Belly Dancing Leyla Style

2009-03-23T13:56:00.002-06:00

For the last 8 years there has been a huge change not just in my dance career but also in my view of the world. There is one man responsible for this and he is my husband Daniel. Now you can only imagine what it’s like to be married to a belly dancer who has occasional outbursts or rant and raves over the littlest things. But Daniel watches me sometimes in amusement and other times with a blank look on his face that says, “Not again!”

One thing for sure Daniel is a trouper with a seasoned belly dance husband attitude. I often wonder what our husbands really think of our dancing which includes the drama that goes into each production, performance or dance class. They sit in the audience watching us perform knowing what we have put into our dance and than the first thing out of our mouth after the show is over is, “How did I do?” Now this really is not a fair question and it is pretty much a set up. They know this if they are seasoned and if they are not, they learn very quickly what not to say. Of course we want honesty but than we also want praise mixed in for good measure. I remember one performance I asked Daniel how did I do and he said, “How do you feel you did?” We looked at each other, me of course frowning and Daniel with a blurry eyed look because it was midnight. He told me I danced beautifully as always and had a distraught look on his face pleading with me for us to go because it was so late and his back was hurting. So off we went and I realized as we were walking to our hotel room that there were no complaints from him the whole night. Sometimes we can forget that even for our husbands the dancing can become a blur. And we can also forget how good we have it with them.

Recently Daniel came back stage after watching a show I produced with my dear friend Rozana al Jinan and he gave me a big hug and told me what a great job we had done. He almost seemed amazed that we pulled off the show because it was not an easy show to produce. For the belly dance husband when his wife does a good job it some how validates his hard work making sure she stays sane. Sanity leaves at an alarming rate towards the end of most productions. Daniel seems to understand my insane chatter during shows and performances so because of this I am able to focus on whatever I’m doing. Not many husbands can do this so it takes a special man to be a belly dance husband.

Drama in belly dance is a given and if we don’t have our sanctuaries at home than the stress of our dance could really take a toll on us. So I am always grateful that Daniel understands this as well. Sometimes I’ve come home on cloud nine and other times I’ve crawled in with a battle weary look on my face. Either way Daniel greets me with a hug and understands. This is the whole point about being a belly dance husband, they understand what we go through.

Since Daniel has put so much of his time into my belly dancing we both agree that it’s about time everyone who comes to the website read about his viewpoints of belly dancing. So I’m excited that Daniel has agreed to put more of his time into writing to all of you. And if any of you have husbands who need advice Daniel is here to help. As women it is so important to understand that our husbands go through belly dance stress too. Since Daniel is a seasoned belly dance husband he’s here to help. So look for more articles, advice and tips from my husband and I will be here as well to help all of you with your dancing. So you all have a belly dance team to help you out and I am blessed that my husband is the other half of me.

How long Should You Study with your Teacher?

2009-01-26T21:42:00.001-07:00

How long Should You Study with your Teacher?

A very interesting topic came up today that I wanted to share with all of you. This topic came to my attention many years ago because I asked one of my first teachers this question, “How long should I study with you?”

Now the reason why I am bringing this up is because I feel it is important for dancers to learn from as many teachers as possible. This way your creativity is always inspired but with different philosophies on dance.

Every teacher has her own different and special ways of teaching. This we all know but sometimes when we spend so much time with one teacher we can become the carbon copy of how they dance.
Also a problem that can come up is difficulty learning from other teachers.
What can happen is a comparison to the speed at which a dancer learns moves to how she learned previously. Dance comes into our bodies at the speed our bodies can handle it and in order to build up our speed we must take in the movement like a sponge.

But the question that I asked so long ago still lingers in my mind.

Over a year and a half ago I had a student who was doing very well under my coaching. We worked on her body image and we also worked on what she was trying to cover up. A former teacher had told her that she must cover her ample bosom and not show it off. My first question of course was, “Was your teacher small busted”? And the answer was “Yes”. I laughed because I was only joking when I asked her this question but she answered me very seriously. My student was also an African American woman that was just lovely. And she came from a studio that left her feeling different, uncomfortable with her body image and inferior to the other dancers. She left that teacher feeling like she would never get to her dreams and aspirations because she was not shown how to be herself and to be proud. So we went to work and almost a year later she was a different person. She did the work and I was the support system. But I did something that some of you may think is unusual, I told her at almost the year mark that our time as student and teacher was over and that she must go and learn from someone else. I had a teacher in mind and I had already recommended her to my dear friend, Rozana al Jinan. She was thrilled I found her a new teacher but she wasn’t happy with me for ending the classes. I may have done the opposite of what I intended and she may have felt that I abandoned her. But as I told her, her first day of class that one day I would see the need for her to move on and that day had arrived.

I feel if students stay too long with one teacher they can become stagnant in their own creativity. But again this is my philosophy and there are many teachers out there who may feel different. And I will add here that troupe performing is entirely different because you have to stay together in order to move in unison, almost like an old married couple who finish off each others sentences. My dear friend Rozana al Jinan is a classic example of a master teacher and choreographer with her troupe.

So aren’t you wondering what my first teacher told me? Well I thought so, so here is what she said, “You should stay with me and learn all you can but eventually go and learn from other teachers.” This I took to heart and have learned from many different and diverse teachers who all gave me something to ponder, take in, use or let go. Maybe because I had so many teachers I was able to let go of ideas that didn’t suit me easier than if I would have had only a few to learn from.

Now here is something that dancers have written in to me about that makes me wonder what kind of agenda their teachers have. Some dancers have told me that their teachers won’t “allow” them to learn from anyone else. How can a teacher “not allow” or “allow” you to do anything if you are a grown adult? As in anything there can be a conflict of interest if a curriculum from one teacher doesn’t flow with the other. So this is where the responsibility of the student comes in. Respect who you are learning from and work within her curriculum. It really is that simple.

Last but not least make sure you understand when it is time to leave. You will know because there will be signs telling you it is time to go. One sign might be that you feel movement differently than your teacher and you express what you prefer more than you use to. Another sign might be that you don’t get the same feeling from class like you use to.
Know that this is ok and a good teacher will eventually expect you to move on.
One thing that I have seen is a specific few who create drama to justify leaving their teachers or studio. These students are the thorns in (the you know where) of most teachers. So best not to be one so you won’t experience one.

Just recently I had two students from years ago come back to me. They called me up and said it was time to come back. And you know something I never close the door on any of my students for good. I tell them to go explore and learn and they can eventually come back if they want to. There is a saying that says dance is the poetry of the foot and to tell you the truth I can’t wait to see what kind of verse and prose they will dance. Best of all they will show me who they are in dance and I can’t wait to meet the dancers they have become.

Quote of the day:
“Eggs have no business dancing with stones.”

Signature Moves with Personality

2009-01-25T12:55:00.003-07:00

Years ago when I first saw belly dancing the dancers who stood out the most were the ones who understood where “their” dance moves came from. Nothing was forced and they glided, gracefully across the stage and than all of a sudden out of nowhere a sharp combination or soft accent would appear and take your breath away.
As a novice I could see that this would be necessary to understand and incorporate into my dance. Now, I didn’t understand at that time how to go about doing it so I spent many years researching this so I could pass it along to my students.
What is a signature move you may ask? It is your personality and style that brings life into a group of combinations. It is you in a move and your dancing is done with your life experiences expressed through each gesture of the hand, arm, walk or turn. You are up on that stage 100%, therefore there is no carbon copy of another dancer only you. So as a dancer performs she has a select few moves that are combined and put together her way that reflect her view of the world. This view is only hers and as a consequence a signature move is born.

