the perfect blend of a tough but encouraging instructor. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s an amazing dancer and an excellent host.”

Practicing improve to live music kept me from being too intimidated. I liked the focus on drum solo. Some of the principles I had been struggling with really sunk in this time. Now I know what I need to study and practice specifically.” Meadow

Visit the Egyptian Dance Academy's Website to learn more about valuable upcoming Workshops and Events offered in Toronto!

Learn from the Source! Review of Nada El Masriya's “The Art of Egyptian Belly Dance” Volume’s I & II

Are you looking for high quality, authentic Egyptian Belly Dance Instructional DVD’s for levels I (Beginner to Continuing Beginner) and II (Continuing Beginner to Advanced)? You will find them in the two brand new 2012 DVD’s just produced by Nada El Masriya.

Egyptian Belly Dance Instructor and Performer, Nada El Masriya, is a former five year member of the Reda Troupe, who has been lauded by the legendary Fifi Abdou as “the Ambassador of Egyptian Dance in Canada.” Her classes and workshops at the Egyptian Dance Academy in Toronto are always highly sought after. The same accurate technical instruction, advanced skills, and intimate insight into musicality that she offers at her Academy are now available in her Instructional DVD series.

The first two DVD’s in the series are valuable home study and practice tools when used alongside regular classes with a qualified teacher. Each DVD covers warm up, posture, arms, 3 unique dance combos, and some Reda style traveling steps. Basic level I and II isolations and movements are carefully demonstrated and explained in each DVD.

These DVD’s not only stand out for their excellent quality of production and content as but also for the quality of the instructor. Videography, sound, lighting, and studio setting all make it easy to focus on Nada without distractions. Nada herself is not only a beautiful and charismatic teacher, she communicates her main points to the viewer with great clarity and directness. In addition to the main instruction which is mostly in English, she adds a few Arabic phrases in a context along with translation which helps the viewer understand what she means.

What comes across most poignantly is how sincere Nada’s passion is for her art and culture, and how much it means to her to share it with others who are respectful and open to learning about it. The viewer gets the sense that not only is Nada to be respected as a highly qualified teacher and an elegant performer, she is also a genuinely warm and like-able human being. She draws the viewer in, and makes you want to learn from her.

Nada’s professional Egyptian dance background influences what she feels it is most important for her students to learn. She points out that Egyptian Belly Dance is about 1) Emphasis, and 2) Action and Reaction. She verbally explains and physically demonstrates what she means quite clearly in her DVD’s to help the viewer understand these key kinesthetic elements to the multi-layered complexities of Egyptian Dance. Learning about Emphasis, Action, and Reaction can allow both students and professionals to execute the same moves but in much more varied ways that will suit and express the texture of the music.

She employs the same Egyptian teaching style that the Reda troupe uses of teaching by visual demonstration so that the student absorbs the techniques by watching first. Then she uses the North American method of breaking down the movements and explaining them verbally. Finally, she demonstrates the lesson yet again for the viewer by dancing the movements she has taught. In addition, there are also small inserts of Nada in professional costume actually performing those moves. This combination of teaching methods is highly effective. Words are not enough to explain the subtleties of what Nada means. Nada believes that only the eyes can fill in the gaps needed to eventually become a professional and she works hard to demonstrate this concept in her DVD’s.

Nada’s DVD’s are for those students who want to learn correct moves from a native Egyptian dance expert. Her methods are excellent for helping students truly understand the moves she teaches. Her style of teaching is sure to appeal to those who learn by watching, those who learn by listening, and those who learn by both verbal and visual instruction. Nada’s DVD’s bridge the divide between different learning and teaching methods and also between cultures.

To learn Egyptian Belly Dance directly from the source, purchase Nada’s DVD’s online www.discoverbellydance.com or call 416-4623498. Each DVD is $29 plus tax.

The Egyptian Dance Academy July 7, 2012 Hafla!

