Join us in Seattle on November 14 and 15 for the first SWANA Dance Festival!
SATURDAY at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: 4408 Delridge Wy SW, Seattle, WA 98106
Featuring four FREE and open to the public dance classes in SWANA dance forms. No sign up required.
SCHEDULE:
10 am-11 am - Egyptian Shaabi with Aubre Hill
11 am-12 pm - Black Sea Dance with Izumi
12:30 pm-1:30 pm - Afghan Attan with Samia Karimi
1:30pm-2:30 pm - Dabke with Seattle Dabke
SATURDAY EVENING: Special performance at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center featuring Black Sea Dance with Izumi, Samia Karimi, and Aubre Hill with Qabila Dance Company!
Doors: 7:30 pm
Performance: 8 pm
This performance has sliding scale admission by donation (suggested $30).
SUNDAY at Pitch & Roll (Georgetown): 5300 4th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108
Dance workshops with guest artists Samia Karimi and Aubre Hill.
SCHEDULE:
10-11:30 am: Afghan Dance with Samia Karimi - In this workshop dancers will learn rhythm and musicality unique to Afghan music through a series of combinations that can be applied to both classical music and modern pop songs. Dancers will walk away understanding basic footwork and upper body expression through the hands, wrists, shoulders, face-framing, and spins. Come explore the playful and grounded nature of Afghan dance! Dancers are encouraged to dress comfortably (skirts or pants) and dance barefoot.
12-1:30 pm: Saidi: From folklore to stage with Aubre Hill - Learn the essential elements of this Upper Egyptian folk dance including Tahteeb, an ancient martial art, and raqs assaya meaning "stick dance," the most popular folkloric dance seen in Egyptian nightclubs and beyond. You will explore posture, carriage, technique, musicality, and stick positions, pathways, twirling, and tricks. Understand how context influences movement choices and stylization and how to bring more authenticity and embodiment to this dynamic and fun dance. Bring a straight stick/assaya.
Workshops are $75 each or $125 for both