BELLY DANCE AS ART AND INSPIRATION

  

As dancers, whether we are students or professionals, we often look for validation, from the audience; our peers are the musicians we work with.  No matter what level we’re at, we wonder if what we are doing has merit, if it has value. Sometimes we even wonder WHY we continue to dance…and belly dancers in particular also question our own presentation and the artistic license we take while performing the dances of cultures that are not our own…

 What you are about to read below is a beautiful essay on this very subject, but it wasn’t actually planned to be an article! It is a heartfelt and possibly spur-of-the-moment Facebook post by musician Jonatan Gomes Derbaq. Jonatan is Brazilian, but his knowledge of Arabic music and his brilliant oud and tabla playing know no cultural boundaries!

 Jonatan is as eloquent in expressing his love of belly dance as he is when he’s playing Arabic music, and I thought you might be as inspired by his beautiful thoughts as I was.

 Here’s his writing- enjoy!

What is Raqs Sharqi (Belly Dance) to you? Is it some form of erotic display of the feminine that should only be reserved for the intimate confines man and woman on a wedding day? Is it dance that has been saturated with negative connotations for centuries, only to now develop into a legitimate and sophisticated art form that continues to evolve? Is it a means for trashy women to lure men into a web of debauchery? Is it a fever that has stuck the Occidental mind and become convoluted with absurdities, or is it a fever that has struck the Occidental mind and allowed it to strengthen and grow and explore new artistic forms of self-expression?

 No doubt, it is certainly all of the above, depending on the individual who choses which form.

 But just me personally, as a musician who has fallen in love with the Artistry which was defined by the Egyptian Masters during the Cinematic Golden age such as Naima Akef, Taheya, Samia Gamal, Fifi Abdou, Nagwa Foaud etc. Choreographers like Mahmoud Reda and composers like Mohamed Abdel Wahab shaped it, and it has grown and evolved, taken new shapes and turns in the means of artistic self-expression.

 One hand, the Golden Cinematic Age helped to explore and develop new and progressive ways to empower and strengthen the woman in society, while in other ways, because certain viewpoints had already been shaped by the negative social connotations, it only served to enhance preconceived notions...either way, no matter, this is “the here and now” I am talking about...and in the here and now, what I see in my work with the many dancers that I’ve worked with and have the great fortune to call my friends and sisters, belly dance  is an art form that extends far beyond  self expression and even the artistic representation of beautiful music.

 In no way could it ever be confused for anything less that an absolute perfect representation of musical ingenuity with the highest level of class and dignity. To me, it extends beyond this even. Over the years I have witnessed so many beautiful women of all types and cultural demographics find confidence, strength, comfort and a means to express themselves and learn to appreciate the beautiful essence that makes them who they are through this art.

I express my deepest gratitude to ALL OF THEM; we are of same heart...

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Jonatan Gomes Derbaq

  Jonatan Gomes Derbaq, Amani Jabril and I are appearing in Memphis, Tennessee  August 1-3, 2014 doing workshops and shows!   Our show is August 1 at The Rumba Room, and the workshops will be Saturday and Sunday.

 Info: http://www.jonatanderbaq.com/

With  the beautiful Amani Jabril

DAYDREAM BELIEVER

I was so sad when I learned about the passing of Davey Jones, the lead singer for The Monkees.

Some of my best childhood memories involve The Monkees…like standing with my little brother Charlie in our tree fort, ardently playing air guitar on broken badminton rackets, singing ( ok, I really meant yelling!) along to “The Last Train From Clarksville”.

The other day, I heard The Monkees’ “Daydream Believer” on the radio.

Not only is it one of my favorite pop songs, it got me thinking about the concept of really paying attention to daydreams. Daydreams are not just whimsy- I seriously think that what they really are is something very important that your heart and soul is pointing out to you.

I heartily believe in pursuing your dreams, no matter how unachievable or unreal they may seem. Even if you do not succeed in everything you set out to do, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you gave it your all in trying...and just think of how much fun you'll have along the way! And your dreams might just come true...I know many people whose dreams did come true, and I know lots of of mine have, too!

I’m big on the pop culture references today, but as the song from “The Rocky Horror Show” says, “Don’t Dream It, Be It”!

Here’s some inspirational quotes on dreaming…please refer to them when you have a dream that is so far-fetched you think you might have really gone insane:

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Eleanor Roosevelt


"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
Mark Twain


"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined."
Henry David Thoreau


“None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

“ Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back: a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.”
Anais Nin


“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Walt Disney

NUTURE YOUR INNER DANCER

I just found a dance journal I kept when I was a baby dancer. It was fun, it was therapeutic, it was addicting. There were entries about my classes, as well as photos, drawings, ticket stubs and quotes from famous dancers. I also kept a log of my gigs- with base pay and tips earned, as well as notes about the type of event it was, audience reactions, and I actually rated my own performances!

Keeping a diary was a habit I’d had since I was a pre-teen, but this dance journal was different…I didn’t know it at the time, but it helped me grow as a dancer by literally mapping out my desires. By writing down goal- and then seeing them get accomplished, I could chart my own progress and see what I had accomplished and what I needed to work on.

Many artists keep journals to help nurture themselves creatively.

Do you have a dance journal?

In your dance journal, unlike a regular diary, you will not be focusing your love life or financial worries but rather, artistic inspiration.

* Jot down ideas and positive thoughts about your dancing practice; make lists of songs you would like to tackle for choreographed or improvisational performances, sketch out ideas for costumes you’d like to make.

* Motivate yourself with photos of famous dancers, beautiful costumes, inspirational quotes or other dance-related things that have encouraged you.

* Take some time to copy down the hurried notes you took at workshops. This will not only help to make them stick in your head, but then you will also have them (in readable form!) for future reference.

* Write down what you remember of your dreams, and let yourself daydream on the pages.

* Keep a log of the classes and workshops you take, and compose a few words about each experience.

*As a creative exercise, watch live or video performances of your favorite dancers and then write down your impressions. What is it about this dancer’s style that you love? How did the piece make you feel? What time period is it from? How did he or she utilize the performance space? What steps can you identify?

* Make lists of all the things you want to accomplish with your dancing, and goals you would like to reach, and then check them off as you fulfill them.



PHOTOS:

Princess Farhana at BDUC by Carl Sermon

Baby Princess at The Middle East Connection, circa 1992, Glendale,CA. Photographer unknown