"HEART AND SOUL:
THE MAKING OF BELLY DANCE POWER AND PASSION"
By: Tess Whitehurst
Usually there’s not too much going on in Lake Oswego, OR on a Monday night.
In fact, you’d be lucky to find a restaurant open past 9:00! But June 29th
it was a totally different story. This Monday, there were 170 people gathered
in a state of the art auditorium, witnessing one of the most exciting and magical
productions the Portland area had ever seen. Sixteen Middle Eastern dancers and
musicians came from all over the country to offer themselves and their art to
“Belly
Dance Power and Passion,” the debut performance DVD of Soulfire
Productions.
“Dancers and Musicians are here to do
very important work. When we share our art with passion, we create
great waves of powerful healing vibrations that resonate throughout
the planet. We’re actually helping to heal Mother Earth and
it’s inhabitants, which is especially important right now,
when they need it so much!” That was Sedona, the artistic
director of Soulfire Productions and co-producer of
“Belly
Dance Power and Passion.” The DVD, which is still
in post-production and is scheduled to be released in November
of this year, features an amazing line-up of dancers and musicians,
both known and up-and-coming. (See line-up below.)
What struck me most about this production (in addition to the ridiculously high
levels of skill and creativity) was the deep joy of every performer. You could
sense that there was a depth to this performance: it wasn’t just about
“getting
your name out there,” or making a few bucks. It was about the love
of the dance, and about baring your heart and offering your soul. This love was
like a candle burning at the heart of each and every performer, and it was palpable.
And, despite the immense diversity of the line-up (which included Karim Nagi
performing a Tahteeb piece!), there was a delight and presence to each act that
provided a common thread throughout.
It wasn’t until I got the chance to interview Sedona a week later that
I finally got to ask the question that had been on my mind since the performance,
which was:
“How did you do it?”
She thought a minute.
“Do what?” she
asked.
“You know, how did you produce a show that was so
special and magical? Was it luck? What?”
“Oh! You thought so to!! So did I! Actually,
that wasn’t me. It was everybody. See, when we sat down to
decide who we were going to invite, we made sure we were only inviting
people who were not only great performers, but were also known
for being supportive and having great attitudes and work ethics.”
Hmm. Interesting, huh? But it turned out that was only half the story.
Later, I got the chance to interview a number of the performers. They told me
that the backstage areas were decorated beautifully, with goddess altars, flowers,
and positive affirmations. I also learned that Delilah led a beautiful pre-show
circle. In the words of Claudia,
“She helped us with
our nerves and put our energies at ease as we accepted that we were about to
give ourselves to the betterment of our chosen art and to open ourselves to receiving
gifts from the audience.” Yemaya said,
“It
was such an emotional and powerful experience and it was the most incredible
way to go into such a meaningful production. It was electrifying! The vibe stuck
with me for days…actually I think it is still stuck!”
Yemaya also told me about the supportive vibes backstage.
“Everyone
was so interested in everyone else’s experience. We all got so excited
about each other’s costumes and the intricate detail we all put into our
performances…some of us even read tarot cards for each other to enhance
and guide our experience! It was so great!”
I called Sedona to talk a little more about my findings.
“You
didn’t tell me about the Goddess statues!” I said.
“What about them?” she asked.
“Oh, I—well, I mean you didn’t tell me
about all the effort you guys put into the vibe backstage. The opening circle
and everything.”
“I didn’t? I’m sorry. I
guess I thought your article was going to be about the stuff that
happened on stage rather than the behind-the-scenes stuff. What
do you want to know about it?”
“Well, I want to know about your decision
to do it that way. To put such an emphasis on the beauty of the
backstage area, and to ask Delilah to do the opening circle and
everything.”
“I find that when I do things out of
love and service, they’re always a success. That’s
what I do when I dance. I surrender to the music, and let healing
energy flow through me and out into the world. It’s an offering
of love. It was really important to me to create this performance
DVD with the same intention. I wanted it to be an offering of love
to dancers everywhere, and I felt the best way to do that was to
honor the performers by creating a sacred and beautiful backstage
environment that was also a reminder of the special and important
work we’re here to do. Also, Delilah is such a spiritual
and magical woman; I knew she would be the perfect one to lead
us in a ritual before the show. And she was! She really set the
tone and helped everyone to come from a place of love.”
***
A Sneak Peek at the “Belly Dance Power and Passion” Line-up
Featured Dancers:
• ALIMAH (Seattle) opened the show with a lovely
wing piece. Her innovative use of the wings, huge smile, and gorgeous Bella won
the crowd over instantly.
• RUBY (Portland) had everyone on the edge of their seats with her
daring goblet piece. She was accompanied by a stellar drummer and violinist.
• SHARA (Portland) debuted her signature Sambali fusion (Samba & Belly
Dance). She was smokin’ hot! At one point she ripped off the skirt of her
costume to reveal a full Samba costume complete with 6-inch gold platforms. WOW!
• DAHLIA (Seattle) performed a lovely classic Egyptian intro. Her
connection to the music and joy for the dance shone in every movement she made.
• CLAUDIA (Portland) was a true queen of the stage. Her stage presence
alone blew the roof off the theatre. She dazzled with her exciting musical interpretation,
super shimmies, and blinding rhinestone Versace of Cairo!
• KARIM NAGI (Boston) graced the audience with a fabulous Tahteeb
piece. His pride, strength, and authenticity were a show of their own.
• DELILAH and House of Tarab (Seattle) were a knockout! Delilah’s
emotional magnetism and deep surrender to the music were pure inspiration.
• MAGIDAH (Portland) was 100% herself. Her unique musical interpretations
and inner spunk were a delight to watch. She completely owned her loungy, groovy
piece, which was an original, created exclusively for her performance in the
show.
• YEMAYA (Costa Rica) was an angel of Dance. Her deep and honest
interpretation of Bir Demet brought the audience to tears.
• DARSHAN (New York) complimented the line up perfectly. Her edgy,
theatrical, tribal piece was an exciting and unique addition to the show, her
performance was infused with mystery and drama.
• RACHEL GEORGE (San Diego) offered a wonderful display of “classic
belly dance:” her set included zills, veil, floor work, and a drum solo.
Her strength and grace were in perfect balance as she shone in an amazing cream,
gold and silver costume.
• BELLY DANCE SOULFIRE (Portland) performed live with KARIM to one
of his Turbo Tabla pieces. And boy, were these girls having fun! The troupe’s
energy gelled perfectly with Karim’s, creating a perfect and sassy finale!
• SEDONA (Portland) danced with double fan veils to John Bilezikjian’s
Lamma Bada. Her dance was emotionally charged, innovative, and captivating. Her
drum solo was spunky, tight, and my god, can that girl shimmy!
Featured Musicians:
• John Bilezikjian
• Mario Krilis
• Middle Earth Ensemble
• Aswan Music and Dance Ensemble
• Joseph Pusey
• Beata and Horacio"s Oriental Fantasy
• Bret Pittner
• Joseph Khoury
• Safaa Farid
• Muslimgauze
• Belinda Underwood and Friend
Bylines:
To stay updated on the release of “Belly Dance Power and Passion,” visit
www.soulfire-productions.com. You can also become a fan on facebook!
Tess Whitehurst is a belly dance enthusiast, author, and freelance writer. Her
first book, Magical Housekeeping, will be out next year. Visit her at
www.tesswhitehurst.com.
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