Dancers who aren't from a cookie cutter

[Jungleflowers]

Maybe I'm watching too much YouTube lately, but sometimes I get tired of seeing interchangeable dancers. You know what I'm talking about- Dancer #1 dances like Dancer #2, who uses the same combos as #3, who copied her teacher's (Dancer #4's) style.

,s::

I'm getting to really dig the dancers who have indivdualities that no one else does- something that no one else does the same way.

So let's start out with my favorite goddess-in-human-form, Ranya Renee, dancing baladi. Uniqueness: RELAXATION. How does she managed to look so darn relaxed? No one does baladi like Ranya does Baladi!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7YG7i2WmK4"]YouTube - Bellydancer Ranya Renee of NYC: Raks Beledi "Tahtil Shibbak[/ame]

On to the next: Karen Barbee. I was researching her in preparation for possibly taking a workshop when she comes to town. Uniqueness: ARMS/HANDS. Watch the video through and notice her interesting sharp movements.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F87GefZiOrQ"]YouTube - Karen Barbee Solo[/ame]

And finally, Nebaweya Moustafa. Uniqueness: HIPWORK. Holy smokes! Watch her hip scarf. The ties fly so far up in the air they nearly hit her in the head. Do you know what kind of power and snap you have to have to do that?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urbxB81X1Eg"]YouTube - Belly dance by Nabaweya Moustafa in film "talaak Soad Hanem"[/ame]

Anybody else got some unique favorites?

[aziyade]

Elena Lentini!!

But she's really something that needs to be seen live to be believed.

[shenudance]

MMMMmmmmLove that Nabaweya! I watch her on Hossam's Ramzey's series. You're right. Those hips are amazing!

Karen Barbie is unique. Other than hands and arms,she dominates torso work.

As for Ranya, I'm still "researching". Enjoying that.

[yameyameyame]

YouTube - Belly dance by Nabaweya Moustafa in film "talaak Soad Hanem"

Wooowww!!!

Thanks for sharing this!

[BELLA_BELLA]

Izzy - there's always a story when she dances, and such expression in her movements. Also she's not afraid to have actual facial expressions!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTzOrjA3i5Y&feature=related]YouTube - Isidora Bushkovski - Habibbi Ya Eini[/ame]

[Jungleflowers]

Izzy - there's always a story when she dances, and such expression in her movements. Also she's not afraid to have actual facial expressions!

Such liveliness in her face! Love it!

[Jungleflowers]

Wooowww!!!

Thanks for sharing this!

I just ordered a 30 minute DVD of Moustafa from SausanAcademy.com. I can't wait to see more!

[raqFariha]

"in order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different" -Coco Channel
^_^

[Elianae]

Thanks for posting this!

I ADORE Karen Barbee. I learned more from her in a three-hour workshop than I have taking weeks of other instructors classes. She's awesome!

[IrishLily]

I wholeheartedly second Ranya Renee and Isidora Bushkovski!!! Both are incredible dancers and wonderful inspirations for me. I have some of Ranya's dvds and canNOT wait until Ms Izzy's Boot Camp dvd is out!!!

[dancerose]

Is Isadora still working on that? Unless she has updated her website lately, her bootcamp dvd has been in the works for a looong time...

[shems]

Strangely enough, right now I can't even think of a dancer from a cookie cutter. Perhaps it is because all the dancers I love and seek out have something very unique to offer. I was thinking to start naming some names, but I feel like I'd be naming nearly every great dancer I've ever seen. A favorite today...Nadia Gamal.

[IrishLily]

Is Isadora still working on that? Unless she has updated her website lately, her bootcamp dvd has been in the works for a looong time...

You're right, it has been in the works for a very long time (I hadn't realized just how long)...wonder I can get an update....ok, have just sent off an email requesting some info, so we'll see.

[tamrahennatx]

Strangely enough, right now I can't even think of a dancer from a cookie cutter. Perhaps it is because all the dancers I love and seek out have something very unique to offer. I was thinking to start naming some names, but I feel like I'd be naming nearly every great dancer I've ever seen. A favorite today...Nadia Gamal.

Hear, hear! :)

[SpicyThai]

I took a workshop with Karen Barbee and agree that she's very unique. While her dance style isn't something I personally want to perform, her drills and exercises really opened my mind to her method of muscle accessing. She trains some really out-there layers that are extremely challenging!

[ShirazRaqs]

Caleena Janay of Virginia! Can't post a video at the moment- but she's a favoriate of mine. :)

[Nouria]

I really enjoyed Karen Barbee whom I hadn't seen yet. Edgy and cool and great charisma! Nebawiyya Mustapha I had seen recently, I mean the clip and she's amazing, too.

It's very difficult though to make one category like this. You can call it: dancers who are special to me - but every dancer that is posted in this forum is definitely special, at least to the OP, so why discriminate?

[Jungleflowers]

It's very difficult though to make one category like this. You can call it: dancers who are special to me - but every dancer that is posted in this forum is definitely special, at least to the OP, so why discriminate?

True. Not trying to discriminate here, just looking for what people consider a little different or standing out in some way. In a good way! :)

[BELLA_BELLA]

When I think about fusion "that works" and is still 'bellydance', it's a dancer whose personal style incorporates bits of this and that - that work b/c the moves are part of their own movement vocabulary. It's not a style - it's THIS dancer, doing THIS thing to interpret the music.