Kajira's Instructor Certification
Program
About the Program| Student Qualifications
| Certified Teachers
Description
for Participation in my Teacher Training Certification Program for the
Kajira Djoumahna/BlackSheepBellyDance Format for ATS BD, All 3 Levels
My goal for training teachers around the world in my specific format for
ATS is a simple one: to help spread the joy of synchronized group improvisation
to anyone who wishes it, and to perpetuate knowledge of "True, Pure,
Real-Deal" American Tribal Style BellyDance so it does not become
a lost art.
I feel ATS (originally developed by Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellyDance
and carried on by myself with my own unique innovations on her original
format) is the world's greatest invention in dance since Martha Graham
- and is in danger of becoming either extinct or only one, boring, homogenous
style - which, IMO, will surely mean extinction because we are not all
alike.
It doesn't have to be either if you choose to study with me. What's more:
I do not require anyone to stop any other styles they are currently enjoying
and in fact, encourage concurrent studies in any dance or wellness form
that calls to you. I cross-train and would expect any serious artist to
do so. Of course it is also perfectly fine if you only wish to focus on
my style as well. I do require that when Level 1 Certified, you use the
curriculum exactly as it is given to you for at least the first year in
the class/es you teach in my Format before varying or adding anything,
as this strong foundation will enable you to add more later on your own,
and/or when you obtain your Level 2 Training from me.
Certifications are good for one year. After that they are renewed
for no additional fee as long as you send me proof via DVD or
video tape that you are teaching the Format. Film a class from the back
facing the mirror (if you have one, otherwise, face the camera towards
yourself and the students at an angle) on the second 8-week Level 1 course
you teach, as well as a couple performances you and your students have
done over the year using or incorporating my Format with your existing
Tribal Style, as some teachers with existing troupes may wish to do. Questions?
Call me: 808.891.8891 (24/7)
My qualifications for this task are numerous and include well over sixteen
years of learning, teaching and performing American Tribal Style (ATS)
BellyDance, eight years as a dedicated student and performing member of
student groups under Carelona Nericcio and as developed over a decade
in conjunction with members of my troupes BlackSheep BellyDance (BSBD)
and United We Dance (an earlier incarnation of the same group) and several
years of oriental, traditional folkloric and Rromany dance training (which
is unusual for other major developers of the form and gives me an advantage
when explaining it to dancers with those backgrounds). I am currently
an avid student of Odissi Classical Indian Dance, from the Temples of
Orissa in East India, which I study 3 times per week minimum while not
touring and perform as a humble student under the direction of my master
teacher, Sarala Dandekar. Sarala brings other masters from India over
to further our education and in the 2 years I've been with her (at the
time of this writing in Oct. '07) I've had the immense pleasure of studying
under the amazing life-long Odissi master, Vishnu Tattva Das, and the
acclaimed Jhelum Paranjape (who just won the Mahari Award - the highest
honor bestowed upon any Indian dancer in India! Mahari means "Temple
Dancer/Priestess" in Oria, the language of Orissa, like "Devadasi"
means in South India.)
I am a recipient of two major recognized awards for teaching, one from
the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance, a.k.a. IAMED - www.bellydance.org
- and Instructor of the Year in Zaghareet! Magazine's Golden Belly Awards
- www.zaghareet.freeservers.com,three
awards for event production for my All-Tribal-and- Alternative-themed
event, Tribal Fest (the first and largest of its kind, held the third
weekend in May and the 3 days preceding that, for a total of 5 days of
classes and vending with the Show running more than 24 hours over 3 days)
in Sebastopol, a town in SF's North Bay Area of California each year,
an honorary award for "Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Middle
Eastern Dance and Arts", have judged and will be doing so again in
Feb. '08 at The Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in Long Beach,
CA, am the subject of two instructional DVDs in my format, produced by
IAMED; and am the author of the definitive resource for Tribal Style BellyDance,
"The Tribal Bible, Exploring the Phenomenon That is American Tribal
Style Bellydance" (ISBN 0-9728486-0-6). I have had the honor of teaching
all over the U.S. in both workshops and festivals, as well as twice in
Germany, once in Austria (with a future booking for 2009!), England (also
with an upcoming second booking in 2008), Taiwan (with two more bookings
for 2008), onboard a cruise for bellydancers from Long Beach to Ensenada,
Mexico on 3 occasions, at the prestigious Mendocino Middle Eastern Music
and Dance Camp (with a future booking as well, also on staff there for
7 years when not teaching), at Folks Tours Camp in MD 3 times and certainly
look forward to more traveling in the future! Check out our Events
and Workshops page for all the places I'll be - there's nary a month
off in 2008, and I can tack on Teacher Trainings following a Workshop
in your area.
