This is a new RaqsART web magazine’s address!

http://blog.raqsart.com/

RaqsART is a place for belly dancers to share and create information with other dancers all over the world about events, performances, dancers; just about anything related to belly dancing. Our goal is to create the most interactive and extensive belly dancing community to bring international fans together.

We are still a developing community so please feel free to leave questions, suggestions an comments about the site. We would be happy to try adopt new ideas to meet the needs of our users.

RaqsART has an extensive cross-platform social media community for Belly/Oriental/Middle Eastern dancers from all over the world. You can enjoy dancers’ interview articles on  the blog RaqsART.  Love to every dancer ❤

RaqsART International organizer Yuki

1. Why did you start Raqs Sharqi?

It was very young, I was more of a tomboy!  I liked sports such as tennis, handball, boxing, football.  I also tried several dances in which I have never been comfortable, including modern jazz, which I still felt well because of my curves.
I was 14 years old when my baby sitter invited me to her dance gala show.

I was dazzled and conquered!　 I said: “If a French girl can dance Raqs Sharqi, why not me?”  As a result, I enrolled in a belly dance school in my town in next September.  When I started, I thought that it would be easy because of my oriental origins, I was very surprised!  Then, I understood the technicality, the precision, and grace that required the oriental dance.
After years of studying this dance with different teachers, I finally met Mayodi (Male Oriental Dancer in Paris). He completely changed my dance. Moreover, Egyptian feeling completely shaped my dance.  I am still learning a lot with my Egyptian masters Yousry Sharif, Raqia Hassan and Dr. Gamal Seif.

2. What is the most important thing to do when we dance in public?

An excellent technique is essential.  Therefore, I continue to train and educate myself. I love beautiful choreography that has the chains fluid and precise movements, which are perfectly accent the music.  Moreover, it is the most important to exchange the emotion with the public.  The stage is the opportunity to share a moment with the public. This can be very festive, very emotional, and almost painful.  I do not play a character, I do not trying to be someone else on a stage.  When I dance, I am who I am but I am unveiled more than daily life.  The costume and makeup allows daring more but do not overplay.  I dance with my sensitivity, my joy, and my injury.  I need to feel the audience, so we can share the feelings, and I have to tell them a story with dance.

3. Could you tell about your Raqs Sharqi style?

I could say that my style is Egyptian with modern influences.  I love Egyptian music, and I really want to express the infinite nuances of the Arabic music in my dance.  I also get many inspirations from different artists, but I do not want to imitate anyone.  My dance is enriched with contemporary influences and jazzy with master teachers like Yousry Sharif, but it is not “fusion-style”.  I sometimes borrow the vocabularies of other dances and I “orientalized” them to create my own style.
I also take private lessons in Egyptian Arabic.  I study primarily with texts of songs, to better understand the words that I listen during dancing.  Therefore, many people say that my style is characterized by its expressiveness.  I focus more on arouse emotions and communicate with the public than technical performances.

4. Could you tell about the relationship between Raqs Sharqi and your background?

I am a Jewish.  I was born in France and I have French nationality, but my parents and grandparents are from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Poland, and France.  I have an explosive mix and a rich cultural heritage!
I think that I was sensitive to the Arabic music due to my Arabic origins.  I immediately felt in love with Arabic music and naturally with Raqs Sharqi.  I am in love with the Middle Eastern music and I am sure that it helped my dancing a lot.

5. Could you give some advices or comments for Raqs Sharqi dancers?

Never stop to learning, working hard, and never be an arrogant as if you know everything!  Moreover, you should recognize that Raqs Sharqi is beyond the glitter.  Dancer is a difficult job because it is demanding and it does not have many possibilities for the private life, which is limited on time.  We must never give up and recognize that Raqs Sharqi is an entertainment. The audiences are not only sincere friends.  Therefore, we must know how to preserve and maintain the values of Raqs Sharqi in order not to lose ourselves.

6. Who is your ideal dancer? Why do you like the dancer?

I am a huge fan of the Egyptian dancer Dina.  I have seen her many times on a stages, but it is always a unique moment of happiness when I see her.  I am also appreciative of the dancer Randa Kamel. she is a my ideal dancer of precision and work.  Dina and Randa captivated me from the first to the last second with their dances.
They are very charismatic and they communicate a lot with the audience.

7. What is your future plan with Raqs Sharqi?

I have many plans and dreams, fortunately! I work a lot, my nights are too short, and I do not have much time for me, but my life is exciting, and I would not trade my place for anything.

