SF MECCA IMMERSION 2009 — SCHEDULE of EVENTS
Thursday, July 30
7:30-9:30 PM
Special Mecca Master Class with the legendary Jamila Salimpour!
We are so honored to have the grandmother of Tribal Bellydance on board this year, with this very special evening offering to kick-off the whole event. Please arrive by Thursday July 30th, to take advantage of this rare opportunity to learn from a legend, and soak in her embodied wisdom and historical expertise. Bring your finger cymbals and your smile! What a wonderful way to ground in to this art form, the event, and your time here in San Francisco. Informal meet and greet to follow.
Suhaila Salimpour Studios
425 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
www.therealsuhaila.com for directions
$50 before July 26
$60 at the door
Click here to register
- 7:30-9:30 PM—Jamila Salimpour Format with finger cymbals: SF MECCA MASTER CLASS
with the legendary Jamila Salimpour!
Jamila Salimpour is the mother of tribal belly dance. Her belly dance format has existed for over 50 years and still holds true as a valid and vibrant format. Jamila will teach the basic movement families and concepts of her format along with her unparalleled method of teaching and playing finger cymbals. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll be floating your way through this workshop. Be ready for some challenging combinations that show you how dancing “old school” can be hotter than ever!
Friday, July 31
11:00 AM-5:30 PM
Margaret Jenkins Dance Lab: 301 8th St. 2nd floor, Studio 200
- 11:00 AM-12:30 PM—Welcome, Overview, and Yoga for Bellydance
with Deb Rubin
As the kick-off session of the week, this time will be used to give an introduction and set the tone for the weekend, giving context, and what to expect. Intention is to ground in as a group, and give details, logistics, maps, schedules, and what to expect of weekend. The remainder of time will be a short yoga practice for belly dancers. Please bring a yoga mat. Please allow yourself ample time in the morning to arrive on time.
- 12:45-2:45 PM—Returning to where it all began: ATS for Fusion Dancers
with Carolena Nericcio
Getting back to the roots and foundation from which everything else has evolved, this is a special course featuring the basic structure of ATS (American Tribal Style Belly Dance). Simple explanation and demonstration of the ATS concept, taking into account the special needs of Fusion Dancers. Carolena is the originatrix of FatChanceBellyDance and ATS. She's like your grandma, and she loves you.
- 2:45-3:30 PM—Break
- 3:30-5:30 PM—Foundation of Tribal Fusion Bellydance
with Jill Parker
(Description: TBA)
Friday Night (optional): Kan Zaman Middle Eastern restaurant, in historical upper Haight district of San Francisco. See where many SF dancers got their start performing! (And the famous Jill Parker grapes painted on the walls!) An opportunity for some of you to get up and dance! And enjoy some SF Middle Eastern flavor…www.kanzamansf.com
Or, for the lower-paced traveler, who desires an evening of quiet and rejuvenation, we suggest soaking in the hot tubs, steam room, and sauna of the luxurious Kabuki Springs spa---Friday nights are women only! www.kabukisprings.com
Saturday, August 1
10:00 AM-3:30 PM
Margaret Jenkins Dance Lab: 301 8th St. 2nd floor, Studio 200
- 10:00 AM-12:00 PM—The Core of Tribal Fusion: Ridiculously Slow & Slinky
with Deb Rubin
Let’s deepen our slow, ooey-gooey moves to achieve that slinky, sultry, intoxication look and feel of Tribal Bellydance. Drawing from yoga, pilates, feldenkreis, and Deb’s personal ‘stash”, this workshop will focus on more core integration, spinal articulation, and building the foundational strength and flexibility in the hips, spine, and shoulders to directly support controlled, mesmerizing, snake-like dancing; create ‘floating upper body’ dance posture for stage; and engage in healthy back-bending and lay-backs to save your low back. All this will be applied to belly dance technique, ridiculously slow/snake-like dancing, and juicy fusion combos and choreography to integrate the material. Please bring a yoga mat.
- 12:00-1:00 PM—Break
- 1:00-3:30 PM—Zoe Jakes Workshop
Prepare to sweat. A lot. (Details: TBA)
- 3:30-8:00 PM—Free Time!
