Upcoming Workshops
Join us in commemorating Bellyqueen's 25th Anniversary with an extraordinary day of workshops featuring co-founders Amar Garcia (Massachusetts), Kaeshi Chai (CA + NYC), and special guest ShoShannah Estell (Georgia). They are all making a special journey to New York City exclusively for this landmark weekend of shows on Sat Dec 9th 6pm and 8pm and workshops on Sun Dec 10th. Immerse yourself in a celebration of dance and learning with these renowned artists.
Workshop details
Sunday December 10th
10.30am-12pm: Dance Flow w/ Amar Garcia
Elevate your skills with Amar's dynamic Dance Flow workshop, designed to refine your transitions, master intricate pathways, and polish your technique. Join her to acquire valuable insights and proficiency using short combinations, to enhance your overall dance repertoire.
12.15-1.45pm: Dynamic Improvisation w/ Kaeshi Chai
Embark on a transformative journey to discover and express your individual dance voice. Utilize the lens of 6 dynamic qualities: sustained, percussive, pendular, stillness, release, and vibratory to expand your expressive range through the art of improvisation.
2.00-3.30pm: Slinky Sho-Fusion w/ ShoShannah Estell
Get slinky with ShoShannah Estell's signature Sho-Fusion style combining graceful elements of contemporary floor patterns with the isolations of Middle Eastern dance.
WHERE: Bellyqueen School @ Playwrights, 440 Lafayette St, 4th Floor, Studio 4A, New York, NY 10003
COST:
Single Workshop: $39
3 Workshop Package Deal: $95
The instructors
Amar Garcia aka Amar Gamal was born in Havana, Cuba and began her Raks Sharqi and other MENAHT (Middle Eastern North African Hellenic Turkic) dance studies at the age of 13 in Miami, Florida. Her main teachers and mentors include Tamalyn Dallal, Jihan Jamal, Maria Jamal, Elsa Bello, Antolino Alvarez, Yousry Sharif, Elena Garcia and Fathi Bilalgia. She has had the privilege to be an invited guest instructor and performer all over Europe, Asia, South and North America. She is co-founder of Bellyqueen Dance Theater and was a principal dancer with Bellydance Superstars. Mrs. Garcia has been a company member and principal dancer for various Afro-Cuban, Contemporary, and Middle Eastern Dance Companies. Amar holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in African and African Diaspora Studies.
Kaeshi Chai is a bi-coastal (CA+NYC) educator, dancer, choreographer, designer, producer and director whose life mission is to serve our precious planet and empower others through the vehicle of art. She co-founded PURE Globe, an international community focused on healing and social change, the Bellyqueen company and school, as well as Djam NYC shows featuring live music and dance. She has taught / performed in 48 states and 39 countries and is an alumni member of the Bellydance Superstars, Bellydance Evolution, Bella Gaia (Beautiful Earth) and Spector Dance. As a producer, Kaeshi has organized over 600 events (shows, tours, conferences). Kaeshi holds multiple certifications in movement (dance, fitness, pilates, yoga), created the Bellyqueen Teacher Training program and graduated with honors in a degree in Design from the University of Technology, Sydney. She meditates daily and practices NVC (Non Violent Communication).
ShoShannah Estell is a multinational award winning contemporary fusion dance Artist. She is owner of ShoFusion Dance Arts Studio, co-creator of BellyRok, founder of shobelly productions, and artistic director/choreographer of ShoFusion Dance Collective. A true visionary she is well versed in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre, belly dance, modern, and tribal fusion. With over 18 years of experience performing in music, dance and theatre ShoShannah combines her vast knowledge of dance with her unyielding love of the stage. Venturing down many avenues of creativity, ShoShannah is also a fitness coach, visual abstract artist, writer, actress, costume designer, and vocal performer. A perpetual student herself, she is very passionate about the arts and shares her love of the arts with students and audiences alike. ShoShannah has presented workshops nationally and internationally and worked with multiple dance companies including Bellyqueen directed by Kaeshi Chai and Belly Dance Evolution directed by Jillina. She specifically worked on the theatrical production Journey along the silk road with BellyQueen where she had the honor of choreographing grasslands and performing in the production in New York, Tokyo and Thailand. She has also worked with BellyDance Evolution on the East coast tour of Alice in Wonderland in 2014 and recently returned from the 2016 BDE China tour and the debut of Scheherazade in Morocco. Last year she created and produced The song of the cage bird in Augusta GA. This was an original fairytale theatrical belly dance production that involved a cast of 40 dancers and actors. ShoShannah is currently on the west coast tour of Alice in Wonderland with BDE. She is honored to be a part of each amazing opportunity to share her love of dance through performing and teaching.