Thread: Choosing A mentor

Okay here Goes,

I have been dancing on and off four about 4 years now, with a really incredible teacher who is a amazing technically, stage dynamics the whole nine. due to her schedule/ and mine its kind of hard to continue regular on going privates. I am located on the east coast in baltimore, maryland. right now i feel a little lost as a dancer, i know that i have talent and potential i just need some guidence. In the baltimore there are not that many teachers or professional dancers at the level im looking for. I thought about joing a troupe but reallly can not due to my schedule. So basically what im looking for a Is a proffesional dancer/teacher who has had at least 10 years of middle eastern expiernce/ historical knowledge, stage presence. I want to learn everythign i can. When i was modern dancer, i had a mentor who basically worked me on every aspect of my dance career, im kind of looking for that in this art form. Any where on the east coast is fine, and suggestions. My goal is to go become a proffesional dancer I'd like to make a career, And i really like theatre style dancing as well. Just to get an idea of my taste : I am a big fan of Saida of argentina Randa Kamel, Orit Maftsir, Amani of lebanon. If you have any suggestions at all. oh and anywhere on the east coast is fine with me. Im looking for a more 1 on 1 mentor meaning. although i do plan to take many workshops. Im looking for more liek i guess what an academic advsior would do. Who could really guide me, i guess an understudy would be the right word ? anyway, if any one has any suggestions or expiernces with tis, i would greatly appreciate it.

What about taking with Latifa in Millersville? I live in Baltimore County and it only takes me about 35-40 minutes to get there from my house. Each week, I have a private lesson in addition to 3 hours of group instruction. Latifa is a wonderful teacher and I have grown a tremendous amount as a dancer since I started taking classes with her. She has an excellent knack for helping a dancer identify and overcome her weaknesses and she always provides honest feedback, which is so important! She tells me what I am doing right as well as what needs improvement and then helps me work on the areas that need improvement. She has really helped me embrace my own style and even when she is teaching me new or different ways of doing things, she does not try to make me a Latifa clone. She truly respects and encourages her students' individuality.

But, in addition to being a great teacher, she is a great mentor. When I have questions about anything dance related, she always gives me an honest answer and never makes me feel stupid for asking.

In our private lessons, we focus on a lot of different things, including specific moves, combinations, how to use the same move in a restaurant versus a stage, how to use moves in limited space...the list goes on and on!

So, in a nutshell, I highly, highly recommend Latifa!!!

I wanted to add that I am not discounting what I have learned from other teachers as well. I have taken classes and workshops and learned so many things from other teachers - I will always be grateful for all their time and instruction! You all know who you are!! But Latifa is the one who truly became my dance Mom and for that, I am incredibly grateful.

Originally Posted by natyempress

... In the baltimore there are not that many teachers or professional dancers at the level im looking for. ... So basically what im looking for a Is a proffesional dancer/teacher who has had at least 10 years of middle eastern expiernce/ historical knowledge, stage presence. I want to learn everythign i can.

If you broaden your search down to the DC area natyempress you'll have a huge variety to choose from. Maybe you haven't checked out your own backyard.
Remember teaching is a different skill set from dancing. There are some wonderful teachers who of course have the basics but may not shine the most when performing. And of course there are amazing performers who are not the strongest teachers.
Anyway- Who were you taking with, was it Lotus? She is a wonderful teacher and amazing performer.
First- I totally see what Latifa has done for Damiena's dance. I've never taken from her, but based on the strides Damiena has taken through Latifa's guidance and her own hard work, I'd say Latifa is a strong suggestion and worth checking out.
Hey, Latifa- BTW- do you take drop ins?

Artemis Mourat over 30 years professional ME dance experience, dance historian and warm fuzzy teacher extraordinaire.
Yasmin, also over 30 years experience. She worked "over there" for over a decade- with Shoo Shoo Amin, Mona Said and more. Her band was the Henkish brothers band- she's been producing music for them. Artie and Yasmin together have brought more dancers to the professional level than any others in the area. Their website is www.serpentine.org They have over 60 years combined experience. That's pretty awe inspiring.
They're both my mentors. Artie is warm and encouraging. She taught me SO much about the profession. Yasmin kicks my butt on a regular basis. They're both honest - that's what you need if you want to go pro. Artie teaches in Bethesda and Silver Spring. Yasmin in Friendship Heights. Artie is closer, so not a long drive. Yasmin is a 50 minute drive for me and worth every second.
Faten Salama also has long term experience. She's down in DC/VA.
So, you want to go pro? Have you been doing the hafla circuit yet? ..g.:

Thnx ladies,

They are wonderful, but i was looking for people more outside the baltimore D.C area, any recommendations?

You have Lotus Niraja! Seriously, she's awesome.

Originally Posted by natyempress

Thnx ladies,

They are wonderful, but i was looking for people more outside the baltimore D.C area, any recommendations?

I'm curious to know why you live in the Baltimore area but are looking only outside this region and wonder if you have tried all the instructors mentioned.
I'm posting this on the other thread as well.

Oh, and I forgot to ask- what venues have you gone to see dancers in this area? Just in Baltimore?
It sounds as if the dancer you may have been taking from in B-more is Lotus- she IS fabulous.
There are others truly capable of being wonderful "dance mommies" as well.

I can't hlep but echo the respect for our local resources, Artemis, Yasmin, Latifa and Lotus all hold my respect and have shown that they can guide students with ability to great levels. Hell, even I fit your basic description (I am a professional dancer/teacher who has had 11+ years of middle eastern dance experience/ historical knowledge and stage presence), I could certainly help you go pro and I live in Balmer. Admittedly I've stepped back from full activity in the dance scene right now, so it's cool with me that I'm not at the top of anybody's list (hard to be when compared to ladies with 20 years of experience up on me :-).

