SF Mecca Immersion 2010 - August 6 - August 11, 2010


Schedule of Events

Times subject to change.

 

Thursday, August 5, 2010


7:30 - 9:30 pm

Special Mecca Master Class with the legendary Jamila Salimpour!

We are honored to have the grandmother of Tribal Belly Dance on board again this year, offering a very special evening to kick-off the event. Please arrive by Thursday, August 5th in order to take advantage of this rare opportunity to learn from a legend and soak in her embodied wisdom and historical expertise. Bring your finger cymbals and your smile! 'Tis a wonderful way to ground in to the roots of this art form, the event, and your time here in San Francisco.

Suhaila Salimpour Studios
425 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
www.therealsuhaila.com for directions
$50 before July 28
$60 at the door
Register now!

 

7:30 - 9:30 pm

Jamila Salimpour Format with finger cymbals

SF MECCA MASTER CLASS with the legendary Jamila Salimpour!
Jamila Salimpour is the mother of tribal belly dance. Her belly dance format has existed for over 50 years and still holds true as a valid and vibrant format. Jamila will teach the basic movement families and concepts of her format along with her unparalleled method of teaching and playing finger cymbals. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll be floating your way through this workshop. Be ready for some challenging combinations that show you how dancing "old school" can be hotter than ever!

Friday through Sunday workshop location will take place at Twinspace Dance Studio.
Monday through Wednesday workshops will take place at Fat Chance Belly Dance Studios.

 
 

Friday, August 6, 2010


Location: Twinspace Dance Studio


10:00 am - 4:00 pm

10:00 - 11:30 am — Welcome, Overview, and Yoga for Bellydance with Deb Rubin

As the kick-off session of the week, this time will be used to give an introduction and what to expect from our time together. The intention is to ground in as a group, and give logistics, maps, schedules for your time in San Francisco. A special yoga practice for belly dancers is included. Please bring a yoga mat. *Please allow yourself ample time in the morning to arrive early, register, and get situated. We will start promptly at 10am.

11:45 am - 1:45 pm — Returning to Where It All Began: ATS for Fusion Dancers with Carolena Nericcio

Getting back to the roots and foundation from which everything else has evolved, this is a special course featuring the basic structure of ATS (American Tribal Style Belly Dance). Simple explanation and demonstration of the ATS concept, taking into account the special needs of Fusion Dancers. Carolena is the originatrix of FatChanceBellyDance and ATS. She's like your grandma, and she loves you.

1:45 pm - 2:00 pm — Break

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm — Foundation of Tribal Fusion Bellydance with Jill Parker (Description: TBA)

Friday Night (optional): Kan Zaman Middle Eastern restaurant, in historical upper Haight district of San Francisco. See where many SF dancers got their start performing! (And the famous Jill Parker grapes painted on the walls!) An opportunity for some of you to get up and dance! And enjoy some SF Middle Eastern flavor. (www.kanzamansf.com) Or, for the lower-paced traveler, who desires an evening of quiet and rejuvenation, we suggest soaking in the hot tubs, steam room, and sauna of the luxurious Kabuki Springs spa---Friday nights are women only! www.kabukisprings.com.

 
 

Saturday, August 7, 2010


Location: Twinspace Dance Studio


1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Deb Rubin 1:00 pm - 3:15 pm — Even more Decadent Dancing: Deb’s Latest Discoveries.

(description coming soon)

Kami Liddle 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm. — “The New Stuff” Kami’s newest material and what she is most excited and inspired to share with us. Exclusively for Mecca.

(description coming soon)

Sat. Evening: SF MECCA REVUE!
Please join us for our third annual Performance night, featuring all sorts of goodies and gaggles from the best that SF has to offer. Held at one of our favorite SF Locals. La crème de la crème of tribal fusion with a side dish of hometown spice. Please visit <www.sfmeccaimmersion.com/performances.php> for more information.

 
 

Sunday, August 8, 2010


Location: Twinspace Dance Studio


For those of you who get up early and want some Sunday morning SF flava, hit the flea markets!, or lounge at Sunday brunch. There are so many fabulous options for your tasting pleasure. (See your Tribal Bellydancer’s Guide to SF).

