An Eye Opening Start to 2012

I often read about challenges within the belly dance community. As I do, I find myself sharing many of the same feelings regarding these common issues. But, I’m glad to say I’ve also had some recent experiences that have illustrated the passion, dedication, and high level of ethics many already practice in their training and teachings.

For me, 2012 started with WBDA’s hosting of the beautiful Alicia of BellyCraft. As anyone who knows her can attest, she is truly the consummate professional. It was beyond easy to work with her as she was not only responsive, but focused on making sure all workshop attendees had a wonderful experience. Alicia’s professionalism helped me plan and coordinate a weekend that exceeded my highest expectations. I knew a January workshop weekend could be a challenge because it’s right after the holidays. But, as I reviewed the calendar of belly dance events, the time and date in question seemed to present the best window of opportunity. Game on!



As usual, the workshop attendees really helped make the weekend a success. Every dancer came ready to learn and sweat. I was delighted to see dancers of different backgrounds participate with a genuine sense of community, which was further supported by the incredible show on Saturday evening. We welcomed dancers of all styles – Gothic, Tribal, Egyptian, World Fusion, Cabaret, etc. because I wanted it to be an evening in which all styles would be recognized and celebrated. Not surprisingly, the feedback from the audience was great.

Many didn’t realize there were so many styles within this genre of dance and it didn’t hurt that Alicia, our headliner, not only wowed the audience with her performances, but was incredibly encouraging to both attendees and performers. She was all about inviting students to perform in the show alongside our talented teachers and she was appreciative for the generous donation of each performer’s time. Many of these performers are working dancers and/or teachers who are not often paid to perform in these types of gala shows where the local community is welcoming an artist for the weekend. Nevertheless, they choose to participate for their own reasons, of which there are many. Some perform to help promote and market their projects; others do so because they have a genuine love of the stage and performing. Some do it as a favor, while others do it to support the community. For many, it’s a combination of these reasons plus many more. Regardless of their various, valid motivating factors, all of the performers were professional and supportive of each other. They treated this show as they would have any larger show held on a huge stage at a world-renowned venue. The same dedication and professionalism were present and the audience (and I) sensed it and very much appreciated it.

Then there’s Pera Dance. Since I’ve known them, this Atlanta studio has been beyond supportive of the Raqs community. Not only did they allow me free reign over their studio space the entire weekend, they also trusted me to layout the space as I needed for both the show and the photo shoots by resident professional photographer, Jaki Hawthorne of Jaki Hawthorne Photography.



The attendees, Pera Dance, and of course, Alicia herself – they all helped me create a beautiful weekend. But what could it have been without the support of my (our)students and my troupe members? From the beginning, I could see they genuinely wanted it to be a great weekend and they worked tirelessly for the duration to ensure everyone walked away with a great experience.

The weekend was a stark reminder to me of the dedicated professionals and students who make up our Atlanta dance community. My dear friend, Nawar, also came all the way from Miami to support and participate in the festivities. Motivated only by the kindness of her heart and her belief in what we’re trying to accomplish with World Belly Dance Alliance, she captured and compiled extensive footage, which resulted in amazing video recaps of the workshops.





Now fast forward a few weeks. I found myself in Charlotte, NC, where Naima Sultana of Raks Sultana sponsored me for a weekend of workshops and celebratory show. This was my first out-of-state full weekend intensive where I was the primary instructor and it was very interesting being on the other side of the fence. This time, I was the instructor and not the sponsor.

As many of you who have sponsored these events can attest, the cold reality is that it’s much easier to promote an established recognized name than a virtual unknown. Still, Naima could not have been more professional and supportive in her marketing efforts. I have been in the sponsor’s shoes before and I understand that for these events to be successful, timely responses and marketing by both the sponsor and hosted teacher are crucial. These events simply cannot happen if both parties do not work together. To say I was blown away by the number of registrations and how far many traveled to join us would be an understatement. My hats off to Naima who deserves so much credit for her responsiveness and scheduling prowess, both of which greatly contributed to the success of this event.

