Safiyah Dances | Blog | Cleveland, OH Belly Dancer

Costume Care 101: Spring Cleaning

Safiyah Nour — Sun, 23 May 2010 16:08:00 GMT

It's spring cleaning time for me, which means my costumes get freshened up a little. Because of the intricate beadwork, it's not a good idea to dryclean or wash these garments like we would our normal clothes. But with a few tips, you can keep your costumes smelling fresh and looking new!

I sweat when I dance, so I always leave my used costumes to air out for at least 24 hours. Putting them away wet is just asking for trouble. Inevitably, however, they will always end up a little stinky. To help with this, I mix a 50/50 solution of (cheap) vodka and water in a spray bottle. The vodka will help kill any bacteria that are contributing to the odor.

Of course, as dancers we often encounter less-than-clean situations and we can get dirt on our costumes. Some dancers, who are much braver than I, have developed a handwashing technique. Fill your bathtub with enough water to submerse your skirt. Add some Woolite and gently wash the costume by hand. Remove the skirt, drain the soapy water and replace with fresh water; rinse the skirt. You'll want to leave it to air dry....please be advised that if your costume has sequins, the color may come off in this process. It's for this reason that I've been a little scared to try this method, though I've heard of many dancers that swear by it. I prefer to spot treat with Woolite to carefully remove the stain. That said, I have a skirt that got really dirty at a gig, I might just bite the bullet and wash the whole thing. If I do, I'll post an update!

The final area where I focus on is the bra lining. This gets really dirty as time goes on, so it's a good idea to replace it every once in a while. I try to find a cotton fabric that matches my costume color fairly well. Carefully remove the lining and use it as a pattern to cut the new fabric. Then, handstitch the new lining into the bra. It doesn't have to look perfect; you're probably the only person who will see it! Many people are afraid of touching their costume for fear that it'll fall apart; DON'T be afraid! Every costume I've come across has been crafted so the linings can be replaced, so you're not going to lose any beadwork! If you're not handy with a needle and thread, I definitely recommend that you take some classes.

After you've successfully cleaned your costume, it's very important to store it properly. Some dancers hang their skirts, but I don't care much for this method. The weight from the beadwork can distort the fabric. I store my costumes in canvas boxes; they can "breathe" and won't get musty smelling this way. I carefully roll the skirt up before placing it in the box. The bra goes on top of the skirt, and any accessories are placed next to it.

Nathalie Workshop Hosted by Sherena

Safiyah Nour — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:15:00 GMT

I've been really busy lately and haven't had the time to discuss this event that happened last weekend. All I can say is WOW. The workshop was great; Nathalie is a totally energetic dancer who's willing to share all her knowledge. I unfortunately couldn't make it to the Sunday workshop but I'm really looking forward to getting a report from some attendees.

The show was so much fun! I was really anxious because of the stage setup, which was in the middle of the room...raised so that I'd have to go up 3-4 stairs first. I don't really get along well with stairs; I have a tendency to trip or miss steps as I'm going up or down. Thankfully, there were no accidents. The crowd was great, and there were dancers from Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Medina, southern Ohio and Pittsburgh. I, for one, LOVE to see new dancers so I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone work it out on the stage. I can't wait to get the DVD so I can see some dancers I missed. I'll also probably be posting my performance sometime soon, provided everything turned out well.

It's weekends like these that remind me why I'm dancing and why I spend so much time working to get better. It gave me a huge boost of motivation and creativity that's serving well for my next project

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

I have a new video to share!

Safiyah Nour — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:24:00 GMT

Well, I had a bloated blog entry all written out and it vanished into cyberspace...I guess my blog decided it wasn't good enough to be published Let's see if I can give you the basic idea of what I wanted to say.

A few weeks ago I was invited to perform at a hafla Kan Zaman restaurant in Cleveland. It's a really great hookah bar with live Arabic music and dancing every Saturday night. The food is also excellent; very flavorful and authentic. Also, if you're not familiar with the term "hafla" it literally means "party" in Arabic, but bellydancers use it to refer to a fairly informal gathering of dancers; everyone takes turns dancing to a song. There were some amazing dancers there that night, and it's always fun to see all my dance friends in one place!

One of the attendees was kind enough to tape my performance for me, and she posted it to youtube so I could see it. I think it's very important for every dancer to watch themselves on video so she can see what needs work and what's improved. I have a camcorder in my practice area and tape myself at least once a week, but there's nothing like a live performance to really see how you're doing.

Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd2fI9ZF8eY

Obviously you'll notice that the drum solo audio wasn't all there...we had some technical difficulties so about 1/3 of it ended up in silence. I was a little bummed but these things happen and part of being a pro is knowing how to deal with it. Overall I was pleased with the performance; I can see progress and maturity in my dance and there are some things that need work (but that will always be the case--nobody on this earth is perfect!)

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

"How did you get into bellydancing?"

Safiyah Nour — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:08:00 GMT

Anyone who knows me is fully aware that I'm very much obsessed with belly dance. It's all-consuming; there's not a day where I don't think about it, do it, talk about it. The fact is, this dance changed my life. I want to share my story of how I got involved in belly dance, and I'll try not to sound like a bad infomercial while I do so

When I was a teenager I saw a series of belly dance instructional videos in a mail order catalog. They were titled Fast Moves and Slow Moves. I put them on my birthday list; something about the idea of bellydancing just hit a nerve. I had never seen a dancer but it seemed exotic, beautiful. I was intrigued. So when I unwrapped the two VHS tapes on my birthday I was thrilled. My friends all came over for a sleepover and we spent all night trying to imitate the dancers...we had no hip scarves but tied blankets, scraps of cloth, whatever we could find. We had an absolute blast! All of us were enthralled by these dancers--what they were able to do with their bodies and how confident they seemed.

I didn't even think to look for a live instructor in my area. But when I went away for college my mom wanted to find an activity to bring us together more often. She found an instructor with the help of Shira.net and told me to make my Wednesday nights free. I was shocked that here in Cleveland we have bellydance instructors (note: we actually have a very thriving scene here, but I just didn't know it) and I was really excited to experience the dance live and in person. My first class went well and there were many, many classes thereafter. My first workshop was with the best: Zahra Zuhair. I've had the opportunity to study with her many more times but this first workshop holds a special place with me. I left that workshop feeling very challenged; who knew there would be so much to learn. It really is more than just shaking around!!

Over the years I started to notice a change in myself. My confidence boosted big time as I found I was able to do movements I originally thought were impossible. My posture got much better; I carried myself well. Muscles became toned, my sciatica disappeared and I was feeling great. When I started dancing professionally in the restaurant/nightclub circuit I learned to be sociable and assertive.

What can I say, have always loved to perform and bellydance provides me with a great outlet where I can be artistic, athletic and beautiful all at once!

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

Spring Hafla Time!

Safiyah Nour — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:08:00 GMT

Winter can be hard in Cleveland; I hate the cold and there's a lull in local bellydance events. We all tend to hibernate over the cold months. That's why it's always exciting when Cassandra organizes the springtime hafla at Kan Zaman Restaurant! It's like the first sign of spring. Do you enjoy any of the following?

good belly dancing
good Middle Eastern food
hookah

If so, you DEFINITELY need to come. Even if you're not sure if it sounds like your scene, COME! You'll get great entertainment and good food for a really reasonable price. Here's the details:

When: Saturday, March 13
Where: Kan Zaman Restaurant, 1616 W 25th Street, Cleveland
Cost: $5 cover
Reservations are suggested, so call 216-621-2222

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

So you want to take a belly dance class

Safiyah Nour — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:09:00 GMT

So you want to take a belly dance class, but you're not sure what to expect. How do you find a teacher? What should you wear? What will class be like?

The first step, logically, is to find an instructor in your area. It's really important to find a teacher who matches your needs. Every student comes into the classroom for different reasons. Do you want a cardio or fitness-based class, or are you more interested in learning a performance-based form? There are actually many different styles within the world of belly dance (I'll save this for a future blog post), and you might not know what style you're most interested in. That's OK; I encourage people to check out several different teachers when they first start out to discover what interests them and what teaching style "clicks" best. Check shira.net for a really thorough listing of instructors in your area.

Once you find your teacher, what's next? A lot of students wonder what to wear to class. For some reason people think that everyone bares their belly in the classroom, and that's definitely NOT the case. Most people wear the same clothing you'd wear to a yoga class: yoga pants and a tank top/t-shirt. My only advice is to avoid wearing anything super baggy since it's hard for the teacher to see your form.

