This class will look at the a brief history, including how the Gypsies brought Bellydancing into the World by performing along The Silk Routes and how Gypsy Dance has influenced Spanish, Italian and Middle Eastern/North African/Greek & Turkish Dance as well as (believe it or not) Classical Ballet, which at it’s core is an Italian Gypsy Dance.
We will also look at different Gypsy Styles of Dance and how you can recognise the difference, as well as what is authentic. Plus, how you pronounce Romani, and what it really translates to.
What will we cover?
Participants can wear a full skirt (preferably with an elastic waist) hip scarf or shawl, can be in bare feet if comfortable, otherwise ballet/dance flat shoes (no sneakers)
In this class we will chat about history and we will learn some routines and movements traditional of this cultural heritage.
Accessibility
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Wheelchair Accessible Venue
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Gender Neutral Bathrooms
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Quiet Spaces
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Free Tickets for First Nation Attendees
Who will be Teaching?
Alia (she/her) has been belly dancing, both teaching and performing, around the world, for over 30 years. Although taught by some of the most notable teachers, a lot of her dancing comes from her inner passion of being bought up Gypsy.
Originally born in New Zealand, where her Mother’s family escaped from Europe during the depression (between WWI & WWII), Alia was still bought up with all the traditions of the Romney culture, although this was in total secret – her Grandmother telling her that “this is Our Way of doing things, and no-one outside the family would understand”, which also included being taught to be proud of the term “Gypsy”.
Her family can trace their heritage from New Zealand to the UK, where her Grandmother was born in The Patch (Birmingham), most notably where the gypsies were from, and made famous by The Peaky Blinders Gang. Her own mother (Alia’s Great-Grandmother) was also born there, and not only Gypsy, but Jewish, and declared herself to be a White Witch (not something that should be advertised during WWII, but New Zealand was seen as safe and far away from the Holocaust); from there the family were from Wales, having emigrated there generations ago from Israel and Palestine. They were originally Jewish, the family (Tribe) name was Elias, but changed it, and religion, in order to fit in when they got to Wales, to Ellis. Going further back, the family were from all over the Middle East, and originated from a Berber Tribe, who are the indigenous people of Morocco.
Important info:
Photo by Akshaya Jayaprakash on Unsplash
Other questions or accessibility requests? Just shoot an email us at melbourne@lanewaylearning.com.