Bellydance Archives - Page 9 of 28 - Mahin's Bellydance Quickies

The Guest List: Belly Dance Drill Music Recommendations from Anasma

Posted on April 5, 2015March 21, 2019 by Mahin Sciacca

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 […]

Must-Know Bellydance Song: "Sawah"

Posted on March 8, 2015March 21, 2019 by Mahin Sciacca

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 […]

Below The Knee: A Primer on Feet and Ankles for Belly Dancers

Posted on February 21, 2015March 21, 2019 by Mahin Sciacca

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 […]

2015 DBQ Bellydance Challenge: Vote for the Finalists!

Posted on February 16, 2015March 21, 2019 by Mahin Sciacca

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 […]

Must-Know Song for Belly Dance: "Taht Il Shibbak"

Posted on February 15, 2015March 21, 2019 by Mahin Sciacca

We are moving on to #10 from the “Must Know Songs for Bellydancers” list with “Taht Il Shibbak” – a real favorite of mine! Who, What and When? This song first appeared in the Egyptian movie “Laabet el Sitt” (The Lady’s Puppet) in 1946. The music was composed by Asis Osman and they lyrics were written by Badeh Khairy. Taheya Karioca dances to “Taht Il Shibbak” in the movie, accompanied by an ensemble that includes […]