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Workshops in Prato, Italy 14 &15 March ’20 with live music!

June 3, 2019 by lizawedgwood

 

 

mjX4jaKMx7fBfPUVg_Wi05CjIDI7lRvB7MNRyTe_Pew2011 photo shoot Acton Court

I am looking forward to teaching again this year in the beautiful city of Prato near Florence.  It must be at least 20 years ago that Patrizia Pacini first invited me to teach Raqs Sharqi to her spirited and open hearted students.  Each subsequent year I have had the opportunity to share with them my development and insights, and it is a special treat when we have had Tim Garside to inspire us with his music.

This year as last, the theme is to improvise with confidence to his latest music.  The emphasis is on confidence.  Students come to this dance for pleasure but also to learn a beautiful art form, and I have come to realise that the keys to both aspects are ease and simplicity.  I am no lover of choreographies except when it is strictly necessary to coordinate several dancers on stage.  For me the magic happens when we dance ‘in the moment’, spontaneously, freely, using the well practiced techniques of traditional Raqs Sharqi as a language to express our joyful creativity. And when we have the fortune to dance to live music, magic does indeed happen for dancers and audience alike.

Contact Patrizia Pacini  tel 0039 347 6261330

 

 

BERLIN    22 and 23 June ’19    Contact:   Susanne Donner  

berlin -orientalscher-tanz.de  tel ++49 (0)30 420 202 40

MUNICH   13, 14, 15 September and 15,16,17 November   Contact:   Erna Froelich

taqsim.de   tel  ++49 (0)89 342435 

Liza06

Liza Wedgwood dances Modern Sharqi

Adventurous and exhilarating workshops exploring both traditional and creative concepts, an encouragement for each dancer whatever her dance experience to find her own unique expression.

Modern Classical – new ideas, expanded use of space, freedom to integrate
untraditional music and concepts yet always adhering to basic principles.

Courtly Classical – intimate and refined, warmly communicative, in depth feel of traditional music and songs.

Dancing with the veil – more than an accessory . . . .(Mrs Thatcher’s handbag!)
but rather movement and sensuality of fabric, an extension of the lyrical flow of the spine, the weightlessness of air and space.

Susanne Donner wrote   Liza lädt uns ein zu einem Wagnis anregenden Kurs, in dem sowohl traditionelle als auch kreative Konzepte erforscht werden. Dieser Workshop ist eine Ermutigung für jede Tänzerin, gleich welcher Vorerfahrung, ihren eigenen einzigartigen Ausdruck zu finden. Wir widmen uns dem modernen klassischen Sharqi und nehmen neue Ideen der Ausbreitung in den Raum auf. Wir etablieren unsere innere Freiheit für neue Konzepte, aber bewahren grundlegende Essenzen des Raqs Sharqi. Wir tanzen in innigem Bezug mit dem Schleier. Wir können seine Bewegung, seine Textur und seine Sinnlichkeit uns einverleiben und als Erweiterung der lyrisch fließenden Wirbelsäule erfahren. Das Schwebende des Schleiers, seine Leichtigkeit erhebt uns in die eigene fließende Schwerelosigkeit in Luft und Raum.

Mit großer Hingabe und Wachheit vermag Liza jeder Tänzerin auf ihrem individuellen Weg Türen aufzuzeigen oder gar zu öffnen, die sie in ihrer Entwicklung passieren wird. Manche ihrer Sätze sind mir Jahre geblieben, besonders, wenn ich sie nicht sogleich verstehen konnte, und mein Körper und meine Seele erst viel später im Stande waren, sie zu erfahren.

Erna Froelich wrote    Liza bietet ihre Hingabe, langjährige Erfahrung und eigene Weiterentwicklung im Tanz an, um jeder Tänzerin auf ihrer Stufe zu helfen.
Jeder Workshop bietet eine sinnvolle Einheit für sich, aber wer es ermöglichen kann, das gesamte Wochenende zu kommen, wird Zeit finden, tief in den Tanz einzutauchen und mehr individuelle Förderung zu erfahren.

