Workshop Review: The Dramatic Art of the Four-Yard Veil
By Havilah (Lisa Smith)
from The Papyrus, November 2004

When I found out that Shoshanna, my first belly dance teacher ever, was coming to town to teach a workshop, I signed up the first chanc I got. Jim Boz brought this wonderful lady to San Diego for his Summer Hafla in August. She traveled here all the way from Arcata, CA. This small town is home to Humboldt State University, where Shoshanna teaches. I first saw her perform at a small street fair, and knew that I wanted to belly dance, too. Years later and 800 miles away, I was very excited to have the chance to take a four-yard veil workshop with her.

The workshop covered many veil techniques that Shoshanna uses. She instructed us on how to properly hold the veil for "maximum float," showed us a few tricky moves that we could incorporate in our own dance, and basically got us comfortable (or as comfortable as you can be) swirling and twirling with twelve feet of fabric. She also showed us how to gracefully get out of moves that go awry, like when the veil accidentally lands on your head, or when you try to toss and catch the veil and forget the "catch" part. She gave us all handouts at the end on all the techniques we learned in the workshop.

A good thing about working with a four yard veil, as Shoshanna pointed out, is that you can do the same moves with a small veil later, or for a performance, and will seem very easy because you've practiced with something larger. The unique thing about her that I have observed, comparing her to other dancers, is that she uses a veil more like a partner than a prop. Many dancers come in with a veil, drop it after a minute, and then never pick it up again. Shoshanna isn't afraid to let go of the veil, drop it, and pick it up several times, and get creative with it. She teaches her students to do the same thing.

Even though I had studied with Shoshanna for several years, and had a little bit of an advantage as far as already knowing some of her repertoire, I learned some new moves at the workshop that were really fun and challenging. That's another thing that is great about her. She doesn't presume to know everything about the dance just because she is a teacher. She is constantly taking workshops from other teachers to learn more and gain experience.

Shoshanna constantly amazes me. She is a beautiful dancer, a wonderful teacher, and I am so proud and honored that I was able to study with her for so long. I would highly recommend her workshops to anyone, and would urge you to seek her out and watch her perform whenever you get a chance. Her gracefulness, dazzling improvisation, and stage presence will simply take your breath away.

Havilah (Lisa Smith) is a belly dancer and enthusiast who now lives in Mesa, Arizona.
She is the owner of Kayley's Caravan Creations.

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