As 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

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

Photo by:  WG Images

Cabaret Style Belly Dance

Cabaret Style Belly Dance incorporates the basic core movements in Belly Dance as a whole but the interpretations of the dance are larger and more intense and showy. There is more interpretations in the moves when it comes to Cabaret Style and can lead to other dance forms that can become intertwined with Cabaret Belly Dancing such as: modern dance, jazz and modern jazz, ballet, salsa but these other movements are limited within.  Cabaret Belly Dance allows the dancer to show her expression and is fuller bodied then some of the other dance forms.  The Cabaret dancer expresses herself through her movement and music. There is not a lot of interaction between the dancer and the audience. There is quite a bit more freedom as to the choices a dancer has with the Cabaret Style which is one reason it is so liked.  Cabaret style uses props when dancing such as the veil, finger cymbals along with floor work. Cabaret Dancers can dance either in a group or by themselves.  When performing solos it generally consists of an entrance, veil, fast section, drum solo, slow section and finale. The music that is used can be traditional, Middle Eastern Pop or Modern Middle Eastern music that involves Western influences as well whether it is in the rhythm or an instrument.  Because of this sometimes the music can be very deep and complex and has many layers within the piece. The costumes are very glamorous also known as
Hollywood style.  The costume is usually made up of three pieces that is a bra and belt with a skirt and or harem pants
and sometimes a vest will be worn with it.  The stomach in most cases is usually bare, but not always.  Cabaret costumes are usually made from silk, satin, chiffon, lames and any other type of fabric that has a shine or glitter to it with sequins, beads and different colored metallic threads.  The costumes are to be where any age of the audience will enjoy it and they can be simple or they can be very glamorous.

Tahiya Karioka – is one of the dancers of the Golden Age of Egypt and was born between 1915 and 1923 in Ismaileya, Egypt. As a teenager she fled to Cairo, due to contrasts with her family, where she started her career as a dancer and was introduced to Badeia Masabny. Taheyya Karioka then started dancing in Badia’s troupe and she gradually became famous and starred in not less then 150 movies.

She was also known as: Tahiya Mohamed (born as: Badaweya Mohamed Kareem Al Nirani), Tahiya was an Egyptian Belly dancer and a film actress. Born in the Egyptian town of Ismaileya in 1920 to Mohamed Kareem, Tahiya was discouraged from performing as a dancer by her family. Due to family differences that could not be settled with her father and brothers, she moved to Cairo to stay with an old neighbour, Suad Mahasen, a night club owner and an artist. Tahiya had asked several times for employment in Suad’s nightclub but Suad refused to employ her due to the disreputability of working at a night club. However, many of Suad’s associates and friends became acquainted with Tahiya through various visits to Suad’s home. They all advised Suad to add her to one of the shows as a chorus girl but still she refused. Soon, Tahiya was mentioned to Badia Masabni, the owner of Casino Opera, one of the most prominent nightclubs of the time. Badia offered a position in her troupe to Tahiya. Tahiya accepted and was given the stage name Tahiya Mohamed. She soon began gaining popularity as a solo dancer and as she became more experienced she learned a popular Samba dance from Brasil at the time called the Karioka. After that she became known as Tahiya Karioca. Tahiya began starring in movies during what is dubbed as the Egyptian film industries “Golden Age”. She was a talented dancer, singer, and actor.

Tahiya was married 14 times; among her husbands were actor Rushdy Abaza and playwright Fayez Halawa. Tahiya was unable to conceive any children of her own and hence aopted a daughter (Atiyat Allah). Tahiya also was very involved with her sibling’s children. Tahiya later moved to London.

Tayiha died on May 03, 1999 of a
heart attack.

Enjoy the video of her below!  She was a wonderful dancer and one of my many inspirations!

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A few days ago,   I had a friend, who is also a dancer commented on a rough time they were having.  I thought it was unusual so I
let her know that I was thinking about her and she would be in my prayers.  Later in the week she emailed me and briefly
told me what was going on.  It does not matter these days where you live; you will find some sort of drama in the world
of Belly Dance.  My friend was just so frustrated because there are women accusing other women of slandering and even
going as far as sueing!!  My comment to her was that these type of women usually act out this way because one, they are
insecure about themselves or two, they have got such a big head that they cannot get through the door!!  I realize
that this comment I have just made will make some angry but sometimes the truth does hurt.  In the last 9 years of my
dance career I have witnessed a few ugly things and it just amazes me; since this dance is supposed to be women celebrating with other women our feminist side and sharing our experiences with each other that should form one of the
strongest bonds between all of us.   I have another dance friend who has experienced the same thing where dancers
where saying stuff about her and they did not even know her or have met her.  Why is it we belittle others when
we should be embracing each other and seeing the beauty within each one of us?   Who can we trust and confide in if we cannot
trust our own dance sisters? The only way we can stop this is if we say something when it happens.  We need to realize that we need to truly believe in ourselves and fight for our passion within this dance.  The passion is what leads most of us to dance in the first place, but if we cannot be true to ourselves first and foremost then we cannot be true to those around us.  My mentor and very good friend taught me this.   As teachers, we teach our students that this dance is the oldest and most respected dance form, but if we are not respecting
others are we really respecting the dance? There is no way we can respect the dance and not respect each other.  We need to fully embrace each other’s talents and passions and support each other in what we do.  Be true to yourself and your dance sisters!

Photo By WG Images