This summer I am offering 2 performance lab series.
4 Weeks each

Thursday Nights. 7:40-9:00PM

Starting (after the fourth of July) on July 7th

VDP Summer Performance Laboratories.

In these labs we are wetting the imaginations of the students through instrumental performance exercises. Each lab is 4 weeks long. Working in these labs will help the striving dancer feel more confident as a belly dance performance artist, rather than just a dancer. The act of performance is about entertainment and self expression. Since time immemorial people have been driven to perform because the experience of exercising creativity is personally deeply rewarding. We create performance opportunities in our studio in front of small supportive audiences. However the class in it’s self will give you lots of opportunity for unleashing self expression.

In todays world the pendulum has swung toward dance as fitness only. Society is   devorcing it’s self at an alarming rate from personal self expression. This cannot be that good for our society. Yes dance is physically good for us but it is also exersise for the soul.
Come play with me!

You must have a working vocabulary of belly dance to work with because techniques are not the focus of this class. However your skill level does not have to be mastered by any means and is always on going and developing. We are not judging any one on physical techniques. It you have a healthy sense of adventure and creativity this is the course for you. These are the kind of courses that can prepare you for performing in show cases around town.
ALSO: Each participant in Summer Labs  1 or 2 is invited to perform in the “Garden of Delilah” Show Sunday August 21st .

In these labs we will use what we know about the movement of belly dance and craft it into the skills of performance. We will do this by using gestalt awareness, and combining dance with unusual mediums to engage greater artistic capacity and intellectual connection to body and soul expression.
Examples of inspiration mediums; myth, tarot cards, aroma therapy, tastes, textures, props, journal writing, spoken word, found sound tracts.

Goals of study:

• Character development
• Facial expression and self awareness
• Energy projection and dynamics
• Floor and air design
• Body language
• Artistic content, intention, exploration and abstracts

Small class limited to 7-8 dancers.

PERFORMANCE DANCE LAB ONE
Dates: July 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 7:40-9:00 1 hour 20 minutes (often goes over time.)
Cost: $50, 1 week in advance, $60 at the door.
$20 drop in class, if available.

The Class Schedule:
Week one: July 7
Sensory Awareness and Metaphoric Connections.
Prepare; Bring a food or scent to class to share.

Week two: July 14
Thinking In and Out of the Box.
The Power of intentional use of floor, air and stage design.

Week Three: July 21
Masks: Facial Awareness, Eyes and Character Development.
Prepare:
Bring make up and false eye lashes. (may put it on ahead of time to save time. we may add more during class).
Pretend you are some one or thing else.
Think about a story book or mythological character to embody.

Week Four July 28
Drum solo with Characters.
Erik Brown will play live for us.
Bring a busy hip belt.

PERFORMANCE DANCE LAB TWO

Dates: Aug 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 7:40-9:00 1 hour 20 minutes (often goes over time.)
Cost: $50, 1 week in advance, $60 at the door.
$20 drop in class, if available.

Class 5 August 4
Signs, Symbols and Numbers. Messages from behind the dance.
Prepare ; Bring your favorite  mode of fortune telling if you have one. I ching, tarot, tea leaves, crystal ball . . .

Class 6 August 11
Props as Partners.
Prepare: Bring a non conventional non dangerous prop or you will be given one.

Class 7 August 18
Wine and Dance
Prepare bring a beverage to share with 7 people. You do not have to drink alcohol but we are going to look at the use and effects of altered states in regard to dance through out time.

Class 8 August 25
Introduction to the Descent of the Goddess.
We look at the sumerian Descent of Innana Myth and what its message is in psychologically empowering  terms.
Root Beer and Wheat beer will be served.
Homework: Please read our Student Notebook before class.

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.

Delilah Gold Photo by http://www.jenniferrichardphotography.com/

Delilah
Delilah is an internationally acclaimed belly dance performer and instructor. She was the first dancer to receive the Dancer of the Year Award from the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance in Hollywood, California 1997. Delilah grew up in Southern California, learning the dance form as it was passed on and popularized in this country by first and second generation immigrants from Lebanon, Armenia, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Morocco and Greece. Her years of devoted study and practice have led her to become one of the foremost teachers and innovators in the field of bellydance today.  More >>