Another advanced tribal fusion video, this one looks like the next step on from Anasma’s 2-dicc set. I’m not likely to be able to do any of it – I haven’t even worked on any of the combos from the beginner tribal videos, for that matter. But I do like looking at them and when possible, working with the isolations.

Rubylooks beautiful as she dances, and she also looks like she knows what she’s talking about. I’m not a hundred percent sure I can manage a lot of floorwork, but I like the look of her approach and conditioning.

This week has been “Autumn Week” for me. I haven’t had the chance to dance much, unfortunately, so I may well extend my little program to the next week as well.

Basically, I found that I’m trying too hard and sticking doggedly to the instructional programs I want to work with. None of them are about to be completed in a short period, so it just gets to be too much hard work. I make it even harder by always timing my practice sessions, making sure there’s some big chunk of conditioning work, building in some aerobic segment… etc. On top of that, I feel guilty if I don’t do some bit of yoga/pilates/stability ball work – even if it’s for a few minutes.

So, I decided to give myself a break, remember that dancing is a hobby not a profession, and get on with having a little more fun. I plan to do this by varying the videos I work with a little more. A period of whatever-I-feel-like.

So, I happened to find myself gravitating towards Autumn’s video. I did work with this a little bit when it first arrived, but I knew even then that this video would need a lot of watching before I got down to working with it. And now that I’ve begun, that idea is reinforced.

For beginner-intermediate dancers, I would really recommend getting familiar with the terms Autumn Ward uses. They’re unique to her and can be confusing because instruction fly at you thick and fast throughout this video. You can’t afford to keep stopping to figure out what she means when she says “pull in” or “take a staggered stance”.  She’s got some of these things all written out in her guide, but I don’t think I learn easily using notes, so I’d rather figure it out as we go along, on video.

Practice a ruler-straight side slide or “full shift side” with Autumn

I find that Beautiful Technique is a video you really need to take your time with. And I’m totally not rushing myself. Even if I think I know a move, I re-examine it carefully and inevitably find corrections to make.  for example, I’ve worked on really straightening out the hip slide so that it happens now without altering the overall posture and alignment one wants, without changing the lift of the arms or creating any unnecessary tilts and slouches. It’s obviously coming along because I’m enjoying looking at it in the mirror and finding it more and more “Autumn-like”.

The trailer is up and it looks every bit as vibrant and fun as Luscious did. You can see the similarities – and you can see new combinations. From initial reactions to the preview, even those who thought they didn’t need more Luscious style content, want Love Potion. From the looks of them, Neon, Sarah and Blanca are enjoying themselves thoroughly. I asked Neon Read the rest of this entry »

Sarah Skinner has not only been wrapping up the Luscious sequel “Love Potion” and earlier the Fantasy Bellydance performances video but also working on another DVD on deliciously slow moves, “Opulent Motion”. That, of course, is totally my kind of thing and I’m a huge admirer of Sarah’s after I saw her chiftitelli performance on the I Love Turkish video. Slowed down, Sarah is lyrical expressive, emotive, and decorates moves beautifully.

Her Seven Veils is also romantic and sensual. So, obviously, I was quite totally delighted to know that she will be teaching slow moves in her upcoming release.

I’m wondering how you managed to recover enough from Fantasy Bellydance and Love Potion enough to work on Opulent Motion…
Actually the Opulent Motion DVD has been in the oven for a long time. I was slowly gathering thoughts and ideas.

I had music created specifically for this dvd, music that I felt passionately about and with musicians that I have worked with in live performances, so we really were in tune with each others art. I also picked a few pieces of music that were already recorded. Finding slow music that speaks to you is always an important challenge.

The slow part of a performance is such a deeply emotional and individual experience it was really important to come up with a dvd that each person could walk away with something that was valuable to them specifically.
I needed to take my time mentally crafting such a delicious topic. Love Potion is a straightforward party! We drilled almost every day- what a blast! And I miss working on it with the girls now. Working on the two products at the same time satisfied both sides – the thoughtful and the party girl.

So, tell me about Opulent Motion. Is it a little like Autumn Ward’s
video? Does it have a lot of technique and basics?
OM Is approachable for many different skill levels.
There is a section dedicated to the ABCs of bellydance. So a beginner can approach it and have all the ingredients. But if you already know the basics you don’t have to sit through it to get the the meat you need, you can just right to the combos.

