raksgina

sponsor spotlight: AJ of ErtheFae Designs

2012-02-08T06:53:00.000-05:00

This week we resumed our ABC's of Bellydance series. We've included the occasional prize and our first is a beautiful pair of Hamsa earrings hand-crafted by AJ Reardon. I'm very much a fan of the handmade movement and I'm always interested in the artist behind the work. So what could be better than a little spotlight on AJ Reardon of ErtheFae Designs; jewelry maker, dancer, blogger and

abc's of bellydance...thank you ErtheFae Designs!

2012-02-07T07:13:00.000-05:00

image credit and item found at Mursblanc Etsy Shop A while ago we started a very well received fun little challenge/game series, do you recall? It was the "ABC's of Bellydance". For whatever reason I stopped at letter D. Well, that's in the past and today pick up where we left off. So onto letters E & F! Get your thinking caps on, you can be as original, playful and sentimental as

on a mission

2012-02-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

For most people the topic of a goals, resolutions and a better 2012 is no longer on the table. It is February 5th after all. But to me a better 2012 is only the beginning of a spectacularly better life! Yes I'm excited, can you tell? So I still have plenty to say. In my quest for clarity, purpose and intention I've decided to add a Mission Statement to the about page of this blog. It doesn't

sunday's treat

2012-02-05T10:29:00.000-05:00

Aleksey Ryaboshapka is a dancer you should know. Love him or not (love him!) you have to know about his guy. What is it with me and male dancers lately? Am I ovulating? There are plenty of videos of him doing his thing but this is a fun little spoof on other "big name" bellydancers. You have to hand it to him, he has a sense of humor -- also he is so spot on, it's scary! Action item: watch this

get real, know what you want...and get a coach

2012-02-03T14:02:00.000-05:00

Do you know your dance? I mean really know your dance? Do you know the origins and the evolution of it? Do you know the big players in your style? Have you trained in the basics? Are you past them? Have you seen video of yourself and know what you need to work on? Hit the adolescence phase of your dance yet? Are you past it? Do you have a clear dance voice? Are you elevating or demoting this

a coach? what for?

2012-02-03T13:18:00.000-05:00

Today there are so many resources to help you along with your dance {or anything, really} we live in good times. We have classes, DVD's, youtube videos, workshops, troupe mates. All these are excellent people and places to help us progress. Don't, however, underestimate the importance of good old fashioned one on one coaching. I don't mean a private lesson here and there -- those are good too but

happy birthday?

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

image credit Let me preface today's entry by telling you that this is not a pity party post. I do not feel sorry for myself. I'm just sharing. Perhaps a little too much, and well, that's just going to happen from time to time. Ok. Today is my birthday…siiiiiiigggghhhh. I mean "YAY!" I'm somewhat ambivalent about my birthday and I'll tell you why. It's not that I mind getting older, I've

sunday's treat

2012-01-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, today's sunday treat is really like a "sundae treat with extra super hot fudge"! Enjoy Randa and all her playful deliciousness in this piece. Happy Sunday! xo, G

you've got to dream a little...

2012-01-27T08:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I hope you have a great weekend ahed of you. Mostly I hope you spend it exactly how you want to. Doing the things that fuel you. I like to include a little dreaming in mine. It makes me wonder, however, about your dreams. So I'm straight up asking you to tell me about them...please? Let's dream a little shall we? Ok, here we go: In this very minute if money and time (and daycare)

break vs burn out...{part 2}

2012-01-26T08:23:00.000-05:00

Hi, thanks for coming back. If we're on the same page, in yesterday's post [ break vs burn out...{part1}] we've established that we absolutely all need breaks!If dance truly is a form of expression we need to know what we're saying and not just rattling off or regurgitating what our teacher told us last week or what we remember from the last workshop. To craft meaningful and purposeful

break vs burn out...{part 1}

2012-01-25T10:26:00.000-05:00

We dance because we want to. We dance because we love it. Because it is our favored form of expression. It's where we choose to pour our money, time, sweat and tears. It's our community, it's our passion and without it we feel empty. So why is it so hard to get out the door to get to class sometimes? Why is the idea of going to another hookah bar the last thing you want to do? Why does the

on being selective

2012-01-24T07:59:00.000-05:00

Selective, discerning, choosy; none of these are dirty words, not even picky. It's perfectly fine to be discriminating when choosing where to dine, what to wear, what to watch. What is wrong with using that same discerning taste when it comes to bellydance? image credit (yes I know this is Gandalf not Dumbledore, thought it was kinda funny) For some time now I've noticed that the tendency

the biggest dance {& life} obstacle

2012-01-23T12:42:00.000-05:00

image credit Like on all other journeys, our road to dance bliss is not free of obstacles. Surely on some intelligent level we expect them, because face it, nothing in life is 100% smooth sailing. Yet as we stumble on those blocks we always seemed surprised or at least very ill prepared to handle them. I'm here to reassure you that you will get past it or them.Obstacles run the gamut of all

sunday's treat

2012-01-22T16:23:00.000-05:00

It's not bellydance but I can appreciate all kinds of beauty. There is plenty we can learn from other dances/dancers. This young woman is absolutely delightful! She is so graceful and flowing in her movement. She makes it look effortless but we know better...(wink). Take a look, and enjoy!