You may also want to purchase a hip scarf to wear during class. This isn't critical, but most dancers will tie something around their hips. Ask your teacher for advice; I personally do not like coined or beaded hip scarves since they make a lot of distracting noise and shed all over the place, leaving a mess on the floor that can create a hazard for other students. I much prefer fringed fabric scarves. Some teachers have policies that only allow fabric scarves because of the hazards stated previously. I found a few scarves at my local Marshall's or Target when fringed shawls were popular. They can also be found on dahlal.com, a wonderful source for all things belly dance. Additionally, lrosedesigns.com custom makes scarves (they also make skirts, pants and tops--great quality and a blessing for those of us with irregular inseams since these items are made to measure).

Shoes aren't necessary, but I do feel that it's important to properly cover your feet to protect from whatever is on the floor. Dance shoes also make it easier to spin and turn (more important as you progress into intermediate/advanced classes). Here are a few types of shoes that work:

Lyrical sandals. These suede shoes only cover the ball of your foot. They're great if you like to use your toes to grip the floor but want a little suede to aid in spinning/turning.
Ballet slippers. Full-coverage with a suede bottom; these are inexpensive and a great option for everyday classes.
Hermes sandals. These are lace-up shoes that fully cover the bottom of your foot with a suede sole. A lot of dancers use these in performances because of the way they look. The straps can be replaced with colored cords to match costumes, too!
Jazz boots. This is what I use in rehearsals and workshops because they cover my whole foot and have a hard rubber split sole. The rubber is awesome on carpeted surfaces; I hate dancing with suede on a carpet because it builds up friction. A lot of workshops will be held in hotel conference centers, which are carpeted.
Ballroom shoes. Most beginning dancers do not begin with ballroom shoes. These are what most dancers will wear during a performance because they match our glamorous costumes. If you're looking for affordable ballroom shoes, I highly recommend Bold Expressions. They custom make shoes in many styles and color combinations, so you can literally have a shoe for every costume!

You can purchase any of these types of shoes at your local dance supply store or online. I like to use Discount Dance Supply because they have great customer service and competitive prices.

Okay, so we know what to wear and what we might want to buy. Now let's talk about a few small etiquette items.

Don't talk when the instructor is explaining anything. A no-brainer, you'd think, but a lot of people miss very important information because they're chatting with their friends. It will also irritate the people around you!
A related item: if you're wearing a coin hip scarf, don't shimmy around while the instructor is talking. Your jingling will distract your classmates!
Try to make sure everyone can see themselves in the mirror. If you're in the front, just do a quick check to make sure the people behind you can see themselves...everyone wants to make sure they look nice while dancing, and it's a small thing that makes a big difference!
If the instructor offers correction, don't take it personally. If you knew everything, you'd be the only person in the world with nothing to learn! Corrections aren't meant to embarrass you, they're meant to make you a better dancer. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES

The final and most important item to bring with you is a good attitude! Have fun with your class and be willing to learn! Not everything will come easily; this artform is MUCH more difficult than it looks. But with hard work and a good attitude you'll be well on your way to becoming a great dancer.

RECAP:

Wear comfortable yoga clothes
Dance shoes are optional but recommended
A hip scarf is the only investment you may want to make, but it's not required
Keep in mind general classroom etiquette
Bring your positive attitude

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

*DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with any of the vendors listed in this post or on this website. Any endorsement is through my personal experience as a consumer.

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

Finding Music for Bellydance

Safiyah Nour — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:43:00 GMT

When first starting out, it can be a little overwhelming to find new music. Usually Middle Eastern music is very different from what we're used to, and it's hard to figure out where to begin. But with the help of the internet, it's become much easier!

First, I want everyone to be aware that not every song is suitable for dancing. The Middle East is a very complex region and if you don't know what you're dancing to, you might offend someone. The best bet is to start with CDs created with the bellydancer in mind (you can usually tell because there's a dancer on the cover). Also, check out my previous post about finding song translations. PLEASE don't dance to a song unless you know what it's about! Some songs can be political or religious and you will look like a fool if you dance to this kind of music.

If you're internet savvy, I suggest looking on amazon.com, emusic.com and iTunes first. You can preview music selections and they give you recommendations based on what other people have bought. You can listen to samples to see if you like it; then browse through what other people have bought. I have bought the vast majority of my dance music online because I love instant gratification and I really appreciate hearing samples of the music ahead of time. It's really convenient, and I love convenience!

