Finger Cymbal Intensive Weekend with Anna Kemper
Finger Cymbal Intensive Weekend with Anna Kemper
The Belly Dancer's Instrument
Location TBC (Leicester or Coventry) | 10-11 October 2026
Discover one of the most beautiful and forgotten skills in belly dance.
For thousands of years, Finger Cymbals (also known as Zills or Sagat) have been an essential part of a dancer's art. They are not simply an accessory or a prop — they are the belly dancer's own musical instrument.
Join internationally respected artist Anna Kemper for a unique two-day intensive and learn how to dance and create music at the same time.
Early Booking Now Open
[BOOK YOUR PLACE]
Why Finger Cymbals?
Long before recorded music existed, dancers created rhythm themselves.
Finger cymbals, also known as zills or sagat, have been an essential part of belly dance for over 5,000 years, appearing in Ancient Egyptian carvings, Greek mosaics and throughout the Mediterranean world.
For generations they were considered an essential part of every professional belly dancer's training.
Today, very few dancers learn this beautiful art.
This intensive is your opportunity to rediscover one of the most authentic traditions in belly dance and bring it into your own dancing.
Become the Music
Imagine performing without relying entirely on the music around you.
Imagine creating your own rhythms while you dance.
Imagine feeling completely connected to every beat.
Finger cymbals transform the way you experience movement.
You don't simply dance to the music.
You become part of the music.
A Unique Intensive
This is not simply a choreography workshop.
Over two immersive days you will build real understanding step by step.
You'll learn:
✓ how to hold and play finger cymbals correctly
✓ beautiful traditional rhythms
✓ coordination between dancing and playing
✓ musicality and timing
✓ techniques inspired by Turkish, American and Egyptian traditions
✓ how to perform confidently while playing
✓ a complete drum solo choreography using everything you've learned
Everything builds naturally from Day One into Day Two, giving you the confidence to continue practising long after the weekend.
Meet Your Teacher
Anna Kemper
Anna Kemper is one of the UK's leading specialists in SWANA dance and finger cymbal performance.
With more than 30 years of professional experience, Anna has taught internationally across Europe, the USA and India and has performed with internationally recognised companies including Bal Anat.
She trained directly under Jamila and Suhaila Salimpour, later developing her own contemporary approach by combining traditional belly dance finger cymbal technique with Egyptian percussion methods.
Her teaching brings together history, musicality, culture and practical performance skills in a way that very few teachers offer today.
(Insert Anna's video here.)
Weekend Schedule
Saturday
Building strong foundations
• Introduction to finger cymbals
• Technique and sound production
• Traditional rhythms
• Musical patterns
• Coordination exercises
• Preparing for choreography
Sunday
Bringing everything together
• Rhythm revision
• Dancing while playing
• Drum Solo choreography
• Performance skills
• Final run-through
Why a Two-Day Intensive?
Finger cymbals are unlike any other aspect of belly dance. You're learning rhythm, musicality, coordination and movement all at the same time.
Instead of trying to fit everything into one long day, we've created a carefully structured two-day intensive. This gives you time to absorb the techniques, rest your hands, and return the following day ready to apply everything you've learned in choreography.
Each session builds on the previous one, which is why the intensive is offered as a complete weekend experience.
Who Is This Intensive For?
This intensive is perfect if you:
• love musicality
• want to improve your understanding of rhythm
• have always wanted to learn finger cymbals
• want to add something unique to your performances
• enjoy challenging yourself
• want to reconnect with one of belly dance's oldest traditions
No previous finger cymbal experience is required.
Booking Options
Full Weekend Intensive (8h)
Includes both training days and the complete choreography.
(Insert prices here.)
A limited number of Saturday-only places may become available closer to the event if capacity allows.
(4h)
Join the technique and rhythm foundations day.
Perfect for dancers wanting to dip their toes into finger cymbals musicality
(Insert prices here.)
Sunday is only available as part of the full weekend, as the choreography builds directly on Saturday's material.
Why Join?
This is one of the very few opportunities in the UK to study finger cymbals in such depth.
Whether you perform, teach or simply love belly dance, this weekend will change the way you understand rhythm, movement and musicality.
Finger cymbals are part of our heritage as dancers.
Let's keep this beautiful tradition alive.
Reserve your place today.
[BOOK NOW]
Location:
