Salome

We received a submission for our guest stories section. Janikea interviews Hadia on a plethora of subjects, interesting read. It's at Hadia Speaks... on the Dance

Mosaic

Thanks Salome, How I agree about the short 2hr workshops, I have been to several and have always walked out feeling like a failure, as I think WOW! that was fast opaced and I don't get it! Too much is crammed into a workshop of short duration, and with no ongoing back up, you end up actually only having had "maybe" a couple of hours of fun. I don't know how many times i have wished that there was at least one more workshop the next day to consolidate the few things learnt in the first.

I have attended a 4 hr zill workshop and I found that a great help, it really helped me to begin to "get-it-together" and I had a decent amount of new knowledge that I was able to build on and improve with the zills.

~Mosaic

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia

I enjoyed readinjg the article becasue it resonated so many truths for me. At this stage of my dance experience, I would agree on every point that was made. Also too, the interview was well thought out with great questions..it allowed Hadia to speak about what's important about the dance....all the elements and not just the movements.
With so many workshops by so many "Master Teachers" it's hard to determine which workshop is the better value. But as it turns out many of the top names(I mean really top names...not the current winners of BD contests) live and teach so far away, the only way to learn from them is a 2 hr workshop when they are sponsored locally.
Yasmine

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Aisha Azar

Dear Salome,
Some years ago Hadia was on driving on her way to teach somewhere and she called to see if she could stay the night at my house. It was SO nice to spend the evening with her. She was as adamant as I was that the authentic dances of the Middle East were in danger of disappearing in a flood of fusion that was misnamed and called "belly dance", when in reality much of what was being done had no business being called that at all. It was nice because up to that point, I had been given all kinds of nasty static for my "narrow minded" views on fusion. She sort of restored my faith in other belly dancers at that time and I have been very thankful, knowing she is out there still insisting that we be clear in our definitions! I like her immensely. I love her intensity and her straight forward approach with no apologies for her views!

One place where she and I might disagree is the length of workshops. I once researched the subject pretty thoroughly to see what length of workshop is good for the students, as opposed to the instructor, and it is generally agreed among the experts, that no matter what we are learning, the optimal learning time is about 3 hours for most people. After that, most people begin to fall away, can not remember much more than three hours worth of material, and tend to absorb the most that will stay with them within a three hour limit.They may even lose information if they go on much more than that. I wish I still had the resource materials, but they do not seem to be around here anywhere. I keep my workshops to a three hour minimum because of that research. I may not make as much money, but the students come away with more than they would if they paid more for a longer class. After all, a workshop IS supposed to be for the benefit of the students and the dance!
Regards,
A'isha

janaki

Great article!!! She is very strong in mind and her dancing. I spent a bit of time with her when she came to Hong Kong twice. Although many people percieve her to be opinionated, I know her well enough to say where she is coming from. She is the best belly dance police ever. If we don't have people like Hadia, Aisha and few others like them, I feel that this art form will dissolve or evolve into something else.

Love you Hadia and love you Aisha. The world needs honest, strong and knowledgable people like you!!!

jenc

3 hours is better than 2 anyway

Caroline_afifi

The workshop issue is a difficult one.
It is true about concentration and energy levels being obly a few hours max.
I studied education systems at Uni and basically we all learn in a variety of ways. The least valuable formula is the 'school method', sitting for x amount of time listening to one person talk.

Some people lose interest in a workshop after so long but short 'buffet style' workshops are what they are. A bite size fill does not nessesarily aid or assist development.
In order to develop we really need to assess honestly identify our own learning needs, rather than the 'tick boxes', meaning.. I studied with Randa, Raqia and did Khaleegy and and...
when people say this, it doesnt really mean that much to me.

A good relationship with a good teacher is the most valuable source of learning we can have. We all need good mentors who we can trust. It is just so hard to find it.
Festivals are fun and fantastic, they may even change the way you think or feel but consistency in learning is so important.

Suheir

I've been fairly horrified when talking to people at Fantasia over the years, some students really do think they've been-there-done-that after *one* 1.5hr workshop in a particular subject. As for the teachers who then go on to teach that subject themselves after one such workshop...aaagh!

Maria_Aya

Lovely interview, very interesting and informative !!!
Thank you Salome for giving us the opportunity to come in contact with these info.

Maria Aya

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... www.orientalexpression.gr

Aisha Azar

Dear Janaki,
Thank you so much!! I appreciate it more than I can say!

As for the issue of the short workshop, I don't think a workshop is supposed to be your learning foundation. The idea is to introduce new concepts into what one already is learning or knows, or add onto previously attained knowledge. It is to introduce new ways of looking at dance or specific dance ideas. The workshop is to pique your interest in a new area of dance or build on old information and techniques. Those who go to a workshop and think they walk away knowing it all are sadly misinformed about the nature of workshops. A workshop setting is all about getting a taste. Enough tastes and you might eventually get a cup full!! After that, keep going and you get a bowl full and a pot full, etc. It is a continuous growing process for as long as we dance.
Regards,
A'isha