The next section is full of combinations!!!
Some combos focus on beautiful lines and shapes with simple shapes that everyone can grab on to. Some combos focus on accentuating the rhythm , some tell a story, some are simple and streamlined making it beautiful yet accessible to all levels, others are more challenging with layering and many moves. I wanted to provide an entire chocolate box of delicious candies that a dancer could pick out the movements that best suited their personality

Then I took all those lovely combination’s and put them into practice flows. So that the dancer could practice these moves and record them into their muscle memory allowing for easy recall during an improv performance with out having to think hard. There is a practice flow to each rhythm covered in the dvd.

What level of learner is this video aimed at?
Every time I see a dancer perform to slow music, her own personality and style comes out. From advanced to beginner no two dancers are the same when dancing slowly- it accesses something deep and personal. It is really quite magical.

This dvd has things accessible for the beginner and challenges them as they grow. It also has things for the more advanced dancer, and makes it easy for them to skip over the simpler things they already know. It also provides practice flows for those who just want to keep toned and dance along with another dancer without having to sit through instructions just to practice the movements- Jump in and start dancing!

Do you teach a choreography on this video?
I intentionally did not teach a choreography. I want each dancer to find their own inner voice with slow performance. I included some of my improv performances that show me drawing from the movements I taught. This allows for the concept of creating a structured improv and allowing the emotion of the moment to guide a dancer without proscribing something fixed.

I was very taken witht he beautiful chiftitelli you performed on your Turkish DVD. How do you engage your emotions so that they come through so strongly in the dance?
Music that inspires is a must. after that it is nice to have a concept that you then act out- so hear the music- see what visual story it is telling then act out that story.

Do you cover arm work in OM? The arms and hands need to be so eloquent in with slow dancing…
Yes- “poses” are covered- the entire body line and breath of that pose. picture perfect moments are always so memorable to the audience.

A few months ago, I quite by chance discovered an album titled Nekyia Vol 1. That was when I discovered the global fusion group, Drumspyder. A mix of Middle East, Indian, jazz, gypsy and other elements, it was great for tribal fusion – and it was just great listening. I was thrilled when Drumspyder recently came out with a a Nekyia Vol 2. The group’s “Slinky” and “Firebird” particularly got me. I caught up with drummer, Scott Sterling, to ask him about their unsuual music:

Scott, if you were to describe your music in one word, what would it be? It’s tough picking one word, because global fusion artists usually like to string words together, like “Middle-Eastern-breakbeat-Afro-dub, mixed with shades of gypsy jazz and the kitchen sink”. But I have to say one word, it would be “rhythm”. I have always been primarily interested in rhythm: its connection with dance, its energetic and trance-inducing properties. I have been a drummer for most of my life, much longer than I have been into Middle Eastern percussion or global fusion music. Rhythm, drumming, and dance are the reasons that I play music.

I don’t suppose artists like to be slotted into categories, but how would you describe the two Nekyia albums?
They reflect the rhythms I was into at the time, Arabic but with a lot of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian influence, hence the two “Desert Sambas” and the clave-based rhythm of “El Gato Loco”. Also the inspiration of working with dancer Kristina Canizares (www.nekyiadance.com) who is accomplished at Samba and Cuban dance forms as well as bellydance, jazz and circus arts. It’s music that was meant primarily for choreography, composed with a stage show in mind, whereas the upcoming album will be more of an evenly split orientation between music for bellydance performance and tracks designed for DJs.

Do you mostly perform with the Nekyia dancers? Is your music exclusive to them?
The Nekyia isn’t active at the moment, but I still create music which Kristina and other former Nekyians, such as Summer Sahar, use in their performances. Some of these new pieces will be out on DVD in 2009, as well as last year’s  Nekyia work on HMCs “Tales of Desire”. Although I don’t technically have a contract of exclusivity with Kristina, she somehow seems to get her hands on my new tracks first!  

What are your own favorite tracks on Nekyia 1 and 2?
“Pure Catnip” started it all; it was the first original track I gave to Kristina for group choreography, back in 2005. I still think of it as the “signature piece” for the Nekyia, and it was always part of our live performances right through the end of 2008. “Desert Samba 1″ and “Slinky” are my other favorites from Vol. 1, and since they were also a staple of so many live shows, I just had to put the final extended mixes on Vol. 2. On Vol. 2, a couple of pieces are associated with some very memorable shows. “Firebird” is a remix of a piece I did for the Crucible production of Stravinsky’s “Firebird” ballet in Oakland, CA. The track was originally at a moment when the firebird dancer rides on stage in an actual ‘79 Pontiac Firebird, complete with flames spewing out of the grill. “Desert Samba 2″ was one of the last Nekyia ensemble pieces, really hot choreography. For me, “Catnip”, “Slinky” and the two “Desert Sambas” are the tracks that sum up the Nekyia vibe.

