Suhaila Unveiled Article, November 1, 2006

November 1, 2006

How to Choreograph

1. Greetings
2. Editorial by Suhaila
3. Workshops
4. Workshop Testimonials
5. Booking
6. Article: How to Choreograph
7. Do You Still Remember
8. NEW! Just Arrived...!
9. Sale
10. Taking the Level I Test
11. Classes
12. Special Events
13. Contact
14. Unsubscribe

NEW! Just Arrived...!

Now On DVD!!

Jamila Salimpour Archive Series, originally released in 1980...now available on DVD!! Learn the Salimpour Technique from a Salimpour.....

Buy Now

Suhaila's Instructional and Performance videos now available in DVD. Eight new releases in the DVD Collection of previously enjoyed titles......

Instructional Buy Now

Performance Buy Now

NEW!!! REMIX CD......

The anticipated title now available! Rich sound with infused beats and Arabic music overlay. Great for classes, dancing or just pure listening pleasure.

Available Now!

Buy Now

NEW!!! Tranquil CD......

Soft, sensual and moody. Get one of the three new cd titles recently added to the Suhaila Salimpour Music Collection...

Available Now!

Buy Now

NEW!!! REPERCUSSION CD......

Hot new release from Suhaila Productions. Designed with a variety of drum solos from 1 1/2 to 10 minutes in length. High powered and dynamic.

Available Now!

Buy Now

Logo Wear!!!

New Suhaila logo wear...including the sought after "Got Technique" tanks, in white & black.

Buy Now

Suhaila Design Pants...
New Colors!!!

The "Harem Girl" style Suhaila Design Pants available in black, plum or navy blue. Side slit, flare legged jazz pant with ankle drawstrings to give the option of a belled or pantaloon look.

Available now!
Buy Now

The favorite Suhaila Design Pant now available in colors ......!! Get the versatile drawstring pant in black, plum and olive.

Available Now!

Buy Now

Suhaila's Hippeze!!!

The first of Suhaila Designs Hippeze. Enjoy new styles of the versatile, layerable hip wear.....

Available now!

Buy Now

Margaret Cho's Hip Wear!!!

One of a kind hip belts made by the hands of Margaret Cho. Don't miss out! Each design the one and only....!
Supplies Limited!
Buy Now

Sale!

Sets & Specials!!!

Select sets now available on DVD...

Performance Set

Enjoy three great performance videos for a price that can't be beat. Now available on DVD!!!

As low as $67.37 for the whole set.

Buy Now

Jamila Salimpour Set

Pioneer Jamila Salimpour's complete format taught by Suhaila Salimpour. Complete with videos, books, and cymbals.

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Fate

Drum & Finger CD

"An explosive and dynamic rhythmic collaboration with esteemed female drummer, Susu Pampanin."

Regular Price: $16.95

Sale Price: $10.95

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Baby Hoodie...

Limited Offer

Stock up for winter with the Suhaila Baby Hoodie. Available now at a discounted price.

Buy Now!!

All Suhaila VHS on sale for....$19.95!

Suhaila Salimpour Instructional and Performance videos sale continues.......All titles only $19.95!

Instructional Buy Now

Performance Buy Now

Give the gift of choice! Gift Certificates available from $25-$100.

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Taking the Level I Test

-by Isabella Antoinette Salimpour Khoury

I had fun in the level I workshop. I trained hard. I trained so hard that I passed the Level I Certification test! The first time I tried, when I was 7, I didn’t pass. I think that belly dance is a good experience to do. I am soon going to pass the Level II test, it will probably be when I’m 9 since my mom thinks I’m not ready now. I think the people who help me should get a prize, like an award because they helped me so much to pass the test Mom, Nona, Tiffany, Kendra and Dad…even though he pushes me hard. Now that I am level I certified I can help my mom better in classes and workshops.

Suhaila Solo NOW AVAILABLE on DVD!!!

Enjoy an evening of a live solo performance by Suhaila......
Available now!
Buy Now

Sheherezade

DVD..... now available

Experience the show that is revolutionizing the art of belly dance. Suhaila Salimpour's Sheherezade......
Availablenow!
Buy Now

Bellydance Fitness Fusion is here!

Suhaila's newest fitness series, Bellydance Fitness Fusion. In this four DVD set Suhaila fuses Bellydance with Yoga, Pilates, Jazz, and also presents her signature Buns workout! Available individually, or buy the whole set and save!

Order Yours here!

