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Salome's Articles

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  • A Brief History of Oriental Dance: From Social Dance to Performance Art
    In Arabic, the folk dance that mothered Oriental dance came to be identified as Raks Baladi. Raks meaning dance and Baladi roughly meaning of the country. A distinction between native and foreign dance became necessary after European occupation. Before this it was simply referred to as Raks (derived from the word rejoice).
  • A Name, A Notion
    In the Middle East it is known as Raqs Sharqi - translation, "Oriental Dance." The term "Belly Dance" was coined by promoter Sol Bloom in 1893. Sol used the term as an advertising hook to draw visitors to an exhibit called "The Streets of Cairo" at the Chicago World's Fair. At the time, society considered any description of the body to be socially unacceptable and Sol knew the term Belly Dance would scandalize, interest and ultimately increase business.
  • A Professional - Dance
    "A Professional - Primer" outlines the basic traits of a professional. The series is intended to act as a reference to develop said traits.
  • A Professional - Music
    Perform with live music. When two entities create simultaneously and together the magic is palpable. As my teacher said - live music breathes its own life into a dance. As a professional it is a skill you should posses and as an artist one that you will treasure.
  • A Professional - Primer
    A certificate is 'proof' that one is competent and knowledgeable in a specific area. But there are no universally accepted certifications in Oriental dance, and with creative license dominating the scene it becomes a moot point. In the end it is up to individuals to deem themselves learned or lacking. Each style demands specific knowledge and expertise but no matter the style you perform there are basic traits every budding professional should develop.
  • A Professional - Style/History
    In the late 1950’s Middle Eastern cabarets began to appear in New York and California. These nightclubs featured bands that were comprised of new Americans that often hailed from different areas of the Near and Middle East. As a result the music was frequently distinct with elements you wouldn’t find in, say, a strictly Armenian, Turkish or Persian arrangement.
  • A Professional - Style/Terminology
    Greater exposure to Oriental dance often leads to the awareness of style diversity within our genre and to folk dances of the Near and Middle East. Understandably, inconsistent labels, visual messages and conflicting information can leave a person confused. However, by representing yourself as a professional, the public will look to you as an authority.
  • Beautiful Nails
    In preparation for performance we attend to not only our dance but our physical beauty as well. We create an exterior to enhance our presentation with elegant costumes, coiffured hair, and suitable make-up. Our hands and feet require (at least an occasional) beauty treatment too, overgrown and ragged nails detract from an other wise refined appearance.
  • Belly Dance Costumes
    To the uninitiated Belly dance costumes may seem all the same. But in fact the costuming, along with the music, essence, and expression of movement are regionally distinct. This paper is devoted to identifying the current characteristics of mass produced and designer costumes from Turkey, Egypt and America.
  • Blousy Dance Pants
    Detailed instructions on how to sew blousy dance, or "harem," pants if you don't have a pattern.
  • Dancing Abroad - The Bare Minimum
    So far we've covered the players, some of the risks now we are getting down to what every first timer wants to know. This Q and A does not cover every point that should be covered in your contract. However it does list the basics, so without further ado…
  • Dancing Abroad - The Dangers
    Now that some of the mystery has been laid bare in “Dancing Abroad – The Players” let's get to the risks. The entertainment industry is littered with the bodies of hopefuls who, in an effort to 'make it' are exploited. Accepting a dance engagement in a foreign country has inherent risk on many levels - from your physical safety to your business interests.
  • Dancing Abroad - The Players
    Having a measure of experience, I often get requests from up and coming dancers, who are interested in working abroad and ask for knowledge on industry practices overseas. I will address the commonly asked questions as well as touch on issues that anyone considering this step should be aware of in the “Dancing Abroad…” series of articles.
  • Eyebrow Design
    Manicured eyebrows create a clean, definitive frame for the eyes and can make a dramatic difference in your look and overall expression. If you choose to shape them yourself follow these guidelines to get the look you’re after.
  • Faux or for Real?
    Once a woman told me that I was not a "real" Oriental dancer because I did not emulate the Egyptian style. I think her statement may be indicative of a common but misguided concept about authenticity. That being said, what is an authentic presentation of a folk dance?
  • Hobbyist Circuit
    Most students desire a graduation from the classroom to personal expression and draw the conclusion that the professional market is the next step. Like any craft, Oriental dance has an ABC order of progression. If you are at the point of putting theory into practice, the next logical step is to participate in the hobbyist circuit.
  • Interview with Aisha Ali
    Aisha Ali, a highly regarded performer, instructor, researcher and academic writer, is nothing less than legendary in the Oriental dance genre. Her field studies in the Middle East began in 1971 and continued until 1997. She has produced “Dances of North Africa Vol. I” (Morocco and Tunisia), as well as Dances of Egypt and she has released the first in a series of instructional videos “Dancing with Aisha”.
  • Interview with Ansuya
    Ansuya, a second generation Oriental dancer, has recently been catapulted to “super star” status. A member of the “Belly Dance Super Stars” ensemble, promoted by record producer Miles Copeland, she has gained national recognition from mainstream and dance communities alike. Her career, however, began long before Belly dance was a twinkle in Mr. Copeland’s eye.
  • Interview with Beata and Horacio Cifuentes
    Since 1984 Beata and Horacio have taught and performed throughout Europe, in Morocco, The U.A.E., Australia, Canada and extensively in the United States. They founded “Oriental Fantasy Productions” home to their dance school in Berlin, Germany and annual theater production.
  • Interview with Bozenka
    Bozenka has performed for celebrities like Sean Connery, Donald Trump, Hugh Hefner, Madonna, Enrique Iglesias, and performed with Alabina during her concert tour in Miami Beach. She is also a recent addition to the “Bellydance Superstars” tour and choreographer for Latin Pop sensation Shakira.
  • Interview with Fahtiem
    Fahtiem has performed throughout the United States and starred in "Belly Dancer's Paradise", "Arabian Dance Fever" and in the videos "Festival on the Nile XII and XIV" to name but a few. Her talents earned her crossover to mainstream media on shows like Good Morning America, Solid Gold, The X Show, Talk Soup and Arabic MTV.
  • Just Say No
    "Belly dance" is a dance of seduction. "Belly dance" was used by concubines to win the sultans favor. "Belly dance" is the eastern equivalent of strip tease. In a word - Erroneous!
  • Washing Your Hair
    Position:

    Bend forward with your head tucked downwards. This position relaxes your scalp and promotes circulation.
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