just a quick hello

2012-01-20T15:54:00.000-05:00

like the internet? stop PIPA // SOPA act

2012-01-18T23:56:00.000-05:00

Take action: Go to http://americancensorship.org/ for more info The Protect IP Act (PIPA) is a U.S. Senate bill introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy. Along with its House counterpart Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), the bills are designed to provide the government and copyright holders with powers to block access to "rogue websites dedicated to infringing or counterfeit goods," especially those

10 question quickie...Amanda Rose!

2012-01-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

A Phoenix favorite, this red headed beauty is one of the hardest working bellydancer's you'll come across. She teaches, performs as a soloist (and with others as well) she heads up the Raks Sharqi Movement Collective, she is a featured dancer in the newly released bellydance.org performance DVD, "The Stars of Bellydance". And if that's not enough somewhere in there she squeezes in enough time to

sunday's treat II

2012-01-15T14:35:00.000-05:00

I just couldn't help myself and had share a second treat with you today. It's so much fun. I only saw it cause it was posted on facebook by the amazing DaVid Badyal (DaVid of Scandinavia). Thank you Mr. Badyal! Happy Dancing! xo, G

sunday's treat

2012-01-15T10:02:00.000-05:00

We're kicking it 60's/70's style today. Here's a little Soheir Zaki, a sweetheart of a dancer. President of Egypt once called her "the Oum Kolthoum of dance". No small compliment. He told her: As she sings with her voice, you sing with your body." Happy Sunday! xo, G

transitions...there's some good stuff here too

2012-01-14T12:53:00.000-05:00

Apparently, yesterday's post was cause for concern for some friends and readers. I was a bit surprised about some of the feedback. Please know that I'm not falling into a depression of any kind. It was simply a healthy dose of melancholy. It's ok to have those once in a while. I don't plan on making them a regular part of my schedule. Thanks for caring and for your kind words! Let me assure you

transitions...from sw to se

2012-01-13T11:25:00.000-05:00

sonoran hot dogs, so beautiful I could cry image credit here It's a new year in a new place with a new routine. It's a whole new life. As usual, my overly optimistic side thought by now I'd have it all sorted out and that I would come at you with a ton of shiny new posts with all sorts of bellydance info. I still plan on doing so but with all the current transitions I need a little place to

A few 2011 loose ends...

2012-01-02T10:17:00.000-05:00

It's not that I don't want to let go of 2011. I'm simply playing catch up. I owe this to people. Who doesn't like to see pictures of the events they danced in right? So I'm including a couple of teaser photos and the links to more photos. The events included are "December Open Stage" and "End of Session Class Party". Enjoy! My last Luxor Open Stage, December 2011 A year ago I started hosting

Let yourself have an AMAZING 2012!

2012-01-01T16:31:00.000-05:00

image credit Happy day 1 of an amazing 2012 to you! It's that time again. We say goodbye to the past year and welcome in a new one with gusto! If we let ourselves that is. So let's do it, let's let ourselves enjoy the newness of 2012. Take in the freshness of our new calendar year and really focus on the things that are important. Of course that means letting go of things that are

every bellydancer should know...basic gig questions

2011-12-07T17:00:00.001-05:00

In my last couple of class sessions I've included a Performance class. In these we have chat sessions about topics and situations professional middle east dance (aka: bellydance) performers come across. This week we had a great sharing of ideas on what concerns the business side of the gig. We discussed everything from pricing to solo gigs to the not so great state (and almost non-existant)

no 12 days of x-mas here...

2011-12-05T02:34:00.000-05:00

If you've read any blogs lately or spent any time online you've noticed that lists are quite popular. Cutesy lists like 12 days of Christmas, gift ideas or maybe goals and resolutions for the new year. Frankly, I haven't had time to for such sweet little thoughts. So what does a TO DO list of a mommy bellydancer that is moving 2 days after Christmas look like? Considering the season, probably

sex in the city...er...in tucson...

2011-11-23T01:03:00.001-05:00

image credit Nah not really. Totally cheap shot that title. It's just that I just had a sort of "Sex In the City-ish" evening with some girlfriends and I'm so grateful I needed to write about it. It was nothing fancy or planned just a spur of the moment burger craving after dance rehearsal. Dance does that to you sometimes. To tell you the truth I don't even really know that we are that "sex

message about massage

2011-11-21T14:07:00.001-05:00

When was the last time you had a massage? It had been embarrassingly long between massages for me -- finally had one last week! I say embarrassingly because really it's not a luxury, especially if you are constantly pushing and challenging your body such as dancers or athletes. Or how about the hours you spend a day sitting in one position still taxing your body...and mind. Basically, massage is

11.11.11 nice day for a white wedding...

