”El-Oasis” Middle Eastern Dance
Professional Training for Dancers & Teachers with Nigma

For more details go to: ProfessionalTrainingS1Bali2010.htm
or contact Nigma at nigma@el-oasis.org.

PART 1A: MED Foundations 1 (8h)

Morning (4h):
MODULE 0 (1h) - Professional Ethics
Ethical aspects concerning a Bellydancer's code of conducts as a performer, teacher & event organizer in relation to the public and other colleagues

MODULE 1 (2h) — Biomechanics of MED Movement 1
Anatomy for Dancers, Body Alignment, Postural Correction, Do’s & Don’ts in strenuous exercise, Warm-Up + Stretch + Physical Exercise + Cool Down routines necessary to progressive body opening & physical health
MODULE 2 (1h) — Methodology & Didactics 1
Strategies for self-study, rehearsals and teaching (all suitable for dancers, teachers and students), viewing full movement as layering elements belonging to different body & move categories, structuring a class/self-practice, student cueing, methods for technique & choreography teaching

Afternoon (4h):
MODULE 3 (2h) — Biomechanics of MED Movement 2
Duality/Polarity in MED, Foot Positions, Isolations & The 5 Basic Mechanisms®, Planes & Axes of Movement in 3 Dimensions, Orientation in Space & Travelling Directions, Travelling in 3 Dimensions with 5 Basic Mechanisms®
MODULE 4 (2h) — MED Arm Technique 1
Arm Positions & Movement based on connecting Positions, 1-, 2- & 3-Energy Points-based Moves, Hand Embellishments, Braceo, Floreo & Gestures most representative for MED

PART 1B: MED Foundations 2 (8h)

Morning (4h):
MODULE 5 (2,5h) —Gaia Figures (Feminine: Rotations, Figure 8s & Undulation) in MED Duality/Polarity 1
Creation, Breakdown, Analysis based on The 5 Basic Mechanisms® & Drills in Upper & Lower Body Feminine Essence flow Figures & Moves characteristic for MED
MODULE 6 (1,5h)— MED Music Principles & Rhythms 1
Preparation for the study of the ME rhythms through learning the principles of music: Beat/Pulse, Measure, Note Value, Time/Meter Signature, Tempo, Sound & Silence Values, Phrasing, etc.; Introduction to ME rhythms: accent types & signature categorization, rhythm analysis, their correlation, structure & characteristics; Drills through manual execution, reproduction & analysis of ME Raqs Sharqi Routines and Drum Solos

Afternoon (4h):
MODULE 7 (2,5h)— Solar Figures (Masculine: Accents: Pops & Locks) in MED Duality/Polarity 1
Creation, Breakdown, Analysis based on The 5 Basic Mechanisms® & Drills in Upper & Lower Body Masculine Essence percussive Figures & Moves characteristic for MED
MODULE 8 (1,5h)—Special Resources in Bellydance 1: Register
Special Resource called Register, present in a large variety of Solar Moves, allows varying between the gentle and sharp execution of the same Solar Figure due to the optional use of certain muscles.

PART 2A: MED Foundations 3 (8h)

Morning (4h):
MODULE 9 (1h) — Methodology & Didactics 2
More strategies for self-study, rehearsals and teaching (all suitable for dancers, teachers and students), structuring self-study, rehearsals and teaching routines into drills on individual body parts and building up the full body movement based on assembling principles
MODULE 10 (2h)—1001 MED Footwork Patterns & Travelling Steps 1
Foot Positions, Footwork Patterns and Travelling Steps representative for MED from old to modern times. Learning anatomic approach to economizing energy and space while using Footwork according to energetic priorities in MED
MODULE 11 (1h)— Special Resources in Bellydance 2: Layering 1 (Layering by Assembling)
The fundamental and essential Resource to Middle Eastern Dance, its basic principle of isolation and the whole body movement building. It enlarges our repertoire of body vocabulary and increases its complexity by combining two or more elements from different movement categories (execute moves in two or more body parts simultaneously).

Afternoon (4h):
MODULE 12 (1h)— Shimmies 1
Execution, Breakdown, Analysis based on The 5 Basic Mechanisms® & Drills in Upper & Lower Body Shimmies
MODULE 13 (1,5h)— Spins & Turns in MED 1
Categorization, analysis of its elements (body form, rate of turn, timing, balance, driving force and spotting), drills & combinations
MODULE 14 (1,5h)— MED Arm Technique 2
Advanced Arm Movements & Hand Embellishments (Braceo, Floreo & Gestures), making choices according to the energetic correspondence to the main body core moves, creative combinations

PART 2B: MED Foundations 4 (8h)

Morning (4h):
MODULE 15 (3h)— Gaia Figures (Feminine: Rotations, Figure 8s & Undulation) in MED Duality/Polarity 2
More advanced drills in Upper & Lower Body Feminine Essence flow Figures & Moves characteristic for MED, combinations, assembling with a variety of Orientation in Space, Travelling & Arm Technique
MODULE 16 (1h)—Special Resources in Bellydance 3: Knee Work, Levels & Adaptation
The ‘Knee Work, Levels & Adaptation’ workshop focuses on some of many Special Resources in Bellydance which enrich our body vocabulary by introducing variations in some moves by using the knee bending, creating levels or adaptations in movement according to the circumstances

Afternoon (4h):
MODULE 17 (1,5h)— Solar Figures (Masculine: Accents /Pops & Locks) in MED Duality/Polarity 2
More advanced drills in Upper & Lower Body Masculine Essence percussive Figures & Moves characteristic for MED, combinations and assembling with a variety of Orientation in Space, Travelling & Arm Technique
MODULE 18 (1h)—Special Resources in Bellydance 4: Grading, Waxing, Waning & Transformation
The workshop focuses on four correlated Special Resources which can enrich our body vocabulary by introducing variations in some moves by grading their execution either in height, rotation, size or transforming theminto another movement according to the circumstances
MODULE 19 (1,5h)— MED History 1 (Egyptian style 1)
1st part of MED History overview, lives of dancers and video projections for style & costume analysis.