During the Level One Teacher Certification Training dancers can expect
to have handed to them my tried-and-true class curriculum for that level.
You will be taught when to teach each move, why and how. You will receive
a Certificate of Achievement when the course is complete, enabling you
to start teaching the KD/BSBD Format for ATS BD!
Qualifications for dancers who wish to pursue Level
1 training include:
1. A minimum of five years of bellydance or oriental dance training in
any genre, OR a minimum of advanced intermediate skill level in any bellydance
genre. This flexible criteria allows for dancers who have excelled more
quickly than the average for whatever reason - be it a classical dance
background or simply being an exceptional learner - to benefit from my
training. It also protects my name and stamp of approval from the dancers
who may have danced for longer than five years but are still not of the
technical level needed to teach. I have been around long enough to know
that length of time studying is not necessarily an accurate gauge of skill.
2. Familiarity with both of my instructional videos or DVDs and The Tribal
Bible. Each dancer wishing Certification MUST own their own copies of
these items. If English is not your first language, the book contains
over 300 useful photos that are important in our dance style's history
and therefore, is still a requirement even if you cannot read the text.
3.
If you are a foreign sponsor wishing to set up a Teacher Training in your
country, it is your responsibility to convey these requirements to the
applicants so everyone understands what is expected of them. I also require
an interpreter during the training to make sure everything I say is imparted
to all students who wish to become Certified Teachers in non-English speaking
countries. In some cases it may be best to allow for 4 days of 4 hours
each day for Level One Training for a group of more than 5 dancers who
are not English-speaking.
Each applicant is required to send me a video/DVD example of your current
dancing and ability to demonstrate your understanding of the material
presented in my videos or DVDs, which I will consider when deciding whether
pursuing a Level One Teacher Certification with me is right for you at
this time. Again, if you are setting this program up for students in another
country, it is up to you to get these materials to me from your non-English-speaking
applicants.
It may be helpful to also be at least somewhat familiar with the FatChanceBellyDance
Format for ATS since my Format for ATS is rooted in that original form
(which is why it is still ATS) and/or with the basic Jamila Salimpour
format for belly dance (upon which the FCBD system is rooted), but this
is more of a bonus for you than a requirement.
4. Understanding of what ATS BellyDance is as compared to other styles
of belly dance. Ability to verbally articulate this concept accurately.
You will send me this in written form along with your qualifying DVD,
or tell me verbally over the phone.
5. Desire to teach the material you will learn in your classes or to your
troupe-mates for at least one year.
I ask that you use it the way I give it to you for at least the first
year with no variation in your introductory classes. This way you will
see it in action over time, and how well my techniques work. I have found
this is the perfect start for pretty much anything you wish to add later
on in more advanced Tribal BellyDance classes. I feel that is where more
freedom comes into play and that a strong, simple foundation is the most
important part of any dancer's career.
6. Here's the major differences between myself and other ATS or Tribal
teachers's certification programs:
I do not intend for my format to be used in only one way with every person
who learns it forever on end. After the first year it is up to you how
you will continue to put it to use. It is perfect as is, and has been
honed to a fine art over many years by myself and members of my troupes.
But as an artist myself, I do not expect all other artists to never wish
to vary or add anything, and I do not expect you to be clones of me or
BlackSheep. I do not expect any more or less from you than I do from myself.
I do expect you, if you are certified by me, to know the difference when
you vary or add anything. I expect you to teach the differences to your
students if you choose to vary my curriculum, and be sure you can explain
them to me as well if you wish to keep your Certification current. Furthermore,
I do not expect that to happen until after teaching my Level 1 for at
least one year, though there may be some cases where this can happen earlier
if you are already an experienced teacher with a "built-in"
student base. You and I can talk and examine DVDs you send me to see if
that is OK or not. This will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
7. You may also continue to teach any other style you wish, are encouraged
to study with anyone you can as often as possible in all styles of dance,
gain more Certificates from whomever floats your boat and know the difference
between those styles and when you're teaching the Kajira Djoumahna/BlackSheep
BellyDance Format for ATS BD class/es.
