Studio Oasis, home of Sahar and the Jewels of the Nile

Coming Events and History

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Dates to highlight!

For additional info or to register: contact  Karen Hunt

61 Ballantyne Ave., Stratford, ON, N5A 3A6 (home address, not studio location)

519  273-2610    huntpaulkaren@cyg.net

stratford.bellydance.tripod.com (no www in front)

Studio Oasis

is located 291 Lorne Ave. E.  (DO NOT SEND MAIL TO THIS ADDRESS)

NOTE: Karen is away January 14 through 30th

Arabesque International Affiliate

We are proud to announce that Oasis Egyptian Belly Dance is now an

Arabesque International Affiliate!!

(www.arabesquedance.ca)

 

NEW!!!! Nia Classes

with Leslie at Studio Oasis

A blend of dance, martial arts and mindfulness.

It's energizing, relaxing and fun!

For more information about Nia visit: www.nianow.com

8 week Session runs:

February 6 - March 26/08, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

$80/ 8 classes , Drop in classes ( if space allows) $12

 (Missed classes can be made up at other class locations during the session)

FREE  Nia Class

* Come out and meet the instructor and try a FREE Nia class on Saturday February 2/08, 10:00 - 11:15 a.m.*

Contact Leslie for additional information and to register:  lswitzer@quadro.net  or call 519-229-6344

 

Registrations for Woodstock classes

The Wild Women of Woodstock may register any time and are welcome at all events at Studio Oasis (It is your home too!) You may mail registrations any time to Karen Hunt, 61 Ballantyne Ave., Stratford, ON, N5A 3A6

OR pop in to see me at the Woodstock Dance Academy

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 4:30PM TO 6:30PM

Can’t wait to see you lovelies!

 

 

Winter/Spring Session 2008

February 1, 4, 5, 7 through May 9, 12, 13, 15

PLUS FREE end of session haflas

Monday, May 26 in Stratford, Friday, May 30 in Woodstock

(informal performance evening

for our own little school in our studios)

 

Sacred dance

at Studio Oasis

…dance experience is irrelevant…

sacred dance will enhance your relationship with the Divine by incorporating physical movement, with and without music, into worship

·        Initially, sacred dance classes will occur monthly on a Sunday evening at 7:30pm. First class is Saturday, Feb. 9. Cost is $12 per class.

Contact Karen for more info

 

Tribal in Stratford with Valizan

American Tribal Style Quick Hits. A monthly gathering to learn about the original group improvisation style. Here you will learn the posture, technique and movements that give this improvised style power and grace.

f or all levels!!

6 hour/ 3 Friday evenings session

Jan. 25, Feb. 8, March 14,  7pm to 9pm

at Oasis Studio in Stratford

$135 for the whole session, NOW FULL

 

Tribal in Stratford with Audra

Tribal Fusion – Dark Fundamentals

for all levels!!

One, Sat., Feb. 16

10:30 amnoon and 1:00pm to 2:30pm (one workshop)

St. John’s United Church, 175 Waterloo St. S., Stratford

$65 before Feb. 1, $75 after Feb.1

 

COME JOIN    RAJA & FRIENDS

FOR THE

1ST ANNUAL SHIMMY-A-THON

FEBRUARY 10TH, 2008

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE HEART & STROKE FOUNDATION

TO BE HELD AT KITCHENER FOREST HEIGHTS COMMUNITY CENTRE

CONTACT RAJA FOR REGISTRATION AND PLEDGE FORMS AT

info@raksraja.com

(We have held a similar event the past 4 or 5 years and Raja has supported us, so since Raja is holding one this year, I suggest we throw our support behind her effort instead of doing our own)

 

Dance Expression and Exploration Class Part II

With Rhaehana

Saturday February 23, 2008, 10:30am to noon

Oasis Dance Studio/Stratford

 

This class continues expresssion and exploration of Part I, and will also work with improvisation and transition concepts. If you were not able to make it to the Part I, there will be a review at beginning of the class! Open to all levels. 

