All posts by Tracey Vibert

About Tracey Vibert

Creativity abounds and balance is sought in both hermitting and peopling.

Dancers’ News- Blog version

To go directly to the Dancers’ News website, click here . Also find the Teacher Directory, Shopping Opportunites, and Healing, Guides and Energy workers, Pampering sections online!

 

Good morning,

My thanks to everyone who attended the show on Wednesday the 10th! A brief moment of gratitude is on Halyma.com!  For those performers who ordered a DVD, those prepaid orders are in the mail!  If you have not yet paid for your dvd be sure to email dvd@darnermedia.com for payment/pick up options!

 

Today’s got some great new bits and reminders some shortened if the main info is online!- there’s lots of info online for other previously posted events, of course!

 

Teachers, please send in your info if you will be teaching during the summer months! 

 

Also remember that many of us are available for private parties and lessons during the summer if you cannot commit to a full class!

 

Tracey/Halyma

Sunday, June 21

 

DANCERS’ NEWSLETTER -Update EDITION

 

Check out the Dancers’ Newsletter Extra Features:

This week’s Dancers’ Newsletter Extra Feature is a visit to Lainie Cambria’s site for photo’s of the OCCP!
Click here for a look at some gorgeous pics!

 

2009 EVENTS

 

JUNE 27, 2009 – Verdun, Quebec ~REMINDER
Arabic Flamenco Workshop

Saturday, June 27 from 1-4PM
IKRA Wellness Center
5101 Wellington, Verdun,Qc.

Come have fun and learn how to fuse Belly Dance with Flamenco!

We will also work on palmas (rythmic clapping) with simple 
zapateado (footwork) as well as floreos (graceful hand moves), braceos (arm 
techniques) and the many ways the falda (skirt) can be used as a prop.

For more information write Ana at zambra-mora@hotmail.com
or visit
www.geocities.com/anaisha2002
……………………………………………………

Atelier de Flamenco Arabe
Le samedi 27 juin de 13h à 16h
IKRA Centre de Santé Optimale
5101, rue Wellington, Verdun, Qc.

Les mouvements palmas (applaudissements synchronisés et rythmiques), floreos 
et braceos (techniques gracieuses de mouvement des bras et des mains) seront 
abordés ainsi que l’utilisation de la jupe en tant qu’accessoire de danse.

Pour de plus amples informations, vous pouvez visiter: 
www.geocities.com/anaisha2002
ou m’envoyez un courriel à :
zambra-mora@hotmail.com

 

 

June 28 to July 12-Sundays
Tribal Fusion workshops with Leslie

As Leslie has been accepted into the Master of Arts, Dance program at York in Toronto, this will be the last opportunity for a while to get in some study of Tribal fusion bellydance on a regular basis. Please note that the below listings are fundraising activities to support this course of study 🙂 Workshops are $50 each or $180 to participate in all four. In the fall, Leslie will return to Ottawa periodically to teach monthly workshops.

Sunday, June 28th
Tribal Basics
This three workshop focuses on Suhaila method style drills to improve technique and isolations for Tribal fusion bellydance. During this workshop we will begin with a yoga warmup, and work through isolations with various foot patterns and tempos.
2-5pm
1196 Bank, Makin’ Moves studio
$50 for this 3 hour workshop
to register: leslie AT shaktifusion DOT ca

Sunday, July 5th
Slow Motion
This workshop presents techniques and combinations for slow movement in tribal fusion bellydance. Includes yoga warmup, drills, and practice of combinations
2-5pm
1196 Bank, Makin’ Moves studio
$50 for this 3 hour workshop
to register: leslie AT shaktifusion DOT ca

Sunday, July 12th
How Not To Get Dizzy: Spinning and Tribal fusion bellydance

By request, this workshop provides grounding yoga practice and tips and tricks to perform fast, calibrated and slow spins and turns.
2-5pm
1196 Bank, Makin’ Moves studio
$50 for this 3 hour workshop
to register: leslie AT shaktifusion DOT ca

Sunday, July 26th
Yoga for Bellydance

This workshop is a 3 hour part practice, part lecture about the benefit of specific yoga poses and how they help support alignment in dance. Leslie is a certified Hatha yoga instructor and also draws from her training with Rachel Brice.
2-5pm
1196 Bank, Makin’ Moves studio
$50 for this 3 hour workshop
to register: leslie AT shaktifusion DOT ca

 

 

JULY 12, 2009~REMINDER
Dancing With The Elements

9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
357 Wilmont – Subud, Ottawa, Ontario.

