Saturday, May 3
Elizabeth Strong - 10am-1pm - Turkish Roman & Egyptian Folkloric Part 1 (bring finger cymbals)
Improve your repertoire, your rhythm, and deepen the roots of your dance in these two-part workshops with focus on Turkish Roman dance, and Egyptian folkloric-style belly dance. Turkish Roman dance is the gypsy dance of Turkey. Rarely taught outside of the Roman communities, this dance is extremely expressive, fun and enigmatic. We will honor this dance in its pure form, by learning the feet, belly, and arm movements and how they fit together – plus the special 9-beat rhythm and cultural background. Then get back to the roots of Tribal belly dance! We will cover background information and movements of Upper Egyptian dance including Ghawazee, Saiidi, The Reda Troupe, plus we'll add some repertoire of our own for fun. Finally, we will practice all learned combos with finger cymbal patterns.
Rita Alderucci (Hahbi'Ru) - 2pm-5pm - Learn Hahbi'Ru choreo favorite, Pot Balancing
During this 3 hour workshop you will learn Hahbi'Ru's "Pot Dance". The ever popular folkloric style of balancing pot dances, native to the tribes of North Africa, were first introduced to America by Jamila Salimpour's Bal-Anat in 1970. With over 40+ years of balancing technique and tips to help you successfully use a pot prop, bowl, or sword during the dance choreography, Hahbi'Ru's "Pot Dance" contains Rita's favorite shimmies and step combinations derived from years of performing, traveling, teaching and always learning here in the USA and the Middle East. In addition to balancing technique, Rita will offer beautiful upper body and arm movements to compliment the choreography. Please bring a pot, bowl, or sword. A handful of pots will be available to those traveling internationally.
*Bonus Lecture with Rita - 5pm-6pm - Lecture on the history of founding Hahbi'Ru with John Compton in 1992, followed by a Q&A*
Sunday, May 4
Elizabeth Strong - 10am-1pm - Turkish Roman & Egyptian Folkloric Part 2 (bring finger cymbals)
Carolena Nerricio (FatChance BellyDance) - 2pm-5pm - Embellishing: Elegant Hands, Arms, and Spins
Who better to teach the secrets of harnessing elegant arms and hands to create gorgeous frames, unfolding turns, and breathtaking silhouettes than the legend herself? A master of refined embellishment, Carolena will guide you to your most lovely arms, body positions, and smooth transitions. The class will begin with a crash course in ATS® Dance Fundamentals, including proper technique and execution of the Taxeem, Bodywave, Hand Floreo, Arm Undulations, and more.
*Bonus Lecture & Shopping at FatChanceBellyDance - 6pm-8pm - Lecture on the history of American Tribal Style belly dance with Carolena, Q&A, plus private shopping at the FCBD boutique.*
Monday, May 5th
Creativity Lecture with master costumer Lee Kobus of Fool Proof Studios.
Monday, May 5 - Wednesday, May 7
Kami Liddle - Monday 10am-1pm - Day 1 - Gooey Pop and Lock Drills and Combinations
This technique and drilling-intense class will focus on combining smooth and effortless looking pathways contrasted with surprising and unexpected pops and locks. After this high energy class, students will walk away with several versatile combinations that work great for dancing to electronic music or drum solos.
Kami Liddle - Tuesday 10am-1pm - Day 2 - Fine-Tuned Movements Overhaul your movement, Kami Liddle style.
Refine movements and transitions so that they are extremely isolated, fluid and clean - learn to think and move from the inside out. We will also focus on crafting very subtle micro movements that allow you to move extremely fast while adding a wonderful pop of contrast to your dancing.
Kami Liddle - Wednesday 10am-1pm - Day 3 - Delicate Intricacies Choreography
This Kami Liddle choreography is a brand-new piece focusing on developing a more visceral level of dancing. Throughout each movement phrase - which is filled with footwork, turns, layers and complex arm and hand movements - Kami will share her inspiration and creative process. This choreo is designed to inspire, challenge, and force dancers to think outside of the Tribal Fusion box.
