Bellydance NV

Fall Bellydance Classes in Napa

2010-08-24T22:23:00.000-07:00

School is back in session next week. Our first bellydance class is on Sept 1st.
Registration is now open.
http://aded-admin.adulted.nvusd.k12.ca.us/onlinereg/Classes.asp?txtAction=LoadSections&txtCourseGroupID=31&txtCourseCode=9585

There is also an email a friend link on the registration page to let your friends know to come join the fun.

We're gonna have a great time getting fit, learning the basics, and possibly some zill work.

Looking forward to seeing you all next week.

My first experience dancing in a restaurant. by Giselle

2010-06-09T22:40:00.000-07:00

We arrived in costume with our matching cover-ups that Nancy generously fashioned for us. The dressing room was a small but thankfully air-conditioned walk-in closet of sorts near the kitchen, barely large enough for three or four of us to squeeze in and check hair, make-up, and costume particulars. Poor little Suhaila Aurora (Nancy's nearly-six-year-old daughter) injured her finger right before we were to appear, but she was a trooper and sucked it up to do just fine for her performance, which opened the show. Just moments prior to that, Nancy paraded us all out front and center for surprise gifts each of a perfect pink rose.

Nancy danced after little Suhaila, and Terry after her. Suhaila flashed her beautiful golden Isis Wings (which Nancy also made). Nancy wowed everyone with a sword routine. Terry, tall and composed, danced in her confident and serene style. Next was the beautiful Ain-Tei (pronounced aye-EN-tay), but I was "backstage" preparing for my routine so I missed her show-stopping dancer's back bend and long hair flipping that played out very impressively in dress rehearsal, but I could certainly hear the audience whooping and hollering for her!

We could barely hear Yosifah announce the dancers over the sounds of the audience because that place was packed. Someone had reserved for a party of 35, and the place itself probably only seats maybe double that. It was literally standing room only. It's a good thing I was lurking nearby in the wings because I would've missed my call! Waiting out the 20-second intro to Alf Layla Wah Layla, I strolled in, my L. Rose Designs
three-yard Andromeda dyed silk veil (http://www.lrosedesigns.com/products/0-veils.html) floating behind me. There was just enough room to do my routine, but not quite enough to be able to move around
the restaurant and visit the audience members at the other end. After the first song, I did a two-minute Maqsoum drum solo to Mark Bell of Helm tabla work (woohoo!) (http://www.helmmusic.com/mark-bell.htm) and with very little playful coaxing, got the whole audience clapping. That was fun. I'd guess I danced for about 7-8 minutes total. I even garnered a few tips! Afterward, I noticed someone had picked up my veil and with a smile, handed it back to me on my way out, saying "great job." (Well, thank you very much!) Turns out it was the gracious Aisha, another seasoned guest dancer in yet another beautiful costume.

Meanwhile, sweating buckets and still recuperating from my short but taxing solo, I trotted back to the changing room and unfortunately had to miss most of Paris's performance. I'm sure it was wonderful. She's a lovely young lady with a fantastic smile and gobs of talent. :)

Did I mention it was really hot in the restaurant? It was. Very hot. Lots of bodies and it was already warm and muggy outside. They ended up opening the front and back doors to get more air in even though I'm sure the A/C was already blowing full blast. There wasn't enough ice water in the world that night. Sweating ... buckets.

After I cooled off, dried off, and breathed my face back to a more normal pallor, I rejoined our group at the tables in the back and was at last able to relax and watch the remaining dancers. There was guest dancer Mielle, house dancer Khalilah, and then the band took a break. Perfect timing for my meal to arrive, and it was delicious.

Our Featured Instructor Nancy (Najmes) did a veil routine + drum solo after the break, and she did a great job. Then came the lovely Edibel in her stunning emerald green and gold costume. Edibel is Venezuelan and has a grace and friendliness about her. We got to meet her husband and two adorable children again, too. After Edibel was the final student dancer of the night, our own hot tamale from Mexico, Erica: A charming and energetic little spitfire; a piece of dancing dynamite. Erica had a big fan base in the way of family she brought with her, and she did great!