 

Posted in Italy, technique and insights, Uncategorized, upcoming workshops, Veil | Tagged , , , , |

The Joy of Dancing in a Small Space

December 14, 2018 by lizawedgwood

I am sitting in the Black Book Cafe in Stroud catching up on emails and general computer led admin. It is such a pleasure to be in this welcoming quiet cafe, to be among  people and yet not be disturbed by them.  I can work here without the feeling of isolation which is the down side of working at the computer at home.

I recently performed at a gathering at Buckland Hall on a very small dais which had been used for a speaker sitting on one chair, beside him a small table for a vase of flowers.  For the celebration evening I was to dance on such a small space, admittedly only a single 6 minute piece and with the chair and table removed.  Was it possible?  What if I fell off?!  I have always maintained that much of the magic of Raqs Sharqi lies in what I called its ‘verticality’, that this dance developed in a relatively small space and that it was only later when ballet brought with it the idea of filling space (a stage) that in the Modern Classical form the dance expressed itself more horizontally.

In teaching the tradition one of the hardest concepts is that of this ‘verticality’ because we are so programmed in this forward (horizontal) energy, goal oriented, the next appointment, preoccupation with the future rather than the Now.

So this was the test, a six minute dance in a tiny space!  I chose a very simple and traditional Ashra Baladi piece, starting with a beautiful meditative taqsim followed by the usual awadi and maqsoum and finishing with an exuberant driving tet.  All the basic principals I have been teaching for years somehow became incapsulated in those six minutes.  A wonderful experience indeed.  The warmth and enthusiasm of the 170 people in the audience caused the magical reciprocating cycle between performer and audience which all performers, who stand exposed on stage in their art, desire most.

Please click on the CALENDAR tab above for workshop dates in 2018 and the countries where they will take place.IMG_2881

Anne Marie and Eva

Posted in Uncategorized |

STROUD, GLOS. WEEKLY TRADITIONAL EGYPTIAN DANCE CLASSES

April 4, 2018 by lizawedgwood

LEAFLET /POSTER/ANNOUNCEMENT  TO PROMOTE  WEEKLY CLASSES IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE UK.

 

Image may contain: 3 people, people dancing and people standing

There is a Traditional Egyptian Dance Class in Rodborough on Wednesday evenings 7.45-9.15pm where I teach the old form before this dance was influenced by a Western interpretation. I have a long and full time professional career as dancer both as teacher and theatre performer of this dance and feel myself part of the revival of a tradition which is little known in this country. In the class we learn how to dance without effort, to dance from our inner stability, from our love of the music and our authentic joy of movement. Once we have learned some basic traditional movements there is tremendous sense of freedom to improvise and express ourselves. I love to share this beautiful art form and the sense of well being it brings to our life.

For more information and a Free Taster Class please use the contact tab

 

Posted in UK workshops, Uncategorized, Weekly Classes |

FLUIDITY, FLOW AND FREEDOM – DANCING WITH THE BALADI VEIL

February 18, 2018 by lizawedgwood

Workshop

Saturday 17 March 2018    1.15 – 6.15pm

Fluidity, Flow and Freedom – Dancing with the veil.  A beautiful lyrical and carefree expression in the Baladi form

 

Flying B 1photo Simon Richardson

‘Feeling the relaxed stability of our posture and the free movement of our legs give us exhilaration; dance and veil dance themselves’

 

Courtyard Clinic Studio

The Old Post Office, Parsonage Street, 

Dursley, Glos. GL11 4DR 

(Opposite The Courtyard Cafe and next to the church.  The studio is at the back of the small car park)

Cost:   £40 or £35 (conc. £25) if paid by 3rd March.

Please contact me for booking and more information, and for bank details if you wish to pay online.  Email:  lizawedgwood (at)yahoo.co.uk      Tel: 01453 757140   Mob: 077 6666 4684

www.LizaWedgwoodDance.com 

Posted in Baladi, technique and insights, UK workshops, upcoming workshops | Tagged , , , , , , , , , |

WEEKLY TRADITIONAL EGYPTIAN DANCE CLASSES IN RODBOROUGH, STROUD GLOS.

