Delilah's Complete 2008 Belly Dance Retreat

Delilah's 2008 Belly Dance Retreat

Letter from Delilah

Dear Dancers,
I would like to share with you a little about last year’s Instructors Training Retreat. It truly was a unique, challenging and rewarding course. That is why we are doing another one. Dancers have expressed more interest. First of all, I did not feel it was long enough, thus this year’s retreat is 10 days.

Come prepared to share your wisdom and enthusiasm. We all have specialties we are in tune with. We all will learn from each other. If you know me, you know I enjoy all styles and want to know about all perspectives. I have some very good principles I use in teaching that I want to share with you. Do not be afraid to use my techniques; all you have to do is credit me. During our course we will open discussion about art, professional belly dance ethics and business practices. We all get stronger with dialog. I may give you homework to do in the fall to prepare for our course. You are going to be asked to teach things to each other, to beginners who volunteer from the Kalani work staff, and to the general course study participants who could be any level; beginners to professionals. You may be called on to introduce the culture of belly dance to a group of new students or set up basic alignment principals for beginning dancers. Maybe you will teach a veil dance or brake down shimmy layers or a belly roll, lead a warm up or introduce power belly weight belt principles.

I want you to be knowledgeable in my techniques, but that is also why you are coming to this retreat; to learn more from me. If you want to get the most out of your applied study you should study all of my DVDs before the retreat. I am not demanding this as a prerequisite but strongly suggesting it for your best educational value. If you want to say you know my techniques, you should own them and study them often.

Another important aspect to your educational a value is to be present during the entire retreat. Try not to arrive late or leave early, please. Last year, 2006, was the first Teachers Training Course. Dancers participated from all over the world. Most were not familiar with me on a personal level at first, but by the end of the retreat we were very close. I have 8 full instructional DVDs on the market, so it is not hard for dancers to study with me remotely. I wanted a group of participants who had studied all of my instructional DVD material and had a firm grip on my principles, so we could move forward together in a more pressing manor. I felt if we were strong with my teaching principles, the door would be further opened to bring in contributions from individuals well. My goal was to cultivate their expertise a bit and be able to say they were knowledgeable in my particular practices and philosophies.

That isn’t exactly what happened. I didn’t feel enough homework was done. While I think it is understandable at this point in my career to seek dancers out who can carry my teachings forward, this is perhaps it is an unrealistic expectation. It takes time and energy to study, which people would apply at a university.

Dancers came who admired or had heard of my work and maybe had a video or two. They were various levels of teachers but hadn’t studied the DVDs enough or in some cases because they were from foreign countries, hadn’t studied at all yet. Each pretty much had their own recipe on how to teach and figured they would learn something from me when they got there. I learned a lot at this retreat. The retreat was challenging, rewarding and great work was done by everyone. However, I did not feel in all honesty I could say most of these dancers knew my particular material very well and would be likely to pass it on with authority.

It was more of a great beginning. Not knowing the material well beforehand changed the direction of the retreat. This did not make the retreat any less valuable. It was a great experience, but it was different than what was expected. So this year I am making some adjustments in my planning. I am not attached. I would love to pass on my teachings and know that the are being cultivated more purely and strongly, but to be a good dancer one must be flexible and work with what’s there.

The meaning of the Teachers Training Certificate
This I give as recognition that the participant has completed a unique course of belly Dance Instructors Training with me and this is suitable for framing. I think it should inspire and bolster professional confidence in the students who come into your studio and see it. There is room for personal comments that I will gladly elaborate on if I feel a instructor is clearly well versed in my philosophies and techniques.

Continuing Education:
Later on in 2006, the student named Helena from South Korea brought Delilah and Company to teach 3 workshops in South Korea. Brigitte from Montreal, Canada came with me and served as a teacher’s assistant for 2 weeks. She learned so much; it really was amazing. So there are further opportunities I am open to as well. Any questions please feel free to call me at (206) 632-2353

Download the Brochure as a PDF (2.8 MB)
2 Programs offered this year:
8 Day General Belly Dance Course
January 19th–25th 2008
OR
10 Day Intensive Instructors Training Course
January 18th–26th 2008

If you would like to be sent information hot-off-the-press please e-mail us at visionarydance.com with your name, address, phone number and e-mail. We will contact you.