Everyone did great. It all worked. And the costume I made worked. At one point I almost muttered to myself as Han Solo did in "Star Wars", quietly pleading to his Millenium Falcon, "ya hear me baby? Hold together." It held together. Even the veil survived.

I survived. I'd like to do it again someday! It was great fun, and good experience.

Najmes Student Night @ El Morocco Restaurant June 6, 2010

2010-05-13T23:35:00.000-07:00

Join Napa Valley Bellydance Instructor Najmes with her students & special guests performing to live music provided by Al'Azifoon featuring Mark Bell & Ling Shien of Helm.

Show times are 6:30 to 9:30 on Sunday June 6th, 2010

Restaurant Reservations (925) 671-0132

2203 Morello Ave.

Pleasant Hill, CA

30th Annual Rakkasah Festival

2010-02-09T13:06:00.000-08:00

Napa's own Najmes Rakstars will be performing at 30th Annual Rakkasah Middle Eastern Dance & Music Festival. The world's largest celebration of belly dance.

On Saturday, March 13th @ 5:32pm Najmes Rakstars will join 1000's of dancers, musiciains, artists, and vendors at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium.

This special event features famous performers from all over the world for a whirl-wind weekend of ethnic and cabaret styles of folk dance & Belly Dance.

The Art of Belly Dance: Arabian Sands

2010-02-01T11:35:00.000-08:00

IAMED (International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance) Presents a belly dancing inspired workout with instructor Paulina.

I had the joy of meeting & taking class with Paulina on Arabian Nights @ Sea Cruise in Sept 2009. So I was very delighted to to find her DVD. I knew that Paulina was an excellent teacher, this DVD does live up to my expectations.

The lessions are very basic so if you are a beginner you will really appreciate the movements broken down into sections with ample time for practicing each move. For the advanced dancer it works well for warm up and technique reminder. Then move into the work-out section with Jindra who puts it all together with fun choreography that is easy to follow.

Moves covered on the DVD are:

Horizontal Figure8
Twisting Shimmy
Hip Drop
Hand Ripples
Upper Body Slides
Beautiful Arms

Get your copy Here:

Why is Belly Dancing so Popular?

2010-01-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

Some of us get quite a laugh when we think about belly dancing. Yet it has become a very popular type of dancing. In fact, many dance studios and even some colleges offer classes in it. Belly dancing is a type that women take part in and they love the fact that they can make it their own. It is a way to be very creative and to be sensual in movements at the same time.

Many women take an interest in belly dancing because it is said to be one of the best forms of exercise for the abdominal region. This is one area of the body that many women find it hard to get rid of the flab from. They know they will feel more attractive if they can tighten up this area. Belly dancing gives them the opportunity to do so while also being fun.

In some areas of the world, belly dancing is a part of their culture. They wear colorful outfits that have a shear overlay to them. They have the tummy area exposed so that a good view of it can be seen when they are dancing. While this form of dancing names the belly, there are other parts of the body that play a vital role in it as well. They include the hips and shoulders.

There are plenty of different moves that are involved with belly dancing. As you learn the basics of them though you will find you really do enjoy this type of movement. It will help you to have a very strong body and to get that flat stomach you are interested in. You can also continue on to learn more advanced moves. With some dance classes, there are performances by the belly dancers at the end of each class. It can be fun to be a part of them. If you aren?t enrolled right now find out when the next show is. That way you can view it from the audience.

The types of belly dancing that you will find out there really depend on the location. For example the trends with it are very different in the United States than they are in Canada. Throughout the United Kingdom and Australia other movements are taking shape there in regards to belly dancing. There is certainly a great deal of variety with it but that is part of the fun of being involved with belly dancing.

If you are interested in learning how to belly dance, take the time to find out what classes are offered in your area. Many instructors offer different levels of classes for beginners, intermediates, and advanced students. If you aren?t sure, ask if you can sit in and observe one of the classes that they teach. Seeing what goes on in them can help you to make up your mind about joining.