8. How and/or with whom do you train?

I teach dance classes all week.  I spent my weekends for workshops and performances from all over the world. The rest of time, I train by myself, taking private classes with my masters, preparing my classes, and my choreographies for my students.  Moreover, I immersed myself in Middle Eastern music.  Even brushing hair or talking on the phone, I sketch the dance steps, I practice shimmies, and I think about combinations.  Dancing is my life.  There is no rest, because dance is everywhere!  Raqs Sharqi is my passion. I wish that I will feel the passion until the end.

If you have some comments to subscribers who love Raqs Sharqi on the blog, Could you write it?

We need websites like “Raqs Sharqi – The joy of dance” to learn about people and develop a community of dance lovers from all over the world. Never stop to share your passion!  We have a same dream. Share the passion on Raqs Sharqi –The Joy of Dance-!

Yaël Zarca Official Home Page

Lee Alisha is a vice president of the Goddess Bellydance Association and The World Bellydance Convention in Korea!

It will be the first Bellydance Convention in Korea.

There will be workshops, seminars, competitions, shows and city tour!

The competition has many parts and the total prize will be 10.000USD (not 1.000).

Each professional part winner will get 2,000 USD with trophy.

The convention place is very near by Inchon airport, and there is a free shuttle to the convention place… it’s really nice hotel.

This year Momo Kadus, Tamalyn Dallen, Mia Shauri, Estelle Shao, Karim Nagi, Andrea will be invited. (Every year we will invite at least 5 teachers from other countries)

There is a discount with early booking!(until 30th in March 10%)
Full package is only 390USD. It is included breakfast with Hotel and 2 nights dinner, Gala show, competition show, workshops, and all seminars (exclude Hotel staying fee). On the other hand,  joining the competition fee is not included. If someone who wants to share the room, we will find the room mate for them:)

The Korea Goddess Bellydance Association has 7 under schools in other cities in Korea.

Moreover, the top gourp of this association has had first prize 5 times in the World bellydance competitions in Unitied State, Germany, and 3times in Korea!

You can enjoy performance videos of the Goddess Bellydance Company on YouTube.

Tagged: Korea, Lee Alisha, World Bellydance Convention in Korea ]]> http://bellydancershabibi.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/1845/feed/ 0 bellydancershabibi Lee Alisha http://bellydancershabibi.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/farasha/ http://bellydancershabibi.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/farasha/#comments Sat, 29 Jan 2011 05:37:49 +0000 Yuki Okamoto http://bellydancershabibi.wordpress.com/?p=1825 Continue reading →]]>

Photo by Nam

1.           Why did you become an Oriental dancer?

I have lived in NY since I was 5 years old. My mother was a pianist, and she encouraged me to study many kinds of dance forms; being in NY, it was a great opportunity to study with great teachers and go to see grand shows even I was very young. I travelled to many countries while I grew up, and my family always visited to see the local art and dance, and I was very interested in how the dancers work in each country. In my school days, I performed as a jazz dancer. My first encounter with live Oriental dance was when my friend asked me if I want to see an Oriental dance show. When I first saw live Oriental dance, I fell in love with the art instantly. The beauty of the dance, the mysterious atmosphere, and the rich music totally captured me.

2.           What is the most important thing when you perform Oriental dance?

Love for the music and dance. Respect to the event, country, people, and culture. Thankfulness to the people who supported me. If I feel like this, it is natural to prepare costumes, makeup, music, health and condition to be the best.

3.           Please describe your Oriental style.

Photo by Nam

My Oriental dance is a mixture of all the dance forms and styles that I have learned. It is like taking the influences together inside me to bloom as a flower of my own color. I love Egyptian style dance and the character of Egyptian dancers, and I love Arabic music. But since I am not an Egyptian, I would not look the same even if I copied the Egyptian dancers. I try to study the authentic Egyptian style, internalize the movement, and then express it in my style. I unite all the dance styles in which I have trained, and try to perform in a way that my small body will look more attractive and interesting on a big stage. But I always take care to study the traditional style, feeling, and historic background. I want to be a Japanese Oriental dancer who greatly respects Arabic music and Egyptian dance.

Farasha photo by Nam

4.           What is the relationship between you and Oriental dance?

For me, Oriental dance is a life style. . and “Oriental dance lifestyle”.  All the small things in my daily life are connected to Oriental Dance.  I have two children, so I wake up at 5am every morning.  I see the sun rise, and it is very healing.

When the sun rises, I appreciate the beautiful orange and think, “Did the ancestors see the same color of the sun?”

