NATEC

Professional & Teacher Certification Program

Neoandalusi Dance Nesma® Technique

Program Presentation

NATEC is a professional training and teacher certification program specialized in neoandalusi dance and
muwashahat, created by Nesma, offering an internationally recognized qualification.
The main objective of the NATEC program is to train highly skilled professionals in the practice and teaching
of neoandalusi dance based on the technique developed by Nesma. Upon completion of the NATEC program,
participants will have the necessary skills for artistic practice and teaching in this dance style.

With over 25 years of dedication to researching, developing, and teaching the neoandalusi style, Nesma, internationally recognized as a teacher and pioneer in this dance form, has designed this program to provide highly specialized training and a qualification that offers a diverse range of opportunities in professional and artistic development.

Intended to

The NATEC program is aimed at advanced level dancers, teachers, and future teachers who are interested in incorporating neoandalusi dance into their repertoire and applying the pedagogical method developed by Nesma. To benefit from the training and gain access to the qualification, it is necessary to have experience as a belly dancer and a solid understanding of the Nesma technique*.

The training is open to dancers from all over the world and is taught in both English and Spanish. Participants can choose to take the program online or attend in-person classes in Madrid.

*Note: There is a preparatory stage in NATEC designed as an introduction for students who do not have prior knowledge of the Nesma technique and are interested in pursuing professional training.

The Training

The NATEC program takes an interdisciplinary approach to its curriculum, covering various techniques, choreographic creation, performance, teaching methodology, history, music, and costume, among other subjects.

The training has been developed using a flexible methodology that combines practical online or in-person, theoretical online classes, collective and individual tutorials, and practical exercises. Additionally, all classes are recorded so that participants can access them at any time.

NATEC consists of two main courses, along with an optional preparatory phase, forming three stages:

Stage 1: Fundamentals
Stage 2: Professional Training
Stage 3: Teaching Accreditation

Each stage of the NATEC program concludes with an evaluation. The rigorous assessment process ensures the qualification and competency of the graduates.

Students enrolled in the NATEC Professional Training can participate in the NATEC Choreographic Project at a preferential rate. You’ll find more information regarging this project below.

Stage 1: Fundamentals

The first stage of NATEC is designed as a preparation phase for students who have no prior knowledge of the Nesma technique. During this stage, the available teaching materials in Nesma Academy will be utilized, complemented by live online classes to guide students through the learning process.

Summary:

Objective: Preparation for entry into NATEC Professional.
Classes: Practical and theoretical online classes in Nesma Academy.
Duration: Variable, until student evaluation.
Evaluation: Practical exam.
Certificate: Fundamentals of Nesma Technique® Training.

Stage 2: NATEC Professional Training

The second stage of NATEC focuses on acquiring practical and theoretical knowledge essential for dancers who wish to practice and perform neoandalusi dance.
This 10-month training stage takes place from October to July. The evaluation, which is optional, includes assignments, theoretical and practical exams, as well as supervised practice through group and individual tutorials.

Summary:

Objective: Training of professional dancers specializing in neoandalusi dance and muwashahat using the Nesma technique.
Classes: Online or in-person practical classes, online theoretical classes.
Duration: 10 months, 210 instructional hours (150 practice hours and 60 theoretical hours).
Evaluation: Theoretical and practical exams, assignments, and practice.
Title: Professional in Neoandalusi Dance

Stage 3: NATEC Teacher Certification

The third and final stage of the NATEC training aims to complete the specialization and knowledge acquisition for professionals who wish to become teachers of neoandalusi dance and muwashahat. The final module of this stage lasts for 9 months, with a total of 40 hours of online classes.
The evaluation includes assignments, supervised practice, and individual tutorials.

Summary:

Objective: Accreditation of teachers in neoandalusi dance and muwashahat using the Nesma technique.
Classes: Online or in-person.
Duration: 9 months – 30 instructional hours, 10 hours of individual tutoring and practice.
Evaluation: Practical exam, assignments, and practice.
Title: Specialist Teacher in Neoandalusi Dance.

Qualification

The purpose of the NATEC program is to grant a qualification that validates the knowledge, skills, and competencies of dancers and teachers in the field of neoandalusi dance.

The NATEC Professional Certificate and NATEC Teacher Certificate serve as concrete evidence of a dancer’s level of competence in neoandalusi dance, allowing them to integrate this dance form into their professional development with support and recognition.

The quality and prestige of the NATEC qualification are backed by Nesma’s trajectory as a renowned choreographer and internationally recognized teacher in the world of oriental dance and as a pioneer of neoandalusi dance. Furthermore, the reputation and experience of the instructors ensure the quality and excellence of the training.

Schedule

From October 2023 to July 2024

Open PDF file: Calendar NATEC Professional

Get your NATEC certification

Book your spot, we begin on October 17th!

View rates, dates, and participation conditions.

Info & Registration

Curriculum

Description

First Course: NATEC Professional

Duration: 10 months

Module 1: Artistic Education – Dance

Dance in Al-Andalus
Introduction to neoandalusi dance and its history
Technique and fundamentals of neoandalusi dance
Movements, steps, and combinations
Body expression and musicality in neoandalusi dance
Posture and coordination work
Practice and regular training
Improvisation
Creativity
Show creation
Choreographic composition
Study of choreographies

Module 2: History, Music, and Poetry

History of Al-Andalus
Andalusian music
Aesthetics of Andalusian music
Andalusian lyrics
Introduction to Arabic music
Moaxaja as a musical form in the Arab world
Other musical forms in dance
Musical analysis for dancers
Selection of music for dance
Relationship between music and movement

Module 3: Complementary Education

Costumes and accessories in neoandalusi dance
Culture and traditions associated with neoandalusi dance
Production of shows
Copyright

Second Course: NATEC Teacher Certification

Duration: 9 months

Module 4: Pedagogy and Method

Fundamentals of teaching neoandalusi dance
Nesma pedagogical methodology
Nesma programs and curricula
Evaluation and progress monitoring of students
Individual and group teaching techniques
Choreographic composition for teaching
Selection of class music
Teaching materials and educational resources

Please note that this curriculum is a general description and may be subject to changes or adjustments based on the specific NATEC program. Additionally, the optional preparatory stage dedicated to acquiring fundamentals is omitted here as it depends on the prior level of each dancer.

