Favorite Music CD's for Belly Dancers

Music. The driving force behind any dance form. It's a necessity that as a dancer you are connecting with and inspired by your music choice. And especially for belly dancers, as we are striving to be the visible manifestation and interpretation of the music. I think we've all seen it when a dancer is not connected with her music. I've seen it happen with some really great dancers, and it's certainly happened to me more than once. Even audience members who may not be able to put their finger on what exactly is wrong will sense that something is not quite right. That the performance lacks that magical zing.

With that in mind, I wanted to share some CDs that have been my favorites.  These have been an inspiration to me and have infused fresh creatively and enthusiasm into my dance over the years. Hopefully some of them either have already worked or will work for you as well! (P.S. Read the whole post to catch the insider tip on free music.)

1. Bellydance Superstars Vol. V: The first track, Yearning, is the real shining piece of this album. If you haven't performed to it yourself, you're almost guaranteed to have seen someone else do it. The rest of the CD is good as well, with a number of upbeat tracks that are good for gym classes or when you just want to crank up the energy.
2. Made in Zanzibar: Produced by Tamalyn Dallal, this CD is Western classical meets Middle East masterpieces meets African folkloric. Classical orchestral pieces like Canon in D, Scheherazade, and Bolero are mixed with famous Middle Eastern pieces, like Lamma Badda, and smoothed over with a unique east African feeling. It's like a yummy, gooey dessert all blended together with perfect harmony.
3. Bellydance Superstars Vol. III: With tracks like Habibi Ya Eini, Ana Wel Leil and Fi El Awel, this CD is regular in my rotation for restaurant shows and parties. The CD has good variety and I've been able to use every track on this album at some point or another.
4. House of Tarab (Self-Titled): This album is must for learning the classic belly dance pieces. It's tracks include Aziza, originally composed by Mohamed Abd el-Wahad, and Hibbina, originally composed by Farid al-Atrash, two of the great composers of the Egyptian Golden Age.  There is also a beautiful violin solo and a short piece perfect for exit music.
5. Turkish Hits Vol. 1: The tunes on this compilation are infectious. And currently, on Amazon, they are also free (just follow the link). My favorites that have recently been in regular rotation for both classes and performances are Dilli Duduk by Tarkan and Askim Baksana Bana by Nazan Oncel. I think the nuances of Turkish music can at times be easier for Western ears to grasp than classical Egyptian, which, at least for me, has made them good starting off points for introducing Middle Eastern music in gym and beginning belly dances classes.  Additionally, just about anything by Tarkan is good, which you can also listen to and download from Amazon.

So what are your favorite albums or songs? I'd love to hear what makes you have to get up and shimmy. Share in the comments section below!

Interview with Nadira

I'm excited to introduce a new series in the blog: interviews with other professional dancers!  And starting off this new series is my interview with the beautiful and talented Nadira of Seattle!

The Introduction

Whether it's being featured on Persian television, touring Turkey, or dancing next to your table right here in Seattle, Nadira is a dancer you can't take your eyes off of.  She has claimed no less than six national titles, including Belly Dancer USA and Belly Dancer of the Year.  She has also been featured in numerous belly dance performance DVDs and even has her own instructional DVD, 5-Layers From the Ground Up.  In addition to performing as a soloist, she can also been seen performing with the renowned troupe, Fleurs d'Egypte. For more information about Nadira, to sign up for a class, or purchase her DVD, check out her website.

The Interview

Alessandra: What other dancers are currently inspiring you?

Nadira: In the belly dance realm, Hadia. But right now I’m very much into all kinds of dance. I’ve trained in other dance forms my entire life, so get lots of influence from everything out there. Currently I’ve started to get back into my jazz roots.

Alessandra: You have an impressive list of competition titles that you’ve won.  What have you found to be the benefits of participating in competitions?  Any negatives?

Nadira: Thank you!  My reasons for each competition I’ve entered have been different. I originally entered for feedback to grow as a dancer, but also to push myself out of my comfort zone. It’s scary to put yourself out there to be judged in that type of setting. Pushing through the fear has always been important to my growth as an artist. The benefit I experienced was that getting ready for a competition forced me to set goals and kept me very focused. You can’t enter a competition with the goal of winning, that’s too much pressure and you have no control over the outcome. Setting goals more geared toward growth are an excellent way to grow in this dance. A negative is that competitions aren’t for everyone. When I have a student who wants to compete, we figure out their reason and focus on that.

