![\"Ozgen](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/ozPrincess.jpg\")
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Workshops & shows held July 19, 2009 at percussionist Donavon Lerman\u2019s Studio Iqaat <\/em><\/strong>in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n When I found out that\u00a0Turkish male belly dance star Ozgen<\/span>\u00a0was coming to Los Angeles for a few days of vacation, I\u00a0laid down the law: he simply had\u00a0to do a workshop and a show.<\/p>\n Born in Istanbul and living in London, Ozgen is an international star\u00a0who has been dancing since childhood. Trained in ballet, jazz, modern and ballroom\u00a0styles, he\u2019s been\u00a0specializing in Turkish Romany (Roman Havasi) and Oryantal dance\u00a0for almost fifteen years.\u00a0 For years he was an instructor and choreographer at the Tolghan School<\/em><\/strong> in Turkey;\u00a0he\u00a0currently performs and\u00a0teaches\u00a0sold-out workshops all over Europe and the Far East. <\/p>\n I often joke that Ozgen was\u00a0one of the best birthday presents I ever got:\u00a0we were introduced two years ago on\u00a0my birthday in London, backstage at The Shimmy Shake Show<\/em><\/strong>, where we were both performing.\u00a0 The night we met, we\u00a0immediately got along like gangbusters, but after I saw him perform, like everyone else in the audience, I fell in love!\u00a0 Since then, we not only became friends and correspondents, but, but have also have taught and performed together at Festival Fantasia<\/em><\/strong>, also in London. Off stage, he\u2019s wonderful, but on stage he is truly something else. He is ridiculously talented, technically amazing, and has incredible spinal and\u00a0upper-body flexibility, allowing his movements to be both precisely sharp and\u00a0almost bonelessly liquid at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n The pure love and passion he brings to his dancing is evident, and infectious to anyone who has the pleasure of watching him. <\/p>\n When I found out this gem was coming to LA,\u00a0I was excited, since he had never performed or taught on the West Coast, only once before in New York City.\u00a0 I knew I wanted to do an event with him – the only hitch was\u00a0that I was leaving for Egypt to teach and perform at Ahlan Wa Sahlan<\/em><\/strong> the very next week, and\u00a0he was coming\u00a0to California mere days after I\u00a0would return. <\/p>\n Thankfully, Nasila<\/strong> and Melia<\/strong> from LA Raqs<\/em><\/strong> stepped in, and together we coordinated and promoted an Ozgen extravaganza, at Studio Iqaat<\/em><\/strong>. All I can say is, the Internet made it all possible – we\u00a0emailed about everything: setting performers, deciding on curriculum and getting\u00a0details together, and advertised, all while I was at Ahlan Wa Sahlan in Cairo.\u00a0\u00a0In fact, both Aubre<\/strong> and Fahtiem<\/a><\/strong>, guest-stars at the show, were in Egypt at the same time I was, and so I roped them into performing while they were riddled with jet-lag!<\/p>\n Both the workshop and the show sold out. The workshop, \u201cAn Introduction To Turkish Dance\u201d where Ozgen contrasted the similar-yet-unique movements of\u00a0both Turkish\u00a0Oryantal and Romany dances, drew\u00a0in avid students interested in\u00a0exploring the form as well as LA-based professionals like Rania<\/strong>, Lee Ali<\/strong>, Marguerite Kusuhara<\/strong>, and Celeste<\/strong> of IAMED<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0Ozgen\u2019s teaching style is facile with clear breakdowns, and he\u00a0made sure everybody learned about and understood the sociological and cultural inferences in the\u00a0various gestures\u00a0he demonstrated. \u00a0His English skills are phenomenal<\/span>, and though the class moved along at a good clip, his spot-on teaching is infused with humor and wit. \u00a0<\/p>\n He\u00a0charmed everybody with his cute non-traditional names for intricate\u00a0footwork patterns as well as\u00a0his verbal expressions – at one point he referred to the flirtatious shoulder movements of Turkish Oryantal as \u201ccuddly\u201d!<\/p>\n Los Angeles has long been a hot-spot of Oriental dance, with many world-class performers living in the city, so the show had an all-star line-up. \u00a0Audience members were literally astounded at the\u00a0name performers participating. In addition to Ozgen, Aubre, Fahtiem, Nasila and myself, the evening also included\u00a0Tamra-Henna<\/strong>,\u00a0 up-and-coming LA-based male dancer\/ choroegrapher Richy Nedjat<\/strong>, and last-minute guest Rania, who signed on as a surprise wild card\u00a0at 11:30 pm the night before the event!<\/p>\n Noted\u00a0Arabic percussionist and Studio Iqaat owner Donavon Lerman<\/strong> pulled together a small Arabic ensemble\u00a0to kick the show off with live music, and also\u00a0 a Turkish band featuring Vedat<\/strong> on\u00a0saz and vocals, Jessica<\/strong> on\u00a0clarinet, and Donavon himself on tabla.\u00a0 Rania kicked the evening off by performing to \u201cMavi, Mahvi\u201d on CD, followed by\u00a0Nasila performing to \u201cLeylet Hob\u201d live; Richy interpreted \u201cEshta Ya Amar\u201d, Tamra Henna did\u00a0\u201cWe Deret Al Ayam\u201d in a stunning red Sahar Okasha, and Aubre performed a\u00a0hot Saidi Assaya – even though that day, she had hosted Sahra Saeeda<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cJourney Through Egypt\u201d workshop! Fahtiem and I\u00a0both opted to perform to the live Turkish band, and it was amazing to watch Fahtiem performing Turkish, since she so rarely does. For my part, I got chills during my set while dancing to Jessica\u2019s gorgeous\u00a0clarinet\u00a0taxim.<\/p>\n Ozgen performed twice: his\u00a0first piece,\u00a0a Romany dance (a version of which I heartily encourage readers to view on YouTube!)\u00a0had the entire audience screaming, it was so full of attitude and\u00a0unbridled machismo. His second show\u00a0was pure Oryantal, quick-paced, dynamic and thrilling. He even did snakey floor work-complete with backbends- while Jessica played him an extended taxim. He ended his piece with a mind-bending, spine-snapping Turkish drop\u2026then got up\u00a0quickly to lure the audience out for open-floor dancing, which continued on for quite a long time.<\/p>\n The\u00a0very next morning, he left for the airport, and back home to London.<\/p>\n All I can say is\u2026 I hope he comes back to America soon. If you get the chance to see or study with this incredible dancer- don\u2019t\u00a0even think about it- JUST DO IT!<\/p>\n More information:<\/strong>![\"Ozgen](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/jessica,ozgen,donavon.jpg\")
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\nOzgen’s site- www.ozgen.co.uk<\/a>
\n\tAuthor’s GS bio page<\/a><\/p>\n![\"try](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/graphics\/acommentbox.jpg\")
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