For the 15th anniversary of the Heart of Belly Dance (HoBD) retreats, we’re combining our Tribal and Egyptian retreats for the first time! This year’s retreat draws upon what Yo-Yo Ma describes as the “edge effect” applied to cultures, where two ecosystems meet and new life-forms are created. Join us for an inspiring belly dance vacation in tropical paradise!
Immerse yourself in belly dance and explore the edges of:
- Egyptian and Fusion dance
- improvisation and choreography
- feeling (tarab) and technique
- mindfulness and belly dance
- past (golden era and folklore) and future (modern Egyptian, fusion and tribal)
May the Edge Effects Edition give birth to new understanding, inspiration, ideas, conversations, friendships, collaborations and beautiful, thought-provoking movement!
HoBD Edge Effects will culminate in a joint choreography by Rachel Brice and Mohamed Shahin, set to a song loved by both Egyptian and Tribal Fusion dancers. Dancers are welcome to take as many or few classes as they wish, with all teachers. Participants register for a primary choreography track: Egyptian (Mohamed) or Fusion (Rachel Brice). At the closing hafla dancers perform the joint “Edge Effects” choreography sections with their group, based on their registration track.
Heart of Belly Dance 2020
Edge Effects Edition Schedule
Choose your own adventure! You can attend all the classes or none at all. Spend the days at the beach, in town, receiving a massage, at the pool, on an excursion, or dancing/stretching/sweating it out in Sky Mind Hall.
Heart of Belly Dance retreats are suitable for all levels, with individual attention to modify movements for beginners and/or challenge advanced dancers. We offer a full schedule of training for professional dancers and teachers, however, all students may choose the intensity of their training. Dancers are welcome to partake in all of daily programming, or just participate in portions of class and relax at the beach, enjoy the resort and explore the small town of Nosara at your leisure. Each day you can design your own training and dance journey to best suit your personal inspiration and rejuvenation!
Leave your cares at home and reconnect with your love for belly dance. Join us for a week of dance and yoga bliss.
ABOUT RACHEL BRICE
Rachel Brice first fell in love with Belly Dance at 16 years old, when she saw The Gypsy Moor Dancers (who later became Hahbi’Ru) at a Renaissance Faire, and started classes with Atesh immediately. Soon after, she discovered a video of Suhaila Salimpour which she obsessively studied. She began making her living by performing American Cabaret Belly Dance at restaurants and teaching yoga while putting herself through school.
A decade later she discovered Carolena Nericcio’s American Tribal Style, which shifted her aesthetic from nightclub to nomad, and Jill Parker became her technique inspiration. She then studied several world and contemporary dance forms as she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Ethnology. The fresh immersion in these dance forms and exposure to San Francisco culture began to mix with her 10 years as a restaurant dancer, and she (unwittingly) started to blend these influences and create something new.
In 2001 she was accidentally discovered by rock mogul Miles Copeland, and toured for several years with his company, The Bellydance Superstars. Through The BDSS, Rachel had the opportunity to work with the incredible Mardi Love, who quickly became her inspiration and muse. Mardi had also started with Cabaret before discovering Tribal, and as they made dances and costumes together for BDSS, a new style, influenced by the late 1800s to 1920s, emerged. These international tours, along with the newly born YouTube, sparked a global interest in this emerging style of Belly Dance, which has gone on to grow, change, and evolve. Rachel and Mardi rode that li’l wave with their old pal Zoe Jakes, and together the three of them created a show called Le Serpent Rouge (which was as much of an excuse to drink whiskey as it was to dance together).
If you’ve read this far, congratulations. You’ve got sticking power, kid. I’m guessing that means I’ll see you in class someday. Cheers!
ABOUT MOHAMED SHAHIN
Mohamed Shahin is an inspirational instructor, world-renowned performer, and challenging choreographer of Egyptian Oriental Dance (Raqs Sharqi) and Egyptian/ Middle Eastern Folkloric Dance. His powerful technique, magnetic personality, and masterful knowledge of all styles of Middle Eastern Dance has turned Mohamed Shahin into one of the most sought-after dance instructors and performers in the world today.
A native of Cairo and originally trained as a mechanical engineer, Shahin discovered his passion for Egyptian Dance at the young age of fifteen. Throughout Shahin’s childhood, he was fascinated by all forms of dance. At 15, Shahin decided quite suddenly that he would dedicate himself to learning Egyptian Folkloric Dance. After many years of the intense study of various Middle Eastern styles of dance, Modern dance, and Ballet, Shahin developed a complex methodology of instruction that has made him a Master teacher beloved to his students worldwide. Shahin currently lives in New York City and has been touring internationally, full-time since 2004.
ABOUT RACHEL KAY BROOKMIRE
Rachel Kay Brookmire is the founder and director of Sahara Dance. Since 2000, Rachel has taught belly dance to thousands of students throughout the Washington, DC area. She is also the creator of Sahara Dance Foundations, an intensive program for training belly dance teachers.
Her teaching style emphasizes postural alignment, contextual awareness of Arabic music and culture and a celebration of femininity. Recognized for her detailed, structured teaching approach, Rachel’s classes focus on community, quality movement execution, musicality, playfulness and individual expression.
As a student of mindfulness practices, she seeks to integrate relaxation, body awareness and the cultivation of joyfulness into her dance offerings. At this retreat, her classes will explore playful, heart-centered themes to develop grace and gentleness in your dance practice and deepen awareness through mindfulness and creativity.