Welcome to the A-Z Teacher Training Course for 2022!

I'm happy to be your teacher, mentor & guide in 2022. I'm also very excited to be refilming the courses in a fresh new format, in the new large Blue Lotus Room, my new studio in Perth, Western Australia. This year feels like a fresh start, as we emerge from a period of deep transformation. The new A-Z is reflecting the changes many of us are feeling. It's time to enter a new paradise, & re-discover the beauty of the ancient wisdom within this art form.

As you know, A-Z Bellydance has been enriched over 20+ years with layers of development (music, somatic, percussion, theatre choreos, wellbeing & more). It was created in Egypt, with the inspiration of my late teacher & friend Mahmoud Reda, and also with the impetus of the most beautiful dancer, Farida Fahmy.

Living, working & dancing in Egypt - as well as studying various other somatic disciplines around the world - has allowed me to bring some of the best tuition to you that I have been able to assimilate into the methodology. You are important to me as a dancer, performer & teacher of the art, no matter what style or genres you find yourself drawn to - because ultimately, A-Z Bellydance is wholistic and embraces many aspects of the art from culture to music, movement, creativity and ethics. YOU will be sharing the art with many on your path, as you develop and grow in new directions. So it is my honour and privilege to be here with you. We are dancing from the heart & our aim is expansion, knowledge & integrity within the beauty of Bellydance; in all its fabulous forms!

A-Z Bellydance has slowly and surely received boosts and upgrades through the many wonderful students & participants who have studied, graduated and taught their own students, bringing their own special interests & talents to the slate. The evolution of A-Z has enjoyed a smooth continuum, as it continues to grow from strong roots. Personally, every time I see a dancer bring something fresh & new to A-Z, I feel excited that this methodology has grown wings through that artist. It is my wish that you both assimilate the solid teachings of the A-Z Bellydance methodology, along with your own perspectives & creative impulses.

The whole set of courses are being refilled, as I am feeling more energy towards performance & presentation, as well as education. So now I have many new costumes & props from Egypt... and what better way to share this with you than to refilm! The new studio has also inspired me to refresh the content, and Sam Nascimento's Darbuka playing has strengthened to the point we'd both love to bring more of this into the course content.

I am happy to be introducing the new NAWARA Tribal version of the A-Z Original, with input from my lovely dance friend & original A-Z course writer, Jilyan Andersen. With her love of Tribal dance improvisation & loyalty to A-Z for almost (gulp) 25 years, she came forth with the idea that A-Z Original already has perfect cues for Tribal styling! Of course, my fascination with Shahira Mehrez's collection of traditional Egyptian costumes has inspired me to create an ethnic costume range that reflects the Desert dances of the Egyptian Sinai & Coastal areas. Plus the percussion that becomes integral to this style means we can work musically as well as through movement.

The LOTUS Series is an exciting set of Pharaonic inspired dances, telling the story of Isis, reflecting her many shapes & personae through symbolism. My friend Blair Parkingson has created stunning Ancient Egyptian props for this, and part of the stage theatre choreo series is the props, headdresses & costumes that can easily be made by the dancer. Thanks to talented Egyptian dancer (member of the Lotus Dancers) & dear friend Virginia Masri, a respected fashion designer, has created amazing Pharaonic costumes with class & style.

Farida Fahmy has helped me with REDA Drills & the original live rhythms the troupe would rehearse to in their Cairo downtown studio, at almost every lesson! This is an exciting development as it integrates with A-Z Bellydance so well. Then the Teacher Training brings together the best of Teaching, Performance & Wellbeing. A whole integration of the possibilities a bellydancer can work with as part of their self development.

The course begins Feb 1st, and graduates will be dancing at the Graduation & Certification concert Dec 10! We have a whole year of study & connection together, with lessons delivered every Tuesday, except for out mid year fortnight break in June. It sounds like a lot, but in reality it is just two dedicated hours every week that needs to be put aside. I'm a big fan of consistency, so I recommend choosing two hours each week, preferably at the same time, in the same place... with the same ritual of lighting a scared candle or essential oils, and making your favourite cup of tea. This year, I feel a fresh new energy emerging. My love for the Art of Bellydancing is strong & grounded, yet there is much excitement for the fresh new directions A-Z Bellydance is moving in. I am very pleased to be here with you.

Yalla, let's Dance!

