All posts by najla

If you live in or around the Chillicothe, OH Area, and want to learn Middle-Eastern (belly) Dance, learn new ideas, bond with other women of many different cultures and backgrounds, and even get some exercise, then look no further! You have found your passion! Turn to Najla’s Dance to fulfill this passion.

Tips on taking care of your skin before Performance and Photo Shoots

DSCN1072The one thing that we all sometimes fail to forget is taking the time to take care of our skin.  I can remember growing up my mother telling me you must take care of your skin, because it needs to last a lifetime. There are times when I look back now and wished I would have listened to her on this subject.  I have found that what you do or do not do, in regards to skincare, does really make a big difference!  When it comes to performance and photo shoots we work so hard on moves and choreography, but it does not stop there, our makeup and caring for our body is also a must.

Over the last 2 years, I have gained a lot of experience with this from my own issues and having the opportunity to work with cosmetic consultants and occasionally being a cosmetic consultant as well.

Our skin is mostly made up of water so being hydrated is one of the first important steps! A week before a performance or photo shoot I cut out all beverages with caffeine and sugar and switch to water.  Flavored Water like Vitamin Water is great because it has additional vitamins and does not add any additives or sugar.  Water flushes out toxins in our body that can create havoc with acne, redness and other skin ailments.

It is important to daily wash, exfoliate and follow with a good moisturizer each morning and evening. Use a mild facial wash based on your skin type and follow up with a toner which helps slough off all dead cells and the remaining dirt that is left behind from the facial wash.  Under the eye area is important to moisturize and you should use a moisturizer that is just for the underneath and not the same that you use for your whole face.   Your face moisturizer should have a SPF during the day and use a night moisturizer at bed time.  These are basics but a must. The morning of either a performance or photo shoot after cleansing and toning I follow up with a mask before moisturizing.  This will make a big difference in your skin and will bring back the glow.  Once I am done with the mask I steep two teabags and allow them to cool a little before I put them on my eyes, you do
not want them hot, just slightly warm.

This helps reduce puffiness, firms the underneath and can help with dark circles.  Once done I follow with moisturizer and a face primer.  The face
primer smooth’s out your face giving you a nice soft canvas to work with and reduces your pores.  You are now ready to start applying makeup!

Back Home

IMG_0620As I was coming back home from vacation I was trying to figure out what I was going to write in my next blog since it has been about 2 weeks since my last one.  So I decided that this would be a catch up blog so to speak.  We had an amazing time at the beach and the weather was gorgeous!  It was a much needed break for both my husband and I spending quality time together without the mix of work, dance and other things that come up in our daily lives.  It is important for myself to take a break from dancing every once in a great while.  I have been teaching since 2008 this was literally the first break I have had.  It helps me to re-focus and to get back whatever energy has been lost.  We need to realize that sometimes it is nice to sit back and relax and do absolutly nothing at all and I did plenty of that on vacation! It is good to be home and I have missed all of you and I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of classes this week.  The picture above was taken by my husband on the beach.

Classes will resume as normal this week and we are back on schedule continue working on moves an choreographies.

Class Times  &  Days

Tuesday:  Carver Community Center 7-8 beginner class

Wed:  Carver Community Center 7-8 Intermediate/Performance Group

Saturday: First Presbyterian Church;Greenfield 11:00-12:00 beginner

 

Egyptian Style

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Egyptian Style

Egyptian Style Dance also known as Raks Sharki has the same common moves but is much more subtle then in Cabaret Style dance.  Within the Egyptian Dance style the focus is not only on the moves but focuses on artistic expression, interpretation of the music and the dancer will bring the audience in with her so there is a more personal connection between the dancer and the audience.  The use of props is not used as widely as in
the Cabaret style and you will seldom see a dancer with a veil or playing the finger cymbals.  The moments that the dancer will use these if any at all will be very brief, unlike the cabaret dancer who will use the props for an entire length of a song or routine.  The Egyptian style dancer will never do any floor work of any type since it is still considered illegal in Egypt
today.  The one prop that many Egyptian Dancers will use though will be the cane when performing saidi or use of the
candelabra.  They are found dancing in night clubs and restaurants and never staged like the Cabaret Style.  It is more intimate. The music is usually played by an orchestra and is always live.  An Egyptian dancer will never dance with recorded music at any time which consists of Arabic music.  Sometimes the dancer will dance to more modern Egyptian music and it will consist of Western influence in which you will find keyboards and other electronic instruments that are added.  The performance of the dancer will usually last at least 30 minutes long or longer compared to the Cabaret Style and with Egyptian dance the dancer always is a solo performance and is never done with a group. The costume of the Egyptian dancer is slightly different than that of the Cabaret Costume and the one exception is the Egyptian dancer is not allowed to have the abdomen exposed when dancing.  Bare flesh cannot be exposed and it is still illegal today in Egypt for dancers to expose their stomachs.  The costume will either be a dress with or without cutouts on the side or will consist of a bra and skirt with the belt being a part of the skirt or attached and is not separate.  They dancer can also wear a flesh colored body stocking or one that is the same color of her costume.  The costumes are very elegant and elaborate in which fabric that is very rich is used with the combination of not only beads, jewels and fringe is used.  The
costume is also enhanced by headpieces, necklaces and earrings that include arm and even ankle bracelets.  The look of the Egyptian style costume is very glamorous but brings out the feminine side.  It is also noted that Egyptian dancers will also dance in heels and very seldom in bare feet.

 

Picture done by WG Images