Teachers, Performers, and Classes for DID 2010



Class and Performance schedules will be available soon for DID 2010

Below is schedule for 2009


Friday, June 5th

 8:00 am to 9:00 am .....Breakfast

10:00 am to 11:30 am  ...Carla Monnich - "Zil Technique" Ted Monnich - "Intermediate Saz 1"

11:30am to 12:30 pm ...Lunch and Music with Wine and Alchemy

12:30 pm to  2:00pm ...Onca - "Fan for Belly Dancers"   Paul Young - "Introduction to Frame Drum"  

2:00 pm to  3:30 pm ...Carla Monnich - "Ecstatic Dance"  August Hoerr - "Sing Gadje Sing"

 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm...Olivia Kissel -  "Luscious Layers" - A Layered Approach to Movement
Denys Proteau - "Instrumental Ensemble Workshop 1"

 5:00pm to  6:00 pm ...Draven - "A Swashbuckling Primer I"

 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm...Supper

 8:30 pm until....    Guedra -  Facilitated by Carla Monnich   
Welcome to Spirithaven Concert with The CeltHix and Friends  

10:00pm until...   Music Jam with The Darbukastani House Band

Saturday, June 6th

8:00 am to  9:30 am...Breakfast

9:30 am to 11:00 am ...Jenn Speiden - "Tunisian Folkloric Dance" Ted Monnich - Intermediate Saz 2"

11:00 am to 12:30 pm...Roxanne Bruscha - "Sword and Double Sword" Mark Varelas -
"Greek Bouzouki" - Music for Bouzouki and Other Stringed Instruments

12:00 pm to  1:30 pm...Lunch and Music with Balkanize

 1:30 pm to   3:00 pm...Christine Andrews and Olivia Kissel - "Finding the ONE" - Nine-Count Rhythms
August Hoerr - "Science of Improvisation for Musicians"  

3:00 pm to   4:30 pm... Onca - "Mermaids of Spirithaven Lake"
Kazuki Kozuru-Salifoska - "Accents to Rhymn with Doumbek"

 4:30 pm to   6:00 pm ...Mavi _______  Denys Proteau - "Instrumental Ensemble Workshop 2"

6:30 - 7:30 .....Supper
8:00 - 9:00...DID 2009 Spotlight Concert with Wine and Alchemy

9:00 until...     Hafla and Dance Jam with Music by The Darbukastani House Band

Sunday, June 7th
 8:00 am to   9:30 am.... Breakfast
10:00 am to 11:30 am   ...Christine Andrews - "Dancing with Veil" Draven - "Swashbuckling Primer II"
12:30 pm to   1:30 pm  ... Lunch  and Music with Dragonsong
1:30 until....Farewell and Safe-Home
Denys  Proteau ............Instrumental Ensemble Workshop
 6:00 pm to  7:30 pm ......Supper  Sunday


TEACHERS FOR DID 2009


CHRISTINE ANDREWS
Founding member of The Zafira Dance Company, proud Mother of Mina and ever-patient Wife of BabaGee will present:
Drills and Layers in Seven – Get beyond Baladi and learn how to listen and dance to seven count rhythms. We'll focus on feeling the rhythm, both in-place and moving around the floor, while drilling basic movements that will become more complex as they are layered.
Rajasthani Combos – We've drilled the moves, now let's put them into combinations! Fun combos for solo and pair work that include Rajasthani hipwork, hands and spins. Full Skirts are recommended.


Roxanne Bruscha
With two recent DVD's (“A Night of Carnivale” and “Of Light and Shadow”) to her credit, Roxanne is back by popular demand. Recently moved to Texas from Michigan , Roxanne will present:
Single and Double Veil _ Hour one will include single-veil technique for circular veil with technique breakdown and a short choreography. Hour two will detail double-veil technique. Roxanne recommends that anyone with a history of motion sickness ingest some ginger 15-30 minute prior to class as there will be some prolonged spinning involved.
Folkloric dance class focusing on a traditional Egyptian dance with a choreography


Dragonsong
Making their debut in Darbukastan's Capital, Draonsong has been playing in Darbukastan for years at the Pennsic Embassy. The band's wonderful mix of Celtic and Folk-Rock inspired music (a significant percentage of which is original!) will get your body moving and you'll be up dancing almost before you realize you are doing so.

