Rhythm is a Dancer Weekend
Workshops for Dancers and Drummers
@ Summer Darbuka Seminars
September 2-4, 2016
in Goshen New York
with Kaeshi, Raquy, and Rami
Dance. Drum. Play. Eat. Repeat.
Dancers, does the thought of dancing to a drum solo make you sweat more than dancing to the drum solo?
Drummers, when the dancer slips on her zils, do your fingers tremble too much to tek because you know it’s time, you have to play the solo?
It’s time to face your fears. As part of our Summer Darbuka Seminars, the workshops this Labor Day weekend from Friday evening September 2 through Sunday September 4th will focus on rhythmic expression and the special relationship between drummers and dancers.
Raquy Danziger and Rami ElAasser will be joined by Kaeshi Chai [BellyQueen, Bellydance Superstars, Bellydance Evolution] for a tag team of professional instructors.
Through cross training in zil technique, drum solo choreography and improvisation, with space for free play and open dancing to live music, participants can break through to the next level at a beautiful retreat center and organic farm in Goshen, New York.
Dancers and drummers are invited to register now for the full weekend package and immerse in dancing, drumming, great healthy food, and people. Individual workshop or day registration also available. Register before July 22 for earlybird specials.
Participants will work with the instructors and each other in workshops like, “Energize and Mesmerize”, “Every Drummy Dance Now”, “Teks for Raks” (mideastern rhythms for dancers), and “Getting’ Zilly with Raquy”
Weekend participants will have a chance to perform at our recital/hafla Sunday evening and everyone is invited.
The Rhythm is a Dancer weekend will be a great opportunity for dancers to improve their rhythm, zil playing, accompaniment to live music, and dancing to live drum solos in a safe and playful environment.
Drummers will get a workout on technique, play accompaniment rhythms for music and dance, as well as develop drum solo improvisations with dance participants. Our doumbek camp participants will already be onsite working on the latest compositions and techniques.
The public is welcome to attend our recital hafla Sunday September 4, 6.30 PM, at the Empowerment Center, and there will be opportunities for some participants to perform at our upcoming NYC show.
Activities Include:
• Rhythm for Dancers
• General Movement Class
• Middle Eastern Rhythm Class
• Choreographed Dance with Drum Solo
• Improvised Dance with Drum Solo
• Perform at Sunday eve hafla
• Campfire
• Daily Yoga, meditation, free time to explore the trails and garden, and practice
• Gourmet vegan/vegetarian cuisine by Chef Rami (organic garden on premises)
Retreat will take place at the Empowerment Center, 1.5 hours from NYC in a beautiful retreat center with bedding and linens provided. Camping is an option as well.
Inquire about Work/study scholarships and single room accommodation. Early registration specials are in effect now through July 22.
About the Instructors
Kaeshi Chai is a world-fusion bellydancer and teacher trainer who co-founded the professional dance company and school, Bellyqueen, and also PURE (Public Urban Ritual Experiment), a global community of artists focused on healing and social change through dance and music. Kaeshi has performed and taught internationally, and is an alumni member of the Bellydance Superstars, and Jillina’s Bellydance Evolution. One of her all time joys is dancing to live music. In addition to her years on stages from Las Vegas and beyond, in 2007 she set up the weekly, ongoing Djam Under Jebon event for dancers and musicians to create and play together in a safe space. She teaches at the Bellyqueen School of Dance and Steps on Broadway. Her mission is to develop bellydance as a stage art and explore its powerful, healing properties. www.kaeshi.com
Raquy Danziger is a celebrated performer, teacher and composer known for her expertise on the dumbek or darbuka, the Middle-Eastern goblet drum. In addition to the dumbek, Raquy also plays the twelve- string Kemenche Tarhu, a rare and exotic bowed instrument designed after the Iranian spike fiddle. She currently studies the kemenche with Iranian kemenche master Arlsan Hazreti in Istanbul.
Raquy has composed over 30 melodic pieces and for the kemenche as well as countless drumming pieces, which can be heard at Raquy DÜM concerts and on the 9 albums she has released.
Raquy teaches at her Istanbul drum school, the Darbuka Ofis, and at our biannual drumming camps in upstate New York, and is the author of the Dumbek Fever series of instructional learning kits.
www.raquy.com
Rami’Tabla’ ElAasser drums and sings worldwide with groups including Alsarah & the Nubatones, Raquy Düm, and Zikrayat. He is a regular at NYC's taraab and dance parties. Based in New York with roots in Egypt, his repertoire includes classical and folk traditions from the Arab World, Greece, Balkans, Turkey, East and North Africa.
Rami's grooves also can be found on many recordings, soundtracks, and live theatre productions.
He has taught doumbek at regular classes and workshops in NYC and internationally over the past 15 years, including our own long running Doumbek Seminars upstate.
www.ramitabla.com
