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Helene EriksenHelene is a dance ethnologist, teacher, performer and choreographer of traditional dances of the Balkans and Islamic Orient as well as Argentine Tango and folk dance. She lectures and publishes on dance ethnology and costume studies. She has conducted many research projects in Bulgaria, ex-Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Argentina as well as with immigrant communities in Europe and the Americas. She speaks several languages. She is an active member of the Study Group on Ethnochoreology (ICTM/UNESCO). For many years she has been leading dance and culture study tours to Morocco, Turkey, Armenia and Uzbekistan (Coming up: tours to Argentina!).
Helene studied Dance Ethnology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and was later a doctoral candidate in Folklore, Slavistics and Turcology at the Georg-August University in Göttingen, Germany. In Los Angeles she performed with AVAZ International Dance Theater, Gypsy Dance Company and Jasna Planina Ensemble. After a year at the Folkdance Academy in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, she was a guest of the Turkish State Folkdance Ensemble in Ankara. She completed her Second Year Kathak Accreditation with honours with the Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad, India. She directed her ensemble Raqs-e Hilal for several years in Germany. Since 1994 she has been teaching intensive ANAR DANA training programs internationally. Currently there are projects in the US, German and Argentina.
As a dancer she has appeared on television, in large festivals and on stages around the world with performances in: Germany, Austria, England, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey, Russia, Canada, Norway, the USA, Pakistan, Algeria, Slovenia, Mexico, Argentina and Uzbekistan.
Workshop Descriptions
Algerian Nailiyat - 10:00AM (2 HOURS)
The Nailiyat, or the women of the Ouled Nail tribe from the region of the Algerian oasis towns of Bou Saada and Biskra, used to earn their dowries by dancing and working as courtesans in caravan crossroad towns. When they had earned enough money they returned to their tribe to marry. The Nailiyat were particularly popular with the French Legionnaires, who called their dances Danse du Ventre (which translated became “belly dance”). Helene was fortunate to work with Aisha Ali who conducted field research in Algeria in the late 70's among the Ouled Nail as well as to go to Algeria herself. Students should bring a scarf (ca. 80cm x 80cm).
Lunch Break 12:00 - 1:00PM
Guedra of the West Sahara - 1:00PM (2 HOURS)
Sahraoui people inhabit the disputed region of the West Sahara. In 1975, at the end of Franco’s rule, Spain relinquished its claims and the region was divided between Morocco and Mauritania. Since then the Sahraoui have been fighting a war of independence with many of them forced to live in refugee camps in the Algerian stone desert waiting for a referendum which has been promised since 1975 but is yet to come. Most famous from this region is the trance dance Geudra accompanied by rhythmic clapping patterns and chanting.
Workshop Schedule & Information
March 14, 2026
Algerian Nailiyat - 10:00AM
Guedra of the West Sahara - 1:00PM
Cost:
Each Workshop - $100
Both Workshops - $150 EARLY BIRD until 3.1.26. Afterwards price is $180.
Workshops are non refundable / non transferable unless event is cancelled.
Lunch - 12:00 PM
Area has many restaurants close to the studio.
Studio
1125 B Ave
West Columbia, SC 29045
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
1125 B Avenue, West Columbia, SC, United States, South Carolina 29169
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