2011-11-11T17:21:00.000-05:00

I'm performing at a wedding tonight. I was contacted about this wedding months ago, early summer I think. I thought it was sweet they wanted to have it on 11.11.11. I've danced at plenty of weddings before but this one is going to be different. The bride made a couple of requests one of them was that I use the song "Enjoy the Silence"...yep, you know the one. By Depeche Mode? What? Bellydance to

tucson's gift [off topic]

2011-11-07T14:43:00.000-05:00

Every village, town or city across the world has their unmistakable "day in the sun". They all have a special day or celebration, party or tradition that is uniquely theirs and only theirs. For example San Francisco has Bay to Breakers; a 7 and a half mile race that includes many serious runners and even more serious revelers dressed in costumes from Superman to Blues Brothers. And of course

only the best darbouka player I have ever seen!

2011-11-04T10:22:00.000-04:00

I absolutely love, love, love this video clip. It's a live Hakim concert and it's the darbouka player's turn at his solo. Wow, not only is he amazing but he is so calm the entire time, his playing looks effortless. I love watching Hakim and the rest of the band interact with him and just plain enjoy it as much as I did. Only click on it if you have time. It's long but if you love this music ---

Every Bellydancer Should Know...these contemporary singers

2011-11-03T14:36:00.000-04:00

So you've done your research. You're familiar with the classics, you know who composed and sang the more traditional music. You recognize names of Masters such as Oum Kalthoum, Mohamad Abdel Waheb, Abdel Halim Hafez, and Warda. Are you done? Was that all there was to it? Nope.You knew what the answer was going to be. As responsible performing bellydancers we must also be up on the singers of our

five bellydance treasures for you

2011-11-02T19:51:00.000-04:00

It's good to step back and appreciate the abundance surrounding us. There has never been a time when we've had more bellydance knowledge at our fingertips. There are websites, forums, videos, blogs, DVD's, workshops, camps, seminars and all that is beside our regular ongoing classes. There is practically no excuse to not be familiar with just about any facet of bellydance. Of course you have to

A Fresh Beginning [one last time]

2011-10-31T14:02:00.000-04:00

"working" from Rocky Point It's the first day of a shiny brand new class session! It's easy to feel energized and invigorated at the start of a new session. This time around it's a bit different. This will be my last session I teach in Tucson before my family and I relocate and start our new adventure to Florida and Oregon. Last night I was feeling the nostalgia of the whole thing. I was

Rethinking [Bull in a China Shop]

2011-10-22T07:22:00.000-04:00

We've all had them. Those days where everything is a little off. Maybe we didn't get enough sleep, maybe we're hormonal. Maybe we're distracted. Our compass just isn't working. Stubbing our toes, spilling our coffee, miscalculating distances of the walls we walk by every day..."Hey who put that there?" Or even worse, what about when our klutziness follows us into dance class! Oy vey, what was

Last Class Session of the Year and Last in Tucson

2011-10-20T13:48:00.000-04:00

We wrapped up our Fall session this week - great job women! You worked so hard and so beautifully. You are truly inspiring. You really kept to our ~No Regrets No Apologies No Excuses~ edict! Let's do it one more time, yes?! We get one week off and resume classes on Oct. 31st. This session will be a little different. It will be bittersweet for me as it's the last session I will have the

10 Question Quickie with Carmen Evans

2011-10-18T13:42:00.000-04:00

Call her late for dinner but just don't call her a bellydancer! In Tucson, AZ she is easily one of the most graceful, one of the most experienced Middle Eastern dancers but don't you dare think of labeling her a bellydancer. From her her website arabiandancearts.com I quote "I do not dance solely with my belly. We do not call flamenco dancers heel stampers, hula dancers shirt

Bedouin Bazaar in San Diego

2011-10-17T14:26:00.000-04:00

Gina, Rachel, Stacey at Birdhouse Grill, Encinitas, CA Happy Monday! Please no jokes about Monday. Let's just make the best of it shall we? I know I'm going to have a great day because I'm coming off of a great weekend! What a whirlwind! My dance company, Safar Dance Co. and I spent the weekend in San Diego to participate in the yearly Bedouin Bazaar bellydance festival. We were fortunate

September Open Stage Review

2011-10-03T03:26:00.001-04:00

For more photos click here: Open Stage 9/29/11, a set on Flickr. It was a great evening. It was fresh yet familiar, fun and fabulous! It was exactly what an Open Stage Night of bellydance should be. It was good to see the regulars return and nice to see some new faces. I'll let the images do the talking. Enjoy some pics taken at Open Stage by my lovely assistant (for the evening) Kim

For my Spanish Speaking Crafter Friends

2011-10-02T02:06:00.000-04:00

Es un “Especial de cintas washi tape” nunca antes visto, con más de 20 artículos; uno más hermoso que otro, llenos de ideas, de colores, de vídeos, de free goodies {regalitos} y de toda la información que siempre quisiste saber y conocer. El “Especial” se está publicando en el blog de CukiMuki. [http://cukimuki.tumblr.com]. Aparte hay un sorteo de unos “Sellos de Etsy”, el cual está a

