Dance In Egyptian Cinema Video/Lecture Presentation (events » arts) Friday, October 19, 2007 - 3:45 PM 289 RSVPs This workshop is available to people who have registered for Cassandra's 2007 Festival Forum, and it is sponsored by Cassandra's College. See the link with this listing for details on how to register for the festival.

Length: 1 hour

Many people interested in Oriental dance see scenes from vintage movies on compilations, but have no context for what these scenes represent in the films in which they appear.

This presentation reveals the story behind the clips – not just the plots, but insights into the audiences for which these films were made and understanding of how then-current events/culture influenced the portrayal of dance.

Clips from a variety of Egyptian movies will be used to illustrate key points, using narrative to weave them together, establish a historical and cultural context for each, and help viewers anticipate what to look for.

Video/Lecture: How Egyptian Dance Evolved in the 20th Century (events » arts) Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 1:00 PM 289 RSVPs This workshop is sponsored by the Northern Lights Bellydance Festival at Telemark Resort in Cable, Wisconsin. Contact the festival for details on how to register.


Every dance form has a history, whether it be ballet, modern dance, or belly dance. By learning that history, we are better able to promote respect for our dance form with our families, our friends, our students, the press, the academic world, and our audiences. Regardless of which style of this dance we prefer to study and perform ourselves, learning about the past can enrich our experience and bring us a deeper understanding of what this dance is about.

Much of belly dance as we know it today is based on the performing art that arose in Egypt and spread throughout the Near East. This makes Egypt the logical starting point for exploring the roots of our dance.

This two-hour lecture/video presentation brings to life how Egyptian dance was transformed over the course of the 20th century from a social dance into a performing art presented in large theatrical environments and concert halls. Using video clips of dance scenes from Egyptian movies and dance concerts, this course illustrates how political, economic, and social factors all shaped the development of Oriental dance in Egypt.

Spanish Dance: From the Gypsy Trail, the Moors, and Flamenco to Ballet and Modern Dance (events » arts) Friday, November 9, 2007 - 6:00 PM 1 RSVP This lecture by Mariano Parra will trace the history of Spanish dance, from its roots in North Africa and the Gypsy trail through to its impact on ballet and modern dance.

The lecture will be followed by a dance party which will begin at 7:30 pm with instruction in how to do Latin dance (salsa, etc.). This will be followed by performances of Latin and Middle Eastern dance, plus an opportunity to get up and dance yourself, all in a salsa nightclub setting.

This is part of an overall weekend event featuring a "flamenco for belly dancers" workshop taught by Parra. He has worked with Nourhan Sharif, Elena Lentini, Dalia Carella, and other belly dancers to help them bring a flavor of flamenco into their Oriental dance.

Flamenco for Belly Dancers, Latin Dancers, & Others (events » arts) Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 10:00 AM 302 RSVPs Mariano Parra will be teaching two days of workshops in "Essence of Flamenco" in Iowa City, Iowa the weekend of November 9-11. These workshops are designed for belly dancers, Latin dancers, and others who wish to add a flavor of flamenco posture, movement, style, and interpretation to their personal style. No prior flamenco experience required. The event should be suitable for:

* Flamenco artists wishing to polish their basics under the eye of a master instructor
* Belly dancers doing American Tribal Style who like to use flamenco posture, hand floreos, etc.
* Latin dancers wishing to explore the Spanish dance that serves as the foundation for many New World dance styles
* Belly dancers doing Egyptian style who wish to explore the Andalusian foundation that inspired some of the work by Mahmoud Reda, Samia Gamal, Tahia Carioca, and other Egyptian artists
* Dancers of other disciplines (ballet, modern dance, jazz) who wish to add some knowledge of flamenco to their skills

There is also an accompanying Friday night lecture by Parra on the history of Spanish dance, including the role of North Africa and the Gypsy trail. See iowa.tribe.net/event/Span...2384f3db67d for that listing. This event also includes a dance party held in a salsa club.

There is also a Saturday night dance concert featuring professional dancers from the Latin dance and Middle Eastern dance communities, posted under a separate listing.