Home page Why I dance Sara Kahan Biography Raqs Sharqi Classes and Workshops Performances Links

Sara teaching at the Raqs Sharqi summer school in Winchester

 

 

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Classes start with a warm-up, using Yoga and other forms of body work. They aim to develop creativity and the capacity to improvise as well as providing a firm grounding in technique and familiarity with Egyptian music.

I aim to give individual attention to all my students and therefore keep class sizes small.

I rarely teach choreographies as my interest is in developing the capacity to improvise. I aim to nurture each student’s individuality and self expression.

Beginners’ classes are open to complete beginners without any previous dance experience. No special level of fitness is required to start dancing, although I would want to know beforehand about any specific injuries or areas of difficulty, such as back or neck problems. Any loose comfortable clothing is appropriate for beginners’ classes plus a scarf to tie around the hips. We dance in bare feet.

General level classes are open to all levels except complete beginners.

Intermediate/Advanced classes are suitable for students who wish to perform in a theatre context and have a full grasp of basic technique and some understanding of the different forms, Baladi, Sha’abi, Sharqi, and of Egyptian rhythm and music interpretation.

NB: Students joining my classes who have already studied other middle-eastern dance forms would normally be advised to come first to beginners’ classes as styles differ enormously.

I organise parties twice yearly which provide an opportunity for students to perform.

 

 

Classes and Workshops

Six fortnightly Workshops

Autumn 2010


Ladino Dance
 

Raqs Sharqi with a Spanish/Levantine influence, and danced to the music of Jews from the Middle East. These workshops explore this refined classical and soulful style of music.
 

These are intermediate/ advanced level workshops.
 

September 14th 6.30-8.00pm and  September 28th 8.30 - 10.00pm,

October 12th and 26th 8.30-10.00

November 9th and 23rd 8.30-10.00pm

To find out more about the music I’ll be using. Try looking up
Desterrados,
Yasmin Levi
Ruth Yaacov

 


 

To Book please contact Sara on

07540766651

or

sarah.deco@care4free.net,

£15 each, £25 for 2, £68 for 6.

At

The Place,

17 Duke's Road, London WC1H 9PY

‘Sephardic/Ladino music was born in medieval Spain, with canciones being performed at the royal courts. Since then, it has picked up influences from across Spain, Morocco, Argentina, Turkey, Greece and various popular tunes from Spain and further abroad. There are three types of Sephardic songs—topical and entertainment songs, romance songs and spiritual or ceremonial songs. Lyrics can be in several languages, including Hebrew for religious songs, and Ladino.
These song traditions spread from Spain to Morocco (the Western Tradition) and several parts of the Ottoman Empire (the Eastern Tradition) including Greece, Jerusalem, the Balkans and Egypt. Sephardic music adapted to each of these locals, assimilating North African high-pitched, extended ululations; Balkan rhythms, for instance in 9/8 time; and the Turkish maqam mode.’ (Wikipedia)

 


Private classes by arrangement: 079320212092