Joana Saahirah´s World Blog
A Collection of Articles, Videos, and Freebies on Egyptian Dance, Self-Discovery & Empowerment
I don´t know who needs to read this but...
I don´t know who needs to read this but...
In our dance journey, and in our life, we´ll face opposition. Inner and outer opposition.
That opposition comes in the shape of personal insecurities, self-sabotage, trauma, a belief system that brings us down - that´s our inner opposition.
That opposition also comes in the shape of naysayers, critics, haters, and folks who are so frustrated with themselves and their life, they simply cannot accept that someone else -...
The Poetry of Egyptian Rhythms
There´s poetry in Egyptian Rhythms.
I´m aware that´s not how most dancers, and even musicians, see rhythms but that never changed the facts: rhythms aren´t just rhythms.
They´re Poems.
Each Rhythm, a Poem.
Each Rhythm, a flavor, a story, a mood, and a feeling.
Each Rhythm, a cultural context with an entire world on its back.
Maksoum (click here to listen to it) tastes like honey. It´s a poem about a sweet, happy love affair.
...
The Souhair Zaki effect
Every dancer has a moment that has changed her, or his, life; the perspective they have on dance, music, themselves.
Some times, those turning points are negative - I´ve heard terrible stories of dancers traumatized by teachers, colleagues, audiences, employers -; hopefully, and in many cases, those turning points are positive. Dance and life changing.
I´m privileged to have several of those moments, the ones Oprah would call "ah ah moments", in my...
Myth #7 about Egyptian Dance (and its debunking)
The most common Myths about Egyptian Dance (and their debunking)
Myth #7 - Egyptian Dance is Hermetic & Dangerous
Here´s the last of the 7 Myths about Egyptian Dance I promised to deliver. For once, I´ll have to agree with it. Sort of.
Hermetic comes from "Hermes Trismegistus", considered the founder of science, religion, mathematics, geometry, alchemy, philosophy, medicine and magic. A combination of the Egyptian God Thoth of wisdom, learning and communications and the...
How to keep the Warmth of your Heart
- Foreign dancers may be better, technically, and more beautiful and professional than Egyptians, but they´re cold. This is where they lose the game.
First, let´s hit pause. There´s nothing to lose or gain because, let me repeat this till exhaustion, we don´t have to live and dance in competition mode. Let whoever wants to compete with you, compete. Let them burn in that fire if that´s their wish - you don´t have to participate in...
3 Steps to Improve your Musicality
Why should you even care?
Why is Musicality such a big deal?
Aren´t dancers supposed to be moving instead of listening?
If I earned a dollar each time I heard one of those questions, I´d be a millionaire.
And it pains me to notice how ignorant most of us are of the true magic of Egyptian Dance.
Yes, Egyptian Dance is movement but it cannot be resumed to it. Egyptian Dance is not a sport, not a gymnastic discipline, not an army drill, not a mechanical set...
Where my Heroine´s Journey started
What kind of Egyptian Dance Student are you?
What kind of Egyptian Dance student are you? I mean, for real.
Also, does it matter? (spoiler alert #1: it does)
In all these years of career in Egyptian Dance - more than 20 years of non-stop performing, teaching, lecturing, judging, and learning from every front, first in Egypt and then around the World - I´ve noticed there are different kinds of students.
I´ve also noticed how those different kinds of students behave and how their attitude...
Discoveries from my Bed Rest (when a dancer has to stop moving)
3 Gifts Egyptian Folklore has offered me
When most of us think about Egyptian Folklore, we don´t think about Personal Growth. Or a life-changing transformation.
In fact, we think of nothing. Of nonsense, frequently.
Egyptian Folklore has been the "poor sister" of "Raks el Sharki" ("Dance of the East"/Oriental Dance) since I can remember.
It seems to be less cool.
Less glamorous.
Less important.
Yet, having performed, taught, and choreographed Egyptian Folklore for such a long time - first, in...
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