Sept 8th – Arabic dance workshops

Amber Hansen will conduct the following two dance workshops at BEMAC (120 Main St Kangaroo Point) on Wednesday 8th September from 7-9pm

Workshop 1 (7 – 8pm) – Raqs Baladi min Misr (Baladi Dance from Egypt)

*women only (no prior experience required)
A session for women that will explore the improvised expressive and sensuous art that is Raqs Baladi (translates to ‘Dance of my country or Dance of the salt of the earth’). This is purely an Egyptian urban dance with strong folkloric roots that encapsulates an important connection one has to their land as well as experiences of love, loss, detachment and transition when moving from village to city life. Movements are internally expressive and isolated, reflecting the melodic and rhythmic motifs unique to Baladi style. Dress in comfortable clothes that allow for extended arm and leg movement.

Workshop 2 (8 – 9pm) – Raqs Dabke min Filistine (Dabke dance from Palestine)

*open to all ages, genders and abilities
Dabke (which literally means ‘to stomp’) is an urban folkloric dance and music genre native to Palestine and Lebanon. There are also many regional variations of Dabke in surrounding Arab speaking countries that possess there own unique styles. Amber will be demonstrating the fundamental steps authentic to Palestinian style, improvised and choreographed, passed onto her by friends based in the UK (Al Zaytouna) as well as from members of popular dance group ‘El Funoun’ based near Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine. It is performed as a group so bring a friend or meet some new ones. Dress in comfortable clothes that allow for extended arm and leg movement. Trainers or strong soled shoes required.

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