Classes

The Suhaila Salimpour
School of Dance
10082 San Pablo Ave.
El Cerrito, CA
(510) 527-2400

Suhaila Salimpour Format Belly Dance, Jamila Salimpour Format Belly Dance, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Adults, teens and kids!

Classes offered Monday through Saturday

For complete class listing, visit our website for our new schedule
or call (510) 527-2400

The Salimpour Technique
taught by Rashid

Located at Studio Gracia
19 Heron (off of 8th St.)

San Francisco, CA
Between Folsom and Harrison St.
(415) 307-4782

Level 1/2 combination classes are offered on Wednesday from 6:00pm-7:30pm
$12.00 Drop-In (class cards available)

For complete information, contact Rashid at:

raksrashid@aol.com

(415) 621-0669 (415) 596-0990

Events

Shareen El Safy

Workshop

Classical Egyptian technique, combinations and original choreography

Sunday, December 3, 2006

9:30am Registration

10-3:00pm Workshop

12-1:00pm Hour Break

Location:

Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance.

Contact:

Suhaila Productions, LLC (510 526-4344,

suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com

Price:

SSSD Member $72.00

Non-Member $80.00

Find Out More

Layering Taqseem Combinations

Winter Moon Festival

February 4, 2007

Oakland, CA

Workshop/Performance

by Tiffany Bisconer

Authorized Instructor from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance

Time: TBA

Contact: 510-724-0214

Fax: 510-724-4367

Email: rakkasah@att.net www.rakkasah.com

Belly Dance Nights
at Montero's Café
A night of performance with dancers from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance

First Sunday of every month
6:00 pm
1106 Solano Ave., Albany, CA
(510) 524-1270

Not a member?
If you received this newsletter from a friend, and you would like to sign up to receive it every month, visit www.suhaila.com

by Tiffany Bisconer

It was pushing 4:30am and I was sitting in my room with choreography notes and emotional perspective writings sprawled on my bed and on the floor. The workshop began in just a few hours and I was up all night consumed with this process. I was determined to accomplish the task at hand, which was to choreograph ¼ of the dance I was working on and I promised myself that I would not sleep until it was done. This was my third round at going through Suhaila’s “How to Choreograph” lessons and I wanted to get past the barriers I found myself against the first two times. I had so many ideas that every time I choreographed it took me too long to complete the full dance because I wanted to make sure I committed to the movements that represented the music the best, and I never felt like I was done, I always felt like I could do better. Then I realized I was going to always feel like that and I was never going to complete anything if I kept on with that mentality, so for this assignment my focus was just doing it. So after changing my song three times, then changing it back, I found myself having to fight my mind from interfering and just let my body and intent choreograph the dance. The next day with only a half an hour of sleep, I felt exhilarated. Because I got past barriers and accomplished what I set out to do and that held me exempt from feeling the lack of sleep.

Along with her physical format, Suhaila has a complete methodology behind the process of choreographing dances. Honestly, the process is so in depth, I don’t think I will ever be able to hear music the same. After going through a few “How to Choreograph” sessions with Suhaila the way I hear and see the intricacies in music has developed significantly. The first stage in Suhaila’s method of choreographing, is to understand the music, the next step is developing personal perspective and motivation, the last stage is the actual physical movement. On our first day of class we were to bring in the piece of music, name of the piece (translated into English if necessary), date it was first recorded and the composer. The first homework assignment was to memorize the piece to where we could hum it from beginning to end. Then we took that a step further and needed to find out the relevance of this piece of music in a historical setting, the instruments that were used and the composer’s intention behind the piece, which led to what the message of the song was. In this process of laying down the structure we also did exercises to utilize both the right and left-brain absorption of the piece of music, since choreography is both creative and structured. We would count out the entire piece, noting musical breaks, cadence, phrases and technical make up of the song, which was the skeleton of the composition. Then we would “draw” the song, which turned into a series of lines and swirls and marks that emulated the sound of the music visually which was the skin. Next we began to take the music apart even more intricately and developed a personal perspective. We separated out each instrument and explained what the role of that instrument was within the full picture of the composition, wrote out what the intention of the composer must have been in adding the voice of this instrument, then developed our personal story that we were going to express through the choreography explaining what this particular part of the song meant to us. What this was doing was setting up our motivation behind the movements by being clear and focused on the emotional perspective we were going to portray not only for the piece as a whole, but towards each rhythmic and melodic aspect of the song. In understanding these bases before beginning to explore movement gave the freedom of creating because the foundation of knowledge and understanding of the composition was solid. For me, it was at this point that the music resounded and bubbled waiting for the inspiration for physical movement to transpire.

