Monthly Specialty Workshop Class Series

Summer Session:

Unless otherwise noted, Wednesdays 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. (2 hours), Instructors vary.           Studio: Minneapolis-Chapel Room

Fall through Spring Sessions:

Unless otherwise noted, Sundays, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. (2 hours), Instructors vary.                Studio: Minneapolis-Sun Room

One workshop scheduled each month. Occasionally during summer session, there may be more than one at different locations.

Advanced registration is recommended to ensure space and materials. Please see specific workshop class descriptions below.

PLEASE NOTE: Advanced registration is recommended, but if you cannot register in advance, an email reservation is strongly recommended to ensure sufficient space and materials (some workshops have handouts or other materials), and also to ensure that you are notified if there are any late-breaking changes or adjustments (e.g. changes due to weather or instructor illness, additional facility information, etc.) If you plan to attend but are not able to register in advance, email your name, email address, phone number, and best way to contact you to info@aalimschool.com to reserve your spot. Walk-ins without reservation will be accommodated as space permits, but in the case of workshops with size limits, enrollment priority will be: 1. registered (prepaid) students, 2. students with email reservations, 3. walk-ins. 

***Click here for registration form*** 

Single class/workshop

$20

 3-workshop package:

Any three scheduled workshops

Spectacular Shimmies, Layers and Pops (for Drum Solos and More!) with Mirah Ammal

A big crowd pleaser, sword dances are popular in various dance styles from tribal to American Cabaret to fusion forms. In this workshop you'll learn about technique for balancing and maneuvering the sword to create beautiful and interesting sword dances. Ziva is recognized as a top sword technique performer and instructor throughout the region.

Sword Dance with Mirah Ammal

Sword dances are often big crowd pleasers, and they've become popular in various dance styles from tribal to American Cabaret to fusion. In this workshop you'll learn about technique for balancing sword and other props, dancing with the sword, fundamental elements of standing/moving technique and floorwork for sword, bringing drama and energy to sword dances, and selecting appropriate and interesting music. 

Important notes: Bring a sword if you have one.

TBA

Flutter Fans and Fan Veils with Mirah Ammal

Learn how to incorporate the beautiful, flowing movement of silk-enhanced fans into your oriental-fusion, tribal-fusion, or modern-fusion dance numbers to create drama and gorgeous movement to accent your dancing. Flutter fans (sometimes called Chinese dance fans) have a short "flutter" of silk over the edge of the fan, and fan veils are like silk veils with a frame. Each can be used to create unique effects and beautiful visuals.

In this workshop, you will learn:

* Techniques for single- and double-fan including various flows and flutter techniques,

* Ways to use open and closed fans

* Gorgeous spins and turns

* Beautiful arm and hand positions and movements

* Dramatic use of movement, body lines and poses.

* Combinations to incorporate the fan movement into the flow of your overall dance technique.

Instructor Mirah Ammal, director of the Aalim School and Al-Bahira Dance theater, performs regularly with flutter and veiled fans in her restaurant and specialty performances. She is also recognized for her skill gracefully incorporating silk veils, Isis wings, and other props into dynamic dance performances.

Russian Gypsy Dance with Tatyana  **NOTE TIME CHANGE: 11:00-1:00**

Learn about this beautiful dance style, full of energy and personality! In this workshop, you'll learn about the steps used in this dance that blends Russian music and energy with gypsy flavor and a touch of Middle Eastern-type technique. Tatyana will also teach a short choreography using the movements, style elements and combinations you learn. 
 

Tatyana Butkova began her studying of Middle Eastern Dance with Tina Shokri while visiting her home city of Minsk, Belarus in 2002. Tatyana performs with Haladytka Roma (a Russian Gypsy dance ensemble), Jawaahir Dance Company, and periodically at Shiraz Persian Restaurant and other venues in the Twin Cities area.

NOTE: Bring a full skirt if you have one, and dance shoes if you have them. (Participants are welcome to dance barefoot, but dance shoes such as a character or flamenco shoe are helpful with some of the stomping sounds and techniques in the dance.)

"Tribalusiental" with Mirah Ammal

 “Hey! You got your Tribal Fusion chocolate in my Orientale peanut butter!” “You got your Oriental-peanut butter in my Tribal Fusion chocolate!” Say...these two tastes really *do* go great together!

Blending Orientale and tribal fusion techniques can create beautiful impact and fantastic combinations. This workshop might be right for you if:

* You're a tribal fusion style dancer interested in unique, surprise movements and variations, and textures to set you apart;

* You're an Orientale/cabaret style dancer looking to increase your flexibility and muscle control to be able to add pops, locks, rapid combinations, and ooey-gooey moves for sword dances, drum solos, or unexpected embellishments in your dancing.

* You're interested in learning more about Orientale and Tribal Fusion styles--their similarities and their differences--from a dance and muscle training perspective.

