After taking the ABDC workshops Friday afternoon or coming from a long week of work, start your weekend with a bang by watching our amazing workshop teachers and guest performers do what they do best; entertain and inspire you!

The Gala Show is opened to the public (with purchase of a ticket), where they will have accessed to our vendors and countless beautiful international products.

• Tickets at the door are $25. Discounted tickets can be purchased up to the day before the show. 

• Gala is at the Ballroom at the Holiday Inn Midtown.

• Doors and shopping open at 6:00 pm.

• Showtime at 7:00 pm

The ABDC will be taking Gala performer applications until Mar 1, 2019.

This workshop has something for everyone!!! Vanessa will outline the different "faces" and styles of Egyptian Raqs Sharqi as well as delve into Baladi, Shaabi and Folkloric compositions explaining why certain steps are appropriate for certain pieces of music; including vocabulary of movement, the differences and similarities between genres as well as costuming choices. Participats are encouraged to come with questions regarding these topics, and Vanessa will be happy to share her knowledge and experience with you every step of the way! Come and see which "Face" is your favorite!

Skill Level: All Levels

More About: Vanessa Raqs

We will cover not only how to execute our ATS® duet passes with style and grace, but how to truly put on a show that will showcase the connection with you and your dance partner. Interacting with your fellow dancers is an art and a skill that can be improved and polished. Filling a performance with a Dynamic Exchange of energy and playfulness! With every Spin, Turn, Cross, Fade, and Flip, you and your audience are indeed in for a powerful display that can only come from a Dynamic Duet!

Skill Level: geared towards, but not limited to, ATS Level 2 and above.

Performance Opportunity - This class will have a chance to perform the choreography learned during the ABDC Showcase.

More About: Cyndi Cyreigna Elliott

Tired of the same old movement pathways? Sometimes you need to revisit the basics to make something new! Come experiment with me in dancing phrases made entirely from one shape! An entire combo made only from circles? A whole phrase made only from squares? Learn how one movement can provide an entire section of choreography just by expressing that shape with different parts of the body and in different directions!

Skill Level: Intermediate - Advanced

More About: Michelle Sorensen

How do you feel about performing? Do you need some kinder, gentler ways to prepare, execute and reflect? Do you want a different perception? Do you need to compartmentalise the critic and make it work for you? Do you wonder how everyday life and performance practice can support each other, and develop performance practice as a healing art? If you are like me and say ‘yes’ then come on in! Even if you say ‘no’ but are curious… All are welcomed! We will use a mixture of fun and tranquil tools and experiences to be present, open and fluid, increase the trust in your body’s leadership skills, inhabit a secure presence while things happen in and around you and connect with those around you. Please bring a mat, towel, and silk veil/fans.

Skill Level: All Levels

More About: Amara

Deep technique exploration to prep your body for baladi, from the ground up, and from the top and middle down! Go beyond an isolationist, “body-part-based” approach to upper and lower torso movements, and towards clearer directionality and containment within your skeletal and muscular support system. We’ll also connect the physical with a “class-based” view of Egyptian dance technique, exploring cultural meanings of different ways of moving, especially prior to the recent globalization of Egyptian dance. Technique differences between prominent Egyptian dance legends of the 20th century will be covered as well, in the baladi context. With delicious baladi warm-up and practice flows.

Skill level: All levels.

ATS® is not traditionally a solo dance style. It was originally meant to be performed with a group, but can adapted to be very powerful for a Soloist. ATS® was created to show the connection between not only a group of dancers, but also the connection between dancers and music. ATS® for the soloist is designed to enhance the use of our vocabulary. Dancing with your music, leading and following still applies, but your dance partners are the Audience, the drums, flutes, and string instruments of the music being played. For an ATS® solo to be successful, you must learn to dance within your box, while your box is in motion. We will also cover how to make an entrance, stage presence, and exiting the stage!

All levels: ATS Basics.

Let’s make waves go through our bodies and fuse them into belly dance. Focusing on waving and body control, we will start with the basics and get a little advanced. Edenia will show you how to make smooth transitions with waving combos. We will break them down into sections to help understand how important it is to learn how to control these waves!

Skill level: All levels.

Audiences love swords! Not only is the sword dramatic with a hint of danger, but is a wonderful prop that does not take up too much space in a crowded venue. You will learn spectacular ways to handle and present your sword, techniques to balance the sword quickly and securely, and more importantly, what to do once the sword is balanced: beautiful stationary movements and techniques for travelling all while balancing the sword. Sword work is not only a great way to expand your performance repertoire but is also extremely helpful with isolations and balance in your dance. Please bring a sword and a flat non-slick headband.

Skill level: All levels.

This choreography is to a composition specially written for Dalida by talented percussionist Sal Tabla. Learn how to identity the various rhythms changes, to listen to nuance details to make your performance unforgettable!

Skill level: All levels.

Performance Opportunity - This class will have a chance to perform the choreography learned during the ABDC Showcase.

Liora loves taking classic and folkloric styles and fusing them with modern movements and music. In this workshop, we’ll take a look at traditional Saidi rhythm and raks al assaya (cane) movements and combos then fuse them into an upbeat Steampunk-inspired choreography.

Skill level: All levels. 

Want to move past all those old standards inside your comfort zone that you fall back on? Time to level up! This creative process is offered to you as a game, with all the rules and resources you need. We will have so much fun playing together, you will hardly notice that you are building a solid foundation to advance your dance repertoire.

Skill level: Advanced beginner to Intermediate.