Salimpour Dance Immersion 2026

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Five days of embodied study, lineage, and community. A Yallah™ event bridging SWANA heritage and somatic dance practice.

Event Details
Join Suhaila for her annual Dance Immersion.
  • Instructor - Suhaila Salimpour
  • Guest Instructor. Isabella Salimpour
  • July 27-31, 2026: 1-5pm Each Day
  • Shawl Anderson Dance Center, 2704 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
  • Pricing: $1200 for Non-Members. $1000 for Members.
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Non-Member Enrollment

  Member Enrollment  

Dance Immersion 2026

The Salimpour Dance Immersion is a five-day, in-person training designed for dancers at the Fundamentals Level (Level 100) stage and beyond. Rooted in the legacy of Jamila and Suhaila Salimpour, the Immersion deepens your practice through focused study, somatic exploration, movement training, and community connection. Guided by Suhaila’s Core Dimension™—where movement, breath, and intention converge—the program integrates technique with cultural context and personal embodiment.

Participants refine musicality, finger cymbals, and layered technique, and engage in guided discussions that connect historical lineage to contemporary practice. This year’s Immersion features guest instructor Isabella Salimpour, who will teach an original choreography.

 Essential Prerequisite: A strong foundation in the Institute’s Fundamentals Level is required for participation in this program.

Welcome Gathering

We open with a Welcome Gathering to meet each other, introduce the teaching team, establish intentions, and celebrate the week ahead. 

Time & Date TBD.

Optional Performance Opportunity

Participants will have an optional performance opportunity to share a short work-in-process, ensemble piece, or solo in a supportive setting.

Time & Date TBD.

Dance Immersion

Highlights

01

Somatics, musicality, finger cymbals, and layered movement

02

Core Dimension™ - integrating movement, breath, and intention

03

Choreography by Guest Instructor, Isabella Salimpour

04

Community dialogue and cultural context

05

Welcome Gathering

06

Optional performance opportunity

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Vlog from the 2023 Dance Immersion.

A Yallah™ Event

Presented as a Yallah™ event, the Salimpour Dance Immersion celebrates the living tradition of SWANA dance by promoting dialogue, creativity, and shared experience. Whether you are beginning your certification journey or returning to strengthen your foundation, this program offers an in-depth opportunity to grow within an evolving cultural lineage.
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Watch the 2024 crew learning a choreography.

Policies Acknowledgment

By registering for the Salimpour Dance Immersion, participants affirm that they agree to the In-Person Workshop Payment Policy and to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as they apply to the payment platform and program resources. Participants are expected to uphold the integrity of the learning environment, engage respectfully with instructors and peers, and adhere to all program guidelines. The Institute reserves the right to modify schedules, faculty, or content as necessary to maintain the quality and scholarly rigor of the program.
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