There's a GREAT website that catalogs the various songs that can bedownloaded from the internet: www.bellydancedownloads.com.

If you're not so web savvy, you can still find plenty of music at your local Borders or Barnes & Noble. They have a Middle Eastern section in their world music!

Here's a list of 5 great bellydance CDs with links to their download page on Amazon.com. I prefer Amazon because it's really inexpensive, doesn't require a monthly subscription and your file comes in mp3 format so it's easy to edit songs if you need to:

1. A Tribute To Om Kalsoum - Every dancer needs to become familiar with Om Kalsoum's music. This CD is a great start.

2. Jalilah's Raks Sharki Vol. 1 - Jalilah has several volumes out and they're all great, and I honestly can't choose just one. I listed Vol. 1 because of the awesome recordings of Mashaal and Lissa Fakir. All of Jalilah's volumes are available on iTunes, Amazon, etc.

3. Bellydance Superstars - There's a nice mixture of pop and orchestral music.

4. 10 Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know - The title says it all!

5. Layali Al Sharq - A couple drum solos, some folkloric music and lots of great, high-energy songs.

This is a great start; listen to the samples and see if you like the music. I purposely didn't include much pop music, but a few of my favorite artists are Nancy Ajram, Nawal Al-Zoghbi, and Amr Diab. All three of these artists have greatest hits CDs - a good way to get familiar with their music.

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

YAY! My new website is complete!

Safiyah Nour — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:32:00 GMT

I have had the same website design for a while. As I looked at it, I realized I didn't care much for the look. It was black and red (which complements the photo I used) and it didn't have a whole lot of space for content. I had used a free template found online and modified it a bit for my purposes. You see, I don't really have much experience developing websites; I just learn as I go along. I do have Adobe Dreamweaver, but it's still not the easiest task for a novice like me to navigate through code.

In addition to not liking the aesthetics of the site, I noticed not many people were sticking on my site for very long. Of course not! There wasn't enough content to stay around. I wanted to add my Twitter feed and a blog section so people can keep up-to-date on what I'm doing and also get more information on bellydance.

So I decided to start fresh...I used a template from Dreamweaver so I'd have a little structure but more creative freedom. I created a brand new logo (which I LOOOOVE and can't wait to design new business cards with it) and based the new color theme off of my beautiful double veils.

Shameless plug: I recently performed with the double veils at Kelli Belly's holiday show, so be on the lookout for a new video posting!

After playing with the design for a while, I think I'm pretty happy with it. I've got more content and my blog is being fed to the website. Everything is still a work in progress--isn't it always--but as it stands I'm very satisfied. Please feel free to drop me a line & let me know what you think!

http://www.safiyahdances.com

How to find song translations

Safiyah Nour — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:45:00 GMT

I wanted to compile this list in case anyone is having trouble finding
a translation to a song. It is extremely important to know the meaning
of a song you're dancing to; a song with political/religious undertones
can insult your audience. Also consider how awful it'd be to play a
song about heartbreak at a wedding! Here are some sites I've found
helpful; if I remember any more I'll add them:

http://www.shawshara.com/w..iki/Category:Songs

*this site is searchable by artist; just type their name in the search
box. Keep in mind that songs and artist names can be spelled
differently; Arabic is a completely different alphabet; words are
spelled phonetically and it's not an exact science.

http://www.arabicmusictran..slation.com/

*one of my favorites; this guy puts youtube videos with the songs so you can listen along. Also check out his other site http://egyptianarabiccours..e.blogspot.com/ for some Arabic lessons that use songs in the lesson plan.

http://orientaldancer.net/

*check out the "Arabic Song Lyrics" section as well as the message
board. If you're looking for a song translation but can't find it, the
ladies might be able to help you out.

http://shira.net/lyrics.ht..m

*Shira also has tons of great info about bellydance and the culture surrounding it.

http://www.youtube.com

*some youtubers translate songs. This is great because you get to see
the music video too. Usually they're subtitled, but sometimes they put
them into the info section. Type the artist or song you're interested
in, and the word "translation" and/or "English".

http://www.allthelyrics.co..m/forum/arabic-lyrics-tran..slation/

*there are very helpful people here, too, if you're looking for a
translation. You can search past messages, but you'll have to sign up
for an account. I'm not sure if this is an updated list, but it gives you an idea of all of the songs available: www.allthelyrics.com/forum/arabic-lyrics-translation/37340-look-here-before-posting-list-of-all-translated-arabic-songs.html

href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm5vZ29taS5jb20v" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.nogomi.com

*I just noticed today that they've been including English translations
in some songs. So you can download FREE pop songs and get the
translations to boot! win-win

*the forums on http://www.bhuz.com and http://www.orientaldancer.net are absolute treasure troves for information on everything (not just song translations). Oriental Dancer also has a separate section which archives various song translations, but if you can't find what you're looking for, post a message on the forum!

