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Artwork © 1997 by JenJai.
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BEACH BLANKET BELEDI 2019
Celebrating twenty-five years of oceanfront fun!
** Classes & Schedule Subject to Change **
Beach Blanket Beledi
is an annual seminar and dance party held in Nags Head, NC,
on Columbus Day weekend. The twenty-fifth annual event is on
October 11-12, 2019. The
focus of Beach Blanket Beledi is that dance is serious fun.
The emphasis is on
creativity, exploration, and innovation.
For more information, go to:
Classes, Dance Party,
Schedule, Location,
Cost, Registration.
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CLASSES
Beach Blanket Beledi offers three instructors in three different, but often
complementary, subjects that are guaranteed to pique your interest
and expand your dance horizons.
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Cassandra
Cassandra Shore began performing Middle Eastern dance in 1975, as a student of Jamila Salimpour, and quickly
became one of the most popular and respected performers in the San Francisco Bay area. Her intensity, musicality
and technique set her apart from the average performer. Cassandra brings to dance lyrical grace, musical focus,
and a sensuous quality of movement that brings mere technique to life.
As Artistic Director of Jawaahir Dance Company, Cassandra has been involved in the study, performance,
and production of dance of the Arabic- speaking world since 1975. She opened The Cassandra School in
Minneapolis in 1978. She began research trips to North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean in 1981;
that research continues, with invitations to teach and perform in Egypt. In order to fulfill her vision
of placing the aesthetic of Middle Eastern dance on the theater stage to take its place with Western dance
arts, she formed Jawaahir Dance Company in 1989. Cassandra is a pioneer in the development, education,
and creative exploration in and about our dance form.
Cassandra will present Technique Intensive, a non-stop smorgasbord of techniques and combinations
that every dancer should have tucked away in their movement repertoire, ready for use at the drop of a hip.
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Riskallah Riyad
Middle Eastern dancer and choreographer Riskallah Riyad has performed and taught
nationally for over thirty-five years. Known for her graceful yet crisp style, impeccable
technique, and energetic teaching, she has inspired a dedicated professional and student
following. Middle Eastern Dance New England recently called her a “stellar performer
and teacher.” Riskallah has been featured in Spotlight and Arabesque magazines,
gracing the cover of the former in 1981. Additionally, she distinguishes herself
as an innovator, having originated and perfected the double veil technique in the 1970s.
Today this method is routinely imitated by other dancers and incorporated into belly dance
canon. She also sets herself apart from other artists with her versatility and knowledge.
Her solo and ensemble choreographies in folk and classical Oriental styles demonstrate a
deep understanding of their cultural origins. “Her work always retains an authentic flavor
while being distinctly her own. Further, her contemporary fusion works succeed in
expressing modern day reverence, mystery, and appreciation for drama.”
Riskallah currently maintains a robust schedule teaching Middle Eastern dance classes
daily in Connecticut. In addition to working with students of all levels, she conducts master
classes and special workshops nationally. She is the innovator of the acclaimed Teacher Training
Course, "Footprints: A Journey Toward Teaching Excellence."
Riskallah will present The Aretha Effect, a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin. Learn
how to stand out in a crowd by adding texture and depth to your dance through phrasing and articulation.
Say it proud without having to say it loud.
For more information on Riskallah Riyad, visit riskallahriyad.com.
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Chelydra
Chelydra has been a student of middle eastern dance since 1978,
and began performing professionally in 1981. She was the artistic director
of the Caravan East dance troupe from 1981-1997, and has performed and taught dances of
North Africa and the Middle East
at the award-winning Fields DanceStudio since
1985. A two-time featured cover artist and current contributing author to Zaghareet! magazine, she
is also the producer of the No Frills series of instructional
videos. In 2004, her Andalusian-Moroccan Romany choreography was one of the entries selected to be
featured in the Old Dominion University Local Choreographer's Showcase, and in 2006, a
ghawazee duet choreographed by both Chelydra and Aegela was chosen for showcase presentation.
Chelydra presents authentic folk dances of the Middle East and North Africa along with modern folkloric
fusion adaptations, including a tap-dancing melaya leff, a hip-hop khaleegy, and a techno ghawazee.
She considers dancing to be serious fun.
Chelydra will present Tambourine Combinations Has your tambourine been a little lonely lately?
Has it been calling to you from the depths of your dance closet? Bring it out, dust it off,
and cheer it up with some new combinations and visual effects.
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Dance Party
The stars are out at the beach, and the stars are YOU! The evening dance party is a
great time to try out your latest & greatest costume
and choreography. Have you always wanted to try something just a little bit different -
but never had the right setting? This is it! Be experimental! Be daring! Be playful!
Time limit is seven minutes (but remember, less is sometimes more).
Performing slots for the dance party are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ten openings are served for returning performers, and six are reserved for new participants.
THE POLICY FOR RETURNING PERFORMERS HAS CHANGED. Returning performers who were wait-listed
at the last BBB are given priority through June 30th of the following year. Performers on the
wait list will receive performance slots as they become available. Openings have become available as
late as the day of BBB, so do not despair if you are wait-listed!
To be fair to everyone, performers may only dance once (group or solo).
You must register for the seminar to qualify for a place in the programme.
SCHEDULE
| Subject To Change |
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| Time | Activity |
| Friday, October 11 |
| 8:00-9:30 PM | Welcome Wagon & Flea Market |
$5 per table space |
Saturday, October 12
Subject to Change! |
| 9:30-10:30 | Registration |
| 10:30-12:30 | Cassandra | Technique Intensive |
| 12:30-1:30 | Lunch (On your own; due to time constraints,
brown bag is recommended) |
| 1:30-3:30 | Riskallah Riyad | The Aretha Effect |
| 3:45-4:45 | Chelydra | Tambourine Combinations |
| 8:00-?? | Dance Party | Bring a snack to share! |
LOCATION
Beach Blanket Beledi is held at the Comfort Inn South
Oceanfront at milepost 17 on the Beach Road in Nags Head, NC. For reservations,
call 1-252-441-6315.
Be sure to specify Beach Blanket Beledi when you call to get the special seminar rate!
Room rates are $90 bay view/$105 ocean view for 1-2 persons. A limited number of King rooms are
available for $105 (ocean view). Add $10 each for a
third or fourth person. At the current time, room tax is 12.75%.
Reservations must be cancelled
48 hours in advance, or a 1-night stay will be charged.
Check-in time is 4 PM; check-out is 11 AM. No more than
four persons per room are allowed by the local fire/safety code.
The hotel is usually full over the holiday weekend, so call early
to guarantee you get the room you want. Reserve rooms by
Friday, 9/13/2019, or rate and availability are not
guaranteed. The hotel frequently sells out over this weekend, so don't procrastinate.
The nearest airports to Nags Head are Norfolk International (ORF) and
Newport News/Williamsburg International (PHF). A rental car is required to
reach Nags Head.
COST
The fee for the seminar and dance party is $80 if registration is received
by 09/13/2019, and $90 after that date. Groups of five registering together receive
a $5 per-registration discount.
Additional dance party guests are $10/$2 (adults/children).
REGISTRATION
Individual registration is available online or via check or money order. Group discount
registrations are only available via check or money order. To register online, visit
Eventbrite.
To obtain a registration form,
email or write to the address in the footer, or download a PDF copy of the
flyer.
(Adobe Acroread is required. The download may take some time to complete
even after the Acroread window opens.)
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