Elegant Flamenco Fusion Choreography

Inspired by her travels to Spain (and her longstanding obsession with this proud, beautiful dance form), Irina presents a dance that is a delicate fusion of both Flamenco and belly dance.

This passionate piece incorporates intricate hip and torso work, while adding the distinct arm and foot patterns characteristic of the Spaniards.

We will incorporate a few call-and-answer sections, perfect for those who are used to dancing in groups. The various combinations of the choreography could be easily incorporated into fusion pieces.

If possible, please bring a long, wide skirt.
Note: Dance shoes are recommended.

Irina Akulenko is a New York City-based performer, teacher and choreographer with a burning passion for arts of all genres. Although she discovered Middle Eastern dance purely by chance, belly dance has become her main expressive outlet. Since 2001, Irina has studied both Egyptian Cabaret and American Tribal style belly dance and now enjoys fusing these styles, along with everything in between.

Today Irina performs as a soloist on various New York stages and has recently released her first instructional DVD “Tribal Fusion Workout” with World Dance New York and an instructional series of videos with the popular website “Howcast.com”.

Additionally, her performances were featured on “Fantasy Bellydance: Cult of Myth” DVD, “Fantasy Bellydance: Tarot” DVD and she could also be seen on Bellyqueen’s “Bellydance NYC: The Ultimate Fusion Experience” DVD. Irina is one of the principal dancers and instructors with Bellyqueen Dance Theater, is a performer for Project “Bella Gaia” and is an alumni member of Alchemy Dance Theater.

She loves collaborating with other artists and has completed projects with Jillina (Bellydance Evolution projects in NYC and DC), Dalia Carella, BALAM Dance Theater and many others. Irina is dedicated to continuing her dance education, always looking for new ways to be inspired. Furthermore, she holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science, and has a strong interest in women’s issues and visual arts.

Fusion of Foreign Flavors: Odissi Fusion

In this workshop, we will work on a series of combinations fusing Odissi dance with belly dance. Odissi is the oldest, and arguably the most elegant of the eight classical styles of dance from India.

We will work on articulated hand gestures called “mudras”, beautiful poses and frames, as well as learning how to incorporate your eyes in your dance. Fusing these ethnic elements with belly dance, we’ll create fun and flirty combinations that can be added into any choreography and will greatly enrich your dance vocabulary.

Irina Akulenko is a New York City-based performer, teacher and choreographer with a burning passion for arts of all genres. Although she discovered Middle Eastern dance purely by chance, belly dance has become her main expressive outlet. Since 2001, Irina has studied both Egyptian Cabaret and American Tribal style belly dance and now enjoys fusing these styles, along with everything in between.

Today Irina performs as a soloist on various New York stages and has recently released her first instructional DVD “Tribal Fusion Workout” with World Dance New York and an instructional series of videos with the popular website “Howcast.com”.

Additionally, her performances were featured on “Fantasy Bellydance: Cult of Myth” DVD, “Fantasy Bellydance: Tarot” DVD and she could also be seen on Bellyqueen’s “Bellydance NYC: The Ultimate Fusion Experience” DVD. Irina is one of the principal dancers and instructors with Bellyqueen Dance Theater, is a performer for Project “Bella Gaia” and is an alumni member of Alchemy Dance Theater.

She loves collaborating with other artists and has completed projects with Jillina (Bellydance Evolution projects in NYC and DC), Dalia Carella, BALAM Dance Theater and many others. Irina is dedicated to continuing her dance education, always looking for new ways to be inspired. Furthermore, she holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science, and has a strong interest in women’s issues and visual arts.

Master Class with Rachel Brice **SOLD OUT**

Photo by Trinette Reed

Friday— **SOLD OUT**

Smoke + Mirrors: Spellbinding Slow Phrases + Fluid Footwork

Learn new smoky and serpentine phrases and pair them with foot patterns that give the illusion of gliding or floating. We’ll begin class with a rigorous conditioning sequence to prepare you for the slow and narcotic phrases, so bring your yoga mat. At least a year of consistent belly dance is recommended.

Saturday — **SOLD OUT**

Hit It! Artful application of locks and isolations in up-tempo combinations.

