RHYTHM FOR DANCERS: It's time to raise the bar for rhythmic literacy! A dancer's immediate connection to the music is the rhythm produced by the Tabla and percussion. Karim teaches each rhythm using the three-sound clapping approach. Karim then performs sample rhythms on the Tabla. Students will learn each rhythm by name, "dum-tak" vocalization, and clapping. Afterwards the dancers will learn choreography segments to help gain bodily control with the sample rhythm, putting theory into practice. By physically personifying each Rhythm, bodily mastery of that rhythm will be achieved. This movement workshop is perfect for any dancer who wants to better understand what they are dancing to.

SAGAT ("ZILL" finger cymbals): Karim has developed a comprehensive zill method that utilizes drum techniques, and an Ambidextrous approach. He uses the Egyptian Sufi Zikr aesthetic with multiple sounds, open and closed, sizzle and rapid combinations. Students will learn the Arabic rhythms by name and how to play them while dancing! Dancers will learn to use the cymbals to communicate rhythms to a band and accent solo dancing and body movements. Dancers and percussionists of all levels are welcome. He will also teach dance combinations, solo patterns, train the dancer in musicality, and teach when-and-when-not to play within an Arabic song. Karim promises to transform dancers into musicians with his finger cymbal teaching approach.

DABKA (Arabic line dancing): Dabka (a.k.a. Dabke, Dabkeh) is a traditional form of unisex line dancing found in the Eastern Arab World. The dance is based on rhythmic stomping, stepping and jumping, completely synchronized to the drummer. This folk dance is used for both amateur social settings as well as stage performance. This workshop will focus on the social and stage Dabka found in Palestine and Lebanon. Students will learn the steps by name, the corresponding rhythms, the leadership roles and the attitudes. Karim learned Palestinian Dabka from Lena Harami (the lead dancer and trainer of Serreyyet Ramallah Dabka troupe) and Lebanese Dabka from Hassan Harfouchi (America's essential modern Dabka authority in LA).

DANCER--DRUMMER COMMUNICATION: This workshops bridges the gap between the two diciplines. Students will learn how interpret sound into movement by aligning body parts and motions with drum sounds and riffs. Once the movement-to-sound coorespondence is established, students will prepare to perform to drum solos. The six-part drum-solo will be explained, theme by theme. Students will then perform to any combination of these 6 major drum solo themes. Students will learn how to both lead and follow the drummer by maintaining the common language. Improvisation skills will be encouraged, and the daunting prospect of dancing to a LIVE drum solo will be demystified. This dance workshop can also be configured to include drummers as well.

ESSENTIAL TAHTEEB & ASSAYA: Dancing with sticks and canes is a quintessential expression in Egyptian village dance. Most prevelent in Southern Egypt among the "Saidi", Tahteeb (for men) and Raqs Assaya (women) is a bold yet gracefull dance with the cane prop. A unisex style is taught that contains both the male Tahteeb bravado and mock combat, along with the Assaya flirtation and spunk. Karim teaches with the strait cane (any dowel between 3' and 4') and covers all the basic spins, flips and strikes. He stresses ambidexterous technique and utilizes both hands for the entire lesson. Double Cane is also taught, culminating in a short standard "friendly battle" choreography.

MAQAM and TAQSIM FOR DANCERS: Maqam is the Arabic system of scales and melody creation. All songs, weather classical, pop or dance, are created in a Maqam, which dictates whether the song is happy, somber, uplifting, spiritual or sensual. We align notes in the scale with specific body isolations, allowing them to follow a maqam by using her dance vocabulary. Dancers will learn how to recognize, sing and move to maqams by learning famous song examples. Special attention will be given to Taqsim, the art of instrumental solo improvisation. The dancer will practice interpreting the instrumental music into movement and personifying the mood of the music. This workshop is vital for dancers who wish to better interpret melody into movement.

ARAB FOLK DANCE INTENSIVE: This class is an intensive introduction to the traditional group dances from the Arab world. These dances are primarily unisex, and emphasize synchronicity and group cohesion. This workshop includes Dabka Line Dance, Basic Tahteeb/Assaya Cane Dance, and the group-healing ritual motions found in Zikr and Zar practices. Each dance is taught efficiently as an introduction to the style, and is an initiation into possible future study. These dances are less glamourous than the performance-oriented heroism of the solo dances found in the Arab world. These are the dances done by "The People" in social, celebratory, and spiritual group settings. They can be taught to dancers at any level, as both a cultural and artistic experience. The group movements and concepts can later be extrapolated into performance-calibre skills and themes.

MUSICALITY FOR DANCERS: Despite any mastery of technique and bodily dexterity, true dance expression requires musicality. The best dancers are those who emulate the music into their own movement. Karim will demystify Arab music for the dancer. Several recurring themes in Arab music will be identified (using recorded examples) and explained in emotive, non musical terms. The class will cover Taksim, Melodic Themes, Vocal vs Instrumental Songs, Rhythms & Rhythmic Changes, Melodic Modulation, Song Structure, Orchestration and Instrumentation. Karim will guide the students through several songs and lead them in dancing to each of these themes. This is a movement class that will help the dancer become the physical personification of the music.

