Laurie Eisler
 | |  |
The "Zar" of Egypt: Women's Healing
Trance Dance
This workshop is in two parts:
Lecture-presentation with video footage from
Cairo, and Dance exploration.
In the lecture segment, you will learn the
following background information on the zar:
when, where, how, and why the zar occurs; facts
and fiction -- spirit possession vs. exorcism; the
therapeutic nature of trance; types of spirits; the
different musical ensembles, and the connection
of rhythm and song to spirits.
Written material will be available at an extra
nominal cost.
In the dance portion, examples of characteristic
movements will be shown in the videos, and
taught. This will be followed by an opportunity
to integrate the ideas in a personal, therapeutic
way by dancing spontaneously to authentic
recordings from Egyptian zars. This
improvisation will be done veiled and as a group,
with eyes closed to maintain privacy.
PLEASE BRING A LARGE SCARF OR SHAWL!
Trance Dance
This workshop is in two parts:
Lecture-presentation with video footage from
Cairo, and Dance exploration.
In the lecture segment, you will learn the
following background information on the zar:
when, where, how, and why the zar occurs; facts
and fiction -- spirit possession vs. exorcism; the
therapeutic nature of trance; types of spirits; the
different musical ensembles, and the connection
of rhythm and song to spirits.
Written material will be available at an extra
nominal cost.
In the dance portion, examples of characteristic
movements will be shown in the videos, and
taught. This will be followed by an opportunity
to integrate the ideas in a personal, therapeutic
way by dancing spontaneously to authentic
recordings from Egyptian zars. This
improvisation will be done veiled and as a group,
with eyes closed to maintain privacy.
PLEASE BRING A LARGE SCARF OR SHAWL!
Laurie Eisler lived in Cairo for nearly two years, where she studied Arabic
language and music (riqq and qanun), and also researched and recorded the Zar. Laurie has a
B.A. World Arts & Cultures (dance ethnology), and an M.A. in Dance Therapy, both from
UCLA. As a musician, she has recorded several CD’s with Helm, and played for many years
with the Georges Lammam ensemble. She has taught at UC Berkeley, at the Mendocino
Middle East Music & Dance camp, and continues to teach privately.
| Sunday, 2:00 to 3:30 |
| Or send a check or money order made out to Deborah Bennette in the amount of $25.00 to Zaina Zahesha PO Box 2630 Petaluma, CA. 94953 |