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PERFORMANCE OF RAQS SHARQI

August 26, 2015 by lizawedgwood

PERFORMANCE OF RAQS SHARQI

by international performers and teachers, Liza Wedgwood, dancer, and Tim Garside, musician and percussionist.  

Sunday October 25th at 6pm The Gold Room, Centre for Science and Art, 13 Lansdown, STROUD, Glos. GL5 1BB

flying baladi 5

Tanzwoche-Mittersill_2This is for the curious, for the adventurous, for dance lovers, and musicians of Middle Eastern music. Driving rhythms, yearning melodies, the refinement of courtly classical as well as the earthy complexity of the Egyptian ‘Blues’, it is all in this unusual performance showing the rich but rarely seen diversity of Raqs Sharqi.  

In the improvisational magical moment does the musician inspire the dancer or is it the other way around?

Tickets £7, Cons. £5 from Trading Post, 26 Kendrick Street, Stroud, GL5 1AQ Tel 01453 759116

or from Liza (click contact)

Posted in performance, recent events, Uncategorized |

***THERE ARE LOTS OF LOVELY NEW EVENTS HAPPENING SOON SO PLEASE KEEP VISITING***

August 22, 2015 by lizawedgwood

WORKSHOP WITH LIVE MUSIC

Be danced by the inspiring music and percussion of Tim Garside. A rare and wonderful treat.  

All levels are welcome.

Saturday 24 October 2015  1.00 – 6.00pm

 IMG_2084TimRiqGreen veil218_3

 garsaaidi.com

The Courtyard Clinic Studio 

(Beautiful warm studio with mirror!)

The Old Post Office, Parsonage Street, 

Dursley, Glos. GL11 4DR 

(The studio is at the back of the small car park

opposite the Cafe and next to the church. ) 

Cost:   £45  (Conc £40)

PLEASE contact ME FOR BOOKING AND FURTHER INFORMATION

Posted in performance, upcoming workshops | Tagged , |

Workshop in Prato and Florence area, Italy

February 5, 2015 by lizawedgwood

Italian workshop Feb 2015

Posted in Baladi | Tagged , , , , , |

The Inner Dance of Raqs Sharqi – A fresh look at Baladi

January 9, 2015 by lizawedgwood

 

LW dances Baladi

The Inner Dance of Raqs Sharqi – A Fresh Look at Baladi

This year many of the courses and workshops in Gloucestershire UK, Germany and Italy will focus on having a fresh and in depth look at Baladi.  

We need poise, ease and clarity of technique in order to facilitate the full emotional spectrum which characterises Baladi, that dance which flourished in the small, crowded, smokey cafes of the Egyptian conurbations during the first half of the twentieth century.

We will explore this beautiful dance from an ‘Inner’ perspective. The movements of Raqs Sharqi, to have that quality of ease, need to come from our inner physical core, our inner middle upper spine, and not merely from arms, hips and shoulders. More importantly, I call it ‘Inner’ because instead of overemphasising  technique (which leaves the audience distanced and vaguely unsatisfied) we dance the wholeness of who we are. We offer our authentic sensuality, in the real meaning of the word.  This means to be present in the feeling of the movements and not just to do them.

If we as dancers do the movements we show our expertise.  If however, in a very simple way, we  stay with the physical feeling of those movements, we access a well of empty, peaceful, happiness.  This is the source of creativity, and combined with our love of its music, it is this creativity that improvisational Baladi asks of us.  It is a surprise, an adventure, –  suitable for all dancers whatever their experience!

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

Raqs Sharqi – Dancing with a Stick Workshop

November 27, 2014 by lizawedgwood

Egyptian Dancing with the Stick Workshop

Saturday 6th December 2014 1.00 – 6.00pm

The Courtyard Clinic Studio (Beautiful warm studio with mirror!)
The Old Post Office, Parsonage Street,
Dursley, Glocestershire. GL11 4DR
(Opposite The Courtyard Cafe and next to the church. The studio is at the back of the small car park)

The workshop is general level. The work on grounding and poise makes this workshop very suitable for beginners. The more experienced will expand their repertoire, find inspiration and deepen their understanding.

Cost: £35 (newcomers 3 hours with break £17)
Please book as soon as you can. 

Erna Froehlich and I returned inspired from our October Dance Week in the Austrian Alps near Mittersill. We had celebrated 20 years of our residential dance intensive in the same cosy farm house with its beautiful dance room looking out towards the glittering white mountain peaks.

Our focus for the week was ‘Stick Dancing’. Erna and I purposefully left this term unqualified to allow for freedom and discovery, not only for students but for Erna and myself.
The fruits of those days were unexpected and inspirational, and they are what I would like to share with you at the workshop.

At first I was disheartened because we did not have enough natural wooden walking sticks for such a large group. The only solution was to use the hooked golden ‘cabaret’ canes which I have never really liked. It was those golden canes however which instigated our journey of discovery and became our inspiration.