A spiritual workshop for women co-facilitated by Halyma and Michelle Hrynyk, designed to help you fully awaken your Goddess of Dance by implementing the power of the five elements.

Cost: $90.00 -includes a vial of your personalized aromatherapy oil

Limited to 12 participants, please register early to avoid disappointment! 3 SPACES REMAIN

Open to all levels of dancer.

MORE DETAILS: http://www.tav-creations.com/events/event-details.cfm?id=110

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: Tracey at 613-241-3397 or email tracey@tav-creations.com.

 

JULY 19, 2009
Summer Bellydance Workshop with Zena

When: Sunday, July 19, 2009
Where: Dance with Alana Studio, 858 Bank St. @ 5th Ave
Time: 1:00pm – 4:00 pm with an intermission
Cost: Pre-register by July 10: $35 (Cash/cheque) or At the door, $50 (cash only)
This includes the workshop, bottled water and light snacks, Choreography on DVD and music for the routine.

Please bring finger cymbals, bellydance coin belt, snug fitting exercise clothing, dance slippers, a notebook. (Optional) This workshop will include an extended warm-up, technique review for the dance moves and choreography practice following the break.

Contact: Zena for pre-registration and the address to send in payment
Email: zena555@rogers.com

 

 

NOT QUITE BELLY DANCE EVENTS:

 

JUNE 21st, 2009 ~TODAY~!
3rd Annual Can’t Stop the Serenity

Sunday June 21, 2009, 3:30 pm

Mayfair Theatre

1074 Bank Street, Ottawa, On, Canada

$10 tickets available at the door

Details are online: http://www.myspace.com/ottawabrowncoats
Buy your Tickets here:
http://spiceroyer.blogspot.com/

This year’s global artwork was designed by one of our local Browncoats, Don McMillan!
Get your art work signed by the artist at the Mayfair on June 21, 2009!!

To see the winning design head over to 
http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com/csts-global/artwinner/

Can’t Stop The Serenity is a Global movement of fans of Firefly, lovingly referred to as Browncoats, in support of Equality Now.

Please pass this information/website to everyone you know, because they might have a friend/relative who might want to attend. Your support either financially or through spreading the word is greatly appreciated. If you tell two people who tell two people who tell two people ….

 

 

JUNE 26-28, 2009
3rd Annual Summer Sale
Poterie du Lac la Blanche

 

Friday, June 26 until Sunday, June 28

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

 

Our annual summer sale is a great opportunity to start collecting or add to your collection of hand made pottery and ceramic art by Lisa-Marie Serafin. It happens in the most idyllic setting – a small poterie in the countryside on the edge of Lac la Blanche.

Poterie du Lac la Blanche is located at 110 chemin Giroux in Mayo, QC
The potter, Lisa-Marie Serafin specializes in stoneware pottery for everyday living.
She says, “I find that the most useful things in a household can also be beautiful works of art. My hand made pottery, such as a covered jar, a serving bowl, or a coffee mug, are meant for your pleasure and to be admired as well as be functional.” 
Lisa-Marie is greatly influenced by her surroundings. She often uses nature’s objects, such as leaves, grasses and seed pods to achieve a variety of surface textures. She is also inspired by ancient symbols and rituals, music, colour and even the materials and tools with which she works.

Please visit http://lablanchepoterie.com
We look forward to seeing you at our Summer Sale and would like to remind you that the Poterie is open year round by appointment by calling (819) 281 – 3307.
Cash and cheques gladly accepted.
Thanks for your support!

 

 

JUNE 27, 2009
SISTER BAZAAR SALE

We have some lovely new stock, perfect for summer wear, plus re-orders of a few past faves.

We will have 2 sale dates in the near future. Both are at the NEW (and separate) locations including Gatineau QC.

