WORKSHOPS
NOW offering 4 amazing days of workshops! Belly Dance Festival in Orlando, Florida
OMARIS
FRIDAY
9 AM - 11 AM | SHIMMY BLAST
Omaris will focus on what drives our hips - the powerful drum beats! Drill your shimmies building accents and adding layers, all set to the rhythms in the music. This workshop will be based on technique, and drills with the goal of developing a powerful shimmy! Hear the beats in your music... Dance to the beats in your body... Feel the beats in your soul!
All levels are welcome!
SATURDAY
9 AM - 11 AM | DRUM SOLO CHOREOGRAPHY
Fun, high-energy, and compelling, the drum solo is a favorite of many dancers! Omaris will teach a sassy and fun drum solo choreography. We'll take some of the favorite moves to match them directly to the music so that the dancer becomes the music in motion. Learn the routine, then add your personal technique and style to the passionate music!
12 PM - 2 PM | JUICY TEXTURES
In this workshop, Omaris will teach you how to use different movements are vary the intensity, and texture, and show different emotions. We will drill different steps such as arms, torso, and juicy steps making them different using texture, speed, and emotions. We will use our energy and steps to communicate our passion through music. This workshop is an excellent tool for Baladi and interpretative dance. All levels are welcome.
SUNDAY
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM | BELEDI VIBE
Create texture and versatility modifying the speed and emotion of your movement. Omaris will teach you how to interpret and follow the melody in this Baladi Progression Choreography/Improvisation. We will focus on expression, texture, and feeling, and in the way, we can transmit energy and emotion. Acclaimed by the audience and peers, learn with Omaris a beautiful Baladi choreography with some areas of improvisation to let your spirit fly.
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM | POSING FOR THE CAMERA - PHOTO SECRET REVEALED!
Have you ever wondered how dancers get incredible photos? Ever dressed up, felt beautiful, then turn completely awkward in front of a camera? What do other dancers have that you don't? The secret is... you have *everything* you need to take great photos! All you need is a few tricks to transform your photos from ordinary to awesome. Come learn from master poser Omaris simple but essential techniques that will help you create magical photos! Not only is Omaris a professional dancer and model who utilizes these strategies herself; she also knows the ins and outs of posing from her BA in advertising, and her Certificate in Professional Photography.
We'll utilize breathing techniques, as well as work with arm, hand, and body angles. Through simple movements and adjustments, we'll create YOUR best poses and lines! You'll walk away with confidence, knowing exactly how to pose naturally and effectively for the camera, every time.
Bring a notebook, and any favorite props - veils, wings, anything that inspires you!
ZHOR
FRIDAY
12 PM - 2 PM | SHOWMANSHIP FOR DANCERS
6 PM - 6:30 PM | STAGE PRACTICE
Join Zhor as he shares secrets of successful showmanship to capture the hearts of your audience. Journey through the elementary process of learning choreography, then take it to the next level to create a powerful and mesmerizing performance. This class includes the opportunity to perform a group number with Zhor during the Friday Night Kickoff Showcase. Costumes include Black Wings, Black/Gold/Silver/Combination costumes plus a few surprises Zhor has in store. Be prepared to explore wings, swords, veils and drums and have the time of your lives!
To prepare for this very special performance, Zhor will conduct two group zoom meetings with performers who wish to join his class prior to Festival dates. Email firestormproductionsinc@gmail.com once you pay for the weekend pass and let us know you would like to attend his class from 12-2 PM on Friday, April 21, 2023
SUSU PAMPANIN
THURSDAY
1 PM - 4:30 PM | DANCING WITH A LIVE DRUMMER MASTER CLASS
The Drummer Dancer Connection (Separate Ticket)
Susu Pampanin and TerriAnne Gutierrez take you on a rhythmic journey. Drummers and Dancers will work together to understand drum solo formats, how to play and how to dance to them. The drum solo on an instrument in the first half of this workshop will help you to understand the way a drum solo is constructed, this is important for both dancers and drummers. In the second half we divide up into drummers and dancers (drummers playing for dancers), as we learn movements that go with a drum solo as well as how to improvise to a live drummer when neither of you knows what is coming next.