Keti Sharif

www.a-zbellydance.com

www.ketisharif.com

Welcome to the A-Z Teacher Training Course for 2022!

I'm happy to be your teacher, mentor & guide in 2022. I'm also very excited to be refilming the courses in a fresh new format, in the new large Blue Lotus Room, my new studio in Perth, Western Australia. This year feels like a fresh start, as we emerge from a period of deep transformation. The new A-Z is reflecting the changes many of us are feeling. It's time to enter a new paradise, & re-discover the beauty of the ancient wisdom within this art form.

As you know, A-Z Bellydance has been enriched over 20+ years with layers of development (music, somatic, percussion, theatre choreos, wellbeing & more). It was created in Egypt, with the inspiration of my late teacher & friend Mahmoud Reda, and also with the impetus of the most beautiful dancer, Farida Fahmy.

Living, working & dancing in Egypt - as well as studying various other somatic disciplines around the world - has allowed me to bring some of the best tuition to you that I have been able to assimilate into the methodology. You are important to me as a dancer, performer & teacher of the art, no matter what style or genres you find yourself drawn to - because ultimately, A-Z Bellydance is wholistic and embraces many aspects of the art from culture to music, movement, creativity and ethics. YOU will be sharing the art with many on your path, as you develop and grow in new directions. So it is my honour and privilege to be here with you. We are dancing from the heart & our aim is expansion, knowledge & integrity within the beauty of Bellydance; in all its fabulous forms!

A-Z Bellydance has slowly and surely received boosts and upgrades through the many wonderful students & participants who have studied, graduated and taught their own students, bringing their own special interests & talents to the slate. The evolution of A-Z has enjoyed a smooth continuum, as it continues to grow from strong roots. Personally, every time I see a dancer bring something fresh & new to A-Z, I feel excited that this methodology has grown wings through that artist. It is my wish that you both assimilate the solid teachings of the A-Z Bellydance methodology, along with your own perspectives & creative impulses.

The whole set of courses are being refilled, as I am feeling more energy towards performance & presentation, as well as education. So now I have many new costumes & props from Egypt... and what better way to share this with you than to refilm! The new studio has also inspired me to refresh the content, and Sam Nascimento's Darbuka playing has strengthened to the point we'd both love to bring more of this into the course content.

I am happy to be introducing the new NAWARA Tribal version of the A-Z Original, with input from my lovely dance friend & original A-Z course writer, Jilyan Andersen. With her love of Tribal dance improvisation & loyalty to A-Z for almost 25 years, she came forth with the idea that A-Z Original already has perfect cues for Tribal styling! Of course, my fascination with Shahira Mehrez's collection of traditional Egyptian costumes has inspired me to create an ethnic costume range that reflects the Desert dances of the Egyptian Sinai & Coastal areas. Plus the percussion that becomes integral to this style means we can work musically as well as through movement.

The LOTUS Series is an exciting set of Pharaonic inspired dances, telling the story of Isis, reflecting her many shapes & personae through symbolism. My friend Blair Parkingson has created stunning Ancient Egyptian props for this, and part of the stage theatre choreo series is the props, headdresses & costumes that can easily be made by the dancer. Thanks to talented Egyptian dancer (member of the Lotus Dancers) & dear friend Virginia Masri, a respected fashion designer, has created amazing Pharaonic costumes with class & style.

Farida Fahmy has helped me with REDA Drills & the original live rhythms the troupe would rehearse to in their Cairo downtown studio, at almost every lesson! This is an exciting development as it integrates with A-Z Bellydance so well. Then the Teacher Training brings together the best of Teaching, Performance & Wellbeing. A whole integration of the possibilities a bellydancer can work with as part of their self development.

The course begins Feb 1st, and graduates will be dancing at the Graduation & Certification concert Dec 10! We have a whole year of study & connection together, with lessons delivered every Tuesday, except for out mid year fortnight break in June. It sounds like a lot, but in reality it is just two dedicated hours every week that needs to be put aside. I'm a big fan of consistency, so I recommend choosing two hours each week, preferably at the same time, in the same place... with the same ritual of lighting a scared candle or essential oils, and making your favourite cup of tea. This year, I feel a fresh new energy emerging. My love for the Art of Bellydancing is strong & grounded, yet there is much excitement for the fresh new directions A-Z Bellydance is moving in. I am very pleased to be here with you.

Yalla, let's Dance!

Keti Sharif

www.a-zbellydance.com

www.ketisharif.com