Many experts believe that belly dancing can prevent women from suffering from osteoporosis later in life. It also helps to burn a large number of calories while being a low impact type of exercise. Individuals that have bad knees will find this type of exercise is one that they can do without causing additional pain. In fact, it can help to strengthen the legs and further reduce the pain in the legs and knees.

Regardless of your body structure, belly dancing is something you can take part in. There is often a stigma that you must be a certain size in order to do well at it. However, that isn?t true so if you have always wanted to take part in belly dancing get out there and see what is available to you.

Dancexcite is a professional dancing studio that provides many types of dance lessons. Wedding dance lesson Sydney is the most popular classes. It includes bridal dance lessons, bridal waltz classes etc.

Han, Paul. (2009, November 23). Why Is Belly Dancing so Popular? The Free Library. (2009). Retrieved January 04, 2010 from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Why Is Belly Dancing so Popular?-a01074013395

Najmes Performing "Habibi Ya Eini"

2009-07-23T23:45:00.000-07:00

Unveiled: Double Veil with Petite Jamilla

2009-06-02T22:27:00.000-07:00

Petite Jamilla is a Bellydance Superstar in the worlds only touring bellydance company. Her specialty is the double veil routine. I was so delighted when I found her Double Veil DVD. Double veil technique was something that I have been mesmerized by for some time. The two veils floating effortlessly & seamlessly is so beautiful to watch. Petite Jamilla does it with ease & grace.

Petite Jamilla brings us this instructional DVD on a beginner's level. If you are advanced you won't find much you don't already know. As, a teacher I like how the DVD is broken down into 4 technique sections.

They are:
1.) Scoop, Pillar, Strut
2.) Wind, Star
3.) Unveiled, Floating Skirt
4.) Spiral, Blossom

Each section builds on the previous & creates a combination culminating into a dance. The tutorial section is excellent. Petite Jamilla explains & demonstrates using the veil well.

The downsides to this DVD which is nothing to do with Petite Jamilla, but the production of it. It is heavily produced with a voice over for the entire DVD. To me it makes it very impersonal & detached.

Petite Jamilla's performance is edited in an "mtv" style with so many odd camera angles that it was very hard to watch. During most of her performance there were weird overhead shots or those focusing on her neck & torso. From a dancer's perspective it has very little interest. It would've been lovely to see Petite Jamilla's dance in it entirety with one (or no more than two) cameras. Visually it is a very impressive piece of editing work and a credit to Miles Copeland's production team.

Besides those couple of things, it is a great buy if you are interested in getting started in double veil. I'm going to keep it for sure!

Go to Bellydance.com to get you own copy for only $18.99
Click here to visit www.Bellydance.com

2009-05-27T00:53:00.001-07:00

Have you heard what Mike Dillard said about walmart? http://tr.im/mwFK

2009-05-24T23:05:00.001-07:00

Take the first step in faith, you don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step. Dr. MLK Jr.

2009-05-23T23:58:00.001-07:00

"I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big." Donald Trump

2009-05-22T22:03:00.001-07:00

There are only 2 doors in life: the door marked "Security" & the door marked "Freedom." If you choose security you end up losing both.

What is a Professional Bellydancer?

2009-05-19T23:53:00.000-07:00

My dance partner Soraya & I performed last weekend @ Emeraldfest fundraiser for Mission Outreach. Despite the heat 100*F, and the asphalt it was fun.
We were well received by a small but lively crowd. The compliment that resounded with me was from the organizer herself, "You were so professional, thanks for blessing me with your talent."

This really got me thinking. What makes a bellydancer professional?
I do not think it all comes down to money the way that it does in "professional" sports or ballet dance. One becomes a professional when they get paid contracts in these arenas. Since we as dancers, operate in a small niche I do not think not being paid makes you less of a professional bellydancer.
I do many performances & most of them are not paid gigs. So in that respect I am not a "Professional" dancer. I do however have many years of experience performing & guiding dancers. Which I feel does in fact make me a professional belly dancer.