"SF features so many amazing, delicious, quirky restaurants and cafes! Crepes on Cole, All You Knead, and the Pork Store are 'ol time staples for a down home Sun. morn brunch experience. Café Gratitude is of course a favorite, especially before a day of dancing. And the people watching is always great too!" – Deb Rubin

"My favorite breakfast place is Dottie's, but tell people that it must be avoided on Sundays at all costs, the wait is about 2 hours long!" - Rachel Brice


1:00 pm - 4:00 pm


Musicality/Drum Solo Workshop With Zoe Jakes & Faisel Zedan

As dancers, we are the visual representation of the music to which we choose to dance. Dancing to live music, however, is an entirely different ball of wax! It can be spontaneous, exhilarating, and sometimes even intimidating and scary. Finally, we have a belly dance workshop on musicality and dancing to live music… taught by some of the hottest names in the biz! In this workshop, we will engage in the dialogue between musicians and dancers, learning from both perspectives in order to deepen our comfort level, dance repertoire, and ease of musicality. We will learn basic rhythms and music patterns, as well as practice the art of conversation and collaboration between musicians and dancers, all in the context of the delightful (and sometimes intimidating) drum solo. *This workshop is a very special experience to experience Zoe’s unique take on the tribal drum solo; as well as get to learn from the musician’s point of view, immerse in the collaborative process of LIVE music and dance, and dance with one of the leading drummers in the SF music and dance scene, helping to shape the sounds of tribal fusion world-wide. Closing Circle.


4:30 pm - 7:30 pm: *new location!*

The Lovely Studio Space of Minerva's Antennae & Solame's Suitcase
2886 16th St. Suite B., 94103, in San Francisco's Mission District. (The cross Street is South Van Ness.)


The SF MECCA VENDING BAZAAR
Featuring some of the Bay Area's hottest designers who are the needle and thread behind your favorite looks for street and stage that are setting the trends world-wide! All gathered solely for your drooling, swooning, and purchasing pleasure. Custom orders may be possible.


7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: SF MECCA DECOMPRESSION -- at Amnesia Bar! -- a favorite local hot spot



Featuring YOU! Performance Showcase—an Urban Hafla experience. This happy-hour performance showcase is an opportunity for YOU, the SF MECCA 2010 community, to showcase your talents, and perform your pieces on stage at one of our legendary San Francisco venues. In this casual, supportive atmosphere, grab a drink, zagareet, and strut your stuff! Costumes are optional. if you would like to have a performance opportunity, please email deb@sfmeccaimmersion.com, subject heading: Performance Decompression. Please keep your pieces to a maximum of five min. Please bring your music ready on CD. Limited spaces available. First come first served for spots. Then...


9:00 pm - onward


Stick around for an evening of quintessential SF gypsy fun gathered specifically for your listening and dancing pleasure! Featuring a hot and swanky SF musical experience that will knock your socks off and inspire your fusion gypsy spirit. Details to be announced soon.

 
 

The Intermediate/Advanced Track Schedule:
Taking It to the Next Level:



Monday, August 9, 2010


Location: FatChanceBelly Dance Studio


10:30 am - 5:30 pm


9:30 am - 10:15 am — Yoga For Dancers (optional). See registration page for details.

10:30 AM – 2:30 PM — Intentions, Theatricality, and Advanced Combos with Dena Martinez & Zoe Jakes

For the past 2 years, Zoe & Dena have joined forces in offering this ‘next level’ workskhop module that has proven to be a highlight for many in the advanced track, looking to take their dancing to the next level. Initially created exclusively for SF MECCA 2008, Zoe & Dena continue to develop and refine this body of work for your learning pleasure. Be prepared to leave your ego at the door, and embark down the rabbit hole of theatrical self- and group exploration, filled with theater exercises, games, and ‘out of the box’ learning activities to deepen performance presence, work with emotions, and add character and depth to our belly dancing on stage. We are so excited to have Dena back again for her 3rd year! Followed by the unparalleled Zoe, known for her theatrical style and unique performance flair, to share a few of her more advanced concepts, combos, and performance secrets with us.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm — Lunch Break

3:30 pm - 5:30 pm — Stage Makeup with Medina Maitreya

Stage makeup is an invaluable tool for any performer. With it you can easily transform yourself into the perfect stage character and complete your head to toe look that complements your music and costume. With just the basics of Stage Makeup you can achieve professional looking photographs and appear flawlessly beautiful on stage.