ABC's of Bellydance.....[C and D]

2011-09-17T03:40:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: MiChiMa on Etsy It's time for the next installment of our ABC project but before we continue I want to thank everyone who dropped by and especially those of you who took time to share your input via your comments. There were some really great additions to our little glossary. Thanks so much! Also it's time to announce last week's winner. Anyone who contributed 3 or

ABC's of Bellydance [$10 gift certificate]

2011-09-07T17:24:00.000-04:00

I seem to forever be picking up ABC's and 123's up off the floor. That's what happens when you live with a 19 month old. Besides the great exercise I'm getting all these magnet and puzzle pieces have inspired an idea. It made me want to create my own "ABC's of Bellydance". I don't mean in the sense of a 'how-to'. I mean it in a more literal way. For example this week we start with the letters

Gypsy Hips on Fire!

2011-09-04T01:01:00.000-04:00

Whew! What a way to start my weekend. I just attended a great workshop taught by the fabulous Amaya. Catherine Vigil and Duke Standberry of the Duke & Cat Show hosted the workshop at BreakOut Studios, Tucson, AZ. I didn't start off too well being that I was late. Oops, sorry. Not making excuses, but you never know when your 1 year old is going to do 1 year old type things, thus costing you

They Call Me Cha Cha...

2011-09-01T10:48:00.000-04:00

"They call me Cha Cha, cause I'm the best dancer at St. Bernadette." -Charlene "Cha Cha" Digregorio, Grease (1978) played by Annette Charles (1948-2011)

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No Regrets, No Apologies, No Excuses! {session starts Sept 12th & 13th}

2011-08-31T18:33:00.000-04:00

It's good to be back in Tucson after my summer expedition to go visit the...FAMILY! After two months in Hood River, Oregon I'm back unscathed and in one piece. You know I only jest right? Of course I love my family! And I love Hood River. It really is true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I absolutely fell in love with the town that I couldn't wait to leave so many years ago. Sigh...

10 Question Quickie with Colette Todorov

2011-08-24T18:43:00.000-04:00

It seemed only fitting that for this month's Quickie we meet Colette Todorov as I'm still in the Northwest. There's a region in Oregon east of Portland that sits along the river known as "The Gorge". If you are ever there Ms. Colette is definitely your American Tribal Style dance source. She has a lovely studio called Scarlet Thistle and directs a troupe by the same name. She makes the trip into

Do You Speak Dance?

2011-08-03T18:10:00.000-04:00

I've often used the concept of language as a metaphor for dance. As we use words and vocabulary to express our ideas and thoughts so we use our bodies in dance. In performance we interpret our essence through our movement in union with music (that's our goal anyway). In the classroom, again, it's also very much like learning a new language; pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, conversation,

August Performance Possibility

2011-07-28T16:43:00.000-04:00

Last year I started hosting Open Stage Nights at the Luxor in Tucson. They have been an amazing success! Sometimes there is a small turnout and it makes for a casual yet intimate evening and other times there is standing room only with an endless variety of performances. Either way they are always fun! With my summer schedule being what it is we are taking a break from the Open Stage Nights in

Tribal Paradise

2011-07-27T18:38:00.000-04:00

I found the dancers! Well kind of. I heard back from a local instructor by the name of Colette that teaches out of her studio called Scarlet Thistle Studio. I love the studio name. Colette of Scarlet Thistle, Oregon It's no secret that my dancing definitely leans toward Egyptian but hey I'm on break --good time to do something different right? Besides it's fitting that while in Oregon I check

10 Question Quickie with Ramona Grewe

2011-07-22T20:41:00.000-04:00

Ramona is the subject of our new 10 Question Quickie interview. What can I say about her? She's an amazing woman. She's a shining example of someone strong yet kind. Someone intense yet balanced. Read question #9 and you'll see her sense of humor. I love her. Let me introduce you to Ramona Grewe. Name: Ramona GreweOccupation: State EmployeeFamily Status: Divorced, Mom to my beautiful daughter

No dancers yet? Let's shop...

2011-07-22T15:25:00.000-04:00

I was excited to find a local bellydance yahoo group page. I joined but haven't heard back yet :( I have a few weeks here yet so I haven't given up. I'll keep searching for those dang bellydancers. When I'm not looking for bellydancers or drinking the local wine (heh heh, more on that later) I'm doing vacation-like things. You know those things that we'd all do if we only had the time. Apple

Bit of Oregon Life

2011-07-21T02:09:00.000-04:00

I've been in Oregon for a couple of weeks now but don't worry I will not bore you with every single picture I've taken. I did, however, want to share some of the beauty and goodies that I've been fortunate enough to enjoy. For example this first image here, this is the delightful view on our walk toward downtown.This one may seem weird but it's one of those rite of passage type things. In my

Bit of Summer Hustle & Bustle

2011-07-17T17:47:00.001-04:00

I'm sitting in a comfy chair by an open window. The wind is blowing, we're not talking a summer breeze, this is good old Hood River, Oregon wind blowing through the window screen. I'm actually chilly. Which of course makes me think of Tucson. All my dear friends and family seeking shelter either from the stinging hot sun or the pelting monsoon rains. Sorry guys! The sharp contrast makes me think

Rak the Vote . . . Safar Dance Co.

