Belly Dance Newsletter 2011 October

Tonight (Oct. 4th) is the last night of prop balancing. We are not working on a choreography so feel free to drop in and learn the tips and tricks of balancing swords, trays, pots, etc.

Intermediate/advanced belly dance troupe class will begin on October 11h and will be a full choreography series ending on December 13th.  For the best deal, sign up for the whole series.  This class will be on Tuesdays from 9-10:20pm.

We will begin a new choreography that will be performed starting in December at Dancers Night at El Morocco in Pleasant Hill. I’m sure there will be more performances between now and then, but that will be our big belly dance end of the series performance/party.

Please bring finger cymbals as we will use them in the new choreography. If you don’t have finger cymbals, you can “air-zill” or buy a pair for $20 at Amazon or Shimmy Shimmy.

Belly Dance Show in Sacramento

It’s that time again…time for Sacramento’s annual Haunted Oasis Showcase! See the best in belly dance in the Sacramento area and beyond, performing a variety of dance styles in a luscious atmosphere. Admission is $15, including dinner and the show. Performers include Nyla Crystal, Badia, Kaira Haneem, the Heyoka Collective, Rak’elle, Manasa, Mychelle Crown and many more.

Marrakech Moroccan Restaurant

Where to Find Middle Eastern Music

I get asked a lot in class where I find the Middle Eastern music I use. As a non-Arabic speaker, I tend to select mainstream music that people will want to hear and that is safe from bad words or political tones. New and crazy music is fun to find, but unless you get it translated, can get you into a lot of trouble. The classics are always appreciated and most classics have multiple versions of the song arrangement from orchestral to synthesizer to pop and techno.

You’d be surprised at the selection on iTunes. Even if you aren’t an Apple fan, you can use the iTunes store to browse music and related artists.

Want to find some classics?

Search for songs titled:

Aziza

Zey al Helwa

Mashaal

Gana El Hawa

Batwanness Beek

Tamr Henna

Hebbina

Leylet Hobb (one of my favorites)

Fi Youm We Leila (another of my favorites)

Lamma Bada

*Note that spellings will vary so be patient with searching.

Looking for some Middle Eastern pop?

Try searching for these artists:

Nancy Ajram

Nourhanne

Haifa Wehebe

Hakim

Amr Diab

Sherin

Ehab Tawfik

Saad

Natacha Atlas (more new-agey)

Middle Eastern Recipe of the Month

Saffron Pilaf

By Saad Fayed, About.com Guide

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups basmati rice, uncooked
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• ¾ teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons hot water

Preparation:

See you all soon!

Nyla Crystal