Learn how to highlight your hard-earned technical skill by using a few very simple techniques, and combinations to illustrate those techniques. We’ll start the class slow and end fast, so come ready to sweat and HIT IT! At least a year of consistent belly dance recommended.

Sunday — **SOLD OUT**

Bohemian Rhapsody: Vintage stylization w/ spins, level changes and finger cymbals.

In this workshop we’ll dip into our American belly dance history with a few vintage style combos, heavily inspired by the late 60’s and early 70’s. Prepare for fun and challenging finger cymbal patterns with floorwork, level changes, and of course, shimmies. Please bring finger cymbals. At least a year of consistent belly dance recommended.

Don’t miss the Sahara Dance Live Music Salon, featuring Rachel Brice performing a cabaret set!

*Out-of-town workshop participants may be interested in these nearby hotels: Days Inn or Marriott Courtyard

Intro to ATS (American Tribal Style)

Developed by Carolena Nericcio of Fat Chance Bellydance, American Tribal Style (ATS) belly dance is rooted in traditional raks sharki and fused with modern dance, flamenco, and styles of Indian dance. The format consists of a shared vocabulary and tight formations, which allows you to engage and interact with your dance partners in a fun and improvised way.

Learn the basics of ATS, starting with posture, arm placement and footwork. Eugenia will take you through conditioning, drills, tips and tricks to get the muscle control necessary for elegant, precise and powerful ATS. You will also learn a few core movements of pure Fat Chance Bellydance ATS format.

Introduction to Raqs Al Assaya (Cane)

Experience the playful spirit of folkloric dance while learning assaya combinations and handling techniques. In Raqs Al Assaya, a cheerful dance from the Sa’id (Upper Egypt), the dancer twirls a cane in playful imitation of the men’s regional martial art. Raqs Al Assaya may be presented as folkloric dance, or adapted for cabaret-style Oriental dance.

Students need to bring canes for class. This workshop is appropriate for Low Intermediate students; modifications will be offered for Beginner II students and more experienced dancers.

Raks Sharki with Nubian, Sha’abi Sampler

Nubian and Sha’abi dancing have become insanely popular and have taken over Saidi and Baladi in some dance circles. Although Nubian and Sha’abi dance are folkloric dance styles, a belly dancer’s Raks Sharki show may include a theatrical version of these folk dances as part of their evening’s performance. Audiences appreciate a dancer who has taken the time to learn about traditional folkloric styles. Many Raks Sharki performances include the use of folkloric elements to enhance the full performance.

In this Sampler class, Lotus encourages and teaches you to define your dance style while incorporating Sha’abi and Nubian dance elements. Learn to give a nod to the folk dance with moves that lift up the cultures as opposed to the fantasy of them.

Lotus will also teach a series of combinations that can be performed to add fun, folkloric flavor to your raks sharqi performance.

This class is suitable for all levels.

It’s Slow Time!

In a fast-paced world, there is often nothing more captivating and memorable to an audience than a performer who seems almost frozen in time. Learn a few methods of slowing down your movement in dance, while pulling yourself into the moment and captivating your audience in the process. This workshop will focus on stage presence, muscle control, and awareness of posture. Participants will learn the effectiveness of combining very slow movement with different layers, textures, and tempos.

In the second section of the workshop, Rin will teach a short fusion choreography, incorporating methods practiced in the first section. You can do a lot more with slowness than you think! Participants will have the opportunity to witness the choreography as both performer, and audience member to more fully understand these concepts. Without further adieu…It’s slow time!

This workshop is open to all levels; some belly dance experience is recommended.

Rin Ajna has over seventeen years of dance training and draws much of her inspiration for her fusion belly dance style from previous training in jazz, modern, ballet, and hip hop, as well as belly dance instructors Ebony, Rachel Kay Brookmire, and Rachel Brice, with whom she has studied intensively.

Rin currently performs locally and internationally to showcase her ever-evolving belly dance style. A member and frequent performer with Raqs Caravan Urban at Sahara Dance, Rin has also recently performed in Jillina’s world class production, Bellydance Evolution: Dark Side of the Crown, for its DC, New York, Mexico, and Japan tours. Rin’s dance style and way of moving have often been described as stunning, incredibly unusual, and almost otherworldly.

