Impressions of Hilal Dance Week 2006

Written by Thea Davis

In addition we discuss our learning experiences with the teachers and follow students, see videos of Hilal Dance and live performance. All this takes place in an environment where the mundane chores of daily life can be put aside. With the usual good food provided at the Tanzhaus nrw and comfortable and friendly accommodation at the Hotel Friends. Fantastic!

My highlights this year were the video showing, the performance platform, the daily classes and just the opportunity to spend time with friends. Including those I see regularly at classes in London, who I rarely get the time to relax and chat with.

The video showing comprised a selected retrospective of Suraya's work and an excerpt from Alessandro's new work (El Saqiyeh). There was great variety and depth in the pieces chosen, which included expressions of emotion, tradition, spiritualism, purity of movement and rejuvenation. The selection seemed to appear as a kaleidoscope of mode and its metaphorical colours. There was comment from performers and students. The evening was both moving and inspirational. Personally, I found this session gave a deeper insight into the choreography of the dance.

The performance platform, wow that was such a treat, we saw five Hilal Dance teachers perform four separate pieces. This was a rare and much appreciated event. Each performance reinforced those we had seen on video for variety, whilst still echoing the Hilal dance movement system in completely individual expressions. Anna Hannorster and Thordis Carow exuded strength and radiance within their performance, whilst I found the prominent expression of Andrea Baumann piece was through her openness and delicate intricate movements. Sarah Hamilton performed with exquisite classical poise. Sabina Todaro danced with such a deep sense of disciplined passion, conveying apparent paradox that in reality resonated with such true heart feeling. They took us to a place, which words cannot.

The daily classes, this is what it's all about. Plenty of time for a good stretch and warm up with the bodywork. And then dance, all day for six days. There is some thing amazingly energising about this dance, that when all movement is flowing, it feels like there is no reason to stop. However, I do think it is necessary to praise our teachers, who teach stillness and restraint alongside dynamism and passion. Their dedication has taken them not only to a deep understanding of the dance, from where they can express clearly its evolution, but also to highly develop their teaching skills.

The Hilal Dance week was, again, a wonderful experience. As a student I found it challenging, rewarding and refreshing. Over the last several weeks I have found that I am dancing a lot more, just in the movements of my everyday life.

Finally, I would like to thank the teachers, musicians and everybody who attended and made this week possible. I look forward to seeing you all next year. s and everybody who attended and made this week possible. I look forward to seeing you all next year.

Thea Davi

Some of us took advantage of Ibrahim's percussion classes which are always good fun as well as helping our general understanding of Egyptian music.

There were occasions in the class when it was sheer bliss to listen to the exquisite music and watch the other half of the group dance in the Hilal Dance style.