 

Saturday June 27th at 70 Third Ave, in the Glebe (just East of Bank St) from 11AM to 4PM
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Ottawa&state=ON&address=70+3rd+Avenue&zipcode=K1S&country=CA&latitude=45.403952&longitude=-75.686151&geocode=ADDRESS

and

Saturday July 11th at 38 rue Hormidas Dupuis from 11AM to 4PM
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Gatineau&state=QC&address=38+Rue+Hormidas+Dupuis

Please see our website for details on the locations, as well as some new photos. And of course, there are always those one of a kind special surprises….

http://www.sisterbazaar.com

Please TELL YOUR FRIENDS, co-workers, anyone you think may be interested. It’s important to note that these are “eco-friendly” hand crafted products, using natural fibres (and dyes when possible) no child labour etc. We strive to bring the best Indian quality to those of discerning taste.

We look forward to seeing you all in the next few weeks.
Madeleine and Andree

 

 

JUNE 28, 2009
Yoga Meets Dance

Trained by Beth Rigby, I’ll be offering a class of Yoga meets Dance on the 28th of June at the yoga center “Relais Yoga”. This beautiful studio is located in the Gatineau Park (397, Cité-des-Jeunes Blvd).
We will dance with the elements of nature : stillness of the earth, sensuality of water, wildness of fire, freedom of air and sacredness of spirit.
Lots of beauty and fun!
All my gratitude for posting this event on your fabulous web site!
Namaste,
Marie Grégoire
Relais Yoga
819 777 4937

 

 

JULY 6, 2009 

CALL IT KARMA

In Honor of His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s Birthday

Winner of Best Adventure Film, Whistler Film Festival 2004

CALL IT KARMA

With special guests, producer writer, Michael Parker and Producer, Shan Tam

Sales Bazaar and Refreshments

Monday, JULY 6, 6:00 pm
Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa
Tickets: $10

Organized by Ottawa Friends of Tibet www.oft.ca
To reserve tickets or for more info, please e-mail event@oft.ca 
Or contact Barb at 613 290-6944

Proceeds to support the Kalimpong Seniors Home Project

 

 

Ongoing until September, 2009
Bag Reflex

Most of you know (Creative Clothing by) Roxane as a prolific source of unique costume designs for your dance performances. Now come see her other works in the “Bag Reflex” Exhibit at Gallery 6 in Kemptville. The Gallery is opened 8:30-4pm Monday to Friday and 8:30-3 Saturdays year round except statutory holidays..

http://gallery6.org/default.aspx.

 

You can see the “Bag Reflex” collection on Roxane’s website: www.creativeclothingbyroxane.com.
Gallery 6
126 Prescott St., 
Kemptville, Ontario
K0J 1T0
613 258-0668

 

 

SUMMER 2009 CLASSES

 

VENUS in Montreal

Intermediate ~ Intermediare
JUN 25 – AUG 13 8 wks $110
Thursday/Jeudi
19 h 30 à 21h ~ 7:30-9:00pm

** Learn technique, finger cymbals, **
**** veils, choreographies, modern Egyptian ****
*** and folkloric styles! **

Studio Bizz
551 ave du Mt-Royal E.
3e étage ~ 3rd floor
Reg/Inscrip: 514-526-2455

Host of Bellydance Workout TV series!

438-888-9056
www.venusbellydance.com 
venus@venusbellydance.com

 

 

Bellydance with Anna & Safiya

Summer Bellydance with Anna & Safiya – Starts Wednesday June 17th, 2009
Cardio-Bellydance (Wednesdays 8:00 – 9:30 pm)
Cardio-Bellydance all summer long! Designed for many levels of dance, we will teach short combinations of bellydance and aerobics that will be sure to make you sweat…

Intermediate-Advanced Improv (Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm)
Learn and improve upon your improvisational skills, using props such as veil and zills. Participate in a group-run choreography.

2 Daly Avenue downtown Ottawa (Daly at Nicholas)
Drop-ins $13/class
Beginning of the month special $45/month
Contact Safiya at safiyadancer@gmail.com

 

 

Dancing with Jalilah this Summer!

