Bellydance – Hand of Fatima Dance Tribe – Live @ the Celebrity Showroom from b. isom on Vimeo.

Fire Performance – Hand of Fatima highlights @ Ren Faire from b. isom on Vimeo.

Rossah’s recommends:

READING

The Alchemist by Paulo Coeho  A fable about following your dreams.

The Danse Orientale by Jamila Salimpour

This is the complete workbook for all of my dancers.  Google Jamila Salimpour and find a way to purchase it online.  It has all of the Jamila technique broken down and categorized for you.  Cymbals and veil work included,  A MUST!

Grandmothers Secrets – The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Bellydance by Rosina Fawzia Al-Rawi

Serpent of the Nile by Wendy Buonaventura

My Life by Isadora Duncan

When God was a Woman by Merlin Stone

The Compleat Belly Dancer by Julie Russo Mishkin and Marta Schill.  Out of print but worth a trip to the Used Book Store or Library to find.

Harem, the World Beneath the Veil by Alev Lytle Croutier

The Voice of Egypt – Umm Kulthum by Virginia Danielson

Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, It’s Music, It’s Culture and Costume by Keti Sharif  Beautiful photography, well written.

When Drummers were Women – a spiritual history of rhythm by Layne Redmond

Looking for Little Egypt by Donna Carlton

Bellydancing for Fitness:  The Ultimate Dance Workout that Unleashes your Creative Spirit by Tamalyn Dallal

For fun:

Skinny Hips and All – Tom Robbins

Snake Hips:  Belly Dancing and How I Found True Love by Anne Thomas Soffee

NOTE:   There’s so much more out there, but I believe this will get you started.

MUSIC

New dancers always ask what music they should buy to practice to.  There is so much great music out there, it is hard to begin.  My first recommendation is a CD that has many of the classics all in one place.  You should know these songs by heart.

Dancing for Fortune and Fame by the The Mogador Band with Spiro Cardamis

Music of the Ghawazee, Araf #DA 700

Music of the Ouled Nail, Araf # DA 701

Music of the Fellahin, Araf # DA 702

Music for Oriental Dance, Araf # DA 703

Jalilah’s Raks Sharki – Buy the entire set.

Sirocco, Vol. 1, 2, 3

Uncle Mafufo:  25 Essential Rhythms for Bellydance

DrumSongs for Dancers

Thrilling, Chilling, Zills

Buy anything from this man-drums or music.  You won’t be disappointed.

If I’m driving in my car, I listen to:

Metkaal Kenawe

Khaled

Hakim

Amine

On the evening of Friday, September 5^th, I had the great opportunity to dance Khaliji with the Hand of Fatima Dance Tribe at the Night of Riches Concert in Las Vegas.  It was part of the kick-off of workshops and concerts that were presented and produced by Samira and her hard working staff that puts on the Annual Bellydance Intensive weekend.  It’s rare that I actually take to the stage anymore.  I look at it as a gift I get for not being a working director.  I love nothing more than to sit in the audience and soak up the comments that are made about my dancers and my choreography.   But on this night, I had to work the stage and dance a style I adore, surrounded by the dancers I love so much.  It was also to entice the crowd to come to my workshop on Sunday.  It’s not the best class to take at 8 a.m. but I am sure Samira has a good reason that she always puts my physically strenuous classes on first. 

Sunday morning I roll out of bed at 6:45 a.m. to start my day.  The Intensive has a new location, The Palace Station Casino, and I don’t have a clue what room I am booked in or what type of sound equipment I will be supplied with.  I fly down the highway to get there, find parking easily right in front (probably because no one is awake at this hour), had to be escorted to the convention area after getting lost amongst the slot machines, and made it to my room just in time.  The sound guys were there (Amira’s husband and new daddy, Dennis) and showed me a very easy boombox to use.  With so many popular dancers teaching at the same time, I was pleasantly surprised to find my class sold out and the room almost full.  Had a handful of faces I knew and a very receptive group anxious to learn.  I really enjoyed myself and felt the participants did too.

