Focus on Folklore: Through the Maghreb with Amel Tafsout

Let's spend January learning about folkloric dance!  The Focus on Folklore series will offer a return to the roots of bellydance, investigating traditional dances from Persia, Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, and the Magreb.  Join us to connect modern practices to a rich history.

In this workshop, Amel Tafsout will teach an introduction to various North African dance styles starting with the Berber-Amazigh fertility dances honoring Mother earth, followed by the city Andalusian Moorish dances and ending with the Desert spiritual dances.  She will also provide a historical context for each of these unique dances.  Please bring chiffon scarves.

This class will be held via Zoom meeting.  Participants will receive a link to the class in an email confirming registration.  You will also receive a link to a recording of the class that you can download to use at another time. The workshop cost is $30.

Keep your eyes open for workshop announcements for other teachers in the Focus on Folklore January workshop series!

More about Amel: Born in Algeria, Amel Tafsout (meaning ‘Hopes of Spring’) is a first source international dance artist of North African traditional and contemporary Maghreb Dance. Since childhood, Amel was fascinated by traditional dancers and musicians in her country. Her curiosity is still prominent today as she is always expanding her knowledge. Tafsout is also a social-linguist, a language professor, frame drummer, singer, poet, and energy worker.

Amel has dedicated her life to raise awareness and knowledge about her dance culture and to facilitate a dialogue between Arab-North African and Western women. She is fluent in five languages and has traveled, performed, and taught in several countries. While living in Germany she founded Banat As Sahra, and after moving to the U.K, The Tafsoutettes. She has performed with a wide range of orchestras from Latin Jazz to North African. She was also an active member of the Latin Jazz band ‘Chakchouka’, the North African music ensemble ‘Mambo Duniya’, the Arab-Turkish band ‘Noor Shimaal’ and later the North African music ensemble ‘Saladin’s Orchestra’ with the world master drummer, Salah-Dawson Miller, and guitarist, Justin Adams.

Amel has lectured, danced, taught, sung and conducted anthropological research in many countries. She has been featured in various TV programs in Europe and North Africa. She has also published many articles related to dance and Maghreb women in academic and popular magazines.

While living in the United States she has traveled to various places to lecture, teach, and perform. People are always taken aback by the knowledge and experience she brings to the table. With continuous and extensive research, she is a scholar in her fields. She has mesmerized audiences and classrooms worldwide. Anywhere she goes, Amel creates a comfortable space for her students to learn, dance, and heal. The knowledge, wisdom, and care she shares is something that people from all over the world gravitate towards. When learning from Amel or watching her perform not only does she take you on a cultural journey, but many say she takes you on a spiritual journey as well.