PREVIOUS EVENTS

*featuring* Elias Lammam* Both at the Cayuga Vault in Santa Cruz www.cayugavault.com A concert of exquisite Arabic music with *Elias Lammam*, master of microtonal accordion, and his brothers: violin virtuoso *Georges Lammam*, and *Antoine Lammam*, master of Arabic percussion (tabla, riq), presenting classical and popular Arabic music as well as original compositions.

PRESS COVERAGE:
From music contributor Paul Davis:
PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK:
"Zsuzsi, thank you for last night's show. We had a great time. I hear Georges is working on a new album. Let me know when it comes out. See ya soon, Robert"

May 17- 18, 2008 Concert and Dabke Party with Karim Nagi at the Cayuga Vault, Santa Cruz and dance seminars with Karim Nagi: Musicality for Dancers and Tahteeb/Assaya Folkloric Dances at DanceSynergy, Aptos

November 10-11, 2007 Weekend Dance Seminar with Yousry Sharif of Cairo, Egypt

at the Palomar Ballroom, Santa Cruz
And Two Shows:
Saturday Evening at the Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz:
The Georges Lammam Ensemble with Special Guest Aza, and Dancers: Enheduanna, Amina, Sahar, Janette Brenner, Hala, and Janelle Rodriguez Sunday Evening Student Gala at the Pacific Cultural Center Featuring Suzy Brisbin of Canada and other students of the Yousry Sharif Seminar

PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK:

"What a great weekend! Yousry's workshops were fabulous! Absolutely brilliant choreographies! Thank you so much Suzanne for bringing such high class artists to our little beach town! The dancing in Sunday night's show was mind blowing, all of the entertainment was very polished and talented. Now everyone get some rest! Love, Rebekah"

"This past weekend of events was absolutely FABULOUS! I can't imagine how much time and energy you spent organizing two days of workshops and two shows at two different venues - WOW! Everything went so smoothly and I personally had a wonderful time. I hope you were able to take the workshop on Sunday - I also hope that you will be sleeping in the next few days! It can't be said enough - THANK YOU for making this memorable weekend possible for so many dancers. R."

"Hi, Suszi! You did a really good job organizing the workshop this weekend. Thanks again for the invite to dance in the show on Sunday. I had a great time! I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to take from Yousry again :D J :)"

"I cannot thank Suzanne enough for an incredible job of hostessing an amazingly full weekend of absolutely stunning dance instruction, performance & music. Yousry's workshop was even more fabulous & inspirational than ever- He just keeps getting better over the years! It was an honor to work with such an outstanding cast of professional musicians, dancers & stage crew saturday night (THANK YOU MOLLY & MARISSA OF MOTION PACIFIC for managing the stage!!!)....It was great to see so much of our local dance community involved as students, audience, performers & volunteers in addition to all of the out of town visitors who will be back without a doubt! Sahar "

"The events (they were really three!) were superbly executed and produced. I was really thrilled to be able to see the Georges Lammam Ensemble in a concert setting in Santa Cruz-- after years of experiencing their incredible talent at Mendocino Music/Dance Camp. As for the workshops with Yousry....it has been years since I have felt so inspired and enthralled with a teacher. I love it when an instructor really calls upon you to bring your personal best to your studies. Moreover, as much as I appreciate and love American devotees of this art form -- there is simply no replacement for the cultural and emotional transmission of information that occurred during that workshop. Yousry has such an intense, full-body connection to the music and dance -- that simply bearing witness is in and of itself a learning experience. Many thanks, Suzanne, for your commitment to the art form -- as a producer I know it is that commitment which pushes us forward in the pursuit of event production. You did an excellent job. For those that missed out -- I really encourage you to come out and attend events -- not because this event was poorly attended (it was quite successful) -- but because it is important to your educational pursuits in this art form. Do not fall into the "it isn't my style" trap. We are fortunate to have a multi-faceted gemstone...don't box yourself in artistically! Vashti"

"Yes! I am exhausted!!! Yousry Raq'd Santa Cruz!!!! If you missed it you miss out on a opportunity to study from a choreography genius!!!!! And an amazing artist!Ê I am hooked and so is Desert Dream!Ê Thank you all so much for coming out in support of another Master instructor in our little beach heaven----Suzanne, tell Yousry we want more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saturday night's show was Fabulous! Thank you Suzanne for inviting me to dance I absolutely had an experience on that stage with Georges & his ensemble; words cannot express the magic I felt from the musicians!Ê The dancers were all sooooo beautiful and AZA got the house a'rockin'! Sunday, even though we were all exhausted was still high energy! All the dancers were gorgeous, and the Santa Cruz Arabic Ensemble was beautiful! Good job Elias! Suzanne, thank you for bringing us Yousry and Georges Lammamam Ensemble!Ê You did a great job this weekend I'm lookin' forward to the next event. Love, and love to dance! Janelley"

"Congratulations for putting together and pulling off such a huge undertaking! You did a great job. And thank you so much for inviting the ensemble to play at the hafla. We all had a great time last night. M. "

"What a great week end. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU You did such a wonderful job . I know how hard it is to do something at this scale and you pulled it off with such style and grace. I personally had such a wonderful time. Until next time... xoxo Janette"

April 2007 Dance and Rhythm Workshop and Evening Show with Karim Nagi of Cairo/Boston

Participant Feedback:

"First off, thanks to everyone involved with making Karim's workshop possible! I am still stunned by how much I learned in just a few hours! It is rare for all aspects of a workshop to be so perfectly aligned: the organization, teaching, quality of students, class size, facilities and location were all excellent! Truly, this is the best workshop I have attended in years. I am just so sorry that I missed the Saturday night show!"/ -- Phylis

"We just wanted to thank you guys for bringing Karim to town and for putting together a great evening of performances. We had a lot of fun at the workshop and the party was a blast!!! Karim is a wonderful, fun instructor and he is extremely personable, funny and down to earth. His performance with the PVC canes was incredible!!! Thanks again!"/ Jalilah, Nafila, Vashti & Yasmin

Dance Workshops with Nourhan Sharif of NYC, August 2003 and August 2006

Participant Feedback:

"Every muscle in my body is sore...the Nourhan workshop was great! She can always give me more to strive to achieve. Her Egyptian style of dance is awesome and I love that she gives us history and cultural lessons."/ -- Rebekah

"My thanks also for allowing us the pleasure of dancing with Nourhan. What a great instructor with so much energy. I hurt everywhere but in a really good way....Thanks again for sponsoring this. Please keep up the goodwork."/ -- Ziba

"Wonderful teacher - Enjoyed the WS immensely. I liked how everyone was grinning from ear to ear as we played veil at the start of the second half - even though I'm sure everyone's arms were already sore!"/ -- Zorba

If you attended any of these events and would like to share your feedback, please email us! Thank you!

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