The Khaliji Class

Khaliji dance is the dance of the Persian Gulf States and Saudi Arabia using the Khaliji rhythm. The women’s costume is called a thobe nashal – an oversized overdress – which is a very full, often highly embroidered caftan. The thobe nashal is used as both costume and prop. It is a wide dress in a brilliant color elaborately adorned, especially around the neckline. No hip scarf or belt is worn. Since the dress is free-flowing due to the lack of a belt, the dancer’s movement is focused on the upper body and footwork, and includes a lovely way to toss long hair from one shoulder to the other. The dance also features lots of spins, chest drops and tossing of unbound hair from side-to-side. The huge sleeves are at times held up like a hood to frame head slides or used coquettishly like a veil.

The Girls from Calgary

Later on that afternoon, I had a really special private class with a group of women on a Girl’s Weekend Getaway/Retreat to Las Vegas from Calgary, Canada.  They wrote asking for suggestions for a restaurant with good food and a bellydancer.  I sent them my suggestions which sparked much discussion back and forth.  I told them that the LV Bellydance Intensive was all weekend and they should include it if they were coming to town, there were many activities for them to take in.  Instead they wanted me to come to Mandalay Bay Casino, to The Hotel and give them a private class in their hotel room.  I went up and found that my bellydance class was a surprise activity to most of the group.  The initial reaction was met with a little intimidation which immediately melted away.  One girl had a bad headache.  I set up my boom box, poured a heap of belts onto the floor.  They each found one to wear and away we went.  Something really wonderful happened in that room.  Maybe it was just the great intimate connection women have when they are all having fun.  I have taught so many memorable classes this year but these two will stick out in my mind for months to come.  I have to shout out with a huge THANK YOU to all of the students who make my work meaningful. 

Yours in Dance,  ~Rossah

If you want to learn more about this annual event and their other Las Vegas offerings, visit:  www.bellydanceintensive.com

Author with Rossah

In the lead up to this years conference there was one refrain that kept being circulated amongst the participants- “Rossah is coming… If you do nothing else, you have to take a class with her.” So I pre-registered for her sold out classes, and I was so glad I did.

It almost feels redundant to think of these words as a testimonial, because under Rossah’s tutelage the room where she introduced us to guedra literally became a testimony. She took her time to explain to us the weight of the rituals we were participating in, and by the time my first class with her was over some students had been moved to tears!  It was truly a beautiful experience- the perfect mix of a physical workout and spiritual expression.

I also took Tunisian jug dance with her, another class I would highly recommend. Rossah has a sincere love for this dance that radiates from her core. Her energy set the tone for the session in a way that was wonderfully encouraging for all of us.

Bellydance is such a deeply layered discipline… instructors are not merely teachers, but rather conveyors of sacred traditions. Rossah handles this trust that has been placed in her with the greatest of care. Please do yourself the favor of learning from this woman- it’s inspiring, instructive and a blast for all ages and all levels!

-Shani

NOTE FROM ROSSAH:  The photo of Shani with me at the top of the page was taken during the Tunisian Gourd class.  In all of my 35 years of attending bellydance events, this was one of THEE BEST I have ever attended.  I felt such a profound respect and supportive atmosphere resounding from the participants throughout the Festival which I have never seen so abundantly before.  It was well conducted and I can’t sing their praises loud enough.  For more about the amazing Dr. Sunyatta Amen and BOCA Soul-Yoga Fest, please visit:  http://www.gomamasita.com/

“I was very impressed with your style of teaching and the guedra itself. I would like to learn more extensively from you.  What you taught us that day was artistically profound because of the simplicity and tenderness of the movements. I have conducted guedra’s for my family since meeting you and am proud to say, they are empowering.  Peace and Love!”      Shahidah Bey

“Rossah, I really loved your class during the Bellydance Festival in Maryland. It’s so wonderful to learn from teachers such as yourself who have so much knowledge and patience! I had a lot of fun and you created a wonderful atmosphere that brought in the full essence of the festival. “       -Melissa

People write me all the time looking to find a class near them, where the next events are going to be in Las Vegas, or where to find dinner and a bellydancer.  I’ve written this for those looking for information. 