Jalilah’s Intermediate Level Classes in Ottawa:

Monday Evenings 7:30- 8:45 July 6 to August 10 
Tuesday Mornings 10:00-12:15 July 7 to August 11 
At: The Studio School of Dance 74 Jamie Avenue, Nepean/Ottawa(near Costco)
The price for 6 week session is $70 if registered before June 26 or $75 thereafter 
To Register for these classes contact Jalilah: jalilah@rogers.com (613)2288215

Jalilah’s Classes in Hull: Summer Session Starting July 2
Beginner Baladi/Belly Dance Thursdays 5:30-6:30 $80 for 7 Weeks

Intermediate Baladi/Belly Dance Thursdays 6:30-7:30 $80 for 7 Weeks

Advanced Baladi/Belly Dance Thursdays 7:30-9:00 $90 for 7 weeks

At Studio Oasis is: 200 St. Joseph, Hull

To register contact Oasis (819) 7765033 The new session starts in July 2nd

jalilah@rogers.com (613)2288215
www.piranha.de/jalilah
www.gildedserpent.com/aboutuspages/jalilahzamora.htm

 

 

Tribal Fusion classes with Leslie:

Tribal Basics
Tuesdays 8-9pm
1196 Bank St at Makin’ Moves studio
Drop-in every Tuesday in July: $15
to register: leslie AT shaktifusion DOT ca
*this class emphasizes practice of tribal basics and some combinations.

Mini-Workshop Series

Fridays 7-9pm
1196 Bank St at Makin’ Moves studio
$100 for all four classes
$30 for individual workshops.
All workshops limited to 10 participants
to register: leslie AT shaktifusion DOT ca

Friday June 26
Creating Your Own Choreography
This workshop is part lecture and part demonstration. Leslie will break down concepts, ideas and her creative process in how to develop your own tribal fusion choreography, either as a soloist or for a group. Please bring a notebook and pen and a piece of music you would like to work with.

Friday July 3
Drills for Locks and Isolations
In this workshop you will learn techniques to drill locks and isolations combinations.

Friday July 11
Tribal Fundamentals for Improvisation
This workshop drill ATS and Tribal fusion essentials for dancing improv in a group.

Friday July 26
Shakti fusion Signature Combinations
In this workshop you will learn some of Leslie’s original combinations in tribal fusion bellydance, which she often integrates into Shakti fusion troupe and student choreographies as well as her own solos.

The Ottawa Centre Class Party – what a way to end the season!

Hey Kids,
I have finally recovered enough to start looking at pics and video from our fabulous show on Wednesday June 10th. You ladies rock! Or Rak as the the pun goes!

So what does this mean for the blog post? It means that I will direct you all to the little final video clip that my good friend Linda took of many of us at the end of the show! Click on the still image to take you there!

IMG_0748
Colour and motion - can you hear the music?

It also means I will say a huge sloppy thank you to so many people – I hope I have not forgotten anyone, but someone can leave me a word in the comments in case I did!
The teachers who helped provide student performances to fill out the evening. Click on their name and if they have a website – you get to see it :-):

Bahyia/Brenda
Anna and Safiya
Jalilah
Zamira
Loulouh
Leslie
Sha Vega
Julie
Randi
Oksana

The student group dancers:

Thank you for all of the class time and extra time you put into preparing for the show – you’ve done your teachers proud!

I am not going to list you all by name – you are all given credit in the performer DVD! But thank you to each and everyone one of you for coming out and sharing your love of dance with us!

The Rogue Dancers:
These dancers took time on their own to develop and practice the pieces they danced completely on their own! Congratulations to you all for your efforts for the evening!
Niki and Shade
Pink Pandemonium: Linda,Diane,Ameenah,Sadira,Esmerelda
Anadil: Siddiqah,Farasha,Wendy,Rebecca,Lisa
Ameenah and Sadira
Hipnotic Hips: Bahiya, Zaida, Zeevah

The Teacher Soloists who graced us with their elegance.  Thank you ladies!

Jewel
Zena

The amazing volunteers:

Ticket and DVD order ladies: Julie T and Linda B

General Help: Brenda,Megan,Katheryne, Diane, Zamira, Jewel, Nat and Andrea, Erika

Decor: Michele Roy [ OMG thank you!]

