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Why Attend Workshops

If you are attending class, regardless of the level, you will often receive handouts on the many workshops in the area. I don’t guarantee you will receive handouts on all area workshops, for one thing I don’t always know they are going on, but if I know of a workshop, and it is level appropriate, you will most likely get a flyer about it. Also, when I have time to update my calendar page, I try to include information on workshops I know about in the area. If you find out about a workshop that I haven’t mentioned, by all means let me know, though I try to keep up, there are so many workshop opportunities out there I’m always missing some.

So why should you attend any of these workshops I’m telling you about? Well there are many reasons and my decisions on which workshops to attend are usually based on more than one of them.

First, workshops are often taught on topics that are not covered in my regular belly dance curriculum. Makeup and hair for performances, costume and prop construction, use of specialized props and unusual technique are all topics that come up in workshops but may not be included in regular dance classes. So in order to get the specialized training or instruction, attending a workshop is your best bet. I’ve taken workshops on Greek style belly dancing, kathak and bollywood, all topics not covered in local classes.

Second, workshops often bring well known belly dancers to the area. Dancers you have watched in performance DVDs or maybe own instructional DVDs taught by them. A workshop is your opportunity to meet these well known dancers and get some time learning what they have to offer (as a bonus, workshops often include the opportunity for private lessons with these “big name stars”). Usually you will also get an opportunity to see these dancers in the show associated with the workshop (most but not all workshops include a performance). By attending workshops, I have learned from Princess Farhana, Amaya, Ariellah, Asharah, Amy Sigel of Unamata and many other well known dancers.

Third, workshops give you the opportunity to learn from someone other than your regular instructor. You may love your current instructor, but taking the opportunity to learn from someone else is a good choice. Most instructors have been teaching the same material in the same way for years. I may mix up my curriculum periodically, adding and subtracting or moving when a move is taught, but the way in which I teach a specific move has changed very little since I started teaching. By learning from somebody else, they may have a different way to explain a familiar technique that has been giving you trouble that clicks for you. (By the way, when this happens, tell your regular instructor. What worked for you may work for someone else and she can add it to her bag of tricks.) I finally conquered the ¾ shimmy on the down because of a workshop I attended.

Fourth, workshops are often a great opportunity to shop! Most of the workshops I have attended have included vendors selling belly dance related items. Jewelry, veils, hip scarves, swords, fans, hair accessories and more, you can find it at the vendor tables and most workshops.

Finally, workshops give you an opportunity to socialize with other belly dancers in the area. Those dancers may have tips for where to purchase items, how to make things or even just a great CD to dance to. I often decide to attend a workshop because I know someone else is attending, it gives me a chance to visit with them.

E-mail Huraiva at huraiva@huraivaalimah.com