This year started out with a bang in signature moves. Currently I am working with a fantastic singer Kymberlyann Lopez who has just finished her new cd that will be released this year. We are working on belly dance moves that she will be incorporating into her dance along with her hiphop, breakdancing and jazz moves. She is the new generation of singers coming out knowing that dance combined with singing can be a powerful tool to get your message across to your fan base and what better way than to teach them your own style of dance. I’m not talking about choreographed moves done to music, I’m talking about instinctive moves that accent words and get the message across in ways that the fans understand. It is a silent code of movements that belong to the fans and bond them to the singer. Kymberlyann will be touring this year and her belly dance signature moves will make a difference and pave the way for future singers who dance to create their own distinctive moves.
Judy Maloof is another professional dancer who is taking private belly dance classes with me and we are incorporating sensual and classical moves into her ball room and salsa dancing. Judy is a risk taker and she understands that bringing in moves that speak volumes is the key to making a broader
statement to her admirers. She is one dancer that can hold her own with the best of them.

Think of ways to be yourself when you dance while you are learning to dance. I know this sounds a little crazy but if you don’t start putting in your personality and style in now than when it really counts you won’t be able to hold your own with the best of them. The best are so because they and their dance are one.

I know what some of you may be thinking; ok so how do I figure out what is my signature move?
When I work with dancers the first thing that I do is I watch how they talk and how they use their hands. Secondly I believe the body always tells its own story and if I watch enough movement from a dancer than I can catch a glimpse here and there of the bodies natural way of moving. Than I look at how a dancer holds her rhythm and how she counts to the music. Even if a dancer doesn’t count evenly with numbers she will have a unique way of moving. So I look at this in the beginning and I can eventually see how a dancer prefers to move to music. To be a natural dancer means that you understand your preference in movements and how to time them to the music. Every dancer times her movements slightly different and this is a key element in understanding how to help a dancer create her signature moves.

Put together life and dance and eventually down the line you will understand your own unique signature moves. And for those who don’t understand or who are still searching, I’m here and ready to help.

The American Silk Road

2008-12-27T15:49:00.003-07:00

Through out the year there have been many experiences and lessons that have taken me to places I never expected. There were roads less traveled that caught my attention. Walking down them made me realize that we can’t always learn our lessons from conventional methods. And I also learned that I can say no to a lesson that keeps coming back. An African Priestess who mentored me years ago told me that we can always say no to the Universe and that our request will be honored. I know what some of you may be thinking; how can I say no especially if it is a lesson that is necessary for my growth? Sometimes in our gut we know when there is a lesson that comes around that just isn’t necessary. Realizing this can release the chains of “society expectations”
that we carry around with us on our journey through life.

Our American heritage tells added to the melting pot of the dance world. In many ways our lives are intermingled with each other to the benefit of all of us and to the detriment of all of us.
This leads me to new insights gained from this year, insights that surprised even me. With each step I took with my yearly path of my dance education I realized that years from now maybe none of this will matter. Because I realized that in the end all that really matters is how I create my dance for myself. Does my dance end with me or will it live long past my dieing breath? Does my mark on the belly dance world even matter?

Is life like a catalogue where we can pick and choose what we want just as long as we intend the right things? This can become so vague because everyone has their own agendas. What is right for one person might not be right for another. How each dancer walks her path to me is a big deal. I usually will look at a dancers portrayal of how she views dance because it is a good indication on how she lives life. And one of my surprises for this year was that just because someone has been in this business for years doesn’t mean that they don’t carry insecurities with them all the way through their journey. It is as if the insecurity in itself is a precious bundle that she carries along with her to insure that in the end it will all validate why she walked her journey the way she did. Is she “me” as well? Do I carry my insecurities with me only to make sure I intend things just validate why I carry them around? I found the answer to be yes and this was the biggest surprise of all!

Walking still further I realized that there will be those who come after me who will hear the whisperings of my name and wonder who I was. So early in the year starting in March I made a solemn vow to myself to bring solutions to various problems that dancers come across on their path. I heard the complaints even from my own mouth and realized that the answers have always been visible and accessible. I just was so busy complaining I couldn’t see the
answers that were right in front of me. My surprise was how easy the answers are to see once one is willing to look. Adding to this I noticed there are those who will not look under any circumstances because to see would invalidate their complaints. It is amazing to see that those who complain help the rest of us find the solutions and in doing so we walk our paths with greater ease. So this is one of the aspects of the melting pot we are all apart of and this is what makes walking the American Silk Road the greatest lesson of all. How we walk says a lot about how we live and how we live says a lot about who we are.

So if you are wondering what lesson it was that kept coming around the corner; well lets just say that I realized my place in my community has a lot to do with how I feel about myself. I paid my dues along time ago and those who were trying to remind me of my place did me a favor. I finally looked down the road I have traveled and realized I have come a long ways. And as the saying goes, “I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.”

Happy New Year and may your journey on the Silk Road be everything you can imagine and more. As Henry Ford once said
“You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.”
So make this year count and just do it!

Blessings,

Leyla Najma

In The Beginning..........

2008-11-21T12:24:00.005-07:00

Many students/ dancers who write in to me and tell me a little about themselves are doing so because there is a need and desire to connect with someone who understands. And I am here to let all of you who write me know that I do understand.

In the beginning of my belly dance travels I couldn't find a teacher for at least two years. I traveled working cattle so that meant I lived in remote areas. So I started to buy videos and practice when I had the chance. But like many of you I longed to connect with someone who could show me how to dance and become the belly dancer of my dreams. After searching for a long time I found a wonderful dancer who took me in and started to teach me the foundation movements. As most beginners I was hungry for every move she taught and I had such enthusiasm that at times she felt a little overwhelmed. My first teacher was not so much a teacher as she was a performer. Her heart was on the stage and after about 4 months of dance class one day she told me she was no longer teaching me. No explanation was given and as my heart dropped I knew this meant I was again in a position where I had to find another dance teacher. My next teacher was a great inspiration but she let me know that she was already an accomplished dancer and that most probably I would not become her caliber for many, many years. This didn't deter me at all.
What I did find with my second teacher was a disconnect between her and me that made me realize that if I am learning from someone who thinks only of herself than there isn't much of a relationship. If a teacher doesn't look out for you than you know you have someone that sees the world that revolves around only them and there is no room for you.

When we get a move or we accomplish a choreography, we want someone there who understands and claps and yells with us. There is no better feeling in the world than to be with people who understand what it takes to belly dance. Sometimes our families can be happy for us but they don't always understand either.
I remember one time I finally was able to do a group of combinations and there was nobody around except for my horses, goats, geese and chickens. I was actually outside practicing in front of them. As I was yelling and jumping up and down the horses started to run, the chickens and geese ran around me and my goats were kicking up in the air. It was pretty funny and I will always remember that moment.
Another time when I was practicing outside my big draft horses thought it was time to get their heads scratched. So they would come right up to me and stick their big heads in my way. So as I said before our families don't always understand what we are going through especially if they are the four legged kind.

Standing and looking down our belly dance path can be pretty daunting at times especially if we can't see the forest for the trees. It can all become a blur and this is why a teacher is so important to most students. She can take those rose colored glasses off and give a student a different way of looking at movement, music and choreography. But like some of you I had to look for the right teacher. In the end I was very lucky because I have studied with amazing and talented dancers/choreographers/teachers through out my travels. So as I have said before I understand how most of you feel. I have been there and the one thing that I would like for all of you to know is that I do read what you write. Some of you make me smile because I remember similar experiences that you write about. I remember the years without a teacher and this is one thing that I would like to change for anyone who is experiencing this now.