Experience the magic of live music...the spontaneity, the force that pushes you and the moment when you just have to let go and your body rides the sound, the movement forms from the wave of energy that builds from the syntheses of two artists. The musician that has spent years and years studying and practicing and obsessing over their art, and the dancer that has done the same with theirs...two passions coming together, creating a moment that cannot ever be repeated.
FRIDAY
2 PM - 4 PM | SUSU'S DRUM MASTER CLASS (INT/ADV)
(Separate Ticket)
This class will focus on MidEast rhythms and musicality for the drummer. Both Susu and TerriAnne are expert players and will guide drummers step-by-step through tips to play with greater technique, precision, and soul. They will show you how to dive into yourself to find the passion that drives the heartbeat of the dance. Rhythms from the foundation to the most complicated will be broken down so you can add them to your vocabulary.
Add yourself to the classes today by emailing firestormproductionsinc@gmail.com Paypal - paypal.me/melindacowen1 and save your seat! (Festival participants get a special rate for these MasterClasses)
Have a friend who would like to take these classes but can't do the whole weekend? $250 and they can participate in both MasterClasses.
GINA MARIE
SATURDAY
2 PM - 4 PM | CREATIVE CHOREOGRAPHY
Have you ever wanted to find your character behind the dance? Not just learn a choreography, but understand the character you are playing when you dance to certain songs? This class explores how to build your character for unique shows to give your choreography life and breadth. Opening yourself up to your audience and allowing them to feel your emotions on a journey is key. Join Gina Marie and learn to Master your characters.
TERRIANNE
FRIDAY
4 PM - 6 PM | MUSICALITY, GRACEFUL ARMS & ENTRANCES
Join TerriAnne to develop your ability to connect with your music by learning the basics of musicality, such as beat & rhythm, and different ways of interpreting it to enhance your performance and stand out in any crowd. In addition to this, we will be working on a series of smooth, graceful, and flowing arm movements, as well as exciting entrance dynamics, all of which will bring your performances to the next level.
ZIZI ZABANEH
FRIDAY
2 PM - 4 PM | FANtastico - FLAMENCO ARABE WITH FAN
An incredible Flamenco Arabe Fusion workshop with Zizi Zabaneh. Learn fundamental Flamenco moves that you can incorporate into your belly dance routine.
You will learn Fan and Skirt technique, Braseo (arm work), dance combinations, and much more.
Using all that you learn in the workshop, you will learn a powerful and FANtastic fan choreography.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best Flamenco Arabe instructors and choreographers.
*** Please bring a wide long skirt and a Fan***.
KAMRAN AL KARIM
SATURDAY
4 PM - 6 PM | SHAABI SHOWSTOPPERS
A two hour workshop by Kamran, Florida's premiere Male Belly Dancer. In his masterclass, you will learn how to dance with Showstopping Shaabi Style by modernizing foundational movements through Kam's modern-folkloric lens. Dancers will be taken through the fundamentals of Shaabi, including shorter combinations to keep in your back pocket and a song-choreography to demonstrate the Modern-Folkloric interpretation of Middle Eastern instruments and rhythms that make up Shaabi. Join us to learn working dancers' tips to elevate their performance with ease, and add to your movement vocab with turns and flourishes derived from both Middle Eastern Folkloric styles like Sufi Whirling/Tannoura or Persian Dances, and "Western" dance styles like Jazz or Ballet, as well as other global styles.
FADI EL-SABEH
SUNDAY
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | INTRODUCTION TO DRUMMING
(Separate Ticket)
Does your rhythm put the "doom" in dum-tek? Well fear no more...Fadi El Sabeh is your answer. Coming over from Lebanon, Fadi has been playing the doumbek with Tony Tahan for over 12 years. He will introduce you to how to play the most common Arabic drum rhythms. In no time you will understand Dum-tek-tak and be playing right along. By the time this class ends, you will easily have the skills to replace your doom with a Boom!
