Photo credit: Nicole LeCorgne
Oasis...
... is the longest running residential Oriental dance retreat in North America. Beginning in 1985 and now offering retreats worldwide, Oasis is dedicated to educating dancers in the art of Oriental Dance and its related folkloric forms from throughout the Arab world. We create a uniquely fun and supportive environment, often tried but never duplicated! Our creative staff is headed by internationally acclaimed dance artist, Cassandra Shore, artistic director of the Jawaahir Dance Company and resident instructor since Oasis’ inception. Special guest artists such as Amel Tafsout, Denise Enan, and Sahra Saeeda round out our retreats with their focused expertise in a kaleidoscope of folk and regional dance styles. We feature live drumming accompaniment for technique classes with the delightful and intuitive percussionist Nicole LeCorgne, who also teaches Arabic music and rhythms.
Oasis Dance Camp Celebrating Twenty-Five Years in 2009
It's hard to believe we've been at it this long. Obviously time flies when
you're doing something you love. This will be a very special year of celebration
for Oasis.
Looking back at the past 24 years of Oasis I realize I have come to be living
my own fantasy! Through Oasis I have been given countless days in the company
of incredible women studying the thing I love with the most incredible teacher,
dancer and friend. I don't think I could have planned this in my wildest
dreams. I find it hard to take credit for it at all.
I want to thank everyone who has been a part of this fantasy with me. To
all of you who have gotten hooked after one Oasis and come back year after
year and to those of you who keep thinking "I'm going to do that one of
these years," you keep Oasis going and growing. Thank you.
To Cassandra, who is the oasis that we are all drawn to that nourishes
our dance... thank you for everything.
Jean Courter
Sa'ida Bint al-Waha
Director, Oasis Dance Camps