My Blog

New England Tour

Mon, August 17, 2009 - 9:25 AM — permalink - 2 comments - add a comment

SPINSTER'S BALL * 2 SHOWS *

Spin·ster (n.)
1. A woman who has remained single beyond the conventional age for marrying
2. A single woman
3. A person whose occupation is spinning

This is a dance show exploring different facets of female independence in those who were/ are typecast as spinsters both in history and in pure fiction...How and why these characters came to be spinsters, voluntarily or circumstantially....and their varying emotional states in response.

CAST & CHARACTERS:

* MARGUERITE - Performing a more literal interpretation of Sufi spinning, to live music

* TATIANA - as Clara Barton, nicknamed "Angel of the Battlefield": the founder of the American Red Cross

* KATERINA - portraying an excerpt from Chinese mythology about the never-married goddess of compassion Guan Yin

* TARA kEARNEY - portraying a spinster whose reckless insecurities drove her lovers away

* LEE ALI - portraying a spinster with sexual addiction

* ELISSA & SINA - in a duet about a widow finding comfort in her unchangeable spinster sister

* SAYYADINIA - portraying the "Virgin Queen", Queen Elizabeth I

* SAVIYA - as a spinster longing for the child that was not to be

* DEIDRE CAVAZZI - inspired by the never-married poet Emily Dickinson

* ILANA - as the Healer of a remote Irish island

* AKASHA STARR - as French fashion designer Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel

* HEATHER COKER - as a spinster between her freedom and the loneliness that descends upon her each night

* SINA - as the Oracle at Delphi, a channel for the god Apollo, an unmarriedwoman, and above all, a performer


Friday, July 24th at 9:00pm ~ fridayspinster.eventbrite.com
Saturday, July 25th at 9:00pm ~ saturdayspinster.eventbrite.com

LOCATION
Studio A Dance
2306 Hyperion Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Tickets: $11 in advance, $20 at the door, if seating is available
Advance ticket sales will end at 3pm the day of each performance
Thu, July 23, 2009 - 7:06 PM — permalink - 2 comments - add a comment

LEE ALI Teaches * Funky Moroccan * Poetic Persian * Egyptian Samai


DANCING to 6/8 RHYTHMS

DANCE GARDEN
Glendale, California
SUNDAY, JUNE 7th, 2:00-4:00 PM

MOROCCAN, PERSIAN and EGYPTIAN 6/8


Workshop Description:

6/8 is a sassy, hypnotic rhythm that may be blended into any belly dance
routine. Learn fun, high-energy drills that clearly explain what 6/8 rhythm is
and how to dance to it. Warm-up will include stepping, stomping, clapping
and finger cymbal drills guaranteed to drive the rhythm into “muscle
memory.” Moroccan, Persian and Egyptian Samaai styles will be taught.
Each style will be taught separately with a clear breakdown of movements,
costuming, and background information (when, how, why it's used).


Moroccan style features unique shimmies, belly-popping, hair tossing and
fiery flamenco-like footwork. This rollicking trance dance is earthy and
hypnotic, perfect for blending with Tribal Fusion Bellydance.

Persian style is poetry-in-motion with graceful hands and flirty, yet
feminine, facial expressions. Persian will compliment any classic cabaret
routine and may be performed at weddings and restaurants.

Samaai (Darij) is a 6/8 rhythm used in popular Egyptian bellydance music.
We will learn how to recognize Samaai and how to address it as part of an
Egyptian, Raqs Sharqi routine. These styles may be performed alone as
traditional folkloric pieces, or blended into a modern fusion routine.

All levels are welcome! Please eat lightly before class and bring finger cymbals.


MORE ABOUT LEE ALI *** laraqs.com/leeali.html

Workshop this Sunday! ... laraqs.com/workshop_leeali.html

Link to PAYPAL
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 7:41 PM — permalink - 4 comments - add a comment

Tribal Fest 9 (3x3)



Lee Ali wishes to thank

* The Sun for not making it’s presence too felt
* Crickets in the open fields
* Kajira and Chuck… omni-godparents
* Melodia’s cat… for giving such visual pleasure
* Asharah’s hair… another winner in the visual pleasure category
* A. Sigil for calling me “new”
* A’s partner, Raven, for being friendly to Weasal
* Sebastopol Inn for keeping the pool a velvety 90 degrees
* The Motif party, all.
* Karim (!)
* Adels Diner……Howard’s Café…. Rooster Woman
* August Hoerr… for being gentle and sweet as Maria and Olivia said you’d be
* Shakra! … atta grrls
* Sooz … for looking shy each time she passed
* Homegirls: Princess/Skellramics, Liliana, Belly Dance Mag, Ms Moth
* DanceSpirits: Colleena… Patricia Passo
* Mishaal…goddess of all who neither taught nor danced this trip, but drove from Japan!
* My rat Rosetta, a perfectly behaved princess, despite so many hands lovin’on her.
* Anaar for giving me a gift to lose :)
* Mary Jane Edibles…for causing me to miss the-after-party
* Queen Harish and Cheb… for electrifying me, even from a distance
* The Gothfia… Tempi, Sashi, Yani
* My students… who complete my work and make it live
* Mahalia… for her festiveness
* Ariellah… for giving me the Moroccan woman’s eye at ringside
* Joey… for seeing the rainbows
* Bonnie... hi-five, haiku sister!
Tue, May 19, 2009 - 6:54 PM — permalink - 4 comments - add a comment