Ask the Professional Belly Dancer

[Amethyst]

*Originally posted by Lissla Lissar *
**Good stuff. Another bellydancer- we need lots here so we can trade music suggestions and tips and things.

Have you ever done American Tribal, and what do you think about bellydance purists?

I’ve never done ‘American Tribal’, but I have seen a little (I like the costumes!). But I would also argue that most of our North American cabaret isn’t 100% purely based on one ethnic style (eg Egyptian or Turkish). And the American cabaret can borrow from ‘western’ dance or spanish dance or gypsy dance. (So I guess one question is where does cabaret stop and tribal begin - I don’t really believe you can delineate the American styles so cleanly, I think there is a continuum.

As for bellydance purists, it depends on the dance. If you are doing a folkloric dance, like a traditional Zaar or a Shikatt, I like to see authentic costuming and moves. Once you get into American Cabaret style, I think it gets harder to be pure Egyptian or whatever style. Dance is a kind of language and languages evolve and flourish by not ignoring the influences around them but by borrowing new words and concepts.
I’ve been doing bellydance for about four years, on and off, doing classical Egyptian Cabaret, with a bit of folklore and things like debke and zaar. I love it, and can’t dance any other way now.

I have two teachers. One of them (my first teacher) has danced all styles of dance since she was 7 (ballet, jazz, tap, flamenco, etc) and she loves all dance and the history of dances. (I also take tap with her) While her beginner’s bellydance class focuses on cabaret/bellygram type dance, she always teaches a folkloric dance to the beginners as well (generally a Debke). A large part of her focus is more of the folkloric dance and we are careful to be authentic in moves and costume in the folkloric stuff (eg always begin an Egyptian dance with the left foot etc). I’ve done various Egyptian cane dances in her class, Turkish folk dance, Moroccan Shikatt, Egyptian Zaar, Debke, etc. (Although she is currently teaching our class a ‘7 veils’ dance). (We also do Hawaiian - the folks at the nursing home like to see the Havaiian dance)

My other teacher is definitely focussed on Bellydance and dances in restaurants as well. She doesn’t have the long history of dance like my first teacher but I started dancing with her to get more of the cabaret dance (and because my first teacher’s courses are through the school board’s continuing education program so they run for 8 weeks then stop for a number of weeks.) She is greatly influenced by people like Beata and Horacio Cifuentes (we’ve learned two choreographies based on their works). When I first started dancing in this class, I noticed some similarities to Hadia so I figure it must be a west coast /prairies thing (she’s originally from Saskatchewan but moved to Ontario).

Speaking of Hadia …

Have you heard of Yasmina Ramzy and Hadia? I’ve taken classes with them, and they’re terrific. **

I’ve done two workshops with Hadia. She’s great! I also have 3 instructional videos which I purchased from her and one performance video.

Hmm . I see you are in Toronto … are you with Arabesque?? I haven’t seen them yet, but I see that they are touring to Kingston - I’m hoping to get there to see them. I’ve never had a chance to take lessons with Yasmina Ramzy.

Are there any good bellydance/middle eastern dance stores in Toronto?? I know Arabesque sells stuff (I just haven’t made it there yet! … but that is probably a good thing for my wallet … buying costuming stuff is as addictive as dancing … I have so many supplies ready to make some new costumes … just not enough time!)

BTW … Are you aware that there is a ‘bellydance’ movie going round the Repetoire theatres …

SATIN ROUGE is an Arabic film with English sub-titles set in Tunis. It is about a young widow who finds herself through Belly Dancing. It has gotten very good reviews and is a must see for all of us. Liz Braun, from the Toronto Sun says, “Above all, Satin Rouge is the story of one woman’s quest for freedom, her need to escape the strict moral rules imposed by others and the suffocating atmosphere created by their disapproval. And boy, does she escape. Satin Rouge is both sexy and romantic and Hiam Abbass’s performance is terrific.”

It will be in Ottawa in February.

[Amethyst]

Oooops I see that I messed up ‘quoting’ … my reply is mainly in the quote!

[dorkusmalorkusmafia]

Just a friendly bump for Hennadancer or others who may be able to answer my previous question.

Thanks.

[amarinth]

Or mine.

[Amethyst]

Hi,

In my community most of the bellydance teachers are NOT in the yellowpages.

I found my first bellydance teacher but looking in the catalog offered by the local school board and their continuing education programs. I don’t know if you have them in your area but here in Ottawa Ontario, both the public and Catholic school boards offer a variety of general interest programs in the evening which are available to the community (such as dance, cooking, computers, languages, etc)

Also, the local community college also has general interest programs including bellydance and I think at least one of the local universities does as well.

Some seem to advertise by posting flyers on posts and walls.

This link off of Shira’s website has some directories of teachers.

http://www.shira.net/links2.htm

Many of the teachers are starting to adverstise on the net or through a local middle eastern dance association which often has a website.

[Avarie537]

My local YMCA offers classes, dorkus. Also, instructional videos abound online and in “new age” shops.

[dorkusmalorkusmafia]

There is a YMCA that offers classes but that one is pretty far away (50+ miles) that I found online. There are no longer any new age shops in the DC area. I believe the closest one is in Frederick, MD (I could be mistaken) and that is about as far as the YMCA that I already mentioned. I will have to look at the shira.net link. Thanks everyone for your help.

[hedra]

My sister recommends the Neena and Veena bellydance workout videos, which can be bought for relatively small amount from online bookstores. You won’t learn “THE” dance, but the teaching isn’t bad, and the moves are real dance moves. It is a place to start, if you want to try it and can’t find it.

Books are pretty useless for learning dance, but may be useful as a supplement to a class. Not that I’ve ever found any that work, mind… (kinda like learning TaiChi from a book - not really effective).

Most of our local teachers do not advertise other than with fliers in community centers.

[Amethyst]

Hmm, Dorkus I am surmissing that you are in the DC area. I found the following teachers on the web:

In Bethesda and Silver Spring MD
http://www.serpentine.org/artemis/artclasses.html

University of Maryland (College Park MD)
http://www.malika.com/bdclass.html

In Bethesda plus workshops in surround areas (I think)
http://www.organicdance.com/classes.html

Class in Spotsylvania and Fredricksburg VA
http://www.kawakib.com/index.html#knowledge

Northern VA and Washington DC
http://www.noor-jihan.com/

I found more (try a google search with bellydance washington DC)

[Lissla_Lissar]

Hmm. Yes, Amethyst, I do take classes at Arabesque (when I have the money) and I love them. Hadia came to do a seminar last summer, and it was really good, and fun to see her very different dance style.

I get the impression that Yasmina does pretty traditional Egyptian dance, although she does teach veilwork, which I know is an American invention. If you get the chance to see Isis or Decent Of Ishatar, take it! They’re both fabulous. Descent is much more modern dance, but uses a lot of bellydance isolation.

There are a few places where you can get hip scarves and things in Toronto, and Arabesque is a good source for lots of stuff- zylls, scarves, costumes… I usually buy bits and pieces and make my own things. I do beadwork and things with chains, and I sew, so Toronto’s great for that. Little India and Queen West are the optimal 0places for picking up costume materials. There aren’t really any specifically M.E dance stores here yet. Maybe later.

I find American Tribal looks a bit stiff, and I prefer to watch choreographed pieces unless the dancer is really, really good. I haven’t seen much besides American and Egytian dance styles so far.