shanmonster (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shanmonster) wrote2005-10-19 03:37 pm
shanmonster) wrote2005-10-19 03:37 pm
A Review of the OceanFire Tribal Fusion Workshop: Moncton, NB
Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a small workshop hosted by Naji and led by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
oceanfiretribal of Ottawa. The Saturday session was for advanced/intermediate dancers, and took place in a private home. OceanFire started us off with some yoga and a Hadia-influenced warmup, lubricating our joints thoroughly, before taking us through Suhaila-inspired isolation exercises. Hadia is well known for her formidable knowledge of kinaesthesia, and Suhaila for her impeccable isolation technique.
We started with the cat and cow asanas, then put them together so one flowed into the other in both directions. This exercise is used to drill undulations. We then repeated the same exercise while sitting crosslegged with our arms raised. Afterwards, we did glute isolation work, then did glute isolation variations while travelling. Although this work was not new to me, it was new to the majority of the students at the workshop.
OceanFire then asked us to do snake arms for her, and ascertained that we all do them in the fluid raqs sharqi style. So she began showing us tribal variations: FatChance Belly Dance style and Rachel Brice style.
One of the things which really stood out for me with OceanFire as an instructor is the way she can show different approaches to the same move. She has been fortunate enough to study with a large variety of well-known dancers, and we were fortunate enough to learn from her experience. She also includes caveats as to which movements may actually be harmful if done carelessly, which is very important. She is very knowledgeable about American Tribal Style dance and tribal fusion, and also about the history of the dance. For me, the history was probably the most interesting part of the workshop.
The next day, the workshop was held for mixed level dancers at le Centre Culturel Aberdeen at the DansEncorps studio. Unfortunately, I was stricken with a fast-hitting flu, and missed the first half, which covered fast movements. However, I was good to go for most of the second half, which covered slower movements. Some of the material was a rehash of what we'd been taught the day before, but this time, it was done with cueing and in sync with other dancers. For some of the dancers present, this was their first time trying the organic synchronicity that is tribal dance. We moved in unison like a flock of birds.
The workshop concluded with one last movement: a triplet shoulder shimmy. I'd never seen this movement before, and I later got OceanFire to demonstrate it for me while I filmed her with my digital camera. I hope to have the movement down by the time she next comes back east.
OceanFire is not a big name in the dance community, but is an up and coming dancer. With her friendly nature, stores of knowledge, and willingness to share, I believe she will soon make a name for herself. I recommend her workshops to anyone wishing to learn more about tribal fusion dance.
oceanfiretribal of Ottawa. The Saturday session was for advanced/intermediate dancers, and took place in a private home. OceanFire started us off with some yoga and a Hadia-influenced warmup, lubricating our joints thoroughly, before taking us through Suhaila-inspired isolation exercises. Hadia is well known for her formidable knowledge of kinaesthesia, and Suhaila for her impeccable isolation technique.We started with the cat and cow asanas, then put them together so one flowed into the other in both directions. This exercise is used to drill undulations. We then repeated the same exercise while sitting crosslegged with our arms raised. Afterwards, we did glute isolation work, then did glute isolation variations while travelling. Although this work was not new to me, it was new to the majority of the students at the workshop.
OceanFire then asked us to do snake arms for her, and ascertained that we all do them in the fluid raqs sharqi style. So she began showing us tribal variations: FatChance Belly Dance style and Rachel Brice style.
One of the things which really stood out for me with OceanFire as an instructor is the way she can show different approaches to the same move. She has been fortunate enough to study with a large variety of well-known dancers, and we were fortunate enough to learn from her experience. She also includes caveats as to which movements may actually be harmful if done carelessly, which is very important. She is very knowledgeable about American Tribal Style dance and tribal fusion, and also about the history of the dance. For me, the history was probably the most interesting part of the workshop.
The next day, the workshop was held for mixed level dancers at le Centre Culturel Aberdeen at the DansEncorps studio. Unfortunately, I was stricken with a fast-hitting flu, and missed the first half, which covered fast movements. However, I was good to go for most of the second half, which covered slower movements. Some of the material was a rehash of what we'd been taught the day before, but this time, it was done with cueing and in sync with other dancers. For some of the dancers present, this was their first time trying the organic synchronicity that is tribal dance. We moved in unison like a flock of birds.
The workshop concluded with one last movement: a triplet shoulder shimmy. I'd never seen this movement before, and I later got OceanFire to demonstrate it for me while I filmed her with my digital camera. I hope to have the movement down by the time she next comes back east.
OceanFire is not a big name in the dance community, but is an up and coming dancer. With her friendly nature, stores of knowledge, and willingness to share, I believe she will soon make a name for herself. I recommend her workshops to anyone wishing to learn more about tribal fusion dance.