Book Review - You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shabbi

I recently finished reading Morocco's book You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shabbi. I did actually read the book from cover to cover and if you own or have seen this book, you know this was a bit of feat, because this book is essentially a belly dancing textbook. No pictures (except at the very end), just dense page after page of belly dance advice, knowledge, and insights.

Morocco is one of belly dance's leading teachers, performers, and researchers. She has performed and taught all over the world. Trying to write a condensed bio for her is near to impossible, so I'll just refer you to her own website for more info. Trust me, it's impressive.

This book is broken down into seven sections:

1. Raqs Shabbi: discussion of folk dances from Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, and other countries
2. Raqs Sharqi: discussion of oriental style belly dance, or what most westerners would call belly dance
3. Over There: insights on dance developments in the countries of origins and how to effectively travel and take continuing dance education in those countries
4. Nuts and Bolts: tips on technique, teaching, finger cymbals, and belly dancing as a business
5. Cautionary Tales: pitfalls to avoid, including a couple fairly frightening tales of belly dancers who may not have exercised enough caution and ended up disappearing (yes, disappearing like potentially kidnapped or something equally horrific)
6. What's In a Name: an extensive essay on what name is best for referring to Oriental dance
7. Images: a handful of black and white pictures

Through the process of reading this book, you will definitely get a sense that Morocco knows her stuff and has put in the time, effort, and research to know what she's talking about. She has everything from excerpts from interviews that she's done with Mahmoud Reda himself, to funny performance stories, to solid business and marketing strategies based on first-hand success. She shares tips on everything from shopping in Cairo to finger cymbal safety. She dispels many belly dance myths, including presenting facts to back up her position. (I disagree with her to some extent on some of her positions on ballet in relation to belly dance, but that conversation is beyond the scope of this post). There is also an indispensable glossary that I think most readers will end up flipping to throughout the book. Overall, I think even experienced pros will learn a thing or two from this book. 

The book is so detailed that I wouldn't actually recommend it for brand new dancers. I think it might be a bit overwhelming for someone just entering the belly dance world, and he or she may feel a bit lost without having some points of reference to draw from. In fact, I think even the experienced dancer may feel a bit lost reading dance descriptions for folkloric dances or festivals that he or she is not familiar with. I know that I did for a few of the Moroccan-based dances. 

My one complaint about the book is chapter six, What's In a Name? It's essentially a 31-page repetitive argument on why the term "belly dance" shouldn't be used, but rather should be referred to as "raqs sharqi". My critique with this is two-fold. First, I didn't feel this didn't required such verbosity. I felt like I was being beaten over the head with it. Yes, I got the point after the first couple pages. Enough said. Second, while I agree that "belly dance" is not the best term for this dance; it's a misnomer as this dance is so much more, I don't agree that raqs sharqi is the right replacement word. To me, raqs sharqi, or Oriental dance, doesn't actually encompass everything under the broader umbrella of belly dance. American Tribal Style (ATS) is not Oriental dance, it's an American invention. Same goes for fusion forms, Isis wings, fan veils, and any type of extensive veil work. Thus, in my opinion, I think raqs sharqi would also be a misnomer in those instances. I think the perfect replacement label has yet to be suggested. 

That being said, for anyone with more than a passing interest in belly dance, I think this book is a must read and a great book to have at hand. If you are interested in purchasing, you can find the book on Morocco's website.

Books for Belly Dancers

 

Recently, one of the main elements I've been absorbed with related to belly dance has been happening outside of the studio and away from the mirrors. And that element has been reading.  At first that sentence might not make sense, because dance is about the physical movement of dance, right?  Wrong. With belly dance there is so much more.

For myself, and I think safe to say for most belly dancers, we were first drawn to the art form for the appeal of the dance itself.  Maybe swayed a bit by the glittering costuming as well.  But as we continued to learn our art form, we realized that belly dance is part of bigger picture.  There is a wealth of history and culture that goes along with the dance: learning about the origins of the dance, the countries that have shaped the movements, and the stars that have ignited the path for future generations.  Many of us started out focused on raqs sharqi (what most Americans would deem to be belly dance) and then progressed to learn about the many related folkloric and gypsy styles of dance: the khaliji of Iraq, the debke of Lebannon, the bandari of Iran, and many more.  With that mindset, I'd like to share a few of my favorite belly dance related books and media that helped me further my explorations and hopefully will for you as well.

Books

1. You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shaabi, Morocco
2. The Belly Dancer Reader, Lynette Harris
3. Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, Its Music, Its Culture and Costume, Keti Shari
4. The Belly Dance Handbook, Princess Farhana

All of the above listed books are available on Amazon.com.  And as an added bonus, I also encourage checking out these free online resources.

Blogs & Websites

1. Princess Farhana’s blog at http://princessraqs.blogspot.com
2. Online edition of selected editions of previously print magazine, The Best of Habibi, http://thebestofhabibi.com 
3. Online magazine, The Gilded Serpent, http://www.gildedserpent.com
4. Articles about the history of belly dance and its stars http://www.shira.net/about.htm#History

Photo Credit: http://lindayezak.com

Farewell to 2013!

