The Hadia's Festival of the Nile- Canada, August 2-5, was Western Canada’s first festival of Middle Eastern music, dance, and culture.  And what a celebration it was! 

Participants came from Dallas, Chicago, Washington, New Brunswick, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and from all over Alberta to partake in this four day flurry of fashion shows, gala performances, music and drumming workshops, and dance classes taught by some of the world’s finest teachers.

The Festival was hosted by Hadia.  Her expert organization and vivacious personality ensured that Festival participants would be exposed to as much as possible in four days.  The variety of classes, workshops and entertainment offered something for everybody, professional and beginner alike. 

The fun started Friday afternoon with a two hour fashion show put on Jamilee Abir and Ariella.  Students wore exquisite costumes from the Son of the Pharoah shop in Eau Claire Market, Calgary.  Some costumes were imported directly from Egypt, some locally made, and others were from the wearer’s personal collection.  Costumes in all colors of the rainbow floated down the runway.  They ranged from glitzy and sparkly to relatively simple construction.   Middle Eastern music beckoned the models to dance as the MC’s explained a bit about each design.  Onlookers were in awe of this splendid start to the Festival.

Classes began that night; for the dancers it was time to get moving.  The group of approximately 80 participants was split in two. This made it comfortable to dance in the studios at the YWCA – Fitness on Fifth.

To kick off the classes, Hadia taught an irresistibly cute cheoreography she had just learned in Egypt set to the music Bint Il Balad – Fatme Serhan.  She took us through the movements while demonstrating her flair with dramatic effect, playing up the character of the dance – a flirtatious village beauty.

Sabura wowed participants with a showing of her expert veil work. She demonstrated veil entrances, spins, tosses, and poses with grace and fluidity.  The handout she provided will be helpful to refresh participant’s memories when we attempt these movements on our own.

Friday night Ariella and Jamilee hosted another fashion show.  This time the theme was a historical look at different costumes worn throughout the ages,  from the Rom to the Ghawazee to modern cabaret.  The talk was intensely interesting and shed a lot of light on historical aspects of the dance, such as cultural custom and dance styles, that many people may not have known.

 Before classes began each morning, participants could browse the bazaar set up in the corner of one studio.  It consisted of lovely costumes from Son of the Pharoah and Jamilee, a variety of music, and art.  It was a nice way for participants to wake up each morning as they perused the beautiful wares for sale.

Jalilah taught a class on Ghawazee dance style.  Having spent time with the Ghawazee, Jalilah imparted first-hand knowledge of the overall feel of the Ghawazee movements, their historical background, and their culture.  She shared pictures of Ghawazee dancers, some of which were very old.  It was an excellent lesson about these dancers who now exist in a very small number, but whose influence on Middle Eastern Dance is immense.

Jalilah also taught classes focusing on rhythms, classical and oriental styles.  With a soft-spoken style that is quietly intent, she moves meticulously and encourages her students to move this way as well.  Her knowledge and experience of Middle Eastern culture and dance was selflessly shared with the participants. 

The Festival was not only about dancing, but also learning more about Middle Eastern culture.  To that end, we were taught about the music we dance to.  Michael Frishkopf, Assitant Professor of Music at the University of Alberta, taught participants about Arab history, rhythms, instruments and Sufi culture.  He played out the rhythms and invited the group to play along.  We received handouts and watched a video that enhanced our learning experience.  The class focused on the song Lissa Fakir which Jalilah used for a dance class.

Jalilah’s petite frame moves so gracefully, making it a perfect match for the music of the classic song – Lissa Faakir.  Soft as a flower, she taught a cheoreography that honored the music perfectly.  Learning about the meaning of the words and the music of the song added much to our dancing.

The Festival also included a choice to participate in a drumming workshop or a lecture about Middle Eastern spirituality.  Author and student of ancient wisdom, Howard Mickoski, gave a fascinating lecture.  The drumming workshop was also a hit, allowing students to practice with professionals.

The sound of the drum beat loud in Hadia’s Technique and Drum Solo class.  Her vast knowledge of other dance styles including Flamenco, Jazz, and African shone through while she focused on technique.  She has an amazing ability to pinpoint and correct a student’s technique.  Her guidance quickly improves movements made by both beginners and advanced students.

To wrap up the dance classes, Hadia taught a class focusing on essential rhythms.  She offered ideas of different movements to compliment different rhythms.   The class was a bit more free-form than others, allowing participants to test out knowledge they had picked up from the weekend’s classes.  It was an energetic, fun time that Hadia wisely used to let us move and celebrate all we had learned. 

A video of each instructor demonstrating each workshop was made available to student’s at a reasonable price.  Also, participants could buy Videos of the two Festival performances.  These Videos are an excellent learning tool and souvenir of this remarkable Festival.

Judging from the smiles and excited chat that circulated in between classes and at the glorious “Ahlan Wa Sahlan” and “Night on the Nile” shows Saturday and Sunday night, other participants of the Hadia's Festival of the Nile- Canada had as much fun as I did.  It was four days of immersion into a culture and form of dance that we all love.  Thank you so much to the instructors, lecturers, musicians, volunteers and especially Hadia.

Kim Mayberry 

Review of Hadia’s Festival of the Nile 2003 

I have been a fan of Hadia’s since I first discovered her instructional Videos about four years ago. In the spring of 2002 I was thrilled to be able to attend one of her workshops when she travelled to the east coast and right there and then I put her Festival of the Nile and teacher’s retreat in Banff at the top of my wish list. The planets aligned during the summer of 2002 when I discovered that a good friend from the Yukon was planning to attend both the festival and retreat. It had to be a sign! Perfect timing! This was definitly the summer to go!

