Welcome to Advanced Performance 

Advanced Performance 1 and 2 are designed for dancers who have completed Integrations and want to deepen their technical skill, stage presence, and expressive performance quality. These courses provide a rich, immersive experience where learners refine their somatic awareness, musical interpretation, and cultural expression — preparing them for confident, polished performances on stage and other professional settings.

Course Overview (Advanced Performance 1 and 2)

  • Duration: 12 weeks each
  • Format: Weekly modules with assignments and personalized instructor feedback.
  • Certification: Optional with approval upon completion of course requirements.

Who is this For?

For committed students who have completed Integrations 1 & 2, maintain an active membership, and regularly practice with the Library & Conservatory subscription. If you are ready to elevate your performance presence, deepen your connection to the rich cultural roots of SWANA music, and prepare for stage or professional work, Advanced Performance 1 & 2 provide a comprehensive, structured path forward.

2026

Advanced Performance 1

In the twelve-week Advanced Performance 1 (S400d) course, you focus on advanced technique. You have all the tools you need to train and prepare in advance: Integrations certification, extensive Library, and choreography access. You demonstrate your skill for feedback and work toward the optional certification.

What You Will Demonstrate & Improve

  • Your thorough knowledge and execution of the assigned choreographies and advanced technique through choreography and improvisation.
  • Advanced refinement of technique through heightened somatic awareness and embodied control.
  • Deep integration of musicality — aligning movement with phrasing, rhythm, and emotional nuance.
  • Application of spatial awareness and movement vocabulary to complex choreography and improvisation.
  • Preparation of performance-ready pieces that showcase technical skill, musical interpretation, and expressive depth.

Prerequisites

  • Completion of / Certification in Integrations 1 and 2.
  • Active Library subscription and Center membership.
  • Know the required choreographies: Nebtidi Mnein El Hakeiya, Yanna Yanna, Leylet Hob, and Lissa Fakir.
  • Commitment to the full 12-week course cycle

Optional Certification Part 1

Optional testing is available after the course for an additional fee and consists of a performance exam: a choreography showcase of certification choreography. The exam prerequisite is approval (pass grade) on all required choreography and technique drills during the course. This testing is the first of two tests required to achieve Advanced Performance 400-level certification.

Pricing Options

S400d, Advanced Performance 1, has one pricing option.

Advanced Performance 2

In the twelve-week Advanced Performance 2 (R400d) course, you work on developing, enhancing, and evolving a personal recital. Assignments include choreography, storyboarding, and Suhaila Gridwork. A focus is placed on finding personal expression while still being responsible to the culture, music, and choreographer's voice. 

What You Will Demonstrate & Improve

  • Your thorough knowledge and execution of the assigned choreographies and advanced technique through choreography and improvisation.
  • Continued technical refinement paired with deep somatic presence in demanding choreography.
  • Advanced interpretive work: musical phrasing, emotional expression, and cultural sentiment woven into movement.
  • Performance dynamics, including styling, expressivity, and storytelling through dance.
  • Cultivation of identity and personal voice within the framework of the Salimpour method and cultural context.

Prerequisites

  • Completion of/ Certification in Advanced Performance 1.
  • Active Library subscription and Center membership.
  • Learn the required choreographies assigned for your specific recital.
  • Commitment to the full 12-week course cycle

Optional Certification Part 2

Optional testing is available after the course for an additional fee and consists of a performance exam: a personal recital assigned curated by Suhaila Salimpour for each student. The exam prerequisite is approval during the course. This testing is the second of two performance exams required to achieve Advanced Performance 400-level certification.

Pricing Options

R400d, Advanced performance 2 has one pricing option.

  Premium Restrictions

  • None of the premium additions are adjustable, extendable, refundable, transferable, nor exchangeable.

  • Four weeks of post-access allows the learner to stay in the classroom for an additional 4 weeks if there are remaining assignments to be completed. Access is removed upon completion of outstanding assignments.

  • It is assumed that the learner has already learned the choreography in preparation for the course, so access to choreographies during the course is considered a supplementary resource. Premium choreography access, regardless of learner registration date, ends 4 weeks after the end of the course. Learners who sign up later than 4 weeks prior to the course are not given additional access time. Pre-course access to choreography is only provided to learners who have paid course enrollment in full.

  • Private lessons must be scheduled and taken during the duration of the course. Scheduling must be done and confirmed no later than the end of the 10th week of coursework.

  • Additional takes per choreography (see specific course details for the required choreography) are provided. These are accessible in specific weeks outlined in the course schedule.


More Information

Somatics in the 400 Level (S400d)

The S400d (Advanced Performance 1) course includes advanced-level somatics testing. Unlike the previous levels, dancers must demonstrate their full ability to perform the somatic technique combinations at a performance level. Learn more about the somatics requirements here.

To prepare for the somatics testing in S400d, use the online classes. Focus on Core 3 Rotations, Foundations Sets 1-3 and Remixes 1-3, and Advanced classes.  Use this guide to know how to prepare by level for the advanced-level drills. 

S400d Choreographies

During the S400d course, you have eight pieces (Nebtidi Mnein El Hakeiya overlaps in both sets) requiring "sign-off" (approval). **In some cases there are two versions of a choreography; select the choreography version created by Suhaila Salimpour. [Any cymbal choreographies in this level are submitted "as written" for "sign-off" (approval) instead of both R- and L-hand dominant as in the 200-300 levels.]

The four required certification choreographies are Nebtidi Mnein El Hakeiya, Lissa Fakir, Leylet Hob, and Yanna Yanna. The requirement is to score NP (near passing) or higher on Lissa Fakir, Leylet Hob, and Yanna Yanna. 

The five pieces for the Choreography Showcase Recital are Raks Suhaila, Nebtidi Menin El Hakeiya, Chic Chac Choc, Sallam Allay, and Integrations Drum Solo (L3FCDS).

R400d choreographies

After completing the S400d course and Choreography Showcase Recital, dancers will be assigned a 20-25 minute set for their personal recitals. Each set is explicitly curated by Suhaila for each dancer.

Testing in the 400 Level

Both courses have recital exams, including choreography. S400d is called the Choreography Showcase Recital, and R400d is called the Personal Recital.

In S400d, learners have somatic assignments, choreography approvals, recital preparation, and related assignments to be completed and passed during the course; see other sections specific to somatics and choreographies. The final exam is a Choreography Showcase Recital to be held within 12 weeks after the course end date.

In R400d, learners have assignments (choreography approvals, recital preparation, mapping, gridwork, story arcing, casting, crafting, etc.( to be completed and passed during the course. The final exam is a Personal Recital to be held within 12 weeks after the course end date. 

Cultural Context & Approach

Advanced Performance emphasizes respectful engagement with the SWANA region’s rich cultural heritage, encouraging dancers to embody both technical precision and emotional resonance. Through deep connection to musical phrasing, history, and cultural nuance, students develop a sophisticated expressive voice that honors the lineage and spirit of this dance form.
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