8. Teachers certified by me are required to send me one or two DVDs or
video tapes of their classes and/or performances per year for critique
and re-evaluation. If you fail to do so, your certification will not be
renewed. I encourage ongoing email or telephone dialogues and to ask me
anything, anytime. Once certified and actively applying the material learned,
these services are good for life!
9. Your Certification will be renewed on an annual basis. Sending me the
DVDs showing me you are using the format correctly, and keeping in touch
with me, are expected to keep yourself certified. At any time after the
first year, either of us may decide to "un-certify" you if you
or I feel you are not representing the BlackSheep BellyDance format correctly,
or are not using it. There are no additional fees to keep certified, only
proof of your work.
10. The above applies to all Three Levels of Certifications possible.
If you decide to pursue Level Two (and especially by Level 3) Teacher
Certification with me, some evolution may happen if you and your dancers
are not in my classroom every week. There are different aesthetics in
different areas of the world, different influences and training, and your
own ideas and those of your dance company. These variables are taken into
consideration after and talked about during your Level Two Program. However,
my Level 2 Class Curriculum should be taught fully if you wish to keep
your Certification active, and it takes a minimum of 16 weeks or more
to teach to others. Please do not vary or add to the Level 2 Curriculum
until everyone is grounded in it very well (usually takes a year or two
if teaching dancers from the beginning level on up). I strongly recommend
all of your students who enroll in your new KD/BSBD Level 2 class/es continue
in Level 1 (you can give them that class for free or half price like BSBD
does), as they will learn to perfect the basics as no one can drill basics
enough, ever. = ;-)
For all prospective New Teachers of any Level:
Assuming you are familiar with my basic movement vocabulary as presented
in my videos or DVDs and in The Tribal Bible, own your own copies of such
and meet the other qualifications above, you will need approximately 10-12
hours to complete the Level One Certification process. It is best to allow
for more time if we have never met. I prefer to schedule you over 3 days
of 4-5 hours per day. It is very possible you will not need all this time,
but again, it is best to allow for it. If English is not your first language
and there will be a group of 5 or more dancers, plan on 4 days of up to
5 hours per day for Level One Training.
This does not mean you will necessarily be perfect in the execution of
every nuance of every move, but we both must be satisfied that your understanding
of them is clear so you may continue to work on perfecting them on your
own - before and while you teach them. I do not expect to need to teach
you from the ground up the moves, I expect you to know them to your best
ability already from The Tribal Bible and my DVDs, and during the Teacher
Training you will learn how to perfect and teach them, in what order and
why.
There are three ways to achieve the certification training: you can come
here to Maui, you can bring me to you, and you can book me when I am traveling
to a workshop near you on weekdays following the weekend workshop.
If you are considering this for an advanced group of dancers in a Master
Class workshop situation, it is possible, but each individual enrolled
would still need all the same qualifications as needed for one-on-one
training and outlined herein. Tuition is $400 per person when teaching
a group of 5 minimum to 10 maximum dancers at one time (Level One). Group
trainings for Levels Two and Three are just as possible as with Level
One and there is a price break for teaching more than two students at
a time.
I require you to videotape (or digitally record) the Teacher Training
classes for personal review later on. You will be asked to sign a waiver
that states the video is for your personal use only and that you agree
not to show it publically for any reason.
After successful course completion I will list you on my web site as certified
to teach my format for Level One (and/or Two) and link your email and/or
web URL. I ask that you do the same. I expect you to keep in touch with
me frequently as you put this information into use and to send me videos
of your work in order to keep your Certification current. I will re-evaluate
each teacher annually, so use it or lose it!
Qualification for Level Two Certification is at least one successful year of sticking to the Level One curriculum. You cannot be trained in Level Two unless you have completed and worked with my Level One course. Level Two Certification is also renewed annually by assessing your work and that of your students and/or troupe via DVD, as in Level One.
Level
Two Teacher Training is done by you filming me and my assistant over the
course of two 5-hour or less days while I/we explain the counts and nuances.
Yes, you will need to fly two people to you for Level Two, or come to
Maui and stay for up to 4 days of study with me alone, for up to 4 hours
per day, in order to learn our partnering steps with me. You will videotape
or record by digital medium me and my assistant explaining and doing all
the moves in my curriculum for Level Two (there will be a total of over
70 moves, combinations and variations once you learn my Level 1 and 2
Format). Then your homework begins!