Most of you who are beginners are going through your own rights of passage. We all have done this especially those dancers who have been dancing for years like myself. Know that you are not alone and that as I progress with my 0n-line videos and get them out to each and every one of you, I think of the emails you send me and hope that I can create solutions to some of your problems.

As my favorite saying goes;

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle"

2008-11-06T12:55:00.003-07:00

The Belly Dance Agenda
The Feminine Symbol

For most dancers walking into a dance studio is refreshing, enlightening and therapeutic. Since women today have so much on their plates, it is important to find something for themselves so they can find their own identity besides the mother, wife, and co-worker identities. In todays society we need to make sure that we keep our sanity.
There are many reasons why women dance and there are even more reasons why women want to express life and its meaning through dance. With the history of dance and what it represents for so many there can be no denying that a woman dancing in ways where she is undulating forward and back like a snake or moving her hips side to side is a powerful feminine symbol.

Is there not a question that is under the breath of each admirer or fellow dancer which is, “Does the dancer know what she represents?” Do we represent that which is most important to us or do we represent what people want to see in our dance. Is it even possible to separate the two since for most performers our job is to entertain the masses and this means being that which is in the eyes of the beholder? This is why belly dancing is so magical for so many, we become the symbol for each and every admirers imagined heroine.
Whether we be the temptress, virtuous dancer or wanton woman there is no other dance that signifies all three together.

There can be the chance that we become “idols of perversity” only because women have been misunderstood for so long. And having so many students come to me in class made me aware that even we are not sure how to see ourselves as women.
Isn’t it amazing that we have created such a history that would be nothing without us. And yet if you talk to young women today they don’t know much about women of the past such as Hatshepsut, Empress Theodora, Elizabeth 1 of England just to name a few. And what is heart breaking is much of the records kept on many influential women through out history is incomplete because women were not thought worthy of mention. What of the women of dance who we don’t know because of the times in which they lived.

When we dance at any given time we must look at what happens to our state of being in the moment of each move, step and turn. Learning dance is one thing but than you must take it into you and create your own voice through your movements. This is how each dancer stands out because she voices her dance from how she lives her life which comes through in her movements. Even still perhaps this is why we have been apart of history for so long because women can create a voice that not only is heard but captures the attention of all who are watching her. Today we are noted and we have taken a stand to be appreciated within our time and to be written into history.

This dance itself can be a huge part in your history and how you have lived your life. Look at the women of today who have paved the way for us to be able to learn this ancient dance form. This means look at your teachers and appreciate what they are passing on to you. Remember that this dance is passed down from generation to generation and think of which generation you are apart of. The belly dance symbol includes how each generation treats each other, how we remember our past and what kind of future we are creating for our new generations. The belly dance agenda is the same for all of us. We all must keep the fires burning so that history shows what we really symbolize.
And this symbol is different for every woman so think about what you want to symbolize in this dance and what you stand for. In a way you will be creating your own history that is worth remembering.

2008-10-03T11:29:00.001-06:00

Somewhere in Time

2008-07-08T14:10:00.002-06:00

Somewhere in time I felt and experienced life and my soul remembered.
Seeing what the soul remembers can change everything in ones life.
It all has to do with trusting the memory and knowing the path ahead is the right one.
Sometimes we see what doesn't make sense but to the soul, it makes perfect sense.
How does the soul explain to the heart that what lies ahead is the right path?
How does the heart than explain to the mind that walking the path is safe?
How does the mind than converse with the emotions that are uneasy with the path?

My soul always seems to know when I don't know.
She takes me by the hand and guides me through life so that I can remember.

Somewhere in Time I lived and learned and loved.
Perhaps many times but there are those few memories that seem to stay with the soul.
These memories can stay with someone through time so that they can be remembered.
This life time I choose to remember what my soul reveils to me.

Isn't this the lesson?

When we understand the memory than we can walk our path knowing it is apart of the path we walk today.
And one day a long time from now how we have lived this life and have walked our path will be remembered in our soul.

Somewhere in Time this life will be remembered.

Free Beginner On-line Classes

2008-06-06T22:14:00.002-06:00

Beginner students be on the look out for my on-line classes
that I created just for you. When you write in and tell me what problem areas you have, I look to see what I can do to help you out.
There are so many combinations and moves in belly dance that through practice, time and diligence, will become integrated into your body and become yours. I can’t tell you how many times I worked and worked on specific moves and finally was rewarded with that natural comfortable look.

The important key element in dance is to understand the muscle area that you have to work in order to do any specific move. Be aware of your weight and how you carry your weight. This will help with your transitions steps.
Belly dance is a form of dance that not only makes you aware of your body in a different way but you have to learn to isolate upper and lower body movements. Your body is a story teller and it is important to look at each combination and movement as part of a script. Combinations have to work within the story so you need to make sure that your script is easy to follow.

When some of you wrote in your problems it became apparent to me that there needs to be instruction that is easily accessible to dancers. So this is why I am working hard at making sure that you have lessons that are available to your specific problems. The free on-line classes should be available within a week.
Also I am creating a library for beginner dancers that is in the works. Hopefully we will have it up with the next couple of months. But for now enjoy these free classes that will be coming your way shortly.

Blessings,

Leyla Najma

The Vision Quest

2008-04-17T20:13:00.006-06:00

One day years ago my soul spoke to me..........she was hungry. It was not a hunger that anything from this world could satisfy, it was a hunger that filled me and made me empty inside. When your soul speaks to you, she whispers in your ear constantly until you feed her. As the days passed I couldn't rest and my nights were sleepless. I would wake up and look at the stars and moon wondering what was wrong with me.
I was told that I was shedding the old me like a snake sheds its skin and preparing for the new me. For my completion into the new me, I was told I would need to do a vision quest. It was believed Spirit wanted to talk to me and I needed to present myself to the Grandfathers.
This is not an easy task as I found out. I made Spirit pouches and each one had a prayer in it. The Spirit pouches were filled with tobacco and there were over 200 tied together to create a continual prayer and circle. I than had to go into the mountains and find my sacred space where I would present myself to Spirit.
To prepare for the presentation you fast and meditate, thinking of questions. My soul was so hungry that I had hundreds and hundreds of questions. I thought how could Spirit (God) answer all my questions?
The morning came when I was led to my sacred space following a Medicine man who was to watch over me through out my vision quest.
I watched the Medicine man walk away and I looked around seeing only trees, hearing birds in the distance feeling naked and alone.
My vision quest was for 3 days and 3 nights with only water and no food.

As I sat in my circle, I realized that my soul had lost her voice. She didn't know where to begin or how to present herself to Spirit. I realized how insignificant I really was....perhaps this was because nature is one of his greatest masterpieces and she surrounded me showing no mercy.
The days were hot and the nights were cold and there I sat in my sacred space trying to talk to Spirit. How could my soul lose her voice? Was it that I didn't feel worthy to be in his presence?
I slept restlessly and found that the nights were full of little surprises. Little pebbles were being thrown my way with little foot steps running away from me. At moments I thought I heard laughter and whispering from all around me. The darkness engulfed me and offered no refuge. Was that a growl? Was that a branch snapping in the distance? My mind told me to get up and run but my soul said to stay.
By the third day I was running a fever and I lay down and finally my soul found her voice and said, "You know already what I ask, tell me what I need to know".
The light changed and as I looked in front of me a woman in white walked up to me. She smiled and told me she was my spirit guide. Her hair was in long black braids and she wore feathers in her hair. She said that my questions had been answered that I only had to look in my heart to find them. She said that I had completed my vision quest and Spirit was pleased. She gave me my new Medicine name Morning Bear and she than put her hand on my forehead and I awoke from my vision.
I stood up realizing I could go now and noticed that there was a quiet calm around me. It was as if nature herself recognized the new me. The Medicine man knew my vision quest was over and was waiting for me. He smiled and that was all that was communicated between us. I looked back at my sacred space one more time and realized that the old me was still in the circle. It was good to let her go.