CLAIRE ELLINGTON
Caire Dima of Baraka Mundi's considerable talents in dance are only the tip of her iceberg. She will be sharing two of her other skills with us this year.
Embroidery and Shisha: Mirror Embroidery and Textile Repair – Learn basic embroidery and how to sew-on those lovely and sparkly shisha (mirrors) that dance fans so adore. Shisha also avert the Evil-Eye of Misfortune. Create new pieces or repair vintage ones. Cost - $3.00 for materials (Handouts and practice swatch).
Harquus – Tribal Tattoos for Bellydancers – “What are those pretty spots, anyway?” Long a defining feature of the ATS look, tribal markings seem to be drifting out of use. Baraka Mundi says “NO!”. Claire presents history, tools and patterns for those who love the Harquus in a lunch seminar.


AUGUST HOERR
Self-described “Esoteric Instrumentalist", August has been playing accordion for over twelve years. He also plays concertina, bandloneon and spiked fiddles such as the Egyptian rebaba and Spanish rabel. He has studied Middle-Eastern music with the tribal fusiongroup Gypsy Red Tribe. Recently he has collaborated with Baraka Mundi as well as Makari in Atlanta . August will share:
Melody & Improvisation for Musicians – Explore a method for playing intuitively and spontaneously. Improvisation will be de-mystified! August will teach some guidelines which can improve soloing and playing “off the cuff”. The class will also address how to play a supportive role with other musicians and how to manage group dynamics with everyone coming out smelling like roses… musically speaking! This seminar is excellent for playing around the fire, at the Hafla or on the stage.


Kazuki Kozuru
Making her instructional debut at DID 2007, we all wondered why it took us so long to come to our senses and ask her to teach. Ask anyone who attended her classes and they will tell you just how great the energy is in one of her seminars. At the time this description was compiled we did not have Kazuki's actual course information but we can tell you that whatever she decides to share will be better than anything we could have hoped for!

Donnágain Logan
Donnágain made his first pilgrimage to Darbukastan in search of a Saz and found it as well as a home and family at Spirithaven. He has not missed a DID since, though the Fates have worked their Magick to bring him to us in some interesting times. Donnágain knows ‘the long-necked lute” and the Saz like few others and is, in fact, studying both in a self-created graduate degree program at University in his Northern home in Ontario . Donnágain will treat us to:
Introduction to Baglama Saz – and
Developing Repertoire for short-necked Saz on Short or Long-Necked Instruments.


MANDARA
In different incarnations, the groups led by Jen and Heather have been at DID since the inaugural event. Now with Blacksburg, VA-based Mandara, we locals are privileged to have one of the most dynamic and high-energy troupes in the country in our own back yard. The Ladies will present:
Group Dynamics and Formations – Learn How to create dynamic and interesting group formations and traveling patterns with your fellow dancers as well as how to create an aesthetic to enhabce the presentation of your group as a whole. Mandara will discus, demonstrate and lead practical exercises in how to apply several concepts and moves for groups of 2, 3 or 4 or more dancers that can then be integrated into your own unique troupe dynamic.
Balkan-Inspired Belly Dance – There is so much to express in Balkan Rom (Gypsy) inspired music. The powerful, passionate and wild rhythms make it impossible to sit still. Join Mandara as they share several dance combinations that are inspired by the joy and spirit of this region. Let the crazy dancer in you be called-out to party and celebrate life in your dance.


Ted and Carla Monnich of Turku


Olivia Kissel

Onca O'Leary of Baraka Mundi
A by-the-bootstraps bellydancer, Onca was honored to be the first dancer ever to receive a certification in General Skills from the originator of the Modern Tribal Dance Movement, Carolena Nericcio of Fat Chance BellyDance. Onca is one of Darbukastan's National Treasures and is the founder of Barka Mundi. She will share her inimitable style with us, this year focusing on:
Raks Vaudvillia – Fusion Cane

DENYS PROTEAU
One of the most versatile musicians we know, Denys has been the Director of The Darbukastani National Orchestra for many years. He lends his talents to many projects including the perennial favorite group TURKU . Denys is back with us this year to present:
Instrumental Ensemble Workshops 1 and 2 – Musicians of every skill level come together under Denys' tutelage to discover, learn and present a traditional piece of music to the assembled citizenry at the Independence Days Hafla on Saturday night. This enterprise always produces one of the most memorable moments in each Independence Days Celebration. Be a part of it!


DID 2009 Course Descriptions

Ladies of Zafira – Workshop 1 –Instructor: Olivia Kissel “ Luscious Layers”
Don't you just love it when you watch a dancer that perfectly expresses the music through her body?
Like a veil caught in the wind, a skillful dancer can articulate many aspects of the music and an idea simultaneously. A layered approach to movement allows her to more deeply-more clearly express the music and dramatic intention. She can play the rhythm on her hips while expressing the violin or clarinet on her chest and arms.
This workshop will focus on using layered movements, level changes and traveling steps to articulate The music; quintessential elements of bellydance that will help turn basic foundation moves into an expressive vocabulary.
Some dance experience recommended.

