Ramzi in Sedalia, MO - July 24, 2004

Workshop Review

“ Ramzi in Sedalia, MO”

With Ramzi - July 24, 2004

Written By Jemina, Ana Al Ananya and Jessamyn
Originally published in Zaghareet! magazine, January/February 2005

Posted on December 15, 2007

Individual attention, support, momentum and excitement described the teaching and dance of Ramzi during his first workshop in the Midwest. On July 24, 2004 in Sedalia, Missouri, Judy Cunningham held her third workshop of the year. Ramzi was a late substitute for Raffa, which resulted in a small turnout of only 68 students.

The majority of the students taking part in the seminar were newcomers to the dance. No matter what level, everyone received feedback that was encouraging and constructive. Ramzi even focused on a particular newcomer during break for over five minutes, rehearsing and verbally analyzing the movement she was struggling with. Our participation in the workshop, having been students of the dance for eight years, left us with a lasting impression of Ramzi’s interpretation, which is influenced by his Lebanese heritage.

Ramzi is an accomplished musician as well as a wonderful dancer with that ability to become one with the music and execute the lovely, relaxed, but precise isolations we associate with dancers who have actually lived and danced in the Middle east or in Middle Eastern enclaves. He focused on the importance of rhythms and zill playing, how these aspects of the dance fit together, and on actually feeling the music, not just dancing to it. This allows the dancers to express themselves through their art. He showed us simple movements we could incorporate into our own dance and reminded everyone that basics add a necessary element to a routine.

Ramzi’s evening performance demonstrated his vast knowledge of the dance and provided us with a traditional farmer’s dance from the Arabian Peninsula. This Fellaheen dance from the gulf was the high point of the show for us. Adding to our enjoyment of the Ramzi experience were our performance which included Jemina dancing to John Bilezikjian, Ananya to the classic Sheek Shak Shook and Jessamyn to Emad Sayyeh’s Lah. Thank you Judy and especially Ramzi for a memorable workshop that left us with questions and even more answers to the meaning and love of our dance.

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Last Updated on December 15, 2007