Recent Blogs Posts

Belly dance took on an almost-cultic meaning to me the moment I took my first workshop (a Dalia Carella workshop was my first ever intro to the dance! And I stayed with it!). Three hours inducted me into a life of music and movement that I, as a good Southern Baptist girl, had never been allowed. My understanding of joy, sensuality, and the movement of the muse blossomed under the teaching of the magnificent community in and visiting Hawaii.*

However, as a teacher of belly-robics, ...

The delight of a small (ie one-person) class resides in its potential for deep personal growth and a deeper exploration of genre, music, and movement. When my student asked to learn a choreography for her husband, I was excited. A few combinations at the end of class along with the aerobic choreography might turn into a routine for later! Plus, perhaps, a happy husband.

Then she emailed.

ICP? I recognized the initials, but what.... ...

I got a job offer in Alanya. Should I take it? And just when this nomadic belly dancer was starting to put down roots. . .

In Istanbul, Tuesday through Friday, I spend two or three hours on two nights a week teaching dance classes, and three hours on two evenings week tutoring kids. I rehearse with my drummer and his violinist friend about once a week. On weekends, and less frequently, during the week, I have other gigs--last night was Monday, and I performed with nine or ten ...

After long post-New Year’s hiatus during January and most of February, my performance schedule started to pick up toward the third week of February, starting with my show in Van, then the listening party for a pop singer called Arman, where I performed with incredible percussionist Bünyamin Olguncan, and some other great musicians at Ghetto Music Lounge. (Don’t ask me why it’s called that, but it’s a cool place.)

This Friday and Saturday past, I performed with Besidos, the Balkan-gypsy-pop ...

Working hard on the first-ever Shimmy Mob in our Nation's Capitol -- hope everyone comes out to enjoy in our events.

Please take the time to visit www.shavei.net to find out how you can volunteer or make a secure online donation of $10 to our partnered charity Calvary Women's Services of SE DC.

Our March Mob-ness campaign includes "It's All Business" give aways -- come to one of our sponsoring haflas, enter your business card for a chance to win a prize ...