2011-07-06T15:21:00.000-04:00

Cheesy post title I know but surely you can see it was impossible to resist right? Safar Dance Co. has been nominated for a troupe of the year award (in AZ). How fun is that? If you're an Arizona resident and would like to vote for us, it's easy. Simply go here: 2011 Arizona Shakedown Awards and vote for Safar Dance Co. for Troupe of the Year. Thank you so much. Happy voting!

On the Road Again

2011-07-05T02:24:00.000-04:00

That little pink speck is Sabrina. She couldn't wait to get out of the car and run! Kanab, Utah It seems I just got back from New Jersey and here I am on the road again. This time we're on our way to the great Northwest. Oregon to be exact. In the 72 hours I was home in between trips, however, I hosted the June Open Stage. Wow what night it was!There were two solo debut performances, two

Georges Lammam Workshop & Show Photos

2011-06-19T16:31:00.001-04:00

Georges Lammam Workshop & Concert, a set on Flickr.What an amazing day! Georges Lammam conducted a workshop on how the dancer relates to live music. He covered the various components of a song and how to listen to it; maqam, rhythm, instrument -- it's endless really. He discussed how to approach the entrance, the changes, communication with your band and the ever important finale. He even

Safar Dance Co. Nominated in Shakedown Awards!

2011-06-17T03:16:00.000-04:00

Recently we found out that our very own Safar Dance Co. was nominated in the Troupe of the Year category for the Arizona Shakedown Awards organized by Levant Al Sonora (AZ MECDA Chapter). It was pretty funny as I didn't know about it until quite after the fact. As a group we are honored and humbled to be mentioned alongside the other troupes in the category; Anaya Tribal, Ghazaal Beledi, Divine

10 Question Quickie with Laura Everett

2011-06-17T01:59:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to post our first 10 Question Quickie interview. Every few weeks we'll get to meet (or get to know better) some of our class dance-mates. The lovely Laura Everett will kick things off for us. If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting her yet, then I'm glad you found this post. For those of you that do know her, you might still learn a few new things about her. Please feel free to

Inspiration..."Thank you" to those before us

2011-06-08T17:37:00.000-04:00

Bellydancing was beginning to get some attention within certain circles when the following dancers just started out. We owe them a great deal. These masters were truly interested in raising the level of bellydance to an art-form. I doubt it was very easy for them to find classes or to come across footage of other dancers. Things are quite different now, it's pretty easy to find bellydance classes

Every Bellydancer Should Know...The Original Bellydance Superstars

2011-05-30T05:35:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while you come upon a dancer that has made a difference to you and your dancing. Whether you know it or not here are few dancers that have most certainly influenced bellydance and have made it what it is today.Thank you original bellydance superstars! Badia MasabniBadia Masabni owned a couple of different nightclubs in Cairo at different times. She first opened Casino Badia in

It's all about you...and I admire you

2011-05-22T14:31:00.000-04:00

image credit: forhomeinteriordesign.blogspot.com It's all about you! Well at the very least in (our) class it is. Otherwise why would you be there, in that small sweaty dance studio? Dance is a form of expression. Your dance is your expression. You have something to say. I like to ask students in class "Why do you dance?" All sorts of answers follow; "I like the exercise", "I like the music"

Georges Lammam, A musical experience you don't want to miss (june 18)

2011-05-11T18:42:00.000-04:00

We are quite lucky. Georges Lammam will be in Tucson for a day teaching a workshop for dancers and musicians as well as delighting us with an intimate dinner show in the evening. Georges Lammam is an internationally known world class violinist. Georges will be performing with Gabby Tawil, master darbouka player, and ensemble. Just imagine yourself dancing alongside this talent! What an

Every Bellydancer Should Know...The Masters of Classic Arab Music

2011-05-10T17:26:00.000-04:00

Thanks for coming back or if this is your first time; Welcome! You have excellent timing! Today is the first of a (more or less) regular column on this blog. It's sort of your "Top 10" variety except that there won't always be 10 items. So I've decided to call it, "Every Bellydancer Should Know...". I truly believe that these little lists are good basics that will help understand bellydance,

Nothing like the first time...

