01 - Nov 16, 2024
SPECIALTY WORKSHOPS
Flamenco Arabe with Dalia Carella
TIME: 12:00-2:00PM
LOCATION: Ripley-Grier Studios
NEED: A full skirt w/wo slits, oriental dance skirt, or veils to tuck and use as a skirt
Workshop Description: Rumba Flamenco Araby with Skirts: Rumba Flamenco is a style of Flamenco music and dance with an Afro-Cuban Rumba influence. Years ago, the dance was improvised with prominent hip and shoulder movements, more overtly sensual than other styles of Flamenco dance. This class will focus on Dalia's Dance Concepts that she has been teaching and performing for decades now. Dalia skillfully blends Flamenco, Arabic Dance (BellyDance) and Afro-Caribbean fiery skit work with Flamenco and Arabic arm technique and hip movements. We will focus on technique and drills to strengthen and open the upper body, enhancing the beauty of this fiery and passionate dance style. Skirts required. Bring a full style, ankle-length skirt without slits. If you do not have a skirt, you can use a large veil.

Dalia Carella is a renowned Near/Middle Eastern and World Fusion solo artist, choreographer, master teacher, and Founder/Artistic Director of the Dalia Carella Dance Collective. Dalia has been training professionals and students for many decades with her enormous wealth of dance technique and theatrical presentation in any style that she teaches. Dalia's much sought after teaching style and performance technique of innovative Cross Cultural Belly Dance, Turkish Romani and Flamenco Araby movements and skirt work have been sought after and appreciated by both Near/Middle Eastern and Fusion Dance communities around the world. Dalia has produced dance and theater productions both Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway in New York City. Her numerous concerts and teaching tours have led her throughout the US, Canada, England, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Turkey, and Japan. Visit Dalia’s online live dance school at www.daliacarella.com

02 - Dec 7, 2024
Flutter and Shimmy Lab with Gabriela Figueroa
TIME: 1:00 - 3:00PM
LOCATION: Ripley-Grier Studios
Workshop Description: Flutters & Shimmies are one of the most challenging but fun moves in the belly dance world, with consistent practice it will become natural in your body
Flutter technique
Diaphragm exercise to warm & open it up
Vacuum breathing exercises
Shimmy drills to loosen up the hips
Flutters & Shimmies combos for a fun practice
Applying the moves to a mini drum solo choreography
Gabriela Figueroa ’s journey with Middle Eastern dance began as a self-taught dancer. She started her formal instruction in 2011 with Natalie El-Ghoul; a Middle eastern & contemporary dancer and choreographer at La Fábrica in Guayaquil, Ecuador. during her time at La Fabrica Gabriela discovered her passion for Middle Eastern dance and continued her studies in Quito, Ecuador at Frente de Danza Independiente with Carolina Cruz, In 2015 Gabriela became a member of Natalie Nazario's Raks Al Zahra troupe for 7 years
In 2018, Gabriela joined the Bellyqueen Teacher Training Course led by Kaeshi Chai and now is part of the teachers staff of Bellyqueen in New York City.
In 2022 & 2023 auditioned and got the opportunity to be part of "Table of Silence" Project directed by Buglisi Theater dance & Lincoln Center , a ritual dance of peace choreographed by Jacqulyn Buglisi
in 2023 created the yearly project “The improvisation Bootcamp” where her mission is to activate within each dancer their capacity to find the voice of the body , to surrender and trust while immersing themselves in the technique and melodies of the Arab live music
Gabriela teaches Raqs Sharki regularly in NYc , focusing her class on the dance culture,history & creating community while integrating body and mind through dance, performs and choreograph group numbers for different shows
She continues to grow each day by regularly studying different styles such as Middle Eastern folklore , Romani, Flamenco , Theater dance , voice/movement studies with Meredith Monk, clown with many renowned teachers which makes her a versatile and bold performer and Choreographer
03 - Jan 6, 2024
Zills Skillz with Layla Isis
TIME: 7:00-8:30PM
LOCATION: Ripley-Grier Studios
NEED: Zills
I highly recommend a set of $20 student/intermediate zills from Saroyan Mastercrafts (view here)
Lighter gauge introductory zills: (view here)
**Instructions for securing the elastics will be shared prior to the workshop.
Workshop Description: TBA

Layla Isis is a renowned NYC-based professional. She began her studies at the legendary Serena Studios (Classic American Cabaret style) over 2 decades ago & went on to become one of NYC's most popular & highly sought after bellydancers in the region and around the world across a wide array of platforms
CREDITS: Sex and the City 2, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Dr. Oz, and Martin Scorsese's HBO series "Vinyl.” The Bellydance Superstars, DVD "Temptation of Bellydance." Co-producer of The New York Oryantal Parti! & The Bellydance Spectacular concert series, Co-founder of Entelechy Dance and Infinity Bellydance troupes. Dalia Carella Dance Collective, Zikrayat, Tomoko Aoki Dance, Goddessdance, NYC Fringe Fest, NYGypsyfest, Town Hall, Lincoln Center, Irving Plaza and celebrities Akon, Ashanti, Gogol Bordello, Yerba Buena, Marc Jacobs, Rachel Ray, Phillip Glass.
Her style has been described by clients and colleagues as "sophisticated and elegant" and "natural, fluid, and dynamic." "A "total" artist all around. www.laylaisis.com
04 - Jan 15, 2025
Double Veil with Petite Jamila
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Online Zoom
Workshop Description:
Need: 2 Silk Veils
.png)