Well Galena is sorry to say that for now there will be no new class sessions starting.  Galena is currently in the last trimester of her 3rd pregnancy and has taken some time off of teaching to focus on her growing family.  Stay posted for when classes will resume.  Having had 2 children before she knows just how much goes into having a new born so she doesn’t want to make any guarantees that classes will start in the fall.

If you would like to be added to her email list so you will find when classes resume then please send a quick note to Galena at galenadance@verizon.net.

Thank you all for understanding. She is really sad to have to suspend teaching.  She will update here when the baby comes.  Her baby girl is due on June 19th, 2010.

Galena’s class session will run January 18th through Feb 22, 2010.  If you are a current student or had been looking forward to a future session with Galena then please let her know and she can hopefully help you find another instructor to study with until she is back.

Galena and family are very excited about the upcoming events but at the same time very sad to say a temporary goodbye to her students.

Where the Dead Can Dance and You Can Too!

“Hand drums of the Middle East & Africa” Drumming Workshop $35

Costume Party $10

Kids under 2 are free but must stay with Parent at ALL times

Food, Spirits, Dancing, and more!

Pre-Register for the workshop and/or show by Paypal on website:  www.sestraluna.com or Pay at the door!

Event Description

“Hand Drums of the Middle East and Africa” Drumming Workshop from 4 to 6 pm Hosted by Nate Stottlemyer www.NPStottlemyer.net  Participants are invited to experience a variety of hand drumming traditions from the Middle East and West Africa.  Participants will learn authentic techniques and rhythms.  A limited number of instruments will be provided, primarily doumbeks courtesy of The Wright Hand Drum Company www.wrighthanddrums.com.  These instruments will be available for sale following the workshop.  Participants are encouraged to bring their own doumbeks, frame drums, djembes, or congas if they desire.   Nate Stottlemyer endorses Wright Hand Drums.

All Hallows Hafla We will have a variety of bellydance performances with a Halloween theme.  If you would like to have a dance slot email us at  typhrodisia@aol.com

All dance styles welcome and some sort of a Halloween theme is suggested….be creative!

Costume Party from 6 to 9 is family friendly.  After 9 pm, party becomes PG-13 because it gets darker, scarier and there is alcohol, so keep young children there at your own risk.   Since the majority of the party is outside (although we will have a campfire and a heated tent) dress for the weather.   Feel free to bring a dish or alcohol to share if you would like but it is not required. COSTUMES ARE REQUIRED.  Be creative because there is a costume contest for those who would like to enter.  $10 per person includes food, spirits, show and costume party.

Baby Sitter We will be hiring 2 young people to keep an eye on children who attend the party.  Children under 2 are not permitted to be left with the sitter. The $10 fee for children ages 3-8 is to cover the sitter whether you use them or not.

Costume Swap Meet bring used costumes to sell or exchange

After Dark We will have open dancing and drumming around the fire at night!  Bring your instruments.

Through Sestraluna I now have the amazing opportunity to work with Nate Stottlemyer who is a world percussionist.  He is an amazing drummer and really sweet guy.  I have included his flyer for his upcoming workshops.  You can also meet him and talk drumming at our Tiki Hafla this weekend August 15th!

FlyerOctober2009

Unfortunately since I was dancing the only photos we got were posed before the performance.  I am hoping other people got some photos they will want to share.

Directions:
From the Capital Beltway, take Kenilworth Avenue (exit 23 – MD Route 201) north. Turn right onto Crescent Road. Follow Crescent Road into Old Greenbelt until you reach Roosevelt Center on your right (2nd stop sign). Turn right on Centerway into the Roosevelt Center.

Raks America was great! I wish that I could have been there longer.  The dancing I saw was amazing and everyone I know who took workshops said that they were wonderful.

Sestraluna performed our Australian Tribal Spear Dance.  The stage was surprisingly smaller than we had expected so we made some last minute adjustments. I think it all went very well.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XD6CYitaiE

Summer Solstice was absolutely wonderful!  And Thank you Tania and Troupe Hipnotic for putting it on.  Due to rain we had to move inside  but it was a lovely time with a wide variety of dancing, styles and costuming.  I can’t wait until next year!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=82L1LHc5ojU

Fire Dancing Workshop from 3pm to 5pm – Learn the basics of fire safety and how to dance with a fire staff or fire hula hoop. Workshop is outside. Water will be provided. Feel free to bring any staffs or hoops you have at home to practice with. Dance-A-Fire will also have fire staffs and hoops available for purchase. The workshop price is $35.00

Tiki Party Starts at 6pm. Attendees from the fireworkshop can stay and hang out from 5-6pm. From 6-8pm is family friendly. After 8pm the party becomes PG-13 so keep your young children there at your own risk. Entire party is outside – bathrooms only inside so dress for the weather.

Photo Shoot with JimmyC – Sign up for 1 hour timeslots for a photo shoot with JimmyC of LuminousImpression. 1 Hour Session includes 2 costumes and all the accessories you can fit in for $100.00.  Proofs will be posted to a website within days and you choose up to 6 photos for post-processing!

Costume Swap Meet – Bring your used costumes to sell or exchange. We will have an area set up for changing and trying on costumes.

Silent Auction – Some of the members of Sestraluna are donating items for the silent auction. Please check the table out. You can find some really good deals including hip scarfs, costume pieces and even gigs and lessons!

Raffle – We will be raffling 2 tickets to the November Sestraluna Show featuring Naimah, Anisa, Mara Burke, Nilat and the kung fu artists from Jing Ying. Raffle tickets are $1- 1 ticket, $5 – 10 tickets and $10 – for 1 arm length

Featured Music – We will have some of the members of Kiva performing a live acoustic performance.

After Dark – We will have open dancing around the fire at night! If you would like to have a dance slot email us @ typhrodisia@aol.com. All dance styles welcome!

Cost:

$35.00 Fire Dancing Workshop only
$10.00 Tiki Party Hafla cover charge includes food from 6pm to 8pm (limited quantities available so come early to eat)
$15.00 Tiki Party Hafla and includes access to the keg until the keg runs dry
$100.00 1 Hour Photo Session with JimmyC

$5.00 for kids 6-12
Kids 5 and under are free

Send all payments through paypal to typhrodisia@aol.com

Parking: There will be limited parking in the front yard. Park along the street. Do not block neighbors driveways or the fire hydrant. Carpool if you can or park and ride with your friends from the bowling alley.

What will be covered in the workshop

For over a year now DC’s most spectacular Object Manipulators have joined forces, performed and taught under the title Dance Afire. Two of these talents, Surprise and Fractal, have put their heads together and come up with a two hour workshop that will introduce you to the expressions of two of our arts most dramatic tools, Hoop and Staff. Below you’ll find the basic sylabi Fractal and Surprise will use to explore first principles with you. What many outside of the practice do not know is that Hoop and staff though visually distinct, are from the wielders perspective very similar. This Workshop has been constructed to maximize your exposure to these similar techniques ensuring that you get the most out of your time with Dance Afire. As a dancer you know that technique is just the beginning. Using these first principles as a foundation Surprise and Fractal will share their unique insights as dancers on how these techniques may be integrated into your personal practice and used to accent your dance.

First Hour, Staff:

Basic Rotors: Hip Rolls, Figure Eights, (Thumb work)
Hands: Finger Rolls, Hand Rolls
Horizontal Plane Wk: Neck rolls, Helicopters
Arms: Wraps, conveyor belts and Steves.

Second Hour, Hoop: 

Waist: The Secret, Basic Spin, Earth & Sky Angles
Hand Hooping
Lifts and Returns
Arm Accentuation