Events & News

Sunday, December 17th from 4pm to 8pm:
Roula's Festive Open House Celebration!
Hosted by that Jolliest of Dancers and Prancers, Mrs. Claus
Xing Dance Studio: 452 College Street

Come let us ply you with libations, delicious food and countless other pleasures for your eyes and your ears. Stay as little or as long as you like.

* Many performances throughout the afternoon – dance performances by students and teachers, live music surprises as well – not to be missed.
* A delicious food table – pot luck style with delectable offerings from students and staff.
* We'll have some wine and non-alcohlic drinks on hand but feel free to bring something along with you.

Hannan's Bellydance Studio presents their Decmeber Student Recital - SOLD OUT Thursday, December 7. Palmerston Theatre, 560 Palmerston Avenue. Show starts at 7pm. Hannan's Bellydance Studio's bi-yearly studio gala featuring student groups and soloists as well as professional groups and soloists.

Jim Boz workshop Feb. 17 & 18 click -> DON'T MISS THIS GREAT WORKSHOP

Slow and Slinky Poses and Moves with Hannan Specialty Class on DATE TBA at the studio. Learn a variety of beautiful poses and slinky movements. Learn how to check your alignment for a more stunning posture. $30 advance, $40 at the door. 2:30-4:30

Ioana's Favourite Combos: January 7th specialty class with Ioana.
She'll teach you some of the favourite combinations she has learned
over the years at workshops. A great way to ease back into bellydance
after our winter break! Saturday, Jan. 7 12-2pm. $30 advance purchase
only. Contact Hannan to register.

Hannan's Bellydance Studio presents Alexandrian with Nada: Learn this wonderfully flirty folk style with Nada. Alexandrian, also known as Melaya Leff, is known for it's sexy
and sassy movements. It is a definite must for a bellydancer's
repertoire. Jan. 27 12-2:30 $30 advance, $40 at the door. Contact Hannan to register.

Aziza Intensive: The international belly dance star, Aziza, will be teaching a four day intensive (which includes a one-day public workshop) at Hannan's Bellydance Studio. The intensive is five hours on Thursday, five hours on Friday, three hours (public workshop) on Saturday, a gala show Saturday night, and five hours on Sunday. The intensive is limited to only twenty students and spaces are already going very quickly! August 4-8, $550 before Jan. 1, $615 after. contact Hannan for registration for the intensive or the public workshop. Gala show details coming soon!

Past Events:

Teacher Training for bellydance professionals by internationally renowned expert instructor, Hadia. November 3-6 level 1 and November 17-20 level 2. Each course is 20 hours of intensive training in preparation for Level 3 and full Certification. Contact Hannan for a detailed description. Registration through Hannan's Bellydance Studio.

November 22, 2006 @ 8:00pm: Roula presents Fundraiser for Palestine at Lula Lounge
Film, Dance & Live music $25 suggested donation

Roula's Fundraiser for relief efforts in Gaza and Lebanon back in August was a huge success, raising over $5000 for the Humanitarian Coalition. My deep gratitude again to all who performed and attended.

Roula's second fundraiser presents a different and varied palette of offerings for your contemplation and pleasure:
~ a screening of 2 films from BH Yael's “Palestine Trilogy”. A must-see for anyone interested in the subject of Palestine and Israel ( a very worthy exploration for anyone drawn to arab/middle eastern culture and society). These films are thought-provoking and very moving.
~ an awesome Arab-Jewish fusion band made up of some of Toronto's finest world musicians. Including: Roula Said, David Buchbinder, Maryem and Ernie Tollar.. Details to follow.
~ bellydance (so far) by Roula Said and Maya al-Samry (Maya will do “sword” – she is incredible!!). More dancer details to follow.

The money will be sent to 3 organizations in Palestine and Israel focusing on Mental Health, Woman's empowerment, youth, and peacemaking:

The Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP): Training in Community Mental Health and Human Rights Activities - This organization has a special branch dedicated to women's education and empowerment.