When I open the door and feel the soft morning breeze on my cheek, I think, “I want to express this soft breeze with the silk veil.”

When I touch the morning water, I think “I want to move so smoothly and effortlessly!”

When I touch the soil of the garden, I think, “If I express this warm heaviness with my hips, how will it be?”

When I cool and see fire, I think, “I wish I could shimmy so hot like this fire!”

In all the moments of daily life, it is my habit to think, “If I express this with dance, it will be like. .  .”

When I held my child, I would set her on my hip and make hip figure eights.  As a mother and as a woman, Oriental dance is very naturally connected to my daily life.  My “Oriental dance lifestyle” makes me feel strong, powerful, full of energy, and also full of love for my family.

5.           Do you have any advice for other Oriental dancers?

“Concentrate on the dance that you are working on today.”

I think it does not matter if you are professional or amateur.  If one tries to do too many things at once, one cannot progress.  It is important to have have a strong focus:  “I am working on THIS now!”  Even if the steps are very small, by taking one step forward you are progressing; be happy and confident that you are developing.  The fact that you are focusing on something wil bring you confidence and strength.

6.           What kind of dancer your ideal Oriental dancer?

A dancer that keeps on getting better, who takes a step forward everyday, even if the step is very very small.　Even if I become 80 years old, I hope I maintain the enthusiasm to study and to progress every day. The history of Oriental dance is long, and one can never learn enough. We are so lucky that we have so many things to learn!! It is so exciting everyday to discover new things!! I want to keep my eyes and heart open and feel the joy of dancing the world’s most ancient dance form.

7.           What are you future plans as an Oriental dancer?

I want to study and perform Oriental dance in many places in the world and communicate with many dancers and musicians. I want to study more and more about the history and culture of Oriental dance. I hope I can introduce this beautiful dance to many Japanese people, and I wish it would be a dance that Japanese women can enjoy in their daily life.

Farasha Official Home Page

Farasha photo by Naho Baba

Huleya Hiromi is one of the most popular oriental dancers in Japan.

She is studying under Lulu Sabongi and Dr. Gamal Seif.

You can enjoy Raqs Sharqi dancers’ performances from all over the world on RaqsSharqiDance YouTube Channel!

Check the site!!!

Photo by Bill Lewis

Canadian Raqs Sharqi Artist and Master Teacher Hadia named Raqs Sharqi –The Joy of Dance-.  Hadia advised how naming is important for our SNS community. I greatly appreciated Hadia’s advices and respect Hadia as an Artist. For the begging of 2011 Raqs Sharqi –The Joy of Dance-, Hadia answered my interview request.  This is Hadia’s story with Raqs Sharqi.

Photo by Serge Vaillancourt

1. Why did you start Raqs Sharqi?

I call it the best “accident” of my entire life. I had never even heard of “belly dance” (this was in the 70s) when I received a call from a family friend who invited me to join her at her class. Although I was devoted to my jazz and contemporary dance, I was basically in love with DANCE and a bit intrigued, so although I no idea what to expect, I decided to try it. And here we are today, doing this interview…

2. What is the most important thing to do when we dance in public?

Without a doubt, LOVE YOUR AUDIENCE – they will understand immediately on a visceral level, love you back and make the magic of sharing such an ethereal moment unforgettable.

3. Could you tell about your Raqs Sharqi style?

Photo by Serge Vaillancourt

It is definitely Egyptian Oriental – with a bit of a tendancy towards the older styles of Mona al Said, Fifi Abdou, Naima Akef, but I do love Dina and Randa too. However, I am very well versed in many forms of Middle Eastern folklore and rip up the floor with Turkish Roma dance. I really do believe that the more that one studies and commands any dance form, the more you understand about their relationships and differences. This is why I have had a long and dynamic career that includes many years devoted to flamenco, African, Polynesian, Indian, Brazilian, Salsa etc.

4. Could you tell about the relationship between Raqs Sharqi and your background?

Well, I would have to say that there is none. I am Canadian of French and British descent, born in Saskatchewan (most of you will have no idea where that is) and I had no exposure to any other cultures until moving to Vancouver to go to University. However, dance and music both transcend all national and cultural boundaries, so what more is there to say.