 

As many of you know, I'm big into goal-setting. And if you've been reading the blog for a few years now, you know that at the end of each year, I take time out to process my year, digging into what went well, and what went not so well. Essentially tying a ribbon around the year, releasing it, and preparing to move into the new year with a bang. And today, on this eve of our new year, it seemed like the perfect time to reflect on all that transpired in 2013.

Back at the beginning of this year I wrote a post called Ignite, my theme for the year, outlining my big three for the year - getting married and honeymooning in Paris, writing a book, and competing in Belly Dancer USA. So how did it go?

Marriage? Yes, yes, and more yes! I am blessed to have married my best friend and love of my life. Feel free to peruse my wedding pictures and honeymoon pictures. Our wedding was intimate and romantic. I could not have been more pleased with the day. And France was simply divine. My new favorite foreign destination.

I did compete in Belly Dancer USA. I didn't place, and I won't lie; I wish I had.  But I still had a valuable learning experience, which I share all about in this post.

And I did write and publish a book. Not the book I was originally intending to write, but that was the way the creative winds took me. My book, designed to jump start your goal-setting and to be a practice companion and journal can be purchased on Lulu.com.  It will soon also be available on Amazon.com.

A few other highlights of the year that weren't part of my "Big Three", was going to an all-women's weekend surf camp in Oregon. The company I learned with was NW Women's Surf Camp, whom I highly recommend.  I also went to the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire for the first time and absolutely loved it. Not a far stretch that a belly dancer loved a festival based on costumes and history sprinkled with a good dose of fantasy, huh? And I also became the newest belly dance instructor through the University of Washington's Experimental College. Shameless self-promotion time: the new series of classes starts February 2nd and registration is now open.

As far as things that didn't go so well. I didn't do nearly as much performing this year as I have in previous years. Between my two major life events (getting married as previously discussed, plus I also changing my day job and leaving the industry I'd been in for eight years), my performance schedule got pushed to the side. Trying to fit in any additional dancing, was starting to feel like major burnout, rather than the joy that sharing a creative passion should be bringing. Thus, I'm hoping with recharged batteries, to pick it back up to full speed in the new year.

And that book I was originally intending to write? Definitely hoping to get it under way in the new year as well. The working title is CPA by Day, Belly Dancer by Night. And with that little reveal, I will say no more. Stay tuned!

How about you? What worked well for you? What are you ready to embrace for next year? And what are you ready to release? Now is the perfect time of year for reflection. So grab a glass of bubbly, a journal, and a pencil and buy out some time for yourself before the countdown to midnight begins.

Have a wonderful, festive, and safe New Year's Eve!  May your 2014 be filled with love, light, and laughter, mixed together with a glittering handful of magic. Blessings to you in the new year.

Ignite

As promised, we are onto part two of the annual goal review and setting process. The last post reviewed my ups and downs of 2012, and now, with last year released, we are moving full-steam ahead into 2013. 

Each year I always set a one-word or short phrase theme for the year. Last year's theme was Thirty and Thriving.  After much debating, pondering, and rolling words around in my head, my theme for 2013 is, drumrolll....IGNITE! After defining my top three goals for the year, I noticed that they were all things that have been on my shiny dream radar for some time now.  I've decided that now is the time to grab those dreams out of fuzzy realm of someday and turn them into realities.  It's time to start the motors, gather the energy, and light the fires of taking action. Thus ignite seemed like the best word to pull them all this action together. This is the word that really describes exactly how I wanted to approach these tasks at hand; how I want to feel this year as I embark on these adventures.  

Which leads me to my actual goals for the year.  There's some smaller items swimming around as well, but I want to highlight just my top big three goals for 2013.

1. Get married to the love of my life. In Paris.
After what will be six and half years together, we are finally tying the knot. And in the city of love nonetheless.  Which will be followed by a two-week honeymoon in France.We have our plane tickets booked, the time off of work, and shortly will begin working out all the details. Do I want that fire element present in my marriage? You better believe it.

2. Write my book already.
Since I was a child I've always known that I have a book in me.  And since I was a child I've been waiting for the right time to materialize to sit down and write it.  Well, we all know the time will never materialize, so this is going to be the year I make time.  I know what I want to write about and I've blocked out a minimum of one-hour per week to put pen to paper.  Get ready for some blazing pages as the creative process starts churning.

3. Compete in the Belly Dancer USA competition in Cayonville, Oregon in June.
Some igniting needed for this one? Oh yes, you better be on fire in a competition! I've mapped out my preparation timeline, have my next private lesson on the calendar, and have coerced my fiance into doing the drive with me (although, I haven't yet made full disclosure of the fact that it's a six hour drive down there, but we'll get to that one later....).

So those are my three main focuses for the year. It's going to take energy, spark, and dedication. There's going to be some hard work involved and hours clocked. But it's going to be big, it's going to be juicy, and it's going to be rewarding at a deep, soul-quenching level when it's all said and done.

And you? Now that you've survived the holidays and the Mayan Apocalypse, have you outlined your 2013 goals?  If not, I strongly encourage you to give yourself the gift of time and space to do some searching and brainstorming so you can really manifest your desires in this new year.