Shimmy Soul New Orleans w/Zara and Amy Sigil 2026
Schedule
Fri, 17 Apr, 2026 at 09:00 am to Sun, 19 Apr, 2026 at 05:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Studio Shakti New Orleans | New Orleans, LA
Advertisement
SHIMMY SOUL Early Bird Registration is NOW OPEN!https://www.studioshaktinola.com/store
Shimmy Soul: A New Orleans Belly Dance Experience
Hosted by Karla Marie Shimmy Soul at Studio Shakti New Orleans
3 days
8 workshops
1 restorative session
2 incredible instructors
1 magical show
Workshops:
Friday, April 17- Sunday, April 19
Show:
Saturday, April 18 (8pm-10pm)
Thursday, April 16
Pre-event French Quarter Fest (FQF) Meetup
Sunday, April 18
4pm Second Line to FQF (Old Mint)
Shimmy Soul Location: @studioshaktinola
(Marigny Neighborhood)
2372 St. Claude Ave.
Suite 200
New Orleans, LA 70117
Inside the New Orleans Healing Center
Instructors:
Zara (Cairo, Egypt)
Amy Sigil (USA)
FULL SCHEDULE:
Thursday, April 16
French Quarter Fest Meet Up
Friday, April 17
2pm-4pm Registration/Shopping
3pm-3:45pm Raq it like it's hot: Power Warm-Up Workshop by Karla Marie
4pm-6pm Generate by AMY SIGIL
6:30pm-8:30pm Mahraganat by ZARA (Performance Option)
Saturday, April 18
10am-12pm Saidi by ZARA
12:30pm-2:30pm ITS by AMY SIGIL
3pm-5pm Mejanse by ZARA
8pm-10pm Shimmy Soul Show
Sunday, April 19
10:15am-11am Awaken Shakti Restorative Session by Karla Marie
11am-1pm Dance Church by AMY SIGIL
1:30pm-3:30pm Tarab by ZARA
4pm Second Line to French Quarter Fest (Old Mint)
5pm-7pm FQF
Contact:
Karla Marie
[email protected]
IG: @karlamarieshimmysoul
@studioshaktinola
Workshop Descriptions:
Friday 4/17
3pm-3:45pm
KARLA MARIE:
RAQ IT LIKE IT'S HOT! Power Warm-Up- Kick off the weekend with some Shakti Power- Whether you are a seasoned professional, a belly dance instructor, or new in your journey, this workshop will give you the 3 key components to a Kick @$% Warm-Up up that will leave your heart ignited, your blood pumping, and your students wanting more!
4pm-6pm
AMY SIGIL: GENERATING and embracing your YES
You know how I do it … all yes all the time!
Silent the critic and feed the creation. Tools and methods to get out of the mud and into the joy of creating. This workshop is all about making dance pieces quickly and with joy! See you in the YES!
Friday, April 17 6:30pm-8:30pm
ZARA: Mahragnat Understanding and Technique
Come and learn this fresh new style of dance that now dominates the Cairo scene. Zara will guide you through an immersive experience that goes beyond mere steps. You'll explore the origins of Mahragnat, uncover its cultural significance, and learn why it resonates so deeply with audiences today.
Embrace the rhythm of the times and get ready to move with the latest techniques and trends straight from the heart of Egypt! Zara is excited to share her passion with you! This workshop offers a deep dive into the history, cultural context, and lots of fun TECHNIQUE
Saturday, April 18 10am-12pm
ZARA: Saidi Stick Tips, Tricks and Technique
(Bring a stick - straight ended if possible)
Your Saidi performances will never be the same again..... in this workshop you will be learning advanced stick technique! Zara will go through SLOWLY and BREAK DOWN fun tricks, spins, flips, catches and throws of your stick.
Plus share with you the secrets to making all this stick work look effortless.
This workshop is a Technique Class with some basic cultural context and history.
Saturday, April 18 12:30pm-2:30pm
AMY SIGIL: Improv Team Sync and The Sigil
Method
A dive into the world of Amy Sigil’s group improvisation formats ITS and The Sigil Method. We will be working with new content, new concepts, and new formations. Working the brain and the body while strengthening group communication and team spirit.
Saturday, April 18 3pm-5pm
ZARA: Majencey/Mejanse
Understanding and application
This workshop is designed to equip you with the skills, techniques, and mindset needed to create an unforgettable bellydance entrance that takes your audience’s breath away.
You will explore how Megency music is uniquely crafted to enhance your performance, delving into the various components of a Megency song and their significance.
Discover how to leverage your bellydance skills to maximize the impact of your entrance.
This session will focus on concepts rather than choreography, providing you with invaluable skills that will benefit your dance journey for years to come.
Expect to engage in activities such as listening to music, analyzing video examples of iconic dancers' openings, studying the historical context, dissecting the structure of a Megency piece, and cultivating the mindset necessary to dazzle.
Join us for this interactive concepts workshop that promises to elevate your dance experience.
Sunday, April 19 10:15am-11am
KARLA MARIE: Awaken Shakti- an opportunity to pause and restore, set intentions, and close our weekend by bringing our focus inward, to shift our energy and connect with ourselves through gentle movement, visualization, meditation, restorative poses, sound healing, and aromatherapy offerings.
Sunday, April 19 11am-1pm
AMY SIGIL: Dance Church
Connecting movement to the soul and spending energy in areas that inspire passion and
growth. We will crack open our bodies and hearts to take a spiritual dance journey together. See you in the spirit.
Sunday, April 19 1:30pm-3:30pm
ZARA: Tarab
One of Zara’s most popular workshops: delve into the captivating belly dance concept of TARAB. Known as the entrancing state performers experience, it is arguably the essence of bellydance.
Through carefully crafted exercises, Zara shares her years of performance expericce to immerse you in the principles of Tarab, guiding you towards reaching this unparalleled state of connection.
You will walk away from this workshop with supercharged audience interaction skills and the know how to confidently let go and express yourself fully through dance.
Tarab is a transformative experience and understanding it is transformative to your dance.
Stop boring, vacuous performances of just stepping out the moves and delve deeper like never before!
Sunday, April 19 4pm
SECOND LINE TO FRENCH QUARTER FEST (Old Mint)
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Studio Shakti New Orleans, 2372 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117-8351, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
