Teachers & Workshops
Workshops With Vanessa of Cairo
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“FUNdamentals & Foundations”
It doesn’t matter what style you prefer, or what level you are… Going back to our fundamentals, and making sure that we create quality movement in any performance is essential. Vanessa will not only show you her famous fundamentals—She will give you the foundations to help you tap into your own personal style while becoming more dynamic on the stage.
“Folklore Style & Saidi Specifics”
Saidi is one of the most popular Egyptian folklore dances we see on the stage these days.
It’s important that we use the proper vocabulary and elements to create an authentic and accurate representation of this dance. In a world which keeps evolving, there are certain aspects which must remain true to the dances we are doing. Vanessa will guide you through “folklore style” steps, “Saidi specific” steps— And help you know how to blend them into a seamless creation, which audiences will appreciate and enjoy.
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Lecture/Talk with Q & A
Vanessa will be sharing her experiences living in Cairo for nearly a decade. Her experiences are rich and insightful!
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Vanessa is a an American-born dancer, who has been living and dancing full-time in Egypt since 2008. To date, she is the first and only American woman to start and operate a production company in Egypt. Vanessa has held contracts in 5 Star hotels, in addition to dancing and acting in plays at Balloon Theatre—one of Cairo’s most famous establishments. Since 2011, she has been invited to numerous countries to teach and perform, and she is thrilled to share her insight, experience and love of dance with you!
Vanessa holds a BFA in Ballet from Texas Christian University.
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Workshops With Zahra Zuhair
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​"Shaabi Gold"
Egyptian shaabi has a long history. Let’s explore the classic era of shaabi music with singers such as Ahmed Adaweya and more. We will learn a combo to a classic shaabi song. The culture and history will be explained as well. This workshop is both dance and lecture/talk with video for added enjoyment!
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"Oum Khaltoum Retrospective"
We will dive into the timeless classics of Oum Khaltoum. Essence, expression, elegance and classic lines will be explored through snippets of golden favorites adored and performed by dancers all over the globe. This workshop is also a Video/Talk-lecture.
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Workshop with Emily Marie
"Build Your Artistry In Dance"
In this 1.5 hour workshop we will explore Raqs Sharqi movements - but develop more expressive techniques in our frames, carriage and in the body’s positioning. This will help you stand out instead of doing the same normal movements over and over. Develop your inner creativity!
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Don’t just frame your arms - create with them while you are dancing.
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Don’t just do the typical hip drop - position yourself to give that hip drop more character.
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Don’t just do the combo or the choreography - have a though feeling image behind it to create a different appeal on stage.
Small combos will be taught to help develop these ideas as well as an artistic visual art exercise at the end to tap into your inner artistry.
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Emily Marie is a Cincinnati based performer, teacher, and event producer. She sponsors worldwide stars of the dance stars along side Amirah Al Sharouq, under the name, Glitter Dance Productions. You can catch Emily Marie's performances at Sahara Hookah Lounge in the Cincinnati OH area.
Yoga with Andi
Andi will keep us energized and focused in Body, Mind and Spirit with Morning and Evening Yoga!!
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Andi first discovered yoga in 2006 as an undergrad studying dance and ancient history. Yoga was the perfect marriage of fluid movement, philosophy, and wisdom that she had been searching for.
In 2007, she began instructing yoga as a student-teacher for the dance department at a local college in her hometown of Dallas, Texas. Years of seminars, in-person classes, and self-study eventually led Andi to meet her Guru, Swami Mukundananda, whom she continues to study yoga and mindfulness with.
Andi has obtained Kundalini yoga training and sport yoga training through ASFA. In 2014, yearning for a deeper understanding of alignment and anatomy in her practice, Andi completed personal trainer certification through the nationally accredited NESTA program.
Andi is currently in her 9th year as the resident yoga instructor for the Mount Vernon YMCA and a guest instructor at several studios across Central Ohio. She has a lighthearted approach to teaching and infuses joy and laughter into all of her classes. Ya Helwa 2025 will be Andi's 4th year teaching at the Retreat!