Bring zills and veils if you have.  Cost $20

 

ALHAIMA (The Tent) Feb 23

at Arabesque in Toronto
An all day experience that reaches deep into your Arabian soul.

* candle light * plush cushions * shisha pipe
* sumptuous food * 

* passionate live music * Bellydancing *

A 3 hour workshop with Arab musicians learning how to perform with a live band. Enjoy a first hand experience with Taqsim, Drum Solo, Openings, Finales, hand clapping popular songs, the music of Oum Kalthoum, Mawaal, and more! All of this inside a warm and colorful tent with many instructors including Yasmina Ramzy, Bassam Bishara and Suleiman Warwar.


$30 Dinner & Show,
$75 Workshop, Dinner & Performance,
$15 Just Show


3:00-6:00pm - Workshop

6:30-8:00pm - Dinner w/ Live Music

8:00-10:00pm - Show and Dance Party

 

Mitchell Nursing Home

7pm, Tuesday, Feb. 26

Let Karen know if you would like to entertain!

 

ORIT WORKSHOP, GALA PERFORMANCE, ISRAELI/PALESTINIAN FILM RAKASA PRESENTATION, Mar 7-9,2008  
Learn bellydance technique form
Israel's biggest Bellydance star!
Sat, Mar 8,
11 am - 4 pm (Lunch Included), $95,
Location: Downtown
Toronto
Personal style, combinations and a short choreo to a popular song 

 

March 29 & 30, 2008

Virginia of Miami is coming to Sarnia

 

International Belly Dance Conference of Canada

April 23 – 27

.http://www.bellydanceconference.com/

 

May 3

Daughters of Isis Hafla, Stratford

workshops with Ishra

 

Arabesque Academy Spring Student Recital

June 7

Estonia House on Broadview in Toronto

 

4th Annual Gala of ME Dance

June21, 2008

starring Denise Mireau!

 

 

Arabesque Academy Winter Student Recital

Nov. 29

Estonia House on Broadview in Toronto

 

 

Magic Circle Pilates! (all level)

With Kathy Young,  519 273-0838 (Keep The Pace)

  kathy.young@rogers.com

Tuesdays at 5:45pm, Jan. 8 to Feb. 26

& Wednesdays at 5:45pm , Jan. 9 to Feb. 27

 

Yoga classes with David!

Tuesdays 10:00 am & 7-8pm, commencing Jan. 8

Wednesdays 7-8pm,  commencing Jan. 9

 Contact David Querin, 519 273-7623, david.querin@sympatico.ca

 

Yoga classes with Kari!

Thursdays, 7:30pm to 8:30pm for 13 vweeks

commencing Jan. 17

Contact Kari Kukkola, Certified Yoga Instructor
(519) 625-1471
yoga_instruction@hotmail.com

 

Children’s Belly Dance!

With Jenni Roote!  662-3061

**************************************************************************************************************

 

Karen Hunt, Biography

 

I have been dancing for 54 years! My parents were beautiful dancers and I would enlist them to perform for me on a regular basis. Of course, I knew I would get my turn with my Dad while my Mom cheered us on. My Dad would sing to my sister and I at bedtime: “The Tennesse Waltz”. My older brothers obliged their pesty little sister by letting me stand on their feet while they tried their latest dance moves. And, lucky for me, I married a man who loves to dance and who spent much of his youth haunting local dance halls and appearing regularily on Canadian Bandstand.

