Nisaa
Nisaa (Heather D. Ward) is a Middle Eastern dance instructor, performer, and researcher based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Nisaa has been conducting pioneering research into the history and development of Egyptian belly dance.
Her investigations into the transition from awalim and ghawazi dance styles to classical raqs sharqi at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries led to the publication of her first book, Egyptian Belly Dance in Transition: The Raqs Sharqi Revolution, 1890-1930, in 2018. Her latest book, Raqs in the City: The Belly Dance Landscape of Cairo, explores the historical interconnection between dance, dancers, and the city of Cairo, and was released in 2024.
Through excellent instruction, outstanding performances, and original research, Nisaa presents Middle Eastern dance as a living, dynamic folk art and a window into the rich heritage of the peoples and cultures of the Middle East.
Find out more
https://www.bellydancewithnisaa.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nisaasaintlouis/
Class Description
Improvisation in Egyptian Belly Dance
Improvisation is an important and valued skill in Egyptian music and dance. Through improvisation, the musician or dancer can fully immerse in the moment and allow feeling to flow through their performance. However, improvisation is a skill that must be honed, and it depends on a solid understanding of Egyptian music. In this intensive workshop, Nisaa will guide you through a range of exercises designed to improve your ability to improvise effectively to Egyptian music. Special attention will be paid to the types of music that are appropriate for raqs sharqi performance, and how your improvisation must be tailored to fit each
musical style.
Baladi Basics: The Ashra Baladi
The ashra baladi, known to many dancers outside Egypt as the baladi progression or taqsim baladi, is the quintessential music for Egyptian belly dance. This uniquely Egyptian musical genre emerged around the mid- 20th century in the context of urban wedding celebrations. It is characterized by its slow build of energy and intensity, and by the interaction among the accordion, the drum, and the dancer. In this workshop, you’ll learn the defining features of the ashra baladi, and you’ll explore how to interpret and express this quintessential Egyptian musical form through dance.
Evolution of Egyptian Style Belly Dance
An examination of the evolution of Egyptian belly dance reveals a dynamic art form whose developments mirror those of the cultures and musical traditions from which it emerged. In this intensive workshop, explore the stylistic evolution of Egyptian belly dance over the last century, including the emergence of raqs sharqi from earlier dance styles and the trendsetting influences of well-known Egyptian dancers and choreographers, and learn how changes in the dance have corresponded to developments in Egyptian music.