I do believe that being a professional means more in the area of conduct, presentation, & skills. To be a professional means that you are a representative of your art form. You treat it with the respect it deserves. You treat your fellow dancers with the respect they deserve. You make an effort to be congenial and to network to increase awareness in our communities for our beautiful dance.
We are all women sharing a love for bellydance after all.

Being a professional bellydancer also means having respect for yourself. You have appropriate fitting costumes. You create you own total look. You never misrepresent yourself by acting "sleazy" in a bellydance costume. Sorry, but belly dancing is largely still misunderstood and behaving less than ladylike perpetuates this view. Also, wear a cover up. It helps conceal the surprise of your beautiful costume as well as your modesty. I'm all for sexy costumes in the context of wearing when performing. Think of it this way, do you wear your bikini around when you're nowhere near a beach or pool? It's common decency & professional.

Now is the time for action!

2009-05-19T01:13:00.000-07:00

Najmes & Soraya Bellydance Duet

2009-05-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

Najmes & Soraya Performing @ Emeralfest

2009-05-15T11:29:00.001-07:00

Success is the culmination of countless failures and endless hours of study. But most of all...Success is worth the sacrifice. Mike Dillard

2009-05-13T23:41:00.001-07:00

I've written a article on my blog http://ping.fm/jBntR

2009-05-12T19:52:00.001-07:00

I am learning some valuable information from my linkedin groups! Thanks.

2009-05-10T21:51:00.001-07:00

Then guess what... I just mentioned that she was great & that I had a business. Simple as that she wants to sign up.

2009-05-10T21:48:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day! I just got home from dinner with my mom & we had a great waitress who really took care of us.

2009-05-10T00:39:00.001-07:00

I am finally turning in after reading way to much & posting to my blog.

How to get started belly dancing.

2009-05-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

For those of you who may have stumbled upon my blog & have an interest in taking up bellydancing, you may be wondering "how do I get started?" Here's some tips that I hope will get you pointed in the right direction.

The first thing you will want to do is find a teacher. Have you seen bellydancers performing in your area? They would be a great source to let you know who is teaching. Do you have a restaurant or club in your area that features bellydancers? Many dancers performing regularly in restaurants also have local classes. Previewing your teacher dancing before joining a class is a benefit that can help you to determine if you like her style, and if it is a fit for you. Another way to find teachers is to check your community programs. Bellydance teachers are often found teaching in community programs. I teach bellydance classes throught my school district's community education program. I also know many teachers who do the same.

So what do I do if I've checked around & haven't found a teacher? Don't give up hope. You can also find teacher directories online. Three of my favorite trusted teacher directories are:
www.bhuz.com
www.Shira.net
www.bellydance.com

Mostly keep your ears open & ask around. Even in the smallest communities I am sure that a bellydancer or bellydance enthusiest can be found who can give you some referals.

Lastly, get some DVD's. Although dvd's can be great tutorials, I really recommend having a live teacher. She can you vital critique & a good teacher will always guide you on executing the moves properly. All a dvd can do is show you, then it's up to you to interpret whats been shown.

I hope that you have found these tips to be useful & can point to your journey of becoming a bellydancer. Most of all don't forget that learning is a process that takes time. Be patient with yourself & practice, practice, practice.

Discover Bellydance w/ Michelle Joyce: Fat Burning

2009-04-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

I was very surprised by this DVD in the Discover Bellydance family. I usually find the selections from natural journeys to be too broad spectrum to be of any real use to those interested in learning bellydance. Michelle Joyce has stepped it up a notch.

Michelle is a very beautiful young lady, and a very talented dancer. I've watched her countless times on youtube. I was happy to find her DVD at such a great price and great content. Usually I am not very impressed with "budget" bellydance videos.

One of my favorite features of this DVD is that it has a very through warm-up section. I've noticed that most bellydance DVD's get right to the meat & potatoes. Michelle's warm-up utilizes traditional stretching techniques interspersed with bellydance moves. Cool!

Michelle breaks down the moves and gives a through explanation on the muscle control & proper posture. Very Important!

The instruction is good for beginners, and more experienced dancers will find the drills & cardio section can easily be integrated into your own practices whatever bellydance style you prefer.