5. Could you give some advices or comments for Raqs Sharqi dancers?

Photo by Lenny Goldman

Oooooooh, this is a tricky one these days.
I am an undying idealist and fortunately I had the luxury of being able to simply BE that idealist and to follow my heart, my inspiration, my teachers and my career wherever they took me, which was all over the world and full of all kinds of fabulous experiences – JUST because I loved the dance so much, never tired of learning, teaching or performing it.
The practical, business side of my life took care of itself because I was truly on my life path. I would love to tell my many students all over the world to maintain their artistic and personal integrity, never stop exploring from the inside out to discover who you are as a dancer, as that WILL make you truly unique,
However, it is a different world now, one in which the market place rules, not the art form. So many are so hungry that they can not find who they are, because they are trying to become someone else who they understand to be successful.
I urge them to continue their journey and their exploration to really understand who they are and what they have to share through dance, because then they will touch so many lives in important ways, they will enrich their own lives and they will be honouring the art form at the same time.

6. Who is your ideal dancer?

Well, she would have to be some very unique combination of Mona al Said (for elegance), Fifi Abdou (for her in your face, straight from the hip baladi) and Dina for her mastery of refined technique and depth of soul).
Why do you like the dancer? I think that I answered that in the first question, but how about a combination of strength, elegance, sensuality, emotional maturity, command and just plain old non-stop FUN!! This is what oriental dance should be about.

7. What is your future plan with Raqs Sharqi?

Photo by Serge Vaillancourt

Although I have shifted back into my second career as a massage and manual therapist for the past couple of years again, I am currently working on a new on-line DVD project that will allow me to continue to teach my students all over the world without having to spend so much time on airplanes and away from home. This new project is really interesting as well, because it is really a synthesis of oriental dance technique/training and therapy through movement. For those who study with me, they know that they can dance with me for hours, entire weekends, even weeks without ever experiencing any pain, strain or fatigue. This is because I apply the principals and body mechanics directly from my experience as a therapist and instructor of advanced manual therapy workshops. Many people come up with the latest, greatest thing with all of the documentation to support it, but at the end of the day, how your body reacts to it and feels while and after doing it is really what speaks louder than anything else. I am sure that people will also love the option to study this system at home, whenever they want.

8.You are good at creating choreography to dancer on a huge stage. What is the most important thing to create choreography?

Without a question, the music is the most important thing that should create the choreography through ones body. This requires a long, slow and gentle but deep understanding of the music, the instruments, the rhythms, the nuances and the lyrics.
It is also extremely important for any dancer to have full command of HER instrument (which is her body), particularly the delicate and highly refined movements to that she can literally incorporate the intricacies of the oriental instruments.
I highly recommend that a dancer should embrace every opportunity to work with skilled musicians and orchestras as this will teach her so much in so many ways. It is also really important to choose music that moves your heart.
Finally to really create a complete picture through choreography, one should not only be able to follow the details, accents, dynamics, movements and changes in the music, but also to understand and grasp the entirety of the piece, to physically present the unity, repetitions with variations and recurring themes within.

9. How and/or with whom do you train?

I could give you a list as long as both arms and legs of who I have trained with, as well as the stories of what I went through just to be able to train with these people in an age where dance classes in the Middle East did not exist. However, I will have to say that the most influential people who I trained with are Badawia, Ahmad Jarjour, Ibrahim Farrah, Ibrahim Akef, Mona al Said, Faridah Fahmy, Fifi Abdou and Dina. After 40 years of a career primarily focused on dance, I prefer to study a select few dancers via their performance videos, as I am able to understand what they are doing and how they do it thanks to my other career as a massage therapist. This is where they truly shine, and this is what I want to learn from them. The exceptions might be Mona al Said – just to be there for a weekend with her is an amazing infusion of her exquisiteness (with no particular plan) and Dina. However, I prefer Dina’s workshops in America, as the numbers are limited. Also, when she sees a high skill level in the class, she will outdo herself and push to bring the students up to her level. She is truly a dancer’s dancer with an intimately refined command of her technique and a depth of soul and expression that for far beyond her “costume choices”.

You can enjoy more Hadia’s performance videos on RaqsSharqiDance YouTube Channel!!! Check the site!!!

Loulou Alfouad is a Raqs Sharqi Artist from France. She talks about her life with Raqs Sharqi.

1. Why did you start Raqs Sharqi?

 I had many kinds of dances before I met Raqs Sharqi, but I got in love with this discipline when I tried Raqs Sharqi at first time.

2. What is the most important thing to do when we dance in public?

 The most important thing is that you have the contact with your audiences, bring your audiences happiness of dancing, and translate music with your body movements.

3. Could you tell about your Raqs Sharqi style?

In my point of view, everyone has different dance style to translate music.