What music bands do you admire a lot?
Mainly I admire the great drummers/percussionists like Mahmoud Fadl (Drummers of the Nile, Salamat) and Adam Rudolph, who has done some great fusion work with Hassan Hakmoun and wrote a book (”Pure Rhythm”) which I practice with constantly. I’m actually not sure what category I’m in besides “drummers”. They have always been my musical heroes no matter what the style of music. Then there are fellow fusion producers/DJs such as Jef Stott and David Starfire, who I have had the pleasure of playing with and watching their work develop – a great inspiration to me.

What music do you listen to a lot?
Mostly old and traditional stuff; that’s where there is so much to learn from. Classical Arabic music from Syria and Egypt, Morrocan Gnawa Music, North african music i general, Medieval European troubador songs and religious choral music…those are some things that I have in rotation. I’ve been rediscovering Medieval music lately, something that I used to listen to a lot in years past.

Am I imagining things or are there Indian traces in your music?
Yes, there are samples and instruments in there from India, and one of my favorite instruments these days is the harmonium, which has become associated with India and Pakistan, although it was actually invented in Europe. I work primarily in Middle Eastern and early European (modal) scales, but there enough similarities between the styles that they can be mixed, maybe adjusting a note here and there.

Have you ever been to India?
No, but I would like to. I haven’t been off the North American continent in the past few years except to Japan for a tour, and I’m dying to go to the Middle East and North Africa to study. There is in particular a Moroccan percussionist (Ali Alaoui) that I’d love to get some lessons from, but I would have to step up my study of Arabic, or perhaps learn French, because he teaches in that language also. India would be a whole different trip, but maybe it will happen someday.

Do you think we’re in a real age of global fusion?
Yes. Music is global fusion now and I love it. Whenever and wherever a new style of music comes up, someone, perhaps halfway around the globe, is listening, downloading it, remixing it, mutating it into something new. The accessibility and connectivity between different musical cultures at this time is amazing. I am very happy to be a musician in the 21st century.

What is your next album like?
It is going to be much more of a DJ album and music that I will be playing live solo (a combination of laptop beats and live percussion). But don’t worry, there is going to be plenty of material there for dancers– almost all of the tracks are going to be full of tabla breaks and rhythm changes, and there is going to be at least one new bellydance drum solo.

When you talk to Michelle Joyce, it’s clear that she absolutely loves what she has chosen to do in life. She’s full of vitality and energy and is extremely productive and prolific. She has a huge amount of warmth for people, which helps her bring people together to work with her, and she has the most winning smile ever. I caught up with the busy dancer video producer to ask her about some of her upcoming DVDs.

Michelle, you have a whole lot of new DVDs coming up from Cheeky Girls. . Your fans are excited! Which of these projects excites you the most, right now?
I am just coming off the high of the last By Dancers For Dancers Show (it was March 1), so I am really excited about the upcoming performance DVDs.  I was backstage all night, so I didn’t get to see hardly anyone dancing.  I could only see their shadows against the back of the stage.

Now that I am editing it, I am having a great time.  It is the best performance footage we have captured yet.

I’m also really excited about Combination Nation…

Oh yes, I’m so curious about  Combination Nation… you have some 15 dancers featured. What is going to be like? A combination by each?
The day before the By Dancers For Dancers show we all went down to the studio and filmed this Combination Nation.  I wasn’t even sure what to expect because I only told the dancers to please come with 1-2 intermediate level combinations that are around 32 – 64 counts each.  I intentionally left it a bit loose so that the dancers could be as creative as they wanted.

We got a wide range of stuff, from bellydance-jazz fusion, to a Saiidi cane duet, to modern Egyptian, to traditional Raks Sharki.  It was so cool!  As the camerawoman, it was like taking mini workshops with all my favorite dancers.

You didn’t think it would be difficult to work with so many dancers for an instructional DVD?
I had worried about that a little before doing it.  Making an instructional DVD can be a very stressful and emotional experience.  Putting yourself out there is never easy and often times people can freeze up when they have to speak directly to a camera.

