Popular Workshop Options:
Sara is available to teach workshops at events throughout the USA, and on-line. She plans an annual trip to the UK and Norway which can be built around festivals and events. Most workshops can be addapted or combined to fit into a time slot of between 1 and 3 hours. Unless otherwise stated, her technique workshops are not choreography lead. Please message for more details or a custom workshop.
The workshops listed on this page are aimed at belly dancers and belly dance events. For Taster events/Ladies night/Baby shower/Bachelorette/Team building/Beginner workshops - click the link below.
Lolli-Pop Improvisation
Looking to up your improvisation game ? Always asking yourself "what comes next" ? Frightened your audience will get bored with your moves? Or does your mind just go blank when the music starts ? This is the workshop for you ! The Lolli-pop technique is easy to remember, simple to use and works with all styles, music and settings. We will explore the moves you love and introduce concepts to help you explore space. Drop the improvisation panic, know your next move and leave time to focus on the music and your audience.
Looking to up your improvisation game ? Always asking yourself "what comes next" ? Frightened your audience will get bored with your moves? Or does your mind just go blank when the music starts ? This is the workshop for you ! The Lolli-pop technique is easy to remember, simple to use and works with all styles, music and settings. We will explore the moves you love and introduce concepts to help you explore space. Drop the improvisation panic, know your next move and leave time to focus on the music and your audience.
Ranet kholkhali - Shabbi choreography
You know how it goes, you are walking through the market, minding your own business, your anklet starts to jingle.... and suddenly all the young men want to flirt with you! What is a girl to do?!? In this choreography, we get to play the coy young lady AND all her suiters. "For shame mister! I'm not your age. You're about how old? You're old enough to be my grandfather!"
You know how it goes, you are walking through the market, minding your own business, your anklet starts to jingle.... and suddenly all the young men want to flirt with you! What is a girl to do?!? In this choreography, we get to play the coy young lady AND all her suiters. "For shame mister! I'm not your age. You're about how old? You're old enough to be my grandfather!"
Fearless Stillness
The bravest thing we can do on stage is…. Nothing! Learn how to hold a pose to captivate the audience, to enjoy having every eye in the house upon you and how less can be so much more in a taqsim. We will travel and command areas of the stage bravely and majestically, owning both our movement and stillness.
The bravest thing we can do on stage is…. Nothing! Learn how to hold a pose to captivate the audience, to enjoy having every eye in the house upon you and how less can be so much more in a taqsim. We will travel and command areas of the stage bravely and majestically, owning both our movement and stillness.
Structured Improvisation for Performance
Improvisation frees the dancer to express the music as the mood takes her, while choreography provides the confidence, the drilled moves and the time to perfect a performance. Structured Improvisation combines all these for a fresh, yet tidy performance. In this workshop we will look at breaking down a piece into workable units, inserting favorite combinations, focusing on one skill set at a time, freshening for different audiences and developing a dance as individual as you are. Handouts available.
Improvisation frees the dancer to express the music as the mood takes her, while choreography provides the confidence, the drilled moves and the time to perfect a performance. Structured Improvisation combines all these for a fresh, yet tidy performance. In this workshop we will look at breaking down a piece into workable units, inserting favorite combinations, focusing on one skill set at a time, freshening for different audiences and developing a dance as individual as you are. Handouts available.
Dancing from the Heart - no really !
So often we hear that this dance comes from the heart and that we need to feel the music. To some this makes perfect sense and comes naturally, but for others you might as well be asking them to dance on the ceiling. This workshop takes us back to our basic moves and explains how to power them more centrally, how to build energy, without feeling like a hippy, how to stretch and contract to give that look of dancing from the heart. As we work the body to dance from the heart, so the mind is opened up to the idea and we can begin to really feel the music. Essential for those who learn more physically, or who tend to over think their dancing.
So often we hear that this dance comes from the heart and that we need to feel the music. To some this makes perfect sense and comes naturally, but for others you might as well be asking them to dance on the ceiling. This workshop takes us back to our basic moves and explains how to power them more centrally, how to build energy, without feeling like a hippy, how to stretch and contract to give that look of dancing from the heart. As we work the body to dance from the heart, so the mind is opened up to the idea and we can begin to really feel the music. Essential for those who learn more physically, or who tend to over think their dancing.
Salam Alana - Choreography
Attention grabbing from the start, this sweet little dance can be done either with or without a dance stick and as a solo or group number. The catchy music sets the tone beautifully for a choreography that just begs to be turned into a structured improvisation, including interaction with the audience, other dancers and the music. Bring a stick if you are comfortable with one, and your biggest smile.
Attention grabbing from the start, this sweet little dance can be done either with or without a dance stick and as a solo or group number. The catchy music sets the tone beautifully for a choreography that just begs to be turned into a structured improvisation, including interaction with the audience, other dancers and the music. Bring a stick if you are comfortable with one, and your biggest smile.
