Thread: NEW CLUB: The Belly Dance Dinosaurs

As a spin-off to Zorba's thread, I would like to create a Bhuz club - The Belly Dance Dinosaurs. I believe these people are the repositories of knowledge that should be carried forward to the next generations. I would like to organize it somehow to make it useful for all those seeking knowledge about belly dance - no matter what the style - before we become extinct...

Here are the requirements:
1. Have been dancing/teaching some form of Middle Eastern dance for 20 years
2. Have performed professionally for at least 10 of those years

I will be celebrating my 40th year in the business this May. Artemis is right up there with me. Who else? I believe we have a lot to offer, particularly with all the fusion going on, it is becoming harder and harder to see live performances of the old stuff, the roots. Who else is an example - of Turkish, Egyptian, Vintage Orientale, AmCab, Lebanese?

You might also be considered "Fossil Raks"

I'm a youngin compared to you guys but eager to see what you all have to share and offer. I'd also like to see a seasoned ATS veteran on here as well.

Originally Posted by BELLA_BELLA

You might also be considered "Fossil Raks"

I LOVE it! Really, I can't stop giggling. Good name.

I would love to have an ATS Fossil, if there is one.

I am 17 years dancing and over 10 years.. flamin eck, does that make me a dinosaur???

I am not sure I like the 'dinosaur' bit..it implies exstiction!!

Originally Posted by caroline_afifi

I am 17 years dancing and over 10 years.. flamin eck, does that make me a dinosaur???

I am not sure I like the 'dinosaur' bit..it implies exstiction!!

Yea, after the other thread, I was feeling a bit fossilized
Got another name you'd like to use?

I'm interested in knowing who are the "crones" (as Artemis likes to put it), the wise women, on this list who have been there, done that and seen it all.

My 30 pound fringe belt, net cape with paillets and I would like to apply for Fossil Raks membership please

I've been dancing and performing for 35 years. I've been teaching for the past 3 years.

The "professional" scene around here is mostly performing at festivals, sometimes restaurants. We don't have much of a Middle Eastern population, but I've performed a lot over the years, just not in nightclubs very often.

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

My 30 pound fringe belt, net cape with paillets and I would like to apply for Fossil Raks membership please

How do I love thee ...

I've been dancing and performing for 35 years...

That's membership right there! Wow.

Welcome ladies :

Originally Posted by Serpentine

As a spin-off to Zorba's thread, I would like to create a Bhuz club - The Belly Dance Dinosaurs. I believe these people are the repositories of knowledge that should be carried forward to the next generations. I would like to organize it somehow to make it useful for all those seeking knowledge about belly dance - no matter what the style - before we become extinct...

Here are the requirements:
1. Have been dancing/teaching some form of Middle Eastern dance for 20 years
2. Have performed professionally for at least 10 of those years

I will be celebrating my 40th year in the business this May. Artemis is right up there with me. Who else? I believe we have a lot to offer, particularly with all the fusion going on, it is becoming harder and harder to see live performances of the old stuff, the roots. Who else is an example - of Turkish, Egyptian, Vintage Orientale, AmCab, Lebanese?

Well I am almost there, but while I have performed in professional venues, I have never made my living at dancing. I didn't start until I was 43 (1993) so really, the only venues available to me were special shows and haflas. However, a big however, I am somewhat obsessive about research (before highspeed internet, and no decent library just imagine how hard that was, I purchased an entire set of Arabesque when Jennifer James Long offered them for sale on the first iteration of Bhuz. I was tired of seeing Laurel Victoria Gray in Habibi refer back to all her articles she had written for Arabesque so I just bought them all, they are still a good resource).

I have no idea who is on dancing with the stars but I can name nearly all the golden era Belly dancers and the composers. I don't know who the top musicians are in the US but I know who Rachid Taha is.

I live in a very rural area now but had started dancing when I lived in Seattle and didn't want to give it up. The MED list was my lifeline and that is how I got to know so many of all you dinosaurs and find out when there were workshops within driving distance. I keep studying and even though I will never be as good as Yasmin, I am, IMNSHO, better than most other dancers in my region.

