Workshops

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Workshop registrations may be purchased online via Paypal or credit card. Paypal transactions will appear as funds sent to: Pageant Emporium If you click on "Don't Have a Paypal Account", it will take you to a secure payment page where you can enter your credit card information. Credit card transactions will appear on your statement as a charge from Tiara Connection. Registration fees are non-refundable. By registering for the workshops and/or paying any event fee, the participant is agreeing to our terms and policies.

*Participants acknowledge that portions of the workshops, marketplace and performances may be photographed and/or recorded and used for promotions for upcoming events.

*All fees are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled.

*Participants release event organizers, venue operators (The BlackBox Organization & The Studio, Casa Grande) and instructors of liability for any injury or damage that may be incurred during the event and/or travel to and from the event.

*Workshop material may only be recorded with the expressed consent of the instructor.

WORKSHOP LOCATIONS:

Featured and Dance Workshops:

The Studio CG

395 N Sacaton St, Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Lecture Collective Workshop:

BlackBox Theater

407 N Sacaton Street

Casa Grande, AZ, United States, Arizona 85122

Workshop Schedule

Morning Workshops
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Studio A: Axial Anthology Workshop with Devin Alfather
Studio B: Raqs Sharqi Collective Workshop (Bonnie, Hilary & Noreen)

10:45 AM – 12:15 PM

Studio A: Egyptian Shaabi Style Workshop with Adrianne
Studio B: Cued Improv & Fusion Collective Workshop (Clara, Katara & Na-il)

Midday Sessions
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Black Box Theater: Drum Basics with Richard Christ (Free with Extravaganza Pass)

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Studio A: “But, I’m Not a Turner” Workshop with Devin Alfather

1:15 PM – 2:45 PM

Black Box Theater: Lecture Collective Workshop (Sara, Faizeh & Samantha Lynn)

Featured Workshops
Join us for these special sessions led by our spotlight instructors! Dive deeper into their unique styles, signature techniques, and inspiring artistry in these must-attend classes.

Collective Workshops - These information packed workshops will be taught by some of Krisenna's and Cassandra's favorite instructors/performers. The Evening Gala line up will feature these incredible instructors.

We’re transforming our Express workshops into a collaborative teaching experience, where each session will be led by a collective of three instructors, each guiding a unique 30-minute segment of the class (Total time: 1.5 hours per class).

This format allows for diverse perspectives, deeper exploration, and a richer learning experience for all!

Workshop Details

Raqs Sharqi Collective Workshop - Bonnie Grate, Noreen & Hilary Morvoren

1st Segment:

"FUNdamental Footwork" - Bonnie Grate
Looking to feel more confident in transitions & traveling steps? In this workshop you'll learn fun new combos to help you build your own fundamental foundation to Raqs el Sharqi - from your feet up! Newer dancers will learn balance & weight transitions, while more experienced dancers will have the opportunity to layer movements they've already developed on top of new traveling/footwork patterns.

2nd Segment:

"Art of the Entrance: A Mejancé Exploration" - Noreen
In this 30-minute workshop, Noreen will guide participants through the art of making a captivating entrance using the Mejancé—a powerful and essential component of any Raqs Sharqi performance. Dancers will explore musicality, presence, and signature transitions to leave a lasting impression from the very first beat.

3rd Segment:

"Swathed in Silks" - Hilary Morvoren

This workshop will explore different kinds of veil wraps for your dance performances, drawing from American Cabaret traditions and Hilary Morvoren's signature style! Suitable for all styles of raqs sharqi/belly dance and fusion, and all levels of dance experience.

*Please note: to allow for maximum participation, students are highly encouraged to bring their own dance veils and to wear a hip belt that allows for veil tucks.

*Featured Workshop* - Devin Alfather

Axial Anthology

An exploration of the how's and why's of complex layering the torso and beyond. Suitable for intermediate students of Raqs Sharqi and Fusion Dance. Axial body, here we come! Unlock gateways to intricate patterns and the building blocks of a-typical layering, both timed and untimed. This workshop is designed to meet each dancer where they are in their technical journey and contains level-up, or down, options built into it’s foundation.

Cued Improv & Fusion Collective - Clara of Ghazaal Beledi, Katara & Na-il Ali Emmert

1st Segment:

"Renaissance Faire Style Dance" - Clara from Ghazaal Beledi
Have you ever seen Ghazaal Beledi perform at the Arizona Renaissance Festival and wondered, "Are they belly dancers?" While we often get asked, the answer isn't a simple "yes." Our unique style is a vibrant fusionborn from nearly two decades of collaboration between dancers and musicians, drawing inspiration from diverse experiences and global music.
In this workshop, you'll delve into the distinctive movement vocabulary that defines Ghazaal Beledi. We'll explore improvised group dance (often known as tribal belly dance) elements that many dancers will find familiar, and then teach you sections from some of our most beloved choreographies.

