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Glimmer Mini-Workshops Schedule
Location: Scottish Rite Center, San Jose, CA
Saturday, September 12 & Sunday, September 13, 2026
Our 50-minute focused mini-workshops taught by Guild members, each spotlighting a unique skill or style.
Mini Glimmer Workshops
Guild Members: $15 per workshop
Non-Members: $20 per workshop
MEMBERS! PURCHASE WORKSHOPS HERE!
NON-MEMBERS! PURCHASE WORKSHOPS HERE!
BECOME A MEMBER AND SAVE ON YOUR WORKSHOPS!
✨ Festival + Workshop Passes (Best Value!)
Includes festival admission & full workshops (mini-workshops not included, unless specified).
- The Tahia Pass
3 Golden Featured Workshops + 2-Day Admission — $180 (Member) / $230 (Non-Member)
Named for the legendary Tahia Carioca, known for her charisma, strength, and film-star presence. This is the full-access pass for dancers ready to shine all weekend long.
- The Naima Pass
2 Golden Featured Workshops + 1-Day Admission — $120 (Member) / $150 (Non-Member)
Inspired by Naima Akef, beloved for her vibrant energy and playful style. A perfect one-day immersion into classic elegance and joyful movement.
- The Soheir Pass
2 Golden Featured Workshops + 2 Glimmer Mini-Workshops + 2-Day Admission — $160 (Member) / $210 (Non-Member)
Honoring Soheir Zaki, who sadly passed away recently, whose softness and musicality made her a darling of the golden era. This pass is the perfect blend of depth and diversity – two full days, featured and mini workshops.
✨ Saturday, September 12
Samia Stage
12:00-12:50 PM – Vintage Moves and Flirty Fusion Fragments with Belladonna
Step into the glamour of the Jazz Age with vintage-inspired fusion bellydance in true Bohemian style. This playful and expressive workshop blends stylized Fusion Fragments, theatrical flair, musicality, and flirty cabaret energy for a fun and empowering dance experience.
This workshop features stylized Fusion Fragments: structured combinations and mini-choreographies designed for solo work, improvisation, or cued lead-follow practice. Expect graceful lines, cheeky accents, layered textures, musicality, and plenty of personality as we embody the spirit of vintage cabaret through a modern Boho lens. We’ll explore movement quality, performance presence, and theatrical flair while building combinations that are both technically engaging and irresistibly fun. Think smoky jazz clubs, velvet gloves, champagne sparkle, feather-fan energy, and a little dangerous charm.
Perfect for dancers who love expressive movement, character work, musical interpretation, and bringing their fierce feminine energy forward with style and confidence. Come ready to shimmy, strut, sparkle, and SLAY the Boho Way.
1:00-1:50 PM – Wildcard Signature Combination and Transitions with Wildcard
Whether you are an improv dancer looking to add some saucy new moves to your repertoire, or a fusion dancer ready to try something a little different, this workshop is perfect for you! Join WildCard BellyDance as we share some of our unique, dialect-specific combinations and transitions! We will show you basic movements as well as some of our signature dynamic combos and teach you how to string them together improvisationally by using visual cues and seamless transitions. Each one is FCBD® friendly and can easily be integrated for FCBD® dancers. All skills are welcome, bring your finger cymbals if you have them.
2:00-3:15 PM – Essential Middle Eastern Rhythms for Dance with Amir Etemazadeh
Essential rhythms for Middle-eastern dance. Bring a drum or your finger cymbals. Extra drums will be available.
MEMBERS! PURCHASE WORKSHOPS HERE!NON-MEMBERS! PURCHASE WORKSHOPS HERE!
✨ Sunday, September 13
Samia Stage
12:00-12:50 PM – Zill Technique and Style with Ma*Shuqa
Coordinating finger cymbals and dance! Tips and techniques for playing, rhythms and combinations, three ways to play and coordinate with dance movements, Middle Eastern rhythms and cymbal patterns, fun percussive patterns: pops, melodic accents, matching musicality and phrases. This workshop provides skills and techniques for playing finger cymbals as dancers perform.1:00-1:50 PM – Stunning Double Veil with Hassan Yousef Diab
2:00-2:50 PM – Bambouty Folkloric Dance with Nelli al-Nil
Bambouty is a charming Egyptian folkloric dance performed by men and women in the Suez Canal region: Port Said and Ismailia. This energetic dance pays homage to the Mediterranean Sea and the local fishing industry. It is performed to the music of the simsimiyya, an ancient harp-like instrument brought to the area by Nubians when the Canal began construction in the 19th century. Dancers often play spoons as a percussive instrument while dancing.
3:00-3:50 PM – You Spin Me Right Round with Wildcard
4:00-4:50 PM – Saidi Stick (Tahtib) with Jordan
The dance that we see today originated from a martial art called Tahtib, and the display/dances were often one of ‘sparring’ among the men to music on traditional instruments. This later evolved into folk dances for groups and soloist, using a cane/stick, to be performed to various audiences, with traditional and evolving musical compositions. Class participants will be asked to bring a straight stick/cane, no hooked end. Class elements will include:
- A brief history overview of Raqs al-Assaya
- Basic technique and working with the stick, i.e. twirling, tossing, etc.
- Some drills and basic movement combinations – with and without the stick
5:00-5:50 PM – Shimmies and More Shimmies with Terry
Shimmies that move organically with the music! We'll explore the subtleties and nuance of shimmies from the nightclub era of live music and lengthy performances! Hip scarf suggested, enthusiasm and smile required!
MEMBERS! PURCHASE WORKSHOPS HERE!
NON-MEMBERS! PURCHASE WORKSHOPS HERE!