Yasmina is available for workshops world-wide, offering a wide variety of oriental dance styles:
Basic to advanced
Modern Egyptian technique
Choreography for all levels, including interpretation of songs
Interpretation and understanding of oriental music
Baladi, shaabi and modern Egyptian pop
Assaya (stick), Saeedi or baladi style
Khaleegi (Gulf dance)
Shamadan
Sagat (finger cymbals)
Performance presentation and audience skills
Yasmina is now taking bookings for 2009.
Workshop and Performance Schedule 2008
For workshop contents and details check relevant contacts
APRIL
16th – 21st Sinsheim, Germany
Contact Zory Halter: z.halter@tiscali.de
JUNE
28th Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival, Cairo
www.raqiahassan.net
JULY
4th, 5th, 6th Mons, Charleroi, Brussells, Belgium
Contact Rakiya el Maaza: rakiya@scarlet.be
11th, 12th, 13th Devon, UK
Contact Souxsie Cooper: s.cooper@dartington.ac.uk
26th, 27th Edinburgh and Peebles, Scotland
Contact Caroline Evans: bellydancingcaroline@yahoo.co.uk
AUGUST
16th, 17th Leeds, UK
Contact Beverley Smith: hazarah@ntlworld.com
23rd,24th Varkaus, Finland
Contact Henna Malinen: studio.henna@pp.inet.fi
31st Croydon, London
Contact Charlotte Desorgher: charlotte@granddesign.co.uk
OCTOBER
Barcelona, Spain
Contact Devorah Korek: info@sarabi.es
NOVEMBER
6th, 7th, 8th Sydney Australia (Farha Tour)
Contact Amera Eid: amera@ameraspalace.com.au
Workshops and Classes in Cairo, Egypt
By arrangement. Contact Yasmina directly at yasmina36@hotmail.com
Yasmina is a British dancer who has made her career dancing professionally in the middle east and for the last ten years has been based in Cairo where she lives with her Egyptian husband and their young son. She has her own orchestra with whom she has performed regularly at the city’s top venues and for hundreds of weddings and private parties.
Yet another thing that sets Yasmina apart is her openness to share her experiences and her knowledge. With some teachers you have the feeling they are holding information back so that they keep their edge over you. Not so Yasmina; she will gladly pass on tips and tricks that are as fascinating as they are useful.
The core of Yasmina’s teaching is Modern Cairo style. She is a student and close colleague of Raqia Hassan, the leading choreographer in Cairo and arguably the creator of the Modern Cairo style of dancing. This could be said to be characterised by crisp, precise moves with a straight legged stance. And if you attend a Modern Cairo technique class with Yasmina you know you will be learning the very latest moves from an acknowledged expert.
Yet Yasmina also teaches fascinating workshops based on the art of some of Egypt’s great legends. In 2005 she taught an utterly absorbing workshop dedicated to interpreting the songs of the immortal singer Om Khalsoum. Another, on the styles of great dancers of the past such as Samia Gamal, was a real eye opener. Previous such workshops I’ve attended have been very superficial, whereas Yasmina went deep into Samia’s technique and demonstrated to us just how demanding her style is when it is done properly. I ached for days after.
But possibly the unique insight Yasmina can give us is what it is like to be a dancer today in Cairo. She is full of fascinating stories of life in the capital city of oriental dance. She gladly discusses the latest costume styles, modern restrictions on dancers, current gossip and the earning power (or not) of a professional dancer.
Yasmina is a fascinating mix of contradictions – a quintessentially English woman who has been one of the best loved bellydancers in Egypt. A calm, disciplined dancer who lives in the chaos and noise of Cairo. But every summer, when the heat of Cairo gets too much, English dancers can drink from the fountain created by that wonderful mixture. We are very lucky indeed.
Charlotte Desorgher, London UK
More comments:
‘It was one of the best workshops I’ve ever been to! Having learnt so much in such a short space of time, the only downfall is that now, practicing at home, I’ve forgotten most of the moves!’
Sophia Karim, London
‘A big thankyou for such a great session. Hard work but really enjoyable.”
‘In all the years I have been learning this dance, that one lesson from you showed me what it is all about”
Maria Persenitis, Sydney
‘Just a note to tell you how much I enjoyed your workshops in Melbourne. I learned a lot and I think you are a wonderful dancer and teacher.”
Suzy El-Alo, Melbourne
'At the risk of sounding over the top, the Saiidi workshop I did with you was a major turning point for me in my understanding of this dance and music, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.'
Soirse Flanagan, Melbourne Australia
