karim nagi

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W O R K S H O P S
the seamless unison of music and dance

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. He presents 7 to 10 rhythms that vary in complexity, and inspire a variety of movements. By physically personifying each Rhythm, bodily mastery of that rhythm will be achieved. The dancer will be able to perform and teach each rhythm with greater accuracy and authenticity.This movement workshop is perfect for any dancer who wants to better understand what they are dancing to.

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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. Karim has crystalized the 8-sound method, and has made it easy and natural to learn. Students will learn the Arabic rhythms by name and how to play them while dancing! They will learn how 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.

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DABKI (Arabic line dancing) : Literally meaning "Stomp" in Arabic, Dabki (also spelled Dabka, Dabka, Dabkeh, plural Dabkaat) is a group dance found in the Eastern Arab countries. Performed mostly as a unisex line dance, Dabke is avidly done at the weddings and parties of Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian and Palestinian communities. A version can also be found in Iraq, known as Chobie. The movements include rhythmic stomping, kicking, sidewards walking, hoping and jumping. In social settings the dancers hold hands and form long moving lines or wide rotating circles. There are also many stage performances and musical theater shows that feature Dabke dances. You may also find Dabke used as a form of non-violent social protest during war and conflicts. But it is primarily a proud and energetic group line dance enjoyed by all ages and both genders.

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DRUM SOLO (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.

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SAIDI TAHTEEB & RAQS ASSAYA (cane dancing) : The southern half of Egypt, know as Upper Egypt due to its higher altitude, is called "al-Sa'id" in Arabic (pronounced iSa-yeed)". The Saidi people are famous for this semi-acrobatic stick dance called "Tahteeb" for men and "Raqs Assaya" for women. It is essentially a form of martial art where the manipulation of the stick and the demeanor of movement replicated a battle scene. The main motions with the stick include spinning, twirling, rowing, flipping and striking. Often two dancers will enact a friendly battle with synchronized sparing and coordinated strikes. But the essence of the Saidi dance is in its demeanor. The body moves heavily and confidently with a subtle pulse. Grace is more valued than aggression. This dance is done solo or in groups where the sticks are operated in unison, and men and/or women play together.

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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. Singing the maqam often herps the dancer feel the emotion created by the distances between each note. We then align notes in the scale with specific body isolations, allowing them to follow a maqam by using their bodily 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.

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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.

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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.

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CYMBAL SONGS (zill composition) : Learn a complete multi sound moving sagat & zill composition. Karim Nagi teaches his 8 sound, ambidextrous finger cymbal system, in the context of a song choreography. Students will learn short compositions that feature the highly melodic cymbals, in a way that will enthrall an audience. The songs can be performed by any number of dancers, and can be referenced to a pre existing recording. The students will move and isolate their bodies to emulate the cymbal-melodic phrases and percussive accents. This complete song can be performed by anyone, as an alternative, and segway, to any style of performance to pre recorded music. The multi sound, sustained note, and bi-dexterous positions, will demonstrate a dancers musicality and percussive dialoguing abilities. These cymbal songs will arrest any audience, as they proclaim that the dancer is also a musician !!!

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SUFI DANCE RITUAL (Egyptian Zikr) : There are innumerable Muslims in the world who actively use movement, rhythm and chanting as an extension of prayer. Sufis (meaning "mystics" or also "those who wear wool", in Arabic) are Muslims who use artistic ritual to help reach a state of knowledge or trance. The goal is to have an active experience of God "Allah" or Peace "Salaam". The movements are primarily swaying, spinning, bobbing, turning and tossing. Sometimes the energy swells to a point of abandon and emotive release. The rhythm is essential in propelling the meditative motions. Drumming and Percussion are the main catalysts. The beat can also given by rhythmic chanting. These chants can be as simple as repeating the name of God "Allah" or as complex as a hymn or sung poem. Regardless of religious affiliation, the Sufi ceremony can be done by any group using unified movement, and lead by a strong rhythm that accelerates until it reaches an ecstatic climax. The class is preceded with by a talk and explanation of Islamic Sufi practice and the concept of Nashwa (ecstatic bliss).

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RIQQ RAQS (the tambourine dance) : The dance of the tambourine is a perfect synthesis of rhythm and motion. Students will learn to play famous rhythms, accents, and improvised solo phrases on the riqq. A dozen steps, isolations, and folkloric ritual movement combinations will be added to the playing of the riqq. The dancing drummers will play above the head, rotate, travel, and step with their musical prop. The class will create formations using human patterns, where each dancer moves in opposition, and unison, with the other players. The class culminates in a choreographed ritual, where each dancer delivers a rhythmic riqq solo, as the rest answer in a tambourine chorus. Students must bring Any tambourine that has plastic or animal skin surface and cymbals. We will move to our own live music.

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OUM KALSOUM INTROS : These are the most famous instrumental pieces of the most famous Egyptian singer. Oum Kalsoum is the absolute most celebrated singer of the Arab world. Most people don't realize her Alf Layla wa Layla, Fakkarouni, Into Omri, and Leilit Hob, are vocal songs that exceed 40 minutes. However the instrumental "Muqadamat" introductions of these songs are mass appropriated for Bellydance, with enthusiasm. Karim will dissect each 4 to 6 minute Muqadim, explaining the history of the song and composer, song structure, maqam scale and rhythmic changes. He will demonstrate using live music, playing the 8 string buzuq, and the Egyptian tabla. Students will sing the melodic themes, and clap each rhythm of the piece. After full analysis, the students will dance to each instrumental Oum Kalsoum piece taught in class. This is the dancer's opportunity to develop and deliver the famous song, with their new understanding of its deep meaning, and specific character. And this class prepares the dancer to properly teach and demonstrate the song to their students, and for their audiences.

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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. This lecture covers the various regional and national styles of dance and music from around the Arab world. 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 demonstrate the intimite connection between music and dance in each category, and discuss the regional and cultural context that yields a particular style.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.