Workshop 2 – Instructor: Christine Andrews “ Dancing with Veil”
We'll begin with Turkish Orientale and Rajasthani basic movements. Within these dance forms, we'll Then explore ways of dancing, framing, and wearing veils to add a sensuous prop to your repertoire. Please bring a veil.

Workshop 3 –Instructors: Olivia Kissel and Christine Andrews... “ Finding the One”
Part of the workshop series originating at DID, focusing on learning to count and feel the numbers behind the music. Learn how to listen and dance to 9 count rhythms. We'll start with feeling the rhythm, in place and moving around the floor with basic drills that move into more complex layering. The lyrical aspect, in relation to the rhythm, will also be explored.

Jennifer Speiden .... Tunisian (Raqs Shaabi) Folkloric Dance
Jennifer will share with you an introduction to folkloric Tunisian dance. In this class you learn some Background history, popular rhythms, hip movements and rhythmic steps that help define this vibrant and energetic dance from Tunisia, North Africa.

Onca ... Shady Dames of Seville: Fan for Bellydancers
A class inspired in equal parts by Flamenco, the Fine Art of flirtation, old dance hall…and every performer's need for self-defense. Onca's Fan Fusion is long on musicality, emotive power, attitude and upper body strength. Savor the flavor of Duende (passion), and explore the potential of every womens'indispensable tool; the Fan. LEARN THE OFFICIAL DANCE OF DARBUKASTAN!!!! Most Fans will work: feather fans and fan veils will be discussed, but are not usable for the purposes of class. Onca's preferred fans will be for sale at the event, including the new custom-made colors… or bring your own.

Mermaids of Spirithaven Lake, with Baraka Mundi
First choreographed for the Mermaids of the French Broad River, and local body of water in Asheville, this joyful group piece was created for a grassroots circus. A tad ethereal and just a bit swampy, It is quick to learn and fun to do. We'd love to teach this to interested Citizens and perform it altogether at the Saturday Hafla, as an offering to the People and to the Land.

Roxanne Bruscha ...Sword and Double Sword
A short choreography will be taught, BYOS (please come warmed-up)—1 ½ hours.

Carla Monnich ... “ Ecstatic Dance”
A class for dancers that want to learn to improvise without thought and achieve that supreme dance buzz.

Carla Monnich ... “ Zil Technique"
For all levels of experience. New methods that will blow your zilling wide open. Carla also encourages you to approach her at any time during DID with any zil technique questions.

Carla Monnich ... “ Guedra"
North African Trance Dance. Dance and chant will be taught, as well as some background info. (If you've heard the talk before, you can skip the first 45 minutes or so and come for the performance of the dance. Men must leave at that point. Until our voices give out, we'll sing the guedra for 1 to 4 dancers at a time. Bring a veil if you think you might want to dance. Everyone must chant, no singing talent required. Bring water. Avoid wearing jewelry.

Ted Monnich ... Intermediate Saz: Zeybek Tezene
2 Hours: 1 Hr Friday, 1 Hr Saturday
The instructor will present different variations on the authentic tezene (picking style) for playing Ege Zebekler (Aegean Zeybeks). Taught will be authentic zeybek tezene, makam (modality), and an authentic song featuring the style. The appropriate attitude for Ege Zebkeler performance And dance will also be discussed. All teaching will be done in Bozuk, or Kara,l Duzen (tuning); sol, la, re.

Ted Monnich....Private Consultation: Beginning – Intermediate Saz
Available 2 – 1 hour private sessions each, Friday & Saturday (book with instructor)
"I've kinda studied saz, off and on, for about 13 years. I've traveled to Turkey a lot and studied with several Turkish virtuoso saz player/teachers in American and Turkey. They are amazing! I've learned just a little, mostly a hint of how much I have yet to learn and how lazy I really am. But I've gained some knowledge and perspective of the instrument and its music which I am delighted to share with others over a few glasses of good strong Turkce cay. "


Kazuki Kozuru-Salifoska ... Accents in Rhythms with Dumbek We will focus on working on accents on various rhythms. Will work on staying flexible while maintaining precision. Open to all levels. It will be a challenge for me as a teacher and will do my best to keep everyone engaged.

Mark Varelas ... Greek Bouzouki

Draven...A Swashbuckling Primer: Arming the Militia of DID
The Supreme Allied Commander of Darbukastan wishes to offer this one-hour class on sword Fighting to those who wish to commit themselves to the Defense of our Citizenry, or just Looking Really Good. Bring your own rubber chicken, Otherwise, practice weapons will be available.