I try to make the set as friendly as possible and I try to be really mellow and supportive.  We didn’t allow any men on the set at all, which makes a difference.  I am the whole production crew.

Also, I try to only work with dancers who I either know, or who have a reputation as being easy going and professional.  So there was no drama at all.  The only thing that might have been frustrating for the dancers was all of the waiting around before their turn.  Some dancers didn’t want others watching them as they presented, so people were sort of locked in the dressing area for extended periods of time.  I felt a little bit like my father at my childhood slumber parties because I kept having to go to the dressing room to asking them to keep it down.  I don’t know what they were doing back there, but it sounded pretty fun!

Why not make Combination Nation a set, or even put the lot on one DVD?
Combination Nation is going to be a series.  It works perfectly to shoot it on the By Dancers For Dancers weekend… so there should be many more to come.  We have 4 hours of footage from the shoot we just did, plus we want to put some performances on there as extras, so it is simply too much for one disc.

Each disc will be about 2 hours of content and will be sold for $19.99.  A much, much better deal than similar DVDs on the market, which are both shorter and more expensive.

Sounds like a very good idea to me. Leveraging the For Dancers by Dancers set up and getting more out of it. What about Ballet for Belly Dancers. Who conceptualized that?
I did.  It started when I was an audition finalist for the Bellydance Superstars and Jillina told us all that we should be taking ballet every single day.  I hate ballet and I have started and stopped taking it at many times in my life.  I can always see how the strength and balance training helps my belly dancing, but I just wasn’t ever able to stick with it.  I always wished there was a Ballet for Belly Dancers class near me.

Once I saw that there was a general interest in the topic I started searching for the right instructor.  Brianna did a great job.

How has your own dancing changed since you went full time video producer?
Ugh, that is a touchy question.  I imagined myself practicing a lot more once I stopped working outside of the house.  I spend a lot of time in front of my computer editing and updating my websites, and not as much time dancing.  There is just so much to do!  I know of many professional dancers who feel the same way and talk with them about it all the time.  Promoting yourself takes a lot of time away from your dance.

All last year I filmed festivals in the Bay Area instead of dancing in them. That bummed me out. I think that I won’t film hardly any festivals this year and that I will try and put more focus on my dancing.  I am enrolled in a few dance classes at my local community college (jazz, ballet, and Broadway), which has helped me to start getting back on track.

The biggest thing that has changed for me is that I a now doing a lot of workshops.  More people know me from my DVDs now.  I love traveling and doing workshops…  it gives me motivation to work on my dance and is a wonderful opportunity to meet people.

You do much of the video-making work yourself, don’t you?
I actually do almost everything myself.  Obviously if I am in front of the camera then someone else is doing the filming, but for the most part I do all the filming, editing, box cover design, and website maintenance.  I sounds like it would be a giant pain to do all that, but I love doing it all.  It feels so good to be independent.  I am always in the process of taking online graphic design classes and stuff. I love not having to rely on anyone else to meet my deadline or being forced to give up artistic control.

Does your husband help you with it all?
A lot of people assume that because my husband is a TV producer that he does all the editing.  I do use him as an occasional sounding board, but  I really do all of it myself.

Well, how do you turn it around so fast, then?
How do I do it so fast?  I don’t really know.  I have a laptop and I got a lot of work done on airplanes this year.  I recently took a 17 hour flight (each way) to Australia, and got both of Nanna’s DVDs edited in the air!  Editing is always what takes the longest.  The shoot is usually just one or two days, but the editing can drag on for months.

And I hate the feeling of having projects half completed.  I can sit in front of my computer all night long to get something edited.  It is very easy to edit something that you have shot yourself.  I always do some mental editing while filming a DVD, then it is just a matter of sitting down and doing it.  If I wait for more than a day or two to start the editing, I won’t remember what I was planning to do and it takes way longer.

Do you work as a physical personal trainer? With all the shows, videos and promotional work you’re busy with?
No, I let my personal trainer license elapse.

Do you still do horseback gymnastics?
No, I haven’t been on a horse in 10 years.  It is such a rare sport that there aren’t many places where you can do it on a drop in basis, rather than being on a competitive team. I would love to do it again just to see if I still can!  Funny, I also learned that Summer Sahar (in the By Dancers For Dancers Series) was also into horseback gymnastics in high school.