Backstage/Stage Manager: Catharine Crerar

Official Photographer: Lainie Cambria

And the underpaid staff:
Tom of Darner Media
The Bronson Centre Staff and volunteers
Wall Sound

And the supportive members of the audience deserve some recognition too!

Thank you for your feedback, your participation, your support and your presence – it brings the end of the season to a fantastic close for me!

Remember to sign up for the weekly Dancers’ Newsletter to get news about workshops, classes and more belly dance related fun that is happening here in Ottawa-Gatineau and beyond!

A drama pose!
A drama pose!

Backstage at the Bay, St. Laurent and More!

Click on the photo to go to my Flickr Page!

 

IMG_0719.JPG, originally uploaded by campdancer2000.

Hey folks,
it has been a while! I’ve been fabulously busy with my sewing work! But I wanted to get these shots up so that the wonderful ladies who came out with me for this show can see how great they looked!Click on the photo to see the whole set!

Pics are also up from the National Women show ! Check them all out!
IMG_0500.JPG by you.

My thanks to the lovely ladies who came out with me for these two events!  

The Bay: Farasha, Shade, Isaden, and Ameenah! And Miriam, who took the pics! And Tom of course who shot video – but we are still working on getting that footage up!!

The National Women Show: Jewel, Zamira, Shade, Isaden, and Bollywood For Fun And Miriam, who took the pics! And Tom of course who shot video – but we are still working on getting that footage up!!

3 days of women ahead…and I think I caught a cold.

Last night when I got to class, my throat was sore.

Hmmm, has my body finally succumbed to one of the various colds that have been floating around all winter. I managed to avoid them all so far, but this morning, there is some serious discomfort that the lemon and agave in hot water is going to have to get to work on.

So, here I am typing up a quick note, which does suggest that misery loves company, or perhaps just commiseration. I share my woes with you all, mere hours before I have committed myself to the brutal onslaught of 10 000 women coming by to see what’s up at TAV Creations/Halyma’s Belly Dancing For Fun and, of course, the new Eco-TAV booth: # 703 at this weekend’s National Women Show.

If you are planning to come out this weekend – it’s all weekend- remember to not shake hands, and  that fabric does not let germs live – that’s why we should “do it on our sleeves

And if you cannot make it to see our dance performance on the MAIN STAGE on Saturday at 4:30 to 5 p.m., you may catch some of us at the Bay, St.Laurent as we go help celebrate the Bay’s Birthday party at the Cosmetics and Jewelry Gala – demos between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ish

Something along these lines – but with some of the new gals too!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHmbIcEphgo]

I wish you all a fabulous day, I must now go tackle my impending snufflage with some mega Vit C doses!  I’ll decide later if I need to go western med on thsi puppy, but for now, I’ll do my usual liquids and trying to take it easy… Oh Wait…<sigh>

It’s gonna be a great weekend – glad I have Booth Babes to help me out!

Halyma’s Belly Dancing For Fun~ At the BAY

What a fun time!

IMG_0444.JPG, originally uploaded by campdancer2000.

I won’t go on too long – suffice it to say I am very lucky to have such gorgeous ladies to work wit – inside and out! Click on the pic to take you to see more fabulous shots of this fun event!

Also please check out the Current Events box on my website  for all of the many shows and events we will be appearing in – a variety of ways to see what fun we have!

Okay – on to my next events this weekend!  Sleep, then Hersource!

A Busy Weekend – come on out and see me!

Being self-employed means spending a lot of time working, and then a lot of time self-promoting! This weekend will have me doing a lot of both before I get to take some time off on Sunday!

Friday evening, I will be out in Kanata, doing some lesson demos and promoting my two instructional belly dance DVDs which I produced to fill a niche in home lesson DVDs. Halyma’s belly dance lessons on DVD are for a beginning student who wants to learn the movements in a fun and safe way! I had a lot of fun making them, and have them available online , but also in the Chapters in Kanata in their local authors area – as they are produced and distributed from here, Ottawa.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XApEfM3esMg&hl=en&fs=1]

Saturday morning takes me bright and early to the RA centre on Riverside drive here in Ottawa to set up for the Ottawa Eco-Fair. There I will be promoting and selling my Eco-TAV green textiles product line in person.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLe6SlYQDlg&hl=en&fs=1]

Though you can buy the Eco-TAV Napkins and Pouches online here, and the Blossom Bags and MP3 player/camera/phone cases here online! After I do my best to save the planet one napkin at a time, I then head off for an evening of dance for charity!