The Families Forum: Bereaved Families Supporting Peace, Reconciliation and Tolerance – an awesome group of Israelis and Palestinians who have lost immediate family members through the conflict. They do outreach and education in their communities aimed at opening people's eyes each other's realities and the deep listening that must happen in order to move toward reconciliation.

Project Hope: a non-profit volunteer organization providing educational and recreational activities, medical and humanitarian relief and practical training that can empower youth with hope and skills for the future.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 4-6PM @ Xing Dance Studio
Om Laila Bellydance Presents Nada Krysco Direct from Egypt:
Saidi Workshop with Nada
from the Reda Troupe of Egypt

SAIIDI (sa` ee dee) is a popular form of folkloric dance from Upper Egypt which includes Luxor, Aswan, Asuitt, Sohag and other small cities in the south. The movements are very earthy, grounded and joyful. Saidi vocabulary incorporates some exuberant jumping steps, and many movements where the heels are in the ground and the hip work is very big and juicy. Saiidi-style dance can be performed with or without a cane as a prop (raqs al assaya), and the dancer wears a more covered costume . The music makes use of more traditional folk instruments such as mizmar (a very loud oboe), nay (reed flute), rebaba ("primitive" violin), and drums, and relies heavily on the deep funky goove of the Saiidi rhythm.

Saiidi dance is REALLY FUN and uplifting...and...Nada is the REAL THING.

Be sure to register NOW to aviod disappointment. Call the office @ (416) 703-1997 or e-mail roulasaid7@gmail.com for more information.

Thursday September 14 from 6-8:30: Specialty Class at Hannan's Studio: Semysimya with Nada. Contact hannandance@gmail.com

Saturday and Sunday September 16 and 17: Hannan's Bellydance Studio Open House weekend. Free classes, demonstrations, and a Shakira Dance-Alike contest (great prizes!) Contact hannandance@gmail.com.

Tuesday September 19: Hannan's Bellydance Studio's expanded September schedule commences!

Saturday August 26 at 11AM-1PM Music workshop. Cost: $35 for this workshop or $60 for Music and Veil workshops.

Wednesday August 23 at 6-8PM Veil workshop. Cost: $35 for this workshop or $60 for Music and Veil workshops.

TUesday August 22 at 8PM @ LULA LOUNGE From the Hip: A Bellydance Fundraiser for Lebanon and Gaza

Some of the finest Middle Eastern Dance artists from Toronto and beyond unite to raise money for the relief efforts in Lebanon and Gaza.

The stellar line up includes (so far):
* Arabesque Dance Company and Orchestra
* Nada and her Folkloric Troupe Rhythm of the Nile Dance Company
* Soloists: Hiba, Mayada, Ioana, Voula, Melissa, Mary, Eden and Thania
Expect awesome musical surprises as well.

$25 Suggested minimum - Please open your hearts and give generously
Tax receipts available

All proceeds from this event will be donated through The Humanitarian Coalition , (composed of CARE Canada, OXFAM Canada, OXFAM Quebec & Save the Children) whose mandate it is to deliver emergency response to those who are the most vulnerable by providing food, water, child protection and social support to those whose needs are growing on a daily basis.

Check this coalition out online at www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca and respond to this great human need by attending this fundraising event at Lula Lounge on Tuesday, August 22 @ 8PM .

Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St. West
416-588-0307
www.lula.ca

Saturday July 8 at 6:45pm: Evolution of Bellydance: Video Screening Night. Join Roula for a night of educational fun as she takes you through the visual history of bellydance as it has been captured on video. Journeying through the late great and contemporary bellydancers and styles, Roula will provide commentary to the images shown to enhance your understanding and appreciation of bellydance, as dancer or spectator.

Space is limited, so be sure to register early to avoid disappointment. This event is being held in the awesome screening room at the BCE Place, 36 Yonge Street with the Astral Media logo on the doors (between the News Stand Store and The Richtree Market). The cost of this event is $7

(416) 703-1997 or e-mail
roulasaid7@gmail.com
for registration and more information.

