A Dancer's Feast
by Melissa Crandall
Looking for something different? Dancers found it one day in the Valley! The “Belly Dance Buffet” was a unique performance, and extended day workshop, presented by Amara, Anaheed, and Marguerite. On a sweltering Sunday in May of 2000 (the 21 st to be exact), dancers, musicians and friends enjoyed refuge in an air-conditioned, beautifully decorated oasis – the Nazemi Parsart center in Van Nuys , CA . Participants dined, danced and were dazzled on this special day with a show and workshops by some of the best L.A. has to offer.
The late morning showcase-slash-brunch of tasty Middle Eastern food and savory performances was a feast for the eyes, ears … and belly! The audience was treated to a variety of dance styles, ranging from raks al-sharqi to Turkish to tribal. Performing were the glamorous Anja, Earth mother Natasya with guest Tamera Ream, mesmerizing Marguerite, always fabulous Anaheed, and Ya Helewa! dance troupe. Ya Helewa! is a newly formed folkloric/cabaret troupe led by Amara, and their dance included an improvisation wherein the dancers' awareness of each other created the piece right on the spot.
The workshops that followed were a delectable recipe of gypsy stylings, a tasty flambe of group awareness exercises, and a heaping of mana for the spirit.
Anaheed began the classes by teaching Turkish skirt dancing. How does a dancer manipulate the yards of fabric on the floor, and still look like a poised petite fleur? Know your rhythms, throw in some basic choreographic fragments, and twirl away! Anaheed brought a wealth of simple yet effective moves to the gathering which students can incorporate into their own routines.
Next, the petite powerhouse Amara took charge -- and charged up the students with maximum body awareness exercises. She expertly created an atmosphere in which students could explore movement through flow. Using modern and post-modern improvisational techniques, dancers created new material through touch with each other. Leading, following and blending until the dancers became one giant body of dance spirit, the ladies learned to experience increased self-confidence (no matter what their current level), and discovered techniques which can be used in both group work and performances.
For dessert, Marguerite took the participants into a sweetly spiritual and altered state of consciousness. Marguerite's expertise in Sufism, Zar and Middle Eastern dance is due in part by her extensive personal research in Inner Mongolia . Rare footage of video, which she shot of Mongolian shamans, gave the workshop members a unique look into an unknown world. Through group circling and spinning, drumming and sound, the unit of beautiful women which had become whole during Amara's class was taken to a new level of higher vibration. Each woman got to experience spinning to her heartbeat, becoming more aware of her inner dancer and the soul of the world.
Amara remarked, “As a teacher and participant, I was greatly effected by the transitions students made throughout the day. I saw a community growing together through trust and experiential awareness of themselves and others.”
Thank you to these three special women for organizing such a fun and worthwhile event! I'm getting my appetite ready for next time. See you there!