Karim Nagi Certificate Program for Klub Raks

In November 16-21, in Hong Kong, Karim Nagi will teach 8 new workshops, for new level credit towards his Nagi Certificate. Taking 4 classes (one in each track) will qualify the student to receive one additional Rank towards their Certificate program. Those students who already have Rank 1 will be raised to Rank 2, and those new students will receive Rank 1. Taking all 8 classes will grant the student TWO Rank increases. (Students may also take individual workshops, and will still greatly benefit, yet will not accumulate any Rank. )

* Repertoire - Track 1 : two classes * Egyptian and Lebanese Rhythms, & Famous Maqams and Melodies
* Folk Dance - Track 2 : two classes * Lebanese Dabki, & Egyptian Saidi Choreography
* Anthropology - Track 3 : two classes * How Arab Folklore became Bellydance, & The status of a Bellydancer in Egypt
* Performance - Track 4 : two classes * "Leilit Hob Introduction" by Oum Kalsoum, & "Banaat Turbo" Drum Solo

( to register please contact Klub Raks, email janaki@klubraks.com or call 90287064 )

Karim Nagi is a native Egyptian drummer, DJ, and folk dancer. He is the creator of Turbo Tabla, and has released two internationally distributed CDs of this unique brand of Arab House/Electronica using acoustic instruments. Karim has authored instructional DVDs for the Tabla/Doumbek and Riqq tambourine, as well as two rhythm compilation CDs. He is also well versed in the ultra-traditional styles of music and dance as the leader of the Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble, and the Arab Dance Seminar. Karim performs and teaches Tahteeb Cane Dance, Dabka Line Dance, and Zikr Sufi Dance. He taught at the New England Conservatory of Music for 5 years, and has lectured and presented at Harvard, MIT, Yale, Bowdoin, Princeton, Stanford, William & Mary, and several Community Colleges. He has recorded music for Bellydance Superstars, Bellyqueen, and the Bellytwins, as well as mainstream artists like Alicia Keys, and The Urban Griot Project. His performances boast a dynamic concoction of live drumming and dance, done in unison. Because of his proficiency in both music and dance, his workshops deliver students to a new physical understanding of the connection between these two disciplines. As a dance and drum teacher, Karim has taught in nearly all major bellydance festivals in the United States and Cairo, as well as all major Arab Culture festivals in the USA. Karim Nagi is a true crossover artist, uniting the Cabaret and Tribal, Traditional and the Modern, the Ethnic and the Urban. KARIM NAGI WEBSITE - www.karimnagi.com