See you at the movies!

SATURDAY, JULY 8 @ 6:45PM $7
BCE Place, 36 Yonge Street
www.roulasaid.ca

Saturday JULY 22 at 7pm: Cabaret 101 will be held on Saturday, July 22 at 7pm in the studio. Cabaret 101 features student soloists and groups as well as instructors from the studio. Performance spaces are still available for students from Hannan's Studio.

Saturday JULY 22 at 2-4:30pm: Make-Up for Bellydancers Specialty Class
Professional make-up artist Melissa Nicholl of Stellar Designz will be joining us for a hands-on lesson on creating a stunning face with style specific for bellydance. Melissa was Hannan's make-up artisit for her forthcoming DVD as well as for the photo series in the white costume. We'll learn special techniques for applying make-up that will stay on while you sweat and accentuate all of your best features. A must for performers of all levels!
$35 advance, $45 at the door. Stick around for Cabaret 101!

saturday, July 1 at 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Celebrating the Power of Place Canada Day Events on the Toronto Star Stage at the 2006 Harbourfront Festival FREE SHOW & WORKSHOP!

Dancer, musician, actor and choreographer, Roula Said directs a group of teachers and students in this Middle Eastern bellydance medley & workshop. The presentation will include a 20 minute performance and a workshop designed to get the audience up and shimmying!

Joined by fellow delectable dancers, Eden, Daphne, Ioana, Kathy and Thania, Roula will present original group and solo choreography, including the special delight of Ioana's solo/duet with her beautiful baby-belly. Come join in the revelry!

Saturday, July 1 @ 12:30PM on the Toronto Star Stage Check out the
Harbourfront Festival website for more details.

Thursday, June 22: Ideas City at the Isabel Bader Theatre.

Sunday, June 18:
Roula Said
FEATURED PERFORMER
Layali Arabesque @ Gypsy Co-Op

SUNDAY, JUNE 18 doors @ 8PM, band @ 8:30, dance @ 9PM $10

Sunday, June 18 ROULA SAID will perform as the featured dancer in the ritual Layali Arabesque , bringing her unique eclectic incarnation of traditional bellydance to the Gypsy Co-Op.

* Doors open: 8:00pm
* Band starts: 8:30pm
* Cabaret dance show: 9:00pm
* Band plays without break: 9:30pm
* Folklore dance show: 10:15pm
* Band plays until 11:30pm
* $10 cover

Each Sunday, Layali Arabesque (Arabesque Nights) offers a real Arabic nightclub experience. Dance to live traditional acoustic music by Arabesque Orchestra and featuring vocalist Bassam Bishara. During breaks in the live music, the DJ plays Middle Eastern hits, including Greek, Iranian, Rai, Turkish and Arabic Pop.

Each night, the featured dancer performs two 30- minute shows. One set is Cabaret style (two-piece costume and veil) and the second set is an Egyptian folklore style such as Shamadan, Assaya, or Milaya. Both the music and the dance performance are improvised.

Gypsy Co- Op
817 Queen St. W.
(416) 703-5069
info@gypsyco-op.com

Thursday, June 1: Maryem Tollar at Lula Lounge www.lula.com

Saturday May 27: Specialty Class with Hannan - Kick Ass Drills and Saucy Combos - We'll practice drills to enhance and improve isolations and coordination. Then Hannan will teach you cute (and complicated!) belly dance combinations 1-3:30pm at Hannan's Studio - 71 Gough Ave. at Pape and Danforth. $35 advance, $45 at the door.

Wednesday, May 17 at 8pm: Ten years is a long time! And were going to celebrate by making music with our old friends and founding members Maryem Tollar - one of Canadas finest Arabic singers, and Roula Said - one of the countrys leading lights in the world of bellydance. Also joining for the occasion is our musical friend and fiddler extraordinaire, Kathleen Kajioka.

