Rosa Rojas: guedra dancer and teacherGuedra is a ritual blessing dance from the Tuareg Berbers, or "Blue People". Guedra is performed to envelop all present with positive energy, peace and spiritual love.The rhythmical clapping, and chanting, and dancers finger's and hand movements all have their origin in ancient symbolism. The Blue People consider Guedra to be their direct contact the elements, spirit, and universe. It is their deepest expression of their souls and provides protection against a hostile environment and evil spirits. The Guedra is an Arabic word for cooking pot. The cooking pot was covered in animal skin to make a drum to be played in the heartbeat rhythm. Workshop is open to all!

The Guedra workshop will begin with counter clapping and chanting warm up. Students will learn two blessing and counter clapping rhythms. There will also be a T'bal (standing dance) warm up. we will than proceed with Guedra on the knees and sitting position, and explore the intricacies of the hand, and arm movements. The Symbolic gestures are designed to send out blessings to the future, past, and present; to the Sun, Earth, Water and Wind. Towards the end of the workshop we will combine all elements of the Guedra.

About the Instructor

Rosa Rojas began her journey into traditional sacred dances and songs in 1995, when she began training in the traditional folk dances of Turkey, Macedonia, Egypt, and Morocco with Katarina Burda. Emphasis was placed on dance, singing, traditional instruments like the Turkish saz, as well as traditional percussion instruments. Rosa was a solo singer in Aywah! She has studied and performed with Darioush Sami, master santour player. A former principal dancer and soloist with the Ballet Afsaneh, Rosa has traveled to Tajikistan, where she worked with the Ballet Afsaneh Arts and Culture Society residency program "Tajik Dance Initiative", where she had the opportunity to learn and perform with "Padida Dance Theater" in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, led by teacher and director Sharofat Resmopova. In 2006, she was a guest performer and soloist at the World Performing Arts Festival in Lahore, Pakistan, with the Shahrzad Dance Academy.

Rosa has been featured in several Afghan music videos such as the famed Ehsan Aman, which was featured in the movie The Kite Runner. Rosa has toured and performed with numerous Persian singers such as Moin, Gloria Rohani and Afghan singer Habib Qadari. Through her work, Rosa has developed an enthusiastic following in the Persian and Afghan communities. Rosa was an artistic director and teacher for the Ballet Afsaneh Dance Academy in San Jose, CA for four years, from 2004 to 2008, collaborating with the Alborz Farsi School and the award-winning Nejad World Music Center. She toured with Mohammed Nejad in Europe and the United States, and their collaboration continues today. Rosa has had the privilege of studying under mentors Sharlyn Sawyer (Director of Ballet Afsaneh), Katarina Burda (founder of the Middle Eastern dance company Aywah!), Shahrzad Khorsandi (Director of Shahrzad Dance Academy), Eva Salina Primack (singer and musician), Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble, and master musicians Ostad Mohammed Nejad, Aziz Harawi and Darioush Sami. Rosa's artistic outlook and love for dance allow her to bring a rare blend of cultures into the community.