Music Teachers:  Seido Salifoski, Karim Nagi, Ali Kahya, Souren Baronian, Mike Uzatmaciyan, Sami Abu Shumays, Rachid Halihal, Tayyar Akdeniz and SPECIAL GUESTS!

         We welcome all levels of dancers and musicians from professional to beginner!

Visit the Folktours website www.folktours.com for all the details 

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~Friday, May 23rd to Monday, May 26th

Folktours 6th Annual Middle Eastern Music And Dance Camp

I am very proud to be a Guest Artist at The Folktours 6th Annual Middle Eastern Music And Dance Camp. I look forward every year to the camp with it's  music coming out of every corner and fabulous teachers inspiring you to greater heights.  Artemis and Tayyar put togther a wonderful weekend so come dance in the woods with us!

Visit the Folktours website www.folktours.com for all the details 

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~Sunday June 1, 2008 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Beautiful Floorwork Workshop

The Loft, 92 Main St., Yonkers, NY

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~June 18 - 22nd, 2008

New Rochelle Opera Company Presents Aida

Choreography and performance by Aszmara

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~Saturday, June 28nd , 2008   3:00 - 6:00 pm

Dynamic Staging Master Class

Expand your range of expression with Dynamic Staging.  Whether in a nightclub or on a raised stage, quite often in performance the tendency is to use the same space as we are used to in rehearsing.    Through Dynamic Staging we expand our use of space to make your shows more compelling, whatever the venue.

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~Friday, April 18th, 2008    7:00 - 10:00 pm

Jazz It Up  Performance at Lafayette grill

 featuring Transition ensemble

Souren Baronian, Haig Manoukian, Danny Zankar and Mal Stein

with Rayhanna, Aszmara and Ranya

and Ultimate Improv workshop participants!

Special Guest Roberta Koch rejoining Aszmara in performing 'Of Hope'

'Of Hope' Premiered in New York City on January 30th 1994. It was performed frequently with the full company of Saz Dance Theatre and in its chamber form as a duet with Roberta and Azsmara for six years. It seems important to us now to present this work again. After a span of nine years the relevancy and urgency has not diminished.

~Sunday, April 6, 2008

Host: Sonjirey of Shades of Lakshmi Presents: 
A Veil Dynamics Workshop with Aszmara!

"Winter Blues" Hafla Featuring Aszmara!
Veil dynamics that show how to contrast the soft fluidity with hot fast moves. Participation in the workshop guarantees free admission to the hafla.
Rahway, NJ 07065 US
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~ Friday, February 29th, 2008 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Zill Master Class as part of Ranya's Special Guest Workshops

Aszmara will teach the fascinating 6/8 and 7/8 rhythms in their basic zill patterns and then some! Feeling the rhythm, moving with the rhythm and improvising on the rhythm--to make these unusual rhythms feel more usual. Aszmara is a truly inspiring dancer and has loads of experience playing unusual rhythms from her extensive work with Souren Baronian's ensemble. This will be a great opportunity to try out these unusual rhythms on the cymbals, and yes, dance to them!

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~ Saturday, March 1rst, 2008 8:00 - 10:30 pm

Harem Night at The Loft

A wonderful get together with Middle Eastern Food, Dance Party Class, Dance Party, Performances by Aszmara plus Student Showcase Come support the dance community in Westchester! Contact me if you are interested in performing.

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~Saturday, March 29th, 2008 12 - 5 pm

"Out of the Box: Jazz It Up! Workshop"

Ranya, Rayhana and Aszmara

Three different approaches to improvisational work for Middle Eastern jazz fusion music.

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~Sunday, March 30th, 2008

Aszmara and her Students Perform at Figaro Cafe with Scott Wilson

184 Bleecker St. (corner of Macdougall St. and Bleecker) in Greenwich Village

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~ Friday, January 25th and February 1th, 2008   6:00 - 8:00

Master Class - Dance Story

Fazil's Dance Studio will be Open Through February!

Since the beginning of my Dance Life, Fazil's has been at the center of my creative process - with classes taken and taught; with company and solos works developed and realized.

TWe had such fun at the Last Master Class with Dance Story that I decided to continue paying homage to the creative process with "Dance Story" - one aspect of SaZ Dance Theatre that Roberta Koch and I did so well together.

"Dance Story" has specific themes and movements as well as room for improvisation. We will work the same theme for both classes so you have a chance to grow and become the story.