And if that all fails, google.com. Remember to use alternate spelling for the artist and song.

I keep my song translations on iTunes. If you right click on the song
and go to "get info" you'll get a window full of album information.
There's a tab for lyrics, just paste them in there. I modify the song
title to include the English translation (for example: "Nour El Ain
(Light of My Eye)"). It serves as a reminder that I have the
translation to that song. These lyrics can be accessed via iTunes as
well as on your iPod. So, if you're in class or on the go and want to
remember if a song is happy or sad...it's right there!

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

Developing a unique choreography

Safiyah Nour — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:12:00 GMT

I just started working on my next routine for an upcoming show, and while it's fresh on my mind I figured I'd blog about what goes into creating an exciting choreography.

First, I figure out what music to dance to. Now, this is actually a very difficult thing for me. I have a few playlists in iTunes devoted to music I want to work on. This makes it a lot easier for me, since I don't have to go through the thousands of songs in my collection. Every few months I go back through my full library and add to the playlists.

Anyways, back to selecting music. This is really important; if the music is boring or doesn't speak to you, you'll have a very tough time creating a choreography that will hold both your and your audience's attention for long. Think about what style you want to work on (fast, pop, classical, slow & gooey), and pick 3 or 4 songs that fit your mood. Then, grab your video camera and tape yourself improvising to each song. When you review the tape, ask yourself which one looks the best, flowed the most naturally. If you're under a time constriction, you'll definitely want to pick the one that's easiest for you to dance to. If you have more time, maybe you want to push yourself and pick one that's a little tougher. And if you still can't decide, pick a name from a hat! Seriously, I've done that before

So you have your music. Time to map it out! Listen to your song at least a dozen times so you get familiar with the music phrasing and rhythm/tempo changes. I keep both a folder of Word documents and a notebook filled with combination ideas; it's here where I start to name each portion of the song. For example, entrance, baladi, happy travelling time, OR I even name them based on a story I have in my mind: meeting handsome guy, discover he doesn't love me, sooo happy to be alive! You get the picture. By naming each section, you'll have a better idea of where to change the mood of the piece and it'll be easier to recognize patterns where you can repeat some previous combinations.

Now your music is mapped out, and it's time to get to work. RECORD EACH SESSION WITH A CAMERA. I can't stress this enough! There have been so many times where I thought I had an amazing combo, but when I reviewed the tape it looked awful. This also gives you a great chance to evaluate your technique and correct any posture, arm, body positioning issues before it's too late. Additionally, if you discovered a great move but forgot what you did...well, just rewind the tape! It's so beneficial, and I think everyone should make this a regular practice.

Here are a few other tips while you're putting together your choreography:

Watch clips of other dancers when you feel stuck. I do not condone stealing choreography, but sometimes you can feed off of the energy from another dancer and get a creative jump start. Personally, I don't watch too many videos of dancers performing the same music as I'm working on because I want to keep the choreography purely mine. Just find a couple dancers who make you excited
Ranya Renee suggests a great exercise which helps me to turn music into a visual dance. Listen to your music and draw (on paper or in your mind) what it sounds like. Does the music get louder or quieter? Are the notes getting higher or lower? Lots of accents or more soft and flowing? Whatever the music does--you do with your body.
Sometimes even if I've already choreographed a part of the music, I will push myself to find other combos. In other words, I'll force myself to re-choreograph the section with all new material. By doing this I often find really cool, creative combos that still fit in the music. It's also a lot of fun to figure out how many ways you can make an accent appear on your body!
Keep a notepad nearby all the time. I tend to choreograph right before I fall asleep (horrible for my beauty rest, great for The Art), so if I don't write it down I forget it
Keep going back to the map you created and think about when to move across the stage, and when to stand still. Draw a map of the stage itself and make sure you cover the whole area...this is more important in a theatre situation, but I think even if you have a small stage it's good to have variety
Remember to use all the space around your body--above your head, below your hips, out to each side. Focus your gaze all around you; use visualization tricks to create interest. Michelle Joyce has a great exercise on the Secrets of the Stage DVD where you "see" a feather floating through the air around you. You play with it, pushing it around the air, or sometimes you just watch it suspended in midair
If you're creating this choreography for a specific purpose (such as a competition) pay a lot of attention to the time limit. For competitions, choose music that will show off your ability to pull off several different moods. Competition music will typically have an upbeat entrance, slower/more internal section (such as a taqsim), drum solo, and (time permitting) an upbeat exit. Make sure you are able to transition easily throughout these changes

