I love beladi music. I love the way my ears are seduced by the first strains of accordion, then my hips are playfully poked by the scattered drum beats. I am willfully led down the garden path by the growing steadiness and energy till I am whirled like a dust devil in the final bars and released. Ahhhh. Beladi music sucks me in body, mind and soul like no other kind of Middle Eastern music […]
I am sitting down at my computer to work on a big performance later this season. It will include 3 smaller ensembles within a larger group and several pieces of music, some live musicians (well, I hope they’re still alive when I’m done rehearsing them!) and other craziness that I won’t elaborate on. The event producer gave me the one critical piece of information I needed to start – my time slot is 10 minutes. […]
When you’ve been doing something for a long time, it’s difficult to remember what it was like to be a newbie. Once time has woven the once-unfamiliar into the fabric of your being it’s hard to recall when it wasn’t part of you – or the struggle to get there. It is usually (hopefully) those that have been down that road who are teaching the newcomers. As instructors, we regularly stand before an eager group […]
I have a crazy dance partner. I could describe her for you, but I think you’ll get a better sense of our relationship from the tale of a choreography in the making… We had a drum solo from the prior season, but she was tired of it and was itching for a new one. She’s like that – once it’s done, she’s often done with it. I’m thinking, it’s finally super-smooth and polished let’s get some […]
SGH Episode #4 In this episode: Interview with Morgiana on her nearly 40 years teaching and performing bellydance, review of Middle Earth Ensemble’s CD “Passage”, a report from the International Bellydance Conference of Canada in Toronto, and upcoming event news. Show Links Middle Earth Ensemble http://www.middleearthband.net Fat Chance Bellydance Intensive www.plazadeanaya.com Cool Summer Workshops in Flagstaff Fall Festival of Music & Dance www.levantalsonora.com Completely Classics One with the Music www.shes-got-hips.com/Events.html Arab-American Festival http://arabamericanfestival.com/index.php Mahin on […]