Ghazaal Beledi's mission is inclusion, so all dancers are welcome! Come and experience the joy of our one-of-a-kind fusion style.

2nd Segment:

"Tales from the Hip - Dark Fusion Combos " - Katara
In this 30 minute workshop, Katara will be demonstrating the power of character and how you can bring them to life through dance! In several short combos blending traditional raks sharki and tribal fusion movement styles, she will teach you to unleash your inner Witcher, to unwrap the mythos of the Mummy, and more! Suitable for all levels of dancers, these dark fusion combos will be a fun and immersive introduction to the world of theatrical belly dance!

3rd Segment:

"Roots in Rhythm, Power in the Pulse" - Na-il Ali Emmert

The goal of this workshop is to familiarize dancers and movers with every part of the standardized eight count as it is applied to asymmetrical dance stylization. We will be working a choreography filled with upper and lower body layering from belly dance as we know it, and will pair those sections with explosive hip hop and afrobeat inspired dance sequences, all of which will flow from on tempo to off, and back!

*Featured Workshop* Egyptian Shaabi Style - Adrianne

Loosen up your body and play with bounce, groove, and attitude in this sassy and feel-good workshop! We’ll learn a fun choreography to a popular Egyptian Shaabi song, explore how to bring out your personality while keeping clean technique and cultural context. Come ready to have fun and move those hips! All levels welcome!!

Lecture Collective Workshop - Sara Shrapnell, Faizeh & Samantha Lynn

1st Segment:

"Keep on Raq’in : Dancing all the Decades" - Sara Shrapnell

Belly Dance is one form of exercise and performance that welcomes people of all ages, but how do you maintain your fitness, flexibility and skills, while evolving your dance style, as you age ? In this workshop, Sara will talk about societally expectations, and how we blast through them to enjoy dancing in our next decade and beyond.

2nd Segment:

"Scroll-Stopping Shots: Getting the Most Out of Your Photo Shoot" - Faizeh

After working as a professional portrait photographer for 15 years, Faizeh quit to pursue a belly dance career. Now she combines both her passions to help other dancers slay on social media. Faizeh will take you through things to expect and reject from photographers, how to costume
yourself, and posing ideas so your future photos stop the scrolling!

3rd Segment:

"Mapping the Moment: Dancing the Arc of Taqsim" - Samantha Lynn

Dancing to the unpredictable voice of a solo instrument during a taqsim can be intimidating, but when dancers and musicians are deeply attuned with each other, their interaction creates unparalleled magical moments of artistic expression. Ultimately, the goal of taqsim is to reach Tarab: a state of emotional ecstasy, deep musical connection, and flow. Despite being improvised, a taqsim has a clear story arc containing a delicate balance between traditional motifs and personal innovation. This workshop by Samantha Lynn, an accomplished dancer and musician, will demystify taqsim by guiding you through four stages of progression. Samantha Lynn will demonstrate and accompany the class with live, improvised taqsim on the clarinet as dancers learn to connect, anticipate, and embody each stage of taqsim.

*Featured Workshop* - Devin Alfather

But, I'm not a Turner

Spotted vs. Unspotted Turns, explore the inner workings of a dancer in spins! Using my experience as a classically (Or rather, un-classically!) trained dancer and aerialist, we'll take a deep dive into the body and head mechanics of turns! Explore the 4 most common types of turns you'll see in Raqs Sharqi and Fusion Dance- get your next technical breakthrough in this movement workshop!

Instructor Bios:

Devin Alfather

Devin Alfather is a multidisciplinary dancer currently specializing in Theatrical Fusion Raqs Sharqi, Theatrical Circus arts, and other contemporary Fusion dances. This notorious noodler is a multi-award winning dancer and choreographer, and is a continuous student of first person sources. She has toured across the American Southwest with the troupe Disco Iskandar as well as the West Coast from California to Portland. This full-time performer and entertainer is also the Director of The Jewel Box Dancers, and spends any spare time she has knee-deep in rhinestones. She can't wait to share her brand of strange and unusual works with the world.

Adrianne

Adrianne is a dynamic and well-known dance artist based in Los Angeles, California, known for her fun, high-energy performances and magnetic stage presence. Adrianne has captivated audiences with her lavish costumes, expressive musicality, and joyful spirit. Her viral online dance tutorials and popular workshops have made her a favorite among dancers seeking to unlock their creativity and build lasting confidence on stage. Deeply committed to the art of raqs sharqi, Adrianne has traveled to Egypt to study the dance and culture firsthand, bringing authenticity and depth to her performances and teachings. She is especially passionate about Egyptian folkloric styles such as Saidi and continues to share her knowledge through workshops across the U.S. Adrianne is also known as the assistant producer of the acclaimed Fez Documentary and one half of the Baladi Babes, a duo that produced four celebrated online dance shows during the pandemic—Remembering Reda, Visions of Vintage, All the Rage, and Fabulous Folklore—highlighting MENATH talent from around the globe. In 2018, she was honored with the prestigious title of Belly Dancer of the Year.

