Orleans Raqs 2027 Registration
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WHAT + WHO: Iona Productions presents the legendary Ahmed Hussien, performer / instructor of ballroom and authentic Egyptian folkloric and Oriental bellydance!
WHEN: April 3+4, 2027 from 9a.m. to 3p.m.; related Shimmy Showcase '27, April 3 at 7p.m. at Cafe Istanbul. Doors open at 6:30pm. Scroll down for ticket information. WHERE: Classes in the social meeting hall at Hampton Inn, 501 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117 USA, blocks from the historic French Quarter (see map). Our event includes a block of rooms for purchase, up to 4 people occupancy, at rate $180 + taxes per night. Click button by the map to book a room by March 3, 2027. Show is at Cafe Istanbul, 2372 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117, close by. HOW: See class details, pricing, deadlines, show info, and QR codes below to register today! Communicate via FB Messenger please. |
Class Schedule
Saturday, April 3, 2027
- SAT 9:00 am-10:30 am Oriental Tango
- SAT 10:30 am-12:00 pm Beledi
- LUNCH 12-1pm (snacks & water provided)
- SAT 1:00 pm-2:30 pm Melaya Leff (bring Melaya or shawl)
- SHOWCASE: show 7-9 pm, doors open 6:30 pm. (Show Dancers: see more details below.)
Sunday, April 4, 2027
- SUN 9:00 am-10:30 am Shaabi
- SUN 10:30 am-12:00 pm Saidi (bring cane or tahteeb)
- LUNCH 12-1pm (snacks & water provided)
- SUN 1:00 pm-2:30 pm Romantic Oriental
- After classes: Group photos and visit time
Class Descriptions
Beledi: Master Ahmed Hussien combines the urban, grounded feeling of this self-expressive musical style along with modern Oriental movements resulting in a soulful and deeply expressive Beledi choreography. He incorporates gestures with the lyrics for a complete understanding and interpretation of the music.
Egyptian Sha’abi Dance: Join Ahmed Hussien’s Egyptian Sha’abi workshop and learn exciting, high energy dance combinations and choreography. Egyptian Sha’abi dance is a fun street dance with a lot of facial expressions. It is playful in nature and uses imaginative “knife” gestures to accompany the movements. Most of it is done with improvisation to match the many rhythm changes . Sha’abi is typically danced at weddings and celebrations. For men, Sha’abi is danced with a lot of heavy movement similar to hip hop and break dance that was done in the US in the past. For women, Sha’abi dance is more subtle with lots of hip action, sway movement, facial expressions and hand motions. Also, the Sha’abi music beat makes it easy for anyone to want to dance.
Eskandarani, better known as "Melaya Leff": Melaya Leff is a performance that brings to life the playful and flirtatious spirit of women, a folkloric dance from Alexandria, Egypt. With flowing black melayas (shawls) draped over their shoulders, dancers embody the confident yet coy nature of Alexandrian women, using expressive footwork, hip accents, and teasing gestures. The choreography combines lively steps, lighthearted interactions, and dynamic spins, capturing the charm and energy of this vibrant coastal dance.
Oriental Tango: Egyptian composers added Tango into their music due to the strong influence of the British occupation in Egypt, thus creating the passionate and elegant Oriental Tango. The Oriental Tango is found in many of the songs sung by the legends Oum Kalthoum and Asmahan. Master Ahmed combines Ballroom Tango with his personal style of Classical Oriental Dance to create the passionate elegance that is Oriental Tango.
Romantic Oriental: Master Ahmed combines his skillful artistry and passion to deliver a soulful Romantic Oriental class. He will create a choreography to the song's meaning and interpret it's profound message through expressive gestures. This style incorporates the extension and grace of classic oriental technique while embracing the depth and feeling expressed in the lyrics.