Saturday evening takes me to the Glebe Community centre where I will be presenting two performances for a good cause. One is my Tuesday intermediate student group. A lovely group of ladies who have been practicing our new routine to get ready for this show, and then we’ll be embellishing it and adding more layers and fun for the June 10th show at the Bronson Centre [ details about that later]!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbmCKyptN5Y&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca]

The second presentation involving me that evening will be as a member of a new dance group that I have helped found with 4 other dancers: Bollywood For Fun. While not quite our inaugural performance, it will be out first show before a large number of our peers in the belly dance world, and hopefully they will be kind!

So where ever you may be this weekend, I hope you can find some time to come by and say hello!
Now back to some of my other work!
Blessed be…

I love the tools in my life!

I am sitting here having a quick breakfast and decided to take a moment to extroll the virtues of the various tools [ computer based stuff] that I use on a regular basis.
Why?

‘Cause I love them!
1 – Ical.

 My calendar system has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember – even when it was a paper calendar pocket book type. Now that I use mainly my online system, the Ical feature of my Mac, I can schedule in my work outlines as well as appointments, social opps, etc – all in different colours, with alarms, reminders etc. Everyone should use their own calendar systems as efficiently as possible – check your own out and see what organizational fun you can have!

2- Caloriecount.about.com
This is an online calorie counting system that I began using in September 2008. I had fallen off the wagon of counting my calories on a daily basis sometime around December, and am choosing to get back to it now. It is a little bit time consuming, but it also tracks your activities and helps set up goals and gives you a grade for how well your food choices throughout that day have been. If you are on the ever fun food awareness journey, check it out!

3 – My ipod. and my audiobooks. I am lucky enough to be able to listen while I work! So I use Itunes as well as Audible.com to feed my addiction. And I think I need to connect with a friend out there who has offered me access to his cd library of audio books too…

4-CTV.CA
Where I can watch television episodes! We dropped cable a few years back and now the internet has given me the gift of television shows! Yay!

I also love my husband and my dog, and friends – and many other things in my life! But this morning I thought I should voalize my gratitude for the technology that I am blessed with!

What tools do you use that make your life easier???

Carob Coconut Cupcakes – my entry for Capital Cupcake Camp

 

Mini goodness!
Mini goodness!

Vegan Carob Coconut Cupcakes

 

Ingredients

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
½ cups carob powder
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoons ginger
½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoons baking powder
⅓ cup coconut oil
¼ cup honey
¼ cup molasses
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
½ cup water [ you can use coffee if you like]

Method

Cream together the coconut oil [looks more like shortening to me than oil], honey, molasses, and cider vinegar.

Mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl until well blended.

Alternately add the dry ingredients and the water to the coconut mixture, mixing well in between additions.

Make 12 cupcakes or 24 mini cupcakes and bake at 375 degree for about 10 minutes. Check with a toothpick to confirm done,but they are vegan so they can be gooey inside too!

Sprinkle the top with coconut, nuts, seeds or whatever you like.

 

I had a great time – congrats to the organizers for a very successful day!

DNEF – BellySurfing #3

This is a guest post from Renee – enjoy:Remember to click on any coloured and underlined text for more detailed info!

Bellysurfing #3 Jalilah’s Journey by Renee

Back in January, I signed up for a beginner’s belly dance class at the Greta Leeming dance studio . Our instructor was Lorraine Chamas or Jalilah.

Jalilah

Click on photo to see more pics by Howard Sandler

After a few classes, I began to notice that Jalilah had a diverse approach to belly dancing. She taught various forms of shimmies that I had never seen before. She diligently dissected dance movements and emphasized the importance of hand and arm co-ordination with each step. As I watched her demonstrations, I almost felt that Jalilah had a spiritual connection to her art form.

It turns out the Jalilah has been practicing Oriental dance or Raks Sharki since the 1980’s. She travelled throughout Europe performing with “The Musicians from the Nile”. She danced in 5 star nightclubs and hotels in Egypt and Morocco. She was featured in two television documentaries and in a Spanish TV production and she had something else, music. Wonderful music.

