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Artwork © 1997 by JenJai.
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BEACH BLANKET BELEDI 2017
Celebrating twenty-three years of oceanfront fun!
** Classes & Schedule Subject to Change **
Beach Blanket Beledi
is an annual seminar and dance party held in Nags Head, NC,
on Columbus Day weekend. The twenty-third annual event is on
October 6-7, 2017. The
focus of Beach Blanket Beledi is that dance is serious fun.
The emphasis is on
creativity, exploration, and innovation.
For more information, go to:
Classes, Dance Party,
Schedule, Location,
Cost, Registration.
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CLASSES
Beach Blanket Beledi offers three instructors in three different, but often
complementary, subjects that are guaranteed to pique your interest
and expand your dance horizons.
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Riskallah Riyad
Middle Eastern dancer and choreographer Riskallah Riyad has performed and taught
nationally for over thirty-five years. Known for her graceful yet crisp style, impeccable
technique, and energetic teaching, she has inspired a dedicated professional and student
following. Middle Eastern Dance New England recently called her a “stellar performer
and teacher.” Riskallah has been featured in Spotlight and Arabesque magazines,
gracing the cover of the former in 1981. Additionally, she distinguishes herself
as an innovator, having originated and perfected the double veil technique in the 1970s.
Today this method is routinely imitated by other dancers and incorporated into belly dance
canon. She also sets herself apart from other artists with her versatility and knowledge.
Her solo and ensemble choreographies in folk and classical Oriental styles demonstrate a
deep understanding of their cultural origins. “Her work always retains an authentic flavor
while being distinctly her own. Further, her contemporary fusion works succeed in
expressing modern day reverence, mystery, and appreciation for drama.”
Riskallah currently maintains a robust schedule teaching Middle Eastern dance classes
daily in Connecticut. In addition to working with students of all levels, she conducts master
classes and special workshops nationally. She is the innovator of the acclaimed Teacher Training
Course, "Footprints a Journey Toward Teaching Excellence."
Riskallah will present Embrace the Silence, techniques for introducing the unique energy of
stillness into your dance through phrasing, pauses, breathing, and complete cessation of movement.
Learn to speak volumes through the many manifestations of silence.
For more information on Riskallah Riyad, visit riskallahriyad.com.
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Habiba
Habiba is internationally recognized as a performer, choreographer, teacher and authority on dances of the
Middle East. She has performed extensively in nightclubs and on concert stages. She was a student
of Ibrahim Farrah for many years. During her numerous trips to Tunisia and Egypt, she studied with members of
the Tunisian National Folklore Troupe and many of Egypt’s top oriental teachers including Ragia Hassan,
Soheir Zaki, Mahmoud Reda and Nadia Hamdi. She has documented numerous folk performances in Egypt and
Tunisia, including the dancing of the Benat Mazin Ghawazi. Habiba has mastered a variety of styles,
from the earthy Raks al Beledi, to the extraordinary Tunisian Pot Dance, and including the classical
Egyptian dance Raqs al-Sharqi. Her depth of cultural understanding allows her to project the distinct
and separate personality unique to the peoples of each region. She has an unfailing understanding of
the musical and movement distinctions between folkloric and oriental styles.
Habiba passes on the techniques and lore that she has acquired in her extensive travel and studies in her own
studio in Philadelphia, where she teaches regular classes. She employs the multifaceted approach of performing,
teaching, and writing about these fascinating dances, which record a vanishing way of life and demand new
audiences if they are to survive.
Habiba will present Beledi Progression, a common component of a raqs sharqi performance. It is one of the
most intense parts in the routine, providing the bridge between the taqsim and the drum solo. It is also one of
the oldest components of belly dance, and includes improvisational and traditional elements.