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~Sunday, January 27, 2008 SharQui presents

Amazing Performances by the hottest stars under one roof

Featuring:  Nadira of Seattle

Special Guest Artist:  Aszmara

Oreet, Ranya, Layla Isis, Tarik Sultan, Kazja, Jeniviva 

DROM  85 Ave A, NYC

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~Friday, February 8, 2008 8:30 - 12:30 AM

Taxim at The Cupping Room

Souren Baronian - Sax, G- Clarinet, Kaval, Dudook, Haig Manoukian - Oud, Mal Stein - Percussion, Lee Baronian - Dumbek, Danny Zanker - Bass, Special Guest - Aszmara

West Broadway & Broome Street, NYC

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~Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

Aszmara Performs in a Special Pre-Valentine Day Show

Je'Bon with music ensemble Djinn

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Saturday, November 3rd at Lafayette Grill 3 PM to 6
Workshop with Aszmara and Rayhana
Jazz It Up!     Dance to the Middle Eastern Jazz of Souren Baronian and Taksim Ensemble

Last year’s workshop entitled "Out of the Box and show were both sold out.
The show was packed and great. Expand your dance horizons with the sultry and exultant melodies and funky traditional rhythms of Middle Eastern jazz. As this is the space we will be performing in, there are benefits to having the workshop at Lafayette. Due to other commitments Ranya will not join us this year but the fabulous Amar and some of her company members will also be performing at our show.

Interested workshop participants can perform solo or in groups in our
Tuesday, November 13th show at Lafayette Grill with the live Taksim Ensemble! Show
date November 13, Showtime 7:30 to 10:00. $10.00 Admission and $20.00
minimum at door. No charge for dancers. There will be extra coaching sessions to
work on group pieces for those interested; early registrants will get priority
for solo slots.

Aszmara, just back from her tour in Switzerland with Taksim is a master teacher and fiery performer known for her fascinating use of rhythm and expression, will be teaching improvisational skills for use with the many "unusual" rhythms that, influenced by his Armenian background, Souren’s music contains - including 6/8 7/8, 8/8, 9/8, 10/8 and 11/8.
In this workshop, Aszmara will focus on helping dancers tune their ears to better understand these rhythms while feeling the rhythm in the improvised solos. We will work on their expression of these improvised solos through movment exploration and short combinations

    Rayhana's dramatic and sensual style is a perfect match for the smoldering jazzy taksims in this music. Being true to the feminine and spiritual essence of Middle Eastern Dance has always been important to Rayhana, and she brings out these qualities in her mesmerizing floorwork and veilwork. She has worked extensively with Souren's music and has toured with Souren's ensemble internationally, including residencies in Spain and Hawaii. In this workshop will be working with the participants on usage of the veil to this music in standing and floor positions.

For more on Souren Baronian’s music and to order CDs, visit
www.rayhana.com/souren_baronian.html
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~Sunday, January 6, 2008 12:00 - 3:00

Beautiful FloorWork Workshop

Sensuous and Languid, Floor Work is one of the most demanding skills to acquire for this dance. It challenges you physically and when performed puts you in touch with your sensuous nature. Youth and a good back can take you only so far!

All levels of students will learn to increase their abilities and expression in the Beautiful Floor Work Workshop. This 3 hour workshop we will cover Great Stretches, Graceful Descents and Rising and What to Do once you are down there (and, please, what not to do!)

Knee pads are recommended for this workshop.

Check pictures of this beautiful studio as to why I chose this location for the Floor Work Workshop. Located down the street from the Yonkers Train Station (30 minutes from Grand Central).  http://www.theloftdance-fitness.com/main.html

It is beautiful, big and pristine clean for all of that crawling around!

The Loft Dance & Fitness Center

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~ Friday, Nov. 30th and Dec. 7th   6:00 - 8:00

Master Class - Dance Story

$25.00 per Class

Possibly, almost definitely, the Last Master Class held at my beloved Fazil's Dance Studio.

Since the beginning of my Dance Life, Fazil's has been at the center of my creative process - with classes taken and taught; with company and solos works developed and realized.

This Last Master Class at Fazil's pays homage to the creative process with "Dance Story" - one aspect of SaZ Dance Theatre that Roberta Koch and I did so well together.

"Dance Story" has specific themes and movements as well as room for improvisation. We will work the same theme for both classes so you have a chance to grow and become the story.

