Mirabai is available for community
belly dance workshops throughout the region and afar. Topics she
enjoys instructing are Elegant Arms and Upper Body Dynamics, Saidi
Cane Dance, Fan Dance, and Poetics of Performance/The Ultimate
Figure 8; however, she is open to all possibilities. Contact Mirabai
for further information and rates.
Have you seen the new flowy
fan fad sweeping through the belly dance nation? These fans
are a fun prop which originates in Chinese dance, going back
as far as the 4th millennium BC. Mirabai has become known
throughout the Puget Sound region for her mesmerizing fan
dance, and now she shares her studies of this form with you.
In this workshop, Mirabai introduces students to her fan technique,
and leads them through a series of belly dance/ fan dance
combinations, culminating in a short choreography.
She also provides historical,
cultural, and contextual information. This workshop is designed
to provide students with the option to use this choreography
in their own future performances or to be inspired to proceed
with their own fabulous fan work. Mirabai has been commissioned
to perform her fan dances in multiple theatrical productions,
and was awarded 1st Place in the Persephone category at the
Emerald Rain belly dance competition for her fan dance.
Poetics of Performance
or... The Ultimate Figure 8 :.
Performing for an audience,
no matter how big or small, can be nerve-racking. This is
true for performers across artistic mediums; this is true
of artists of all levels of expertise, from novice to professional.
Drawing on a lifetime of study
of dance, poetry, music and theater, in this workshop Mirabai
shares an array of theories and techniques she’s picked
up throughout the years. These invaluable performance gems
apply to both formal and casual settings.
Through the course of this
workshop, Mirabai teaches a mini-choreography in light of
concepts such as “breath”, “vulnerability,”
“gesture,” “stage psychology”, and
more.
Originally the folkloric dance
of Upper Egypt (Southern Egypt), Saidi has become widely popular
in bellydance today. Its infectious rhythm can be found in
many contemporary songs, and its earthy and simple movements
can be seen performed by a number of top bellydancers: Fifi
Abdo, Sahra Saida, & Leila of Egypt, to name a few. This
workshop will assist you in establishing a basic knowledge
of Saidi that will expand your dance practice, repertoire,
and understanding in wonderful ways. I’ll share some
basic knowledge; we’ll work on a short choreography;
and I’ll provide tips for staged versus restaurant Saidi.
I can’t wait to present this joyous, flirtatious dance
to you!
You
can expect Simply Saidi to cover these points:
Saidi background, rhythm & costuming
Saidi movement/steps & combos
Sweet & sassy mini-choreography
This workshop is for beginners to pros. Bring
a hip scarf, head scarf, and a cane.
In her classes and on stage,
Mirabai is noted for her fluid arms and captivating stage
presence. Join Mirabai for this workshop as she shares the
practices and concepts that have helped transform her arms
and her stage presence. This class will focus on proper arm
carriage, framing, extension, elegant transitions, and the
development of confidence and expression through upper body
dynamics. This workshop is for students of all levels