What made you want to take up counseling?
I have always been very interested in women’s issues.  Even in high school I volunteered at a rape crisis center.  It is very rewarding work.  I have worked in domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, in the foster care system, and at suicide crisis centers.  Then I started to burn out a bit.  It is very taxing work and it doesn’t pay much.  I started teaching Psychology at a local college, which was fun.  But when I got laid off from that job it seemed like the perfect time to go full speed ahead with Cheeky Girls.

When is Cheeky Girls coming up with the Taqsim video? And with whom?
Unknown – but I would like to do it as some point

Do you dance a lot of Turkish style? Considering you’ve lived there. and would you consider a Turkish style instructional video?
A few people have mentioned that they would like a Turkish instructional.  If I find the right instructor I would totally do it.  But that instructor isn’t me.  Even though I lived there for a bit, I don’t consider myself Turkish style.

Which of your videos are the most popular right now?
It is funny, but Perfect Hips has sold the most copies. That one was only thrown together with the extra footage from a long day of shooting (we did 4 DVDs in one day!).  It was just meant to me for the general public and I never expected it would do so well.

Pop, Lock and Shimmy is a close second and Drills x3 is third.  I am always tempted to re-shoot and re-release all of them.  As I do more DVDs, I learn more and get better.  I try to never look at DVDs I have already released for fear of seeing things that I would do differently now!

Though the Secrets of the Stage series isn’t a top seller, that is the one I am most proud of.

What are your plans for the rest of 2009?
I have 9 DVDs in the works (Combination Nation x2, Ballet for Belly Dancers, Nanna x2, By Dancers For Dancers x2, Vibrant Veil Work, and Combinography), so that should keep me busy.  I’m also going on a workshop tour of Australia in the summer, which should be really fun.

When a friend of mine suggested I interview the beautiful belly dancer Rania Bossonis, I said oh hey, why not! Practically every belly dance learner has some of her videos and yet, we know nothing about her. Yes, she’s made a ton of videos on dance and fitness and she’s won Belly Dancer of the Universe awards…  But what does Rania think of her life as a belly dancer and fitness instructor?

There’s so little about Rania the person on the internet that I’d really like to start with that. When did you first get into dancing and what is it that made it happen?
I saw my first belly dancer at a Greek restaurant when I was 8 years old. I will never forget her. She was beautiful and had amazing rhythm and control. She wore a light blue costume. In all my 20-something years as a dancer, I have owned hundreds of costumes, but never a light blue one, because none would compare to that first one that I saw on that dancer when I was 8 years old.

I began taking Bellydance classes, as well as African, Ballet and Modern, when I was 13 years old. I also was a gymnast from age 8-12.

You’re basically Greek, right? Did you grow up there? Do you go there often? And do you do any Greek style belly dancing?
Yes, I am Greek, but I grew up in New York. I go to Greece every few years. I love Greek style Bellydancing, it is somewhat similar to Turkish, but with a different attitude and flair. I love the speed, endurance and skill of the Greek and Turkish styles. I have won awards for both Greek/Turkish and Egyptian styles.

What does your family think of your dancing?
My dad passed away before I did my first show. My mom was really proud of me; when she saw my videos in a store, she would move them to the top shelf… The rest of my family gave me a hard time for obvious reasons, but they did respect the fact that I only accepted shows in nice theaters and events. Now I no longer do regular performances, I only perform at special events, videos or when I teach workshops.

Do you have a job besides all your dancing-related work?
Yes. I have an MBA in Marketing and do Marketing and Business Development.

How do you get time for anything else, what with dancing, fitness, making videos, traveling, teaching?
Yes, Yes, and Yes. Time flies. I am a personal trainer and work out with clients in the mornings. I create choreographies and take dance classes in my spare time, I teach weekly classes, and travel to other countries to teach the various ethnic dances, choreography and fitness.

What do you like to do to just chill!
The beach. Cooking Greek food. Painting. Yoga. Talking to old friends on the phone.

Was it fitness first for you or dancing?
I think that because Gymnastics was the first discipline I trained in, it is a combination of dance and sport. I did study dance first, but also became a fitness instructor at age 17.

Who inspired your dance most?
Wow.. Difficult question. I think that changes with time. Early on I went through my Suzanna Del Vecchio phase, my Eva Cernick phase, my Ibrahim Farrah phase, the Mona El Said phase, Samia Gamal, Dina, Mahmoud Reda & Farida Fahmy, and Zahra Zuhair.

