A "specialty workshop" is a few hours+ of one day, reasonably priced, mini workshop with an advanced level teacher typically not accessible to us in the immediate Dayton area that will provide students with special instruction. Examples of such are Conchi from Cincinatti teaching a class focused on veil and double veil, Ergallis Kakias from Columbus teaching zill patterns and dance movement combinations, Katy w/Anaya Gypsy teaching tribal, etc. Sewing and drum workshops will also be offered as specialty classes.

This format is intended to make studying with some of our great teachers outside Dayton, more accessible then trying to set up private instruction and traveling to them, which is a great deal more expensive. It is intended to give us all the opportunity to expand our knowledge by concentrating intensely on a particular "Specialty" area of the dance and jump start us to a new level of ability. It is also a great way to get started with a new element of the dance you may not have incorporated yet.

Please note that the Specialty Classes deliberately begin at 12:00 or later so as not to be quite so early in the AM. Please eat before you come to the workshop as the break will NOT be long enough to leave the studio for "lunch" AND bring yourself what ever food/drink items you need/want to sustain yourself for the afternoon. There will be a long enough break to eat.

Please also note: The policy of the Oasis is NO REFUNDS of registration or ticket fees unless we cancel the event.

Make your Votes Count. Email me the teachers you would like to see at the Oasis!

Full event schedule 2009 - 2010 Click Here for PDF Flyer

Friday & Saturday, November 13-14th, 2009: Karen Barbee & Naser Musa TOGETHER!!!

Preregister for any portion of the workshop - even at the Hafla Friday night - and you will get the Hafla entrance fee for FREE!! Even if you already paid for the hafla - we will refund it!

Karen Barbee and Naser Musa

Karen Barbee & Naser Musa together for the Hafla - ASTOUNDING! They make an incredible team and will be coming to share what they BOTH do best!!! Karen is a brilliant Middle Eastern Dance teacher and dynamic performer and Naser, is a singer, composer and Oud virtuoso who will take us to new heights of Middle Eastern music understanding to aid our ability to express it in performance. Together the will give us a weekend of incredible entertainment & education not to be missed!
One of Karen's many strengths in the dance is intricate analysis of movement and muscular reaction for musical intrepretation with the body to make your dance improvisational skills strong and exciting by adding tension & texture to your style!!
Naser will take us to new heights of musical understanding as he explains Arabic music to us at a level you will not often get a chance to learn. He will teach us how to be mindful of the melody and explain how Arabic music really works. You will listen to and hear your music differently from this point forward and it will change how you dance to it forever!!

TOPIC 1: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm $30 Musician & Dancers ALL welcome!!
Naser will provide an overview of useful Arabic words for dancers and musicians...you know, those words that occur over and over in music AND variations on those words that can help a non-Arabic speaker to understand more about the overall meaning of the song. He will also explain the characteristics that make Arabic music unique (and, quite frankly, the characteristics that attract us - as dancers - to the music) by providing an overview of melodic structures (maqams) and rhythmic structures...and how their use in music affects the overall feeling of the piece. During this lecture Naser will play several songs that most of us have heard hundreds of times to demonstrate these ideas. This is a priceless chance to REALLY learn about the music we love to dance to and increase our understanding and therefore our dance connection to it!

TOPIC 2: 2:00 - 5:00 pm $40
Karen will provide a thorough technique & drilling class with an eye towards texture, shape, sharpness, smoothness, rapid action, elongated action, layering, etc. Karen's belief and thus her forte is that the more muscle fibers we can access, the greater our dance vocabulary, Karen's goal will be to increase our muscle access ability which will increase our dance vocabulary! She will help us apply this information to our ability to improve in the dance which will segue into the final part of the workshop, working with Naser.
Naser will demonstrate pure improvisation by playing a variety of Oud taksims so that Karen and the students of the workshop can practice responding to what they hear in terms of texture, shape, sharpness, etc. (Karen's piece) AND in terms of changes in maqams (Naser's piece).

Preregister for any portion of the workshop - even at the Hafla Friday night - and you will get the Hafla entrance fee for FREE!! Even if you already paid for the hafla - we will refund it!

FULL SCALE Vendor: Stellar Advantage, FL

Karen & Naser's Information and registration form

You can pay with a credit card if you pay in advance!
Karen & Naser FULL WORKSHOP $60 & "FREE" Hafla if purchased by end of Nov 13th!

You can pay with a credit card if you pay in advance!
Topic 1 w/Naser 11:30am - 1:30pm $30 Musicians & Dancers ALL
& "FREE" Hafla if purchased by end of Nov 13th!

You can pay with a credit card if you pay in advance!
Topic 2 w/Karen & Naser $40
& "FREE" Hafla if purchased by end of Nov 13th!

Saturday, November 21rst: V.I.P.7 !!