Bonnie Grate

Bonnie fell in love with Raqs el Sharqi over 25 years ago.
She has had the privilege to study extensively under legendary artists including Ava Fleming, Fahtiem, Helena Vlahos, and Kathryn Ferguson, and has taken workshops and specialty focus classes from too many others
to name! She has been studying under Nada El Masriya, an Egyptian Master Instructor, since 2020. Bonnie has received her Reda Level 1
Certification and her JTE 1 & 2 Certifications (Sahra Saidis Journey Through Egypt Dance Ethnology Program). She continues to travel and study with instructors from all over the country and Egypt. She is owner and creative
director for Yalla Tucson Bellydance Academy, is an active member of the Xanadu Dance Collective, and performs throughout Arizona,
California, and the Southwest with both performance companies as well as a solo performer.

Noreen

Noreen is a classically trained Kathak dancer from Kazakhstan, holding an honors degree from Kathak Kendra in New Delhi under a national scholarship. She served as the lead choreographer at the Indian
Cultural Center at the Embassy of India, performing widely across Kazakhstan and India. Now based in the U.S., Noreen
specializes in Raqs Sharqi (Egyptian belly dance) and has trained
extensively with renowned Egyptian and international instructors. Her teaching style blends classical precision with expressive Middle Eastern dance artistry.

Hilary Morvoren

Hilary Morvoren is an award-winning Raqs Sharqi dancer, known for her Fusion performances and elegant, emotional style.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, she travels nationally as a performer and instructor, sharing her passion for Raqs Sharqi and cross-cultural fusion dances. Starting her career with Ava Fleming’s Black Opal
Collective, Hilary is now a founding member of Raks à la cARTe Dance Company, and is a company member of Ghazaal Beledi World Music and Dance, performing regularly at the Arizona Renaissance
Festival. Hilary Morvoren is honored to be joining the 2025 Amethyst Dance Festival, and looks forward to spending time with the wonderful Arizona dance community!

Clara of Ghazaal Beledi

Clara from Ghazaal Beledi holds a BFA in Dance from Arizona State University and is a recent graduate of Southern Oregon University with a Masters degree in Theatre production and design. She is a choreographer, designer, and performer as well as a performing arts educator. She began teaching dance in 2002 and has never stopped, even when she started teaching theatre in 2014. Her background in belly dance began with classes at the Domba Studio many years ago and she has studied with a number of teachers around the valley. She began performing with Ghazaal Beledi in 2012 and began leading the choreography and dance rehearsals in 2022. In addition, Clara is also adjunct faculty at Paradise Valley Community College where she teaches theatre, dance, and design.

Katara

Photo Credit: Cielo Productions

Katara is an award-winning performer who has been bringing the dark side of belly dance to the valley of the sun for over 20 years. Always looking to spin a story, she specializes in telling a tale through sleek movements, distinctive costuming, passionate music, and unique props from double sword to fire. She has performed across the
state of Arizona, as well as Los Angeles and Las Vegas, adding her diabolical dance skills to film premieres, the Wild Wild West Steampunk Convention, the Phoenix Comicon, and more. A core member of Osiris Dance Ensemble and the Pain Proof Punks sideshow group, Katara is always looking for new dark performance paths to tread.

Find her on Facebook as Katara Fox (www.facebook.com/katara.fox) and on Instagram as Katara13Fox (https://www.instagram.com/katara13fox/).

Na-il Ali Emmert

I am a professionally trained dancer and dance movement experimentalist.
I am a movement fusion enthusiast. My roots in dance began with Hip Hop, specifically flow and groove, and burst forth from there. I have danced for twenty six years, dancing professionally for eight years,
and I have been teaching MENAHT and fusing traditional and modern
styles for just over a decade. I teach at two studios weekly in Tucson.

Sara Shrapnell

Originally from the UK but now based in Arizona, Sara Shrapnell
is a belly dance mentor, teacher, writer, and performer. Through her belly dance books, groups, classes and personal mentoring, she supports belly dancers on their journey from student, to dancer, professional or teacher.

Faizeh

Faizeh has been belly dancing since the last century. She teaches and performs multiple styles, but especially AmCab. Today she also enjoys combining her career as a portrait photographer with her career as a dancer to help other dancers level up their media presence.

Samantha Lynn

Samantha Lynn is a life-long dancer and Arabic music enthusiast. She is a
founding member of Hawa Ensemble, an Arabic and Middle Eastern music group, and a member of ASU’s Middle Eastern Orchestra, Layali Al-Sham. Samantha enjoys playing clarinet and Arabic percussion including derbakki, daf, riq, and sagat. As a dancer, Samantha is known for her graceful movements, long extensions, and soulful expression.