Turkish Rom Workshop
with Ferda Bayazit
 
On September 23rd, 35 belly dancers from all parts of the Okanagan, the Kootenays and as far away as Calgary gathered in Penticton to learn authentic Rom dancing, taught by Turkish/Canadian Ferda Bayazit.  It was a very worthwhile and interesting learning experience, in my opinion.  It was my first time hosting a workshop for someone else and in retrospect, I can say it was a fair bit of work.  Many hours in planning and organizing but one thing
Thursday, October 5, 2006
I didn’t have to do was teach. I usually plan, organize and teach my own workshops, but this time I got to be the student; a really sweet deal!  
 
Ferda was wonderful to deal with professionally and also was a captivating teacher. (And a sweet and thoughtful person.) Her workshop was filled with interesting cultural anecdotes, stories and fun.  Since I had never been exposed to Rom culture, it was as interesting to me in a social study context as it was technically fascinating dance-wise.
 
This was something entirely different from what I’m most often exposed to (which is, of course, Classic Egyptian, American Cabaret etc.)  The Roma people, are a heterogeneous cultural group found all over the world.  We like to call them Gypsies, although the term is incorrect.  In earlier years, it was a pejorative term, but now it is so widely used than even some of the Roma people accept it.  There has always been the Gypsy image of a dark haired, strong featured beauty, with a poofy sleeved blouse and ruffled skirt.  The kind seen covering a torrid romance novel.  Well, that’s pretty hollywood.  To find more out about the Roma, click here. - and here,  and here.
 
The dance style of the Turkish Roma of Istanbul, is of course, a representation of their culture.  Meaning:  the dance can be strong, earthy, bold, brassy with lots of attitude and gestures that have meaning.  It can be sad, desperate, angry, coy, harsh or fun, light-hearted and joyful.  Since in general the Roma have had to struggle with more than their share of hardships, prejudice and suffering, the dance of the people reflects their cultural demeanor.  This style is not belly dance per se, but really a type of ethnic dance that can be incorporated into our belly dance culture if we so choose.
 
In the morning workshop, Ferda taught us some basic moves and also combinations with these moves and gestures.  She has been studying with a Roma Teacher in Istanbul and shared with us, some of her teachers combinations that would ultimately be implemented into the afternoon choreography.
By lunchtime we were already tired!  Nothing like some pasta salad, kabobs and Greek salad to fortify.  And a bit of a rest.  Ferda had some wonderful costumes and jewelry left from her previous workshop tours which everyone enjoyed eyeing and some buying. Next time, I’ll have to get to her first, so there will be even more to choose from!  We were able to buy a CD with the choreography song on it, and she also provided notes for the choreography, which received high marks in my books.
 
The afternoon was spent learning the Rom choreography which was so much fun. Everyone enjoyed the gestures and especially the tummy rubbing which worked fabulously with the music. Karsilima (9) is one of my favourite rhythms and I now have several more options for movements  with it.
 
After a quick clean up of the room, I was off to the Fibonacci Cafe, to organize that space and people for the hafla and to sit for spell with my wonderful friend and fellow workshop participant, Carol.  She was helpful in grounding me, as I was beginning to get frazzled.  Although it was a bit more than 2 hours ‘til the hafla, it felt like I had 15 minutes to get ready.  Importing music, ensuring the order of things, etc. arranging furniture and before you knew it, everyone was there and ready to dance.  My percussionist Lee was our dj and mc and also earlier, was the lunch delivery boy.
 
Without the help of fellow dancers like Linda, Domini, Donnalee and of course the star of the evening Ferda, this kind of dance party would not be the same.  I thank you all for your generosity and thoughtfulness in coming together and sharing your art with an appreciative audience. Ferda’s performance of the Shukar Shukar choreography was a joy to behold.  All the performances really kick started the evening and were the beginning of a wonderful belly dance / female energy that carried through ‘til the end.   And of course, thank you all participants and hafla attendees who embodied that energy.  You were the hafla!  It was inspiring to have my vision realized of joyful, energetic dancers gettin’ down, sharing the floor other and supporting and appreciating each other.  There was magic happening there, and you couldn’t help but feel it.
 
After the party wound down, believe it or not, I still had another gig to go to.   A private party of 20+ at Theo’s Greek restaurant.  I wasn’t sure I could pull it off, after dancing for the past 7 hours, but to my amazement, it was some of (what I felt anyway) my best dancing to date.  It probably helped that it was one of the most appreciative crowds I’ve experienced.  Good dancing and a good crowd; always a brilliant combination, and I’m never sure which is the catalyst.
I guess there’s a lot to said about being properly warmed up!  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carol & Sandrina
Learning the Hamam gestures - loofah anyone?
Such a wonderful group of dancers . . .   Ferda made it fun!  
Lunchtime - Thanks to the Fibonacci Cafe!
Sandrina & Ferda; the Hafla aftermath; aka: the sweat-bath.