Shimmies&Shenanigans
Sirens FEST
3 days of Festivities
July 25-26-27
WEST COAST BELLYDANCE SPECTACULAR ​
Workshops
SUSU PAMPANIN
Saturday 12:00PM - 1:30PM
Sirens Studio
234 Hutchins Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Drums!
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This drumming workshop is designed to elevate your skills and unleash your musical potential! Dive deep into the art of drumming with a focus on song breakdowns, drum riffs, and crafting captivating solos.
We'll explore the drum not just as a percussion instrument, but as a dynamic musical force. Learn to play the drum with nuance and finesse!
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ELIZABETH STRONG
Friday 12:00PM - 1:30PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Turkish Roman
Turkish Roman(i) Dance is an expressive, freestyle folk dance. It is danced by Romani men, women and children and involves foot work, hand gestures and belly work. This dance is mainly found in the Northwestern region of Turkey, especially Trakya (Thrace), and the music is often 9 beats per measure. Turkish Roman style has also been a part of the American Cabaret Belly Dance repertoire for many decades, and has been adapted for stage performance in the United States and beyond.
This ALL LEVELS workshop will focus on movement and culture. We will practice basic movements and layer in hip, arms and hands. We will also view a little video for cultural context. Come and enjoy this fun and exquisite form, using practice and repetition to deepen feeling and technique. You can make this dance as simple or as complex as you like!
Please bring a notebook and pen, wear comfortable clothing and a quiet hip sash (no coins please). You might find that wearing shoes or socks will protect your back and hips. Bring a water bottle!
Visit this link to get a head start on your Turkish Snap:
Zoe Jakes
Sunday 10:00AM - 12PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Main Hall
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Beginning Layering
The fundamentals of multitasking:
This class will demysitify layering in fusion bellydance, and we will focus on the internal awareness nd muscular isolations necessary to succeed. The exercises and drills are appropriate for all levels, with the emphasis on the first steps a dancer can take to build this challenging skill. If you have been wanting to take the plunge into the crazy and fun world of layering then this is the class for you!
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RAMAN OSMAN
Saturday 12:00PM - 1:30PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Youth Annex Building, Side Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Govend - Kurdish Line Dance
The "Govend" workshop offers participants an immersive experience into the vibrant world of Kurdish line dancing. Throughout the workshop, attendees will be introduced to several traditional Kurdish line dances, each representing a distinct region within the Kurdish homeland. These dances, often performed during festivities such as Newroz, weddings, and other community events, serve as a joyful celebration of Kurdish social and cultural life.
Led by Raman, the workshop will guide participants through the rhythmic movements, footwork, and gestures that characterize Kurdish line dancing. Participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join, as the dances are inclusive and enjoyed by both men and women.
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ANDALEE
Friday 2:00PM - 3:30PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Silky Smooth Sharqi
Join Andalee to learn techniques, transitions, and combinations that will smooth out your steps and deepen your repertoire for those legato melodies encountered in classic and modern Raqs Sharqi music. If the music moves like silk, you should too!
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SHANNON BURLA
Friday 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Sword Magick: Cutting Cords
Learn a sword dance format steeped in ritual and dripping with magick. In this 90 minute workshop, students will dig into Shannon’s signature Sword Magick™ technique and apply it to a short choreography that echos all the steps of spell-crafting - a ritual in sword dance form - designed to clear away lingering emotional attachments that hinder personal growth, and foster a renewed sense of emotional well-being and empowerment. Students will also have the opportunity to dip their toes in creating their own ritual cord cutting movement, adding their own personal energy to the ceremony.
This workshop is open to all bodies and all levels. Bring a sword, a notebook, and a water bottle. Need to borrow a sword? Shannon has a couple of extras! Email Shannon at swordmagickshannon@gmail.com to reserve.
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JILL PARKER
Friday 6:00PM - 7:30PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Jill Parker Workshop
This dramatic and sensual choreography was co-created by Maite Gasco and Jill Parker. It’s is set to a gorgeous track called Rabat by Balkan Bump. The piece vascilates between sensuous quiet moments of stationary gooey-ness and unexpected dramatic sweeping turns through space. It’s a stunning piece and feels oh so good in the body. We will have time to learn the chorus & turn portions of the choreography, and maybe even a little more. Jill will use these sections as a template for a deep breakdown on technique, stylization and, embodied emotion. Also, you’ll see Mind’s Eye and Jill perform this piece at Siren’s Fest!
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JODI WASECA
Friday 2:00PM - 3:00PM
Sirens Studio
234 Hutchins Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Magic and the Art of Production
Lecture
Have you ever wondered what *really* goes into making your favorite shows and festivals the best - time - ever? Do you have a great idea for an event but are unsure where to start? Are you curious about the behind the scenes of it all?
Then come, sit with me for a while and I'll tell you all about it!
When an event runs smoothly, it's as if it runs itself...from the outside perspective, at least. In this lecture, we'll go over how to work towards that goal, from idea to fruition. Event production is an art form, and sometimes, a magical conjuring, and with both things, you need the right tools, awareness, flexibility and practice to ensure that good times are had by all. Bring a notebook, as we'll go through actionable steps to inspire you to get your production off the ground! Even if you're not interested in producing or co-producing your own event, this is a good way to have a deeper appreciation of all your beloved events (and there's probably going to be some storytelling as well)!
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Amina Goodyear
Friday 3:30pm - 4:30AM
Sirens Studio
234 Hutchins Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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The Golden Age of Bellydance
Lecture
A comparison between San Francisco and Cairo. The dancers, the music, the clubs, the clientele and more…
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JODI WASECA
We have added TWO special workshops
Sirens Studio
234 Hutchins Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Stage Time Tune Up
Thursday 1:30 - 2:30
​You're stage ready... Or maybe you want to be, but there's something holding you back...
Feeling the anxiety of stepping on stage for the first (or hundredth) time is something that is totally normal... But how do you harness that so it doesn't become overwhelming?
Or, is being on stage where you feel most at home, but you'd like to feel more magical while weaving your tale?
We'll discuss through movement and a little bit of lecture the body mechanics of a supple spine and how just little changes in the body can open up a larger world of expression and ease. The enchantment of knowing your space and channeling your emotions into a stage ready performance and how to draw your audience into the realm of your unique storytelling situation will flow soon after! This workshop is great for all levels of movers!
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​Belly Burly Fusion Fun!
Thursday 3:00 - 4:00
​Come sass it up in this super fun bellydance/burlesque fusion workshop!
Designed for all levels of movers and shakers, Jodi will guide you through movements that are similar in both dance forms, and some history as to the possible why. While we learn a short piece of choreography, we’ll also go over what may or may not be appropriate in certain settings, so that fun can be had by all while revering the history and cultures of the dance.
We’ll discuss similarities in costuming as well! You will leave this workshop with a lil bit of history, a lil choreo that you can use, and a whole lot of SASS!