I have encountered some formidable students and I must say, the NC workshop attendees would be counted among these! They came ready to learn and I truly enjoyed working with them. These ladies made it easy to amp it up and they were able and willing victims, LOL! Naima also coordinated an amazing show at the Chop Shop in Charlotte – the perfect venue for a relaxed and intimate vibe. The owners are extremely supportive of the local arts, which is a huge plus in my book! The individual numbers were beautiful and I was not only impressed by the performances themselves, but the genuine support every artist shared with her sisters in dance. So much love - we joked - people were going to get toothaches!

It was really something special to be there to share in those moments and I felt like an honored and very-welcome member of the NC dance community. I’m so grateful to Naima for taking a chance on me and to the dancers who took the time out of their weekends to attend the workshops. I walked away with an experience I will never forget and wonderful new friendships I know will last a lifetime.

Finally, we arrive at an event I hosted with the beautiful and talented Amani Jabril. Together, we conspired to host a night of belly dance at Laura’s NYC Pizza in Roswell, GA. By no means was it the typical venue or location for a belly dance show (“OTP” – Outside the Perimeter in Atlanta – unheard of!), but we endeavored to provide a performance platform for students and teachers/professionals to share their art in a new and unique environment. Once again, support from students and fellow teachers helped make the event a success. It was so wonderful to see our students, Heleshia, Tamara, and Sheri, performing choreographed and improvised pieces.



And of course, there was Amani - a consummate professional who brings the same energy to a small, local stage as she would a large stage in Lebanon. She shined as always and it was a sight to behold. With fellow teachers and students from the community in the audience, along with a few patrons from outside the belly dance community, the evening was a special kind of magic. Based on the success and interest, we’re hosting the next show on April 28th!


As a teacher, performer, and lifelong student, I believe we owe it to the audience, students, and sponsors to always put our best on display. The moment we believe they owe us, we begin to perpetuate and promote that which may limit the spirit and passion not only within ourselves, but of the art itself. That’s not why we’re here.

Sometimes, we tend to focus on what we dislike in the community. Because I feel so strongly, I am as guilty as anyone else at times. But with this post, I wanted to highlight some of the positive things I’ve seen since the start of the year - and it’s only February! All kidding aside, I am truly fortunate to count myself among such a high caliber of women including students and teachers/professionals. There are so many dedicated teachers out there who are trying and training tirelessly to bring you the best in this art form. They join many performers who treat every show as if they are stepping on to a Broadway stage and many students who want to take their studies to the next level simply because they love the dance.

Let’s continue to work together to further belly dance throughout the universe and bring this beautiful art to the masses. It’s a phenomenon which deserves to be recognized as an unparalleled form of self expression!

These recent events and partnerships have shown me the future of belly dance. There are many dancers in the community working hard to showcase this art and the spirit of love and togetherness it represents. I thank you and am truly honored to dance among you! Shimmy on, ladies!

~Jenny

...I owe it all to this woman.

Morocco: We call her "Aunt Rocky"

As we prepare to welcome the legendary Morocco to Atlanta for the first time in twenty years, I began thinking about why it is important to bring her here. Why, out all of the talented and beautiful artists, would we partner with Morocco?

Aside from being a leading authority in her field, one of the most well-respected performers in Oriental style dance, a recipient of many prestigious awards, a successful teacher and choreographer, and an artist renowned for her research and assistance in preserving traditional dance forms, I personally find her to be so much more.

How is that possible???

There's another side of Morocco never featured in all the marketing and promotional materials. You really only know this if you've had the opportunity to meet her or learn from her. I had the privilege of attending some of her workshops in April of last year and it was an amazing experience. It wasn't just the idea that I was learning from a living legend, but the fact that she's extremely humble, able to relate to all of the students in the room, and imminently APPROACHABLE.

I wasn't sure what to expect and may have been a bit intimidated because I was told she was a purist and did not approve of any deviation from traditional dance forms. I have read about her myself and I know she's credited with helping maintain the integrity and traditions of these beautiful dances, so I wasn't sure what her view would be on the newer adaptations I respect and enjoy.

After meeting her, I found her to be completely accepting of all styles of dance, not just those adhering strictly to tradition. She simply encourages dancers to become fully educated in the styles they practice. Many of you have probably heard her remark that she has no problem with fusion, but the dancers need to know what they are fusing. Otherwise, it’s just "con-fusion". These are powerful words and I don't think many of us would disagree with that statement and that’s part of the reason I wanted to take a moment to dispel some of the myths surrounding Morocco. I'm by no means an expert on this remarkable woman, but I think it's important to shed some light on the person behind the legend.