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

New prop! Fan veils

Safiyah Nour — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:47:00 GMT

I ordered a Christmas present for myself about a month ago and they finally arrived yesterday! I've been wanting to try out fan veils for a while now, but wanted to get a "starter set" before taking the plunge on something more expensive. A quick ebay search led me to the seller asiaemporium, and I found a pretty set for $30 (including shipping from Hong Kong). Sounds good to me!

Here's what they look like:

Now, the photo shows it fading to a darker orange at the top, and that's not really accurate. Once it fades to orange it stays the same color. Also, when I got the veils there were sequins on the staves of the fan. I removed them--they were falling off anyway, and I think it looks better without. Also, the length of the veil is (I think) shorter than a lot of other vendors'. This isn't much of a problem for me since I'm 5' tall but I might graduate to something longer once I get the hang of it. (I'm the kind of person who loves lots of fabric; a 4 yard veil is next on my list!)

So what's it like to work with them? Well, they're not the same as double veils, that's for sure! I've only played around with them for an hour or so, so I don't have a lot of tricks yet. Definitely not enough to perform an entertaining choreography. Also, I'm finding that keeping them open is giving me cramps in my hand. If you don't hold them open they'll collapse as you move around...overall they're a lot of fun to play with and I highly recommend picking up an inexpensive pair from ebay so you get a feel for this cool prop.

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

Happy New Year

Safiyah Nour — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:52:00 GMT

Well, it's 2010; the beginning of a new decade. I'm very excited for this new year, as I have a lot of great plans in store. It sounds like a lot of people out there are equally as positive; it has been a very rough few years for everyone so it would do us all good to have some positive changes.

So, as a dancer, I always set a few goals for myself...here is what I'm planning on accomplishing in 2010:

-Continue to work on posture, grace and stage presence

-Practice at least 3x/week and record/analyze each session. This should be totally do-able.

-Develop at least two original choreographies for me to perform (this is very do-able, but if you know me, I have a tough time picking a piece of music and sticking with it to the end. I usually end up with a bunch of half completed routines.)

-Take some steps towards teaching. This includes getting my group fitness certification, developing a basic business plan so I know what to charge, registering as a business, planning a 6-week course (including a beginner's choreo), and searching for studio space. Ideally I would like to be teaching by this fall. With school starting up I'm not sure how it'll work out but we'll see!

-Compete? I'm not sure. I competed for the first time last year and had a very positive experience. I am just not sure, with school etc., if I'll be able to devote the amount of time I need in order to make a routine that I'm comfortable and satisfied with. But I want to make it a goal, and am already searching for music.

-I only got a chance to attend 1/2 of a workshop in 2009 (got sick), so I REALLLLLLY miss learning new material. I'd like to attend 2 workshops this year if possible.

I think that's it. Oh, and if you're curious, I'm very excited/nervous about going back to school for a major career change. I am hoping to be accepted into the physical therapist assisting program. This will (I believe) give me a lot more job satisfaction than my previous day jobs, and I think it will positively affect both my own dancing and my ability to teach others proper form. I have to wait a few months until I find out if I made it in the program, so wish me luck!

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com

Kelli Belly's Holiday Show

Safiyah Nour — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:01:00 GMT

It's the holiday season, and that means another opportunity to see the best belly dancers in Northeast Ohio. This is shaping up to be a really great event; the Akron Public Library has a brand new theatre; there's also going to be a great A/V setup and a professional-quality videographer (!!!) so be sure to place your DVD order

Where:
Akron Public Library
60 S. High Street
Akron Ohio, 44326

When:
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices:
$12 at the door; $10 in advance

I hope to see you there!

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com