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~Tuesday, November 13th from 7:30 to 10:30 pm

Jazz It Up Evening at the Lafayette Grill & Bar with Aszmara, Rayhana and Amar

Live Music by: Souren Baronian’s Middle Eastern Jazz Group Taksim - Souren Baronian - Clarinet & Reeds ~ Haig Manoukian - Oud ~ Mal Stein - Percussion

Also Featuring many other talented performers ~ Open Dancing for all

Lafayette Grill & Bar 54-56 Franklin Street, NYC (between Broadway & Lafayette St)

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Sunday, November 18, 2007 2:30 - 4:00pm

Aszmara & Transition in Concert

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Aszmara & Transition Schweiz Tournee

Transition Website  http://www.transition-music.com

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~ September 8 & 9, 2007

Aszmara Returns to Miami with Kahreen and Kira

Can't wait to see those Florida Ladies!

Details to be Announced

for more info: www.Kismetdancers.net

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The Evening of May 8, 2007
New York’s Platinum Dancers * The Best in the Business *
Proudly Presented by Rayhana
Presenting and honoring the Originators of Middle Eastern Dance
in New York City and the exceptionally talented
Star Dancers who embrace and reflect those unique styles.

Anahid Sofian, Elena Lentine, Serena Wilson

Aszmara, Morocco,

Gamila, Amar, Sofiya

Layla, Noora, Zohar,

Ayesha, Eddie "The Shiek" Kochak
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ May 11 - 13, 2007    

Aszmara went to California for her first time and loved it!  Thanks Sahra Saeed and Angelika Nemeth!  (And lovely Artemis Mourat who started the ball rolling...)

www.SahraSaeeda.com | www.angelikanemeth.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Sunday, November 19, 2006 2:30 - 4:00pm

Aszmara & Transition in Concert

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aszmara Raks Dancers perform at the Relay for Life

~ June 9, 2007 Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY

~ June 22, 2007 New Rochelle High School

both performances around 7 pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- Developing Stage Presence - How to Handle an Audience - What to Do with Those Nerves.

Chadia at: Chadia@GypsyCaravanEnterprises.com or call (201) 214-1837
GYPSY CARAVAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Saturday, September 16, 2006 from 7 - 9:30pm

The Loft Presents Harem Night with Aszmara

Join us for an evening of Belly Dancing, authentic cuisine and lots of fun as we not only dance but watch performances by the amazing Aszmara. Begins with a class with Aszmara from 7:30 to 8:30

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~Sunday, September 24, 2006 from 12noon - 3pm

Gypsy Caravan Enterprises Proudly Presents The Amazing and Alluring Aszmara in an Oriental Dance Workshop

"Performance Skill: Dancing to Live Music"

Starlight Dance Center, 7 High Street, Nutley, NJ

Aszmara will focus on

-Entering and Exiting -Use of Stage -Musician Etiquette -Professional Deportment

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Transition & Aszmara Schweiz Tournee

Sept 29 - Oct 17 2006

Cornelia Kraft Darabuka, Vocal

Haig Manoukian Oud

Souren Baronian G-Clarinette, Soprano-Sax, Kaval, Duduk, Percussion

Featuring:

Aszmara Oriental Dance

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~Saturday, October 21, 2006 from 2pm - 6pm

Aszmara's Class Party Hafla

Greenwich YWCA, 259 East Putnam Ave, Greenwich, CT

In the past, our class party was reserved  only for class members, but now we open to the public to share our joy of dance.  Performances by Aszmara's students range from beginner to Professional.    All have a great time, dancing with and for each other. And yes, Aszmara will also dance...

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~Saturday, April 22, 2006, from 3:00 pm to 7:30pm
Out of the Box:

Dancing to the Middle Eastern Jazz of Souren Baronian & Ensemble

Workshop with Aszmara, Rayhana and Ranya

Anahid Sofian Studio

29 W. 15th St., 6th Floor (bet. 5th & 6th Ave), NYC

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~Sunday, April 30, 2006 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Tambourine Dance Workshop

The Loft, 92 Main Street, Yonkers, NY

Complete Tambourine Dance with Attitudes and Expression!

~Saturday, May 6, 2006

8:00 p.m. Drum Circle with Aszmara

~Sunday, May 7, 2006
12 noon - 3:00 p.m. Tambourine Class with Aszmara
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Hafla/Dance Party

Hilight by The Lake
1586 Elephant Road, Perkasie, PA 18944
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Tuesday, May 9, 2006 from 7:30 pm to 10:30pm
An Evening at the Lafayette Grill & Bar with Aszmara, Rayhana and Ranya

Live Music by: Souren Baronian’s Middle Eastern Jazz Group Taksim - Souren Baronian - Clarinet & Reeds ~ Haig Manoukian - Oud ~ Mal Stein - Percussion ~ Lee Baronian - Dumbeck ~ Paul - Bass

Also Featuring many other talented performers ~ Open Dancing for all

Lafayette Grill & Bar 54-56 Franklin Street, NYC (between Broadway & Lafayette St)

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~ Monday, May 15 and 22nd, 2006 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Cane Choreography - May 22nd

Aszmara’s Veil and Cane work are not the same old thing! Give your props a lift...

