2024 Fall workshops with Lynette
Dance like there is no tomorrow
Dabke by ReOrient
Our Dabke has a feminine twist, inspired by the song “El Tanoura” التنورة by Fares Karam. From the ReOrient collective’s performance for Multiculturalism Day 2019, produced by Crimson Coast Dance Society in Nanaimo, BC. Video by Bruce Finlayson. Dancers Kirsten, Taissia, Lynette and Kelly are joined by other dancers and drummers of ReOrient. Read more…
Dance Vallarta 2013
Five days of dance and sun in the Yoga Vallarta studio of Puerto Vallarta, February 5 – 9 2013. Thanks to my co-instructor Debra Shields of Saidi Sisters, the beautiful dancers who attended, Alma our studio host, and the restaurants that welcomed our evening dance parties! See our Facebook site Dance Vallarta 2013 for… Read more…
Fall classes with Lynette – 2012 – downtown Nanaimo
Art of Middle Eastern Dance – Tuesdays starting October 16 – Explore the joy and artistry of Middle Eastern dance in weekly multilevel classes with a masterful instructor/performer. This fall Lynette will strengthen your technique and movement vocabulary, while deepening your understanding of traditional styles and contemporary approaches to Turkish, Arab and fusion dance. Develop confidence in… Read more…
Turkish Roman music/video
Music from my past workshops All cd’s listed here are available on Amazon.com, some through Chapters Indigo, and one from iTunes. All of them are terrific! Performed by Turkish Roman (gypsy) musicians: Selim Sesler – Road to Kesan: Turkish ROM & Regional Music Thrace track: Tulum 5:01 Selim Sesler and Brenda MacCrimmon – Karsılama… Read more…
ANTH 112 Introductory Anthropology
Fall 2012 Cultural Anthropology Nanaimo: 8:30 – 11:30 am Fridays Cowichan 10:30 am – 12 noon Mondays, Wednesdays Instructor: Lynette Harper, Ph.D. Email: Lynette.Harper@viu.ca Anthropology can be divided into four subfields: physical/biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology. This course focuses on cultural anthropology—examining the nature of culture,… Read more…
Vancouver Island Bellydance Showcase
Saturday September 22, 2012 – Victoria-based OPA society celebrated the very best in our Island bellydance community! Among the 6 mini-workshops, I taught a session on Turkish Roman dance. I’ve listed some of my music resources and video inspirations in the Resources page “Turkish Roman workshop music and videos” Workshop Descriptions: 10am -‘Layering Drills for… Read more…
Penceresi yola karsi
Her window faces the street”, presented in Belly for the Beast, Malaspina Theatre, Nanaimo BC. This structured improvisation explores the public and private feelings of a Turkish girl, set to the Turkish Roman music of Karsilama (with Selim Sesler & Brenda MacCrimmon). Read more…
Red Apple
Excerpt from Red Apple, presented in Errington, BC. This choreography was inspired by the resilience of Afghani village women. The structured improvisation blends eastern and western traditions and contemporary dance styles to music by Ashkabad and Yuldiz Usmanova. Read more…
Smokin’
“Light a cigarette and to hell with the world!” This choreography blends Roma dance improvisation with western contemporary dance and “gypsy” stereotypes. Inspired by the 3 Mustaphas 3 version of Anapse To Cigaro. Read more…
Bekaa Valley Girls
Several excerpts from Bekaa Valley Girls, Lynette’s full-length collaborative creation with Rahma Haddad, presented in the Noon Dance Seriesat Vancouver’s Dance Centre, November 2009. Duet with Rahma Haddad (part 1) This segment recalls when Lebanese cousins Lynette and Rahma first met. Though raised in different parts of Canada, they shared a family history of… Read more…
Turkish dance workshops
Turkish Roma (gypsy) dance Celebrate the passionate and dynamic rhythms, movements, and spontaneity of Turkish Roman/Gypsy dance. Distinctive steps and sinuous movements will provide a base for exploring ornamentation, layering, and expression. Learn the meanings and role of gestures, experiment with a wide range of musical moods, and develop some powerful gypsy “attitude”. Teaching level:… Read more…