I went on to enjoy lessons in Ballroom, Latin, and particularily Flamenco. However, it was when I embarked upon Raks Sharqui/ Belly Dancing that I knew I had found my soul’s dance. My first teacher was Paula Thomson of Stratford and, after a year, I started classes with Voula in Kitchener. Both had very different styles of dancing and teaching. Then I discovered Arabesque Dance Academy in Toronto. Founded by Yasmina Ramzy, a humble, amazing dancer and one of the world’s leading authorities on Middle Eastern Dance, Arabesque Academy produces and hosts incomparable dancers. I was hooked. In order to grasp this authentic and intricate dance I had to start all over at the “Introductory” level. I have spent the past several years studying intensively at Arabesque and continue to do so. As well I have studied under numerous resident and guest artists at Arabesque and elsewhere. I particularily enjoy classes with Egyptian guest artists.

 

I am thrilled to be one half of a new "granny"duet with the beautiful, Isis (Dawna Robertson of Sarnia), "Off Our Raqr's" as well as Arabesque's new troupe,  W4, "Wicked Women with Wisdom" !

 

I also now teach in Stratford, St. Marys and Woodstock. I base my teaching on my training at Arabesque Academy and these principles:

1. A good teacher is also an active student, always learning and studying her art form. She remains open and never pretends to be the ultimate authority. It doesn’t matter how long I have been dancing or teaching, but how long and how much I have been learning.

2. A dance class is about the student. I try to offer different angles and visualizations for learning new techniques as everyone learns differently.

3. A dance class should be packed full of movement and learning opportunity as a good teacher realizes that students do not pay to stand and listen to the instructor talk about herself.

4. A good teacher encourages her students to follow their own dance journey even if that means that they move on to another instructor. Teachers have their own dance journeys and they should never “road block” their students. There is room in the garden for us all to bloom.

5. A good dance teacher provides opportunities for her students to perform (if they wish). She encourages them to shine at whatever level they are at.

 

My theory as an instructor of Raqs Sharki is to be like a good mother: love and nurture my students with my whole heart, and give them fine tuned skills so that they may blossom and grow into their own dancer!

*********************************************
 
History:
 

Egyptian “Belly Dancing

 

“Belly Dancing” is a slang expression for Raks El Sharki  (Dance of the Orient/of the East) or Raks El Beladi (Dance of the People/of the country). It is thought that the term “belly” either came from Americans trying to say “beladi” or the fact that movement is created with the abdominal muscles.

 

Belly Dancing in North America comes in many versions. Some of it is very “North Americanized” or “Hollywoodized”. Belly Dancing taught in Stratford, St. Mary’s & Woodstock by Karen Hunt is authentic Egyptian style as taught by Yasmina Ramzy at Arabesque Academy in Toronto. Yasmina has lived, studied, and worked extensively in the Middle East and is considered one of the world’s greatest authorities in this area of ethnic expression.

 

This ancient form of wholesome female expression dates back to before the Christian or Muslim faiths. In more matriarchal religions, the dancer was also the priestess and conductor of sacred rites. During times of patriarchal dynasties/religions, belly dancing became an activity of enjoyment and expression for women performed only in the company of other women. If you watch closely, you will perceive some movements that imitate birthing and labour. Other movements imitate graceful animals who shared the life and work of the people of the east. When western civilization introduced the concept of night clubs to the middle east, belly dancing became entertainment.

 

Whether you perform it or watch it, belly dancing is fun, beautiful, and very skillful. Egyptian style is characterized by small isolated movements of the legs and stomach.These movements take a great deal of time and effort to master. Of course, the dancer’s goal is to make it all look so easy, but do not be fooled! One of our mottos in Egyptian Belly Dancing is: “If you think it is easy, you are doing it wrong!”

 

Can men belly dance? Although the movements of Raks El Sharki are very feminine, men are welcome to join in if they are seriously interested. Be prepared to work hard and to be amazed by the leg and abdominal strength of the women in the class!

 

The women who enjoy belly dancing are every age (preferably older than 11 but no woman is too old!), every shape and every size. It is not about stereotypes but about enjoying the woman that you are, and getting healthier and stronger while you are at it. There is a quite an upsurge in popularity of this ancient female rite in North America as women hope to achieve fitness and fun in an atmosphere where women enjoy and appreciate themselves and each other.