Track 1 classes Egyptian and Lebanese Rhythms (music class for Track 1) Wednesday November 16th, 7:30pm-9:30pm Lebanon and Egypt produce the most famous songs and dancers of the Arab world. Lebanon is known for exciting fast music that inspires animated Oriental solo dance, and energetic group dances. Egypt has earthy and patient songs, causing the dancers to have a more relaxed and sensual style. This class will teach the famous rhythms, and several memorable songs and melodies that all dancers and musicians must know. The students will clap and speak 10 rhythms (Malfouf, Masmudi, Ayyoub, Sudasi, Bambi, Zaffa, Fallahi, Saidi and Maqloub). The students will also learn to sing several famous melodies, using the authentic style and character. Famous Maqams and Melodies (music class for Track 1) Thursday November 17th, 7:30pm-9:30pm A Maqam is a musical scale of 8 notes that in combination create a specific mood, emotion, and feeling within the listener. A composer chooses a maqam before they create their song. This will determine what intention and journey the song will take. For a dancer, this information marks the beginning of advanced musicality and expression. The dancer who can understand the maqam and emotional intention of a song can perform to this song much more truthfully. This class will introduce the 4 maqam (Bayyati, Saba, 'Ajam and Hijaz). We will also learn a famous song for each of these 4 maqam, so the dance student will have a clear example. Track 2 classes Lebanese Dabki & Choreography to "Saaloouni Nas" (dance class for Track 2) Friday Nov. 18th, 7:30pm-9:30pm Dabki is a group line dance, based on stomping, stepping and jumping. This dance is and essential part of Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian and Jordanian social life. It is used for stage performance, celebration, ritual, and social protest. It is a powerful and uplifting dance, and always fun. This class will feature Lebanese style Dabki. They will learn several steps and combinations, in circle, line and solo dance formations. A complete performance choreographies will be taught, and the student is free to perform them and to incorporate into their shows. The famous song "Saalouni Nas" by Fairuz, will be taught in completion and performed. Egyptian Saidi Cane Dance & Choreography to "Dayyati Maali" (dance class for Track 2) Sunday, Nov. 20th, 2pm-4pm SAIDI refers to dances and music from Southern Egypt (aka Upper Egypt). This style is famous for the use of a cane or stick, and is often called Raqs Assaya (cane dance) which is an offshoot of the martial art "Tahteeb". The movements consist of legs swoops & hops, cane rowing, cane spinning, cane flipping, cane striking, and mock battle. This class will contain lessons in cane technique, several dance combinations, and the traditional theatrics and acting styles of the Saidi dance. A complete performance choreographies will be taught, and the student is free to perform them and to incorporate into their shows. The famous song "Dayyati Maali" by Metgal, will be taught in completion and performed. Track 3 classes How Arab Folklore became Bellydance (lecture for Track 3) Sunday November 20, 5pm-7pm Village, folk and ritual dance are the origin of what we now call "Belly dance". Communities and families across the Arab world and Middle East have their own local dances, specific to them. They used dance for group celebrations, holidays, weddings, healing, farming, and ever war. These folkloric village dances include Egyptian Saidi, fallahi and baladi, Lebanese Dabki, Sufi dervish and Zaar rituals. Modern solo dancers use stylized and orchestrated versions of the steps and movements found in folk dances. This class teaches the Belly Dancer how to create her Raqs Shaqi by weaving a combination of these authentic village styles.Ê The Status of the Belly Dancer in Egyptian and Arab Society (lecture for Track 3) Sunday November 20, 8pm-10pm The status of the female Cabaret Belly Dancer in the Arab world has always perplexed people. The society seems traditional and conservative. However the dancers' sensual and provacative performance is in stark contrast to that modest and conservative society. How can they co-exist ? And how does this dancer become so wealthy and valued as an entertainer, despite the constraints of the society ? What type of family and background do these Egyptian professional dancers come from, and how did they learn the art form? This lecture will talk about the complex gender, religious and artistic issues within Egyptian and Arab society. We will learn what is the role of the dancer in the society, and what are her main challenges to survive. Track 4 classes "Leilit Hob Introduction" by Oum Kalsoum (dance class for Track 4) Monday November 21, 2:30pm-4:40pm This song was composed by Mohammed Abdel Wahhab, for the singer Oum Kalsoum in 1969. Both artists were the two most famous musical performers in Egypt at that time. The song is about a woman who pleads with her loved one to enjoy their passion together now, as if their lives would be terminated tomorrow. The song has a glorious and powerful musical introduction, using 4 rhythms, full orchestra, and solo's with guitar, accordion and violin. It is perfect for a solo cabaret dance performance. In this class we will learn the song in completion, and learn several dance combinations that mirrors all the musical activity. "Banaat Turbo" drum solo by Karim Nagi (dance class for Track 4, 90 minutes) Monday November 21, 7:30pm-9:30pm This drum solo was originally composed by Karim Nagi for his own troupe Bellydance Overdrive. It is a dynamic and lyrical drum solo that has several rhythms, clever memorable phrases, and a structure much like a melodic or vocal song. Karim composed both the actual drum solo music, as well as the corresponding dance choreography. Therefore Karim is in the unique position to explain the performance in music and dance terms, as well as demonstrate on both the drum and the body. Every rhythm, phrase, and isolation, shimmy, and travel combination will be taught, using the live drum, and demonstrated on the body. A complete performance choreographies will be taught, and the student is free to perform them and to incorporate into their shows. ( to register please contact Klub Raks, email janaki@klubraks.com or call 90287064 )

Karim Nagi Certificate Program Purpose: This program focusses on the cross-section between dance, music and culture. It was created to give the dancer an advanced perspective on performance and cultural literacy. The dancer will gain quantifiable skills in identifying musical themes and methods that influence Raqs Sharqi, a broader grasp of Arab Folkloric dance, Improvisational approaches, and detailed Cultural background. The goal is to give the dancer an education that allows her to communicate a cultural dance on an academic level, with greater depth and accuracy. Background: This program is conducted by Karim Nagi, a native Egyptian musician and dancer, with an English language based system and format. His performance experience exceeds 25 years. He was a faculty member at the New England Conservatory, and has presented lectures and conducted workshops in Harvard, Princeton and Yale universities. He has taught dance and music in 4 continents and has learned to codify and standardize an art form that previously had no universal system nor curriculum. Curriculum: The study for the Nagi Certificate system is divided into four tracks: 1) Rhythm & Maqam : the Arabic musical system of creating melody, rhythm, and songs. 2) Arab Folk Dance : the dances of the Arab world from villages and regional communities. 3) Anthropology : the history, customs, behavior, and repertoire of Arab communities. 4) Performance : improvisational skills for drum solo and taqsim, repertoire and choreography. System: By completing a course of 4 classes, one in each of the tracks above, the student is awarded a Rank. Rank "1" symbolizes a completion in a full course of 4 tracks (i.e. one class in Rhythm or Maqam, one Folk Dance Class, one Anthropology class, and one performance class). A student can continue to accumulate Ranks by taking more full courses of 4 tracks over time. Every time a student completes a course, they will be offered a 15-20 minute personal exam with Karim Nagi, at which he awards the Rank, or new Rank level, at the satisfactory completion of the exam. There is no limit to the hight of Ranks a student can be awarded, nor is there a time limit for completing a Rank. Upon completion of 4 different courses, i.e. 16 tracks, a student will be awarded Certification 1 although it does not mean the end of this certification course. ( to register please contact Klub Raks, email janaki@klubraks.com or call 90287064 )