 4. Could you tell about the relationship between Raqs Sharqi and your background?

I love dancing, and I have a dancer’s sprit. I studied the world folklore.  Therefore, it was very important to catch the Egyptian folklore style because there are basic techniques to work out.

5. Could you give some advices or comments for Raqs Sharqi dancers?

You do not imitate other dancers, and you should find own style to express your personality.  Moreover, you should respect Raqs Sharqi’s discipline. If you work hard, you are going to be a good dancer.

6. Who is your ideal dancer?  Why do you like the dancer?

I like many dancers, because every dancer has own charm.

If I have to choose one dancer, my favorite dancer is Naima Akef. This is Naima Akef’s performance video.

 7.You are good at creating choreography to dancer on a huge stage. What is the most important thing to create choreography?

Loving the music and living with music!

Learn about the ancient art of belly dance from teacher and performer Suhaila Salimpour and one of her star pupils, comedienne Margaret Cho. Original air date: May 2008.

Orientally, the Dance Collection, Vol.1

 Lolie Official Home Page

1. Why did you start Raqs Sharqi?

I began to learn dancing when I was 5 years old, and I joined in an oriental dancing class when I was 17 years old after I came back from North Africa. It was first time for me to listen to oriental music when I was in Tunisia. I could listen to Fairuz or Abdel Halim Hafez when I walked through the shop street. I really fell in love with Fairuz. Arabic music attracts me everytime, and it was a trigger that I was interested in oriental culture and Raqs Sharqi.

 2. What is the most important thing to do when we dance in public?

Photo by Andre Elbing

There are two important things.

Where do you perform? Do you perform at a restaurant, in a cabaret, or on a stage? A professional dancer should not perform on a stage as if you were the center of the attraction. You have to care about the relationship between you and the audience when you dance in public. Of course, you can communicate with the audience because you are supposed to give them the emotion, dreams, and other feelings.

Moreover, I consider about the settings. When you are on stage in a theater, you need to think about staging, the spaces, lights, entries, and exits.

 3. Could you tell about your Raqs Sharqi style?

My style is synonymous with elegance and creativity. The Arabic music is generally very rich. Therefore, I try to master impeccable techniques to show the rhythm and story of the music with Raqs Sharqi.

 4. Could you tell about the relationship between Raqs Sharqi and your background?

I studied rhythmic dance at first, when I was a child. Then I had been studying playing the violin in conservatory for 8 years. This background brought a certain rigor in my works and the research of musicality in my dancing. Later, I studied in graduate school of arts. Therefore, I can show a pictorial approach in Raqs Sharqi. When I create choreography, I need to visualize it as a canvas.

5. Could you give some advices or comments for Raqs Sharqi dancers?

Work out! Work out! Work out!

Stay humble!

Humility is a quality and it is necessary for many dancers who dream more shine on stage rather than produce an artistic work.

6. Who is your ideal dancer? Why do you like the dancer?

I admire many different artists, as they are sincere and devoted to dance. I have a deep admiration for Yousry Sharif as a choreographer because I have never had the opportunity to see him on stage. Yousry Sharif manages to combine modernity and a real Egyptian soul in his creative work.

7. What is your future plan with Raqs Sharqi?

Photo by Andre Elbing

I want to be an artist who transmits the pure essence of Raqs Sharqi as a teacher and as a dancer. I think Raqs Sharqi must be seen as an ART in itself. I do not practice my profession in Egypt today as if many dancers start to learn Raqs Sharqi in your own country. Therefore, my goal is to put the Raqs Sharqi on stage through performances, and show the value of ART. I have already created a show that is titled “Hourriya”, which is evolving over the performances that take place in Paris when I lived in. In this regard, the next performance of “Hourriya” is going to be on show in April 2, 2011 in Paris. Another project is producing new CD. The first one, “Orientally, the Dance Collection, Vol.1″ has been composed by the great Mohamed Ali and contains 12 exclusive music with very high quality. This project is very important for me because any beautiful dances could not exist without music that has a high value.

8. What is the most important thing to create choreography?

The recipe for a good choreography is: “Do not go to easiness, seek to surprising the audience, not with something spectacular, but with subtlety and musicality, take the space, let the dance breathe, because it is not necessary for the audience to remark too much of technique: the technique should serve the dance, not the contrary.” We all share the same love and the same passion for Raqs Sharqi. Let’s do our best for the ART of Raqs Sharqi to keep on growing up without losing the soul. 

Lolie said “Raqs Sharqi –The Joy of Dance- offers a wonderful opportunity for sharing our different points of view and make as the things keep on evolving more and more.”