In the process of choreographing, Suhaila encouraged reading “Talks with Great Composers” by Arthur Abell to understand the personal process of creation by composers such as Puccini, Strauss and Brahms. This book was extremely inspiring to me because I was able to see that there was a certain universal process a composer/choreographer/visionary went through in order to funnel a creation through body and spirit to make it happen. In the book the composers quite often described themselves as a vessel that some form of spiritual pool used to put a piece of art into the world. It seems like they would surrender to a process greater than themselves and the creation would, through a reasonable amount of tribulations, come to be. Added into the compositions were intention, personal experience, and musical talent. Another aspect of this book that was important was getting into the mind of a composer, since as a dancer we create dances to compositions. Dance isn’t separate from the music it represents so in understanding the intent and inspiration of a composer takes you to the root of what a choreography should stem from since dance is a physical composition of music through movements. In adding personal emotional perspective in synch with the composer’s intent was what brought us to physicalization.

After the preliminary work was done for setting the foundation in order to begin choreographing, then Suhaila introduced exercises that would help further structure the base of movement. In assigning a certain amount of the dance to be choreographed each night she would also include parameters to include in the choreography…such as….choreographing 1 count of 8 where each count was a different movement, or choreograph 2 counts of 8 where the last count of the first 8 counts and the first count of the second 8 count blend together with a continuous movement overlap the seam of the two musical phrases or pick at least one count of 8 to follow each instrument. Also as a rule of thumb she encouraged taking chances, not playing it safe with the creative process and letting ideas come out freely, saying, “When someone sees you onstage they should be sharing a moment with you.” Which to me says to create a choreography that means something personally in order to express that through movement. That would lead to an honest moment with a clear point of view….. building a glass house out of choreography. Every time I attempt to choreograph I gain more use out of the exercises, exploration and tools handed to me. I enjoy the process of building something and seeing it come to life. And every time it’s just a little bit closer to the vast vision I see behind my eyes. Also, I learn how to handle myself a little bit better along the way….. so I don’t get in the way of my creations.

Upcoming Workshops

Workshops

January 22-26, El Cerrito, CA

Multi Leveled Weeklong Workshop

*optional Level I and II Certification

Testing Jan. 26

Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC

(510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com

February 26- March 2, El Cerrito, CA

Level III Weeklong Workshop

Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC

(510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com

www.suhaila.com

2006 Workshops:

November 4-6, Hannover, Germany
Content: Friday: 6pm-9pm Folkloric Fusion/Tribal Style
Saturday: 10am-1pm Technique & Combinations
Saturday: 2pm-5pm Suhaila Layering Technique
Sunday: 11am-4pm Drum Solo Choreography
Contact: Sina Bremer sina.b@t-online.de

November 9-12, Toronto, Canada
4-Day Workshop
Content: TBA
Time: TBA

Performance: TBA
Location: TBA
Sponsor: Audra Simmons (800) 431-0418 audra@cleopatrasbazaar.com
More Info

November 18-19, Vancouver, Canada

2-Day Workshop
Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format
Time: Saturday 9:30am - 2:30pm
* Including 1hr Catered lunch
Sunday 9:30am - 2:30pm
* Including 1hr Catered lunch
Performance: Saturday November 18th

Performance/Workshop Location: The Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St., Vancouver
Sponsor: Martina 604-241-4371 martina@bellyfringe.ca
More Info

2007 Workshops:

January 21, El Cerrito, CA

Master Class

Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique

Time: 11am-2:00pm

Location: Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance
Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com
Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707

January 22-26 , El Cerrito, CA
Weeklong Workshop
Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique
*Optional Level I and II Certification Testing Jan. 26

Time: 9:30am - 3:30pm
Location: Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance
Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com
Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707

January 28, Aptos, CA

Master Class

*Taught by Kendra Katz (Authorized Instructor from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance)

Content: Belly Dance Hip Hop Fusion

Time: 12:30-2:30pm

Location: Synergy Studios, 8035 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003

Price: $40 Non-Members/$36 Members of the SSSD

Sponsor: Crystal Silmi

Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 7770, Santa Cruz, CA 95061

www.crystalsilmi.com

February 17-18, Austin, TX
2-Day Workshop
Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format
Time: TBA
Location: Diva Dance Studio, 11940 Manchaca Rd., Austin, TX 78748
Sponsor: Stacey Wuest (512) 924-7257 stacey@staceylizette.net
Register Online