Romani dance workshops
Ghawazee Sparkle & Turkish Soul A short introduction to movement in two distinctive Roma styles. Strengthen your dance vocabulary, skills, and knowledge in a session contrasting the sinuous embellishments of Turkish dance styles with the quivers, shimmies and “earthquake tremors” of Egyptian Ghawazee dance. Read review. Teaching level: Multilevel (beginner through advanced) Length: 1 1/2 hours Read more…
Arab dance workshops
TARAB – Arab music and spirit of the dance Explore the soul and vitality of Arab music as inspiration for dance improvisation and choreography. Teaching level: Multilevel; works well for mixed levels beginner through advanced. Read review. Length: 2 or 3 hours From Countryside to Cabaret: Egyptian Saidi and Raqs Sharqi styles Build your technique, movement vocabulary,… Read more…
Improvisation, skills and technique workshops
Discover the joy of dancing in the moment. Develop your confidence and skills in movement, improvisation and creating choreography with techniques and exercises to expand your range of movement and expression in both traditional and currently popular dance styles. Sample topics, appropriate for multiple levels: Improvisation and Expression – Warm up with basic improvisation techniques,… Read more…
Dance is in their blood
Gilded Serpent June 2007 by Kevin Potvin A reluctant visitor to a multicultural arts show comes away with a new appreciation for how art entwines with ordinary life for ordinary people. . . . (click here to read article) Excerpt: That doesn’t mean I don’t understand dance at all –… Read more…
Lynette Harper Workshop Review
OPA! News, Victoria Spring 2008 by BOBBIE BARRY Lynette is the quintessential teacher. After 30 years of teaching and performing this art form, she knows her stuff! My first meeting and experience of Lynette Harper as a teacher was back in July 2003. At that point I had been studying Middle Eastern belly dance… Read more…
Queen of Wands
Excerpt from MIRAJ at Victoria’s 2003 Fringe Festival, a full-length dance theatre production created and performed with Earthfire Dance Collective. In this segment, the Queen of Wands (Lynette) loses her crown and other trappings of power to her cat (Taissia), and discovers an inner strength. Read more…
Damask Rose Revue 2
A fantastic show featuring guest artist Tamlyn Dallal! I am thrilled to be invited to perform with some of Vancouver’s finest: Al a Nar, Aviva & Megan, Carla, Laura, Leona, Lisa, Lynette (that’s me), Maki & students, Michelle, nina d., Tamara, Tha Fae, The Phoenix Dancers, and the magical musings of Rakkab Saturday July 7,… Read more…
Interview with Lynette Harper
Sahda, June 2007 By NILA What attracted you to bellydance, and made you stick to it? Dance is life! Returning home from a Middle East journey in 1976, I discovered the bellydance craze had hit Vancouver – and knew I’d become part of it. Sometimes I wonder if I would have stuck to Middle Eastern… Read more…
ANTH 390D Arab Women in the Middle East and Diaspora
Anthropological perspectives (offered May 2014; tentatively scheduled May 2016) Lynette.Harper@viu.ca A veil of mystery and stereotyping obscures Arab women’s lives in the Middle East and the global Arab diaspora. This course investigates Arab women’s dilemmas and perspectives on identity, faith, politics and representation through readings and discussion based on ethnographies and cultural studies. Examine gender/power… Read more…
Unveiled: Performing identities in the Arab diaspora
On Canada’s west coast, a large and active bellydance community has grown and thrived distinct from Middle Eastern ethnic communities. Orientalist fantasies and Egyptian stylings regularly appear onstage alongside western tribal and other ethnic bellydance fusions. These performances do not challenge popular media stereotypes about the Middle East; they comfortably coexist with ideologies linking veiled… Read more…
Arab Women, Arab Dance