Saidi: Saidi Dance is an ancient folkloric dance form Upper Egypt. It combines martial arts movements (known as tahteeb) performed with a staff or cane (assaya). Traditionally, men perform tahteeb, as the ancient Egyptians used it as combat training for battle. The women perform a more theatrical style of tahteeb, called raqs assaya, celebrating the specialized combat skills, which was popularized by Mahmoud Reda, an Egyptian choreographer. They dance with lighter weight canes, and flaunt the ease of maneuvering them with lots of twirls, sometimes dancing with two canes simultaneously. Footwork in this dance often mimics the majestic white Egyptian horses. Traditionally, a loose fitting galabiyaa is worn both by men and women when performing, with a turban or headscarf. Women will also wear a scarf tied around their hips to showcase the movement.
Egyptian Sha’abi Dance: Join Ahmed Hussien’s Egyptian Sha’abi workshop and learn exciting, high energy dance combinations and choreography. Egyptian Sha’abi dance is a fun street dance with a lot of facial expressions. It is playful in nature and uses imaginative “knife” gestures to accompany the movements. Most of it is done with improvisation to match the many rhythm changes . Sha’abi is typically danced at weddings and celebrations. For men, Sha’abi is danced with a lot of heavy movement similar to hip hop and break dance that was done in the US in the past. For women, Sha’abi dance is more subtle with lots of hip action, sway movement, facial expressions and hand motions. Also, the Sha’abi music beat makes it easy for anyone to want to dance.
Eskandarani, better known as "Melaya Leff": Melaya Leff is a performance that brings to life the playful and flirtatious spirit of women, a folkloric dance from Alexandria, Egypt. With flowing black melayas (shawls) draped over their shoulders, dancers embody the confident yet coy nature of Alexandrian women, using expressive footwork, hip accents, and teasing gestures. The choreography combines lively steps, lighthearted interactions, and dynamic spins, capturing the charm and energy of this vibrant coastal dance.
Oriental Tango: Egyptian composers added Tango into their music due to the strong influence of the British occupation in Egypt, thus creating the passionate and elegant Oriental Tango. The Oriental Tango is found in many of the songs sung by the legends Oum Kalthoum and Asmahan. Master Ahmed combines Ballroom Tango with his personal style of Classical Oriental Dance to create the passionate elegance that is Oriental Tango.
Romantic Oriental: Master Ahmed combines his skillful artistry and passion to deliver a soulful Romantic Oriental class. He will create a choreography to the song's meaning and interpret it's profound message through expressive gestures. This style incorporates the extension and grace of classic oriental technique while embracing the depth and feeling expressed in the lyrics.
Saidi: Saidi Dance is an ancient folkloric dance form Upper Egypt. It combines martial arts movements (known as tahteeb) performed with a staff or cane (assaya). Traditionally, men perform tahteeb, as the ancient Egyptians used it as combat training for battle. The women perform a more theatrical style of tahteeb, called raqs assaya, celebrating the specialized combat skills, which was popularized by Mahmoud Reda, an Egyptian choreographer. They dance with lighter weight canes, and flaunt the ease of maneuvering them with lots of twirls, sometimes dancing with two canes simultaneously. Footwork in this dance often mimics the majestic white Egyptian horses. Traditionally, a loose fitting galabiyaa is worn both by men and women when performing, with a turban or headscarf. Women will also wear a scarf tied around their hips to showcase the movement.
Payment Basics
- REGISTRATION IS PER PERSON ONLY AND CANNOT BE SHARED WITH OTHER ATTENDEES.
- Please list your name and what day or classes you are registering for in notes/comments.
- VENMO IS PREFERRED! See QR below or send to Iona Ka: @Danceriona *last 4 digits of phone 5403.
- For Paypal, use QR Code below and please add $ to cover the fees; OR Paypal from their site to [email protected] "Friends and Family" to help avoid fees.
- CASH or CHECK: Email [email protected] or FB message IONA KIM prior to payment.
- Sorry, NO REFUNDS. It takes $ to pay for the instructor and venues. If you register and can't attend, contact me.
Pricing & Deadlines
*JULY 4TH only* FULL WEEKEND SPECIAL has ENDED. Thank you all who registered!
EARLY BIRD PRICING: July 5, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
REGULAR PRICING: OCT 1, 2026 to March 5, 2027
LATE LARK PRICING: MARCH 6, 2027 to April 4, 2027.