I did find the "Fat Burning" title a misnomer. It's not so much a workout in the traditional sense, but rather a bellydance lesson & practice session.

The DVD is broken into 7 sections

Warm-up
Moves
Cardio
Endurance
Flexibility
Abs
Cool down.

My one disappointment in this DVD is that there is no demo of Michelle's Dancing. It's like having a cupcake without the frosting, it's just not right! Please Michelle next time dance.

By the way, I completely disagree with the Amazon customer comment. I found the DVD to be instructional, informative, & well put together. Not at all boring. I did the DVD several days in a row all the way through & that's a rarity.

Get your copy here:

Core Balance Diet

2009-04-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hay House is proud to present our latest release from Marcelle Pick, The Core Balance Diet: 4 Weeks to Boost Your Metabolism and Lose Weight for Good. We are also offering you a chance to win a spa weekend getaway and a 2-hour consultation with Marcelle! Go Now »
Is your weight gain making you miserable?Have you noticed that you're packing on pounds in unpleasant new places?Or is the scale—and the way you feel about yourself—just stuck, no matter how much you diet and exercise? Pick up this book and toss out the old way of thinking about yourself and your weight. The Core Balance Diet heralds a whole new chapter in weight loss, proving how easy it is to work with your body and the right foods—not against them—to rid yourself of weight and unhealthy habits for good. Marcelle Pick, co-founder of Women to Women—one of the first clinics in the country devoted to providing health care for women by women—draws upon decades of experience, her patients' and her own, to solve the mystery of stubborn weight gain. "In my own life and in my 25 years of practice, I've experienced core balance as the best gift that a woman can give to herself. It is a gift that keeps on giving through thick and thin, during good times and bad, wellness and illness, prosperity and misfortune, joy and grief. The music of life is always changing: core balance gives you the resilience and energy to keep dancing, whatever the beat." In clear terms, Pick connects the dots between self-knowledge, self-care, and the ability to lose weight, extending the concept of body-mind-spirit to demonstrate why and how a woman's biography becomes her biology.

You can also enter to win a spa weekend getaway and a 2-hour consultation with Marcelle Pick! Click here to enter. The Core Balance Diet is a medically based strategy designed to restore your body's equilibrium and return you to a healthy, sustainable weight. The method is divided into four stages to help you assess your needs; calm down your stressed-out system; clear the clutter from your diet, lifestyle, and emotions; and then identify and treat the core imbalances that are getting in the way of your weight loss right now.
Stage I—Tuning In: To lay the groundwork for your month-long journey to balance, you'll learn about the science behind the Core Balance method and the reasons why it works.
Stage II—The Core Balance Essential Plan: Here you'll learn the basic eating and action plan that forms the backbone of the Core Balance method. This is the plan you'll follow for the first 14 days of the program.
Stage III—The Core Balance Custom Plan: This stage of the program targets the individual core imbalances that are making it hard for you to lose weight and keeping you from getting the results you want. You'll take the Core Imbalance Quiz (click here to preview) to discover which of the six major imbalances is affecting you most significantly right now. Then you'll find a customized eating and action plan to follow for the next 14 days of the program.
Stage IV—Core Balance for Life: Here is where you'll find the key to keeping weight off: the integration of your physical self with your inner life.Far from depriving yourself on this program, you'll eat—often and well—enjoying delicious recipes made from whole foods that give your body the support it needs to heal. At the same time, you'll start to explore underlying issues and emotional patterns that may be getting in your way, as Pick connects self-care with self-knowledge to show you the way to lasting wellness. In this four-week breakthrough plan, you will learn to:
Tune in to your wisest teacher, your body.
Turn down physical and emotional stress, both of which make it harder for your body to feel safe enough to let go of extra weight.
Treat yourself to deliciously yummy food and supplements that will ensure you are getting optimal nutrition to restore balance and health to your physiology and help you lose weight.
Tune out negativity in the form of self-sabotaging thoughts and actions.
Take care of yourself on every level: body, mind, and spirit."By the end of this next month, you should be on your way to feeling totally, tremendously, top-of-your-game, tantalizingly terrific! I hope you will take heart from the truth that losing weight is not as simple as you've been led to believe. But it is doable—infinitely doable. And it all starts with a month of your attention. So now you need to ask yourself: do you think getting healthy and fit for the rest of your life is worth a month of your attention? I hope you do, because I certainly do. So let's start now!"