PART 3A: MED Foundations 5 (8h)

Morning (4h):
MODULE 20 (1, 5h)—Special Resources in Bellydance 5: Layering 2 (Onion Layering)
A fundamental and essential Resource to Middle Eastern Dance and its basic principle of isolation. It enlarges our repertoire of body vocabulary and increases its complexity by introducing variations in some moves by layering another mechanism, figure or move in the same category of movement.
MODULE 21 (1h)— Shimmies 2
Drills & Combinations in Upper & Lower Body Shimmies
MODULE 22 (1,5h)—Spins & Turns in MED 2
Drills, combinations of turns and assembling with other movement categories, such as the Main Body Core technique (Upper & Lower Body), Limbs: Footwork (Positions, Patterns & Travelling Steps) and Armwork (Positions & Moves)

Afternoon (4h):
MODULE 23 (2,5h)— 1001 MED Footwork Patterns & Travelling Steps 2
Step variations created by assembling the Footwork vocabulary with the other movement categories, such as a variety of Orientation in Space and Travelling Direction choices, Spins & Turns, Head Moves, Arm Technique, Upper & Lower Body Technique
MODULE 24 (1,5h)—ME Rhythms 2: the 2/4 Rhythms
Discerning the 2/4 time signature rhythms, such as: Malfouf, Ayyoub, Bayou, Haggala, Fellahi, Vox, Karatchi & Khaleegi (Adani), Nuba & their Interpretation in MED

PART 3B: MED Foundations 6 (8h)

Morning (4h):
MODULE 25 (3h)—ME Rhythms 3: Wahda & the 4/4 Maqsoum-Group Rhythms
Discerning the 4/4 time signature rhythms such as Wahda & the Maqsoum group rhythms: Maqsoum, Masmoudi Soghayar/Saghir (Baladi), Saidi & Tabl/Nawari & their Interpretation in MED
MODULE 26 (1h)— MED History 2 (Egyptian style 2)
2nd part of MED History overview, lives of dancers and video projections for style & costume analysis

Afternoon (4h):
MODULE 27 (2h)—ME Rhythms 4: Other 4/4 Rhythms
Discerning other 4/4 time signature rhythms, such as: Sombati, Rhumba Masri/Bolero, Rasba/Conga Masri, Jerk, Zaffa, Hajja, Mosalar Iraqi & their Interpretation in MED
MODULE 28 (2h)— MED History 3 (Lebanese & Turkish styles)
3rd part of MED History overview, lives of dancers and video projections for style & costume analysis

PART 4A: MED Foundations 7 (8h)

Morning (4h):
MODULE 29 (1,5h)— Ultimate Advanced Drills in Technique 1 (2/4 Rhythms)
Putting all the studied technique, knowledge and experience together to conduct the final advanced practice on combined features dancing to 2/4 RHYTHMS (DRILLS, COMBINATIONS, TRANSITIONS, DANCE SEQUENCES) as well as develop the necessary skills and foundation for the study of dance through improvisation and choreography.
MODULE 30 (1,5h)—ME Rhythms 5: 8/4 Rhythms
Learning and discerning the 8/4 time signature rhythms, such as: Wahda Kebira, Chiftetelli, Masmoudi Kebir, Mosalas, Ghelbab, Bambi & their Interpretation in MED
MODULE 31 (1h)— MED History 4 (European & Latin dancers)
4th part of MED History overview, lives of dancers and video projections for style & costume analysis

Afternoon (4h):
MODULE 32 (2h)— Ultimate Advanced Drills in Technique 2 (4/4 Rhythms)
Putting all the studied technique, knowledge and experience together to conduct the final advanced practice on combined features dancing to 4/4 RHYTHMS (DRILLS, COMBINATIONS, TRANSITIONS, DANCE SEQUENCES) as well as develop the necessary skills and foundation for the study of dance through improvisation and choreography.
MODULE 33 (2h)—ME Rhythms 6: Other Times Signature Rhythms
Discerning the 3/4, 6/4, 3/8, 6/8, 5/8, 7/4, 7/8, 9/8, 10/8 & 12/8 time signature rhythms, such as: Samai Ta’er, Vals, Vals Kebir, Aaraj, Ogrog, Gandara, Nawakht, Dawr Hindi, Ibrahimi, Karshilama, Samai Thaqil, Moroccan, Dareg, Tunesian Dareg & Dareg Kebir, & their Interpretation in MED

PART 4B: MED Foundations 8 (8h)

Morning (4h):
MODULE 34 (4h)—Oriental Choreography (Part 1)
Choreographing an Oriental as a sample dance to see how specific music inspires specific movements and how the acquired fundamentals (the main core technique for Upper & Lower Body, Arm Technique, the Footwork Patterns & Travelling Steps, Spins & Turns, the knowledge of the Middle Eastern music principals and rhythms, etc.) can work together and have improved due to previous practical & theoretical study. Gradually introduced by breaking down each combination into the individual moves and the connecting transition, each sequence or musical phrase into ingredient combinations, drills and chaining, the full dance is finally constructed, reviewed in its structure and interpreted according to the music’s phrasing, energy and emotional charge.

Afternoon (4h):
MODULE 35 (3h)—Oriental Choreography (Part 2)
Completion of the choreography
MODULE 36 (1h)— MED History 5 (American dancers & modern fusions)
5th part of MED History overview, lives of dancers and video projections for style & costume analysis,