Class Locations

If you are visiting, new to town, or are looking to find a local class, send an email to subscribe_LVBellydancers@yahoogroups.com.  A moderator will approve you and you can locate classes in the calendar or in the database of teacher’s folders on the site. (Don’t forget the underscore between subscribe and LV)

Performance Locations:

 If you are looking for somewhere to enjoy BELLYDANCE in town:

Ali Baba’s-8826 S. Eastern Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89123, (702) 688-4182

Almaza-9890 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89123, (702) 450-1030

Greek Village Café- 9500 S Eastern Ave, Henderson, NV 89052 (702)405-0065

Chandelier’s- 2980 St. Rose Parkway, Henderson, NV 89052 (702)456-8643

Khoury’s- 6115 S Fort Apache Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89148, (702) 671-0005

Layalina’s-6870 Spring Mtn. Rd. 702/227-6776

Hedary’s Mediterrean Grill-7365 W. Sahara 702/873-9041 

Habib’s- 4750 W. Sahara 702/870-0860

Olive-3850 E Sunset 702/451-8805 

Opa Greek Restaurant-2550 S. Rainbow 702/876-3737

The Marrakech Restaurant, 3900 Paradise Road, 702/737-5611
Dinner Reservations recommended.

If I’ve missed a location or have posted incorrect info, please let me know!

by Gill Eardley

A dancer’s response can be easily stifled by choreography, limited movement vocabulary, poor posture, lack of confidence – the dance becoming merely outer technique and form.

In addition to teaching Arabic dance movements, a variety of innovative techniques outside the Arabic form are used which aim towards the discovery of a balance between outer technique and a deep inner response. This then can be taken back into Arabic dance with a heightened quality of confidence, expression and delight.

Read more…

By Dorothy Ragosine

I always said that I would write an article that began with the sure fire, eye catching sentence: “It all started with Bellydancing…..” so here it is.

It all started for me with Bellydancing except that it did not begin with Bellydancing at all. It all started when I was born, and born a woman, forty years ago in these United States of America into what could be called a good, white, middle class family. It also happened to be a family which was dominated by large, competent women who all have large breasts. I was one of those women as it later developed – if you forgive the pun.

Ever since the Pope or somebody reasonable said that brevity was the soul of wit, we have been editing marvelously heart rending dramas down into neat, cleaver magazine articles, but to be brief:

It all started with Bellydancing and that was three years ago. At forty, overweight and at a loss for dreams, I would probably have described myself publicly then as a regular middle class housewife and mother of three kids with a “good” marriage. While privately, in a clandestine journal, I wrote, “Although I am a clown, a comic person, overlarge, ridiculously trying to hold my bulk in balance, I cry too much.I wail inside.I cry ultimately, for no reason or reasons that I can piece together……”

Read more…

Here is a more useful way to approach the pleasant discipline we call learning to dance. Instead of picturing the classes you take as a linear sequence, say Belly Dance basics: Beginning, Advanced Beginning, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, Advanced/Performer – imagine yourself in an evolutionary process called the learning cycle, four distinct stages through which all human beings progress whenever they learn anything new.

First is Unconscious Incompetence. In this stage, you have had little experience of skill. In fact, it’s likely you’re quite bad, but because you don’t know how truly bad you are, you don’t feel bad and your self esteem isn’t crippled. Yet.

True damage to self esteem and the false confidence that coexists with the bliss of ignorance, often occurs in the second stage of learning – Conscious Incompetence. As your awareness evolves into this stage, you begin to realize how little you know.

Perhaps you notice how impossible it seems for you to do much of anything smoothly. You certainly convince yourself that practically everybody at every class is so talented that you’d never think of dancing for the public. At least not any time soon.

Read more…

In four decades, Marliza Pons has left her mark on the Las Vegas bellydance scene. She has acted in movies, danced in nightclubs and concert theatres all over the country. She was brought to Las Vegas from her home town of Chicago to star in “Cleopatra’s Nymph’s of the Nile” dance revue and stayed. In 1972, she opened her own dance studio. She was well known for sucessfully creating the annual International Belly Dance Convention, which ran from 1975-1987. It has always been her dream to unite all bellydance aficionados, to promote “Dance Orientale” as an art form, to share her vast knowledge, and to raise the level of respect for this dance equal to that of ballet. She moved back to Chicago in 2001, and returns to Las Vegas with her amazing wealth of dance technique. With her vast performance knowledge and many decades of teaching, she will present workshop offerings together with local folkloric dance master, Rossah Bendahman.