You will work on each move, and when you feel ready, you will film yourself
explaining and doing each move as if you were teaching them, like I did
on your copy of your Level 2 film. If English is not your first language,
you may try your best to speak as well as you can and otherwise, make
sure I can understand what you're trying to convey by mime and by doing
the steps properly, demonstrating from all angles as if you were teaching
a foreign student who doesn't speak your language.
During our time together we will also talk, and I expect you to ask and
for me to satisfactorily answer any of your questions about anything to
do with this style's history or the material being presented.
You must be paid in full before you leave with your recording, after we
have completed our time together and before you send me your own demo
tape or DVD. You will not be considered Certified for Level Two until
I see and approve said demo DVD. You must have completed the DVD within
one year after taking my Level 2 course at the maximum, earlier is best.
You may not teach Level Two until you are Certified, so work on the material
while it's fresh and send me those DVDs!
More
About the KD/BSBD Format for ATS BD Class Curriculum:
This format owes homage to that of my principal teacher for American Tribal
Style (ATS) Bellydance, Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellyDance (FCBD).
However, it should be noted that my format differs profoundly in some
ways from that of FCBD, even though it is based in the same foundation.
Major ways I have innovated on the basic style originally developed are:
more movements, changed movements (so as not to be a copy in every way
and to preserve personal ethical standards), four possibilities for chorus
formations, three basic lead positions and corresponding directional changes
for the following groups. The latter innovations led to what is perhaps
my most important - and definitely still most unusual - contribution:
my dancers and I have pioneered for improvisational Tribal applications
the use of both hips, something taken for granted by dancers of other
styles but left out of ATS originally. Also unique to this format is the
use of both rhythmic and arrhythmic slow movements and the use of vocal,
musical and visual cues, allowing for even more possibilities within the
group improvisational structure. Another hallmark of my format is my unique
"cut-it-in-half" rule that pertains to all symmetrical steps
and enables dancers to respond immediately to direction changes without
fumbling.
Throughout these changes my dancers and I have striven to uphold the original
characteristics which make Tribal "Tribal" as developed by Carolena.
These include synchronized group improvisational choreography, a more
uplifted posture than oriental dance requires, a more joyful and alive
demeanor - especially for us BlackSheep! - interaction among members of
the troupe and dedication to learning all the moves the in the same manner
so as to facilitate the group's improvisation, among other criteria she
has published in Jareeda Magazine a couple years back, all of which we
adhere to with the possible exception of not always using Egyptian Folkloric
music (which we did not do in her classes while I was studying with her
personally - she used to use Zap Mama, The Kiska Bulgarian Women's Choir,
lots of North African music such as Moroccan and Nigerian, and many types
of fusion music in the classes she taught. That new criteria came about
only after FCBD began dancing exclusively with the band Helm).
It is important to recognize that what I and my troupe do is ATS - to the core! We are not FCBD but we are ATS and we are *very related* especially in the basics taught in Level 1. I know there is some confusion in our community about terminology lately, so wish to address this matter. Carolena and I work together every year at Tribal Fest and email and have always stayed in touch. We are by no means "enemies" as some ignorant people have worried about. Stay away from rumors and if you want confirmation about anything, please go directly to the sources: me and Carolena in this case.
There
are three levels of classes in my curriculum.
Tuition for Level One Training is $500 U.S. dollars. $300 is payable
before beginning the course and the balance upon completion of the course.
Should for any reason either of us decide that you are not to be certified,
the $300 paid is non-refundable and goes to my time spent.
Tuition for Level Two Training is $1,000 U.S. dollars, with $600
paid in advance and the remainder at the completion of our time together.
Level Three Teacher Training is best done after you have successfully worked with my format in both Levels 1 & 2 for more than a year each. Tuition is $500 U.S. dollars for currently certified Level 1 and 2 Teachers. In Level 3 you will learn many different cymbal patterns to enliven your performances, our own KD/BSBD Format floorwork, tribal veil and skirt work, how to work with props and more shimmy overlay drills and ways to teach them even more successfully now that you're more skilled as a KD/BSBD teacher, though the latter will be broken down in your Level Two Training, in Level Three it will be perfected.
Feel
free to call or email me with any questions and to schedule your certification.
And, thank you for your interest in the amazing art form we call American
Tribal Style BellyDance!
With Love, Joy and Aloha, Namaste`,
Kajira Djoumahna
The
following Teachers are Currently Certified by Kajira to teach her
Kajira Djoumahna/BlackSheep BellyDance Format for ATS BD
Currently certified student updates coming soon!