Here you will find information on all workshops currently running and those for the future. Also how you may book Chas for private tuition or to host a group workshop.

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Drum, Music and Dance Holiday In The Sinai, Egypt Nov. 2009

Drum, Music and Dance Holiday In The Sinai, Egypt Nov. 2009

Middle Eastern Music, Dance and Percussion Holiday in the Sinai

31st of October to 7th of November 2009

 With Chas Whitaker, Carmen Jones and Maren Lueg

at RockSea Camp, Nuweiba, The Sinai, Egypt.

Workshops for Middle Eastern Percussion, Music and Egyptian Belly Dance with live music at RockSea Camp. Optional tours available including overnight camel trip into the desert, day visit to the Coloured Canyon, St Catherine Monastery and Mount Sinai.  Evening music and dance sessions in the atmospheric Bedouin tent at RockSea Camp and possible visits from local Bedouin musicians.  

RockSea Camp is a collection of bungalow / huts situated right on the Gulf of Aqaba near Nuweiba, The Sinai, affording instant access to beautiful coral reefs.

For more info. on the camp visit www.RockSea .net

TEACHERS

Middle Eastern Percussion – Chas Whitaker

Arabic percussion includes frame drums, goblet shaped drums (Darabuka) and finger cymbals. The rhythms are easy in their basic forms and so several can be learned in the workshop leading to a composition which could accompany melody or dance. Basic technique and correct playing styles are introduced and participants are encouraged to begin improvising and working together as a drum orchestra. Suitable for all levels of drumming experience.

Chas Whitaker- Darabuka / Douf / Riq / Zills.

Chas has been teaching and performing Middle Eastern Percussion for over 15 years . Chas has travelled extensively through the Middle East and North Africa and has studied in several countries. He plays in several bands and accompanies many Oriental dancers, specializing in drum solos. For more information on Chas and Arabic percussion in general visit - www.arabicdrum.co.uk

Middle Eastern Music Workshop – Maren Lueg

The course would provide a unique opportunity for musicians to explore the relationship between Middle Eastern and Western music.

Participants will bring their own melody instrument, which they already have a basic proficiency on and are able to learn simple melodies either by ear or from sheet music (provided). Arabic scales are introduced which do not use quarter notes but sound very “eastern” and melodies based on these scales will be learned. Improvisation is a very important element in Arabic music and participants are encouraged to explore their improvisational abilities in a supportive structure. Arabic music forms and scales with quarter tones are introduced and demonstrated for participants to help in their appreciation of Arabic music.

Maren Lueg - Arabic  Nay  Flute, Mizmar and Saxophone and Silver Flute. 

Maren has been teaching and performing Middle Eastern and Balkan music for over 10 years playing Western and Middle Eastern wind instruments.  She performs regularly with British and Arab musicians around the UK and has studied such traditional Middle Eastern wind instruments as the Nay (bamboo flute) and Zurna (double reed pipe) in Turkey and Egypt. Maren is currently working on her Masters in Arabic Ney and Middle Eastern Music at the School of Oriental and African Studies (London University). For further information and to hear some of Maren's music please visit   www.myspace.com/marenlueg

Middle Eastern Dance to live music – Carmen Jones

These workshops will help the dancer to gain greater understanding of Middle Eastern rhythms and melodies and how to interpret them. There will be focus on technique, step combinations and in developing personal expression in the dance.

Carmen Jones , Middle Eastern dance.

 Carmen began her love affair with Arabic dance in the early 1990's. In that time she has acquired knowledge from many great teachers from far and wide. She herself teaches regularly nationwide and especially has a true passion and understanding of live music through the experience of  accompanying some of the best bands in the UK, Hossam Ramzy’s Egyptian orchestra being one of the most recent. Carmen works closely with Chas and Maren in several musical projects. 

See Carmen performing with MAZAJ  - click here  and visit Carmen’s own  website at www.raqsarabia.co.uk

 COSTS

Middle Eastern Percussion: with Chas Whitaker two hours tuition every day over six days between  £80 - £100 depending on number of participants.

Egyptian Belly Dance to live music:  with Carmen Jones, Chas Whitaker and Maren Lueg two hours tuition over six days - between  £80 - £100 depending on number of participants.

