Randa of Course

Today is Wednesday and I’ve already had three days of classes with Randa Kamel. I wasn’t sure what to expect, sometimes great performers don’t make the best teachers. I’m overjoyed to say all that this has been a fantastic learning experience.

Students at Randa of Course (the title of these workshops) come from all over the world. We number fifty, from Scotland, Spain, Mexico, Morocco, Germany, France, England, and Japan. Unlike the Turkish Delight Festival, where I was the only American, six of us attend this workshop. The majority of students have studied with Randa before, yet she makes all of us feel welcome. She meticulously breaks down steps, even telling us what muscle groups we should be using. She encourages questions if we don’t understand and will review a combination as many times as she is asked. I get much of it, but as a neophyte here, I have yet to ask a question.

Bring your muscles if you plan to dance Randa’s Egyptian Style! Her balance is impeccable and much of what we do is in releve. So far, it’s fast. Very fast. Unlike what I’ve been told, in this style we’re not keeping our legs close together. Randa takes big strides and can move across the stage in a step or two. Adductors (those muscles in the upper, inside part of the thigh), abdominals and gluttes are really worked, so if you‘re Randa (not me) you‘re not flopping from one place to another. Class is strenuous and I’m dripping wet within 20 minutes.

Surprisingly, my knee isn’t distressed, even though I’m dancing on carpeting for hours each day. I think the muscle groups we're using help to protect it. That’s good news for my miracle-working physical therapist back home, Steve Morganstein. :-)

Our day starts with a one-hour warm-up which I mistakenly thought was a stretch. Not so. The first day was a disaster with the ’warm-up’ teacher leading students in advanced ballet leaps, chene turns, etc. Crazy stuff that I wouldn’t try even if I was warmed up. Along with many others, I sat that one out. Now I stretch in my room before class, even though that guy hasn’t been back. A new teacher starts our day with a folkloric choreography which is fun.

After that first hour Randa teaches us for 5 hours. We start with technique, which is my favorite part. She does wonderful combinations! My studies with Mahmoud Reda have helped me to turn in unexpected ways, but the movement is really, really different from anything I’ve done before. I regret that I don't have some ballet training. It’s kind of intimidating but I’m having a terrific time learning this new style.

During class Randa urges us to show emotion as we dance. She translates the song lyrics so we understand what we’re dancing to and reminds us that a dancer without emotion can’t relate to the audience. She herself is a very emotional dancer, singing or at least mouthing the words to the song as she dances. While I don’t feel I’m yet dancing on par with the others, I’m beaming in class, just feeling the joy of the dance and of being here. She points to me at one point saying ‘you have a beautiful smile.’ Made my day. :-)