5th international residential dance workshop with exceptional teachers and musicians.

Marie al Fajr, Khaled Gaber, Ibrahim el Minyawi, Jane Manze, Ainhoa Izagirre, Caroline Chevat, Claudia Heinle.



We invite dancers of all levels to participate in this exciting week of dance & music from Egypt.
Dance technique, interpretation, live music in classes, lectures, body work, yoga and percussion classes are all part of the diverse programme.
This exceptional week offers a rare opportunity to work intensely with leading choreographers, dancers, teachers and musicians in their field.



Marie al Fajr & Claudia Heinle, experienced teachers and accomplished dancers, will give intense dance sessions each day. Khaled Gaber accordeon player from El Minya (Egypt), known from the CD "Dinga Dinga" and the inimitable tablah virtuoso Ibrahim el Minyawi will accompany the classes with live music. Experiencing the fascinating "Egyptian Blues", urban music which developed in the mid 20th century in Egypt´s cities will be an exceptional occasion and a rare opportunity to learn more about this particular dance and music form. Ibrahim el Minyawi & Caroline Chevat offer tablah classes every day. Ainhoa Izagirre and Jane Manze will be teaching additional dance and yoga classes. A fine selection of film material, lectures, performances and a new photo exhibition will deepen our understanding of Egypt's rich dance and music heritage.



Participants can choose their own, individual training programme from this packed time-table with up to 9 hours of classes each day. There will be time to go for a refreshing swim in the clear waters of the river every day, right next to the studios. In the evenings we will socialise and discover Zürich, the cultural centre of Switzerland and one of the most charming cities in Europe.





This course is open to professionals & amateurs on all levels, including beginners. Everybody is welcome!

Price
6 full days: Euro 530,- (Students Euro 470,-)
Price includes: lunch, all classes, all lectures and handouts.
Price does not include: accommodation, breakfast, dinner.

Accommodation
Marthahaus is a small hotel in the romantic old centre of Zürich. A lovely 20 minute walk along the river side from Tanzhaus Wasserwerk.
We offer the possibility to our participants to sleep for a little financial contribution in Tanzhaus studios.

Location and how to get there
Nestling beside the Lake of Zürich with stunning views of the Swiss Alps, this exciting city is a 10-minute train ride (every 15 minutes) away from its international airport. Flights from most countries and major cities land at Zürich's airport. Zürich's railway station has direct services to all major European destinations.

Info
tanz raum
Caroline Chevat
Freihofstr. 3
8280 Kreuzlingen
Switzerland
phone 0041-71-672 92 51
e-mail: info@tanz-raum.com


Description of classes and lectures

Restructuring physiological stretches
Each day starts with a thorough preparation of the body. We will be using a technique developed by Robert Bral (Paris). Robert has been a professional dancer and dance teacher for many years, and has been awarded certificates in Osteopatics, F.M. Alexander Technique, Body Mind Centering, and Stretching Global Active. Robert teaches anatomy and functional analysis of movement in Paris and France. He also teaches at universities, training dancers applying for the State Diploma in dance pedagogy. Robert has developed a specific technique for dancers which takes into account the holistic organization of the body, and enables lengthening of whole muscular chains. His technique was inspired, among others, by the techniques of Mézières and Souchard.

Dance classes
Dance classes contain body work and dance training based on the Hilal Technique, interpreted in a creative way by the individual teachers. Learning and moving in an integrated way in the physical space will always be the focus. Movement, spacing and expression integrated with the music will be reflected in interpretation and choreography. Marie and Claudia will teach within all forms of Egyptian dance, showing the different qualities of sufi, shaabi, baladi, sharqi and modern. The dance classes will also impart valuable information about the music, the musicians, the tradition and developments in Egypt. As our special guest musician this year is Khaled Gaber, baladi music and dance will be of particular interest in the dance sessions.