Introduction to Middle Eastern Music for western Musicians:

 All levels are welcome. Two hour tuition per day over six days between  £80 - £100 depending on number of participants.

One to One lessons:

Individual Darabuka lessons with Chas Whitaker for all levels.

Arabic or Turkish Ney (Middle Eastern Reed Flute), with Maren Lueg, for beginners. Ney flutes can be provided if booked in advanced.

Egyptian Belly dance individual lessons with Carmen Jones .

Individual tuition: £20 per hour.

ACCOMMODATION:

RockSea’s accommodation is comprised of wooden bungalows and bamboo huts, which can be shared between two people.  Two clean and spacious toilet and shower blocks are within easy walking distance of all accommodation. There is one main communal meeting space where food and drinks are served and several “arishas”, sitting areas covered loosely with canes or other leafy materials scattered around the 400m long beach front. The sunrise in the East, rising over the Hijaz mountain-range of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Aqaba is probably the most spectacular sight in this area.

Price List

The price for accommodation includes a good choice of large breakfasts served from early morning to midday.

Moonside (very quite and peaceful):

Double Bungalow: £11 each per night including electricity and a large breakfast.

Single Bungalow: £16 each per night including electricity and a large breakfast.

Starside (closer to the road):

Double Bungalow: £9 each per night including electricity and a large breakfast.

Single Bungalow: £14 each per night including electricity and a large breakfast.

Moonside Bamboo Huts (right by the sea romantic but very basic)

Double Hut: £7 each per night including a large breakfast.

Single Hut: £10 each per night including a large breakfast.

TOURS

Overnight Camel Trip

Overnight camel tour into the desert led by Bedouins:

£22 each including food and outside accommodation by the fire.

Coloured Canyon

The Coloured Canyon presents one of the most magnificent rock formations in the world. The rock formations are an incomparable attraction: they vary from sandstone to limestone; granite and veins of basalt dominate the scenery through the entire hike. At some places, the rocks radiate crystalline colours, at others; they have a smooth velvety appearance. The canyon is almost 800m long.

Coloured Canyon trip  (£15 - £25 each depending on participant number.)

St Catharine Monastery and Mount Sinai

One of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, St. Catherine's incorporates the burning bush seen by Moses and contains many valuable icons.

Above the monastery is Mount Sinai (or Jebel Musa, Mount Moses), where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.  This area is sacred to three world religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism.             

If enough participants are interested we can also organize a hike up Mount Sinai for sunset or sunrise, which is a fantastic experience. You need warm clothing and good hiking boots for this tour. This is a 2-3 hours hike up and 2-3 hours down

(£20 -£40 per person).

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Nuweiba

The Harbour town Nuweiba offers golden sand beaches, bazaars and restaurants. Nuweiba is about 20 minutes drive from RockSea Camp . A taxi ride to Nuweiba costs about £4-5 return .Nuweiba is a less developed tourist resort on the coast of South Sinai, 70 km south of Taba and 180 km north of Sharm el Sheikh . In the early 80s Nuweiba was the favourite destination for independent travellers due to its ideal central location and its natural beauty. Nuweiba today is still an insider tip for tourists and travellers who are looking for a holiday off the beaten path.

Nuweiba can roughly be divided into 3 main sections:

Nuweiba Tarabin

Nuweiba Tarabin, the northern part, consists of a thick grove of palms, a shallow bay and the ruins of a Turkish fort. Tarabin is known for its lively orientalatmosphere. Restaurant by restaurant and bazaar next to bazaar gives you the impression of a colourful oriental market place. Along the beach you find lively outdoors restaurants furnished in Bedouin style with carpets and cushions that invite to lay back and relax and let the time pass by.  

Nuweiba Dunes:

The Dunes are the extension and connection between Nuweiba Town and Nuweiba Muzeina. Along the shore a conglomerate of many camps and family owned hotels exist on a beautiful sandy beaches with spectacular coral reefs. The Dunes are divided in "Duna" and "Small Duna". Most of the campsites and hotels are built in the southern "Small Duna", while "Duna" stayed a romantic virgin place with simple accommodation of thatched beach bungalows, a few family owned small hotels and some small restaurants with brilliant views.