SURVEY OF ARAB MUSIC FOR DANCE (LECTURE): Although music exists without dance, dance rarely exists without music. Arab culture has a strong dance tradition with specific music that propels it. Students will study the relationship between music and the movement it creates or accompanies. The context, storylines and themes of each song will be explained. Overviews and recording samples will be given in the categories of Performance (Stage Dabka and Raqs Sharqi), Ritual (Zikr, Zaar, Sama/Whirling), and Social Dance (Dabka and Raqs Baladi). Karim will also demonstrate the intimate connection between rhythm and movement in the Performance category, with live examples.

ARAB DRUM WORKSHOPS "SAIDI, SAUDI, SUDASI" (SSS): Students may bring their Arabic Tabla, Dumbek, Darabuka, Riqq, Duff, Muzhar or Frame drum. Karim will teach these three dynamic rhythms, emphasizing the Arab technique of double off-hand taks and running method. Students will learn how these rhythms propel specific dance styles from around the Arab world. Karim engages all levels from advanced beginner (someone with basic skills) to advanced intermediate. Every level will be adequately challenged and will benefit from the ensemble approach.
---SAIDI (Southern Egyptian) is used for cane dance, ghawazee, pop and folk music. Karim will teach a four part Saidi with emphasis on the empty first beat, and slow yet bubbling tempo.
---SAUDI (Arabian Peninsula) is used for "Khaliji" urban and popular folk music. Karim will teach the polyrhythmic multipart version that illustrates the Afro-Indo influence.
---SUDASI (Lebanese and Palestinian) is used for Dabka unisex line dance. Karim will teach this unique yet common 6/4 rhythm with variations to accent stomp choreographies.

ARAB DRUM WORKSHOPS "MASMUDI, MALFUF, MAGHREBI" (MMM): Students may bring their Arabic Tabla, Dumbek, Darabuka, Riqq, Duff, Muzhar or Frame drum. Karim will teach these three dynamic rhythms, emphasizing the Arab technique of double off-hand taks and running method. Students will learn how these rhythms propel specific dance styles from around the Arab world. Karim engages all levels from advanced beginner (someone with basic skills) to advanced intermediate. Every level will be adequately challenged and will benefit from the ensemble approach.
---MASMUDI (Classic Egyptian Style) is used in both folkloric and classical Egyptian music. Karim will teach both "Kabir" (big) and "Saghir" (small, a.k.a. "Baladi) with multiple Dum variations.
---MALFUF (Palestinian & Lebanese Style) is used for Dabka unisex line dance. Karim will teach the tight and loose versions with multiple Dum accents.
---MAGHREBI (Moroccan 6/8 to 2/4 transition) is a generic term for Moroccan & North African rhythms. Karim will teach Shaabi 6/8, and it's transition to Rai-Karachi 2/4.

ARAB DRUM WORKSHOPS "ADANI, BAMBI, CHOBIE" (ABC): Students may bring their Arabic Tabla, Dumbek, Darabuka, Riqq, Duff, Muzhar or Frame drum. Karim will teach these three dynamic rhythms, emphasizing the Arab technique of double off-hand taks and running method. Students will learn how these rhythms propel specific dance styles from around the Arab world. Karim engages all levels from advanced beginner (someone with basic skills) to advanced intermediate. Every level will be adequately challenged and will benefit from the ensemble approach.
---ADANI (Arabian Peninsula) is used for "Khaliji" urban and popular folk music. Karim will teach the polyrhythmic multipart version that illustrates the Afro-Indo influence.
---BAMBI (Folkloric Egyptian) is a specialty rhythm used for cane dance, and folk music. Karim will teach the multi Dum version of Bambi with the heavy syncopation.
---CHOBIE (Folkloric Iraqi) is used for the Iraqi unisex line dance also called "Chobie". Karim will teach this Malfuf-based rhythm with the triple Dum beginning, in both the 4/4 and 6/4 versions.

RIQQ (ARAB TAMBOURINE): The "Riqq" tambourine is the lead percussion instrument in the Arabic orchestra and classical ensemble. It is played with the fingers on both the skin and the cymbals. The technique calls for three different holding possitions and techniques. In addition to Arabic music, these instruments are widely used in Turkish, Iranian, Balkan, Gypsy and Mediterranean music. Students will learn technique, stamina, rhythmic repertoire and various ethnic styles. Karim Nagi has recently authored a comprehensive Intsructional Riqq DVD.

ARABIC TABLA (Beginner): This course focuses on the Arabic Tabla (aka Doumbek, Darabuka). Students will learn technique, rhythmic vocabulary and the essential stylistic approach to Arabic rhythm. This course creates a strong foundation for later advanced drum performance. This course is designed for people with rudimentary knowledge of music, percussion or Middle Eastern drumming.

ARABIC TABLA (Advanced): This course is designed for the experienced musician and percussionist. Students will learn advanced rhythms, solo construction, improvisation, advanced technique, and composition. Students will also learn how to accompany an instrumentalist and dancer. Focus will be on Arabic Tabla with some usage of tambourine and frame drum. The goal is to push the student of Arabic percussion into the professional realm.