Luscious Layering

Explore all the ways that we can add layering in our belly dance. Learn the varieties of ways that we can layer and explore these movements to create dynamic and interesting belly dance performances.

Master Class with Na’la

Saturday

Dance it! Sing it! FEEL IT! Tribal African Fusion: Full Body Movements for Belly Dancers

At last! A whole entire day to sink into our bodies, feel our own natural rhythm and movement, and connect with the music and each other. We will jump right into West African infused belly dance, with its delicious full body movements, relaxed shimmies, earthy undulations and room for self discovery. Be prepared to sweat, to learn about your body’s natural movement, and to connect with your breath and your voice.

We will then take the time to stretch, align and stabilize our spine, pelvis and shoulder girdle, as well as recharge with a seated moving mediation. Then, we will take all that we have learned and bring it into the application of a Circle Dance. We will leave the mirrors behind and feel out the dynamic of dancing in a Circle, one of the oldest documented dance formations.

This workshop is appropriate for all levels, all ages and all body types, even ones with injury, like mine! Please bring a yoga mat for the stretching section.

Sunday

Lost and Found: Theatrical Belly Dance Choreography and Storytelling for Performers

This is NOT your average belly dance workshop. In this special two part workshop, we will use Tribal Fusion, Tribal African, Theatrical Elements and our own creativity to put together a dramatic presentation of Transformation and Rebirth. This class is for students who already have the belly dance basics down, and are working on their stage presence and presentation to the audience.

Part 1: Lost (Descent into the Dark Underworld)
Be prepared to walk on the dark side of the human psyche, process through movement, and learn a choreography that truly embraces the concept of “Lost and Confused.” We’ve all had our moments of feeling lost in the world, we’ve all felt confusion, irritation and struggle, and now is your chance to express that through movement in a safe and supportive environment. You will learn a short and expressive choreography that will be appropriate for all body types, ages and dance styles, and watch a story come to life! Let your dark side come out to play…

Part 2: Found (Ascent into the World of Connection)
In the second half of this workshop, we will transform from a struggling “Lost” character and be re-united with the Self and with Others. We will focus on musical interpretation, creative movement and emotionally connecting with your dance, your fellow dancer and your audience. What are different ways that we can connect with our audience, and pull them into our performance? How do we communicate through dance, and what are we trying to say? We will look at the answers to these questions, as well as ways to soften, relax, center, and breathe through your next stage performance. Bring your cameras, ‘cause we will film our work at the end of class.

This workshop is for Beginner II/Low Intermediate and above.

Package Pricing: Saturday & Sunday: $175 through June 15 / $200 after June 15

*Out-of-town workshop participants may be interested in these nearby hotels: Days Inn or Marriott Courtyard

Seductive and Whimsical Drum Solo - Take it or Leave it!

Whether you are the Choreography Queen or the Impresario of Improvisation, you will “Take” away a fabulous new drum choreography or “Leave” it and walk away with tricks and tools to adorn and elevate your own dancing.

This workshop that will teach you how to seamlessly fuse sensual belly dance with locks, sharps and accents to give your drum solo performance more edge and more style! Although the drums may begin, you are in complete control. The dancing begins when YOU say it begins!

Lotus will teach you fun, whimsical, quirky dance steps to combine with seductive, hot moves that will keep your drum solo from being over-saturated with only locks, pops, or only tight, isolation moves. Give you and your audience “play time” during the drum solo portion of your song!

Arabic Basics for Belly Dancers: Music and Dance Vocabulary (lecture)

Taqsim, shaabi, shammadan, beledi, raqs— you’ve heard the words in class, but what do they really mean?

This workshop will begin with a short introduction to Arabic including the alphabet, word structure, and regional variations. We will then take a more in-depth look at the music and dance vocabulary most commonly used in Middle Eastern dance classes and examine the roots of the words, their meaning, and common usage.

No prior experience in Arabic is required and there will be no test.

