1:30 - 3:30 at Flamenco Denver Studio 1934 South Broadway

This class is an intensive introduction to the traditional group dances from the Arab world. These dances are primarily unisex, and emphasize synchronicity and group cohesion. This workshop includes Dabka Line Dance, Basic Tahteeb/Assaya Cane Dance, and the group-healing ritual motions found in Zikr and Zar practices. Each dance is taught efficiently as an introduction to the style, and is an initiation into possible future study. These dances are less glamourous than the performance-oriented heroism of the solo dances found in the Arab world. These are the dances done by "The People" in social, celebratory, and spiritual group settings. They can be taught to dancers at any level, as both a cultural and artistic experience. The group movements and concepts can later be extrapolated into performance-calibre skills and themes.

10:30-12:30 at Flamenco Denver Studio 1934 South Broadway 

Despite any mastery of technique and bodily dexterity, true dance expression requires musicality. The best dancers are those who emulate the music into their own movement. Karim will demystify Arab music for the dancer. Several recurring themes in Arab music will be identified (using recorded examples) and explained in emotive, non musical terms. The class will cover Taksim, Melodic Themes, Vocal vs Instrumental Songs, Rhythms & Rhythmic Changes, Melodic Modulation, Song Structure, Orchestration and Instrumentation. Karim will guide the students through several songs and lead them in dancing to each of these themes. This is a movement class that will help the dancer become the physical personification of the music.

1:30-3:30 at Flamenco Denver Studio 1934 South Broadway 

You are a dancer and a musician at the same time. Your hands can play any rhythm that a drummer can play. You can accent the orchestra, follow the dynamics of the song, or simply choose the right moment to not play. Sagat (Egyptian word) and Zills (Turkish word), when played correctly, can add to a dancer's dynamism and effect. Karim will teach multiple sounds (Dum, Tak, Tik, Tok, Kish) to give the cymbals the desperately needed variety. He will teach ambidextrous technique, so the dancer can play, and Move, in both left and right directions. He will also teach several famous rhythms, so that the dancer can communicate to a drummer or to her own students. In addition, Karim shows how to play with a melodic song, when to play a rhythm vs. accents, and when to stop or not play. Finally, he shows movement combinations, both stationary and traveling, while playing the cymbals. Each dancer will be transformed into a moving musician.

Doors 7pm at Su Teatro 721 Santa Fe 

Hardly any dance form was born on stage, so why do we leave them there? This will not be a show with a strong division between audience and performers, with dancers on stage performing to a stationary, observant audience. This will be a true celebration that is more dance party than a "show" in the typical sense. Experience dance as a living celebration with featured international artist Karim Nagi as well as a variety of diverse acts from the Denver Area.