Raks al-Dounya

The Newsletter of the Classical Middle Eastern Dance Studio

April-May 2004 issue:

Features:

News:

Habibah Bellydance—the "real you"

In Snake Hips, a bellydance memoir, Anne Thomas Soffee writes, “I want to believe that [bellydancers] don't have day jobs or ex-husbands or credit card debt or any of those other troublesome details of human life. I want to believe that . . . they have palatial mansions somewhere on the outskirts of town, where huge empty rooms are covered in wall-to-wall mirrors so they can practice belly dancing all day long, between drinking Lebanese coffee and snacking on dates. I want them to live in a perpetual 101 Strings fantasy of keyhole-shaped doors and hanging lanterns, because that's where I want to live.”

Wistful? Sounds great! Dance is a great way to put ordinary daily stress aside and focus on being your most beautiful self. Come join us for bellydance class!

Safira Bellydance goes to India

See Safira's dancers now not only at the Café Istanbul, but at the Passage to India restaurant too. After you've had your Turkish Eskander Doner, come eat Chicken Tikka Masala and watch us dance some more! Passage to India has an extensive buffet of flavors, including lamb, naan and Tandoori Chicken. The restaurant's banquet hall will provide a stage area for classic 15 to 30 minute bellydance shows.

See us:

At the Passage to India restaurant the second and fourth Thursday of every month, 6140 E. 21st St. Call 691-8300 for reservations. Performances from 6 to 8 p.m.

At the Café Istanbul the third Saturday of every month, 120 N. West St. Call 944-7330 for reservations. Performances at 6:30 and 8:30. Live music for the second show! (For this May only: Saturday May 22nd)

Al Hinna dance Theatre night at Century II !

Mark your calendars now! Our next theatre show is scheduled for Saturday, January 22, 2005 at the Mary Jane Teall Theater in Century II. Have a pre-theatre dinner at the Café Istanbul or Passage to India (or one of Wichita's many Mediterranean restaurants), then see dance in concert from Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon and other countries.

We will miss our winter “home” at Newman University, but are excited to bring Middle Eastern dance to such a well-respected downtown venue. The Mary Jane Teall will have more than 600 reserved seats, making for a pleasant show experience for all our guests.

This is our party of the year. All of our students are welcome to perform in this show, and our guests can once again look forward to seeing 50 dancers and guest dancers in performance. We're already thinking about costumes, and are looking forward to the inspiration we'll be receiving from master classes in Wichita, Dallas and New York. See you at Century II!

See a video clip of Beyond the Desert, our January 2004 show! Buy a high quality DVD or VHS tape of the whole show for $20. Multiple cameras and digital editing make this a fine keepsake or documentary.

Maleeha Master Classes in Wichita

On June 1-4, Maleeha (Marie Sage) will visit Wichita to teach choreography and technique as well as private coaching for students who want to take their dances to higher levels of expression. Maleeha was awarded an MFA in Dance from the University of Iowa, and is director of the Kahraman Near East Dance Ensemble. She has received awards and grants from the University of Iowa Dance Department, the Iowa Arts Council, and the Iowa Humanities Board. She's also a really fun teacher, and makes it easy to learn choreography. She's wonderful at bringing out the hidden dancer in you. All dance students in the Wichita metro area are welcome to join us. Even beginners! Contact Safira for details.

  • Tues., June 1: 6:30 – 7:30 Class for beginners with Maleeha ($20)
  • Tues., June 1, 7:30 – 9:30 Intermediate/Advanced Workshop: (6 hrs. total, $90)
  • Wed., June 2, 7:00 – 9:00 Intermediate/Advanced Workshop continues
  • Thurs., June 3, 6:30 – 8:30 Intermediate/Advanced Workshop concludes
  • Friday evening, June 4 Hafla (dance party) for students and guests

Elena Lentini From Wichita to New York

This 4th of July weekend, Safira and several dance students will go once again to a 4-day intensive dance workshop with Elena Lentini in New York City. There, we'll study whirling, Spanish Zambra, Arabic and Turkish dance, zills, creative veil and Pharonic dance.

It's a great honor to be able to study with Elena. Safira is very pleased to be able to take students to experience Elena's magic and artistry.

Elena's website says, “Elena brings to dance a unique lyrical focus, a quality of mystery, and a commitment to the integrity of every movement as she sculpts fluid designs with her body.” She has performed in Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, in her native New York, and in numerous cities around the world. As a teacher, Elena gives students the freedom (as well as the technique) to create art from movement, with the opportunity for the dancer to reveal not just dance steps, but her soul. Elena's work as a teacher and performer is innovative, breathtaking, lyrical.

Safira and her students will also participate in an informal concert at Fazil's Rehearsal Studio. This year, Safira, Scheherezade, Tahira, Fatina Hayat and Nashita will be going on the New York trip.

Najla - photo by Shirley Minton Meet our dancers: Najla

Meet Najla, a CMED bellydancer whose specialty is the sword dance. Her day job is in the emergency room at Wesley Medical Center. When she isn't bellydancing, she rides an Arabian horse and a motorcyle, and takes art photos.

Najla, whose name means “of wide, beautiful eyes,” is a founding member of Phat Azz Bikes, a newly chartered motorcycle group that plans to introduce young children to motorcycles and motorcycle safety. She's been racing for 3 years and owns a 97 Kawasaki ZX6E with a custom paint job and original artwork. Najla also has a 15 year old Arabian mare named Cedarhill Harmony. She trains horses and rides competitively.

She has two children, Javel, 15, who plays basketball, soccer and volleyball, and Brea, in 5th grade, who runs track, plays soccer and makes A's. “My children are very supportive of my dancing and often help me practice and design costumes,” she says. “Both love to dance and learn routines.”

When learning the sword dance, Najla studied under a martial arts instructor named Gene Means. “He was a little reluctant to help me,” she says. “You know, a woman with a sword. But I wanted my movements to authentic, realistic and graceful at the same time. Eventually he taught me -- he helped my dance moves look like fighting moves.” Najla helped choreograph CMED's group sword dance in Beyond the Desert, our January 2004 show.

Najla says, “I started dancing to gain self confidence. I love Middle Eastern Dance because it is more about self expression. I am constantly amazed at the different styles of dance that are created by individuals. We are all taught by the same teacher but individually we take something different out of the lessons and make it our own. I now find myself watching old movies and dance shows and applying the moves to my dance. Dancing is a constant learning experience and you can never outgrow it."

Her advice to new dancers: “Dance like no one else is watching. Don't worry about what others think. As long as you're happy with yourself, you will please others.”

You can see Najla perform at the Café Istanbul and the Passage to India restaurants!

New Classes Starting!

Our studio is at 212 N. Market, Suite 314, in historic Landmark Square in Wichita. This beautiful old building has a lobby of checkerboard Italian marble, a wrought iron and marble stairway, and brass chandeliers. It also has modern elevators, air conditioning and a parking lot right by the door. Click here for a map.

See us belly dance in Wichita!

At the Passage to India restaurant the second and fourth Thursday of every month, 6140 E. 21st St. Call 691-8300 for reservations. Performances from 6 to 8 p.m.

At the Café Istanbul the third Saturday of every month, 120 N. West St. Call 944-7330 for reservations. Performances at 6:30 and 8:30. Live music for the second show! (For this May only: Saturday May 22nd)

We hope you've enjoyed this note. We welcome your comments and suggestions for future newsletters.

Thank you for reading our newsletter. The best of luck in your pursuit and enjoyment of dance in all its forms,

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