BTW Yasmin, your videos and music were some of the first I purchased when I switched from California Tribal (Salimpour school) to Egyptian. I about wore out that first video.

Marya

Been there, done that, happy to be a fellow dinosaur... but also excited about some of the new stuff happening in the dance world.

Originally Posted by bintbeled

Been there, done that, happy to be a fellow dinosaur... but also excited about some of the new stuff happening in the dance world.

Welcome Marya and Latifa!

I don't mean to imply that I'm against new stuff. I like new stuff when it's done well. It's just that as I wrote in my Dinosaur article, I think it's important to preserve the old stuff for future reference - like original diversified DNA. Smithsonian Magazine had a great article about the potato. There are over 5000 varieties of the potato in South America where it originated, but only a few in the rest of the world. So when the Irish potato blight wiped out the few strains in Ireland, there was famine. Researchers went back to the original strains to create new resistant lines. I'm not trying to create a vaccine against bad dancing (now there's a thought) but it's good to find people who were dancing, or at least remember the dance, before Reda, Raqia Hassan, Sohaila, the BDSS and FCBD. I would like to find a way to sponsor events, shows, workshops, I don't know yet, to showcase before and after, maybe.

YouTube is a wonderful resource, of course. But I have found that video doesn't capture the essence of the slower-paced older stuff or the stage presence of performers. Mona Said is a good example. She filled a cabaret with her aura, but when I saw a video of the show on YouTube recently what I remember as magnificent looked slow, flat and boring.

I'm thinking about what would be a good way to educate our community, particularly newcomers, so the lineage of styles isn't such a mystery. As I said above, this thread is an off-shoot of Zorba's very popular thread and the issues raised there.

This is a part of belly dance lineage that many don't know about, but his influence is widespread: Ibrahim Farrah. But this clip doesn't begin to capture the strength, passion, and dynamics of his performance:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=264533776932205

This is my lineage.

I started dancing 20 years ago come February (but not continuously) and have been teaching & performing for 10 (tho there's not much of a scene up here) so I'd still put myself in the dinosaur in training category

On the other hand, I do believe passionately in knowing where this all came from. One project I need to actually start working on soon here is to trace the dance lineage here in Alaska. I learned from a local instructor who also learned BD in Alaska- and it is a distinct, very classical style and I really want to know where it came from! We need a dance version of ancestry.com! I can't even imagine the complex web that would look like, but it would be fascinating to pick through!

I have to find a way to attend this show:
http://www.bhuz.com/rest-belly-dance...save-date.html

Here's the text of the OP:

Saharan Soul: Celebrating Longevity and Diversity in Belly Dance
March 31, 2012 8:00pm
Seattle, WA

Alfredo Gormezano ~ Feiruz Aram ~ Maria Morca ~ Marion Moat ~ Mish Mish~ Sahaila ~ Zaina Hart ~ Zulaika

Commanding the stage as only seasoned performers can, 8 dancers with over 25 years of experience each will bring Middle Eastern Dance to life on March 31, 2012. From raqs sharqi to whirling dervish to khaliji and raks assaya, the diversity and artistry of belly dance will be illustrated by some of the Pacific Northwest's most influential and esteemed performers.

More details to follow.

Originally Posted by Serpentine

I would like to create a Bhuz club - The Belly Dance Dinosaurs. I believe these people are the repositories of knowledge that should be carried forward to the next generations. I would like to organize it somehow to make it useful for all those seeking knowledge about belly dance - no matter what the style - before we become extinct...

Here are the requirements:
1. Have been dancing/teaching some form of Middle Eastern dance for 20 years
2. Have performed professionally for at least 10 of those years

I will be celebrating my 40th year in the business this May. Artemis is right up there with me. Who else? I believe we have a lot to offer, particularly with all the fusion going on, it is becoming harder and harder to see live performances of the old stuff, the roots. Who else is an example - of Turkish, Egyptian, Vintage Orientale, AmCab, Lebanese?

