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 wou

If I lived on the east coast, I'd give my left ovary to study with Yasmin.
About Yasmin

I'm confused. How can you study with someone you don't live near? I fit your list of qualifications, but I live in Boston--that's hours from Baltimore.

I don't know if this qualifys, but I am traveling to meet my new coach who is three hours drive one way away. We set up, three hour private lesson, communicate via email. I don't see why that couldn't be done for a mentor.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

If I lived on the east coast, I'd give my left ovary to study with Yasmin.
About Yasmin

left ovary, that is so funny

i just looked at her youtube clip. now i get it. i need to study with her.

Originally Posted by rakgirl

i just looked at her youtube clip. now i get it. i need to study with her.

You guys don't know the half of it. She truly kicks a$$. She tells it like it is AND tells you what you need to to fix whatever you're doing wrong. She doesn't take excuses and is VERY thorough. She and Artemis Mourat together have taught more professional dancers in the area than anyone else. OK. Sorry. I'll stop raving.
Natyempress, I can't figure out how you live in this area and don't know about them.

This is so bizarre...I made two posts here today on my Blackberry and now they are not showing up....

Mystery solved! Natyempress posted this in two forums and I responded to her other one!!! I thought I was going crazy there for a minute!!!

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...ng-mentor.html

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

You guys don't know the half of it. She truly kicks a$$. She tells it like it is AND tells you what you need to to fix whatever you're doing wrong. She doesn't take excuses and is VERY thorough. She and Artemis Mourat together have taught more professional dancers in the area than anyone else. OK. Sorry. I'll stop raving.
Natyempress, I can't figure out how you live in this area and don't know about them.

I knew Lucy and Miasia trained with Yasmin, and Samira Shuruk. 'Nuf said, though I'm sure there are lots more I don't know about.

I've asked myself whether I should try to set up a block of privates and fly to DC, I think it would be better for my dancing than 10 ordinary workshops. But I figure there's not much point til I've buckled down and fixed the things I *know* I need to be working on right now...

thnx ladies so much for the advice,

Yes i am actually very aware of the wonderful teachers of d.c. I have taken classes with yasmin who an excellent teacher. Oh the reason i said it doesnt matter if they are far was becuase i planned to travel doing privates maybe weeks at a time in bulk. So for example if you had to choose a few teachers to study under on the east coast who would it be and why?

OH Gosh I LOVE Yasmin! She's a very kind lady who really knows her stuff! And beautiful!!!
How far up and down the east coast do you want to travel?

Morocco, Yasmin, our own Lucy (blushes). These ladies just ooze great dance style, techniqality and emotion.

im willing to go as far south as miami, or as north as newyork

Originally Posted by natyempress

im willing to go as far south as miami, or as north as newyork

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.

just some more diversity.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

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.

Originally Posted by natyempress

just some more diversity.

We've got classic Egyptian, folkloric Egyptian, Turkish Oriental, Turkish Romani, Persian dance, Am-cab, Egyptian-Lebanese Lotus style and more.
Are you looking for more modern Cairo style teachers? I'm not sure what you mean by diversity.

Sometimes you have to go far afield to find the teacher who "fits." I traveled to NYC for many years to study with Ibrahim Farrah, because there were no teachers in the Baltimore-Washington area teaching what I needed. I hope you find what you're looking for, Natyempress! :-)

thnx ;)

Im very excited to study under such fabolous women!

Originally Posted by bintbeled

Sometimes you have to go far afield to find the teacher who "fits." I traveled to NYC for many years to study with Ibrahim Farrah, because there were no teachers in the Baltimore-Washington area teaching what I needed. I hope you find what you're looking for, Natyempress! :-)