Comments on: Sadie, just how do you do it!

By: Sajia

Sajia — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:51:07 +0000

I would have thought Arabs would be left-wing anti-imperialists, because of the wars, unless they’re the type who are only left-wing except when it comes to women’s rights. Which, btw, I have also seen with white men. I have white feminist friends on livejournal who tell horror stories about the disgusting sexism of white men.
(I am actually Bangladeshi – “East of India.. South of China” as I wrote in one of my songs.)

By: Dina

Dina — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:35:52 +0000

Sajia, another left-wing Mideastern woman I’m delighted!!!
Most of my Armenian friends, and Kurdish ones of course, are very left-wing. Not to forget some exiled Persians!
With Arabs I often have a hard time given my political stance though

By: Mala

Mala — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:27:26 +0000

Belly dance politics?

By: Sajia

Sajia — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:17:19 +0000

You wrote at Sera’s dvd Youtube video that you’re writing a paper on raqs history; you might be interested in the blog apostate.raqsstorm.com. I have to warn you though, the blogger Woodrow Jarvis Hill (a wonderful dancer and zil-player) is very left-wing, like me

By: Dina

Dina — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:24:49 +0000

Btw Blanca to me is 100% a bellydancer.
She does have modern and fantasy aspects to her dance that she cultivates in my opinion, rather than to get rid of them. And that s great, if everyone was aspiring to be successful with the Egyptian audience, bellydance would be so limited.
I love watching Blance, she s like a waterfall moving.

By: Dina

Dina — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:23:08 +0000

Same with me: I started earlier, but with a “nonsense” approach, meaning I took classes VERY occasionally during 2 years or something, starting at 24.. else I ve always been watching A LOT, especially since youtube exists
I do think Blancas range of motion will be difficult for me to reach, but maybe come somewhat close. As for the charisma: who knows. I doubt this can be planned
I do have more objections to Suhaila or Ansuya in style than to Sadie:
Sadie does wonderful raks sharki moves, only she has taken them apart and rearranged in ways that would not be done by Arab dancers. She s “brushed” them up to acrobat like skill coz she obviously took ambition and interest in doing it that way.
Shes a joy to watch for this crazy ability.
Suhaila to me is overemphasizing certain aspects of the dance, and looks hasty, and very often too sexual to me. I ve tried over 2 yrs to rewatch her again and again to see if I ve overlooked something. I come to think no, that s not the case. Her dancing just really does not click on me. With Ansuya s style it s similar, although I do enjoy some of her performances. I do watch it under “fusion” and “fantasy” though, because that s what her dance is to me. Beautiful and original, but too far from the original to be my taste.

That is what sometimes saddens me – American bellydance afficionados on Arab videos like Amani will call out “Ansuya, Suhaila, Rachel are the best”, and then I think it s a pity they perceive as bellydance what most Arabs would never perceive as such. Sigh.

By: Sajia

Sajia — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:13:40 +0000

The objections you have to Sadie’s style, I have them to Suhaila’s style: I would love to take her workshops if I had the money, but I don’t find her dancing to make full artistic and expressive use of her technical expertise. On the other hand there are some of Sadie’s videos that I like very much. I think, starting at 27 as I have with almost no dance background, I might aspire to be someone like Blanca in seven years: she’s not as athletic as Sadie or Autumn, but she has great grace and charisma and is very imaginative.

By: Dina

Dina — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:36:42 +0000

“think it’s remarkable that she’s laid it all out on her DVDs and given anyone who wants the chance to work with her technique to do so.”

Ya I think so too! Very humble and generous, not often a star with such unique movement ability will share her secrets!! Really she deserves every credit and compliment for that!

By: Dina

Dina — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:35:41 +0000

what a great interview Mala!
It s great to hear Sadie tell some on herself – I realize I have not heard anything of her off-stage! A documentary on Sadie and Kaya on tour or at work in restaurants, following them around for workshops or festivals would be great..
I d love to see their off-stage personalities!

What a pity she does not tell more on the upcoming dvds

I belong to those who admire her impossible movement precision and layering, while artistically it is indeed “too much” for me. to me she s got the appeal of an acrobat, brilliant body control but all is focused on the fanciest movements and combinations and very little emotion and artistic expression come through.
So in a way I do hope for her to shift her focus in the years to come, I think she could be one of my top top favourites if she managed to crossover to the expressive branch your other centre of attention for this week is in – Autumn Ward.

Today I had my first look at Pops Locks and Shimmies. Watched the beginning, this is something I can work with! Watched the last couple of minutes – oh boy I thought it would take me 2 years. TEN is more realistic I think!!
Liked their performance. Their style is a bit too physical and erotica focused for me, but I did enjoy the drum solo a lot. Despite the look their costumes have on the cover, the performance is one of their nicest duets for me. Less “extreme” than some of their duets on the “Thats hot!” dvd.

Amazing material Sadie puts out.
I ll be SO curious for the abdominal work one. I need to gain more flexibility. I can move my core pretty ok in undulations, but have too little control of the upper part of the abs. It does not cleanly separate from the lower ones.
Having seen Thrillin Drillin and Pops Locks and Shimmies I think the abs-instructional will surely start at a basic level, which is GREAT.

Any of you guys heard some about Ultimate Guide?
Totally drooling for that one, too!

By: Mala

Mala — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:42:36 +0000

Thank you Rhonda! I just love doing this, actually.

Now where did I first see Sadie… perhaps it was on her first drum solo DVD. Until then I’d only heard you guys talking about her on the video group. When I did see her, it was the first time I’d seen that kind of precision in dancing. I think it’s remarkable that she’s laid it all out on her DVDs and given anyone who wants the chance to work with her technique to do so. There should be a Saide & Kaya format, just as there is a Suhaila format!
Mala