When most people think of Arab music and dance they usually think of bellydancing, the North American dance craze based on an ancient tradition. These two presentations at Vancouver’s Dance Centre (2004 & 2005) provided a personal and cultural context for understanding the dynamic and evolving art of Arab dance. Five diversely accomplished Arab women,… Read more…
April Point Retreats, Quadra Island BC
2013 Dates TBA – Gypsy Spirit Dance Retreats with Lynette at April Point Resort & Spa on Quadra Island (3 hours north of Victoria) – Discover your “gypsy spirit” with Gypsy (Romani) style bellydance. You’ll quickly learn the basic moves to passionate music and lively rhythms. Celebrate the informal spontaneity of traditional Romani dance styles from Turkey,… Read more…
DanceAway Mexico
Planning for a 2013 Retreat in Mexico is underway, see the post Dance Vallarta 2013 ! Five days of dance and relaxation in a tranquil seaside village on Mexico’s west coast! DanceAways in 2010, 2011, and 2012 took place in La Manzanilla, a small seaside village just 4 hours south of Puerto Vallarta. DanceAway is an… Read more…
Belly for the Beast 2011
October 1, 2011 – Bellydancers take over the stage at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre! See fine local bellydance in a proper theatrical venue – while supporting the SPCA. A dynamite show showcasing traditional, folkloric to modern fusions, with touches of flamenco, Romany, contemporary dance – and live music adds depth to several pieces. Applause to Pacifica for creating… Read more…
Traditions, Tribes and Fusions – Nanaimo workshops
May 15, 2011 Dance with Arab Rhythms – LIVE!!!! Guest drummer Robin Shackleton of Sylvan Temple joins Lynette for a dynamic and energizing multi-level workshop. We’ve booked a large bright and NEW studio in downtown Nanaimo, to fill with drumming and dance! Develop your dance vocabulary and music understanding, as we work creatively with beledi… Read more…
Silk Road comes to Errington
I look forward to dancing with Silk Road and other Island bellydancers – SATURDAY APRIL 14 – with Cathy StoyStoyko, Taissia, Taiya, Kalina, and Kirsten! Silk Road and Friends at the Errington Hall Music and Dance from Spain, the Middle East, China and Beyond April 14, 2011 8pm Tickets $20 Under 12… Read more…
Exploring Tarab with Lynette
Spring 2007 OPA! News, Victoria by Sidona On February 18th members of Women of Widad piled into a van to take the trip up to Nanaimo to attend a workshop with Lynette Harper. We were excited and all felt that we needed a burst of dance energy after the long winter and… Read more…
Miraj was a sensory treat
16 April 2003 Daily News, Nanaimo – Review by Lynn Welburn Miraj (an Arabic word meaning ascent, the journey upwards) was the perfect title for the April 11 performance by Earthfire dance at the Malaspina University College theatre. But mirage, commonly used to describe something you think is real and which then vanishes, leaving… Read more…
Bellydancing makes another comeback
April 9 2003 The Harbour City Star, Nanaimo By Sandra Steilo This week I joined in on a trend that has been around for hundreds of years but now is suddenly new and hot again. I took a beginner belly dancing class with Lynette Harper at the Community Service Building. She got… Read more…
Shaking things up
14 November 1998 Harbour City Star, Nanaimo By Goody Niosi The Spice Girls may have Girl Power, but Nanaimo’s own Earthfire has Woman Power; a force that’s gathering enthusiastic fans wherever they perform. Earthfire is a troupe of women who dance together with joy, energy and exuberance. And although they perform folk dances from… Read more…
Northern Spirit: Lynette Harper Curator (and Belly Dancer)
May/June 1988 Up Here Magazine by Juliet Pin Imagine the combo of belly dancing and museum work! Lynette Harper has found the link. Born in Vancouver of Lebanese parents, belly dancing just seemed to come naturally. Her list of dance performances is impressive. From the Vancouver Sea Festival and Robson Square Plaza to… Read more…