If you want to work as a pro dancer in the local area, it's not a bad idea to study with a local teacher who can put you in touch with the local resources and local work.

But if you don't think any of the local teachers are what you want for whatever reason, I can respect that. Maybe you should consider specifically what it is you are lookng for. There are a lot of great dance instructors in New York: Samara, Azmara, Dalia Carella and and Nourhan Sharif spring immediately to mind. Even some of the younger generation of dancer could probably help you reach your goals, I really like Mariyah and I know she teaches. Further north you have Hadia in Canada. Going south you have Tamalyn Dallal, Cassandra Shore and Bozenka are highly respected as well. I'm sure there are others out there, but these were just the first people that popped into my head.

Hows that for a short list.

But if you want to dance like Saida, Orit, Amani and Randa, you should seek out opportunities to study with the originals. Good luck.

Originally Posted by amity

You have Lotus Niraja! Seriously, she's awesome.

she is awesome !!!!!!!

Thanks shems,

I actually started narrowing down my list 2 teachers, i'd like to work with on a regular basis. Thank you very much 1 of them was on your list :). i do plan to go to doing some global traveling in 2009 after i graduate form college to study with some dancer abroad . :)

Thank you very much ;)

Originally Posted by amity

You have Lotus Niraja! Seriously, she's awesome.

Originally Posted by shems

I can't hlep but echo the respect for our local resources, Artemis, Yasmin, Latifa and Lotus all hold my respect and have shown that they can guide students with ability to great levels. Hell, even I fit your basic description (I am a professional dancer/teacher who has had 11+ years of middle eastern dance experience/ historical knowledge and stage presence), I could certainly help you go pro and I live in Balmer. Admittedly I've stepped back from full activity in the dance scene right now, so it's cool with me that I'm not at the top of anybody's list (hard to be when compared to ladies with 20 years of experience up on me :-).

If you want to work as a pro dancer in the local area, it's not a bad idea to study with a local teacher who can put you in touch with the local resources and local work.

But if you don't think any of the local teachers are what you want for whatever reason, I can respect that. Maybe you should consider specifically what it is you are lookng for. There are a lot of great dance instructors in New York: Samara, Azmara, Dalia Carella and and Nourhan Sharif spring immediately to mind. Even some of the younger generation of dancer could probably help you reach your goals, I really like Mariyah and I know she teaches. Further north you have Hadia in Canada. Going south you have Tamalyn Dallal, Cassandra Shore and Bozenka are highly respected as well. I'm sure there are others out there, but these were just the first people that popped into my head.

Hows that for a short list.



But if you want to dance like Saida, Orit, Amani and Randa, you should seek out opportunities to study with the originals. Good luck.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Oh, and I forgot to ask- what venues have you gone to see dancers in this area? Just in Baltimore?
It sounds as if the dancer you may have been taking from in B-more is Lotus- she IS fabulous.
There are others truly capable of being wonderful "dance mommies" as well.

I have seen So many wonderful dancer from baltimore, and d.c area. probably more in the d.c area than baltimore.

And lotus is Absolutely fabulous, love watching her i'm inspired every time.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Oh, and I forgot to ask- what venues have you gone to see dancers in this area? Just in Baltimore?
It sounds as if the dancer you may have been taking from in B-more is Lotus- she IS fabulous.
There are others truly capable of being wonderful "dance mommies" as well.

I have seen So many wonderful dancer from baltimore, and d.c area. probably more in the d.c area than baltimore.

And lotus is Absolutely fabulous, love watching her i'm inspired every time.

So I'm curious now, who are they?

Originally Posted by natyempress

Thanks shems,

I actually started narrowing down my list 2 teachers, i'd like to work with on a regular basis. Thank you very much 1 of them was on your list :). i do plan to go to doing some global traveling in 2009 after i graduate form college to study with some dancer abroad . :)

Thank you very much ;)

This is something that I've been wondering about too. I would love this type of relationship with a teacher locally, my only problem is how to go about initiating it. I'm kinda shy when it comes to teachers I love and respect, can anyone suggest a way to approach someone with this in mind??? Any thoughts or suggestions would be really appreciated. Thanks Natyempress for this thread!!!

kashmir -

I think, to a certian extent it simply happens. I know for me that was the case. And I of course simply had to choose a mentor who is a globe trotter. *shrugs*

Part of it is finding a teacher you want to dance like. You know what I mean. then to start taking classes with her. Make sure that how she teaches resonates with you. Take privates as well. Open up and communicate with her so that they know where you feel you need to improve as well as asking them what they see, where you need to improve. You should see your dancing improve, or at least change, when you do these things.

here in LA we are spoiled for choice. But ont he advanced level you really only have a few. the nice thing is that if you have one area which you would like to improve on, you can almost do an ala carte menu. fahteim for arms, Mesmera for zills, ZZ for Egyptian technique, T-H for Egyptian folkloric, SS goey Egyptian ;-), and on we go.

I know that my dancing does improve vastly when I am taking a combo of classes but my main classes are with Sahra.

{{{HUGS}}}

Kashmir, I haven't done this in dance, exactly, but when I was starting a magazine, I used to call up people I admired in business and say "I'd like to pick your brain. Can I take you to lunch?" I came to lunch with specific questions and topics, but I always let the conversation drift, too, and learned so much!

The price of a lunch was way cheaper than the price of a seminar, and the information I gained was much more valuable and personalized. I found people were flattered to be asked, and a couple of those lunches could have easily led into a mentor-type relationship.