Safiya Nawaar
Safiya Nawaar is a widely acclaimed dance teacher, performer, and workshop instructor, as well as the owner and artistic director of Arabesque World Dance in Lexington, Kentucky. With a powerful yet delicate style, she brings the emotions of music to life through creative movement, both on stage and in the classroom. Specializing in traditional and folkloric dances from Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey, Safiya has dedicated the last 25 years to mastering and sharing her knowledge of Middle Eastern and North African dance.
Since 2002, Safiya has performed professionally, and in 2007, she began her career as an instructor. She opened Arabesque World Dance in Downtown Lexington in 2013, where she now runs a full-time dance school dedicated to traditional, folkloric, and fusion belly dance. With hundreds of performances across the Eastern U.S., Safiya is a prominent figure in the dance world.
Secrets of Belly Dance: Connecting to Your Core
Dive deep into the art of belly dance and unlock the hidden power of your core in this transformative workshop! Our core muscles are the body’s control center for balance, flexibility, and torso strength. They move us, bind us, and support us. Once a dancer truly connects to their core, a whole new world of movement becomes available.
In this workshop, we will explore a variety of classic and modern belly dance moves, from smooth, gooey movements to sharp locks and contractions of the core muscles. This session is designed for dancers of all levels, offering a deep dive into the secrets of belly dance technique and control.
Take this journey into traditional belly dance and discover how it connects our movement to the music, unlocking the secrets of this ancient art form!
Embrace the Silk
Step into the enchanting world of veil dance with Safiya’s captivating playshop! In this session, you’ll learn to treat your veil as a dance partner, not just a prop, and discover the unique qualities that make veil dance a mesmerizing art form.
Safiya will guide you through recognizing the rhythms in the music and utilizing rests and accents to create a seamless flow in your veil dance. You’ll master elegant traveling steps, wrapping and unwrapping techniques, and the effortless release and retrieval of your veil. Dive into sinuous movements and hypnotic, entrancing moves that create a sensual and dynamic experience, perfect for both personal enjoyment and performance.
Bring a silk veil at least 3 yards long, or purchase one at the playshop. Limited ‘loaner’ veils will also be available. (A chiffon veil will work, but doesn’t flow the same.