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Danielle has been bellydancing for 11 years and teaches Turkish cabaret, ATS, tribal fusion, and World fusion. In addition, she teaches and performs Argentine Tango and the classical court dances of South India (Bharatanatyam), Java, and Bali. She also studies Flamenco, Classical Thai dance, Tai Chi, and ballet. www.alephdance.com PROPS Want to purchase some Thai fingers? Check out the RamThai website. Need a pair of silk fans? Check out silkfans.com for a nice selection. Please note that Thai fingers are not necessary to particate in the Balinese workshop; however, students are urged to bring fans for the Thai Chi fans class.
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We're very excited to be hosting a series of workshops with fusion dance artist Danielle Meijer at Blue Cat Studio! These workshops will take place this summer on Thursday nights from 8-9:30pm. Price is $15. No pre-registration necessary. Address of Blue Cat Studio is 3627 N. Bosworth in Chicago, Parking permits will be available free of charge to workshop participants. DANIELLE MEIJER WORKSHOP SCHEDULE May 15th -- 8-9:30pm JAVANESE COURT DANCE Javanese Court dance is the ultimate expression of refinement, grace, and dignity. Based on Buddhist and Hindu philosophy, the dancer is not a performer but a teacher, and exemplifies living ones life with wisdom and inner strength. The meditative quality of this beautiful art form can lend bellydancers a breathtaking blend of earthiness and otherworldliness found in no other fusion style. This class will cover both original and fusion steps designed to fit into a tribal bellydance context. Many handouts will be provided to educate the student about the history and purpose of the dance. DVDs of the workshop will be available for purchase. Danielle is currently the only bellydance instructor in the world to fuse Javanese dance with bellydance, so you will be learning moves you can't find anywhere else! If you have never seen Javanese Court Dance, check out this youtube clip of Lesandre Ayrey, and former dance partner Nuria Ibars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0pncfD2oHA Please note: bare feet required! Cost: $15 for 90 minutes. May 22nd -- 8-9:30pm JAVANESE II: SAMPUR VEIL TECHNIQUE We continue the exploration of Javanese fusion with introduction to Sampur, Javanese scarf dance. Large scarf/small veil is required. Cost: $15 for 90 minutes. May 29th -- 8-9:30pm BALINESE RITUAL DANCE & THAI FINGER TECHNIQUE While only seven nautical miles away from Java, Balinese dance is in many ways the opposite of Javanese Court dance. Quick, extroverted, intense, and angular define the movements of this ancient style and can lend an exotic flavor to your tribal fusion repertoire. Both original and fusion steps will be taught, and handouts on the history and philosophy of the dance will be provided. DVDs of workshop will also be available for purchase. Youtube has many clips of Balinese dance if you have never seen it before. In addition to Balinese movements, Thai finger work will be covered to enhance the hand movements. Please note that this workshop can be taken WITHOUT Thai fingers if you choose not to purchase any, the movements themselves are interesting enough! Please note: bare feet required! Cost: $15 for 90 minutes. June 12th -- 8-9:30pm TAI CHI FAN WORK Tai Chi fan is meditative and elegant, a unique way to do fan work in a bellydance context. Tai chi movements and fan technique will be covered. You may bring one or two fans to class. Handouts will be provided, with an option to purchase a DVD for $10. Cost: $15 for 90 minutes Cost: $15 for 90 minutes. June 19th -- 8-9:30pm BHARATANATYAM I There is a lot more to Indian fusion than mudras, Bhangra, and Bollywood! Bharatanatyam (Classical South Indian Dance), a brilliant dance form of geometric shapes and intricate rhythms, is the expression of pure joy and gratitude to the universe. The dynamic and extroverted nature of the dance gives tribal bellydancers new ways to use the feet, arms, head, eyes, and hands that easily complement traditional ATS movements. This class will cover original and fusion Bharatanatayam steps. Handouts concerning the history and philosophy of Bharatanatyam will be included, and a DVD of the workshop will be available for purchase. Be warned, even the basic standing posture of Bharatanatayam is a challenge!! Students should have basic dance skills (not necessarily bellydance) as well as a fair amount of strength in the legs and back to take this class. Please note: Bare feet required! Cost: $15 for 90 minutes. Cost: $15 for 90 minutes June 26th -- 8-9:30pm BHARATANATYAM II A further exploration of the beautiful movement of Bharatanatyam… Cost: $15 for 90 minutes July 3rd -- 6-9:30pm FLOORWORK AND LEVELS Tired of doing the Berber walk, the Cleopatra, and the Turkish drop? This class will cover moves on the floor as well as transitions getting up and down from the floor taken from Javanese, South Indian, Thai and modern dance, adding a unique flavor to your floorwork. A strong sense of balance, as well as healthy knees, is necessary for this class. Knee pads strongly recommended. Cost: $15 for 90 minutes Cost: $15 for 90 minutes
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