Movement and Dance
Workshops
"Stay close to anything that makes you feel alive."
~Hafez
With over 20 years experience as an educator, Delsie is engaging and is gifted at teaching beginner-friendly dance lessons for audiences from 20 to 400+. Special workshops and breakout sessions are Delsie's specialty for dance students of all ages from kids to adults and from beginner to advanced.
Delsie has experience as a guest dance instructor at university dance programs, performed as a key note speaker with integrated dance at high schools and offered enrichment programs for elementary school students introducing them to Persian-Iranian dance and culture through interactive programming.
Workshop Schedule
Movement and Flow Workshops
for Yoga Studios, Private & Corporate Retreats
Musicality in Persian Dance Workshops Jan 31 & Feb 8, 2025​
Bella Diva is excited to host two Persian dance workshops exploring the poetic meter that will be taught by the one and only Shahrzad Khorsandi (flying in from California!), and our very own Delsie Khadem.
Registration Information: Tuition: $50 for 1 workshop, $90 for both, $60 at the door.
Facebook Event LINK: https://www.facebook.com/share/163dKf1YEV
Sign up at: www.belladivadance.com/register
Workshop 1: Embodying the Poetic Meter
Taught by Shahrzad Khorsandi, Fri Jan 31 6-8pm
Developing the skill to connect with music is important for dancers and choreographers of all dance genres. The connection between movement and music is essential in traditional Persian dance, and to make this connection happen organically and effectively, dancers must understand and hear the nuances in this genre of music.
Although knowledge of music notation is not necessary for listening and responding to music, recognizing components such as pulse, meter, and rhythmic and melodic phrasing helps to sense the dynamic qualities that shape the song. Through multi-sensory interaction, dancers can learn to embody these qualities meaningfully.
This workshop will be in two parts. In the first hour, we will discuss the poetic meter as a foundation for Persian rhythms while analyzing a short excerpt of a Persian folk song. You will clap, tap, and sing the lyrics to experience a deeper sense of the rhythm. In the second hour, you will practice embodying this rhythm, naturally moving to what you feel when listening to the music through improvisation, and ultimately, learn a short Persian dance movement sequence, and dance it to the same song excerpt.
*This workshop is Part 1 of a two-part series, and makes for an impactful experience. You may choose to take either workshop or both.
Workshop 2: Persian Dance: Dance & Melodic Phrasing
Taught by Delsie Khadem-Ghaeini, Sat Feb 8, 2-4pm
Using breath as a foundation to stay grounded and connected to your core helps you connect organically with the pulse of the movement. While Persian dance is known for its beautiful hand and arm movements, the true beauty is in the connection between the energy the body feeds into the iconic movements and the melodic phrasing of the music. Knowing when to begin and end a movement phrase is key and allows for fluid transitions as you stay connected to the melodic phrasing and the pulse in Persian music.
In this workshop, you will practice how movement phrases connect with the melodic phrase in Persian music, using conscious integration of breath for a deeper experience of the movement and enhanced connectedness. You will learn Iranian dance movement vocabulary and refine the technique that emphasizes dynamic flow, to elevate your body awareness for an organic connection with the music, and a graceful expression. Dance sequences will be introduced with opportunities for improvisation to embody the practice. You will experience different sub-genres of Persian traditional music that evoke joy as well as mystical, soulful music to give you a lifted, yet grounded experience. A brief explanation of traditional Persian music will be integrated with an emphasis on connecting movement to melodic phrasing within the context of Persian dance and music.
*This workshop is an extension of Part 1 and makes for an impactful experience. You may choose to take either workshop or both.
Registration Information: Tuition: $50 for 1 workshop, $90 for both, $60 at the door.
Facebook Event LINK: https://www.facebook.com/share/163dKf1YEV
Sign up at: www.belladivadance.com/register
Movement and Connection with Persian Flow​
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Using breath, personal intentions and Persian-Iranian dance as a foundation, this fluid movement experience will leave you feeling relaxed and more connected to yourself. Enjoy the soulful effects of traditional Iranian music, a beautiful combination of melodies, rhythms and voice in the Persian language. Conclude the experience with Hafez's poetry, igniting inspiration and fostering deep inner contemplation.
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Students engage in movements and mindful breathing, fostering a sense of attunement with their bodies and breath. As the session progresses, this foundation deepens through movements rooted in Persian dance that cultivate awareness and connection with the inner self. As the session draws to a close, each participant selects a piece of Hafez poetry, known as "Fal-e Hafez" in Farsi. Through contemplation and interpretation, these interpreted verses are an opportunity for inner reflection. By the end, a collective sense of centeredness and embodiment permeates the space, leaving participants grounded and connected both within themselves and with one another.
While some dance movements will be introduced, this is not a "dance class". This is a low-impact class that will definitely generate internal heat throughout the experience.
Click this link to see some movements from this experience.
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This workshop is available in formats between 1 and 2 hours in length.
Delsie Dances offers workshops on demand, as well as hosting them. If you'd like to book a workshop for your organization or community, please click the button below the descriptions.
Dance Workshops
Intro to Persian-Iranian Dance​
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Curious about Iranian dance? Want to add the elegant grace of this centuries old dance tradition to your dance repertoire? Looking for a low-impact and graceful way to move your body? Learn from an expert. This style is known in the west as Persian Classical Dance.
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*All Levels - Beginner Friendly.
Intermediate and Advanced Level workshops also available.
Persian-Iranian Pop or "Mehmooni" Dance​
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Want to shine at your next Iranian social event? Complement signature Iranian party dance moves and foot patterns to varying tempos of music and more! Experience the fun, flirty and elegant dance stylization known as "Mehmooni" style.
This workshop is offered for dance students or for private groups in preparation for a celebration or just for fun.
Host Workshops at Your Studio
Interested in Hosting Delsie for Persian-Iranian Dances at Your Studio?​
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Delsie is available to teach these workshops at your studio! Add some spice and a new experience for your students! ​
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Intro to Basics of Persian-Iranian Dance - traditional dance style including stylization and short combinations appropriate for new-to-Iranian dance as well as those with experience. Known in the west as Persian Classical Dance.
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Intermediate-Advanced Level Persian-Iranian Dance - traditional dance with more challenging stylization and more challenging combinations.
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Movement and Connection with Persian-Iranian Flow - a movement class for those who would benefit from a deeper connection with their bodies using Iranian dance as a basis for movement.
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Mehmooni Style Pop Dance - a fun, flirty and elegant dance stylization for party dancing!
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Bandari - rooted in the southern and port regions of Iran, this style has African and Arabic influence, is high energy and will keep you moving!
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Jaheli style also known as Baba Karam has both strong masculine vibes and a fun, feminine flavor including props such as a hat and scarf and a little bit of theatrics.
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Weekend Intensives - a combination of technique and choreography workshops combined into one intensive experience for dance students ready to dive in!
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