"If you take anything away from this workshop, may it be that form is the most important aspect of your dance."

Leila Gamal, master teacher with over 25 year’s experience, is one of the veteran greats of the 2nd "Golden Age" of belly dance in the United States. Aside from being a gracefully commanding performer, she is a treasure trove of knowledge, which she shared with dancers at a workshop covering four decades of Classic Egyptian style at Kira's Oasis in Centerville on July 11th.

Admittedly, as an American cabaret/fusion dancer, Classic Egyptian is not my preferred style of dance. Going into the workshop, I wondered if I would learn anything I could apply to my own performances. At least, I figured, this would be a good history lesson. I was very pleasantly surprised!

Leila Gamal not only taught us the history of Classic Egyptian style belly dance in the 20th century, but taught us how to execute the basic, fundamental forms of this dance, the postures and the graceful stances that make it so alluring. She taught us how to find the various points of power within our body, demonstrating and drilling some of the trademark moves of classic dancers like Samia Gamal, Souher Zaki, and Tahiya Carioca. As we glided back and forth across the floor, Leila taught us how to "dance for the king".

Leila is one of the best teachers under whom I’ve ever had the pleasure of studying. Whether she is aware of it or not, she is a wonderful public speaker, with a clear, firm voice, captivating passion, and solid certainty. She is approachable, patient, and attentive. Her corrections were gentle and, when we got it right, her smile beamed in the dim of the dance studio.

One of the aspects I loved most about her approach to this workshop was that, although it was a class on Egyptian style dancing, she demonstrated how important these techniques are for any  style of belly dance--be it American cabaret, Turkish, or even Tribal. She acknowledged that each of us dances for a different reason, but all of them are equally valid, and encouraged us to find our own voice through dance.. just don’t forget your graceful S-curve form!

Zattana's assessment: Leila's workshops are cost-conscious and  she offers experience most other teachers cannot touch. If you are serious about dance, do not pass up the opportunity to study with this woman!