Gilded Serpent presents...

Part 4 : More Photos from the
New York Theatrical Belly Dance Conference 2010

Workshops, Garmet District Shopping Tour

Photos by Lena Helt, Smita Kadam, and Eric Troudt
posted November 21, 2010
previously posted parts to this serious
part 1: review of panel discussions by thalia
part 2: review of performance at DNA theatre with photos by Thalia
part 3: More photos from DNA performances
part 4: Garmet District Shopping and Workshops- you are here!
part 5: The Dinner Shows- comings soon!

For the past three years, dancers Anasma and Ranya Renee have been developing the New York Theatrical Bellydance Conference. This July, the Conference evolved into a five-day event featuring instructors and speakers from across the United States, Canada, Spain, and Sweden, a full schedule of workshops, panel discussions, three curated programs at the Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) Theater, and less formal shows in local nightclubs featuring live music.

Offstage, we browsed the fabric-and-accessory mecca that is Manhattan’s garment district; embodied animals, clowns, and archetypes; learned to enhance our stage presence; shared experiences in panel discussions; and much more. Shopping tour photos by Lena Helt and Smita Kadam.
Workshop photos by Eric Troudt.

Please contact these photographers through Ranya if you want copies of these photos. Please do not copy any photos from this site. Thanks- Ed@GS

Shopping Tour
On your marks, get set, SHOP! Hospitality Coordinator Nabila Nazem and conference instructor Lotus Niraja took some of our out-of-town visitors on a bellydance-oriented shopping tour the day before the workshops began. Front: Yagna Chheda and Smita Kadam (India), Kristen Ross (Australia), Alisha Lee (Korea), Lena Helt (Sweden), Beatrice Nicholas (France), Janet Felton (New Jersey), Sarah Oxidine (Miami), Rita Pensa (Chicago), and Armineh Keshishian (Toronto). Rear: Nabila Nazem (NYC) and Lotus Niraja (Washington, DC).
Makeda, Jahzaal, and Lotus
Lotus Niraja with some of her company members: Makeda, Jahzaal, and Lotus, from Washington DC. Photo by Smita Kadam
boas!
Some of the many treasures to be found in Manhattan’s Garment District. Photo by Lena Helt.
Bellydance America
Kristen checks out the goods at Bellydance America in Midtown. Lena said "This is place was like a candy store for us all." Photo by Lena Helt.
 
Public Transpo
Nabila and the shoppers on the New York subway. From left: Rita Pensa (Chicago), Nabila Nazem (NYC), Yagna Chheda (Mumbai, India), Armineh Keshishian (Toronto, Canada), Alisha Lee (Seoul, Korea), Lena Helt (Stockholm, Sweden), Sarah Oxidine (Maimi), Béatrice Nicholas (Bordeaux, France) and Kristen Ross (Melbourne, Australia).
Fan street dance
Tour guide/ hostess-with-the-mostest Nabila Nazem strikes a pose on the streets of Midtown Manhattan while guidees look on. Photo by Smita Kadam.
Lunch after five hours of shopping
Lunch after five hours of shopping. From back left: Rita Pensa (Chicago), Yagna Chheda and Smita Kadam (Mumbai, India), Béatrice Nicholas (France), Armineh Keshishian (Toronto, Candada), Kristen Ross (Melbourne, Australia). At far right: Nabila Nazem (NYC) facing camera and Lotus Niraja (Washington, DC) facing away. Photo by Lena Helt.
Sophia Ma
Conference manager extraordinaire Sophia Ma sports a snazzy TBC tank top. Photo by Eric Troudt.
Hanan
Hanan of Miami gets the dancers pumped up during her workshop "Empowered Bellydance." Photo by Eric Troudt.
 
Zoe Anwar (Spain) and Zahava (NYC)
Zoe Anwar (Spain) and Zahava (NYC) embody mythical archetypes in Aepril Schaele’s workshop of the same name. Photo by Eric Troudt.
 
Francesca Ferrando
Conference volunteer Francesca Ferrando performs the archetype of "the Artist" in Aepril Schaile’s workshop "Embodying Mythical Archetypes." Emeline Nandrot at back and Armineh Keshishian at right. Photo by Eric Troudt.
Yvonne Brunot (Vermont), Emeline Nandrot (France) and Isabel Villarreal Elizondo (Mexico)
Yvonne Brunot (Vermont), Emeline Nandrot (France) and Isabel Villarreal Elizondo (Mexico) in Aepril Schaele’s workshop "Embodying Mythical Archetypes." Emeline portrays the unfaithful lover. Photo by Eric Troudt.
Anasma's workshop
In a guided exercise, participants in Anasma’s workshop "Character Embodiment and Character Development" walk toward the selves who they want to become. Photo by Eric Troudt.
Aszmara teaches
New York dance dynamo Aszmara teaches "Dynamic Staging to Enhance Stage Presence." Photo by Eric Troudt.
Fahtiem during a warm-up
Fahtiem during a warm-up for her workshop "Using Imagery in the Dance." Photo by Eric Troudt.
Co-teacher Dixie Rose of P.U.R.E. puts a mask on conference attendee Karolina
Co-teacher Dixie Rose of P.U.R.E. puts a mask on conference attendee Karolina in the workshop "Bodylove" with Kaeshi Chai
 
 

Part 1: The Panel Discussions
Part 2: The Performances – Review by Thalia and Part 1 of the photos from the DNA shows

-More photos coming of the dinner shows, workshops, the shopping trip-

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Ready for more?