I have taken this gift with me through out my dancing. I share this story with all you so that through out your journey in belly dance you will know it is only natural to grow and change. Create a sacred space and remember to ask Spirit for guidance.
And sometimes it's OK to let go.

War Bonnet

2008-04-10T20:45:00.004-06:00

Years ago when I was nineteen I was introduced to my wedding gift, a mare called War Bonnet. Actually to tell you the truth I was told that if I married my ex-husband that War Bonnet would be mine. Looking back I can see that without the enticement of War Bonnet I probably would have declined the proposal. It’s not that I am so shallow, it was just that War Bonnet and I connected and she was a one in a million horse.
Saying that she and I were green as grass is an understatement. But on the other hand she was an appaloosa/quarter horse with the heart of an old soul.

We learned how to work cattle together. Both of us nervous as heck every morning when we would ride out but relaxing as the day ended because we held our own. What was so unusual about her was that I used a hackamore on her and not a bit. She learned to rein with my signals and grumblings and a few swear words here and there. Her ears would go back when she would get mad at me and I would crack up laughing. It was just our way of communicating with each other.

One of my fondest memories of War Bonnet was one of the first round ups either one of us had been on. We worked on a ranch that was thousands of acres with experienced cowboys that looked like they had just stepped out of a John Wayne movie.
On one particular morning we all woke up way before dawn to get a good head start on the day. I thought I was going to die because nobody in their right minds get up at 4:00 in the morning! But a good breakfast prepared us for the ride in the cold morning air. We gathered around with horses breathing hard and anticipation in the air. Breaking away from the group we than made our way to the designated locations to round up the Mexican steers scattered all about the ranch.
There’s nothing like watching the earth wake up and to see the sun cast his first rays of light on the mountains. As if on queue, the birds started to sing letting everyone know it was time to wake up. Yes, now I know why I woke up so early.
As the morning wore on we gathered up cattle everywhere we went with only a mountain in the distance as a landmark. I was enjoying myself when it finally happened……I had to work a section of the ranch by myself and any cattle I found I had to head them toward the mountain in the distance. My heart was pounding and War Bonnet started to get anxious. She knew we were on our own. Little did I know that it was decided earlier to let me go out on my own to see if I could handle myself like the guys. So off War Bonnet and I went into the unknown ready to do our part and to successfully fulfill our task. Actually we were both scared !@#$#!less.
One hour passes and than two hours pass and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of any cattle. Smiling to myself I thought, “Well this was easy”. War Bonnet was pretty proud of herself too. We were just about to boast to ourselves when all of a sudden we came across a large group of cattle at a watering hole.
“Damn!”
Ok we can handle this. Now for those of you who don’t know cowboy etiquette, there is a certain call each cowboy has when he finds cattle and gets them up and moving along. Each call or sound is unique and says a lot about the cowboy.
Hum…….what was mine? Hell if I knew but I knew I had to come up with something quick. As I was sitting there thinking, War Bonnet was telling me with her gestures that she didn’t care what I came up with just to get something out so we can get on our way!
“Ok……I think I can do this…..oh damn”!
Little did I know that I had been followed by a group of the cowboys and they were hiding on a ridge watching me figure out what I was going to say. The cattle didn’t budge and looked at me with disdain in their eyes.
Alright here I go………
To this day I don’t know why this particular word came to my mind, maybe it’s a girl thing. But I gathered all my confidence and strength and yelled out “Shoo!!!”
You would have thought that lightning struck the very ground where War Bonnet and I were standing on. The cattle took off at a thunderous roar and I was so pleased with myself. That was until I could hear laughter from the ridge behind me. The group of cowboys watching me came over to where we stood laughing hysterically with tears in their eyes saying that was the funniest thing they had ever seen.
War Bonnet’s ears went back and I think mine did too. Her tail went up in the air and if I would have had one, mine would of too. With a flick of her tail we trotted off ignoring the laughter and feeling relieved that we had at least done our part. I was left wondering why the Hell of all the words I could have used why I used that word!

Belly Dance and the Feminine Image

2008-04-09T09:53:00.003-06:00

History shows us through paintings that the veil came to symbolize the untouchable and tantalizing appeal of women in the Middle East. To show just a little part of the body was alluring enough to cause men to pine for women’s affection. If we look at 19th Century paintings of various scenes of women dancing, the look of the belly dancer is quite refined. The distinctive folds in the belt or the accessories from the ankle all the way to the headpiece tell the individual story of each dancer. This is how dancers from the past to the present set themselves apart from their contemporaries.
I can remember seeing “Cleopatra” starring Elizabeth Taylor for the first time and thinking how beautiful the costumes were and how much fun they would be to dance in. “Samson and Delilah” with Hedy Lamarr is my all time favorite biblical movie and her costumes inspire me even to this day. Claudette Colberts costume in the 1934 “Cleopatra” looks like a costume of today. Hollywood had very unusual ideas about what the women from the Middle East wore. But if we look back through time the belly dance costume really hasn’t changed all that much. This really surprised me because as I was doing my research it became apparent to me that when you have a good design it’s hard to improve on it.

Recently I danced with a wonderful group of performers who were Asian dancers. Their costumes were amazing and I have to admit that I felt a little out of place in my cabaret costume. Their movements were very subtle and their gestures very soft and poetic. Which made me wonder what kind of poetry would belly dancing be? When it was time for me to perform I realized that our music really says a lot about our image. My costume was like magic because it made me feel free enough to dance and tell our story within my movements and gestures. In some ways I felt an obligation to relate to the audience that what I do as a dancer and performer is serious and respected. But I have to question why I even felt the need to defend my costume and dance form. The dancers with their movements almost seemed to speak to me teasingly asking me why I wasn’t covered more. Maybe I was just hearing my own voice questioning this. After I finished my dance the response I received overwhelmed me. It became apparent to me that because of the difference of my costume and dance the audience was able to appreciate the culture that I represented. Costuming really does make the difference for people. It’s almost as if the audience can see the story within our movements all the while watching our costumes accenting each word danced through our bodies.

Years ago when I was in Cairo I was able to see Zuhair Zaki dance live and as I look back I realize how lucky I was to have seen such a legend perform. Zuhair Zaki is the total sum of what the belly dance image is for me. Every movement told a story and helped me “hear” the music. I was taught a very good lesson that night because I saw what a masterful dancer can do with music. I also saw Zuhair Zaki become the essence of belly dance as she performed. It wouldn’t have mattered what she wore or where she was. The spirit of the dance was in her and you could see it and feel it. These are those spiritual moments that change you forever!
A few weeks later I saw Dina perform and was totally surprised at the sexual innuendos that emanated from her dance. The image of belly dance changed that night for me because I had assumed that provocative gestures were not allowed. Actually let me take it a step further, I didn’t think it was necessary. But somehow Dina made it work for her and as I watched her performance I saw that she did a wonderful job. Her sexuality never got in the way of her performance. It enhanced her movements and I understood at that moment that Dina chose to dance free of any inhibitions or restraints her world put on her.