Michelle L'amour

Yes, finally, another VIP!!! A full day of workshops for women 18+ and older and a GREAT show that evening open to the general public 21+ with ID. You know how fun this event is...spread the word, bring your friends and step out of the box for a day of adult fun!!
Michelle L'amour will be here, and more!!!!!
This webpage has the details & Buy-On-Line!!!!!!

Friday & Saturday, February 12-13th, 2010: Beautiful Lisa Zahiya

Lisa's website

Lisa Zahiya You will LOVE Lisa! Innovative, fresh, exciting and skilled! I hope you won't miss it!
Workshop: Saturday, February 13th, 2010 12:00 - 4:30pm (1/2 hour break)

Lisa Zahiya began the study of bellydance in 2000, and immediately fell in love with the dance, it's history, and the large and diverse bellydance community. Before beginning her study of bellydance, Lisa studied ballet, jazz and hip hop dance. She was a member of the University of Maryland dance team. Lisa began her career in the Baltimore/DC metropolitan area, where she had the privilege to study with Autumn Ward, Laurel Victoria Gray and Artemis Mourat. She moved to Baltimore and studied intensively with 2nd generation bellydancer, Piper Reid Hunt. Lisa was a member of the Daughters of Rhea performance troupe and is certified LEVEL II dancer in the Piper Method of American Belly Dance. In the end of 2005 she moved to Asheville, NC. She joined Baraka Mundi, one of the south east's premier tribal bellydance troupes, in March of 2006.
Lisa also teaches and performs hip hop dance. She is known for her fusion of hip hop and bellydance. In 2008, Lisa traveled to Long Beach, CA where she won the title of Tribal Fusion Bellydancer of the Universe. In 2009, she won the Alternative Category at Wiggles of the West. She has completed professional training programs with two of her mentors, Aziza and Ava Fleming.
Lisa now teaches and performs as a soloist. Lisa is an in demand workshop instructor and is grateful to be able to travel and teach bellydance. Lisa lives in downtown Asheville, NC where she teaches bellydance and hip hop dance.

VOTE for your choice(s) while you have time!!!!
Choose 1rst and 2nd choice, please
Topic 1: Hip Hop Fusion
Start with basic hip hop movements and techniques and how to effectively fuse them with bellydance, then learn a combination. Learn the style that won Lisa the title of Tribal Fusion Belly Dancer of the Universe! Be prepared to get funky and sweat. Supportive jazz shoes or cross trainers recommended.

Topic 2: Fusion Drum Solo
Explore and drill Lisa's favorite drum solo techniques and learn how to breakdown and approach this necessary part of any dancer's repertoire. Expand your ability of expression during the dance by using fusion and non-bellydance movements to create a meaningful and creative dance composition. Correct your posture, drill on your foundations and learn new movements!

Topic 3: How To Fuse
Learn a series of fusion combos (folkloric, hip hop, latin and more!) try them to different types of music. Learn how to stylize according to music, feel and costuming.

Email me your 1rst & 2nd choices at: Kira@KirasOasis.com
or call: (937) 620-1678

Lisa's website

You can pay with a credit card if you pay in advance!
Lisa Zahiya's Workshop $35.00

Friday & Saturday, April 9-10th, 2010: OMG - I have booked LEILA GAMAL, AGAIN!!!!

Leila

Leila Gamal We will have another chance to study with Leila next year!!! She will be here for our April hafla and do a workshop the next day. As soon as we have "content" decided, we will post it and let you know!! WHOOHOOO!!!
Workshop: Saturday, April 10th, 2010 12:00 - 4:30pm:

Leila was one of Ibrahim "Bobby" Farrah's protegees. She is not only a beautiful & soulful dancer, but is a great teacher as well - one of the best that I have worked with. She has a very classic orientale dance style.
Check her out: Leila's FaceBook
She will also be in attendance at the Hafla on Friday night so you can get to know her and enjoy seeing her dance.

Testimonial from July 2009 workshop: "I wanted to say that I loved the Leila Gamal seminar. She is awesome, and she kicked my butt. I really appreciate you bringing someone like her into the studio. I enjoy her style-classical is actually my favorite. Boy, I felt like I learned SO MUCH when I left the studio... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH!" A.H. Dayton

Friday & Saturday, September 10-11th, 2010: Mira Betz

Mira's Website

Mira Betz I am working on trying to get Mira here in September so keep your fingers crossed!!! Whoohooo

Friday & Saturday, November 12-13th, 2010: Legendary Sahra Saeeda

www.SahraSaeeda.com

Sahra The legendary Sahra Saeeda will be at Kira's Oasis for the Belly Dance "Hafla" night on Friday, November 12th to give a performance and meet everyone and give a workshop the following day, Saturday, November 13th! ASTOUNDING! Don't Miss It!!!