We encourage you to use this time to explore the vibrant artistry and creative energy of San Francisco. Immerse yourself in the city life and feel how it inspires you! Shop, eat, people watch, or relax. Raid the fabric stores or peruse the thrift stores to see where your next costume inspiration will come from. Chill out, have a drink, and get ready for the big night time event.
Saturday Night: The MECCA Revue. Where Tradition and Innovation meet and meld. “The Crème de la Crème of tribal fusion bellydance, with a side dish of hometown spice”. Live Music & Dancing Girls! Never-Before-Seen Cross Collaborations that will keep you on the edge of your seats. Experience history in the making, and the innovations yet to be spun.
Show at 8:00pm.
Sunday, August 2
11:30 AM-6:00 PM
City Dance Studios: 10 Colton St, SF
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For those of you who get up early and want some Sunday morning SF flava, hit the flea markets!, or lounge at Sunday brunch. There are so many fabulous options for your tasting pleasure. (See your Tribal Bellydancer’s Guide to SF).
- 11:30 AM-2:30 PM—From the Musician’s Point of View
with Peter Jaques (of Brass Menagerie), David Satori (of Beats Antique), and Zoe Jakes
As dancers, we are the visual representation of the music to which we choose to dance. Dancing to live music, however, is an entirely different ball of wax! It can be spontaneous, exhilarating, and sometimes even intimidating and scary. Finally, we have a belly dance workshop on musicality and dancing to live music… taught by some of the hottest musicians in the biz! In this workshop, we will engage in the dialogue between musicians and dancers, learning from both perspectives in order to deepen our comfort level, dance repertoire, and ease of musicality. We will learn basic rhythms and music patterns, as well as practice the art of conversation and collaboration between musicians and dancers. This is a very special experience to get to learn from some of the local SF musicians who are writing and performing the tunes that are shaping the tribal fusion belly dance explosion world-wide.
- 2:30 PM-3:00 PM—Q&A/Discussion with Musicians and Dancers:
On the collaboration process of musicians and dancers. Plus Closing Circle.
- 3:00-6:00 PM—The MECCA BAZAAR!
Exclusive Vending from some of the Bay Area’s hottest designers! Schmooze with the musicians and teachers, or shop til you drop! We are honored to feature some of San Francisco’s hottest designers who are the needle and thread behind the cutting edge trends shaping the tribal fusion aesthetic world-wide.
“SF features so many amazing, delicious, quirky restaurants and cafes! Crepes on Cole, All You Knead, and the Pork Store are ‘ol time staples for a down home Sun. morn brunch experience. Café Gratitude is of course a favorite, especially before a day of dancing. And the people watching is always great too!” –Deb Rubin
“My favorite breakfast place is Dottie's, but tell people that it must be avoided on Sundays at all costs, the wait is about 2 hours long!” -Rachel Brice
No immersion into the heart of the SF tribal fusion scene would be complete without a stop off at our beloved Amnesia. Gypsies, tramps, punks and thieves. Vagabonds and circus freaks. I think it’s safe to say that most of the SF belly dancers and musicians have graced this stage on more than one occasion, and usually in combination and collaboration with each other. Whether it’s a CD release party, home of the monthly Baxtalo Drom, or just a casual late night dance party and hang out with friends…Amnesia IS the red light district of the bohemian bellydance underworld that is San Francisco. So come chill out, decompress, and enjoy the local flavor. Featuring: YOU!
- 6:30-8:30 PM—Performance Showcase—an Urban Hafla experience
This happy-hour performance showcase is an opportunity for YOU, the SF MECCA 2009 community, to showcase your talents, and perform your pieces on stage at one of our legendary San Francisco venues. In this casual, supportive atmosphere, grab a drink, zagareet, and strut your stuff! Costumes are optional. if you would like to have a performance opportunity, please email deb@sfmeccaimmersion.com, subject heading: Performance Decompression. Please keep your pieces to max. 5 min. Please bring your music ready on CD. Limited spaces available. First come first served for spots.
Then...
- 9:00 PM—Stick around Amnesia Bar for an evening of quintessential SF gypsy fun gathered specifically for your listening and dancing pleasure! Featuring a hot and swanky SF musical experience that will knock your socks off an inspire your fusion gypsy spirit. Details to be announced…..