As a modern woman I often wonder how close my image is to women back hundreds of years. Our evolution as women has never been more evident than in the belly dance world. If we look at the dance of the seven veils the removal of the veils represent seven earthly illusions that fall away with each veil. In order for us to become the total feminine archetype in myth these veils must fall from us so we can transcend into the Goddess. As with all myths I wondered what these seven veils of illusion were because I had a suspicion that we may still be portrayed within this myth today. It became apparent to me that each illusion had an opposite side to it. So here’s my version of the seven illusions.
1. The Virgin-Temptress
Many dancers have both abilities to enchant their audiences by offering the untouchable innocence of movement combined with eye contact that teases with a fleeting look.
2. Intrigue-deception
The ability to captivate our audience is a major part of our story telling but with all stories we must tell the audience that what intrigues them is only an illusion. This in itself can be perceived as a deception because we work so hard on the illusion that at moments it may become real.

3. Mother-Sex Goddess
Both of these describe the dilemma all women come across through out their careers. While we dance as women who understand what it means to carry and give life we are also expected to be proficient in the art of love. The illusion for most people is that we can be both but they want the two separate.
4. Wise woman-Childlike Innocence
The knowledge a dancer puts in her performing sets her apart from the average dancer. Knowledge is power and our movements speak volumes in regards to our history. The illusion here is that while we dance with experience our audiences to a certain degree want a virtuous dancer that will give them an unsullied look at our dance.
5. Wife-Mistress
In our dance we are compelled to perform from places of the heart. At least some of our music has this impassioned theme in certain songs. As women we feel the need to complete ourselves which is why we search for our mate. The mistress on the other hand is compelled to search outside of this completion which in itself is the wife’s mirror opposite. We distance ourselves from the mistress personification yet in the eyes of our admirers the hope is that they get a glimpse of her.
6. Muse-transmutation
Poetry and music speak of the dancer that takes her audience to places of sublime heights. As dancers we are the muses of our times. At the same time we experience the audience that doesn’t understand our dance and they try to alter it to fit their perception of the world. We than become a misunderstood version of our own poetry.
7. Diva-modest maid
A dancers self confidence has to come across to the audience or they will be sorely disappointed. Many fans expect a confident woman during and after shows. Yet I have found that dancers can almost believe too much in their personas that they create. We can get caught up in this illusion just as much as anybody. The catch here is to know when to turn your dance persona on and off.

As belly dancers we inspire so much in people and our allure isn’t just the pretty costume, it is what we signify as women.
My question is do we understand what it is that we represent for so many? I have worked with a few women who were disassociated from their body image. They had no clue how beautiful they were because they bought into mixed messages from the media and cultural attitudes. How comfortable are we in the position of the archetype for today’s women? If we can’t get past the door of self appreciation, than I don’t see us in the forefront of today’s feminine society. Let us not forget how immeasurable we are as women. Our dance helps us create our own personal myth in which we than can escape into our own feminine image.

I have often wondered that after creating our feminine image, do we than transform gradually into her? Isn’t this really what belly dance does? We heal and than become the women we are intended to be. This is how I believe the essence of belly dance lives and thrives through each generation of women. If we can understand our own image than we can be living examples of what belly dance is and the veils of illusion than become nothing more than invisible restraints that disappear through our own transformation. In this sense we than are reborn into women, who are comfortable in their own body, mind and spirit. And there is no better way to express our dance than by embracing who we are and dancing with veils of our choice.

Dancing to Your own Tune

2008-03-08T19:30:00.003-07:00

My husband Daniel, looked up at me from his desk today and said, “Why don’t you write about dancers performing from who they are instead of performing from who they want to be?” He is always thinking about cool stuff for me to write and this one was a gem! So ladies thank my husband on this one.

Before Daniel suggested this short article I was giving him photographs of myself to copy that were taken years ago. I wanted to show you guys who I am besides Leyla Najma, the belly dancer. One photo is me praying in my medicine dress in the desert around Tombstone, Arizona. The other was me on my Clydesdale mare, Maggie who was doing a curtsy pose. I was dressed in my gypsy outfit riding Maggie for fans who were taking pictures. These are both still me today but the belly dancer has taken precedence for many years. I often wonder how much the medicine woman comes out it me. I am still a gypsy and always will be……..so where is she in my dancing? A while back I wrote an article talking about “Life is a Stage” and this actually coincides with that article.

When I was studying with medicine men and women years ago, I learned to live each day as a rebirthing. My teepee always faced east because we believe that the sun coming up each day is a rebirth. The doors to the teepees are oval in shape so they make you feel like you are stepping out of a womb. This way each day stands on its own and the day before is in the eternal circle of life that has gone back into the Universe. I remember so clearly that I didn’t look forward to the weekends because each day was celebrated and many times I couldn’t tell what day it was. I was actually on “Indian time.”
I feel this celebration when I am on stage performing. Time stands still and doesn’t exist which in many ways is so liberating. This is where I write my script and keep my life lessons alive in my dance. If I live in the moment, than I can keep the memories alive in my heart with vivid details that never fade.

My days as a cowgirl and living in gypsy wagons, Bedouin tents and covered wagons are treasured memories but there are times when I relive those adrenalin moments especially just before I go on stage.
I remember on one particular road trip I was hauling my horses and following another truck in front that was hauling my gypsy wagon. Little did I know that the road was a two lane highway in the middle of nowhere that was down hill for at least 15 miles. I wasn’t told that the truck I was driving had brake problems. The side I was driving on also happened to be on the side of the road that had no railing and a drop of over 30 feet. Half way on the downward incline my brakes gave out and all I could do was to shift into grandma gear and pray. I had to actually turn the truck sideways at the end so the momentum of the horse trailer and my truck going down hill would be at a minimum if I couldn’t stop. Burning brakes, smoke and a few curse words ended the white knuckle experience. I traveled every six months plus or minus a month and that was only “one” of me seeing my life pass before my eyes experiences that I had.
The first time I taught and danced in a workshop show……my life passed before my eyes. So as you can see there are a lot of similarities…kind of.

Years ago I was lucky enough to experience a spring and fall round up with one of the last working ranches in the Big Bend part of Texas. I was working with some of the best cowboys around, a dying breed.
On one particular brisk morning during the fall round up, we were taking a large herd of Mexican Steers to another part of the ranch. The cattle were skittish and the horses were nervous. You could feel electricity in the air and you could sense something was about to happen. With no warning the cattle took off in a dead run and we were all caught off guard. Within seconds we were all caught in a stampede. My mare was keeping up but she was dodging bushes and jumping ravines at a dead run. If she tripped or if I fell off it would have been all she wrote! You could feel the ground shaking and the amount of focus it took to hold the cattle together was mind shattering. There could be no mistakes or the cattle would have scattered apart and it would have taken hours to get them back together. Fortunately the lead cowboys were able to get in front of the herd and we finally slowed them down keeping them all together. It ended just as quickly as it had begun. The adrenalin rush was coursing through my veins and my horse was shaking from head to hooves from her dead run. We all just looked at each other realizing at that moment that we experienced something that happens maybe once in a life time.