February 4, Oakland, CA

Winter Moon Festival

Workshop/Performance/Festival

*Taught by Tiffany Bisconer (Authorized Instructor from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance)

Content: Layering Taqseem Combinations

Time: TBA

Contact: 510-724-0214

Fax: 510-724-4367

Email: rakkasah@att.net www.rakkasah.com

February 3-4, Charlotte, NC

2-Day Workshop

Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format

Time: TBA

Location: Levine Senior Center, 1050 DeVore Lane, Matthews, NC 28105

Sponsor: Yasmine 704-525-3606

www.magic-hips.com yasmine@magic-hips.com

February 17-18, Austin, TX

2-Day Workshop

Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format

Time: TBA

Location: Diva Dance Studio, 111940 Manchaca Rd., Austin, TX 78748

Sponsor: Stacey Wuest (512)-924-7257 stacey@staceylizette.net

February 25, El Cerrito, CA

Master Class

Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique

Time: 11am-2:00pm

Location: Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance
Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com
Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707

February 26- March 2, El Cerrito, CA

Level III, Weeklong Workshop

Content: Level III of the Suhaila Salimpour Format

Time: 9:30am-5:30pm (1 hour break)

Location: Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance

Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com
Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707

March 11, El Cerrito, CA

Master Class

Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique

Time: 11am-2:00pm

Location: Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance
Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com
Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707

March 16-18, 2007, Richmond, CA
Rakkasah West
Workshop/Performance/Festival
Suhaila Workshops: March 10th & 15th

Contact: Phone: 510-724-0214
Fax: 510-724-4367
Email: rakkasah@att.net www.rakkasah.com

March 31st- April 1, St. Louis, MO

2-Day Workshop
Content: TBA
Performance: TBA
Contact: Lois Marshall salwaabd@aol.com (314) 961-3790,
(314) 956-9725

May 2-6, 2007, Somerset, NJ
Spring Caravan
Workshop/Performance/Festival
Contact: Phone: 510-724-0214
Fax: 510-724-4367
Email: rakkasah@att.net www.rakkasah.com

June 14-17, 2007, Paris, France
Workshop/Performance/Festival
Contact: Amana amana@club.fr

June 22-24, 2007, Milan, Italy **TENTATIVE**
Workshop/Performance
Contact: Olivia olivia@rosedeldeserto.it

June 27-July 3, 2007, Cairo, Egypt
Ahlan Wa Sahlan in Egypt
Workshop/Performance/Festival
Contact: Raqia Hassan 2027482338, 20123292386, raqiahassan@hotmail.com

July 21-22, Somerville, NJ
2-Day Workshop
Times: Saturday, 2:00pm - 8:00pm (with a 1 hour break)
Sunday, 11:00am - 5:00pm (with a 1 hour break
Location: Indigo Ballroom, 17 Division St, Somerville, NJ
Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com
Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707
Register Online

August 6-10, El Cerrito, CA
Multi Leveled, Weeklong Workshop
Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique
*Optional Level I and II Certification Testing Aug. 10
Time: 9:30am - 3:30pm
Location: Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance
Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com
Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707

August 20-24, El Cerrito, CA

Level III, Weeklong Workshop

Content: Level III of the Suhaila Salimpour Format

**Must be Level II Certified to Register

Time: 9:30am-5:30pm (1 hour break)

Location: Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance

Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344,

suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com

Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707

September 7-9, El Cerrito, CA

Level I, 3-Day Workshop

Content: Level I of the Suhaila Salimpour Format

Location: Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance

Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510 526-4344,

suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com

Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707

October 22-26, El Cerrito, CA

Level II, Weeklong Workshop

Content: Level II of the Suhaila Salimpour Format

Time: 9:30am-5:30pm (1 hour break)

Location: Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance

Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344,

suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com

Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707

Workshop Testimonials

Congratulations on becoming certified!!!

Level 2

Vilia Varghese

Attending this Workshop has been an inspiring life changing experience. Suhaila is a warm-hearted woman whose passion is the dance, and has become my inspiration. Through this experience, she has helped me internalize every moment, and has taken me to a new level of the dance. She and her staff are down to earth, and you can tell they all love their work. I can’t wait to take another workshop to further my dance knowledge and have a great time and meet new friends, who all share the same love.

-Roselee Kislowski

Bristow, VA