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~ June 4, 2006 8:00 to 10:00 pm

Aszmara Performance at Café Figaro

music by Scott Wilson & company

184 Bleecker St. (corner of Macdougall St. and Bleecker) in Greenwich Village

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Aszmara Raks Dancers perform at the Relay for Life

~ June 2, 2006 Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY

~ June 16 New Rochelle High School

both performances around 7 pm

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Saturday* September 10, 2005 *

Gypsy Caravan Enterprises, Inc. presents

Zill Workshop

Maqsoum & Beledi rhythms, starting from basic rhythm to  syncopation technique

Starlight Dance Center (front room dance studio)

7 High St. in Nutley, NJ

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~Sunday *September 18, 2005*

Tahya Presents

Expressions W0rkshop With Aszmara

Aszmara will guide us in a class "Exploring Expression" with additional attention devoted to Zills and Props. Playfully explore postures, attitudes and expression to further enhance your dance.

Palmer (Easton), PA

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~Friday, Saturday, Sunday, September 23rd - 25th, 2005

Kareen & Kira Presents W0rkshop With Aszmara

Miami, Florida

for more info: www.Kismetdancers.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Thursday *September 29, 2005*

Mesopotamian Arts Council presents

A Night of Music and Dance Eclectic Music from Around the Globe

Dance Performance:  Aszmara

Musicians:  Ismail Butera Accordian and Director, Michael Hess Violin and Nai Flute, Haig Manoukian Oud, Mal Stein Percussion, Rami El Assar Percussion

Lafayette Grill & Bar, 54-56 Franklin Street, NYC

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August 7 -13th, 2005

Dance & Drum Weeklong Workshop

with Aszmara & Cornelia Kraft

Mullheim, Germany

For full information:   OrientalisheTanz- und Rhythmuswoche.htm

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~Saturday* June 4, 2005 * 9:00 PM

Dance at Alwan: Concert and Party

Artists at this show are

Aszmara, Darshan, Hannah Nour, and Mohammed Shahin

Alwan Arab Cultural Center

16 Beaver St., 4th floor, NYC

This is part of a monthly series at Alwan, curated by Ranya, presenting traditional and experimental Middle Eastern dance in an intimate theater setting.

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~Sunday* June 26, 2005

Serpentine Productions presents

Workshop And Showcase

Cane, Sword & Veil Workshop

Cane choreography with Master Instructor Aszmara

Sword balancing with Amira Iriz

Veil dancing with Julia "Jewel of the Nile"

Performance Showcase 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Lafayette Grill & Bar :   54-56 Franklin Street between Lafayette & Broadway, NYC

With Live Music by

* Amir Naoum * Dick Barsamian* Jerry Bedzekian * Mohammed Abdoullah ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Tuesday, October 11, 2005

An Evening at the Lafayette Grill & Bar

Rayhana & Aszmara

Live Music by:  Souren Baronian - Clarinet & Reeds ~ Haig Manoukian - Oud ~ Mal Stein - Dumbek

Also Featuring many other talented performers

Lafayette Grill & Bar 54-56 Franklin Street, NYC

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~Sunday, October 16, 2005

Karla Presents

Veil W0rkshop With Aszmara

Pleasantville, NY

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~Saturday, February 26th, 2005

Zill Dance Workshop

"If you have never heard her zills...they sing not just ring"

Anahid Sofian Studio, 29 West 15th Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10011

Aszmara returns to Anahid Sofian’s Studio for another Zill Dance Workshop. Learn the nuances, syncopations, rhythms and energetic stories that only Aszmara can pass onto you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Friday, March 11, 2005

Raks Odalesque Presents

Princeton, New Jersey

Zill Workbook Workshop with Aszmara

Basic patterns and rhythms for dancing with zills. Bring a notebook to create your Zill Workbook.

We'll fill it with Zill patterns and exercises to make your cymbals sing!

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~Sunday, March 13, 2005

Tahya Presents Veil W0rkshop With Aszmara 

Lehigh Valley (Wilson Boro/Easton), PA

Tahya writes:  I hope you will be able to join us for this special event where we will all learn, have fun and be challenged. Veil length should be at least three and a half yards. We'll get a complete warm up and cool down and besides the choreography; you can anticipate moments of acting and playing, technical exercises, and to have FUN!