Is this not the feeling we feel just after a great performance. We know when we are on stage all eyes are upon us and that our timing has to be perfect with no mistakes. Our hearts beat at an uncontrollable rate and afterwards we stand in amazement that we're apart of something that was incredible.
So……yes I guess I do bring in all of me when I dance. My script includes all my experiences but than I like to create a different persona now and than just to mix it all up. That’s a woman for you…….we stir the pot for no other reason than just because we can. And you know something…..I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Learning to Howl Like a Wolf

2008-02-20T18:30:00.001-07:00

Learning to Howl like a Wolf

Excited doesn’t even come close to how I felt on the day I was to have a photo shoot with two wolves Raven and Forest at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in Ramah, New Mexico . Raven who is a pure Black-phased Timber wolf is a retired ambassador for the sanctuary and Forest who is a pure Timber wolf is the new ambassador.
I made arrangements with photographer Michael L. Miller and the director of the sanctuary, Leyton Cougar and even got up at 4:00 in the morning in preparation for our 2 hour drive. We planned and prepared and even had a professional make up artist on site. In my mind I was going to be Leyla the warrior belly dancer living amongst the wolves…….ok quit rolling your eyes! I’m sure the wolves themselves would have howled with laughter. Little did I know that my fantasy was quite the illusion.
As we walked towards the enclosures where the wolves were kept my heart was pounding a mile a minute. Laughing and talking excitedly we all anxiously kept up a fast pace to the front gate to the large enclosure. That was until Leyton said, “We’ll have to see if Raven will allow you to be next to him. And there may be a chance he won’t want his picture taken.”
You could have heard a pin drop with the deafening silence that followed his statement. It was as if time stood still and my moment of “Leyla the wolf woman” vanished with the wind. It served me right because when you work with wild animals you are working on their schedule not yours.

Fortunately I already had been around Raven and he knew me so he was excited to see everybody. Whew….that was a close call and my heart started to race again. Once I was beside Raven it occurred to me that the images of photos in my head were unrealistic. Raven was calling the shots throughout the entire photo shoot and I was left standing by myself on numerous occasions or basking in his glory by my side. And I would love to say that he was by my side because he really liked me but the truth of the matter is that Leyton had me rub lip balm all over myself because Raven loves the smell. So here I am rubbing lip balm all over me so I can get this gigantic wolf to come over and take his picture with me. He came over immediately and all of a sudden he just started to rub himself all over me! There were moments I thought we were both going to tumble off the rock ledge that we were perched on. The funny thing about it was that there was no way to look stylish because I was holding on to this large boulder for dear life while at the same time I was dealing with wolf saliva being drooled all over me. Oh yes I forgot about the wolf drool……..actually I didn’t even think about it! And since it had just rained a few days earlier, I also had mud being rubbed all over me along with the wolf drool. And do any of you know how wolves smell? Not only did I learn but I ended up smelling like one. And a word for the wise; just remember that your costume will take a beating too!

As we walked around I noticed a lot of birds flying above in the air watching us curiously. They just happen to be Ravens. It’s really interesting to note that Ravens and wolves are connected to each other. This is because the Ravens help the wolves find food and then the Ravens get to eat the left overs. At times it almost seemed like they were our audience because there were so many of them. The large enclosure where we were taking the photos had enclosures on either side of it with other wolves watching us as well. So it was interesting to note that the Ravens and the wolves had confused and perplexed looks on their faces kind of like some audiences. Sound familiar?
At the end of the first photo shoot with Raven, I crawled off the rocks only to see to my dismay that I had scuffed up and tore the heels of my new boots. So, just about every part of my costume that has a tear or smudge on it still reminds me to this day of what a wonderful and amazing experience it was. Bizarre as it may seem I almost felt like I went through a right of passage.

Furthering this right of passage was my next photo shoot with Forest. For this next photo shoot I dressed in my gothic, gypsy outfit with a little bit of Elvira in it. So off we went back to the same enclosure to see what was in store for us with Forest. Fortunately all it took was hotdogs for Forest to come over to me and I didn’t have to rub any of them on me. But I’ll tell you all a little secret, when Leyton first took out the hotdogs I was a little worried!
Forest was such a gentleman and he even gave me a few kisses here and there. But after while he stood beside me looking at Leyton with a pleading look on his face as if saying, “Are we done yet”? Fortunately the occasional hotdog did the trick and we were able to get in some good shots. To Michael’s dismay though, Forest thought his light reflector that he was holding in his hand was a new toy and Forest went right for it. I wish I would have had the camera on the both of them as Michael was trying to pull the reflector from Forests mouth. Leyton had to come over and make Forest give it up and pry his mouth open. I have never seen a wolf cry but Forest whined and whined over having to let go of what he thought was his new toy. So obviously this ended the photo shoot with Forest getting reprimanded and Michael having his reflector back but with a few extra bite marks on it.

Understand that if any of you are going to have your photos taken with wild animals you are entering their world and their timetable. Make sure you do your homework and work diligently with the animal trainer or handler. Anything can happen in a split second so you must be focused and aware at all times.
Leyton is one in a million and he is known as the “Wolf Whisperer”. Leyton has 62 wolf and wolf dogs at the sanctuary that he and volunteers care for. Over the past two years I have had the pleasure of seeing Leyton handle the wolves with amazing grace. The wolves’ body language is so astounding when Leyton walks by their enclosures. Since body language is one of the oldest languages on the planet, I found watching the wolves move reminded me of an ancient dance form being performed with deliberate grace. Their sinuous movements had the timing of any well versed choreographer. I also noticed that Leyton respects the wolves and he looks at every one of them as individuals with characteristics all their own.

To say that patience is a virtue while working with wild animals is an understatement. It took all day to get in a variety of shots. And after it was all said and done, I was exhausted. Plus I smelled like I had been in the wild for days with the hint of lip balm. And just so you know I had lip balm in places I never would of thought putting it! In the end it was all worth it because both Raven and Forest taught me a great lesson; they reminded me to be in the moment and this was the most precious gift of all.

Life is a Stage

2007-12-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

Lights, camera, and oh yeah.......for a minute I forgot where I was. Isn't it amazing what a stage can do to you? I mean for most of us who have been dancing for years, we have had the pleasure and displeasure of dancing on a variety of dance floors in odd spaces. I've danced on grass, tables (don't recommend them) chairs (definitely don't recommend them) gooey floors (don't ask)and brick patios with little pebbles (my toes wouldn't speak to me for weeks). Carpet is great for carpet burn and sloping hills can really challenge your sense of equilibrium!!
Once we find ourselves on a "real" stage we have a sense of making it.
So imagine with me a black stage shaped like a diamond with white tape to show the diamond design with seats positioned at an angle on either side. Sounds pretty amazing and to tell you the truth it was..................
Veils floating in the air in a sunset orange and yellow filled the stage as my friend Rozana al Jinan and her students danced with rhythmic grace and elegance. As the rush of bodies came back into the dressing room a laughing Rozana said "Watch your point of reference because you might get lost."
"Oh no, another stage to contend with," I thought to myself. So off I went walking to my place on the stage where I was to start. The Music started and so good so far that was until I started to do a head spin....uh oh....where's the front from the back? Once I stopped I was facing the back wall and not the audience. Thank God for spontaneous choreography and the fact that I am an old veteran of the occasional blooper. This is what makes dance so enticing for us because it has to do with the moment and life doesn't always tell us what's around the corner or how we'll end up after we spin. As in life a stage can become something you never expected.

What is it that we want people to see and remember when we are on stage versus how we are in everyday life? Do we become a wonderwoman by performing and the average woman by day? As a dancer of many years I often wonder what happens to us when we believe too much in our wonderwoman persona. I have seen dancers forget that they are just "people". It's almost as if the stage seduces the senses and after a while of embracing the intoxicating allure of the lights, sound and applause dancers become the Hyde version of their Jekyll personas. Is the stage our friend I ask you? Sometimes I wonder because I have witnessed men and women lose their humility at the first sight of a stage. It's almost as if the only way they can prove their worth is by the stage. So is the stage a "fix" for some dancers?
What our dance means to us is expressed through our performances which just happens to be on stages. But how we express our dance when we aren't on stage is just as important, probably more so than ever. The stage is not my escape from reality but a way that I can express the reality in which I live.
So the diamond stage didn't really work out like I thought it would but sometimes life doesn't either. The difference is that my life isn't defined by the stage but defined by what I do on and off the stage. Maybe life is really one, gigantic stage and everywhere we go we perform our lives. I like this because than life becomes my "fix" and it's allure is having those around me that I love. So life for me is one big stage and whether I'm on a black stage shaped like a diamond or sitting in my living room, I know who I am.......sometimes but than each day is a new script and turning the page is the best part.