And what sort of music do you really really love?
More difficult questions!! I love Classical, Opera, Heavy Metal, Greek, Egyptian, Lebanese, Hip Hop…. All music is fantastic and is nourishment for the soul. I am also listening now to some popular Bollywood numbers, like songs from Dhoom II…

What style of dancing attracts you the most? You look as if you enjoy Turkish the most…
I wanted to play the piano since I was 5 years old, but my parents did not want me to study music. Therefore my passion for music is reflected in the dances. So, to answer your question, the style of dance has to fit the song. If there is Classical Egyptian music playing, the music begs me to dance the Egyptian style and interpret the music. If there is fast Greek or Turkish music, of course I will put on my finger cymbals and go full speed ahead… But it is always about the music first.

You have 16 or so videos… a lot by any standards! Do you conceptualize them yourself totally?
Twenty videos. But who’s counting. Some were my idea, like Too Hip and Hipper Than Hip, but mostly I was hired to do what the producers wanted. This was difficult because often I could not choose my own music, I had to use whatever music they had the rights to. Sometimes the producers placed harsh restrictions on the content. For example, in my first video series, they said they had to be beginner videos, and each move had to be so basic that someone could learn it the first time they saw it. Then they called all the executives in a conference room and made me show them the moves used in the routine. If the executives couldn’t do a move the first time I showed them, they removed that move from the program. I felt like I was in some bizarre comedy movie, watching executives in suits trying to bellydance, and then being told that if they couldn’t bellydance, the moves would be removed. Weird.

For you, what are the highlights of your dance life?
Making the first videos, winning the competitions, going on the first tour with the Bellydance Superstars, opening for Dwight Yoakam, going on MTV, writing a book, and having the amazing opportunity to travel to other countries and make friends. But the biggest highlight is the reward of being a teacher and watching students progress and achieve.

One of the complaints that your DVD buyers have is that there is often a lot of repeated material across videos and no indication of that in the marketing literature. So, they end up buying a video only to find that the material’s been covered on something they have already. What would you say about that?
There was one video company that I no longer work with (Natural Journeys/Goldhil) that would release a DVD consisting of footage from other DVDs. Or, they would shoot a new DVD, and use older footage as the DVD ‘bonus’ material. I have no control over this; they make these decisions without speaking with the artist, and to be honest, they treated me VERY poorly.

You’ve tried different blends on your fitness videos – which one do you think works best?
Of the videos that blend styles, I think Belly Yoga works best. But otherwise, my favorites are Cardio Shimmy, Hipper Than Hip and Too Hip, because they are just Bellydance, but very effective workout routines.

Do you really think belly dancing can bring about weight loss?
Yes. Absolutely. 100%. The whole thing started when I was a working dancer doing 6-10 shows per week, and teaching 3 hours per week. People used to ask me if I lifted weights or ran marathons, why was I in such good shape… I would reply that I just bellydance A LOT. Bellydance movements are gentle on the body, and are very good for the spine (if performed correctly). They stretch and strengthen the muscles at the same time, as does Yoga, but with the added benefit of Cardio. During the video shoots I had a big bowl of M&Ms and was eating constantly, but still lost weight during the shoot.

I receive emails from people all over the world who do the workouts once per day and have lost a lot of weight. My friend Kristina lost 34 lbs. in one year, and my friend Jaclyn lost 50 lbs. These were both people that lost the weight and then emailed me to tell me they lost weight, and we ended up becoming friends. Life is cool like that.

Now M&Ms, I could not mind at all! I have to step up my bellydancing if you’re saying it definitely makes one lose weight. I notice from reviews of your videos that it’s belly dancers that are the most critical of your fitness DVDs. Why would yo think that is?
I think they are looking for Bellydance instruction and upset to find that it has been fused with fitness.

Would you think of making an advanced yoga video?
I would love to, however I would want to continue further in my Yoga studies before even considering this idea. I am in awe of Yoga, it is such a beneficial discipline for the mind and body. Amazing.

Do you think yoga would work better than belly dancing to shape, sculpt and bring about weight loss?
I think that Yoga builds more strength and muscle tone, whereas Bellydance is more of a gentle toning combined with Cardio. They both boost metabolism. I do notice that people who consistenly do Yoga have better muscle development in the upper body (shoulders, arms and back). I also strongly believe that bellydance is also great for stress relief because of the element of self expression. Because the movements are small, isolated and internal, all the women learn the same moves, but the dance seldom looks the same on two people.