It promises to be an evening of beautiful music from around the world and down the block. In other words, some of our favourite tradtionial Arabic and Greek songs mixed up with some of our own original tunes. More about Maza Meze

Harbourfront Centre Theatre
231 Queens Quay W
(416) 973-4000
$18

Wednesday, May 10 8:30pm: Raquy & the Cavemen join musical forces with David Buchbinder, Levon Ichkanian and John Johnson

Led by the powerful percussionist Raquy Danziger, this band is a kick-ass mix of Middle-Eastern percussion, beautiful melodies and a take-no-prisoners, hard rock attitude. Raquy is one of the most popular performers, teachers and composers of Middle Eastern drumming today. Audiences worldwide are not only surprised by this young woman from America, but captivated by her virtuosity, profound musicality and the passion she brings to performances. When she joined forces with hard rock musician Liron Peled, the result was Raquy & The Cavemen dark, powerful Middle Eastern music with a heavy emphasis on Arabic drumming, backed by a band of Arab and Israeli musicians.

The concert at LULA World will mark the third collaboration between Raquy & the Cavemen and trumpeter David Buchbinder, with the addition of guitarist Levon Ichkhanian and saxophonist John Johnson. This will be a night of concertizing for sure, but it will definitely turn into a percussion-driven horn-heated opportunity to dance your ass off. And to get you in the mood, Roula Said, Hannan Sultan and their bellydance posse will round out the music with some kinesthetic punch.
More about Raquy

Toronto Bellydance Recital (Friday, April 28 at 8:00 pm) - The recital will be held at 70 Gough Ave., just west of Pape on the north side of Danforth.
Tickets are $10 in advance from Roula or Hannan or $15 at the door...

SAIDI WORKSHOP April 8 1-3pm at Hannan's Studio Nada, from the world famous Reda Troupe of Egypt, will be teaching Saidi style (upper Egyptian) folkloric dancing. This is a fun and upbeat style. The Saidi rythms and movements are frequently used in bellydance. $35 each in advance, $45 at the door. Contact Hannan to register.

March 12: Bellydance infused celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim (a sort of Jewish Mardi Gras) at Lula Lounge. David Buchbinder (Roula's husband) leads an kick-ass band of Toronto's finest global musicians and joins forces with Roula and Hannan to present the Purim Story in an unforgettable way. Audience members are encouraged to dress up!! More info to come. www.lula.ca Read the press release

March 8: The Bellydance Superstars in Toronto. www.bellydancesuperstars.com or www.smallworldmusic.com for info, tickets at www.stlc.com

SOIREE On Wednesday, December 7, join the students and teachers from Toronto Bellydance for a spectacular Seasonal soiree. We will enjoy the fabulous food and atmosphere of Lulu Lounge and performances by students and professionals. Lots of open dance and mingle-time, too! Word has it that a special lady from way up north will grace us with her prescence! $25 for an evening of great performances, a delicious canape buffet prepred by Lula's awesome chefs, and it includes a donation to Sistering (a local organization that helps women leaving abusive situations).

BELLYDANCE SWAP-MEET Sunday Dec. 11 1:30-4:00 at Hannan's Studio. Time to stock up on new for you bellydance supplies and clear out your bellydance closet! Bring bellydance related (nothing that is not related to bellydance, please!) costume items, magazines, books, scarves, music, etc. to sell or swap, or come over to pick up the previously owned bargains. Everyone is welcome. To sell your stuff, please contact Hannan to reserve table space. We are doing this as a swap meet, so please contact me before hand if you want to retail new merchandise. $10 to vend, $5 to join-in. We will have tasty treats for your noshing pleasure

Nov. 26 Specialty Class at Hannan's Studio: Middle Eastern RHYTHMS for dance and drum! 12-3pm $38 advance, $50 at the door. This is very valuable workshop for bellydancers!!! Dharlene and Sheldon Valeda will be teaching 6 common Middle Eastern rythms as played on a drum and then with appropriate bellydance moves.