Cures, disorders and syndromes!!

2007-11-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Just yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine regarding the solo student dancer syndrome of "who are you, I don't know you". This is a very old disorder that I have been dealing with for many years. Only thing is I didn't realize how contagious it was until just recently. I'm no Einstein but it finally sunk in that there is something going on here. I had always looked at students as women of great possibilities and potential. And for a while I had a naive idea that my students would carry on my grand illusions of what I thought belly dance was. OK......so I'm a few quarts low in that regard but I am finally cured!
My point is that I have had students come to class who come right in with problems and issues never stopping to think to leave anything at the door. Do I do this..........yes of course but than it's my class and I can do whatever I want......not really. I learned through the years that what students want is a teacher and that is all! How simple and yet how complicated all at the same time. If I become more of a friend than my teacher status starts to suffer. If I am just the teacher and that is all than I am not very compassionate. So where does this fine line exist of friend and teacher? Just so you know it's in another dimension parallel to ours. No...really.
How do students get the "who are you, I don't know you" syndrome? This has perplexed me for years but I have come up with a hypothesis.
It has to do with what their real motives are when they decide to become a belly dancer. These motives are nurtured by society, parents, relationships, and learned behavior from all three. If any of the three are negative (which hello is very likely) than the beginning stages of this syndrome start to form. This disorder can take on a variety of symptoms. One of the most familiar of these symptoms is what I call the "outside of their world" non communication variety. Maybe it's because friends are a dime a dozen or that their upbringing taught them to drop you like a hot potato. We often as a society of women will have more patience and compassion for a loved one that beats us or a relationship that is unhealthy than we will for a dance teacher. God forbid that the teacher was not only there for her student but was a sounding board for everyday problems. Realistically as a teacher you have to be a sounding board no matter how professional you want to keep your relationship with your students. But this backfires more frequently than you realize.
The other symptom is the "invisible" kind. Now I know I do this too. As a matter of fact I have had a few students that if I would of known back than what I know now, they never would have been allowed to take class from me. But for this to take place a lot of disrespect and drama has to happen. Than yes these people are not only invisible but non existent in my world. Somehow I seem to have had this same effect on a particular group of students. It's OK but the difference here is that I gave knowledge along with whatever drama they felt they went through. I only got drama.........and a few pains in the you know where. But this is from my side of the fence and from where I see life. But I want you all to know that as a teacher I always look at my students as dancers. They all deserved this respect because anyone that takes from me is giving me a gift which is their time and efforts. But what do the students think of this? Is the efforts of my class worth it? Do they speak well of me or not at all? When they go out and perform do they appreciate our class time together? Oh, yes I wonder all these things because I remember what it was like my very first belly dance class. I haven't forgotten that feeling of pure amazement and I haven't forgotten my first teacher. And yes if she was still alive today I would let her know I haven't forgotten her.
Appreciate who you can and let the others alone. If you can't speak well of your teacher than take a look at why. Is it so much what she didn't do or was it what she should of done but didn't do it to your liking? How hard we are on our teachers is only setting us up to be regarded in the same way down the line. Because always remember that to be disappointed in people is easy, not setting people up to disappoint us is the hard part. The dancers who are under the symptom of "Who are you, I don't know you" have choices. Maybe if you are under this symptom you might stop and think about what you are setting yourself up for. There will always be people we don't get along with but why create a dance world where this syndrome exists? It's easier to get along than not but than water seeks it's own level so maybe the cure is seeing yourself equal with everybody else. It's a lot easier to learn from someone who not only sees you as a talented dancer but treats you like one. This means we have to take responsibility for our own drama and not throw issues onto other peoples shoulders to carry.
My shoulders are only full of my problems and even if they feel like they are carrying a load, it's my load. This is my cure and my way of taking care of my responsibilities. I can than say I see you and you are beautiful...........even the pains in the you know where!!

I have style..........I think?!!

2007-11-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

Today I talked to a wonderful dancer in Texas and we discussed a topic that comes up quite often amongst belly dancers. It kind of sneaks up and shows itself in conversation because for most dancers it is a very important part of their persona; style.
What does it mean to have style anyways? Most women have style before they learn how to belly dance. So where does it go after we start taking classes? I'm thinking it stays in the car or decides to stay at home.
I will hear so many dancers say they just don't know what their style is and they don't know how to get it. This is interesting to say the least because maybe we are talking about two kinds of style. So do we now have to have another style besides the one we leave at home? I'm thinking we like to make dance more complicated than it needs to be. It's almost like our style doesn't fit us when we dance so we have to create a new one. But I question this because "what's wrong with the old style"?

If we define style than we have to look at how we are as women and men in everyday life. Most women have a specific way they dress and certain mannerisms that make them stand out and unique. This doesn't go away just because we dance. As a matter of fact I believe our style is more enhanced with belly dancing because we have a new way to express ourselves. The difference here is that when we see dancers who are accomplished we see how comfortable they are performing. This enhances their style and it becomes more noticeable. So maybe as dancers we aren't giving our style it's due. It's almost like an old dress that becomes old only because we want a new dress. Hahhh.......I do this all the time so I know what I'm talking about.

Style is a confidence that we have when it comes to being women and men. If we compare our style to other peoples' style than this is when style gets left home or forgotten in the car. A long time ago I decided that no matter how far I would go in belly dancing that I would keep my sense of self, that part of me that made me look different. I kept my style all the way through 24 years of dance and I made sure that I was happy with my choices. But I know what a lot of you are thinking, that I am missing the boat and you are talking about how a person dances. No.........I didn't miss the boat, I just realized that style starts with how we feel about ourselves and usually this comes out in how we dress. When a dancer is up on stage performing and she is confident about herself and her dance than the end result is a comfortable glow that showcases her style. Style is really what you think about yourself,period.

Let's be realistic here because we aren't going to go and get another one of us. It would be very spooky if we could do this and I personally don't think the world is ready for another me. So maybe style evolves as our dancing evolves. This is a good thing because we are in a world that is constantly changing. And besides that I like the fact that I can get a new dress now and than. But the difference is that no matter what I wear I know who I am and I don't leave my style at home or in the car, I take my style with me everywhere I go.

DVD Review

2007-11-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

Rozana al Jinan Presents:
Raqs Assaya “Blue Moon”
Cane Choreography like you’ve never seen it!

Sun, sand and swirling images in blue greet you as you start your journey watching Raqs Assaya “Blue Moon”. Rozana al Jinan takes what you thought you knew about cane and completely revolutionizes cane technique with modern choreography. As you watch Rozana move with the cane, it is almost as if the cane is an extension of her movements. And this is why this is a must have DVD.
A pleasant “warm up” starts you off and is so enjoyable because Rozana has such a soft and relaxing voice. This really gets you into a good mood and prepares you for the challenging class awaiting you. But I have to warn beginner dancers; this choreography is intended for the experienced dancer. So make sure you have your foundation movements down and you are able to work in your traveling steps before you try out Rozana’s choreography.

