This year’s East Coast tour took through Ithaca, NY again. I was there teaching and performing with Taksim Ithaca last year, and was super-excited to be able to return to this wonderfully artsy community of dancers and musicians for more! While I was there, I got to be a guest on Alicia Free’s fantastic podcast, “A Little Lighter”. If you haven’t listened to this podcast yet, check it out! It is a delightful mix of […]
I recently had the opportunity to interview Joana Saahirah, international performer and instructor. Joana’s dance career has taken her around the globe, including living and working in Egypt for 8 years, performing with her own orchestra. In this interview, we discuss the different views of Raqs Sharqi she has encountered, originality within the confines of a traditional dance style and more. Mahin: It’s a pleasure to be able to speak with you! You have […]
This is a guest post by Dawn Devine – Davina. I am really honored to have her work shared here on my blog. I have such respect for her dedication to research and her ability to show us the depth of history in all aspects of our art. If you are as fascinated by this history of zills as I am, you will be very excited about what we’re doing over the next few days! Learn […]
I recently had the opportunity and privilege to interview Shira, of Shira.net fame. Shira is a dancer and instructor, but is perhaps best known as a writer, researcher and lecturer on a broad variety of topics related to Middle Eastern dance and culture. Her website, Shira.net, is the most linked to bellydance site on the web, and one of the first resources many new dancers find when then begin their dance journey. Shira is such […]
Are you ready for a trip in the bellydance time machine? We’re turning back the clock about 40 years to a time when glamorous bellydancers graced the stages of big clubs almost every night of the week. I chatted with Roxxanne Shelaby, a California-based bellydancer and daughter of Lou Shelaby, owner of some of the most well-known Arabic clubs of the west coast. Mahin: Tell us about yourself… Roxxanne: My name is Roxxanne Shelaby and I […]