The total instructional hours for the NATEC program, including the training and teaching accreditation stages, amount to 250 hours.

Teaching Staff

NESMA

Program Director
Artistic teachings, music applied to dance, complementary teachings, pedagogy, and method.

Nesma, a Spanish dancer and choreographer, discovered Arabic music and dance while performing in shows with her siblings on television. Fascinated by this art form, she decided to study Oriental dance in Madrid and later in Paris. From 1993 to 1998, she resided in Cairo, where she began her professional career and gained profound knowledge of dance, music, culture, and Egyptian traditions. She performed as a soloist with her own orchestra on the most prestigious stages in Cairo. From 1997 to 2012, she collaborated closely with renowned Egyptian choreographer Mahmoud Reda, working as a dancer in his private company and as an assistant in his formations. She also worked with the Egyptian National Group “Reda” from 1998 to 1999.
In 1998, Nesma founded her own dance school and company in Madrid. At the same time, she developed a successful international career as a solo dancer and teacher. In 2004, she created her own music label, Nesma Music, and in 2005, she founded a music and dance festival called Raks Madrid.
Immersed in Arab culture during her stay in Cairo and drawing inspiration from the history of her native country, Nesma decided to develop a unique style based on the legacy of Al-Andalus. By merging her experience in Oriental dance and Mahmoud Reda’s technique with elements of traditional Spanish and Mediterranean dances, as well as her personal inspiration, she created a new style called Neoandalusian dance. Since then, she has premiered four major shows: “From the Nile to the Guadalquivir” (Madrid, 2002), “Dreams of Al-Andalus” (Cairo Opera, 2008), “Muwashahat” (Arabesques Festival, France, 2017), and “Bazamat” (Scène de Bayssan, France, 2022). Some of her other notable performances include “Dances of Egypt,” a tribute to Mahmoud Reda, and “Enta Omri,” a tribute to the singer Umm Kulthum.
Driven by her passion and dedication to Andalusian culture, Nesma is currently pursuing studies in musicology at the International University of Valencia. Through this discipline, she seeks to enrich her perspective and contribute to the analysis and research of music and dance in the Andalusian context.

AMIN CHAACHOO

History, Andalusian poetry, Arabic and Andalusian music.

Amin Chaachoo, from Tetouan, Morocco, is a musician and musicologist specialized in Modal Music. He obtained the First Prize in Andalusian Music, the Diploma in Andalusian Music and Andalusian Violin, the Honor Prize in Andalusian Music from the Conservatory of Music and Dance in Tetouan, the Diploma of Expert in Ethnomusicology from the Acena Academy in Malaga, a Bachelor’s Degree in Hispanic Language and Literature from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Tetouan, with a thesis on “Las jarchas” (Andalusian poetry), and a Master’s Degree in French, Francophone, and Comparative Literature, with a thesis on “Semiotics of Andalusian Music.”
Currently, Amin Chaachoo is pursuing his doctorate at Abdelmalek Essaadi University with a doctoral thesis on “Aesthetics of Andalusian Music: Philosophy and Metaphysics of Music in Al-Andalus.”
In 2019, Amin Chaachoo was selected by the Board of Directors of the Hispano-Arab Intercultural Circle (CIHAR) in Madrid to receive the CIHAR Gold Medal 2019. He was granted this recognition based on his actions, editions, dissemination, and participation in favor of culture, interculturality, peaceful coexistence, and cultural diversity for dialogue and social development.
In addition to his academic training, Amin studied according to traditional procedures with masters of Andalusian music, which was necessary to acquire authenticity in the tradition.
In 1997, Amin founded the al-Haiek Association for the Research of Andalusian Musical Heritage. In 2002, he established the Tetouan-Asmir Club for Music, specializing in the teaching and dissemination of Andalusian Music. In 2006, he founded the Founoun Conservatory of Music, where he taught Andalusian Music for several years. In 2013, Amin created the Tetouan-Asmir Center for Musicological Research and Conservation of Musical Heritage, a center dedicated to promoting music science and musicological education. In the same year, Amin founded the first Andalusian Music Orchestra composed of Spanish musicians in Malaga: the Andalusian Orchestra of Malaga.

The Al-Andalus Project

The Al-Andalus Choreographic Project is an initiative aimed at promoting the production of neo-Andalusian dance shows. Through this unique experience, participants will have the opportunity to be involved in the artistic creation, production, and performance of a dance show with live music.

Participation in the Al-Andalus Project is optional for NATEC vocational training students. In their case, the time investment will be more limited, and they will benefit from a special rate.

The didactic Al-Andalus project consists of several phases of learning: studying choreographies, adapting them to the group and staging, developing musical notions related to the pieces used, learning improvisation techniques, rehearsing with live music, and finally, performing the show.

NATEC students will fulfill a significant part of the learning within the framework of their training. Participation in the Al-Andalus Project involves the following for them: