scrolly thing

The Durga Tour in Boston

featuring workshops with Tempest and Asharah!

Monday, June 15, 2009 6:00pm-9:15pm

Cost: $45 before April 30, $50 thereafter

Presented by Badriya al-Badi'a

Vending by Tempest and Asharah

Today is the day of the workshops--if you wish to register for the Boston stop of the Durga Tour, contact Badriya (781-325-3039) to make sure there is still room and find out how to pay at the door.

Location: 855 Commonwealth Avenue, Studio 109, Boston, MA
(Boston University's College of Fine Arts)
Boston University West stop on the B Branch of the Green Line, Street parking available
Google Maps Location

The Durga Tour is named in honor of the Hindu Goddess Durga, an aspect of Devi, whose name means "invincible" and who represents a balance between the creating force (Shakti) and the warrior/destroyer force (Kali). "Durga exists in a state of sva-tantrya (dependence on the universe and nothing/nobody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion."

We have chosen Durga (or She chose us) because to us, she embodies the struggle of art - be it music, dance, ideas, etc - to both be a force of creation and destruction. To be passionate, yet be tempered in approach, to inspire without constraining, and to lead without demanding followers.

In this spirit, the workshops presented by Tempest and Asharah are intended together to strike a balance between the mental freedom of the creative impulse and the physical control of technique. The workshops are not priced separately because they do not exist separately. Mind and body together are the essence of dance.

Workshop with Tempest, 6pm-7:30pm: Dancing on the Right Side of the Brain

Artists, writers and other creative folk are said to be "right-brained"--they think in pictures, images and random patterns. Engineers, accountants and other number/fct people are said to be "left-brained"--meaning they think more mathematically, linearly, orderly. Learn to unleash your creative side and truly be "in the moment" with your dancing. Often, a dancer can become too focused on a choreography, counting of steps, beats and therefore become "left-brained" in their dancing--meaning they are being technical and not dancing creatively, spontaneously, from the heart! In this unusual workshop, we're going to do some mental and physical exercises that will help you engage your right brain in your dancing!

About Tempest:

Tempest pulls from her visual arts background (BFA from RISD), literary tendencies, and global inspirations to create dance that crosses the boundaries of time and culture. Tempest began her journey into dance in 2000, and has traveled the country to study traditional, folkloric, and fusion forms of bellydance. She is the premiere instructor of Gothic Bellydance in North America, and her extensive work in the genre has helped to define and develop the movement across the world. Her compelling performances exemplify her distinctively theatrical and expressionate style, and are rooted in oriental dance technique with a transcendent approach. Her costume designs have revolutionized the look of modern bellydance, and continue to inspire new and old generations of dancers alike. For more information, see her website, Darkly Dramatic

Workshop with Asharah, 7:45pm-9:15pm: Pops, Locks and Tick Tocks: Tricks to Mechanize Your Movement

Inspired by robots, experimental electronic music and poppin' and lockin', Asharah has integrated mechanical movements into her expressive tribal fusion performances. in this workshop, Asharah will lead students through an intense warm up and then show students how to break down traditional belly dance movements such as vertical hip figure-8s, shoulder rolls, torso undulation, turns and arm waves into smaller and sharper parts to give your performances a robotic and creepy edge. After drilling these movements, she'll teach a short combination that demonstrates how these movements can be used in a performance. She'll also briefly discuss concepts of electronic music, how it is created, and how to listen to the nuances of music made by machines and computers. Experience level: Intermediate beginner and above

About Asharah:

Asharah is renowned for her strong technique and dramatic fusion of tribal and cabaret bellydance, and she has extensive experience in Turkish, Egyptian, and American bellydance. She has teaches and performs her unique tribal fusion style around the world, and she is currently a faculty member at two of the Washington DC area's finest dance schools: Saffron Dance in Arlington, Virginia, and Joy of Motion Dance Center in Washington, DC. She released her first instructional DVD, Modern Tribal Bellydance, in early 2008, and she is featured on the groundbreaking DVD Gothic Bellydance: The Darker Side of Fusion. As a student of Middle Eastern history, she believes that every belly dancer must know the history and culture of this dance, whether she is performing it in its traditional forms or fusing it with others. For more information, see her website, www.asharah.com

About Badriya al-Badi'a: Badriya has been performing both gothic and Egyptian/Arabic style belly dance in the Boston area since 2001, and sponsors the annual gothic belly dance event Raks Spooki (Raks Spooki IV--November 09!). She is dedicated both to representing classical raqs sharqi and beledi styles in as authentic a way as possible as well as to exploring the artistic intersection of belly dance movement and gothic music. Each style of dance has its proper place and venue, and she is very proud to be be able to provide the Boston area with the opportunity for regular gatherings of gothic belly dancers. She may be reached at badriya at rcn dot com or 781-325-3039 for more information.