Premiere Performers – Preparing for your first Performance
Are you ready to perform ? Do you perform with a troupe but want to go solo ? Have you been asked to dance at a local event, but you don’t know if you are ready ? This is the workshop for you ! Sara will take you through the process of preparing to perform, step by step: from creating a concept and finding a venue, through choreography, practice, costuming, stage fright and enjoying your performance. This two hour workshop requires preparations on your part. Please book early to have enough time to do your “homework”. Event organizers - this workshop is the perfect introduction if you have festival dancing or want to have an awards celebration for your first time performers.
Are you ready to perform ? Do you perform with a troupe but want to go solo ? Have you been asked to dance at a local event, but you don’t know if you are ready ? This is the workshop for you ! Sara will take you through the process of preparing to perform, step by step: from creating a concept and finding a venue, through choreography, practice, costuming, stage fright and enjoying your performance. This two hour workshop requires preparations on your part. Please book early to have enough time to do your “homework”. Event organizers - this workshop is the perfect introduction if you have festival dancing or want to have an awards celebration for your first time performers.
Tabla Beladi - Choreography
Add a bit of sass to your performance with this explosive choreography which takes our expectations of a drum solo and expands them to use every single part of the body. Tabla Beladi is fast moving, fun and a great way to learn how to bring more variety into your drum solos moving forward. Depending on time we can learn the choreo and lots of technique to help you write your own drum solo in the future. |
Leisurely to Lively
Learn how movements can take on a whole new feel depending on the speed they are danced. In this workshop we will build combinations of moves and drill them first slowly, then at a mid tempo and finally at a fast pace. Move from measured, precise placements to fun and energetic dance. Learn how little accents, arm placements, styling and speed can change the feel of your combos. Improvers/Intermediate
Learn how movements can take on a whole new feel depending on the speed they are danced. In this workshop we will build combinations of moves and drill them first slowly, then at a mid tempo and finally at a fast pace. Move from measured, precise placements to fun and energetic dance. Learn how little accents, arm placements, styling and speed can change the feel of your combos. Improvers/Intermediate
Becoming a Belly Dancer: Five objectives for 12 months
Sometimes in our race to become “The best dancer ever!” we overload our bodies and minds with too many plans until we end up aimless. In this workshop we will focus on the perfect five goals or objectives for each dancer, with suggestions and practical exercises that not only expand us as dancers but are also achievable in just 12 months. This workshop will include discussions and some gentle dancing, so please bring layers of clothing. Handouts available.
Sometimes in our race to become “The best dancer ever!” we overload our bodies and minds with too many plans until we end up aimless. In this workshop we will focus on the perfect five goals or objectives for each dancer, with suggestions and practical exercises that not only expand us as dancers but are also achievable in just 12 months. This workshop will include discussions and some gentle dancing, so please bring layers of clothing. Handouts available.
Teaching Belly Dance - Understanding Learning Styles
Very few people fall into a clearly defined learning style, instead switching between styles week to week, lesson to lesson and concept to concept. Even if you feel you know your best learning or teaching style it is worth teaching towards each style to be sure that everyone understands every move and topic. In this workshop we will look at the visual learner, the audio learner, the verbal learner, the minute logical learner, the big picture logical learner, the physical learner and the emotional learner, and how to teach to their needs.
Very few people fall into a clearly defined learning style, instead switching between styles week to week, lesson to lesson and concept to concept. Even if you feel you know your best learning or teaching style it is worth teaching towards each style to be sure that everyone understands every move and topic. In this workshop we will look at the visual learner, the audio learner, the verbal learner, the minute logical learner, the big picture logical learner, the physical learner and the emotional learner, and how to teach to their needs.
Stepping over the Edge – Reducing stage anxiety
Even the big stars have moments of stage fright, but if your nerves are holding your dancing back its time to conquer them and release the performer within. In this workshop we will focus on understanding the need for fear and adrenaline, while taking control and channeling those feelings towards a better performance. We will accept praise, moderate our expectations and set realistic objectives on route to enjoying our performance opportunities
Even the big stars have moments of stage fright, but if your nerves are holding your dancing back its time to conquer them and release the performer within. In this workshop we will focus on understanding the need for fear and adrenaline, while taking control and channeling those feelings towards a better performance. We will accept praise, moderate our expectations and set realistic objectives on route to enjoying our performance opportunities
Interested in hosting Sara ?
Contact her for more information on dates and availability. Sara's plans for 2023/24 includes a wish list of trips to Norway, Poland and Hong Kong in addition to regular trips to the UK (she has family in all those locations, and is willing to discuss flight cost sharing) . Although based near Phoenix Arizona, she also wants to go back to California, and has yet to see much of the country East of Arizona. If you can link your workshops up with Sara's family trips, you can get an international workshop at local dancer prices. She is available year round, to teach in the USA, where she holds a green card, meaning she can teach anywhere within the USA. Sara is a British citizen, which also means she can teach throughout Europe. |
Sara Shrapnell teaching for Bwitchs International Online Belly Dance Festival, June 2020: |
Sara also offers a wide variety of personalized mentoring opportunities for belly dance professionals:
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