February 12, 2018 by lizawedgwood

THIS IS A LEAFLET /POSTER/ANNOUNCEMENT WHICH I HAVE WRITTEN TO PROMOTE  WEEKLY CLASSES IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE UK.

 

Image may contain: 3 people, people dancing and people standing

There is a Traditional Egyptian Dance Class in Rodborough on Wednesday evenings 7.45-9.15pm where I teach the old form before this dance was influenced by a Western interpretation. I have a long and full time professional career as dancer both as teacher and theatre performer of this dance and feel myself part of the revival of a tradition which is little known in this country. In the class we learn how to dance without effort, to dance from our inner stability, from our love of the music and our authentic joy of movement. Once we have learned some basic traditional movements there is tremendous sense of freedom to improvise and express ourselves. I love to share this beautiful art form and the sense of well being it brings to our life.

For more information and a Free Taster Class please CONTACT

—————————————————————————————————————————–BALADI WORKSHOP IN BERLIN 24 & 25 FEBRUARY 2018 DANCING THE ARCHETYPES OF WOMAN’S EXPERIENCE  

CONTACT SUSANNE   TEL: +49 (0)30 420 202 40 EMAI: susanne_donner(at)yahoo.com

http://www.berlin-orientalischer-tanz.de

It is said that when we dance to Baladi (the Blues of Egyptian music) we dance the archetypes of women’s experience.  However what does this really mean? It is a subject which continues to fascinate me, and is an exploration I will be returning to again and again in workshops throughout 2018. 

In traditional Egyptian dance these archetypes roughly speaking are understood as

1)The Young Woman or girl, perhaps unmarried or without the responsibilities of married life. 

2)The Mature Self Possessed Woman, often the boss of an undertaking in Egyptian society.

3)The Wise Woman who has suffered yet survived the travails of life and learned from them.

As dancers we must be careful not to dance these archetypes just as an idea (See ** below).  The beauty of Baladi music is that it is nuanced and in order for us to express it we have to respond ‘in the moment’ as that music evokes our changing motions.  Much as a poet uses her skill in the art of poetry so the dancer uses the language of her dance form to instinctively express joy, sadness, strength, playfulness and other feelings in all their shades and depths.

Dance 23 Oct15 14

Despite this the core of Baladi is its essential simplicity and stability, and is therefore ideal for the less experienced. These characteristics of simplicity and stability give an earthiness and grace and ‘hold’ us as dancers, and we return to them constantly.

For the more experienced, stability and simplicity give a self confidence and foundation.  Once they are established we can explore with freedom and curiosity the many rich layers to be found in this very Egyptian urban art.

**  I am writing here more about improvised rather than choreographed Baladi. However even when dancing a choreography we need to feel the feelings that arise with the music authentically and not put the emphasis too much on perfecting choreography and technique. 

 

Baladi is a wonderfully rich form of music and traditional Egyptian dance which evolved in the 50s and 60s and earlier.  Then as today country people left their villages to find work in the jostling teeming streets of Egypt’s cities. For respite and to further business opportunities they spent time in crowded smokey cafes.  Travellers too and musicians from other parts of both the Middle East and from much further beyond would gather to be entertained and to make music, often with a dancer.  For music and dancers in cross-cultural exchange this was a platform to experiment and find new freedoms of expression. Whereas much village music and its instruments had remained unchanged over the centuries now non traditional instruments were introduced and integrated into an evolving music often of emotional complexity.  It requires of the dancer to reflect that.

Posted in Baladi, technique and insights, Uncategorized, upcoming workshops | Tagged , , , , , , , |

Exhilarating dancing in 2016 – workshops and courses

January 7, 2016 by lizawedgwood

The Calendar has now been up-dated!  Please click on tab above for details of workshops, courses and intensive days of dance in Germany, Austria, Italy and the UK.

On 16/17 January the 2016 dance year will start with a ‘Moods and Archetypes in Baladi’ weekend in Berlin. This will be followed on the 24th by a Beginners workshop in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and workshops in Munich during the last weekend of the month. 