What prompted me to write this was the fact I was receiving questions from performers who practice both the traditional styles of Oriental dance and the newer fusion styles – all of whom were planning to attend our upcoming event in September. Some of them were concerned about offending Morocco and had heard she doesn't like anything outside of the true traditional art forms. This isn't true. Morocco has always exhibited a deep appreciation for the roots of our dance and the cultures from which these dances developed, but that doesn't mean she's not accepting of the newer forms of expression.

She simply wants dancers to take the time to study and understand the art they are performing. To put it simply, “One must know the rules before one breaks the rules.”

I don't find this unreasonable. So often we get caught up in technique, which is important, but not if it prevents us from taking the time to study the cultural and historical aspect of these beautiful dances and where they really come from.

Morocco was part of a discussion panel held during the NYC Theatrical Belly Dance Conference in July. It was something special to hear her contributions to the discussion of fusion versus traditional styles. The panel was comprised of dancers from various backgrounds with some known specifically for their "fusion" styles, but they all shared common ground - they were all well-educated in their studies and knew what they were talking about inside and out. And it was obvious. You could see each participant respected the other artists on the panel.

The other reason for writing this: I remember being a new student and hearing “this person is someone you want to study with”, or “that person is someone you need to take a classes from”. So often, it’s more like reading a long resume of achievements. It's hard to know who the experts are because, quite frankly, no one writes a resume or biography that doesn’t outline the achievements and accomplishments that make him or her credible. That's the purpose of a resume, and as promoters of these events, we often use those achievements to help illustrate why one should train with a particular person. It's all valid and well deserved, but I know in Morocco’s case, she brings so much more to the party than just credentials.

Let’s put aside my earlier statements that Morocco was not only humble, able to relate to her students, and approachable. She also brings a sense of humor to her work that is uncommon to say the least. She was able to engage all of the workshop attendees. She had funny references and was willing to share her personal experiences. You can't help loving the fact that this is a woman who speaks her mind and does not suffer fools lightly. She also took the time to answer the students' questions and never came across as standoffish, which is all too common. I've worked with plenty of artists who believe they have “arrived” and act as such, so it was incredibly refreshing to see this living legend so willing to be there genuinely for those students who spent their hard-earned money for the opportunity to learn from her.

Last, but not least, her teaching style is fantastic. There were several dancers in attendance who were still in the early stages of their studies, but I could see they were enjoying themselves. I think newer students sometimes believe these workshops are for intermediate and advanced dancers, but that's not the case. The workshops are tailored to all proficiency levels - you just need to be willing to learn. Regardless of your experience, you will walk away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the dance you have embraced.

Did I mention she creates some kick-ass choreographies and she's got crazy mad zill skills!?

As you can see, there are numerous reasons why we chose to partner with Morocco. She's not only a legend, but an inspirational and beautiful person who has so much to share from her many experiences. I am honored to have studied with her and look forward to working with Nara and Samora to bring her to Atlanta so we can continue to promote education and integrity throughout our community.

With love,
Jenny (Noureen)

www.worldbellydancealliance.com
"Uniting the dance community one shimmy at a time!"

NYC Theatrical Belly Dance Conference - Life Changing

I just got back from an incredible weekend at the NYC Theatrical Belly Dance Conference hosted by the amazing Anasma and Ranya Renee. Based on the scheduled line up of instructors (I wish I could have taken workshops with all of them!), I knew it was going to be great, but I had NO idea it would be an experience that would affect me so deeply. Two fellow dancers, my friends from TN, Mary and Wendellyn, roomed with me, so I knew it was going to be a fun experience regardless.

