The four-day workshop in Raqs Sharqi (Middle Eastern dance) was held Oct. 12 to 15. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

transformative

Top choreographer hosts Middle Eastern dance workshop in La Ronge

Oct 16, 2023 | 6:18 PM

A top North American choreographer of raqs sharqi, otherwise known as Middle Eastern dance, held a four-day workshop in La Ronge recently.

Yasmina Ramzy, of Toronto, was invited to the community by local dancer Charlene Bosiak, who has been learning under her direction for many years. The workshop was held Oct. 12 to 16 at Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre and it involved nine local participants with one travelling in from Saskatoon.

“I’m creating two choreographies for them to be able to perform over the next year or so,” Ramzy explained. “One is very vibrant, fast and upbeat, and one is very slow and emotional and romantic.”

Ramzy has a been a full-time dancer for more than four decades and she’s performed and taught throughout the Middle East, Europe and the United States. She’s taught dance in 70 cities around the world.

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Ramzy described raqs sharqi as having a very internal motion with movement being subtle, soft and gentle, coming from the ground, and very much formed by emotion. The workshop she held in La Ronge recently was the first she’s held in more than a year.

“I just feel it is such a different place with the country and the lake, the forest and we are up North,” Ramzy said.

“The girls seem so sweet. I have met them online before and I already love them. I just feel so happy that this is the first place I am going to be teaching again.”

Yasmina Ramzy lives in Toronto where she owns and operates a dance company. (Submitted photo/Manuel Garcia)

Bosiak mentioned Ramzy’s visit was mostly funded through a grant from Dance Saskatchewan Inc., along with fundraising efforts and a fee charged to participants. She noted it was an action-packed four days and she called Ramzy’s visit surprising and unexpected.

“It was transformative, there were happy tears shed, it was a lot of hard work,” Bosiak said.

“I think sometimes when you say dance, people don’t understand the immense amount of work it is. They did a 10-minute production. They learned 10 minutes of choreography in literally three-and-a-half days.”

Bosiak explained the two choreographies learned by the group will be practiced until a production is held next summer. She also plans to collaborate with dance companies in Saskatoon and hold a performance there, too.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com