2011-04-25T20:21:00.000-04:00

All live performances are a special moment in time. There is nothing, however, as unique as the first performance. Ahhh, the first performance! That is special. To see the student trust them-self. To witness her or him bravely take that first step onto territory that is very much beyond their comfort zone. To go where they swore they would never go! Well there they are beaming, looking beautiful

Fun with Melaya Leff

2011-04-22T11:16:00.000-04:00

The Melaya Leff is a sassy, playful and spirited performance dance that fits under the umbrella of Egyptian Bellydance. Typically the dancer is dressed in a shorter (knee-ish length), colorfully loud, ruffled dress. She wears high heeled shoes and a head piece that matches the liveliness of the outfit. Now comes the Melaya Leff part. The Melaya Leff is a large black (light weight) cloak usually

If I Should Have a Daughter....Sarah Kay

2011-04-19T16:07:00.000-04:00

Wow! What an amazingly talented and inspiring young woman. Please don't be scared away by the length of the video. If nothing else just watch the first 4 minutes. What a gift. I hope you enjoy it. xoxo, G

Upcoming Open Stage Nights...Sign Up!

2011-04-19T15:15:00.000-04:00

Open Stage Night attendance has varied from small and intimate to sold out house, standing room only. We never know what were going to get. What we do know for sure is that it is always fun and always such a great opportunity to try out a new piece or to simply perform for one of the friendliest audiences in town. Who should perform at these Open Stage Nights? If you are in that funny

Bellydance Bootcamp 2011 a Success!

2011-04-19T14:56:00.001-04:00

This year we seasoned the bootcamp with a little friendly competition here and there. Added some props, even played around with some ballet technique thanks to our Ballet teacher Jose! The women were amazing and kept up their energy and good spirits throughout the hours of drilling and playing! It went so well that we are kicking around the idea of a mini bootcamp day in the fall -- for those

Final Class Session Of the Season To Start!

2011-04-19T14:28:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, April 19th marks the first day of our last class session that leads us into our summer break. Come join us! Classes will run from April 19th through June 14th. It's different in that there is a total of 9 weeks. Prices are as follows: 6 classes for $60 9 classes for $80 Single classes fro $13 each Tuesdays Level 1 5:45-7:00 Level 2 7:15-8:30 Classes held at The Historic Y, 738 N. 5th

Bellydance for everyone's schedule!

2011-02-27T11:20:00.000-05:00

SO much dance happening lately! We are wrapping up our current class session getting ready to start our new one next week. We just had our February Open Stage Night last week. We're ending our first B30X! practice program --- with beautiful results this Monday!!You missed our Open Stage? Here is a little sample of what you missed:For the immediate future we have a new B30X run starting March 15th

Dance in times of sadness?

2011-01-14T18:00:00.000-05:00

It's already mid January 2011 and this is my first post of the year. I don't blog nearly as much as I should to begin with but I've been keeping away from blogging, facebook and even from sending out my way overdue newsletter. It's been hard to think about dancing when Tucson is in mourning over last week's tragedy. I was out of town when it happened. It was the strangest thing sitting in Florida

Intro to Iyengar

2010-11-08T16:50:00.000-05:00

So, you know what I did for the first time today? Iyengar yoga. Do you know what I learned about myself? I have super tight IT band, I'm afraid of headstands and I have no rapport with my toes, none!My ego said: Aw man, what's wrong with you?!What I'm really thinking now, however, is THANK YOU IYENGAR YOGA! Thank you for pointing out those little and not so little areas I need to work on for a

Turkish Roman Dance with Delpha!

2010-07-02T22:30:00.000-04:00

Wow, wow, wow! What a workshop that was! In my years of bellydancing I've taken a few classes on Turkish rhythms, some on Karshlama dancing, (or as we learned last weekend the proper term would be 9/8 dancing), learned a few 9/8 finger cymbal patterns but I've never had an instructor like Delpha! First let me tell you a bit about Delpha. She's one of my first bellydance friends from way back

Last 5 Months in a Minute

2010-06-25T11:25:00.000-04:00

Philosopher Williams James said "Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task." Boy was good ol' Bill right! I've known for months that I needed to update this blog, but noooo I kept procrastinating. Granted I've had a baby since my last post but still how long can it take to put down a few lines, or post a link or a video? I mean if I can post a comment on Facebook, I

Deputy Clementine Johnson's Dance Choreo!

2010-01-06T15:17:00.000-05:00

Hey there, Thanks for stopping by. If you get my newsletter you may have already seen this little clip but I just couldn't resist posting it here too. Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones but I can't get enough of it, it is hilarious to me. If you've attended my classes it will make sense to you. Watch it all the way through. Enjoy!

New Year -- Make It A Happy One!

2010-01-03T15:09:00.000-05:00

It's a new year. Another opportunity to start fresh again. What do you hope to accomplish in 2010? I could get lost in all the things I want to do, my list is endless. I think, however, I will focus my attention on who I want to be instead. I have a big birthday coming up in a few weeks, will I let a number identify who I am? I have a most beautiful gift on the way, a daughter. Will I be a good

I am thankful for...

