Dance Music from the Middle Eastern Diaspora
The music of the Middle East has a rich history, and its impact is far reaching. Whether it's in the rhythms, musical theory, or even similar songs, the influence of this music can be heard from Central Asia to Eastern Europe. "Dance Songs from the Middle Eastern Diaspora" is a class that focuses on tunes for belly dancing to line dancing, basic music theory for Middle Eastern (and Middle Eastern influenced) music, and dives into improvisation. Most importantly, this class will emphasize the connection between the music and the dancers. All instruments are welcome!
About Calvin Lai
Beginning as a percussionist and ending up as a clarinetist has been Calvin Lai’s journey within the Middle Eastern and Balkan music diaspora. Calvin started studying the rhythms of this genre and eventually evolved to learning songs from Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Armenia, and a number of other countries influenced by the Middle Eastern musical system. Calvin balances this incredible rich musical tradition with the knowledge that he is coming at it from an outside perspective. His deep appreciation of Middle Eastern and Balkan music, paired with his drive for unique self expression, has made Calvin the musician he is today.