Alessandra: Speaking of competitions, there’s currently a belly dancer on So You Think You Can Dance, and there’s been a wide range of thoughts on her, her dancing, and her participation in this prominent, national venue, as voiced by our own belly dance community. What’s your take?

Nadira: She’s on the SYTYCD because she has other dance backgrounds. You can see it in her movement; she’s had years of other dance. That show is rooted in strong dance training and there’s no way someone with solely one dance style could make it that far. I’m torn. I like that a belly dancer has made it to the show, but I see her style is not that of an experienced belly dancer. I hope her presence on SYTYCD brings positivity to belly dance.

Alessandra: For you, what has been the most rewarding part of being a belly dancer?

Nadira: Originally this dance was solely for physical therapy (I have a herniated disc in my lower back and migraines from an accident). What it has blossomed into is, I’ve gotten to know myself as a woman, an entertainer, and instructor.  It’s very empowering.  On the performer side, there is a unique opportunity for expression and give and take. You give the audience your energy, and they take it and give back. On the instructor side, I enjoy seeing my students grow and find their voice in this dance. I have several students who are embarking on their new dance career and I am excited to help them along their journey.

Alessandra: And what has been the most challenging?

Nadira: That’s a broad question and has many facets, but right now it’s about finding a balance between the dance and the home self. I’m getting married shortly and finding the balance between my new life with family and home, and my growth, training, instructing in dance. A good challenge to have though!

Alessandra: For a new student of belly dance looking to continue growing and progressing in her technique and knowledge, what advice would you give her?

Nadira: To figure out and set goals. Also to enjoy the journey. It’s about putting in the time to train and hone your technique, but also to have fun. Make mistakes, try new things, go see shows, and see how the pros perform. The only way to find your voice in this dance is to DANCE. It took me a few years to get my true voice in this dance, and it was one of the best journeys I’ve ever experienced!

Alessandra: And for either a student looking to turn pro, or a new professional, what advice would you give her?

Nadira: Find a mentor who can work with you and guide you to your goals.  Rome was not built in a day, and neither are professional performers. At most established venues where professional dancers perform, you get one shot. That can be an intimidating thought, but there are ways to prepare. When you are first beginning to perform, it is best to work your way up to the established venues. This will allow you to get your performance/entertainment chops fine-tuned by dancing in smaller dancer friendly venues. Also, professionalism is not simply pretty costumes and technique. This is a business just like any other business and there’s etiquette and a professional standard to uphold.

My Bucket List

We all need dreams and aspirations, and writing them down and sharing them is the first step to making our dreams a reality. Penning them transforms our desires from the realm of possibility to the realm of actuality, and by sharing them we create accountability. So with that in mind, I am sharing with all of you my bucket list.

I finally formalized my list that's been swimming around in my head for many years now. It includes my belly dance related goals, as well as what I hope to accomplish in the other aspects of my life. My list is 101 items long, 32 of which I have already completed, and four more of which I hope to be able to check-off by the end of the year. Be sure to see the end of the post for some photo documentation of some of the items I've been able to proudly say I've done. So without further ado...

Belly Dance

1. Teach a weekly belly dance class, started teaching weekly classes at LA Fitness back in 2010
2. Become a regular house dancer at a local restaurant, became a regular dance at Spiro's as of 2012
3. Launch my own business as a professional belly dancer, business launched in 2010
4. Win a national belly dance title
5. Own a Bella costume
6. Attend MECDA's Professional Dance Conference & Retreat
7. Complete Tamalyn Dallal's week-long teacher training intensive, completed in 2012
8. Attend GoddessLife belly dance training in Greece, done in 2010
9. Study belly dancing in Egypt, such as Ahlan Wa Shalan or other festival/study program
10. Start a belly dance blog, started Sequins & Shimmies in 2010
11. Audition for So You Think You Can Dance
12. Join a professional belly dance troupe
13. Go on a Tamalyn Dallal retreat in Zanzibar
14. Become Suhaila Salimpour certified