The Intermediate/Advanced Track Schedule: Taking It to the Next Level:
Monday, August 3
10:30 AM-5:30 PM
City Dance Studios: 10 Colton St, SF
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10:30 AM–2:30 PM—Intentions, Theatricality, and Advanced Combos
with Dena Martinez & Zoe Jakes
Last year, Zoe brought in her theater coach and friend, Dena, who had us doing all sorts of phenomenal theater exercises, games, and ‘out of the box’ learning activities to deepen performance presence, work with emotions, and add character and depth to our bellydancing on stage. Her workshop piece was amazing, and a highlight for many in the advanced track last year. We are so excited to have Dena back again this year for more! Followed by the unparalleled Zoe, known for her theatrical style and unique performance flair, to share a few of her more advanced concepts,combos, and performance secrets with us. (official descriptions TBA) - 2:30-3:30 PM—Lunch Break
- 3:30-5:30 PM—Costuming, Aesthetic & Creative Process Laboratory I
with Lee Kobus
By asking the Who, How, What, Where, When, and Why of the creative process, any level performer can strengthen the quality of their overall presentation. This working clinic is designed to do just that--inspire and generate possibilities to alleviate the Achilles heel of a dancer. Focus will be on costuming, aesthetic, and creating the whole package for stage, as well as hands on exercises and work to inspire your own creative process. A future “request list” will be sent out to its participants in order to create a balance of “information - in” and “action - out” for each of the days.
10:30 AM-5:30 PM
City Dance Studios: 10 Colton St, SF
- 10:30-12:30 PM—Modern Fusion & Movement Invention for Bellydance
with Cera Byer
This workshop is all about destroying boundaries, incorporating gestural movement, and working contemporary staging, costuming, and choreographic techniques into your Belly dance vocabulary. Our warm up will focus on developing movements that start in Belly dance and then take a sharp left, exploring space and growing outward from the center. Then we'll move into modern fusion combos, and begin to develop our own movements that we can use in creating combos and choreographies. Come away challenged, inspired, and with lots to work on at home. - 12:30-2:00 PM—Additional "Choreographer's Module"
In this module we delve into aspects of Space, Force, and Time when working on developing choreography for a group. Stagecraft, the unexpected, meanings and impressions associated with blocking, theatrical dynamic composition, repetition, variation, and development - these are the tools that can take your work from being unison girls dancing in formation to telling a story or creating an atmosphere that leaves your audience breathless.
- 2:00-3:00 PM—Lunch Break
- 3:00-5:00 PM—Performance Quality: Bringing Theatre to Your Dance
with Ariellah
Dance your music. Take your performance to the next level and make it what it truly wants to be: performance art. Learn to engage the audience, learn to step into character, push out of your comfort zone and add depth to your performance pieces. Begin to explore the backbone of dynamic performance art and all that this entails including building a choreography and truly learning to interpret your music. Elevate your dance with Ariellah in this intensive performance quality workshop.
**Students should have a well-rounded knowledge of Middle Eastern dance and some knowledge of ATS and/or fusion stylized movement.**
- 5:00-5:30 PM—Dance Therapeutics: Saving your Belly dance Body Warm-Down
with Deb Rubin
A brief 30 min. sequence to release the low back,hips, and spine; and allow the body/mind to re-charge and integrate all of the material from the busy days of learning. Crucial for dancer longevity, personal practice, body/mind health, and helping to retain information, learning and memory.
Wednesday, August 5
10:30 AM-5:00 PM
City Dance Studios: 10 Colton St, SF
- 10:30 AM-2:00 PM—Advanced Material
with Rachel Brice
After spending the past 5 years traveling, this is a rare opportunity to learn from Rachel back here on her home turf, as well as a rare opportunity to immerse in small group learning with the unparalleled ‘snakecharmer’, as she shares with us some of her more advanced concepts and new material, gathered just for SF Mecca. (Workshop description: TBA) - 2:00-3:00 PM—Lunch Break
- 3:00-4:30 PM—Creative Process Laboratory II
with Lee Kobus
The follow-up from Monday’s Lab I, you will have an opportunity to continue your work putting together your own pieces, under guidance and feedback by facilitators and the group. Small group learning, and experiential hands-on process included. - 4:30-5:00 PM—Closing Circle. Goodbye.