REMINDER: No refunds; you can transfer/ sell your spot to another dancer if life happens; please PM on FB or email me.
EARLY BIRD PRICING: July 5, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
- $240--EARLY BIRD FULL WEEKEND (6 classes)
- $150--SINGLE DAY (3 classes)
REGULAR PRICING: OCT 1, 2026 to March 5, 2027
- $320 REGULAR ROBIN FULL WEEKEND (6 classes)
- $185 REGULAR ROBIN SINGLE DAY (3 classes) as available.
- $65--REGULAR A la Carte Class after JAN 1, 2027 as available.
LATE LARK PRICING: MARCH 6, 2027 to April 4, 2027.
- LATE REGISTRATION March 4 to April 2, 2027
- $400 LATE FULL (6 classes)
- $210 LATE SINGLE DAY (3 classes)
- $75 LATE/ DROP IN a la Carte Class as available
REMINDER: No refunds; you can transfer/ sell your spot to another dancer if life happens; please PM on FB or email me.
Show & Ticket Info
SHOWCASE Location & Time:
Shimmy Showcase '27 held at Cafe Istanbul in the Healing Arts Center, 2372 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117; Room 252. SHOW starts 7pm. Doors open 6:30pm. Event ends approximately 9:00pm. This is an adult venue serving alcohol.
TICKET PURCHASE in ADVANCE:
SHOW TICKETS are $20 per person or $15 each when purchased for groups of 4 or more people.
TICKETS in ADVANCE by VENMO preferred. Provide name if account is different than yours. No Refunds.
TICKETS at the DOOR=$20 per person CASH only. (NO CARDS or TAP PAY)
PERFORMER INFO: the showcase is open only to workshop attendees, any level, and you do NOT need a ticket to perform. Thank you for sharing your gift of dance! Dressing / restrooms are on site. Performers may gather upstairs in the balcony area or sit downstairs, house right. We can fill in the central space after attendees arrive. The stage is a wooden floor with primary access at stage LEFT. See deadline and submission needs below.
PERFORMER DEADLINE: Valentine's Day, 2027-- last day to confirm performance participation and submit BIO+.
Please EMAIL IONA the following by Feb 14, 2027:
1) DANCER/TROUPE NAME
2) YOUR HOME TOWN
3) STYLE OF DANCE &/or PROP
4) START ON or OFF STAGE
5) 2-3 sentence BIO or STATEMENT, and
6) MUSIC in mp3.
PLEASE ALSO SUBMIT A PROMO PICTURE.
*Music no longer than 4m:15s. *Long bios will be trimmed.
Shimmy Showcase '27 held at Cafe Istanbul in the Healing Arts Center, 2372 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117; Room 252. SHOW starts 7pm. Doors open 6:30pm. Event ends approximately 9:00pm. This is an adult venue serving alcohol.
TICKET PURCHASE in ADVANCE:
SHOW TICKETS are $20 per person or $15 each when purchased for groups of 4 or more people.
TICKETS in ADVANCE by VENMO preferred. Provide name if account is different than yours. No Refunds.
TICKETS at the DOOR=$20 per person CASH only. (NO CARDS or TAP PAY)
PERFORMER INFO: the showcase is open only to workshop attendees, any level, and you do NOT need a ticket to perform. Thank you for sharing your gift of dance! Dressing / restrooms are on site. Performers may gather upstairs in the balcony area or sit downstairs, house right. We can fill in the central space after attendees arrive. The stage is a wooden floor with primary access at stage LEFT. See deadline and submission needs below.
PERFORMER DEADLINE: Valentine's Day, 2027-- last day to confirm performance participation and submit BIO+.
Please EMAIL IONA the following by Feb 14, 2027:
1) DANCER/TROUPE NAME
2) YOUR HOME TOWN
3) STYLE OF DANCE &/or PROP
4) START ON or OFF STAGE
5) 2-3 sentence BIO or STATEMENT, and
6) MUSIC in mp3.
PLEASE ALSO SUBMIT A PROMO PICTURE.
*Music no longer than 4m:15s. *Long bios will be trimmed.
VENMO Preferred!