This is not a dancing workshop, so please dress comfortably.

Folkloric Sampler: Ghawazee and Hagallah

Come sample some of Egypt’s upbeat and fun folkloric dance styles!

Ghawazee is Egypt’s own Gypsy dance. Widely performed by traveling families of musicians and dancers, Ghawazee is characterized by heavy swinging hip movements.

Hagallah is a dance originating from tribes in the desert of North Africa. This style is most known for the distinctive 3/4 shimmy widely used in belly dance, and often blended with fast and flirty movements.

Belly dance has evolved from folkloric dances. Learning them is not only fun but essential to every belly dancer’s training.

Master Class with Colleen

Classic Combos: Slow & Swirly to Fast & Flirty! Explore the slow and sensual side of belly dance in the first half of the workshop. Learn soft, slow, swirly taqsim combinations to put movements into musical context and captivate your audience. Guaranteed to be a deeply muscular, core workout!

Rev it up in the second half! Fast, flirty and fun combos push your dance into overdrive. Learn to accelerate with precision and control, and play with speed and expression to enchant your audience.

Please bring a water bottle and snack, and prepare to sweat!

This workshop is designed for Intermediate / Advanced dancers; modifications will be offered for beginner dancers.

Mastering the Belly: Rolls, Flutters and Fun Stuff

When people hear “belly dance” they often think of delicate and deliberate mastery of the belly muscles. Learn Shahrzad’s personal techniques for belly movement, including flutters, rolls and pops!

Practice integrating belly muscles into fundamental hip and chest movements to create powerful and dynamic combos.

Master Class with Amar Gamal

Saturday - Oriental Fantasy and Dynamic Upper Body

Focus the attention and energy on the upper body making it strong yet soft. Through strengthening exercises, arm awareness and core building your upper body will transform your dance by adding a clean and polished look. Absorb the graceful upper body nuance through practicing a strong, powerful and flowy choreography. Through emphasis in technique, emotion and musicality, Amar will show you how to let this upbeat and powerful song take your dancing to the next level. Drawing from her classical dance background, Amar combines a subtle fusion of ballet, jazz and Latin flavor, giving it a little spice but still preserving the Egyptian feel.

Appropriate for Low Intermediate level dancers and above.

Sunday - Egyptian Choreography and Shimmy Galore Drills

Polish, control and execute various types of shimmies with confidence and style and master some of Amar’s signature moves. Practice honing your new techniques through a rich choreography filled with drama, excitement and intricate moves designed to capture the essence of the dance.

Appropriate for Beginner II level dancers and above.

*Out-of-town workshop participants may be interested in these nearby hotels: Days Inn or Marriott Courtyard

Tribal Belly Dance Retreat with Rachel Brice

9th Annual Tribal Belly Dance & Yoga Retreat with Rachel Brice
Blue Spirit, Costa Rica
February 15-22, 2013

Costa Rica Retreat with Rachel Brice: The HeART of Belly Dance
Put the world on pause to immerse yourself in an intensive yoga and dance retreat designed to rejuvenate your love for belly dance.

Don’t miss this unique tropical all-inclusive belly dance retreat, complete with:

* All-inclusive week-long retreat (room, meals, workshops, yoga)
* Daily technique, combination, and choreography classes
* Morning and afternoon yoga classes
* Evening discussions with Rachel Brice
* Optional excursions including horseback riding on the beach, zip-lining, jungle adventures, surfing, Howler Monkey sanctuary
* LOTS of sunshine in February!

This retreat is suitable for all levels, with individual attention to modify movements for beginners and/or challenge advanced dancers. A basic foundation in belly dance and/or yoga is strongly suggested.

Master Class with Karim Nagi of Turbo Tabla!

Karim Nagi is a native Egyptian drummer, DJ, and folk dancer. His workshops and performances boast a dynamic concoction of live drumming and dance. Because of his proficiency in both music and dance, his workshops deliver students to a new physical understanding of the connection between these two disciplines.

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, March 1 & Sunday, March 2, 2014
Stay tuned for details!

*Out-of-town workshop participants may be interested in these nearby hotels: Days Inn or Marriott Courtyard