This Saturday July 7, I'm planning on attending my studio's Summer Hafla.
I'm looking forward to watching great performances, listening to live music, and dancing with everyone afterwards!

Layali El Sharq will be performing live! They are awesome!

I bought my ticket for $10.00 a couple of weeks ago. They can be purchased online
through the studio website. Last minute tickets can also be purchased for $15 at the door.

Doors open at 7:30pm, the Hafla performances start at 8pm.

There will be free Egyptian snacks and drinks. People are welcome to bring
their own wine.

Get your Tickets Online Here

Egyptian Dance Academy June 2012 Gala Photo Gallery

My studio has just posted the June 2012 Gala Show Photo Gallery. Everyone looks beautiful and the photographer Iden Ford always does an amazing job.

There aren't any pictures of me dancing this year like there were the last time. Good thing I paid for the professional photos (which I'm waiting impatiently for!) Hopefully my new pictures will come through sometime next week.

Anyway, there are some really lovely photos of the other students, some of the professional dancers,  and the Academy's wonderful teachers in this gallery! Worth a look!

http://www.hannandance.com/galleries/June2012Gala/june2012gala.html

Beauty in the Beach - Live Outdoor Egyptian Belly Dance and Drumming Event

One thing I've learned about summer living in Toronto: when it is hot in the city, it is always cooler down by the Toronto Beaches Boardwalk. Whether it is Woodbine Beach, KEW Beach, Scarborough Beach or Balmy Beach, every part of the Beaches Boardwalk is perfect for taking a slow stroll, sitting by the water and enjoying the fresh breezes coming off Lake Ontario. If I'm wilting from high temperatures, an afternoon by the water will always pick me up. 

There is always something interesting to see or do on the Boardwalk. There are people water-skiing, sea-dooing, para-sailing, sailing, yaughting, swimming, flying kites, playing volleyball or tennis, roller skating, cycling, jogging, sun-bathing, having picnics and BBQ's with their families and sweethearts and more. 

At various times I might encounter people offering massages or tarot readings, musicians of all kinds busking for tuition, martial arts demonstrations of different styles and schools, and drumming and dancing events from all parts of the globe and many cultures. With all these attractions, it's easy to understand why the Beaches Boardwalk is a popular destination for local Torontonians as well as tourists. If I have to be in the city, it's certainly my favorite place to be in the summer.

It's where I plan to be this Sunday July 15 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. I will be taking full advantage of the opportunity to have a free outdoor Egyptian Belly Dance and drum lesson with the enchanting "Ambassador of Egyptian Dance in Canada" (quote by Fifi Abdou), native Egyptian dance artist Nada El Masriya accompanied by a true master of Middle Eastern drumming Mr. Joe Srouji.

For those who just can't stop their hips from moving to the beat of a live drum, this will be a fun chance to learn a short Egyptian belly dance choreography with an authentic, world class Egyptian Belly Dancer originally from Cairo, and to dance to some irresistable rhythms driven by incredibly talented and powerful Middle Eastern Tabla player Joe Srouji. 

For those souls who's hearts and hands feel compelled to beat out rhythms on drums, this is a great opportunity to drum with someone who grew up in a family of traditional Middle Eastern musicians. Drumming is in the blood and bones of his ancestors and professional percussionist Joe Srouji keeps this ancient pulse pounding family and cultural tradition thriving.

If you prefer to watch, this will be a exciting event to attend which will contribute to the overall beauty of the Beach Boardwalk experience. Prepare to be mesmerized by the elegance of Nada demonstrating Egyptian belly dance moves in one of her exquisite Egyptian dance costumes to thrilling rhythms from Joe Srouji. 

Nada and Joe won't decide on the exact spot on the Boardwalk to set up until much closer to the date. To find out the specific location in the Beach and reserve your free spot, contact the Egyptian Dance Academy.

416-462-3498

www.discoverbellydance.com