ITS FRRRRIDAY

[noura 0]

My first *real* interest in Islam was thru my sufi training w/ my sufi master Dunya (www.dancemeditation.org). I love whirling like a dervish - it's so freeing and meditative! I miss my sufi retreats!

[cbd2cai 0]

Sufi Here's a link to a video of a tannoura dancer in Egypt

[jordanianprincess 0]

My first *real* interest in Islam was thru my sufi training w/ my sufi master Dunya (www.dancemeditation.org). I love whirling like a dervish - it's so freeing and meditative! I miss my sufi retreats!

Noura, have you heard of the Bellydance Superstars?

[cbd2cai 0]

I am trying to post a photo of the Sufi (tannoura dancer) here, but I guess the link will have to do: http://www.maat.com.au/2005/sufi/image/sufi16.jpg

Edited January 26, 2007 by cbd2cai

[mybackpages 0]

Here you go....

[noura 0]

My first *real* interest in Islam was thru my sufi training w/ my sufi master Dunya (www.dancemeditation.org). I love whirling like a dervish - it's so freeing and meditative! I miss my sufi retreats!

Noura, have you heard of the Bellydance Superstars?

gawd yes, sooo not impressed! It's, in theory, a wonderful thing that Miles Copeland has done by exposing average america to this beautiful artform, but his stipulations on hiring do not reflect that beauty of the "everywoman" of real raqs sharqi. You must weigh no more than 115 (I think) and it is a gruelling schedule of practice and performance. IMHO, while these ladies certainly have talent, what they really have mostly is crowd appeal and sex appeal. Sorry.... sore subject considering most of the revered women in dance in the *Middle East* are over 40 and do not have perfect figures weighing in at 115 lbs... It's mass marketed bellydance!

[jordanianprincess 0]

My first *real* interest in Islam was thru my sufi training w/ my sufi master Dunya (www.dancemeditation.org). I love whirling like a dervish - it's so freeing and meditative! I miss my sufi retreats!

Noura, have you heard of the Bellydance Superstars?

gawd yes, sooo not impressed! It's, in theory, a wonderful thing that Miles Copeland has done by exposing average america to this beautiful artform, but his stipulations on hiring do not reflect that beauty of the "everywoman" of real raqs sharqi. You must weigh no more than 115 (I think) and it is a gruelling schedule of practice and performance. IMHO, while these ladies certainly have talent, what they really have mostly is crowd appeal and sex appeal. Sorry.... sore subject considering most of the revered women in dance in the *Middle East* are over 40 and do not have perfect figures weighing in at 115 lbs... It's mass marketed bellydance!

I actually saw them when they came to SF a couple years back, let me assure you that many of them were not 115. There was woman that was actually plus size. I took my parents too, my father used to play the Oud and knows many local dancers that he used to hire for his shows. They weren't impressed for the most part either, I think out of the 20 or so dancers they only thought that 2 or 3 were really good.

It actually used to be that bellydancers were more heavy set, had curves, something to shake. Over time, they have gotten very thin. If you watch LBC or MBC you will often see them performing on the Friday/Saturday night shows.

[noura 0]

I actually saw them when they came to SF a couple years back, let me assure you that many of them were not 115. There was woman that was actually plus size. I took my parents too, my father used to play the Oud and knows many local dancers that he used to hire for his shows. They weren't impressed for the most part either, I think out of the 20 or so dancers they only thought that 2 or 3 were really good.

It actually used to be that bellydancers were more heavy set, had curves, something to shake. Over time, they have gotten very thin. If you watch LBC or MBC you will often see them performing on the Friday/Saturday night shows.

I saw them a few years ago too and I have to agree w/ your parents - 2 or 3 were very good - the others, not so much. But I have to say that I am spoiled in seeing some of the *real* superstars of dance so I'm a hard critic!

Edited January 26, 2007 by noura

[jordanianprincess 0]

I actually saw them when they came to SF a couple years back, let me assure you that many of them were not 115. There was woman that was actually plus size. I took my parents too, my father used to play the Oud and knows many local dancers that he used to hire for his shows. They weren't impressed for the most part either, I think out of the 20 or so dancers they only thought that 2 or 3 were really good.

It actually used to be that bellydancers were more heavy set, had curves, something to shake. Over time, they have gotten very thin. If you watch LBC or MBC you will often see them performing on the Friday/Saturday night shows.

I saw them a few years ago too and I have to agree w/ your parents - 2 or 3 were very good - the others, not so much. But I have to say that I am spoiled in seeing some of the *real* superstars of dance so I'm a hard critic!

Yeah my mom compares them all to the classic dancers back home. They hated the Desert Roses.

[~Jackie~ 30]

I bought a bellydance DVD on ebay, put it in and shimmied around the living room. I think I will get it out and try it again. They lost me when they got on their toes and shimmied. I had a hard enough time using my whole foot!

Jackie

[noura 0]

I bought a bellydance DVD on ebay, put it in and shimmied around the living room. I think I will get it out and try it again. They lost me when they got on their toes and shimmied. I had a hard enough time using my whole foot!

Jackie

jackie... i find it actually easier to do this on my toes - besides, it's the egyptian style to be on your toes! btw, which dvd did you get?

[~Jackie~ 30]

I will have to wait to get home from work to get the name of it. It is an exercise DVD.

Jackie

[doodlebug 3]

Morning JP. What's your weekend plans? Awwwww doodle you sick? Whats a dervish?

Jackie

Not sick. I just happened to sneeze the same time I was about to leave. I don't know what a dervish is really but I do know they dance and they have them in Egypt....even though that particular photo is of Turkey.

[jordanianprincess 0]

I bought a bellydance DVD on ebay, put it in and shimmied around the living room. I think I will get it out and try it again. They lost me when they got on their toes and shimmied. I had a hard enough time using my whole foot!

Jackie

I have 2 of those at home. One from Nina and Wina or whatever her twin sisters name is, and I can't remember who the other one is for. I didn't care for either one, too slow!

[~Jackie~ 30]

Well I made the mistake of trying it in front of Mohammed. I thought he would fall off the couch laughing. I think I will try it again before the trip and suprise him with a little shimmy of my own.

Jackie