I will celebrate my 31st year in dance in January. I started doing professional gigs about 25 years ago. I didn't ever work regularly-scheduled restaurant gigs because it wouldn't fit my personal life, but I did sometimes sub for others, and I did private party gigs. My primary source of income was a job in the corporate high-tech world - dance was supplemental.

My primary style is what I call American Classic (others would call it Vintage Oriental or AmCab), but I also do Egyptian.

Do I get to choose what kind of dinosaur to be? I want to be either a tyrannosaurus rex or a raptor!

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Do I get to choose what kind of dinosaur to be? I want to be either a tyrannosaurus rex or a raptor!

I'm a Zorbasaurus Askirticus - but that's related to computer technology. I'm not old enough dance wise for this club - but that's OK. I'm fine with learning at the feet of my Mothers!

Originally Posted by bintbeled

This is a part of belly dance lineage that many don't know about, but his influence is widespread: Ibrahim Farrah. But this clip doesn't begin to capture the strength, passion, and dynamics of his performance:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=264533776932205

This is my lineage.

Bobby Farah was a HUGE influence on the dance scene in the US, because of his magazine and that he traveled and taught so many workshops. Wasn't he one of the first teachers to actually create the workshop phenomenon?

What I found fascinating about this clip was how SLOW he was dancing, compared to the energizer bunny styles so popular today. That slower, looser, non-choreographed style was what I remember more than anything else. And yet later, didn't Bobby do a lot of choreography?

Welcome Lara and Shira. Shira, did you choose to be a meat-eating dinosaur on purpose? Who were you planning on devouring?

Dunya, that sounds like exactly the kind of show I would love to attend. I wish I didn't live so far away. Do we have someone in the group who could go and take comparative notes?

I was thinking, perhaps the best place to start making a contribution to our little belly dance world is to write either a collective article or a series of articles for Gilded Serpent about our lineages. That way it will be available for reference. Thoughts? I will organize and edit it if you want, or someone else can if you prefer. I very much want to turn this discussion into positive action.

Now just where does that compare to those who were in their past life , dancing girls in Ancient Egypt or danced in the womb?
I can only attest to 14 years and 9 teaching so can I be an apprentice dinosaur?

Originally Posted by lplmuk

I can only attest to 14 years and 9 teaching so can I be an apprentice dinosaur?

Meaning you want to learn how to become extinct?

What's your lineage, besides being one of Hathor's ladies 5000 years ago?

I'm fascinated to know everyone's lineage here. Latifa already shared. Anyone else?

My teacher before I started working in Paris was Adriana Miller from Boston. It didn't get more Vintage Orientale than that... Then I had to relearn everything to fit in overseas.

Originally Posted by Serpentine

Bobby Farah was a HUGE influence on the dance scene in the US, because of his magazine and that he traveled and taught so many workshops. Wasn't he one of the first teachers to actually create the workshop phenomenon?

What I found fascinating about this clip was how SLOW he was dancing, compared to the energizer bunny styles so popular today. That slower, looser, non-choreographed style was what I remember more than anything else. And yet later, didn't Bobby do a lot of choreography?

Paul Monty actually created the workshop phenomenon, but Bobby taught a LOT of workshops. For years I followed him all over the country.

When Bobby performed, unless he was dancing with others, he didn't do choreography. During the wonderful years when he was teaching his Teachers' Courses (weeklong workshops centering on one or more very complicated choreographies) he did indeed teach choreography, because that was the best way to transmit his theories about musicality, dynamics, etc. And a lot of dancers performed his choreographies because, as one dancer put it, "his dances make you feel beautiful."

As for dancing slowly, he always said "less is more." Some of his works had a lot of, for example, fast turns, but that would be balanced by different dynamics elsewhere in the dance. I recently taught my students an Alf Laylah choreography that was about half Bobby and half me. When I was relearning the sections of his dance, I was fascinated to realize that there was a subtle theme of containing and releasing energy that I didn't catch at all back in 1988. Thank goodness for dance growth!