"If you're tired of the same old diet books that promise transformation and give you disappointment, then do something new and nourishing for yourself. Learn from a woman who has dedicated her life to providing the kind of holistic care women need to get to the root of why they can't create the balanced, healthy body they long for. The Core Balance Diet takes you through the process Marcelle has used with hundreds of patients—a process that works. I highly recommend it!" —Cheryl Richardson, author of The Art of Extreme Self-Care and Life Makeovers "The Core Balance Diet is full of practical and accurate information that can help women regain metabolic balance so they can lose weight and gain vitality." —Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of The Secret Pleasures of Menopause and Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom "Marcelle Pick is on the forefront of a revolution in women's health and weight loss. The Core Balance Diet is brilliant—it gives women all the tools they need to change their lives forever." —Frank Lipman, M.D., author of Spent and Total Renewal "In The Core Balance Diet, Marcelle Pick has created a sensible program for women to finally reach and maintain their optimal weight. She takes a holistic look at our lives and lifestyle to get us the best results. Ultimately, what's best for our weight is best for our overall well-being. This book will be a boon to many. I'm thrilled that it's available!" —Liz Lipski, Ph.D., CCN, CHN, Director of Doctoral Studies, Hawthorn University; and author of Digestive Wellness and Digestive Wellness for Children

The Gilded Serpent

2009-04-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

I've been a reader of the gilded serpent since it's inception in 1994 when I was just beginning my bellydance life. It has provided me with numerous resources & information about the art of Oriental dance over the years.

The gilded serpent is an online magazine for everything Bellydance. It is a one-stop portal which I've spent many hours on. It features articles probably numbering in the 1000's from dancers worldwide. The article content is very diverse & educational. The gilded serpent also packs a hefty section of reviews on every aspect of bellydancing. It features reviews of live shows, DVD's, and concerts.

Looking for something to do? It has an events calender listings in California and beyond.

Hungry for more bellydance entertainment? Look at the club listing for restuarants featuring dancers and/or music.

Have a look for yourself

http://www.gildedserpent.com/

Why blog?

2009-04-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited about this forum on the net. It seems to possess so much potential to reach out to people.

As a Bellydance Instructor in Napa, CA I am asked by my students for resources for things relating to their new found interest. I spend ALOT of time online researching & resourcing for really good quality & content. So, I figured I'd use this forum to review or just inform about what I've found. What you will see here in future posts is information on things that I have found to be interesting and helpful.

2009-04-21T01:20:00.001-07:00

Review "The Art of Being Feminine"

2009-04-21T00:21:00.000-07:00

This is the start of my jouney into the blogging world, and I hope that you'll continue to join me in my quest for knowledge to share.

I've been snooping around blogger to see what other people are blogging about when I came across a site so loaded with information that I couldn't stop looking. The blog is "The Art of Being Feminine"

I never thought that my first blog post would be on something other than my passion for bellydance or my involvement & career in wellness and massage.

Sometimes you just stumble onto something so pristine it just makes sense & "clicks" with you. THE ART OF BEING FEMININE is a guide to being & mastering the art of being a lady. Much of the refinement & grace that was once so prevalent before our post industrial society has been lost as women strived for more & more equality. Don't get me wrong, I love all the rights I have now in my era as a woman. What I find to be missing is the more subtle qualities. The ease of which a "classy" woman presents herself.

Think of it as an online charm school. The old values that have slipped away from our grasp as we came to compete & live in our modern world. There are many topics that are relevant to what so many women are left desiring, but not knowing how to aquire. The author has developed ebooks & courses to bring this art of being a woman and empowering our feminine. I think you will find the discussions lively & helpful. There are many good comments & reviews. Have a look for yourself.

https://paydotcom.com/r/56061/BellydanceNV/23959901/