I have many times said that I spend an awful lot of time at my computer considering my business is bellydancing! As things get increasingly digitized and globalized, the computer and internet have become more and more embedded in my day-to-day business. I can’t remember the last time I used a music CD for a show. Even teaching isn’t always in person anymore with the advent of online lessons. Private party clients sign and return […]
Have you ever wished you could peek into the iPods of famous bellydancers? I have – so I thought I’d ask a few… Anasma is the co-founder and co-director of the New York Theatrical Bellydance Conference, director of World Citizen Dance and an incredibly versatile all-around artist! Her performances tap into her background in ethnic dances, yoga, martial arts and acting, often creating a clear character and storyline told through dance. Her wild creativity, free […]
Who, What and When? The original version of “Sawah” was recorded by Abdel Halim Hafez, also known as “The dark-skinned nightingale”. The lyrics were written by Mohammed Hamza and the music composed by Baligh Hamdy. It was released somewhere between 1965 and 1969 as it is included in an anthology of those years – the exact year is surprisingly hard to find. What is “Sawah” about? “Sawah” means a wanderer or vagabond. This melancholy […]
Bellydance puts a lot of focus on the hips and torso, but like a house with a beautiful second floor balcony, it needs a strong first floor to support it. We may not be as hard on our feet as ballet dancers, but we depend on the muscles and ligaments of our lower legs and feet to help us glide gracefully, turn safely and transfer weight smoothly. Some basic understanding of the structure and musculature of […]
I am so excited to be moving to the next phase of the DBQ Bellydance Challenge! Thank you to everyone who submitted their ideas – there’s a lot of wonderfully creative people out there! We now have 5 semi-finalists with very diverse projects. It’s time to cast your votes to select the 3 projects we will be following throughout 2015. Through the “Daily Bellydance Quickies”, we’ll be checking in with the creators and getting a […]