Nuweiba Port

Originally Nuweiba port was the summer location for the Muzeina tribe. It was a sparsely inhabited oasis, which came only into life in the late summer, when the Muzeina flocked to the palm groves to pick dates. The thriving trade encouraged the Muzeina clan to settle. They are running their own businesses by renting out their places as shops or other facilities to the Egyptian newcomers.

Nuweiba has a vibrant shopping area and several Banks and ATM machines.

Diving and Snorkelling

RockSea : RockSea  has its own private access to a coral reef teeming with wildlife and fantastic coral structures.

 Ras El Shetan : Another Bedouin-camp that is about 30 minutes walk or 5 minutes by taxi, from RockSea Camp, has two diving places, there are magnificent coral reefs at Ras-Satan, a famous destination for divers, which has been protected for the past fifteen years.

TRANSPORT:

Easyjet Flights from London Gatwick:

Flights are around £250 return if you book long enough in advance on www.easyjet.com

Thomson Flights from: Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Newcastle between

From Birmingham, Manchester and London Gatwick to Taba.

Flights are around £250 - £450 return.

http://flights.thomson.co.uk/en/index.html

RockSea’s Airport Transfer 

You need to book your Airport Transfer with RockSea Camp or us directly; we try to get as many people as possible on each transfer.

The price of the transfer depends on distance and amount of people.

It takes about two hours from the Sharm el Sheikh Airport to RockSea .The price for the transfer is 350,- Le (approx. £42) for one person and 50,- Le (approx. £6 for each additional person) more for each additional person

From the airport at Taba to RockSea  it takes about one hour driving. The price for the transfer is 175, - Le (approx. £22 ) for one person and 25,- Le more for each additional person.

EXTENDING YOUR HOLIDAY:

You are welcome to arrive earlier then the 31^st of October but it is important that you let us know so we can book accommodation for you at RockSea .We will be staying until the 12^th of November at RockSea  you are welcome to join us. We might organize additional tours such as a trip to Petra in Jordan.There is also a possibility of joining us on our music research trip to Cairo after the 12^th of November for more information about this please contact Chas and Maren.

ENQUIRIES AND ALL FURTHER INFORMATION :

CLICK HERE

PERSONAL ONE-ONE TUITION

I am available to give private one to one tuition for the complete beginner and for students with experience who wish to learn more about playing the instruments and rhythms or playing for dancers etc. Lessons can be recorded and tailored so the student has plenty of information to work on for the future. For costs and availability please contact me at chas@arabicdrum.co.uk

See part of a one to one lesson I gave at Tribe Of Doris 2006 covering Saiddi and Malfuf improvisational techniques and the Karsilimas rhythm. For the full DVD including split-finger technique, please contact me at chas@arabicdrum.co.uk - a copy of the DVD is £10.00 plus P+P.

WORKSHOPS FOR DANCERS

Chas can provide workshops for the dancer to understand more about the relationship between dancer and musician, for all levels.

•  Workshop for dancers to recognize commonly heard rhythms from across the Mid East/N. Africa/Turkey - learning on traditional drums, zills and handclapping.

•  Workshops for dancers to learn how to interpret different rhythms in their dance. ( with dance teacher ).

•  Workshops for dancers to learn how to dance to melody on traditional wind instruments - Ney, Zurna, Turkish Clarinet, Saxophone and silver Flute. ( with Maren Lueg - see OTHER BANDS )

•  As above but with drums too.

•  Workshop for more experienced dancers to learn the basics of working with a drummer - rhythms, drum solos, phraseology, rolls etc.

•  Joint drum and dance workshop - Workshop for dancers to learn a choreography whilst drummers learn the rhythms to accompany the dancers.

•  As above but with melody too.

As you can see we can cover a vast area of topics and combine them in many different ways - these are just examples - please contact me on chas@arabicdrum.co.uk if you have special requests or for more information on detail, availability, cost etc.

Workshops which include melody or dance instruction will be led by Maren Lueg (music)

and Carmen Jones

For all enquiries about rates, bookings availability, queries etc.  

chas@arabicdrum.co.uk