Gold Rush attendees are the first to take part in the first step of the Jill Parker Teacher Training Certification.
Jill Parker - Monday 2pm-5pm - Day 1 - Chrysalis: Kill Your Technique
Get into the foundations of JP's style: organic movement quality, an emphasis on learning to balance effort and ease, refine your movement through the lense of traditional belly dance and beyond. Rethinking the mechanics of: undulations, shimmies, layers, footwork, traveling, hip circles, arm and hand patters, turns, and spins. Movements will be drilled, broken down, taken apart, rebooted, and drilled again.
Jill Parker Tuesday 2pm-5pm - Day 2 - Cocoon: Embody Your Body
Go deep. Review Day 1, but focusing on YOUR own size, shape, personality, flexibility, strength, balance, and perceived limitations and known super powers! The drills will become more rigorous, combos will unfold, muscular isolations will start to click. Jill will ask you to embody her style in YOUR own dance; to play, to have joy, to experience freedom through belly dance. Conjure your inner goddess and find your best.
Jill Parker Wednesday 2pm-5pm - Day 3 - Monarch: Yes Queen!
Continuing to grow from days 1 and 2, Jill will introduce the component of live music and the concept of musicality. Sean Tergis (MWE, Inspector Gadje), will be playing doumbek, and if you've never experienced a class with live music, prepare to be swept away. We will take time at the beginning of class for a brief lecture from Jill on lineage, philosophy, inspiration, and the concept of being a trusted mentor.
Tues Night, May 6 - Gold Rush attendee performance & feedback opportunity
Gold Rush Edition of Underground Nomads, the weekly belly dance & Global Bass dance party hosted by DJ Amar, Calamity Sam, and Gina Grandi.
ALL attendees of Gold Rush have the opportunity to perform at this event + receive a professional video of your performance to take home. Last but not least, performers get the opportunity to receive written feedback and constructive critiques from your Gold Rush teachers! If you'd like to sign up, please email goldrushbellydance@gmail.com with "Underground Nomads" in the subject line.
Thursday, May 8
Shopping Salon
We are also planning an additional shopping salon with some of our favorite local vendors.
Day off in San Francisco curated by your hosts Jill Parker & Stephanie Fields
Includes a Barbary Coast Walking Tour, history of the thriving belly dance club scene in the 60's, 70's and 80's by Amina (who performed 6 days a week for 20 years), and a drum circle in Dolores Park. Here you can study some drum rhythms, play zills, and dance! If you're not an exhibitionist, or you just want hang out with your tribe, the view is amazing, the locals colorful, plus we'll have lots of delicious California wine and cheese to share!
Friday, May 9 & Saturday, May 10
Heather Stants - 10am-1pm - "Moving Beyond", Parts 1 (Fri) & 2 (Sat)
Through exercises, drills, and dance combinations we work to move beyond the intricate isolated movements of belly dance and into more expansive expressions of line, shape, gesture, interaction, and emotion. Please bring a yoga mat.
Mira Betz - 2pm-5pm - Manipulate Me (Fri), Manipulate Them (Sat)
Working in the realm of expression, dance goes farther than drilling technique with Mira. This class focuses of taking the expansive leap from movement recall to expression of self. Students will develop an extended language of dance by exploring the forces and concepts of manipulation. By experiencing and applying these concepts in a directed showcase presentation students gain a new understanding of what they have been studying, new avenues of development and a strong sense of personal empowerment in one’s own “style”.
Friday May 9 - Kafana Balkan
Gold Rush attendees will also receive a ticket to Kafana Balkan, the beloved Balkan beats, brass & belly dance show. The evening will start out with a belly dance blowout show featuring the teaching staff of Gold Rush, then host DJ Zeljko will take over the night spinning Balkan tunes, before a local Balkan brass band takes the stage to keep us dancing into the wee hours of the night!