May 30, 2022

Under the heading of “Never Say Never,” I’m excited to introduce GoLive! — an Arab Music and Dance Conference hosted by yours truly, alongside some esteemed colleagues, happening in October this year.

As I reflect on this journey, I can’t help but think about how I got here. Though I won’t share the full story, here’s a glimpse.

Why I Said No for So Long...

Over the years, many workshop sponsors and dance instructors approached me, asking if I’d host an event for an artist they were bringing in or a multi-day teaching event. My response was always a firm “No. I don’t do that.”

Having participated in such events as both a student and an instructor, I knew the amount of work involved — often with little reward. The idea of organizing one myself? No way!

But then, something made me reconsider…

The Turning Point

That “something” was a focus on live music, and the creation of my year-long performance improvisation program that we call "Project Band".  Project Band eventually led me to Michael Ibrahim and the National Arab Orchestra (NAO).

So in October 2021, we had 22 musicians in town for the 25th GBDAC (Give Belly Dance A Chance) — my studio’s annual showcase where, among other things, Project Band participants showcase the improvisational skills that they have been honing all year.

The musicians who played for us weren’t just any musicians; they were some of the most accomplished Arab musicians in the country.

With so much talent gathered in one place, I realized we had an opportunity to do something extraordinary. Michael Ibrahim had been suggesting that we attempt something on a larger scale too. 

So, I reached out to dance colleagues for suggestions on guest dancers who could teach a workshop focused on live music. The name Leila Farid kept coming up. She was fantastic at last year’s event and will be returning this October.

That experience solidified the concept of GoLive!