Around lesson five, I knew nothing about Jalilah at this point; I had to ask her where she bought her CD’s. In her lovely gentle voice she replied, “I sell them.” At first I thought that she meant she sold them for a friend or bought them through a distributor. I couldn’t have been further off the mark. “I’ve produced 6 CD’s, “ she said. Produced? Did I hear that correctly?

Jalilah happily conveyed her business adventures with Piranha musik , the German record company and with Ishan Al-Mounzer , the composer/musician that conducted and played on the recordings.

Below is a short interview about Jalilah’s musical journey.

Why did you want to work on this project?

I lived in Berlin, Germany from 1980 to 1995. I went there originally to study and got involved in the dance in 1984.

Around 1989, I was performing at least 5-10 times a week, and going to Egypt regularly to study with various instructors. I worked with Piranha, which at that time as well as producing CDs was an agency for artistic talent. They were booking tours for me, and I knew that they produced records as well.

Piranha music started sending me samples from recordings sent to them by various artists to ask my opinion. These tapes were often heavily synthesized, even the violins and the qanoon on them weren’t real, and I didn’t like most of them. This was the type of music that was very popular in this genre in the late 1980’s and early 90’s: lots of synthesized sound.

What was the motivation behind the records?

I told Piranha that I liked the style of music that I heard in Cairo during the dance performances. This music had a full orchestra with violins, oud, qanoon and nays. There are excellent albums of this kind produced in the 70s on LPs.  By the late 80s, there really weren’t many productions with that type of sound. Nowadays that is no longer the case.

Dancers today don’t realise how lucky they are to have so many good recordings! After listening to all these new synthesized music tapes, I asked myself, “Why don’t I produce my own music, in the traditional style that I keep hearing in Cairo?’ and so the idea behind the “Jalilah’s Raks Sharki” series was born! I approached Piranha, and while they were hesitant at first because of my inexperience recording, they decided to give me the go ahead.

It took two trips to Cairo in 1990 to find and interview people to work with. I was up against a huge barrier: I was a woman, a dancer and from the West. They had the image of me as a “dumb western dancer” and did plenty to test me. People would come up to me, with tapes from old productions that had been already done years ago, and try to pass them off to me as original. Or would ask me to pay them outrageous sums. It was unreal. But I finally met Mokhtar Al Said, and knew I could work with him.

Jalilah - Mokthar Al Said: Raks Sharki 1He completely understood what I wanted. He was easy to work with, so I decided that he would be the one to help me with the album, and I returned to Germany to make the arrangements. In October 1990 I returned to Cairo for the recording. I was in the recording studio the entire time of the production (dancing I should add!) as well as during the postproduction, mixing and so on. The result was the first CD “Raks Sharki- Mokhtar al Said.”

Jalilah - Raks Sharki 3: Journey of the Gipsy Dancer

Since then I have also worked with other musicians/arrangers like Hossam Shakir (Volume #3 Journey of the Gypsy dancer) and Ihsan Al Mounzir (Volume #5 Stars of the Casino Opera and Volume#6 In a Beirut mood)

Jalilah - Raks Sharki 6: In a Beirut Mood

What did you do as an artistic producer?

Aside from playing finger cymbals, I don’t play any instrument. But as the Artistic producer I find the arranger and his musicians. I select all the songs, decide their order, and which instruments highlight in each song. I write most of the sleeve notes on the CD cover as well.

Where did you find the musicians?

I always let the arranger pick his own musicians. It is easier that way, however I always insist on taking a dancers drummer and not a studio drummer. At first I had to really fight for this!

Who is your inspiration?

Aisha Ali an American dancer who in the early 70s went to Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria to record music.

She put out 3 LPs, Music of the Ghawazee, music of the Oulid Nail and Music of Tunisia.

———

Jalilah is also an accomplished writer herself, with her latest article on the Gilded Serpent, an online magazine with fabulous resources!

Her next workshop: Understanding and Interpreting Middle Eastern Music in Ottawa hosted by Julie Tierney is filling up quickly!

Thank you to Renee and Jalilah for their time and effort to produce this article!  If you enjoyed this article, please add you comments below!T/H