What I´m loving, this Summer (by Joana Saahirah)
Seasons have always been fluid in my life - I´ve spent Summers in rainy-frozen places and Christmases in sunny paradises; I´ve spent New Year´s Eve performing, worked through Easter, and rested when the world was running.
In more than one way, I´ve created my rhythm, my "parallel" reality, my highly personalized world.
This is why despite living by the beach and reminding myself we´re in August, I haven´t had time to bake in the sun; instead, I´ve been working, studying, and enjoying a few pearls I´d love to share with you.
Ready for a list of the things I´m loving, this Summer?
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Books I´ve reading and L-O-V-I-N-G:
"O Nuit, O Mes Yeux" by Lamia Ziadé ( recommended by one of our guests at Joana Saahirah´s World, the fabulous Leila Haddad ).
I´m eating this book little by little as if it was a piece of cake I don't want to finish. Marvelous, almost "naif", illustrations added to stories of the figures who made the Egyptian Music and Dance history.
WARNING: Highly addictive!
WARNING #2: The book hasn´t been translated to English, yet. I´m reading it in French. If this is not a language you´re familiar with, I´d recommend you wait for the English translation.
"Umm Kulthum, Artistic Agency and the Shaping of an Arab Legend" by Laura Lohman.
This is not an entertaining book but a highly informative one about the last stages of Om Kolthoum´s career and life.
For me, reading this book feels like work but I cannot avoid the pleasure that added knowledge about my biggest inspiration, Om Kolthoum, gives me. Besides, I love to work = win-win situation.
If you´re an Oriental Dancer - of any level, from beginner to professional - knowing about Om Kolthoum, the musicians, poets, and composers who surrounded her, as well as her time, is essential.
P.S: I´m also browsing through a Poetry book by Charles Bukowski.
My man bought it and left it on the dining room table. I grabbed it while waiting for the water to boil in the tea kettle and, BAM!, I remembered why Bukowski is one of my favorite writers.
I´m taking this poetry book with me, this Summer; whenever I have a minute, I read a poem.
P.S: Listen to a bit of Bukowski´s Poetry and fall in love: Click HERE to listen
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TV Series & Memory Lane Video I´m watching and L-O-V-I-N-G:
Television Series "Fosse/Verdon" about the Artistic and Personal relationship of the genius, Bob Fosse, and his biggest dance & life partner, the brilliant Gwen Verdon.
As a dancer who´s a long-time fan of Fosse - the artist, not necessarily the man -, this series is irresistible. Both actors are amazing and they don´t let these big names of the Dance History down. Brilliant work; also, big-time food for the soul of any dancer/choreographer/artist.
The dancer has left the room - at last.
As you must have noticed, my world revolves around music and dance. Even when I´m not working, I´m working or watching/listening/reading material related to work. The "Outlander" Television Series is an exception and what a marvelous one!
The Series was recommended by a friend. My time is limited and so is my attention span so, I hesitated. That was until I watched the first episode. Immediately hooked. Over. The beginning of a love affair.
Every single night, I watch a bit of it, and the more I watch it, the more I love it.
Great screen-writing, acting, directing, everything. A story that speaks about History and Human Nature - irresistible.
Memory Lane Documentary I´m rewatching with a sense of pride and gratitude:
A few years ago, while I was still living and performing in Egypt, the national Portuguese television channel - RTP1 - filmed me for a show called "Portuguese in the World".
They followed me for a week - they watched my shows, attended rehearsals with me and my orchestra, observed me on occasional visits to "Khan el Khalili" and confirmed how crazy I had to be in order to have launched my career, alone and at such an early age, without connections, help, or "patrons", in the jungle of Cairo.
There was an Egyptian Government employee with us at all times - something like a "police" - making sure I didn´t reveal too much, afraid I´d expose the darker side of the "Raks el Sharki" business. We shared loads of music, laughter, and Egyptian "Arousa" oversweetened tea.
Opening the doors to my Alibaba Cave - aka career - felt wonderful. That was a world inside a world I´d built with talent, hard and consistent work, many battles, honesty, and perseverance.
I loved filming every minute of it 
:)
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Music I´m listening to:
Ella Fitzgerald And Louis Armstrong - Ella And Louis
For some reason, perhaps an unconscious trigger I don´t even want to understand, listening to Ella Fitzgerald makes me relax. It just does. Whenever I want to say "f""$% it" and let my guard down, I listen to Ella Fitzgerald, and my worries, tension, and even ambitions melt away.
This Summer, focused on my path but clearly disoriented due to the current state of the world, I run towards this album like never before.
Add the warmth of Louis Armstrong to the recipe and you´ll find me in heaven.
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Quotes I´m reading and rereading for inspiration:
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