making beaded fringe is so time consuming but damn is it satisfying to feel half a pound of it in your hand.
Tomorrow I’ll pick up some more superglue to secure the fringe ends and probably get the fringe done for my troupe costume bra.
Also, learning samba for the first time tomorrow.
This was a classic! My grandmother told me that the dancer in this clip was an Algerian woman (Laila AlJazaira). She also told me that when this movie came out this is allll that people were talking about :)
Noura- Farid Al-Atrash
I feel so lucky to be at the dance studio I’m currently studying at. The director, who is from Guatemala and a trained neuroscientist is an expert at flamenco and Latin social dances. The belly dance teacher who is half Latin@ and half Lebanese is currently getting her Masters in anthropology. They also have a Indian classical dance teacher who’s been studying bharatanatyam since she was 3, another Latin ballroom teacher, etc. etc.
ON TOP OF THAT I’ve been accepted into the semi-pro belly dance group, and the director is hiring me to make costumes for her children’s classes as well as possibly working on her new website. Even better, she’s also hiring me to make cholis, salwars, and duppata for a Bollywood-Indian classical dance-belly dance fusion piece we’re working on.
I feel like the luckiest dancer in the world right now.
eta: And so many of us are fluent or at least conversational is Spanish!!
AyayayayayayayayayayAY!!! YOU GO GIRL!!
LOVE the outfit, LOE the dancing, adore the hair, and best of all, LOVE the CONFIDENCE!!! You SHINE, mama!! *claps* Lilililililililili-yyyyiiiip!!!!
^_^
♥
drum solo to shimmy shakedown by issam houshan
Fantastic drum solo! Beautiful costume! Amazing and gorgeous dancer!
Going to a belly dance swap meet in an hour! I’m giving myself a $40 limit (I’m going to try not to buy anything at all because I don’t need anything…but I need to be honest with myself…;)
BUY ALL THE SPARKLIES!
Belly dance swap meets are the best :D
STYLE ICON: Egyptian dancer and film actress Samia Gamal (1924-1994)
Born Zaynab Ibrahim Mahfuz in the Egyptian town of Wana, Gamal and her family soon relocated to Cairo settling near the Khan El-Khalili bazaar. Years later, Gamal would meet the founder of modern Oriental dance, Badia Masabni, who invited Gamal to join her dance company. It was also Masabni who gave her the stage name, Samia Gamal.
As Gamal’s stardom and popularity rose, she became a respected and well-known dancer who incorporated techniques from both ballet and Latin dance into her performances. She was also the first woman to perform on stage wearing high heels.
During her movie career, she starred in many films alongside popular Egyptian actor Farid Al Attrach. Not only did they play each other’s love interests on screen, but were also lovers in real life. Unfortunately, due to Farid Al Attrach’s status and personal beliefs, he and Gamal never married.
Samia Gamal would later move to the US, where she gained notable popularity and also married the so-called “Texas Millionaire”, Shepherd King III. The marriage was shortlived and she later married her second husband, Egyptian actor Roshdy Abaza.
Samia Gamal starred in over 50 films and continued dancing well into her 40s. On December 1, 1994, at the age of 70, Samia Gamal passed away in Egypt.
(via shehulkismyfitspo)
Aziza of Cairo
Submitted by bettyboopjkt:
Bar Dina and Randa, there aren’t actually very many professional Egyptian bellydancers nowadays. It’s a sad reality. However, there is still a new generation of young up and coming dancers. Aziza is one such dancer. I love her seemingly effortless style and hip work.
She’s been gaining tremendous popularity in the bellydance world, and now she is regularly teaching workshops throughout the world.
Enjoy the video!
I love how she goes and gives attention to the back table … an amazing performance.
(Source: youtube.com)