Percussion classes
Musical education has an important role and percussion classes contribute to the musical understanding of a dancer. Learning to play the Egyptian tablah and producing different sounds and rhythms, is inspiring and fun. Caroline will introduce the basics the first few days in preparation for Ibrahim's classes.

Extra tuition
Extra tuition offers the opportunity to practice and refine movements, improve integration and find answers to individual problems in the dance. These classes will be highly rewarding for both beginners and advanced students.

Yoga classes
Ainhoa's and Jane´s classes offer an interesting perspective that helps dancers to improve their presence through alignment, groundedness and strength. These classes give us the opportunity to finish each intense day in harmony, with a unified body and mind.

Specials
The dance and music classes will be supported by a fine selection of film and photos, performances, interviews and lectures. We will be watching the dance performance Abyad which had its premiere in February this year in Switzerland. Baladi will be our special focus in the conference and the presence of Khaled Gaber and Ibrahim el Minyawi, both traditional Baladi musicians will enhance this year's theme enormously.

Teachers & musicians 2008

Marie al Fajr (dance, lecture)
Marie has been dancing since her early youth and has learnt various dance techniques and forms of physical training. After studying Egyptian dance with S. Hilal from 1989 to 2004 and subsequently working closely with her, Marie al Fajr is a highly qualified dancer and teacher (diploma from the Hilal School in London, licenced teacher of the Hilal Art Foundation, dancer with the Hilal Dance Company.) Today, she has her own company and contributes to creating a modern form of Egyptian dance that is still rooted in traditional aesthetics. Since the age of 15, she has travelled extensively in Middle Eastern countries and has developed a double cultural sensibility. She gained her in-depth understanding of Arabian art and culture through her academic studies (diploma in Arabic language and aesthetics of Arabic art). For several years now, she has established a second home in Cairo where she gets inspiration, always searching for authentic forms of the tradition still found in the country: tahtib, sufi-zhikr and other popular expressions, including music. All this feeds her research and the process of establishing a contemporary expression in her creations and pedagogy. Her talent, knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm take her on extensive travels throughout Europe for international workshops. Marie´s current stage production is called "Schemm en Nassim - une odeur de brise". This sublime dance performance has been performed in Germany, France and Italy and is also available on DVD.

Claudia Heinle (dance, lecture)
As she was studying politics and management at the universities of Constance, Copenhagen and Jerusalem, Claudia developed a special interest in Middle Eastern culture and discovered her passion for Egyptian dance. In 1992 she met the choreographer S. Hilal with whom she trained 12 years to become a fully qualified dancer and teacher. During those years, as the manager of S. Hilal, she produced two major stage programmes, touring all over Europe with the company and the musicians. She has collaborated actively in establishing a unique aesthetic rooted in Egypt's rich dance and music culture. Under the label of Hilal Art she has produced numerous CDs and dance videos. Simultaneously, she set up the dance school tanz raum that today has developed into an international platform for the dance and music of Egypt. She continously nourishes herself in order to further develop her dance, teaching and creative projects with visits to Egypts, and through the collaboration with Marie al Fajr in numerous projects and as part of her dance company. She trains qi gong, yoga and other forms of bodywork, and is undergoing training with the Chinese doctor Wu Runjin. Currently she is workin on her certification as a Gyrokinesis Teacher. Claudia is known for her spontaneous and professional manner, loves working with students, and teaches at an international level. Claudia´s dance productions, which include Aluaan, Voices from Egypt and Abyad, are characterized by her personal style and passionate commitment. They have been performed in Germany, Switzerland and in France. The full version of ABYAD with live music by Ibrahim El Minyawi and Ali El Minyawi celebrated it´s Premiere this February in Switzerland.

