Leila Haddad

[dunyah]

I went with two dance buddies to the event in Seattle last weekend. Concert with Leila and the Musicians of Luxor (fabulous!), workshop with Leila the next day.

I haven't been so moved by an artist in a long, long time. The whole thing was so well done, the live music was amazing, and Leila was just fantastic.

In the workshop she began the instruction at a very high level, to gauge the level of the students present, I imagine. But she also was able to break things down when people needed it, and to give individual correction.

She is really charismatic and humorous.

She has so much to say about the dance and about Arab women, it's all just fascinating. One thing she said that I really liked (I'm paraphrasing) was that the dance is not something to impress people with. It's not meant to be like a circus, she said. "Dance is an emotion," that part is a direct quote. Simplicity in dance is good, she said. The connection with the music and with the audience are so important, not trying to do too many things at once. And precision in the movements is so important in Arabic dance.

Everything she did, every movement was just exquisite and looked deceptively simple. It's not until you try some of it that you realize it's not so easy. Like the hip lift and rib cage slide on the same side (right hip, ribs to the right). On her it looked great, but I had never even attempted this before. I've always done the ribs/hips oppositional pull thing, that's more normal and natural in my dance training, so this was something totally new to me.

And many more things. I've been thinking about her, thinking about the concert and workshop for several days now. It's been almost overwhelming at times, she had such an emotional impact on me.

Anyway, the UW and Middle East Arts International did a truly wonderful job putting all of this together. Elisa Gamal, who was our hostess, gave a really great, informative lecture before the show. (A lecture that the dumb dance critic from the NY Times needed to attend!)

Kudos to everyone involved, what a classy event!

[nasila]

woohoo! thanks for the review. can't wait until Saturday! :)

[Azhia]

Sounds wonderful, Dunyah. I can tell it made a positive impact on you. Leila Haddad is such a ray of sunshine. I really like her vibe.

[Monica]

One thing she said that I really liked (I'm paraphrasing) was that the dance is not something to impress people with. It's not meant to be like a circus, she said. "Dance is an emotion," that part is a direct quote. Simplicity in dance is good, she said.

I like and relate to that a lot. Thanks for the review!

[dancingrrrlz]

I can hardly wait until the Saturday concert in LA. Anyone else from the San Francisco area going?

[bintbeled]

Dunyah, I understand exactly how you feel about Leila. From the moment I met her, I developed a strong dance crush on her, and I still have it! I find it hard to believe that we've become friends -- after all, she's the uber-feminine goddess I want to be when I grow up!

Her show last night was just phenomenal. When the drummer started playing ayub, I was just tingling with anticipation. I've been disappointed several times recently, seeing dancers who didn't know what to do with it -- but Leila didn't disappoint me. Her zar was the best I've seen in any context.

And after that amazing show, which must have been exhausting, Leila could not have been sweeter or more generous with her time afterwards. And she whispered to me that "they" -- not sure if this is the Francophone folks who sponsored her here in DC, or the folks who sponsored her for the overall tour -- want to bring her back next year. to play the Kennedy Center. She deserves it!!

[mehndidancer]

She was fabulous when I went to see her with a friend of mine March 6th. I waited afterwards and she greeted the fans and she saw me and said you came as promised. I told her i would after she gave me a stack of flyers at raks east for the NYC show. I can watch her dance for hours.

Alrana

[SamarDahab]

I love her. But what NY times reviewer?

[dunyah]

I love her. But what NY times reviewer?

Read the "My Letter to the NY Times Thread."

Here's the link: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/rest-belly...-ny-times.html

[CFerhat]

Hi all,
I'm such a big fan of hers. Here are a couple interviews:
iShimmy.com - Dancer To Dancer - Dancer to Dancer with Leila Haddad
Unfortunately the majority of the interviews on her site are not opening for me, except for this one, from 1993:
http://www.leilahaddad.com/Publish/b...tervieweng.pdf
Christine

[elisagamal]

leila haddad is the sh*t! this was my first time meeting her and wow. I wish everybody I know could have the chance to sit with her for an hour and hear what she has to say. she is a raqs sharqi warrior! she left me so inspired. :)

she said the UW was going to have her back next year, with her om kholthom inspired choreography. I'm excited about it already - this last show was all about earthy ghawazee dance, the next one will be pure orientale. it will be cool to see the contrast and the breadth of what leila can put on stage.