"Saving Oasis Dance Camp West"
Published in The Papyrus; January 2007
By Talia
Oasis Dance Camp is an amazing group of Middle Eastern dance camps around the US, New Zealand, and Morocco. (North-Michigan, West-Washington, South-Florida) This little slice of heaven is starting to fade in the West. Low attendance the last couple of years could cancel Camp West 2007. Many of us experienced campers are trying to spread the word to save this totally awesome learning experience. This camp is worth all the vacation time, money, and travel, here’s why!
Oasis Dance Camp West is an all female Middle Eastern dance camp that lasts five days every October. It is held on beautiful Vashion Island just outside of the Seattle/Tacoma area in Washington. The camp itself is held at Camp Selth. It is used for children’s camps throughout the year. Camp Selth is full of luscious green woodlands everywhere you look and has fantastic beach views of the Puget Sound waters. It is quiet with wonderful wildlife all around.
Campers stay in modern wood cabins, with 10 beds and 1 ½ bathrooms. They are equipped with heaters and lighting throughout. Campers must bring their own bedding and towels and are encouraged to decorate their new home away from home.
I went to my first Oasis Dance Camp in 1995. I was a senior in high school and could not believe how many women came from all over the US and Canada to be there. They all came mostly for one reason, Cassandra Shore.
There are just two words to describe Cassandra Shore- The Bomb! She brings lyrical grace, musical focus, and sensuous quality of movement to the dance. She is internationally recognized as a master instructor and was called the “Best Belly Dancer in America” by Egyptian dancer and choreographer Ragia Hassan. As a teacher, Cassandra is patient and challenging no matter what your skill level. She has single handily enhanced and taken this art form to new highs from to local clubs to the theater stage. I would encourage everyone to study Cassandra and learn everything possible from this living icon. During camp, you can sign up to have a video critique done with Cassandra to see where you’re strong and weak points are as a performer.
There is also a guest teacher hand picked by Cassandra and the camp director. Some past talents I’ve learned from are; Habiba of Philadelphia teaching Tunisian; Artemis Mourat teaching Turkish; Kay Hardy Cambel teaching Khaleejee; Denise Enan teaching Hagallah; Hadia of Canada teaching Oriental/Flamenco fusion; Amel Tafsout teaching Andalusian; Katia of Boston teaching Pharoanic and Nubian; plus California talents such as Zahra Zuhair teaching Schikhatt & Guedra, Angelika Nemeth, Jillina, and Sahra; and the list goes on!
Nicole LeCorgne is the drumming instructor. Nicole’s class is set up for all levels of drummers. You can barrow a drum or riq or you can bring your own. Her easy teaching method will have you playing, understanding, and more knowledgeable about Arabic rhythms in no time flat. She also incorporates the rhythms we danced to in technique class.
Other staff includes a henna mistress, a videographer, many vendors, and a masseuse for all your working muscles. Oasis also offers a dance library lounge, 3 delicious meals a day plus snacks, a CD with all the choreography music plus some extra music from the instructors, and a notebook full of knowledge. However, one of the biggest perks is the ladies you meet and the new friends you make. The friendships I have made through the years have been wonderful and enriching.
After check-in, a typical dance camp starts with Orientation Night. The camp director introduces the staff and talks about the week’s schedule. Usually a funny video or skit is shown. The next day starts with an optional Sunrise Stretch Class with Cassandra. Most people come to this class in their pajamas. It is a magnificent way to get your body moving and ready for a great day of dancing. After breakfast, you head to technique class. Each teacher works you out for about an hour with Nicole playing drum for half of it. In addition, during the time you will learn finger cymbal technique for Cassandra.
Then after lunch, you sit down and digest to a 50-minute lecture about pre-planned subjects. Some of the past lectures have been about make-up, music, the Art of the Dance, costumes, dance history, Sexuality and the Dance, and more. You can ask the teacher questions and take as many notes as you desire. From there we hit the choreography classes, an hour with each instructor. Notes are provided for each choreography, plus a DVD is available for purchase so you can practice at home and keep learning.
After all that dancing you get two hours of free time to shower, shop, get a message, or just relax. I like to use this time to keep practicing our new choreographies so I don’t forget them!
Then dinner is served and the evening festivities begin. Each night has a different activity planned. There is a Henna and Khaleejee Dance Party where you can bring your own thobe and dance to the beat of the in-house band. You can also henna yourself or have the henna mistress design something for you. The Flea Market & Video Night is when you bring out any items you are looking to sell and make some extra cash, then you can bring in a video clip of a dance related matter to show at the video party. The Hafla (show) is everyone’s favorite night. You can sign up to dance a solo or in a group and perform for the most appreciative audience you’ve ever danced for. The performances are put onto the DVD along with the choreographies from class. Then there is the Fashion Show. You can bring a costume or item you would like to show off and tell a story of, or if your selling a costume, it is a good way to let it be seen. Most of the activities are on a sign-up basis, so you can just sit and watch if you want.
On the last day of camp after breakfast there is an award ceremony. All the campers vote on different categories such as ‘Best Oriental and Folklore Performance’, ‘Best Group Performance’, ‘Miss. Congeniality’, ‘Spirit of Aphrodite’, and others. Awards are presented with a small gift and then good-byes are said before everyone departs to return back home.
By this time, you are so inspired by the instructors and fellow dancers you just want Dance Camp to last forever! But all good things must come to an end, so you vow to practice everything you learned and to always dance four hours a day….well, maybe not four hours but a lot! Teachers look forward to teaching their students all the newly learned information. They too will be as motivated as you are!
All in all, Oasis Dance Camp West is a hot spot to be every October. We can’t let this treasure chest full of knowledge, fun, experience, inspiration, and friendships be buried forever. We should keep passing the treasure down from one dancer to the next so all are educated by the best and brightest of their time!
