Nefertiri on the Rise

* Nefertiri's name is now Safia Saharr

One day soon after finishing college, I was looking through the Yellow Pages for a ballet and jazz dance studio. I found an advertisement for Habeeba's Dance of the Arts here in Columbus, OH. I was so thrilled! I had always wanted to learn belly dancing, but I assumed it was only offered in really big cities. I signed up for my first class there and have been doing it ever since.

I began belly dancing with three years of lessons in ballet and jazz. I believe I have a good feel for what correct ballet form is, although my body is not trained enough to execute it. I would love to take ballet in addition to belly dancing, but unfortunately, I don't have the time right now to do both. While I believe strongly that a person does not need prior dance experience in order to become a good belly dancer, I do feel that it has helped me.

I think in particular, ballet taught me graceful arm and hand placement and how to turn, making those aspects of belly dancing easier for me. I think my jazz training made it easier for me to learn to shake my shoulders and move my hips. My teacher Habeeba also had ballet training as a child, and I
think it shows up in her classical belly dancing style, which I of course am studying.

In addition to taking classes at Habeeba's studio, I teach belly dancing classes there every week. My philosophy as a teacher is that the dance should give students confidence and an outlet for self-expression, all in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement. I am a computer programmer, which usually surprises my belly dancing students. I don't think it surprises my classmates at the studio though, because I tend to be very methodical and focus on details of the steps we are learning so much that it has become a joke at the studio. ("How many degrees do you want me to rotate my hips?")

I perform with our troupe usually about once a month and do professional club dates/grams as they come up. I also spend a lot of time practicing to develop my skills as a soloist. Improving my soloing skills is a long-term "project" that gives me purpose and satisfaction (and frustration at times).
 

Even when I am not "practicing," I am practicing. I constantly find myself thinking about moves that I can use for different pieces of music. For example, while flying home from visiting my family for Thanksgiving, I thought about what movements I could use for a specific piece of drum solo music, even though I wasn't actually listening to any music at the time. I was (hopefully subtly) wiggling around in my seat imagining doing the moves. I find that I can't help but belly dance or
think about it whenever I hear music of any kind.
 

As far as formal practice goes, I get a lot of it through my teaching, but I should spend more time practicing the dance on my own. I probably spend a total of 10 minutes a day practicing movements that really challenge me, like hip shimmies and fast double- or triple- hip beats. However, I believe that while more practice would be better, just 10 minutes a day of earnest practicing can make quite a difference.
 

My dance goal is simply to become the best belly dancer I can possibly be. My greatest accomplishment so far has been earning 3rd place in the East Coast Classic. That was a huge honor, especially since that was my first (and only, so far) belly dancing competition. Placing in the Grand Champion category was a tremendous confidence booster because there were so many wonderful performers there. I learned a lot from preparing for the contest, watching the other performers, and receiving the judges' feedback. The experience was stressful for me, because I put a lot of time and energy into preparing for it. However, it was well worth it because all of the preparation made me a better dancer.

Another benefit of the contest is that I believe that Habeeba, who books my dance jobs, has used my placement in the contest as a resume booster when talking to clients.
 

My philosophy about the dance is to make it what you want it to be. For me, the dance is so many things. Belly dancing has helped me discover my own femininity, grace, and power as a woman. Before I started belly dancing, I was shy and self-conscious. Now I am comfortable performing in front of large crowds and take pride in my ability to do so.
 

That transformation process has been very exciting. (I feel like it is still occurring). I remember early on, looking at more experienced dancers at my studio the way a younger sister might look at her big sister, full of awe and fascination at their confident femininity. It was in the way that they carried themselves and dressed, with pride in their bodies regardless of whether they were skinny or fuller-figured, tall or short, African American or Caucasian. Although I was aware of it, I didn't realize how big the change was until my best friend from childhood commented recently on how much more femininely I carry myself now.
 

The other part of that transformation - the ability to perform in front of large crowds without having a heart attack - was more of a conscious effort. Soloing was especially scary for me. I forced myself to do it even though I was scared to death that I would make a fool of myself or seem like a fraud. With each experience performing, it has gotten a little easier, and I have gained a little more confidence and wisdom for the next time.
 

I belly dance primarily for my own entertainment (and hopefully the entertainment of others), but I also love learning about the cultures behind the dance. While I don't pretend to be an expert on Middle Eastern or Greek culture, I have had exposure to those cultures through my dancing. I have performed at Arabic and Greek parties for weddings and birthdays, and I have performed at a Greek restaurant with a Greek band. Through my studies at Habeeba's, I have learned to discern between Arabic and Greek music, and what the various instruments sound like. Through seminars I have learned tidbits about the tradition of the dance in the different countries throughout the Middle East.
 

It's funny, because my best friend growing up was Iranian-American, so I had quite a bit of exposure to Iranian culture before ever studying belly dancing. I feel that the dance has given me an even better understanding of and appreciation for her background, even though belly dancing isn't really performed in Iran. I plan some day to study Arabic, Greek, or Turkish, so that I can gain a better understanding of the music I enjoy and the cultures I am representing as a belly dancer.
Fortunately, the scene in Columbus is pretty good. There are a lot of festivals at which to perform. Salome, who is also based in Columbus, offers belly dancing shows/seminars at least twice a year. There are a few ethnic restaurants in town that have belly dancers, and at least a couple of them feature a live band - the Kakias Family Orchestra, who are wonderful. I get the sense that the scene in
Columbus is growing with the popularity of belly dancing.
 

There are a number of factors that keep me hooked on belly dancing. For one thing, belly dancing is such an individual form of expression. Every performer has her own unique style, and when we perform solos, we can do our own improvisation/choreography rather than having to do someone else's. I think that individualism is a difference between belly dancing and most other forms of dancing that are performed professionally, such as ballet or jazz. I enjoy the constant challenge of striving to improve and develop my own style. Middle Eastern music absolutely captivates me. I can't get enough of the its exciting rhythms and wonderfully varied instrumentation and songs. Also, the > friendships I have developed through the dance are invaluable to me. I feel extremely fortunate to have the regular social outlet with other women that belly dancing provides. Finally, this form of dance more than anything else has helped me discover and celebrate my own femininity. All of those factors make belly dancing something I plan to continue for the rest of my life.