Munich and Dursley courses this year will explore the themes of Sha’abi and the Charisma of the Ghawazee (click on Raqs Sharqi tab above).

Workshop

Saturday 13 February 2016  1.00 – 6.00pm 

SPOTLIGHT ON SHAA’BI AND THE CHARISMA OF THE GHAWAZEE 

ghawazee

The Courtyard Clinic Studio 

The Old Post Office, Parsonage Street, 

Dursley, Glos. GL11 4DR  UK 

(Opposite The Courtyard Cafe and next to the church.  The studio is at the back of the small car park)

Cost:   £35 (conc. £25)

The Sha’abi form of Raqs Sharqi is the dance found around Luxor in the Sa’id (Upper Egypt).  Literally it means ‘of the people’ as in ordinary people or country people.  Old music from the villages, as well as modern day pop, allows for simple, joyful dancing using repetitive movements.  Included in this genre is the dance of the professional dancers, the Ghawazee.  Much loved, they brought colour and entertainment to village and family celebrations, and dance to this day to the multilayered Sa’idi music played on instruments unchanged over the centuries.

Technique, costumes and a bright smile are not enough to express this dance.  Eventually the evocative Sa’idi music, coming down the centuries, calls us to find something deeper, richer.  It calls us to find an archaic authentic response and invites us, in the excitement of repetition, to dance effortlessly from our stable centre. 

Excitement characterises Sha’abi but so does stability, and these two attributes are not necessarily understood by us dancers in the west as we search for that certain something which takes us to the heart of both dancers and audiences alike, and makes the dance so compelling to watch.  They would appear to be opposites.  In fact the melding of the two is the essence.

The year’s course will help us to understand these opposites. It will bring us closer to the culture in which this dance flourished, the dance of the Sa’id which is so pertinent to our lives today.

Posted in Shaabi - Ghawazee, upcoming workshops | Tagged , , , , , , |

Happy dancing on a Sunday afternoon

December 7, 2015 by lizawedgwood

BEGINNERS WORKSHOP IN STROUD, GLOS.

SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016   2-5pm

The Blue Room, Centre for Science and Art (opposite the library) Lansdown, STROUD, Gloucestershire GL5 1BB 

IMG_0638.jpeg

Relaxed and thoughtful teaching by Liza Wedgwood gives an opportunity to learn a beautiful feminine art.  Suitable for complete beginners, dancers who wish to refine their technique and those coming from a different style.  All ages welcome!

      Green veil218_3

Cost £15       

Information and    Booking   Tel  01453  757140

     Please share this with anyone who may be interested. Thank you

Posted in upcoming workshops | Tagged , , , , , , , |

Moods and Archetypes Workshop 5 Dec Dursely, UK

November 24, 2015 by lizawedgwood

In this workshop, and using both modern and traditional music, we will explore very simply some of the danced archetypes of Egyptian culture and their responding moods.

How we dance has almost more impact than what we dance.  Although technique is important, it is often not enough as an expression of the music, the culture and who we are as dancers. Music from Egypt and the Arab world with it’s yearning melodies and earthy, often exuberant rhythms, sometimes beautifully simple, sometimes richly complex, is why we dance and how we dance.    So there comes a time when we want to come closer, in a deep and creative way, to that what we love about Raqs Sharqi.

Raqs Sharqi has infinitely more colour than the smiling, jolly persona that is the usual depiction in the West.  There is the possibility of subtle feelings which the music invites us to express, our genuinely joyful celebration but also our sense of beauty, wisdom, drama, sorrow, femininity, courage, contemplation and others.  Taking a few of these, this workshop is for everyone to enjoy who has some basic experience or who comes from another style of Arabic dance.

Dance 23 Oct15 14_2

Saturday 5 December 2015  1.00 – 6.00pm

The Courtyard Clinic Studio (Beautiful warm studio with mirror!)