Foreign Travel

15.  See the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, spent 3 weeks in Egypt in 2009

16.  Visit the Hagia Sophia in Turkey

17.  Climb Machu Picchu, Peru

18.  Stand on the shores of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, spent 2 weeks in Bolivia in 2000

19.  Walk through the Acropolis in Greece, spent 1 month in Greece in 2010

20.  Visit the Vatican in Italy, spent 3 weeks in Italy in 2011

21.  Walk along the Great Wall of China, spent 3 weeks in China/Hong Kong in 2004

22.  See the Alhambra and the Sagrada Familia in Spain, spent 1 month in Spain/Portugal in 2002

23.  Be transported back in time in Sintra, Portugal, spent 1 month in Spain/Portugal in 2002

24.  See the Taj Mahal in India

25.  Ride the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower in France

26.  Visit Stonehenge in England

27.  Explore the beautiful countryside of Ireland

28.  Visit a temple in Thailand

29.  See an opera in the Sydney Opera House, Australia

30.  Explore the Mayan ruins in Yucatan Peninsula

31.  Go on a safari in Tanzania

32.  Meander through Croatia

33.  Ride the Star Ferry in Hong Kong Harbor, spent 3 weeks in China/Hong Kong in 2004

34.  Drink beer at Ocktoberfest in Germany

35.  See Petra in Jordan

36.  Dance at carnival in Brazil

37.  See Mount Fuji in Japan

38.  Ride a camel in Morocco

39.  See Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe

40.  Pretend to be a princess at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland

41.  Discover Swayambhunath in Nepal and Paro Valley, Bhutan

42.  Surf in Costa Rica

43.  Scuba dive in Belize

44.  Stay in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora

45.  Visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia

Education, Certifications, & Non-Belly Dance Career

46.  Get awarded an academic scholarship, was awarded over $19,000 of academic scholarships in 2000 to 2002

47.  Graduate magna cum laud with my Bachelor's degree, graduated with a 3.8 GPA in 2005

48.  Obtain my CPA license, passed on my first try, certified in 2007

49.  Get promoted to audit manager in public accounting, promoted in 2011

50.  Make 40 Under 40

51.  Obtain my nutritionist certification

52.  Start my own nutrition and wellness coaching business

53.  Save $2.6 million for retirement

54.  Get TEFL certification

55.  Obtain yoga certification or personal trainer certification

Adventures & Experiences

56.  Go sky diving

57.  Witness a solar eclipse

58.  Watch the Olympics in person

59.  See Tool in concert

60.  Watch a UFC fight at the MGM Grand

61.  Go to a paint dancing party

62.  Get a tattoo

63.  Walk down Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday of Mardi Gras, went to Mardi Gras in 2000

64.  Get scuba diving certification

65.  Swim with dolphins

66.  Go to Las Olas Surf Camp in Sayulita, Mexico, attended in 2008

67.  Live overseas for a minimum of three months

68.  Ride in a hot air balloon

69.  Walk on fire

70.  Water ski

71.  Spend a night on board the Venice Simpton Orient Express

U.S Travel

72.  Visit the Harry Potter theme park

73.  See a musical on Broadway, done in 2010

74.  Drive the road to Hana in Hawaii, done in 2007, visited both Maui and Oahu

75.  Visit the Smithsonian museums, done in two separate trips in 2005 and 2006

76.  See the Grand Canyon

Physical Abilities

77.  Compete in a triathlon, competed in the Danskin Triathlon in 2004

78.  Finish the Escape from Alcatraz swim

79.  Do the standing splits

80.  Qualify to be a State Championship swimmer, qualified in 1999 and also broke high school swimming record

Spirituality & Volunteering

81.  Hear the Dalai Lama speak

82.  Go on a silent meditation retreat for New Year's

83.  Find my true religion, done throughout 1999 to ~ 2006, learned that not having a religion is my true religion

84.  Get an energy or chakra reading

85.  Meditate for 10 minutes every day for 1 year, done in 2010, still doing to date

86.  Volunteer in a foreign country for a minimum of two weeks

87.  Serve on a non-profit board, served on Village Volunteers board 2009 - 2010

Creativity & Artistic Exploration

88.  Learn to hoop dance

89.  Take an aerial silks class, took class in 2011

90.  Try the flying trapeze, did twice in 2011

91.  Go on a Kimberly Wilson retreat

Intellectual

92.  Be a contestant on Jeopardy

93.  Learn to play the violin, done, started playing at age 10 and have played in multiple school and community orchestras

94.  Be conversationally fluent in a foreign language

95.  Qualify to join Mensa

96.  Write and publish a book

97.  Read a poem at a poetry slam

Family & Home

98.  Marry my life partner in an authentic ceremony using our own vows

99.  Own my own home with French doors that open onto a balcony

100. Adopt a dog

101.Garden in the Queen Pea p-patch, had a patch in 2010

Professional belly dancer performing at a private party

Riding camels in front of the pyramids of Giza

 Attending the GoddessLife belly dance training in Greece

 In front of St. Peters's in Vatican City.

 In the Acropolis in Greece