2009-11-23T15:59:00.000-05:00

Hi Y'all, It's been a while, but we're pickin' it up again. It's Thanksgiving Week, whether you celebrate it or not I wish you and your loved ones a happy long weekend. Of course, we don't have to wait for a designated weekend to express our gratitude for all we have (or don't have) in life. If you haven't, however, taken time lately to give it some thought I encourage you to do so now. It's the

Remembering Sali

2009-10-01T12:35:00.001-04:00

As of the last few weeks right at this point in the blog you would see the Combo of the Week and it's still coming but right now I'd like to take this space for something else. Please take a moment with me in remembering our sweet friend Sali.A little over a year ago Sali was found raped and murdered in a deserted cabin in San Jose del Pacifico, Oaxaca. It's tough not to come from an insanely

Combo of the Week (3 of 4, Sept)

2009-09-24T13:18:00.000-04:00

Ciao, ciao everyone,Ready for your third combo? If you've been following along you could take your practice a step further and string all the combo's together. That will really get the cymbals and movement going!This week's combo may be a bit easier for you to follow as we have a visual aid. I've attached a video of the combo. Thank you to the women who volunteered to do it.You will also find a

Combo of the Week

2009-09-16T17:29:00.000-04:00

Hi Gang!I hope you're September is moving along swimmingly. I have another dance combination for you this week. The cymbal playing is a little more involved so I've included a couple of sample video clips on the rhythm you will be playing. These are only two of the many ways one can play this rhythm. The rhythm is called "Baladi" also spelled "Beledi", "Balladi" etc. In bellydance we tend to use

Combo of the Week

2009-09-09T10:26:00.000-04:00

It's the middle of the week, hump day. I figured it would be a good time to mix it up a bit so I'm starting a "Combo of the Week" post. No not like the combo #3 I had last night, "Chile Relleno, Cheese Enchilada, Rice & Beans", although it was a beautiful thing. I mean a little bellydance combo. So below I've included written instructions and counts for this weeks combo. It includes finger

MECDA Festival

2009-09-05T17:56:00.000-04:00

Ok so, you know how Star Trek fans have conventions, contests, fan websites, forums, etc? You know how those same Star Trek fans are, well, considered (and I only mean this in a good way) geeky? Well, we bellydancers and bellydance fans are geeky in our own way.We also have conventions, festivals (--oh the festivals -- it's endless!) competitions, forums, costuming...just to name a few things.One

Safar Dance Co.

2009-09-01T18:02:00.000-04:00

Safar Dance Co. is a group of women I work with as a bellydance company. I'm suppose to be one of the dancers in the group but as you know I'm 19 weeks pregnant and I have to stay put for a while so that idea is out the window.Although I cannot dance I've continued to work with the girls to the best of my ability. I am eagerly awaiting next year so that I can join them. At least, that's what I'm

So Are We Having Classes or What?

2009-08-30T11:17:00.000-04:00

Yes Deeadra, you're right. I apologize. It is time to update this dang blog. So long story short everything is going well, including the pregnancy. Thank you to everyone for your concern and good wishes. Yes the pregnancy has slowed me down. Yes it is a bit frustrating that I can't move around or dance right now. So how do I make up for it? I still talk, watch, drink, eat, sleep dance. So I may

Oops Website and Email Down!

2009-07-25T19:24:00.000-04:00

Hi guys,My website is down for a couple of days and my email is temporarily affected. If you need to email me anything please contact me at raksgina@gmail.com -- at least for the next few days. Thanks so much!By the way, news about upcoming classes, etc. coming soon.xoxo,Gina

Fab Dance Party!

2009-07-20T16:33:00.000-04:00

Our last summer bellydance bash was a huge hit!Our guests all arrived in (and with) good spirits, enjoyed delicious food and took in even better dancing!As many of you may already know typically the bellydance instructor planning the hafla wraps up the show with a dance piece. I didn't do that this time around and because of that my experience was very different. I was literally able to sit back

Last Summer Bellydance Bash!

2009-07-09T13:25:00.000-04:00

Don't miss it! This Sunday, July 12 we are having a Hafla at Luxor Cafe. Please join us. As usual we will have lovely performers entertaining us. There will be solo's duets, group dances and open dance floor time of course.This summer I had the pleasure of working with a wonderful group of women that signed up for bellydance class at Pima Community College. Who knew you could get credit for

La Dolce Vita Baby

2009-07-01T13:04:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I know. I've fallen waaaaay behind on this blog thing. It's funny how when I'm the busiest the blog seems to reflect the opposite. So let's get caught up. Last entry I was in Italy -- I'm now back in Tucson but wanted to fulfill my promise of a few pics from Italy. Scott and I spent our time on a beautiful island called Ischia. It's about an hour ferry ride away from Napoli.

When in Rome...and your luggage isnt!

2009-06-07T04:05:00.000-04:00

When in Rome and your luggage isn't...what do you do? You just deal with it! What other option do you have, right?Please forgive me but I'm going to take a bit of space on this dance class blog to keep in touch with you while I'm in Italy. I most likely will not be talking about dance, not much anyway.First, let me start by painting you the picture, Scott my husband is dealing with a fractured

What Should I Practice To?

