What can be said of Nath Keo of Canada? Well for starters he is absolutely adorable. Boyish good looks shine behind a huge smile that begs you to smile back. He loves to laugh and can be down right silly, often detouring from instruction to crack some bawdy joke or get into a giggle fest with a student. But don’t let his childlike exuberance fool you. Nath Keo is wealth of knowledge about the physicality of dance and the spiritual aspects of creativity.
The "Sacred Centre Method" was inspired by Nath Keo's extensive training in Middle Eastern Dance, Cambodian Cultural and Martial Arts and Theravada Buddhist practices and philosophy. The method focuses on balance, grace and form through body alignment and awareness. Physically, this “sacred center” is the trunk of the body and all movements in dance come from and return to this center.
Nath Keo’s workshops that were held at Atlanta’s Black Orchid Danse festival 2011 were perfect for those who are visual and tactile learners. Participants of the Sacred Center workshop walked into his class to find him in his underwear putting on his workout pants. “Don’t mind me” he says. “I’m not shy.” He explains the working of the muscles and body in detail, often asking if it was alright to pull off his shirt and pointing to various movements of the muscles and limbs while executing popular bellydance moves. “Greedy Crotch & Generous Thighs” is something that you have to learn in his workshop and you will not be sorry you did. He often pointed out during class that dancing should be easy on the joints if the moves are executed properly using stronger core muscles instead of relying upon the joints to do the work. For example, using internal muscles such as the psoas or obliques to pull and release the hip during hip drops as opposed to using the knee.
Nath’s Oriental class was just as impressive, moving the class through sequences of original choreography that was a fusion of Cambodian, Middle Eastern dance and Martial Arts. Some of the combinations were a bit difficult to execute given the majority of the class having raqs sharqi background, however everyone was up to the challenge of learning his beautiful combinations. His instruction was patient and often during the middle of a difficult movement, he would explain the origin of the positions in addition to what certain hand movements meant. His Cambodian Culture and dance workshop was interesting and informative.
Outside of the classroom, Nath Keo is a spectacular performer. When performing Raqs Sharqi, his liquid movements, graceful silhouette and light feet carry him across the stage as effortlessly as a humming bird in flight. Although some of his fusion pieces may not fall in the category of “raqs sharqi” they are none-the-less just as impressive as he spins, pops & locks, and jumps through the air as though his feet have springs. His performances were enthralling and the audience was spellbound whenever he took the stage.
Nath Keo was a perfect instructor for the Atlanta bellydance community and we hope to see more of him for future events. He is a treat to converse with and to watch, given his colorful and rich background. One feels as though they are talking to their best friend after just having met him. He is a very real person, full of joy and playful enthusiasm and more instructors should consider his approach to proper body alignment and awareness. In this beauty driven society where even belly dancers are not immune from body conscience issues, it was refreshing to have someone say “Get over yourself. This is your body. It is what you were born with so work with it.”
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