In person workshops

Learn the ins and outs of how to improvise live with a drummer! In this class you will learn basic rhythms and accents and practice embodying these musical embellishments in your dance. You will learn improvisational skills to apply to the beginning, middle, and end of your exciting drum solo and Elizabeth and Shane will teach you how to communicate with the drummer before and during your performance. You will walk away with skills to deliver a dynamic and entertaining performance while connecting with the drummer and your audience. Dancers will have the opportunity to dance to live drumming and class will conclude with a Q&A with Elizabeth and Shane to answer all of your drumming and dancing questions! This class is suitable for all levels of dancers, from beginner to professional, with skills that can be applied for Raqs Sharqi dancers and fusion dancers alike. 

Discover the energetic source of your movements to cultivate grace, seamless transitions, and deliver stunning performances. Elizabeth will challenge you with combinations which integrate ballet and modern movements with bellydance vocabulary to practice new approaches to this beautiful dance form. In class dancers will work on acceleration, deceleration, momentum, and stillness in their dance. You will leave with the skills necessary to polish your movements and transitions and deepen your body awareness in your own choreographies and improvisations outside of class. Drawing from her training in modern, ballet, theater, and over 20 years of experience in various forms of bellydance, Elizabeth will teach a class that is suitable for all levels of dancers, from beginner to professional, with skills that can be applied for Raqs Sharqi dancers and fusion dancers alike.

In this class Elizabeth will give you the tools to deliver a strong and dynamic improvised dance in a live performance setting that will dazzle your audience. You will walk away with the skills and confidence to dance in various settings with different kinds of music and deliver a show stopping performance. In class dancers will experiment with how to structure an improvisation from beginning to end with movement choices, stage presence, dynamics, and more in a fun, encouraging, and supportive environment. Drawing from her training in modern, ballet, theater, and over 20 years of experience in various forms of bellydance, Elizabeth will teach a class that is suitable for all levels of dancers, from beginner to professional, with skills that can be applied for Raqs Sharqi dancers and fusion dancers alike.

In this class Elizabeth will give you the tools to create an interesting, dynamic, and refined choreography. You will walk away with the tools to really know your music, develop an idea or theme, select movements, apply dynamics, and continue to refine your choreography with stage presence, energy, and connection with your audience. In class dancers will apply these skills to a combination in class and create a combination of their own. Dancers will be given additional resources to help them cultivate their own creative and choreographic process. Drawing from her training in modern, ballet, theater, and over 20 years of experience in various forms of bellydance, Elizabeth will teach a class that is suitable for all levels of dancers, from beginner to professional, with skills that can be applied for Raqs Sharqi dancers and fusion dancers alike.

In this class Elizabeth will give you the tools to manipulate the fan veil with confidence and ease. You will walk away with the skills to dance with your fans with grace and sophistication, and learn some cool tricks too! In class dancers will learn various fan techniques including how to dance with the fan closed, open, and how to change grips in order to create a dynamic performance. Dancers will learn several combinations in which to practice these skills with seamless transitions. Drawing from her training in modern, ballet, theater, and over 20 years of experience in various forms of bellydance, Elizabeth will teach a class that is suitable for all levels of dancers, from beginner to professional, with skills that can be applied for Raqs Sharqi dancers and fusion dancers alike.

Learn the art of creating a masterful dance with your sword and create excitement and suspense with your every move. In this class you will learn various ways to balance your sword, how to dance with your sword, and the art of developing a strong improvisation or choreography with your sword. Together we will explore the motivation behind each movement and interaction with your sword, so that it becomes not just a prop, but a partner in your dance. Drawing from her training in modern, ballet, theater, and over 20 years of experience in various forms of bellydance, Elizabeth will teach a class that is suitable for all levels of dancers, from beginner to professional, with skills that can be applied for Raqs Sharqi dancers and fusion dancers alike.

Learn Elizabeth’s high energy and iconic drum solo “Boomerang” by Boom Boom Shake. Elizabeth will break down all of the various movements and shimmies utilized in this dance and then will put them together as you learn her fun choreography! She will also teach you how to improvise during the short improvisation part of the solo, and will also teach you the basics of performing a drum solo, so that you can apply what you learn to your own improvisations and choreographies. Drawing from her training in modern, ballet, theater, and over 20 years of experience in various forms of bellydance, Elizabeth will teach a class that is suitable for all levels of dancers, from beginner to professional, with skills that can be applied for Raqs Sharqi dancers and fusion dancers alike.

In this class, Elizabeth will teach you her fast paced, bouncy, and flirtatious choreography to “The Sota” as performed by Boom Boom Shake! She will break down the fusion, Golden Era, and American Cabaret inspired movements and stylizations that she has infused into this dance and you will learn her choreography from start to finish. Take away concepts of movement, stylization, staging, audience interaction, and dynamics to inspire you when crafting your own choreographies. Drawing from her training in modern, ballet, theater, and over 20 years of experience in various forms of bellydance, Elizabeth will teach a class that is suitable for all levels of dancers, from beginner to professional, with skills that can be applied for Raqs Sharqi dancers and fusion dancers alike.

Learn all you need to know to get started with playing the finger cymbals! Elizabeth will cover the various sounds, basic rhythms, and different techniques for playing your zills. In class you will practice playing them on their own and while dancing. You will leave class with all the tools you will need to build a strong personal practice with playing your finger cymbals not only as a dancer, but as a musician. Drawing from her training in modern, ballet, theater, and over 20 years of experience in various forms of bellydance, Elizabeth will teach a class that is suitable for all levels of dancers, from beginner to professional, with skills that can be applied for Raqs Sharqi dancers and fusion dancers alike.