Storytelling in Arabic music with Tareq Abboushi, presented by Ranya Renee

What if you could hear where the music is going, before it gets there?

This workshop, designed specifically for dancers, reveals the art of storytelling behind Arabic music—particularly the beauty and flow of the taqsim.

Learn how to recognize where a musical journey begins, how it unfolds through the Sayr (the path of the maqam), and how to anticipate the qafla, the satisfying resolution that brings a phrase to life.

Rather than getting overwhelmed with music theory, you’ll learn to follow the narrative of the music: where musicians pause, how they build tension, where the energy rises, and when it finally releases.

Once you understand the framework of this musical language, your dancing becomes more intuitive, expressive, and connected.

Your movement will tell the same story as the music.

This workshop makes the structure of Arabic music clear, practical, and accessible—giving you the tools to dance not just to the music, but with it.

Some specifics Tareq will cover:

- How to hear and feel the pulse of the phrases in taqasim even when there is not an underlying rhythm...

- How melodic phrases build on one another...

- Pattern recognition in Arabic music: recognizing these patterns as building blocks, in the notes and in the rhythm of melodic playing... so you will be able to better anticipate in the moment what is going to happen in the music

Ranya will be on hand to help with ideas of how to embody these concepts, and a few dancers will be invited to volunteer for solo demonstrations (only if you want to!).

(Note from Ranya: In 2005, when I visited Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank, I visited Tareq in his hometown of Ramallah, where he treated me to the most amazing ice cream (with chewy mastic in it!).

That was a beautiful memory that I hope to be able to repeat sometime in a more peaceful future.
Like that delicious ice cream, you will find it a treat to work with Tareq!

Embedded in Arabic music culture, Tareq also speaks with native-level fluency in English, having earned his music degree in New Jersey and lived in this area for several years. You will find him to be an amazing bridge between cultures.)

ABOUT TAREQ ABBOUSHI:

A Palestinian composer, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and educator...

Tareq is a William Paterson University graduate with a Jazz Piano degree, who later decided to pursue the buzuq (long-necked string instrument) to explore his roots in Arab Music. This led him to perform with notable musicians such as Simon Shaheen, Suad Massi, Abeer Nehme, and Lotfi Bouchnak.

As an award-winning composer, Tareq's diverse background appears across multiple genres, from classical Arabic music, to Jazz, Electronic, and music for film, dance, radio, television, and commissioned soundscapes. Abboushi’s discography includes two albums with his band SHUSMO, five albums with Amir ElSaffar, and appearances on many other albums, including three with Grammy-winner Dan Zanes. He is currently based in Finland.

Website: shusmo.com

ABOUT RANYA RENEE (presenter):

Ranya, based in New York City, has been a leading performer and instructor of Egyptian dance for thirty years, specializing in holistic, culturally rooted dance technique, performance skills, and Arabic musical training for dancers. She has completed extensive studies in Arabic music and language. Her original field research in Egypt and with Western-based native Arab musicians and dancers informs her teaching.

Ranya's training material on her online GingerCity.com site and her instructional DVDs "Bellydance Taqasim: Improvisational Skills & Drills," "Bellydance Egyptian Style: The Baladi" and "Bellydance Egyptian Style: Modern Oriental" have been widely acclaimed by dancers worldwide.

Website: gingercity.com

RECORDING & PRIVACY:

We will be recording the live workshop via Zoom.
It can be very helpful to see yourself on a recording to learn even more about your musicality instincts as you develop them.
However, you don't need to be on the recording if you don't want to be.

Everyone who registers by Oct. 4 (in-person, live on Zoom or post-workshop recording access) will get access to watch the recording (speaker view and gallery view; the gallery will include everyone who has cameras on, or just your name if camera is off).
Others registering after Oct. 4 will get access only to the speaker view (which will include in-person attendees in the path of the camera or demo volunteers).

If you are attending in person on Oct. 4 and don't want to appear on the recording, you will be able to stand to the side out of the camera view. This will be your responsibility to keep in your safe zone! Arrive early so we can check it.

If you are attending live on Zoom on Oct. 4 and don't want to appear on the gallery view of the recording, you can keep your camera off.

In registering, you agree to keep the videos of our workshop private, only viewed by you, to keep a safe space for all.

SIGN UP TODAY:

Get access to the live in-person or Zoom workshop on October 4, as well as the Zoom recordings after

Pay just for the workshop, or support our visiting artist with an additional donation by paying at a higher rate. Thank you!

$57 Purchase access till Oct. 2/ Regular Advance rate

$60 Purchase access Oct 3 or Oct. 4 (at the door) - online, or cash in person

$70 Online access if purchased Oct. 5 and after / Advance Supporter rate

$100 VIP Supporter rate: Your extra donation gives you workshop & recording access and also helps support Tareq's expenses for his visit!

You will have access to the recording until at least Dec. 31, 2026 to review as many times as you want, as well as our post-workshop "highlights & takeaways" notes that we'll share by email!

You can also write to us at support@gingercity.com with any questions you have! We can forward questions to Tareq too.

Looking forward to sharing Tareq's wonderful playing AND teaching with you!

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ADD TO YOUR CART:
Ranya's Baladi Music Analysis

Get lifetime access to this on-demand GingerCity.com program on the details of Egyptian baladi music recordings - just $37 lifetime online access (regular price $47)

4+ hours of analysis and Q&A content on various baladi recordings, based on Ranya's consultations with master accordionist Nabawy (formerly of Fifi Abdou's band) and research in Egypt, divided into lessons from live recordings with easily searchable links to get into all the geeky details! Nightclub style, street wedding style... it's all in here. For dancers and musicians who already appreciate down-home Egyptian baladi or who want to learn more!

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Ranya's Baladi Music Analysis

Get lifetime access to this on-demand GingerCity.com program on the details of Egyptian baladi music recordings - just $37 lifetime online access (regular price $47)

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Storytelling in Arabic Music with Tareq Abboushi$0

YOUR INFORMATION:

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Choose a pricing option:

Choose your price

Choose the price you want to pay

ADD TO YOUR CART: Ranya's Baladi Music Analysis

Get lifetime access to this on-demand GingerCity.com program on the details of Egyptian baladi music recordings - just $37 lifetime online access (regular price $47)

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Storytelling in Arabic Music with Tareq Abboushi$0

ADD TO YOUR CART:
Ranya's Baladi Music Analysis