How many dancers really know how to hold a cane? Rozana gives tips on how to hold and control your cane. This is a must know part of cane and even if you have danced with cane previously this information is a really good reminder on how to feel the energy with your cane as it moves with you. Rozana does something that I wish a lot of dancers would do when they produce an instructional; she shows the feet work first than the combination with the cane and than the cane drill. Wow, this took a lot of the guess work out and I was able to follow Rozana with greater ease.

For the professional dancer out there who is bored with her cane this DVD not only saves the day but adds a new spice to cane choreography. Since Rozana is a black belt in Tae Kwando she combined new and exciting elements to her choreography which include martial arts. This is why Rozana’s choreography is different and challenging. She brought in rudiments of Contemporary Wushu which translates to “Flowering Hand”. This is a form of Chinese martial arts that is performed as a sport today. The form itself is known to mean “As soft as a flower while in motion but strong upon impact” which defines Rozana’s choreography perfectly. My favorite combination is the Plum Blossom which is a move derived from Wushu. Trust me this particular move with the cane will test your ability to do two things at once which I found out to my chagrin. The bottom line is this DVD is educational, challenging and different. And an added bonus is a “Tips and Inside Information” booklet that Rozana provides with her DVD.
With so many instructional DVDs out today Raqs Assaya “Blue Moon” is
a wonderful surprise and once you buy it; you’ll find it is money well spent.

Raqs Assaya “Blue Moon” is available from Rozana al Jinan. For more information contact Rozana al Jinan at: www.jinanbellydancing.com or
Rozana @jinanbellydancing.com

By Leyla Najma

The New Renaissance in Belly Dance

2007-11-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Our dance is changing and there's nothing we can do about it. Whether it changes the way you like it or not we have to go with the flow and change with it. Sometimes when I see the changes I want to scream and yell, "What was wrong with the old ways"? But there are new dancers who bring with them a new sense of style and a new modern vision of how they want belly dance to be. I like this but because I am an old fart in this dance, well I would of liked them to ask me first! Yeah, right but there's a part of me that wishes the changes in our dance were more subtle. I think when you put in so many years training to be your best it is disconcerting when a dancer who has been dancing only a fraction of your years makes it big and brings with her "change". Sometimes I feel like where the Hell have I been all these years and was my head in the sand for too long? I remember I asked a belly dance magazine editor about what it takes to be on the cover of her magazine. She told me you have to make a difference in your community and have enough years of experience under your belt. So I've been dancing for over 24 years now and have done charity events, benefits, put on benefits etc. I was wondering is this not enough? The next cover of her magazine that I saw kind of blew me away because she had a dancer on the cover who had been dancing fraction of the years than most of my contemporaries. Oh alright........maybe I was a little jealous but I was also a bit perturbed. Maybe there are many dancers.........let me rephrase this there are many dancers like me out there who have worked in their communities for years and aren't recognized for their contributions. Don't feel too sorry for me because "The Chronicles" belly dance magazine has put my photo on their cover twice. And Jareeda even put me on their back page.
Down the line when you been dancing as long as I have there comes a point in time when you say, "Have I made it"? I don't know and to tell you the truth I may never know because my dance is a work in progress. But it finally donned on me that I have to make the changes I want to see. So does getting on the cover of a belly dance magazine make a difference........you bet it does! It doesn't mean you have arrived, it means that you are appreciated. There's no belly dance law that says if you have been dancing less years and are the end all in belly dance that you can't be on a cover of a magazine. It's just there are so many dancers who are hidden for one reason or another but who are their communities power houses. But I am wondering with this new renaissance of today if the new dancers want older dancers like myself out of the way? Sometimes I don't see the same appreciation that I gave my former teachers in some of my new students of today. I would never of thought of being late or not showing up at all with no phone call. As a matter of fact I had one student who had family issues that she would talk to me about. A few months later she was at a show that I was dancing at and she was talking during my performance. I put my finger to my mouth and insinuated for her to be quiet but I did it with a smile on my face. Also after the show I was teasing her about not returning my phone calls (which she didn't) but I did it in a humorous fashion. The next day I got a phone call with her yelling at me. I thought it was funny myself and told her it was her issue and that I was putting it back on her lap. She's gone now but I wonder if this is the new renaissance happening today? I just recently had another student not show up for class or return phone calls. Is this also the new Renaissance? The issues with the students in the past 5 years has been the same just different faces. What is our future in belly dance if some of the dancers and students of today have no etiquette? From where I stand it doesn't look good but than this is why I am still here. And this is why I don't just linger in my dance anymore, I am making a way into a new Renaissance of my choosing. I stand for what I feel is important in dance. And my job is to make sure that each student that I am coaching understands her dance. It's obvious that sometimes I hit home runs and other times I strike out with my students. But in the end because I am apart of this new renaissance than I'm going to make sure that dancers remember the old ways as they create their own unique path. And instead of my (you know what) up in the air I've got my head out of the sand. New Renaissance here I come!

The Certification Question

2007-10-29T20:52:00.000-06:00

Many years ago when I was just starting out in belly dance, I can remember certain dancers telling me to get out of belly dance because I wasn't any good. You have to wonder why dancers who themselves have goals and aspirations would want to diminish mine. But the reality of our dance world can be shocking to a novice and a cautious endeavor to a veteran. Unfortunately this is our world but only a small part of it. As time went on I kept on practicing and training with dancers who I felt were exceptional. And 24 years later I'm still belly dancing and creating a path along the way that other dancers can join along if they so choose. I remember one time a reporter asked me how I would define myself as a dancer and the only thing that came to my mind was the word "lone wolf". Ok, yes I am romantically infatuated with wolves but in my heart this felt like the best description. Since than I tell people that I am a lone wolf in this field because I am unconventional in my way of dancing. Dancing for me is a creative expression that cannot be contained in a box. How would you define the Universe if so asked? This would be hard to do because there is so much of the Universe we haven't seen. And I believe that there is so much of dance to be discovered. So than I ask you a question, why would you want to be certified in an artform that has to do with the creative mind which is vast and full of new and boundless discoveries? Oh I'm sure there are those dancers who would say that if you are learning a cultural dance than you should learn to dance it correctly. I'm one of them and I totally agree. Ok so I'm going to play devils advocate here; with so many dance teachers out there how do you know you are learning the correct way?
Here's my thought on this, a certification usually comes to people as a completion of something. Our dance is a life time study and there is so much to learn and discover. What does a certification do for you? Does it make you feel more accomplished? I know there are dance teachers in our field that are amazing who give certification classes but does this mean that you are certified in their type of belly dance style? Everybody has their favorite teachers so say if you have three teachers that you really like than would you need certification from all three? Does this really make you feel better about yourself?
Well, if you are my student you won't get a certification from me instead you will get a dance coach who will make sure that you find your style of belly dance. I will make sure that you understand where your dance comes from which is inside of you. We will go over what makes you tick and what makes you passionate about your dance.
I don't want to teach you my way of dance, I want to help you find your way in dance. And this is why I don't agree with the certifications. But there are students out there who want and need to know that they succeeded in class and I totally understand this. I would just rather my students feel the success within themselves and for them to know that their creativity isn't certifiable. Because there is no end to self discovery and there is no end to the opportunities that come our way once we understand that our dance represents how we live life. So for me I would rather see life performed on stage that is artwork in progress. Is any artist truly satisfied or are we always looking for the perfect dance. I haven't found my perfect dance yet but to tell you the truth I'm having so much fun looking and creating that I don't really care if she ever appears. The day she does appear will mean my journey is over and I've come to realize that the journey is what makes the goal that much more sweeter. In some ways when we are on stage we dance the journey which is life.
So I'm an out of the box kind of dancer who teaches creative expression that is limitless. And as this lone wolf carries on she knows; to each her own and live and let live.