Our Featured Sponsor of the Month: Andalee!

Andalee is an Oriental dancer and instructor based in Durham, NC. Her dance style is based in Egyptian-style belly dance and American Cabaret (or American Nightclub) belly dance. She has been dancing since 2005 and teaching since 2008. Her mission is to promote Oriental Dance (a.k.a. belly dance) as a respected and valid performance art. She teaches her students that belly dance is truly accessible to anyone by exploring the different techniques and styles of Oriental dance.

Andalee directs and choreographs a student troupe, the Nightingales, which performs at student recitals, haflas, stage shows and other community events. Andalee also belongs to the Association of Central Carolina Middle Eastern Dancers, a professional association of dancers.

Andalee has recently established Belly Dance at Any Size, an online magazine for building self-esteem and a positive body image for belly dancers. The site affirms that everyone has a right to move their bodies in a safe and comfortable environment regardless of their age, weight, shape, ability or activity-level. 

Here's what she had to say about NCbellydance.org:  

Haala offers our belly dance community a valuable resource for getting and staying connected. Her dedication to the site is the ultimate form of community service and certainly a labor of love. Thank you, Haala, for your contributions to our community!

I first got tapped into belly dance classes when I started dancing back in 2005 by using NCBellyDance.org to find teachers. I remember being so excited about the wealth of information listed on the site--classes, events, workshops, etc. Now, eight years later as a teacher and performer, I still benefit from NCBellyDance by using it as way to attract students and clients.  Haala offers our belly dance community a valuable resource for getting and staying connected. Her dedication to the site is the ultimate form of community service and certainly a labor of love. Thank you, Haala, for your contributions to our community! 

Our Featured Sponsor of the Month: Safiya!

Safiya has been intoxicated by the allure of belly dance since the first time she saw a belly dancer performing a drum solo one cold, snowy night in Milwaukee. Over twelve years have passed since that fateful night and she has been reveling in the joy and passion of belly dance ever since!

          Safiya spent the course of the next two years learning the fundamentals including veil and extensive zill technique from that very same belly dancer Nadia Sahar (now in Vero Beach, FL). Safiya was then accepted into the PhD program at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and relocated to beautiful, sunny San Diego. There she had the opportunity to study regularly with two master instructors: Lucia and the world-renowned, Meleah—a master of precision and technique.

Safiya now resides in Raleigh, NC where she is an active performer and instructor. She has been the resident dancer at Spartacus, a Greek restaurant in Durham and at Mosaic Wine Lounge in Raleigh for years and has performed at nearly every restaurant and club in the RTP area. At Mosaic, she has been the behind the scenes host of “Arabian Nights”, where she has invited numerous guest dancers to perform from the ncbellydance.org community. “When I first moved to NC from San Diego, I was lost. I had left behind so many dear belly dance friends and precious teachers. Through ncbellydance.org, I was able to find a whole community in place waiting for me and, after many dances, I was able to connect with a core of women I just could not live without!” says Safiya.

Her other notable events include performances at the International Festival of Raleigh with the band Mozaik and for the Turkish community in particular at ATA-NC. She has worked extensively with the Indian community as well and was the star performer at international festivals for the International Business Schools at both Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. She has performed live with the Bulgarian pop star Maya Delcheva and at the historic Carolina Theatre.

However, for Safiya her favorite events “are the ones you get to perform with your friends and colleagues of dance. Thank you ncbellydance.org and all past & future performers for the amazing memories at the Mosaic international dance nights!”

Safiya specializes in Egyptian cabaret, with a personal flare for the drum solo. She is a staunch believer in technique and is a dedicated life-long student of belly dance. She continues her education with workshops, believing that belly dance, as an art form, grows with you throughout one’s life. There is always something rusty to be polished or new to be explored!

For more information, visit http://www.safiyabellydancer.com or contact info@safiyabellydancer.com

Our Featured Sponsor of the Month: Lost Jewels of the Ghawazee

Ethnic fusion belly dance troupe The Lost Jewels of the Ghawazee proudly carries on the rich multicultural history of “the oldest dance in the world.”

Based in Granite Falls, N.C., the troupe blends folkloric and modern dance into its own unique style.  Flavored with movements found in dances from India, Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Latin America the Middle East, the troupe constantly explores new and different dance styles to incorporate into their repertoire.

The Jewels share those cultures—and their pure love of dance—by performing at area festivals, arts events, nonprofit fundraising events and public school functions.

Founded by lead dancer and mentor Becky “Neela” Shook, the troupe was formed in 2003. Neela’s love for dance led her to create the Art in Motion dance studio in Granite Falls where she also teaches yoga.

 Just as belly dance is an evolving expression of the people who dance it, their new “Re-Belly-ous” style describes the troupe’s latest direction. It’s a venue for them to play, express, create and entertain.

Pin-ups and iconic Hollywood glamour form the costuming basis of the “Re-Belly-ous” look. Who can deny the allure of Hedy Lamarr, Mae West, Carole Lombard or Bette Davis? These strong women shaped the troupe’s idea of beauty, femininity and the strength of the femme fatale. And don’t be surprised if your toes tap to the beat of their rockabilly music!

Belly dance captivates the hearts of the “sisters,” embracing all they love: music, dance, art and creativity. Yet, so much awaits their exploration. Only time, study and practice grant them the privilege of carrying on the belly dance tradition.

For more information, visit www.lostjewelsbellydance.com or www.rebellyous.com. 