In this workshop, we’ll work on various tribal-oriental fusion movements and combinations, with special emphasis on the upper body (ribcage, shoulders, arms, and hands). Explore smooth movement, isolation techniques for pop-lock, connection techniques, and other variations and body awareness/dance techniques. Learn variations in styles and movements that will allow you to take the best from both worlds—tribal and Oriental—and use them both in your own dance performances.

This workshop is based in part on a sold-out and well-received session Mirah taught at the Great Lakes Belly Dance Convention in Michigan in 2008. Mirah has more than a decade as a dedicated Middle Eastern dancer, and many additional years training in other dance disciplines. Though she is typically known for her performances in various Orientale, folkloric, and modern-fusion styles, Mirah cross-trains with tribal fusion movement, and is inspired by performances, classes, private instruction, and discussions with some top tribal fusion dancers who share deep backgrounds in other dance forms. 

Zambra Mora with Toha

Back by popular demand! Want to add a little Spanish-Gypsy spice to your dance performance? You won't want to miss this special workshop with TOHA!

Zambra Mora is the dance of the Spanish Gypsies. The forefather of flamenco dance and a cousin of orientale dance, it incorporates beautiful, stylized arm and hand movements, interesting footwork, and passionate feeling.

Toha (Sarah Jones Larson) began performing Spanish dance at the age of 10. She performed internationally as a child with Philadelphia's Ballet Des Jeunes and New York's Ecos De Espana. Locally, she performed with Zorongo Flamenco and Theatre de la Jeune Lune, before joining Jawaahir in 1994. She is a regular performer at Jerusalem's restaurant, and has also danced with Habiba's dance ensemble in Philidelphia.

All levels are welcome if you have previous dance/belly dance experience. Bring a pair of dance shoes if you have them (if not, bare feet are fine), and you may also bring a full skirt to slip on over your leotard/leggings for part of the class.

Don't Mess with this Balady Girl! MELAYA LEFF Workshop with Mirah Ammal

The Meleya Leff is fun, flirtatious, earthy dance based on the folkloric archetypes of women from Egyptian Nile Delta region. In this workshop, learn about the playful styles and characterizations epitomized in this dance, how to wrap and maneuver with the meleya leff--a large modesty garment from which the dance takes its name. We'll learn several coy, feisty, and sassy combinations that you can string together into a fun mini-choreography or easily break apart to use in your own creations. Information about the history of the dance, movements styles, costuming, music selection, and how to work melaya leff into performances will also be addressed.

Mirah Ammal brings to you her love of the Egyptian dance, history, and culture cultivated through her studies in Egypt and with Egyptian masters, plus a flair for the theatrical built on more than 25 years of theater and dance-theater performance background. Her joy and love for the fun melaya leff style (and the many ways it can be adapted) is infectious.

Class is mixed level. Bring your theatrical attitude and come ready to have fun! If you have a melaya, a piece of soft fabric or a heavy veil, please bring it. The instructor will have extras available to borrow.

TWO Great workshops!

   Drum Rhythms and Technique I (1:00-3:00)  with Dr. Dave

   Drum Rhythms and Technique II (3:30-5:30)  with Dr. Dave

Drums are the most essential building block behind Arabic and belly dance music. As a dancer, learning these rhythms and developing at least a rudimentary skill playing them yourself is invaluable! Plus, it’s fun for non-dancers too!

Workshop I covers basic Arabic tabla technique and some of most common rhythms. Perfect for beginners and first-time drummers.

Workshop II covers additional rhythms, more complex variations, and other techniques.

No drum? Just let us know--register in advance or reserve your space via email and the instructor can help arrange a drum for you to borrow for the workshops.

PLEASE NOTE LOCATION FOR THESE DRUM WORKSHOPS: These two workshops will be held at Intermedia Arts Theater at 2822 Lyndale Ave. S. in Minneapolis (approximately 11 blocks from the Aalim School--Minneapolis location.) We think the theater offers a better acoustic environment for this type of workshop, so we hope you'll bear with us through the change of venue. Beginning with the January dance workshop we will return to our normal Aalim School location. Thank you!

Dramatic Veil Intensive with Azzuri Mraz

Drum Solos that POP! Dynamic Technique and Combos with Mirah Ammal

HOT Latin Fusion for Belly Dance with Sana (Joanna Lessard)

Latin music is a common source of rhythmic and instrumental fusion inspiration for Arabic music, which creates great potential for Latin dance and belly dance fusion! But how do you ensure you understand the rhythms and steps appropriately to truly make a good fusion dance? Learn about some of the Latin music rhythms, dance steps, and feeling essential to Latin dance, especially those most commonly used with Arabic music. Sana will guide you through steps, timing and techniques, styling, arm and hand movements and help you get to the root of that authentic "Latin" feeling. This class is taught by a certified ballroom and Latin dance instructor with more than 12 years experience teaching Latin and ballroom dance who also happens to be an accomplished belly dancer and member of the Al-Bahira Dance theater performance troupe.