Friday Night: Motif - A Gathering - 7:30-10:30pm
at Orion Room (Bronco Student Center)
WHAT IS MOTIF? In a nutshell, Motif is an interactive gathering merging live music, movement, and ritual. The event was inspired by the belief that dancers need more face-to-face interaction in a natural community setting with live music. A typical workshop or hafla does not provide a natural community setting in which to learn or experience dance. Dance education is primarily focused on the cultivation of performance and public image: makeup, costumes, steps, techniques, hair, age, weight, choreographies, stage presence, and Melodia Designs are all the fodder of our outer image. Students rarely have an opportunity to experience dance as a natural expression of emotion, without the added pressure of performance anxiety. The leaders of Motif strive to offer a more natural dance environment that revisits the essence of real “tribal” gatherings.

Motif is the brainchild of Lee Ali and Tempest. Our shared desire to explore dance beyond the surfaces of image and technique, lead us to create a new template for dance education and community interaction. We created the Motif gathering as an “experimental” alternative to your standard workshop, hafla, or show. We strive to offer an experience that is more cathartic than a workshop, more guided than a drum circle, and more interactive than a show. Yet, Motif still embodies the educational intension of a workshop, the group participation of a drum circle, and the inspired creativity of a show. Our themes are carefully crafted to benefit the bellydance community, however, men are welcome, and no prior dance or music training is required.

RHYTHM & E-MOTION is the theme for Gothla, this year. At each Motif, we feature special guest musicians. As moderator, I am proud to be joined by two extraordinary female musicians, Z and V (that’s right, both names are a single letter). V is a certified movement therapist and masterful Middle Eastern drummer who will bring a trunk full of noisy toys to pass around and share our group. We will make music together and tie together the themes of rhythm, emotion and color. Our guest artist Z, is a visionary dancer and published author and who will introduce us to Mediterranean-style chant along with ecstatic music and movement. Our theme leaders are entrancing and charismatic. Together, we embody encyclopedic knowledge in the areas of trance, rhythm, dance, magic and healing. Come prepared to spark the mind, free the body, and explore the spirit. Please arrive promptly before 7:30 for our opening ritual. Latecomers will not be admitted. Feel free to bring pillows, blankets, drinks and musical instruments.
$20 door if space allows.

Saturday Festival: 10am-5pm (Ursa Major Room)
Saturday is our "festival day" - in addition to workshops to take,there will be performances all day-long to enjoy and shop our merchant market featuring some of the finest and most unique bellydance, goth, and dark vendors! Everyone is welcome to attend - there's plenty of things for non-dancers to enjoy all day long. $15 at the door. (admission is free to those performing in the festival show, "Gothla Gluttons", and those signed up for the complete Saturday package.

Saturday Night: The Gala Show - 7:30pm (Ursa Major Room( (doors at 7pm)
A fabulous professional show featured the instructors of Gothla US and special guests. This takes place in the same location as the Festival! $20 door.

Sunday Festival: 11am-6pm (Ursa Major Room)
In addition to workshops to take,there will be performances all day-long to enjoy and shop our merchant market featuring some of the finest and most unique bellydance, goth, and dark vendors! Everyone is welcome to attend - there's plenty of things for non-dancers to enjoy all day long. $15 at the door. (admission is free to those performing in the festival show, "Gothla Gluttons", and those signed up for the complete Sunday package.

Sunday Night: Gothla US Club Night
Gothla US is heading to Malediction Society in Hollywood! Come finish off a fabulous weekend with us on the dancefloor! Don't forget to pack your club gear!

@ The Monte Cristo, 3100 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90005
http://www.myspace.com/maledictionsociety

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