The Old Post Office, Parsonage Street, 

DURSLEY Glos. GL11 4DR 

(Opposite The Courtyard Cafe and next to the church.  The studio is at the back of the small car park)

Cost:   £35       Please contact me to book 

Posted in technique and insights, Uncategorized, upcoming workshops | Tagged , , , , , , |

Residential Raqs Sharqi Dance Week

September 10, 2015 by lizawedgwood

WHAT IS COURTLY CLASSICAL AND WHO WERE THE AWALIM?

October is the month when Erna Froehlich and I teach the Autumn Dance Week in the glorious setting of the Austrian Alps.  This year attending a course abroad is especially attractive for us in Britain owing to the strength of the pound.

It will be the 21st year of teaching our October week, and in the same place which we love dearly, a family run cosy old farm house. It provides us with all the comfort dancers need to learn, relax and to enjoy each other’s company.  There are beautiful walks, delicious vegetarian food, a spacious dance studio and even sauna.

Every October so far we have sunbathed on the flower filled balconies and terrace, stocking up on rest, warmth and sunshine for the oncoming winter ahead.  I hope that you will be tempted to join Erna, Tim and me for this wonderfully international event.

 RESIDENTIAL DANCE WEEK

11 – 17 OCTOBER 2015

WITH LIZA WEDGWOOD, ERNA FROEHLICH AND MUSICIAN, TIM GARSIDE

Unknown

In the houses of the wealthy, family events were celebrated with dancing, music and song.  Downstairs in the street or courtyards the Ghawazee (gypsy dancers) enthralled visitors and the menfolk with their colourful and exuberant dancing.  Upstairs, unseen, the women of household would watch from behind mashrabiiya, screened balconies and projecting bay windows where women could peer out and see the activities below while themselves remaining invisible.  These women often had their own entertainers, the Awalim, women who in their heyday were renowned not only for their refined talents as singers, poets, musicians and surely dancers too, although there does not appear to be records that they were.  As well as being exponents of these refined arts, it was the Awalim who brought into the confines of the women’s quarters news, gossip and popular songs about life outside.

We will explore how these protected women and the Awalim might have responded with their dancing to the arts of Ottoman Egypt.

A chance to immerse yourself deeply in dance and to meet international dance lovers of all levels.  The week will be taught in German and English

Venue   The Gruberhof, Jochbergthurn 9, 5730 Mittersill, Austria  www.gruberhof.info

Cost   408 Euros for accommodation in a double room to be paid in Euros at time of arrival.

           plus 475 Euros for teaching to be paid when booking.

Information and booking contact Liza or Erna tel: 0049 89 342435 email: erna@taqsim.de

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Posted in Classical (Sharqi), technique and insights, upcoming workshops | Tagged , , , , |

THE TAHTIB – A RARE AND UNUSUAL WORKSHOP FOR MEN

September 7, 2015 by lizawedgwood

reda-stickdance-detail

FREE TAHTIB WORKSHOP FOR MEN 

THE GOLD ROOM, CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ART, 13 LANSDOWN, STROUD, GL5 1BB

SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2-4PM 

Funded by Stroud Festival and part of the Stroud Dance Festival  15 October – 1 November 2015 this is an opportunity FOR MEN TO TASTE FOR FREE the exhilaration of dancing with the stick in the ancient ritualised combat dance of TAHTIB from Egypt .

The several years training in both Karate and Tai Chi gave me insights into the basic concepts of many martial arts – relaxed but focused attention, a low centre of gravity, balance, centredness and a peaceful attitude.  During my long experience as a dancer and in my teaching and study visits to Luxor I came to understand how these elements are the basis for the improvised dance form, the TAHTIB, and how it is highly relevant to the dance shy men of the West.  We will use large sticks and evocative music played on instruments unchanged over centuries to explore an art which goes back to pharaonic times.

The workshop is non contact and suitable for all men.  You do not have to be especially fit, nor have experience in dance or in the martial arts, just an open and curious mind, and a willingness to have fun.  Sticks will be provided.

PLACES ARE LIMITED.  PLEASE BOOK BY CONTACTING ME.  CLICK ON contact.  Thank you.

See stroudartsfestival.org for the dance programme

 

Posted in technique and insights, upcoming workshops | Tagged , , , , , |

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