What’s next on the video scene for you? Are there any more in the making?
I don’t have any video plans in the near future. The ones I really would like to make, such as an in-depth instructional dvd, are out of my budget at this time. And my real joy is in teaching. Videos are good for working out or as a supplement to taking lessons, but there is no substitute for the classroom environment where the teacher and student can interact. So I prefer to teach classes more than to perform or make videos.

Some of Rania’s paintings:

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.

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I had already been working hard on isolations with Ariellah’s video when I got Asharah’s Modern Tribal Bellydance DVD. I was thrilled at the increase in difficulty level and the sheer length of it. For a whole year I worked with this DVD, sometimes on many chunks of it, adding up to two hours and sometimes  just the warm up segment, which in itself is some 55 minutes. I realized that it’s important to stick with a particular workout to really see the benefits, so I didn’t try experimenting much with others, except for using a shorter warm up from East Coast Tribal if I was in a hurry. And I was right. Asharah’s warm up and conditioning increased my strength and flexibility in addition to getting those isolaitons truly isolated.  For a video-only learner, her video has been a godsend.

I’ve used your DVD all year long – have you got such feedback from others?
Yes… and most of the feedback I’ve received is positive, which makes me really happy.  It warms my heart when people say that they think it’s the best instructional DVD they own, or when non-tribal dancers say that they love the technique drills.  It’s a great compliment when someone tells me that my DVD kicked their ass.  So far, I haven’t seen any overwhelmingly negative reviews either, which makes me feel pretty accomplished.  And now Borders Books is carrying my DVD in their fitness section, and that makes me feel proud of my work.

How difficult was it to make this video?
Planning and filming this DVD was quite difficult, before, during, and after it was completed.  I spent several months going over the material on the DVD, and because I’m an incurable perfectionist, I was changing the program the week before filming.  I wanted to offer something different, something harder for the intermediate dancers, but I also had to make sure it was accessible to beginning dancers.

Just to give readers some perspective:  In one weekend, we spent 11 hours in the studio filming the DVD: eight hours on Saturday and three hours on Sunday.  We spent two hours that Monday taking photos for the cover, during which I had to contort myself into positions that made me look taller and leaner (and it worked, right?  LOL).  A month later, I spent over 11 hours reviewing the first edit of the DVD.  I have no idea how long it took to actually edit the footage and make sure the sound was lined up with the video.

What a lot of people don’t know is that I completely wore myself out making it.  I really poured my heart, soul, and body into this project because I… I don’t compromise myself or my art.  I really wanted to make this product the best that it could be, and that meant that I neglected my physical health for the sake of my own personal integrity.  I was ill for two months afterward: constant headaches, achy joints, exhaustion, irritability, nausea when I tried to eat, allergic reactions to foods I normally could eat like dairy and eggs.  It was terrible. After a barrage of blood tests for everything under the sun–HIV, mononucleosis, thyroid disorders, blood sugar levels, anemia, hepatitis, even vitamin D–and multiple visits to the doctor, my doctor determined that I was exhausted and prescribed that I go back to weekly yoga classes.  The other thing about me that most dancers don’t know is that I work full-time, and I teach dance classes two evenings a week.  So, I made a DVD in one weekend, only to go back to work immediately, never giving myself time to rest or recuperate. Don’t try this at home, kids!

Oh my god. You do look cool and relaxed in the video though. Do you remember anything amusing from the video filming?
The only incident that I can think of involves my red foam roller.  I brought my therapeutic foam roller–which I use to relax and massage my muscles, particularly the iliotibial band along the outside of my legs–with me to the video shoot.  Between takes, I took a moment to roll out my legs, and Neon, in her cute Russian accent says to co-producer Scott Shuster, “Look Scott!  Asharah has a giant red hot dog!”  I’m not sure how well that story translates in words alone, but at the time, it was rather funny.

Neon is funny – and I love her accent. How much of this video is based on what Suhaila does in her courses? And what does she think of your video?
The warm-up and technique drills of my DVD are essentially based in the Suhaila Salimpour format.  The “modern tribal movement” and the combinations are mine, but Suhaila and other dancers heavily influenced them.  Suhaila Salimpour, as some people know, is my dance mentor, and I owe much of my progress not only as a dancer but also as an artist, to her guidance. When World Dance New York asked me to film a DVD, I immediately asked Suhaila for her blessings and for permission to use her format in the program.  She gladly obliged, only asking for acknowledgment in the credits.  I think she’s proud of me that I made this DVD, that it uses her format, and that so many dancers seem to really enjoy it. 

