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MEDSOK is Middle Eastern Dance in Kentucky

Welcome to the Middle Eastern Dance Society of Kentuckiana, a society of enthusiasts, teachers, and performers from Kentucky and Southern Indiana who share an interest in Middle Eastern dance, music, clothing and food.

The Society was created in 1978 as a non-profit organization of persons interested in Middle Eastern dance, music and culture. What "Mid-Eastern Dance" means to our members has expanded greatly over the past thirty years. The beautiful ethnic dances of Egypt, Turkey, Persia, Lebanon and Africa and the classic Egyptian raks sharki dance styles have influenced and been influenced by American cabaret belly dance, American tribal belly dance, Gypsy Rom, Turkish, flamenco, Indian temple dancing, sword and veil dancing, and even Gothic belly dance. All of these styles have their devotees among us!

Dancers, musicians, costumers and cooks, scholars and the curious, professional and amateur: all are welcome. Our programs include something for everyone.

Membership benefits include a discount on the annual MEDSOK dance workshop, access to the music and dance tapes in the library, and performance, learning and eating opportunities throughout the year.

Joining: Our Membership page has all the information you need. Our Calendar membership year runs January - December; our Academic membership year runs September - August. Membership is $20 / year.

Meetings and Events: Our Events page has our schedule details for the current and previous years, including our monthly meetings. Monthly reminders are sent out to all members.

Turbo Tabla in Louisville

Nov 2008 Workshop and Concert:
Saturday, November 1st, and Sunday, November 2nd

Karim Nagi, AKA Turbo Tabla, is MEDSOK's 2008 workshop instructor. Karim Nagi's reputation as a master percussionist, dancer, teacher, performer and (as one U-Tube fan calls him ) 'party in a box' is growing fast. Karim has developed a comprehensive zill method that utilizes drum techniques and an ambidexterous approach and is a pioneer in the "Dancing Drummer" esthetic, combining choreographed movement with articulate drumming, done in unison. Laurel Victoria Gray (artistic director of Silk Road) updated her zill class technique in 2004 to reflect his system of developing ambidexterous skills . He teaches at Artemis's Folk Tour camp and he is a faculty member of the New England Conservatory of Music.

He says: 'I regularly teach the Traditional, Old Guard and Cabaret schools, and I am also consistently invited to the major Tribal festivals. I am a native Egyptian, but am well acclimated to the American teaching style (highly verbal, and systematic with clear breakdowns, and I supply notes). I also teach at the university level. As a performer I have created pure tradition as well as hybrid/fusion work. But don't let all the credential-stuff color your opinion. My classes are fun and funny. "

We haven't decided what dancing/music classes we'll ask him to do, but in case you want a preview:

MEDSOK members get a discount for the workshop and first dibs on any concert slots, so if you are thinking of attending and dancing, then think about joining! Membership information at JOIN.