I have not yet managed to get a supply of these golden canes, and therefore for this workshop please bring one if you own or can get hold of one. Don’t worry if you don’t or can’t. I will bring plenty of ordinary canes for us to dance with.

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

Stroud class starting 12 November

November 2, 2014 by lizawedgwood

I love this picture of a dancer which Edith Mahlknecht, 80 year old student from South Tyrol, sketched on a postcard for my birthday.Inner Dance Stroud Nov '14

 

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

New Class starting in Stroud

October 23, 2014 by lizawedgwood

Dance for pregnancy and new mums in Stroud 2014

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

MIDDLE EASTERN MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL 29-31 AUGUST at Camerton Hall, Meadgate, Camerton, BATH, BA2 0NL, North East Somerset.

August 10, 2014 by lizawedgwood

LOTS OF MUSIC AND DANCE WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES, A WONDERFUL LONG WEEKEND FULL OF COLOUR, SOUND AND MOVEMENT.  I shall be part of the team this year and  delighted to be dancing and teaching together with the musicians MAREN LUEG, CHAS WHITAKER and FRANK RUSSEL of the well known Majaz band.   Do join me  on 29-31 August at Camerton Hall, Meadgate, Camerton, Bath,  BA2 0NL, North East Somerset. 

Have a look at http://www.arabicdrum.co.uk/mideastfest to see captivating photos from  last years festival and to buy tickets.  Day tickets are also available!MidEast-Fest-Flyer-2014

 

 

Posted in performance, recent events, Uncategorized |

Intensive Day of Dance – ‘Ghawazee’ Gypsy Stick Dancing Workshop

June 16, 2014 by lizawedgwood

Saturday 12 July 2014 1.00 – 6.00pm

The Courtyard Clinic Studio
The Old Post Office, Parsonage Street,
Dursley, Glos. GL11 4DR
(Opposite The Courtyard Cafe and next to the church)

Playfulness when dancing with the stick is one of the main characteristics of the Ghawazee form of Egyptian dance.
Lighthearted yet earthed, the Ghawazee always enchanted as they still do today. In the workshop we will continue our enjoyable exploration to find their secret. There will be lots of dancing and as well as time for individual feedback, historical background and modern context, and understanding the music of Upper Egypt. If you would like help on a piece you have worked on please bring your music.

The workshop is an introduction for beginners in a supportive environment. The more advanced will find inspiration and a deeper understanding of this beautiful art form.

Tribute to the Sa’aid – its music and dance. The year’s Intensive Days of Dance are dedicated to the proud, warm hearted people of Upper Egypt, a peace loving people, who inspire dancers and musicians alike with their ancient and much loved music, the instruments and sounds unlike anywhere else.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE AUTUMN AND WINTER INTENSIVE DANCE DAYS HAVE HAD TO BE CHANGED. THEY WILL NOW TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER AND SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER.

Cost: £35 (newcomers 3 hours with break £17)
Payment is by cheque in advance or by arrangement with Liza.  Please click on contact for information.

 

Posted in Shaabi - Ghawazee |

Dance in the Mountains! LAST MINUTE!

May 8, 2014 by lizawedgwood

SUMMER DANCE WEEK  1 – 7 JUNE.  THERE ARE STILL PLACES AVAILABLE!

with Erna Frohlich and Liza Wedgwood
 Tanzwoche-Mittersill

in the glorious setting of 

The Gruberhof, Mittersill, Austria

We have been coming here for twenty years to explore and enjoy the many facets of Raqs Sharqi (Traditional and Modern Egyptian Dance)  – for sumptious weeks of dance, meeting friends and dance colleagues from several countries, good food and relaxation in a glorious setting.

Our focus this year is to go deeply into the essence of this extraordinarily beautiful, earthy, yet elegant dance. Here we can experience the excitement of the dance and yet remain peaceful, and stable in our core.  On yogic principles, we focus on body awareness as well as on technique so that our dancing becomes effortless and totally charismatic.  We will work on deepening our understanding of the music and culture of Egypt gleaned from Erna’s and Liza’s travels in Upper Egypt, so honouring the people and particularly the musicians of that troubled land.

Tanzwoche Mittersill 2014

The dance week is for all levels and all women.  The week consists of  dance, body work, one to one help, a party and excursions into the wild flower meadows above the tree line of the mountain peaks.  Beginners will find it a restful and enjoyable introduction to the dance, and the more experienced will find new perspectives, deeper understanding and inspiration for their continued development.

The total cost for teaching and accommodation is 864 Euros – 480 Euros to be paid on application (for the teaching) and  384 Euros in cash on arrival (for accommodation).

PLEASE BOOK WITHOUT DELAY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SPONTANEOUS AND COME!

CLICK  HERE  TO CONTACT  LIZA FOR INFORMATION AND BOOKING

Posted in Baladi, Classical (Sharqi), Shaabi - Ghawazee, Uncategorized, upcoming workshops |

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