I had no idea I would walk away with a new perspective on dance and life in general. Unlike so many of the classes and seminars I have attended before, these workshops didn't really focus on dance technique, but more on dancing with authentic emotion and feeling. The first class with Anasma was entitled "Presence, Intention and Emotions From Inside Out". It wasn't quite what I was expecting, which is silly considering the name of the workshop! It required us to dig deep within ourselves and to express movement with authentic emotion. We were literally rolling around on the floor expressing our feelings vocally, at one point shouting our feelings while moving. This was tough for me because it was hard for me to just let go. But, once I allowed myself to be in the moment, I began to understand - really understand - what Anasma was conveying to the students. She dances with such beauty and emotion and wanted us to do so, as well. The classes throughout the day built on the previous classes.

Aepril Schaile helped us identify and dance specific archetypes in her dynamic "Embodying Mythical Archetypes" workshop. Her moving meditation technique, a technique I’ll definitely continue to use in my studies, was incredible. We then worked with the beautiful Blanca in her “Sensual Belly Dance” workshop. She reiterated a point I’ve also shared with the students that being sensual is not the same as being sexual. Sensuality has to more to do with dancing with our senses, all of our senses. She engages all of her senses when she dances. Her movements were fluid, beautiful, sensual. Next, Samara challenged us to focus on "Theatrical Energy Through Space Design, Focus and Projection". This was my first experience with Samara (or space design for that matter) and I learned so much. She carries herself with grace and has such an incredible stage presence. I saw this first hand during her performance at the DNA Theater. Sarah Locke offered insight on how understanding the human anatomy and its functions can improve technique in her "Embodied Dance" workshop. In one section, she discussed how when we dance with someone, whether it's a partner or troupe, our bodies are communicating at a different level, through cellular communication. Fascinating! I'm also a nerd about such things!

Aszmara is just a dynamo! Her passion for dance and teaching really shines through. Her workshop focused on "Dynamic Staging to Enhance Stage Presence". She encouraged us to feel the music, then stopped us and said, "No, REALLY, feel the music." Her point, we weren't listening, we were just moving and throwing every technique we knew into our dance. And that was just the first 60 seconds of the song! She challenged us to slow down and feel the music and its changes. I learned so much and had a great time. She's got this raspy voice and huge personality on such a tiny frame. She's also a freakin’ incredible performer. Her zill technique is absolutely ridiculous! I personally gained so much from Jeniviva's "How to Give Great Face While Bellydancing". WOW! Also totally lovin' the name of her workshop! For several years I had the security of dancing with a troupe, but now that I'm on my own, I'm doing more solos. This has been a major transition for me and the method Jeniviva uses to prepare her choreographies has proven invaluable.

Lastly, Kaeshi Chai's "Body Love" had such a genuinely beautiful and honest message that I wish every person in the world could experience it. Kierra and Dixie of PURE joined her and presented during the workshop, as well. All of the exercises were focused on self love and acceptance. Too often we allow those things we don't like about ourselves to determine our self worth. Kaeshi, Dixie, and Kierra were promoting the message of loving yourself as you are in this current state. This is a great point because we're always saying, "When I lose 10 lbs, when my skin clears up, when I get my teeth fixed”… For some, the list NEVER ends. This workshop really resonated with me because World Belly Dance Alliance was started as a means to promote self love, sisterhood, and freedom to create without limits. I was moved to see how many dancers they touched during the workshop and I hope every person who attended their workshop always keep those positive thoughts with them rather than listening to the "noise" that often prohibits us from being free and confident.

I personally found the workshops to be more challenging than many of the other technique-focused workshops I've attended in the past. Make no mistake, I love the technique driven classes, but the workshops in NY forced me to allow myself to be vulnerable with a room full of women I hardly knew. It's not easy for me to share this kind of emotion; however, once I allowed myself to be in the moment, I learned so much that I'll apply to my dance studies as well as my life in general. The performances were nothing short of incredible. The dancers really shared themselves with us and we, the audience, felt their energy and passion. I met beautiful, gifted dancers from all over the world. It was truly a life changing experience and I thank all of those people in my life who have supported my artistic endeavors. I hope to one day give you all as much as you have shared with me. This includes my family, friends (both dancers and non-dancers), teachers, students, and even those strangers with whom I've had the privilege of sharing a smile or conversation for inspiring me.

I also thank Anasma and Ranya for organizing this event. They, along with so many others, worked tirelessly to bring their vision to the community.

With love,
Jenny “Noureen”
www.worldbellydancealliance.com