It’s a long, long program to do on an everyday basis though, isn’t it?
Yes… You’re right!  It is a long program!  I never intended dancers to do the entire DVD every day, but I do think that the warm-up and conditioning could be done on a daily basis if someone really wanted to be hardcore.  I wanted to make a DVD program that gave dancers options and that challenged them.  I was getting a little bored with the DVDs in my own library, and I thought, “If I’m getting bored, other dancers are certainly getting bored.”  I think I might have gone a little overboard in just how much material I crammed on to one disc, but the length of the program seems to be something that people like about it. 

I don’t suppose you’re thinking of another DVD yet, are you?
Well, at this point in time I do not plan on making another DVD.  Making the first one wore me out so much, and it took me away from my own personal practice. I currently don’t even know what the next DVD would focus on, so that’s sort of a great unknown.

So, what direction do you see for yourself next in dance?
What direction?  FORWARD!  UPWARD!  Breaking through barriers and preconceived notions about who “Asharah” is.  Haha… OK.  Really…

Currently, I find myself attracted to music with classical elements, such as Venetian Snares’ song “Számar Madár” which samples Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor as performed by Jacqueline DuPre (if you haven’t heard the original concerto, it’s gut-wrenchingly beautiful), and a remix of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata which moves me to tears.  I’ve also been collaborating with a good friend of mine, cellist Samantha Hegre, in performing three movements from J. S. Bach’s cello suite in C minor, where she plays the cello and I dance.  That was her idea, but I also always wanted to dance to Bach, so it works out.

I also see myself becoming more emotional, more open, more me on stage.  I want to move my audiences.  The best compliment someone can give me these days is that my performance made them cry.  That might sound a little sadistic, but to me, that means that I connected with them, and that my audience connected with me.  And that connection is why I make art.

Suzy Evans, head of IAMED or the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance, needs no introduction to belly dancers. Her production company has brought out many performance and instructional videos and held a number of exciting dance events and awards. Here’s a brief hint at what IAMED will be doing as 2009 unfolds.

So how has 2008 been for IAMED/
It’s been a good year. I see a lot of splintering happening in the last couple of years. I don’t necessarily think that’s a good thing.  We may think it’s a big belly dance world, but its not big at all.

Do you see a new direction for IAMED (and I mean videos here0 in 2009? Are you planning on a change of focus at all, or will you be getting into new areas? Changing the profile in any way?
We will continue to produce high quality DVDs filled with excellent content. We will be branching out a bit, but I cannot reveal details of that as yet.

Are we going to see many videos in 2009?
Layers with Leyla
Ultimate Combinations Vol. 3 and 4 – Various instructors
Pops, Locks and Shimmies with Sadie and Kaya – Vol. 2
Arabic Rhythms with Tamra-henna Vol. 2
Fabulous Frills – Various Instructors

We will be holding an instructional shoot in late April.
Pops, Locks and Layers with Sadie and Kaya
A solo instructional with Sadie
A solo instructional with Kaya
And 2 volumes of instructional DVDs with various instructors; the details of which I can not reveal at this time.

Do you plan to work with new dancers not covered before by IAMED?
Yes, the 2 volumes of various instructors will be new to IAMED.

Are you planning to expand your target audience?
Our concentration will be on belly dancers, however we do have the “Art of Belly Dance” beginner line of DVDs.

Whom do you see as competition over 2009?
I don’t see anyone else as competition.

Any chances of a drop in prices for IAMED videos? Now that there are more choices in the market?
No. We still set the standard in belly dance videos. Our production costs have not gone down. It costs many thousands of dollars and a tremendous amount of work to shoot our videos. I would have to sacrifice quality. Lowering prices would affect my resellers in a negative way.  We are also experiencing a heavily inflated US dollar and a down economy so we are already making less money. This is a very small, small niche market. If I was selling hundreds of thousands of them I could afford to sell them for $10.  But no one sells that many.  You can’t judge these DVDs by mass market standards.

When are you coming out with your own video? I’ve heard about how well you dance .

Well, I used to dance well, but I’m rather rusty on my technique these days. We may be holding a 7th Awards show later this year, depending on interest and the economy.