In this two-hour "hands on" workshop you will learn the basics of Stage Makeup, including an overview of professional tools and brushes, lots of application techniques like contouring and long wearing tips and tricks, false lash application, and of course the elusive and sultry "smokey eye".

Note: This is a hands-on course and students are required to bring their own makeup kits and demonstrate the techniques on themselves and each other. Handouts will be available with all the information from class, as well as a list of supplies and sellers to help you start your very own stage makeup kit.

 
 

Tuesday, August 10, 2010


Location: FatChanceBelly Dance Studio


9:30 am - 10:15 am — Yoga For Dancers (optional). See registration page for details.

10:30 am – 12:30 pm — Modern Fusion & Movement Invention for Bellydance with Cera Byer

This workshop is all about destroying boundaries, incorporating gestural movement, and working contemporary staging, costuming, and choreographic techniques into your Belly dance vocabulary. Our warm up will focus on developing movements that start in Belly dance and then take a sharp left, exploring space and growing outward from the center. Then we'll move into modern fusion combos, and begin to develop our own movements that we can use in creating combos and choreographies. Come away challenged, inspired, and with lots to work on at home.

12:30 pm - 2:30 pm — Additional "Choreographer's Module" With Cera Byer

In this module we delve into aspects of Space, Force, and Time when working on developing choreography for a group. Stagecraft, the unexpected, meanings and impressions associated with blocking, theatrical dynamic composition, repetition, variation, and development - these are the tools that can take your work from being unison girls dancing in formation to telling a story or creating an atmosphere that leaves your audience breathless.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm — Lunch Break

3:30 pm - 5:30 pm — Costuming, Aesthetic & Creative Process Laboratory with Lee Kobus

How do we more fully tell a story, and create that atmosphere that leaves your audience breathless that Cera address in her above workshop? Add costuming, aesthetic, and guidance as to how to create the full package for stage. Please join legendary SF artist and designer (and former Ultra Gypsy dancer), Lee Kobus, for this hands-on laboratory, focusing on concepts for costume development and stage. You will have the opportunity to directly apply the information to your own works in progress, as well as expore hands-on exercises and work to inspire your own creative process. A future “request list” will be sent out to its participants in order to create a balance of “information - in” and “action - out” for this module.

 
 

Wednesday, August 11, 2010


Location: FatChanceBelly Dance Studio


9:30 am - 10:15 am — Yoga For Dancers (optional). See registration page for details.

10:30 am – 2:00 pm — Kami Liddle's "Finishing Touches" Workshop

This workshop is all about polishing your presentation for the experienced dancer. Entrances and exits, creating a story line, intention, motif, and emotional connection are essential for advanced dancers regardless if you are performing in a small intimate setting or on a large stage. Kami will share some of her experiences and ideas about how to create a performance set that is unique to your own voice.

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm — Lunch Break

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm — Dance Therapeutics: Saving Your Belly Dance Body

As dancers, our body is our vehicle of artistic expression. How can we best care for our bodies, prevent injuries, rehab current injuries and/or increase body awareness and control to more fully embody our art form to optimal potential? Drawing from Yoga Therapy, Traditional Thai-Yoga Massage, Feldenkrais, and Deb’s personal “stash” compiled from over 12 years in the field of mind-body medicine and both Eastern & Western healing arts, this therapeutic sequence will focus on releasing and aligning low back, hips, and spine after 6 full days of dancing, as well as addressing common belly dance injuries, and some basic belly dance experiential anatomy. A necessary foundation for any level dancer, of any style belly dance, and a great augmentation for dance teachers to integrate into their classes.

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm: Closing Circle and Goodbyes


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