Whether you follow her style or not, you can’t help but be amazed at the skill her dancing involves. Her sharp control, speed, and the seemingly impossible coordination with Kaya, are unique in the world of belly dancing. Sadie is a very very busy person. She travels a great deal, has packed classes and workshops – and yet, she’s managed to publish five instrucitonal videos in the past few months, each of them with enough content to last a dancer a lifetime! And that’s what I had a brief chat with her about…
You’ve been most prolific with bringing out DVDs this whole year! How on earth did you manage that, with all your classes and traveling?
It may seem that way but actually many of the DVDs have been shot over the past three years. It just so happened that they were all released last year. Beyond that, I have no say in the editing process, so I am at the mercy of the producer’s timelines.
What has been most difficult about making this huge bunch of DVDs?
It really is a bit difficult to teach to a camera. Without the live energy of a class I have to be sure to anticipate the thought process of the student and that I cover most of the important questions that may arise while a dancer is using the DVD.
Well, you’ve done that very nicely. What’s your personal favorite?
Truthfully, I like them all for different reasons but I am most proud of “Pops, Locks & Shimmies” as it is the accumulation of Kaya and my dance technique and philosophies. As teachers, our goal has been to take the movements that are unique to us, as well as many other intricate belly dance movements and break them down in the most direct, no-nonsense way possible. The concepts and techniques are presented in a way that even an absolute beginner could understand and learn with practice. After 7 years teaching by myself and 5 with Kaya,”Pops, Locks & Shimmies” is our signature and our contribution to the belly dance world.
And which ones do you think are your audiences’ favorites?
The feedback for all of them is great. I receive many wonderful comments about all my DVDs. The most common being that people are impressed with how much material I put on them and that they continue to challenge for years to come. I think people most enjoy my drum solo technique and choreographies so naturally, those are my best selling DVDs.
I was most impressed by your teaching format with Kaya on Pops Locks. Is that the way you teach in your workshops regularly? Or was it particularly for the video?
Filming the two of us was more of a challenge than filming alone but for the most part, this is very similar to how our workshops are designed and how we teach together. The only difference being that one of us will be interacting with the students and answering questions.
How did you and Kaya get so precision-coordinated?
We have very similar styles and approach technique in the same way. We really vibe off each other, and of course we practice.
Just how do you do it. How do you layer so much stuff on your dance moves and at such high speed?
It’s a combination of how I hear the music, how my body displays movements and practice.
Although people are totally in awe of your dancing, many people feel you “overdance” and put too much stuff into it. What would you say about that?
I’d say that’s a valid critic, nonetheless, it’s still how I feel and interpret the music at this stage of my life. As a dancer and woman, I am always learning, growing and enriched by the experience of life. I can only imagine that all these things will continue to influence my dancing over the years. Besides, I know it’s inevitable that as soon as I slow down someone will say I am better when I dance the other way. It’s all subjective.
How many hours a day did you (and Kaya) drill movements while you were learning?
If you mean as a student, I didn’t exactly keep track. Many people ask me this hoping to get an answer on how much and how long they should practice. The truth is everyone is different and brings a unique set of strengths and weaknesses to the table that will make the learning process equally unique. I can say it’s wise to dedicate a few hours a week if the goal is to learn at a steady pace.
How does giving out so much content on your videos impact your classes and workshops?
At this point it’s been complimentary but I still keep things new and fresh in classes and workshops.
Will you be bringing out more DVDs?
Yes, I will be filming a few more solo DVDs this year, one being an ab/core DVD for tummy rolls, flutters and abdominal movements as well as more levels to the Pops, Locks & Shimmies series with Kaya.
People have particularly wondered about an “Ultimate Guide” mentioned on the cover of Complete Guide.
It’s similar to Thrillin Drillin, but all new combos and moves. Intermediate
level.
Nice interview Mala, thanks for dedicating so much time and energy into this project of yours.
I’m looking forward to getting the rest of Sadie’s instructional dvd’s. It’s funny the first time I saw her was on the IAMED DVD Bellydance Rocks. I told my husband, “Now that woman is a belly dancer.” while watching Sadie’s “Cat’s Meow” as titled on the dvd. I had no idea the technique and training she was displaying in that performance. I have learned a lot from her instructional dvds about my own body and how to move it more to my liking.
Thanks Mala, Sadie and Kaya,
warm regards, from a VERY Chilly and windy Indiana
Rhonda
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
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!
“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!
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.
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.
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.
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
Belly dance politics?
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
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.)