Arabesque teachers are fully trained by Yasmina Ramzy at Arabesque Academy. They also perform as soloists with Arabesque Dance Company. They are hand-picked not only for their technique and skill but also and especially for their warmth, humour and friendly personalities. Not only will students learn authentic, tangible and health-conscious skills, they will also gain an understanding of this ancient and empowering art form, while having a lot of fun. For information about our teachers, see the Teachers page.
Contact us to hire teachers. The following pricing (in Canadian dollars) is for the Toronto area. Inquire for pricing outside the Toronto area.
| Regular weekly classes at your fitness club, community centre or dance school |
$75.00 for a 1 hour to 1.5 hour class |
| Private events (staguettes, birthday parties and women's meetings) or corporate events |
One hour workshop
15-minute performance and 45 minute workshop
10-minute demo in full costume and 50 minute workshop with Yasmina Ramzy and two drummers
|
Our studio is at 1 Gloucester Street, off Yonge St. just north of Wellesley St.
Weekend Workshops are available with Yasmina Ramzy, Dr. George Sawa, and Suleiman Warwar. Workshops described below are dance-based with Yasmina Ramzy and typical, but the weekend or day or week can be tailored to your needs. As well, music workshops with Dr. George Sawa and/or Dumbek workshops with Suleiman Warwar can be tailored to your needs. These workshops are for serious students who want to learn intensively. For short private events suitable for beginners, see Bellydance Teachers.
Any variety of subjects or choreographies can be taught such as choreography (for example, Oum Kalthoum, a drum solo, Mohamed Ali Street style, Saiidi, Oriental, etc.) or workshops can delve into intense and intricate technique. Yasmina likes to work with live musicians. In particular Dr. George Sawa, the director of the Arabesque Orchestra who plays the qanoon and naye, and Suleiman Warwar, the lead Dumbek player and vocalist. In the workshop, all three teachers work together to explain the patterns in Arabic music, the cues dancers and musicians give each other in performance, the structure of drum solos and taxims, and related topics, so that the student will be able to improvise and gain a deeper understanding of the dance's relationship with the music when creating choreography. Workshop time is also spent demonstrating musically and in dance steps the various folklores so that students can recognize and discern the differences. Dr. George Sawa is also available to teach a separate class pertaining to Arabic music where the class will learn to sing an Arabic song. Suleiman Warwar is available to teach a Dumbek workshop from the basics of how to create different sounds on the drum to a variety of Bellydance rhythms to how to be a lead drummer in an Arabic band. Throughout the dance workshop, the musicians will accompany Yasmina. The performance will be with live music. It will include any choreography taught in the workshop and be in two sections with a costume change. The situation described above is preferred, but any kind of schedule or scenario is welcome. Yasmina does insist on bringing at least a drummer with her.
Carrie Hiebert, Winnipeg 1-204-224-5268 or [email protected]
Laura Benson, Atlanta 1-770-643-6826 or [email protected]
Ali Hamidzedah, L.A. 1-818-999-5542 or [email protected]
Andrea Farese, Orlando, Florida 1-407-616-6313
Dawna Robertson, Sarnia 1-519-332-3568 or [email protected]
Joharah, Miami 1-305-819-0163 or 1-305-275-2938
Schedules and prices are negotiable. Prices for locations outside Canada are in U.S. dollars. Examples of packages:
Extra Masterclasses are available and negotiable. Private classes are available with all three teachers.
For all destinations outside the Toronto area, accommodation and travel will be the responsibility of the workshop host with the exception of tours.