2009-05-28T01:15:00.001-04:00

Hi Gals,First I want to thank you for joining me on this last class session. You all looked great, keep up your hard earned technique and continue to practice!Thank you to all those who participated or attended our dance class party. If your curious go here for some pics.We are now taking a break from classes for two weeks and starting back up again on June 16, more info here for classes.Many

Dance Party Tomorrow!

2009-05-22T16:16:00.000-04:00

Hi all,Yep, our little dance party is still on. It's just a gathering of bellydance lovers getting together to turn up the music dance, eat and drink for a couple of hours -- you joining us?There will be a few performances and plenty of time to just dance and hang out with your fellow dance mates. So bring some snacks to share and and grab your hip scarf come shimmy with us.Oh and I almost forgot

Do you REALLY want to bellydance? -- Part 1

2009-05-12T16:14:00.000-04:00

There is no wrong answer. There are plenty of people that take a bellydance class for the fitness aspect of it. It's also just plain ol' clean fun. Dance classes have a great social scene to them. Maybe your reasons are very private and personal and you never plan on dancing in public. Or perhaps you just want to pick up a few moves because you are going to your friends Lebanese wedding. What

Dance Party --Are you coming?

2009-05-12T14:13:00.000-04:00

Hi y'all!We've scheduled a very casual dance party/gathering for Saturday, May 23rd (location to be announced- most likely one of the studios) --you coming?We are saving our next "big" Hafla for later in the summer and for now we are having a smaller dance party just for us! All the Level 1 and 2 classes are invited and welcome to perform. Please let me know if you are interested in performing as

Tamiil - Level 2 Choreography

2009-05-04T19:14:00.000-04:00

Hi Level 2 Class! We are working on a beautiful song titled "Tamiil" by Mario Kirlis. It's from one of his older albums (2004). If you haven't discovered Mario Kirlis yet you are in for a treat. He's the perfect musician for bellydancers. He works closely with the popular Saiida. Born to Syrian parents, raised in Argentina she has traveled the world performing and teaching her beautiful balletic

Aam Bimzah Maak - Level 1 Choreo

2009-05-04T18:57:00.000-04:00

We started our current class session the week of April 20th. I chose a Najwa Karam song for our choreography (more on info on Najwa to come shortly). The song is "Aam Bimzah Maak" and it can be found on the album by the same name. You can download the single for $.99 on amazon.com. I will now show the notes here for our choreography to date. Please come back in the following weeks for the rest of

HAFLA FUN

2009-05-04T01:28:00.000-04:00

First a HUGE HAFLA THANK YOU TO....so many of you. The biggest goes to Ms. Brenda Demic for opening her home and her heart to us. Of course her partner in crime, Ms. Ingrid Aspromatis isn't far behind. Both these ladies cooked up a storm and made sure we were all as comfortable as can be. Big hugs to you both. THANK YOU!A recital hafla is the perfect venue for dancers of of all levels to come

Are you ready for the next one?

2009-04-14T13:56:00.000-04:00

Can you believe it? It is already the last week of class for this session. But no rest for the wicked we start our next dance class session next week without missing beat. Be ready to work deeper in your dance practice. We've also been kicking around the idea of creating a recital practice group for the recital hafla at the end of this upcoming session. It's basically a group of people (you!)

Live Drumming in Class This Week! (Lev. 1)

2009-03-30T21:51:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, I hope you can all make it to class this week. We are lucky enough to have live drummers play for our drill session, possibly the rest of class as well. Our guest drummers are Aaron Cromer of Tucson and Virginia from Patagonia.It's a whole different feeling when you dance to live music. Absolutely exhilarating, don't miss it!See you there.xoxo,Gina

Bellydance Terms Requested in Class

2009-03-18T15:43:00.001-04:00

Whew, what a class last night! You guys worked it good. You looked great. I know I threw a lot of material at you yesterday and you handled it beautifully. We will repeat many of the movements in the classes to come as that is the only way to ingrain the movement into your body (and brain). Many of you requested bellydance terms and vocabulary in written form. In this post I will begin that

Da Dou De Choreography

2009-03-18T14:18:00.000-04:00

These are not the complete Da Dou De choreography notes but it does take you about two minutes into the song. These make the most sense once you have physically gone through it in class. Here you go - have fun!Notes: Always a slight bend in the knees, most of the song done in 1/2 time1,2: Step forward, right arm up (floreo w/hand), left hand hip3,4: Left hip up (left glute contraction)5,6: Right

Charlie Wilson's Bellydancer - What the..?

2009-03-15T17:09:00.001-04:00

I know this might be very old news to some of you as the movie Charlie Wilson's War was released in 2007. I'm waaay behind in movies. This movie based on a true story is about congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan. With the help of CIA agent, Gust Avrakotos, Wilson is able to supply Afghan mujahideen with the weapons and support to defeat the Soviet Union. Now, I'm not going