Bellydance by Phaedra (and friends)

Description

Phaedra Darwish was mesmerized by Arabic dance and music after studying different types of dance from around the world. She feels that these art forms are beautiful ways to share the culture of her heritage.

She has been performing and teaching workshops and classes in Chicago and throughout the US for the past 14 years, as well as producing and taking part in cultural events, community fundraisers, and dance festivals as both a musician and dancer. Through active engagement, maintaining a high standard of execution, and participation in quality programming, Phaedra hopes to spread enthusiasm and respect for Middle Eastern dance as more and more people get acquainted with its health benefits and enchanted by its beauty.

With its lively music and rich historic tradition, oriental dance, or raqs sharqi, brings with it more than just dance moves. By examining the music, regions, and cultural aspects behind the movement in her classes and performing Arabic dance at a professional level both inside and outside of its traditional environment, Phaedra seeks to fulfill her mission as an artist: to increase cultural awareness, appreciation, and understanding by sharing the dances of her heritage with as large a population as possible.

Work Sample

Recording from August 2019, Chicago Summer Dance Celebration at Millenium Park
Total video: 3:55; teaching starts at 3:00
Two students accompanying me: Daniel Smativicius and Naomi Turner

I have been teaching in Chicago and around the US for 14 years. This sample is part of a larger day long festival of dance in Chicago. This is an example of my teaching for a group that is new to Middle Eastern dance. 

This was recorded in Sept 2019 for the studio I was working at at the time. 3:01 total

This is a small interview about my teaching philosophy and my motivation and mission as an artist and teacher of Arabic dance. 

Recording: April 11, 2021
This was part of an online presentation by Intercultural Music of Chicago of the musical group, Diwan al Han, showcasing traditional Arabic music. This is my interpretation of Andalusian dance in an Arabic musical context. This is just to show performance of another style of Middle Eastern dance outside of bellydancing. 

I have taught, lectured about, and or performed Arabic dance in Chicago, NYC, Michigan, Las Vegas, and Lebanon over the past 14 years. These videos show an example of my teaching at a basic level of Arabic dance to the general public, my philosophy as an artist, and a performance of another style of Middle Eastern dance outside of Raqs Sharqi (belly dance).

History

Coming from a background in instrumental and vocal music and musical theatre, Phaedra Darwish was mesmerized by Arabic dance and music after studying different types of dance from around the world. She feels that these art forms are beautiful ways to share the culture of her heritage.

She has been performing and teaching workshops and classes in Chicago and throughout the US for the past 14 years, as well as producing and taking part in cultural events, community fundraisers, and dance festivals as both a musician and dancer. Through active engagement, maintaining a high standard of execution, and participation in quality programming, Phaedra hopes to spread enthusiasm and respect for Middle Eastern dance as more and more people get acquainted with its health benefits and enchanted by its beauty.

Artistic Vision

With its lively music and rich historic tradition, oriental dance, or raqs sharqi, brings with it more than just dance moves. By examining the music, regions, and cultural aspects behind the movement in her classes and performing Arabic dance at a professional level both inside and outside of its traditional environment, Phaedra seeks to fulfill her mission as an artist: to increase cultural awareness, appreciation, and understanding by sharing the dances of her heritage with as large a population as possible.  

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

I have taught stick dancing to children (CPS, 2020), and have specific workshops available to students who already have a dance background (classic oriental, drum solo, veil, saiidi, finger cymbals). I have lectured about Arabic music and dance (the life of Oum Kalthoum, general rhythms, and the interaction between drummer and dancer, Arabic music for bellydancers) at Concordia, Northwestern University, and VanderCook College of Music. As a trained musician, I have a degree in music and have studied Arabic music for the past 7 years. I also have a small Arabic ensemble that I sing and play with, which gives me a bigger bank of knowledge from which to draw than most Arabic dancers. I am able to bring musicians with me for workshops, etc., if needed or requested. 

Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement

"Arabic dance" is an umbrella term which can encompass many styles from different regions of the Arab world. Dance and rhythmic movement is a part of the culture as much as food or language, and can be seen at almost any joyous Arabic event, both religious and secular. As a Lebanese-American, I feel a duty to represent this dance at a high standard to the Arab community who may have preconceived notions about it, and a duty to educate the public at large about this dance, as it is directly tied to the culture from which it comes and you cannot separate the moves from the reason behind them.