  • 11-17-10 Personal Impressions, Fantasy Belly Dance in New York City by Ayshe
    Looking back on it all, I can now only assume that, from the very beginning, I was already damaged goods. A “purest” I would never be!
  • 11-17-10 We Will Rak You! My Dance Experience with Queen by Stasha Vlasuk
    I’ll admit I wasn’t too familiar with the music of the British rock group Queen. The year was 1977, the month of December, in Los Angeles. I was invited to perform at a dinner party where Queen, in Los Angeles for several concerts, was the guest of honor. The job came to me through Dianne Webber.
  • 11-15-10 She’s Got the Look! Establishing Yourself as a Professional, Part 2 by Naajidah and Ashiya
    Right or wrong, the average person hiring dancers has certain expectations.
  • 11-12-10 "That’s a little risque for you to be doing as a momie!" Belly Dancing and Resistance to Cultural Discourse by Angie Moe PhD.
    Thus, while the pregnant woman symbolizes maternal potential, she also becomes aesthetically problematic. She is both an admired subject and a physically unappealing object, according to contemporary standards of beauty. As such, the postpartum torso is to be modestly clothed and/or masked according to culturally appropriate standards.
  • 11-11-10 Our Desert Roses, Photos from the Floralia Festival 2010, Photos, video interview, and text by Surreyya, photos are also by Nyla Crystal and Bob Lindbloom
    Held April 29-May 2, 2010 in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Produced by gleaming ray of light Selena Kareena, the Floralia Festival is held annually in TorC, (Truth or Consequences) New Mexico, and features a wide spectrum of dance and dancers from throughout the southwest, South America, and beyond.
  • 11-10-10 The Dumb and the Restless: Fire! A Lighter Outlook on Belly Dance by Tasha Banat
    Yes, the audience was eating out of my hand when someone from the back of the room yelled “Hey lady! Your hair is on fire!”

    Gigbag Check #22 with Cory Zamora!
    Cory talks with us after her performance at the Carnival of Stars Festival in Richmond, California, in August 2010. She shows us what she carries for her performance.Including an old style 2 piece cabaret belt, Egyptian style bra with no fringe and more. The performance clip includes beautiful floorwork done as only Cory Zamora can do!

  • Queen of Denial, Chapter 3: Hooray for Hollywood!
    As for Khayam’s, it was the extremely popular nightclub and restaurant that was known for having the best live music show in town, with good dancers, good food; a constant supply of good drugs, and in particular the more and more fashionable cocaine.
  • Karim Naji, Interview with an Egyptian Dance Master
    I think that Egyptian and Arabic culture as a whole entity should never be extracted from this dance. I do not believe in de-ethnicizing it, and I do not believe the culture is optional! Nobody ever allowed Latino culture to become an optional part of Salsa or Samba. Additionally, Indian culture is inextricable from Bharatnatyam and Bhangra. I believe that Raqs Sharqi, a.k.a. “Belly dance” is available to anyone from any culture. I am not xenophobic, nor an exclusivist. I am thrilled to see people all over the world enjoy and promote this art form. However, I will argue for the importance of the Arab connection until the day I die.
  • Murat Tekbilek Demos the Darbuka,
    Murat Tekbilek is the son of Omar Faruk and Susie who are from Turkey. He shows us the different sounds this drum can make and his obvious talent. Also included is footage of Murat performing on stage with his father and Dror Sinai, Hasan Isakkut and others. More fun clips from camp are included of drum sessions and classes and the kitchen staff’s dance.
  • Part 3 of 2, More Performance Photos
    Our stage shows took place Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Dance New Amsterdam, a beautiful studio and performance space just north of City Hall. Performers included featured soloists and troupes selected by a panel of teachers, as well as all of the conference teachers themselves. A diversity of styles and approaches were represented onstage, from traditional to fusion to fantasy.
  • Part 2 of 2: The Performances, The New York Theatrical Belly Dance Conference 2010, A Five Day Exploration of Dance Styles, Intention, and Content.
    Some of these "theatrical" works focused more on staging and aesthetics; some used narrative; others focused overtly on intention and meaning; and, a minority stayed true to traditional cabaret or folkloric modes.

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