The dance known as Khaleegy cradles the Arabian Gulf, but is beloved throughout the Middle East. Nowadays, Khaleegy is often seen embellishing famous Cairo dancers’ performance sets, but originally the dance was only done for women, by women, at all sorts of social gatherings. The dance features tossing hair, symbolic hand gestures and rolling or twirling movements created by the large, loosely worn dress called Thobe Nashal. These movements are said to illustrate life by the sea: Perhaps a shaking palm tree, flowing seaweed, rolling wave, or even, the practice of pearl divers as they plunge the depths for a treasure. Traditionally, Khaleegy is purely improvisational; a sort of call and response via the dynamics between individual women or their spontaneous, organic interpretations of a song or rhythms played live during their intimate, private parties.
In this two-hour workshop, Dahlia will demonstrate and teach a variety of basic Khaleegy movements which each student can personally utilize in belly dance performance, or just for fun. If you don’t have a thobe (Khaleegy dress) to bring to the workshop, please bring a 3+ yard veil that can be modified into a thobe. Short-sleeved shirts or sleeveless tops recommended. No belly dance experience is necessary for this workshop.
Dates: TBA
Time: 10am – 12pm
Cost: $45 at the door or $35 with 3 day advanced registration
How to register
Please download and print our registration form, fill it out and send it in with a check. We also have a mail slot at the Studio. Sorry, we do not take credit cards for classes.
Dahlia MoonDahlia has been teaching and performing various styles of belly dance for over a decade. Before moving to the Seattle area in 2003, she taught and performed regularly in Arabic and Turkish restaurants in Osaka, Japan for two years. Prior to living in Asia, Dahlia performed solo and troupe work throughout the Pacific Northwest. More >>