The Festival was to start with a fashion show on Friday at lunchtime. We made our way downtown to the Eau Claire Market where for over 2 hours we were treated to the latest in belly dance fashions supplied by Son of the Pharoah. What an amazing array of costumes! There were simple costumes suitable for students, costumes that would work well for troupes and some breathtakingly beautiful creations suitable for professional performances. The models were Hadia’s students and they and Hadia performed throughout the afternoon as well. Fabulous!

That evening we gathered at the Olympia Dancesport Studio to meet the instructors and attend an evening of lectures. The  energy in the room was amazing and we weren’t to be disappointed. Hadia has very high standards and she had assembled an incredibly talented group of people for this year’s festival. Dr. Michael Frishkopf, Sahra Saeeda and Helene Eriksen joined Hadia as our instructors. The evening began with a lecture by Dr. Michael Frishkopf and Hadia on Arabic music history, instruments, Maquams and interpretation. Dr. Michael  Frishkopf is Assistant Professor of Music and Associate Director of the Centre of Ethnomusicology at the University of Alberta and Director of the West African Music Ensemble. He had taught the previous year and been brought back by popular demand. It was easy to see why. He spoke on the origins and history of music in the Middle East and explained many of the instruments. The lecture was entertaining as well as educational. Michael also demonstrated how to play some of the instruments and Hadia taught finger cymbals with the drummers. Sahra Saeeda lectured on Egyptian Folklore, music, costuming and history. She handed out maps of Egypt and explained the different regions and spoke of how all had their own particular styles of dance. Sahra also has an impressive list of credentials, including degrees in Dance and Cultural Anthropology and an MA in Dance Ethnology. She has lived and researched in Egypt as well as performing her own show in Cairo for several years. She has traveled extensively, dancing and lecturing and is currently artistic director of Ya Amar! Middle Eastern Company.

Saturday morning we returned to the Olympia Dancesport Studio. The festival was actually two separate workshops, with a beginner level workshop taking place simultaneously in the downstairs studio while the intermediate/advanced workshop was taking place in the upstairs studio.  A logistical nightmare? You wouldn’t know it! Everything was so well organized, from the registration table divided alphabetically ( a great idea to reduce the lines ) to lunch being provided on site all three days. There were also several vendors set up for shopping.

The  actual workshops were organized into 90 minute or two hour sessions with Hadia, Sahra and Helene alternating as teachers. Over the three days of instruction, Sahra taught several sessions focusing on Egyptian folklore and Oriental. Highlights were a delightful Milaya Lef and a rocking drum solo! Helene Eriksen’s sessions were on traditional folk dances. Helene has studied Dance Ethnology at UCLA and was later a doctoral candidate in Folklore, Slavistics and Turcology at the George-August University in Gottingen, Germany. Besides directing her own ensemble, El Raqs-e Hilal in Germany, she currently leads dance and culture study tours to Morocco and teaches workshops throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Helene’s focus is on teaching the authentic movements of the various folk dances rather than choreographies. Highlights of Helene’s instruction were an exploration of Kaleegy dance and the dance of the Ouled Nail. 

Hadia has been recognized and honoured for her talent and contributions to the dance by IAMED as winner of the best Choreographer Award for 2000, the Globel Woman of Vision Award – Arts and Entertainment 2002  and has won a Giza Academy Award for best instructional video of 1999. She is a teacher of boundless energy with an enthusiasm that excites and inspires her students. 

Hadia is also a licensed Massage Therapist and possesses a thorough knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology which she uses to help her students understand movement and improve technique. Hadia’s beautiful and moving choreography to Huwa Sahiya was one of the highlights of the festival. She also gave a wonderful class presenting her perspectives of  the most important elements to consider while putting together a choreography. There were also several more lectures throughout the festival, giving us a chance to catch our breath. Dr. Michael Frishkopf and Hadia taught intermediate and advanced rhythms while we sat on the floor and played our finger cymbals and Sahra gave a lecture on how to work with musicians. Another highlight was when Hadia led us through her new warm up with a promise to make it available on video in the near future.

The Festival wasn’t all work though! There was also entertainment! There was a hafla on Saturday evening at the Olympia Dancesport Studio featuring performances by local and visiting artists and a live band! It was very informal and everyone was encouraged to get up and dance. A great party!

Sunday evening we attended “A Night on the Nile II” at the University of Calgary Theatre. The theatre was the perfect setting for the event and professional sound and lighting added to the enjoyment of the performances.

Hadia, Sahra and Helene performed along with many guest artists that included soloists, duets and troupes. The dancing was amazing and the costumes were stunning! Hadia, Sahra and Helene each performed several times and included some of the material they had been teaching us. It was a fabulous evening!

Monday evening we were all invited to join Hadia, Sahra and Helene for dinner at the Pegasus Restaurant in Calgary. It was so nice to have the chance to thank all the instructors and to share some laughs with them before saying goodbye. It was truly a wonderful end to an amazing few days.

Hadia and her assistant Dianne are to be congratulated on the way they organized Festival of the Nile. This is a huge event, lasting several days, taking place at several locations with a lot of people attending. I was impressed with how well the schedule was planned and at how smoothly we were moved from one session to the next. That means that there was a lot of hard work being put in behind the scenes! It was appreciated! Thank-you!

Lorena Robertson