Genesis of GoLive!
May 30, 2022
Under the heading of āNever Say Never,ā Iām excited to introduce GoLive!Ā ā an Arab Music and Dance Conference hosted by yours truly, alongside some esteemed colleagues, happening in October this year.
As I reflect on this journey, I canāt help but think about how I got here. Though I wonāt share the full story, hereās a glimpse.
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Why I Said No for So Long...
Over the years, many workshop sponsors and dance instructors approached me, asking if Iād host an event for an artist they were bringing in or a multi-day teaching event. My response was always a firm āNo. I donāt do that.ā
Having participated in such events as both a student and an instructor, I knew the amount of work involved ā often with little reward. The idea of organizing one myself? No way!
But then, something made me reconsiderā¦
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The Turning Point
That āsomethingā was a focus on live music, and the creation of my year-long performance improvisation program that we call "Project Band".Ā Project Band eventually led me to Michael Ibrahim and the National Arab Orchestra (NAO).
So in October 2021, we had 22 musicians in town for the 25th GBDAC (Give Belly DanceĀ A Chance) ā my studioās annual showcase where, among other things, Project Band participants showcase the improvisational skills that they have been honing all year.
The musicians who played for us werenāt just any musicians; they were some of the most accomplished Arab musicians in the country.
With so much talent gathered in one place, I realized we had an opportunity to do something extraordinary. Michael Ibrahim had been suggesting that we attempt something on a larger scale too.Ā
So, I reached out to dance colleagues for suggestions on guest dancers who could teach a workshop focused on live music. The name Leila Farid kept coming up. She was fantastic at last yearās event and will be returning this October.
That experience solidified the concept of GoLive!
Why GoLive!?
In todayās digital age, āgo liveā means starting an online stream so that people far away can participate, maximizing the eventās impact. Itās how we āenormousizeā (yes, that should be a word) small events, creating immediate benefits and a sense of something important happening.
Ironically, while āgoing liveā connects us digitally, itās also drawn dancers away from live music. After ten years of my Project Band Curriculum and two years of social distancing and online events, I believe itās time to go big ā time to GoLive!
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Why GoLive! Matters
Hereās what I know deep down: Nothing inspires, advances, or challenges a dancer more than engaging with live music. The GoLive! conference is built around this belief. Every class, show, and performance will feature live music.
We at Karavan Studio in San Antonio, Texas, are thrilled to once again host these incredible musicians. We want to absorb everything this experience offers and share the opportunity with you.
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Stay Tuned!
Details are coming together as you read this. Click on āGoLive!ā to join our list and be among the first to receive updates. Donāt delay ā donāt miss out ā and never say ānever.ā
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