Originally Posted by Serpentine

I'm fascinated to know everyone's lineage here. Latifa already shared. Anyone else?

My teacher before I started working in Paris was Adriana Miller from Boston. It didn't get more Vintage Orientale than that... Then I had to relearn everything to fit in overseas.

My lineage will sound pretty obscure to most. Except for workshops, most of my teachers have not managed to become well known outside of the West Coast. However, they were for the most part fabulous dancers that would equal anyone in the world.

I started with Delilah in Seattle, continued with Sikander Jaad who was in Pendleton at the time, then moved on to Aisha Azar (who used to be pretty active on forums, but got tired of people not believing she knew anything because she lived in Spokane WA.) I have been a student of Aisha's for over 10 years now so she has been the biggest influence on me. When I teach I use her curriculum and methodology.

Until recently, I took workshops from just about anybody who was within driving distance. But there are fewer workshops these days in Oriental or Ethnic Styles and Tribal just has become something so far removed from BD that there is no reason for me to take a workshop in that kind of dance. With costs escalating so much I can't afford to travel very far anymore so I spend my scarce resources on private lessons with Aisha Azar.

I am very grateful for the internet and forums, otherwise I wouldn't get to share my love and passion for Belly Dance.

Marya

Me, 30 years dancing, 20 years dancing professionally in the clubs. My style? That's a toughie, it's a blend of Turkish, Egyptian, Lebanese, AmCab. I like the term Classic, or traditional bellydancing.

Lineage? My first teacher was Fatina who taught American Caberet style. I know she was a big fan of Bobbie Farah but I don't really know how much she actually learned from him.
But from her I learned zills, basic dance moves, veil, turkish drop and floor work.

I spent 3 years with her. I then studied for 10 years with Syrian born, Princess Madiha where I learned what she referred to as "arabic style" belly dance. With her I learned that the "body is a part of the orchestra expressing the music".

Hmm. Tried to edit last post and it wouldn't let me. Anyway I forgot to add that in addition to working in the Greek and Arabic clubs, I toured for 3 years with a group called "Holiday in Greece" and danced for a year as the feature belly dancer, with an Egyptian folkloric troupe.

My lineage is on my web site here: Shira's Credentials: Biography & Curriculum Vitae

Originally Posted by Wallowa

My lineage will sound pretty obscure to most. Except for workshops, most of my teachers have not managed to become well known outside of the West Coast. However, they were for the most part fabulous dancers that would equal anyone in the world. ...I started with Delilah in Seattle, continued with Sikander Jaad who was in Pendleton at the time, then moved on to Aisha Azar

Seattle is a rich area. Leila in Cairo first started with Delilah, didn't she? I've heard a great deal about her. The others I don't know of, true.

Hi Norma. I was waiting for you. I know you have a lot of experience to offer. It's fun to read where everyone comes from, dance wise.

Thanks Shira, I will go read about your history.

Posting clips would be good, if you all could. That way we have the styles back to back. For those of you in the US I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. In spite of the recession we still have so much to be grateful for.

Here's a video that is very representative of my style:
Norma, Detroit Belly Dancer, Live Belly Dance Show - YouTube

38 years and counting, including about 8 years of dancing professionally in restaurants, parties, and 38 years of dancing at dancer-oriented events, plus many travels to Egypt to study with Raqia Hassan and workshops with many of the great Egyptian dancers, both soloists and troupe members (mostly Reda troupe), and teaching zills with dance at Ahlan Wa Sahlan in Cairo for 4 seasons. Guess I'm a dinosaur, right? Raqia reminded me this summer that "you must TEACH them, the young dancers!"

Originally Posted by norma

Here's a video that is very representative of my style:
Norma, Detroit Belly Dancer, Live Belly Dance Show - YouTube

What a lovely example of Vintage Orientale, especially the Intro/mergenci in a veil with finger cymbals at full speed and the taqsim removing the veil. I remember dancing to that intro piece! What did you all call it in the US?