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Chelydra
Chelydra has been a student of middle eastern dance since 1978,
and began performing professionally in 1981. She was the artistic director
of the Caravan East dance troupe from 1981-1997, and has performed and taught dances of
North Africa and the Middle East
at the award-winning Fields DanceStudio since
1985. A two-time featured cover artist and current contributing author to Zaghareet! magazine, she
is also the producer of the No Frills series of instructional
videos. In 2004, her Andalusian-Moroccan Romany choreography was one of the entries selected to be
featured in the Old Dominion University Local Choreographer's Showcase, and in 2006, a
ghawazee duet choreographed by both Chelydra and Aegela was chosen for showcase presentation.
Chelydra presents authentic folk dances of the Middle East and North Africa along with modern folkloric
fusion adaptations, including a tap-dancing melaya leff, a hip-hop khaleegy, and a techno ghawazee.
She considers dancing to be serious fun.
Chelydra will present Amp It Up!, adding the "live performance" impact of zils (finger cymbals)
when dancing to recorded music. Learn to play your cymbals intuitively, using rhythm, melody,
patterns, and accent.
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Dance Party
The stars are out at the beach, and the stars are YOU! The evening dance party is a
great time to try out your latest & greatest costume
and choreography. Have you always wanted to try something just a little bit different -
but never had the right setting? This is it! Be experimental! Be daring! Be playful!
Time limit is seven minutes (but remember, less is sometimes more).
Performing slots for the dance party are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ten openings are served for returning performers, and six are reserved for new participants.
THE POLICY FOR RETURNING PERFORMERS HAS CHANGED. Returning performers who were wait-listed
at the last BBB are given priority through June 30th of the following year. Performers on the
wait list will receive performance slots as they become available. Openings have become available as
late as the day of BBB, so do not despair if you are wait-listed!
To be fair to everyone, performers may only dance once (group or solo).
You must register for the seminar to qualify for a place in the programme.
SCHEDULE
| Subject To Change |
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| Time | Activity |
| Friday, October 6 |
| 8:00-9:30 PM | Welcome Wagon & Flea Market |
$5 per table space |
Saturday, October 7
Subject to Change! |
| 9:30-10:30 | Registration |
| 10:30-12:30 | Habiba | Beledi Progression |
| 12:30-1:30 | Lunch (On your own; due to time constraints,
brown bag is recommended) |
| 1:30-3:30 | Riskallah Riyad | Embrace the Silence |
| 3:45-4:45 | Chelydra | Amp It Up! |
| 8:00-?? | Dance Party | Bring a snack to share! |
LOCATION
Beach Blanket Beledi is held at the Comfort Inn South
Oceanfront at milepost 17 on the Beach Road in Nags Head, NC. For reservations,
call 1-252-441-6315.
Be sure to specify Beach Blanket Beledi when you call to get the special seminar rate!
Room rates are $83 bay view/$93 ocean view for 1-2 persons. A limited number of King rooms are
available for $99(ocean view). Add $10 each for a
third or fourth person. At the current time, room tax is 12.75%.
Reservations must be cancelled
48 hours in advance, or a 1-night stay will be charged.
Check-in time is 4 PM; check-out is 11 AM. No more than
four persons per room are allowed by the local fire/safety code.
The hotel is usually full over the holiday weekend, so call early
to guarantee you get the room you want. Reserve rooms by
Friday, 9/15/2017, or rate and availability are not
guaranteed. The hotel frequently sells out over this weekend, so don't procrastinate.
The nearest airports to Nags Head are Norfolk International (ORF) and
Newport News/Williamsburg International (PHF). A rental car is required to
reach Nags Head.
COST
The fee for the seminar and dance party is $70 if registration is received
by 09/15/2017, and $80 after that date. Groups of five registering together receive
a $5 per-registration discount.
Additional dance party guests are $5/$2 (adults/children).
REGISTRATION
Individual registration is available online or via check or money order. Group discount
registrations are only available via check or money order. To register online, visit
Evenbrite here.
To obtain a registration form,
email or write to the address in the footer, or download a PDF copy of the
flyer.
(Adobe Acroread is required. The download may take some time to complete
even after the Acroread window opens.)
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