The Lost Jewels would like to thank Haala for the generous offer to feature them this month on NCBellydance.org.

Our Featured Sponsor of the Month: Lisa Zahiya of Asheville!

Lisa Zahiya is an innovative, award-winning performer, in-demand instructor and successful studio owner. Working in the genres of bellydance, Indian dance (Bollywood & Bhangra) and hip-hop dance, Lisa travels nationally and internationally teaching and performing.

Lisa is a alumni of the University of Maryland Dance Team and has a background in musical theater, jazz and hip hop. In 2008, her strong powerful style earned her the title “2008 Tribal Fusion Bellydancer of the Universe” and she went on to win the Alternative Category at the Wiggles of the West bellydance competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lisa’s unique style and fusion dance forms has gained her recognition in the International bellydance community. She travels, teaching workshops, performing and developing curriculum. She is currently developing a fusion dance curriculum for a dance school in San Raphael, France.

At home, she is faculty at the University of North Carolina, Asheville, where she teaches bhangra, hip hop and bellydance. She also serves as an Ambassador for Lululemon Athletica, Asheville.

Lisa is also known for her work with children and women, using dance as a impitus for change. Lisa serves as a Resident Artist with the Lake Eden Arts Festival, working with 1st-8th graders in public housing communities and is also a Guest Dance Instructor with the Buncombe County School System. Additionally, she travels nationally teaching in school systems and for childrens’ organizations. 

She has taught at two eating disorder recovery centers, helping women re-discover their bodies through movement, and teaches at the Swannanoa Correctional Facility for Women.

 Here's what she had to say about NCBellydance.org:

One of the things that is near and to dear to my heart about bellydance is community. This dance brings women (and men) together - and allows us to grow, accept ourselves and dance together.  NC Bellydance is such an amazing resource for North Carolina as it fosters that sense of community across the state.  Not only do we have our local communities, but we are able to easily find out about dancers, classes and workshops across the state.  The website allows me to keep up with what my friends are doing across the state and keep up with all the wonderful happenings here.

For more information about Lisa Zahiya, visit her website.

The Most Liked NC Belly Dance Photo of 2012!

In December 2012, we held our first photo contest for dancers and photographers in North Carolina.

Hundreds of photos were submitted to our Facebook photo album from all over North Carolina, and hundreds of votes were cast over a 6 day period.

It was an extremely close race, but in the end the winner for Most Liked NC Belly Dance Photo of 2012 was John Scalcione of Scalcione Photography, and dancer Nayna of Charlotte.  (pictured above).

This photo is being displayed for the entire month of January 2013 on the main page of NCBellydance.org.

Congratulations to John and Nayna!

In second place by only a few votes was John Scalcione again, this time for his photo of Wendy Konzelman:

And in third place was Bonnie Stanley with her photo of Sashame:

Besides creating artistic and pleasing photographs, both photographers really captured the personality and spirit of these three dancers!

Nayna wishes to share her award with her fellow dance sisters, so we will be running the photos of Wendy and Sashame for one week on the main page of NCBellydance.org, starting next week!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated - click here to view all the submitted photos.

The photo contest was such a great success that we plan on making this an annual event!  See you next December!

NC Belly Dance Photo Contest & Album!

We are compiling a "2012 Year In Pictures" photo album for our Facebook fan page and the NCBellydance.org website and would love to include your dance photo!

You can also vote for "The Most Liked NC Belly Dance Photo of 2012" - the photo that receives the most "likes"  will be displayed on the main page of NCBellydance.org AND the cover page of the Facebook fan page for the entire month of January absolutely free! (regular retail value: $40)

To qualify to be included in the 2012 Year in Pictures Photo Album:

1. You must be a dancer currently residing in North Carolina or a photographer who has taken a photo of a NC dancer.  
2. You must "Like" the NCBellydance.org Facebook fan page.
3. Photos must be no larger than 256k, ideally in JPG format, and emailed to haala@ncbellydance.org
4. Dancers: please include name of photographer (if known) for photo credit.   Photographers: please include name of dancer (if known) and location photo was shot.
5. There is no limit to the number of photos, but they must have been taken between January 1, 2012 and the present.
6. By submitting the photos, you are granting NCBellydance.org permission to display them on Facebook and on NCBellydance.org.  (You continue to retain all rights to your photos.)

We reserve the right to reject any photos that we deem inappropriate for general audiences or that do not meet the qualifications listed above.

Once your photo(s) have been received and added to the online Photo Album, we will notify you ASAP so you can begin getting the word out (sharing on your Facebook timeline, emailing friends and family, announcing in class, etc.)

The contest will close on midnight (Eastern Standard Time), Tuesday, December 18, 2012 and the winner announced on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

For more information on how to vote, visit the Voting Page.

If you have any questions, just reply in the comments field, or email haala@ncbellydance.org.

Thank you for participating, and good luck!

Vote for the Most Liked NC Belly Dance Photo of 2012!

How to Vote:

1. "Like" the NCBellydance.org Facebook Fan Page (if you haven't already)
2. Visit the 2012 North Carolina Belly Dancers: A Year in Pictures photo album and "like" the photo(s) that you want to win!

It's perfectly ok to "like" several photos, if you just can't decide on one :)

Make sure to get your vote in by midnight, Tuesday December 18, 2012!

NCBellydance.org will announce the winner on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

If you are interested in being included in the photo album, or want more information about the contest, then visit the Contest Page.

For questions or assistance in voting, email haala@ncbellydance.org.

Thanks for participating - tell all your friends!