Ainhoa Izagirre (yoga, dance)
Born in the north of Spain, in the Basque country, Ainhoa studied the folk dance traditions of her country from early childhood. Later she studied jazz, contemporary dance, new dance, release, contact and improvisation with various teachers and at times in the School of New Dance Development in Amsterdam. Ainhoa met S. Hilal 1999 and started to train regularly, several times a year with her and Marie Al-Fajr. In 2002 she was choosen to be part of the professional trainees and has attended several courses in Europe. Today Ainhoa trains regularly with Marie and is one of the main dancers in her Company. Beyond this, Ainhoa has been practicing yoga for 16 years, and has completed her teacher certificate in the Sadhana School, member of the European Union of Yoga Schools and is since this year certified Gyrokinesis Teacher. She has her own school in Irun, Spain where she teaches Egyptian dance, yoga and Gyrokinesis and is extending her classes in Spain and Europe. Last year and this year she premiered two programmes "EL KHAYALI" and "VISITA HACIA MAAT", experimental work on different dance and movement techniques. Apart from her talent as dancer and her passionate and lively expression, Ainhoa is known for her skills and her wealth of knowledge in different forms of bodywork.

Caroline Chevat (music, tablah, lecture)
Caroline has loved dance and music since her early youth. Since completing her studies in landscape engineering and geography at the universities of Lyon, Annecy, Mannheim and Constance, she has dedicated herself to music, dance and photography. Since 1996, she has trained with Claudia Heinle at the tanz raum and has gained further experience through international workshops with Marie al Fajr and S. Hilal. Caroline dances with the Company of Claudia and teaches in the tanz raum. Beyond that Caroline is an accomplished student of the tablah under Ibrahim el Minyawi since 1995, learning this art form in the traditional way from master to student. The beauty and sophistication of Egyptian music inspired her to produce her first CD with Ibrahim, and today she travels regularly to Egypt to bring together skilled musicians, recording and producing the traditional repertoire as well as innovative, high-quality music. Through tanz raum she is producing, editing and distributing CDs worldwide and makes an invaluable contribution to the preservation of a rich musical heritage in danger of dying out. Currently Caroline is working on a DVD and CD Project together with Ibrahim el Minyawi and Ali El Minyawi which we hope to be able to release soon. We are very much looking forward to her future music projects, because without music there is no dance!

Jane Manze (yoga, dance)
A classical dance background as a child, martial arts training, and an exploration of the music of Spain and North Africa led Jane Manze to the music and dance of Egypt. She first started studying Egyptian Dance with Suraya Hilal in 1990. She qualified as a teacher with the Raqs Sharqi Society and was later invited to train as a licensed teacher with the Hilal Art Foundation. Time spent in Egypt and Morocco with an ethnomusicologist meanwhile, deepened her love and knowledge of Middle Eastern, especially Egyptian, traditional music. Jane teaches Egyptian Dance and Scaravelli-Inspired Hatha Yoga - weekly classes, workshops and international retreats. Bodywork and her yoga practice, which 'awakens the spine', inspire her fascination for the movement and energy of the body. She performed in 'Schemm en Nassim' at the Institut du Monde Arabe with Compagnie Al Fajr and continues to study with Marie Al Fajr.

Ibrahim el Minyawi (music, tablah)
Ibrahim el Minyawi is one of the best tablah players in Egypt, and embodies tremendous talent and outstanding percussion technique. He is born in Minya in Upper Egypt and lives today in London and Cairo. He has played solo and with other musicians and dancers, in particular Suraya Hilal, in the best venues to enthusiastic audiences worldwide for over 40 years. His concerts and workshops help keep alive an ancient music genre, the identity of which is in danger of being lost. His knowledge of tradition and his sensibility as a musician has contributed greatly to the development of the dance technique we are teaching today (traditional and modern), and continues to a better understanding of the essence of movement in Egyptian tradition. Ibrahim works closely with the tanz raum in teaching, music research, recordings and creating new stage productions. As one of the rare musicians of the original school of baladi still alive, Ibrahim is one of the key people who makes possible the numerous Tanz Raum music productions. Despite the commercial climate that musicians in Egypt are working in today, Ibrahim has succeeded in bringing to life authentic Baladi music as well as Shaabi music.