[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”47242″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”“Bellydance cannot be ‘taught.’ There is no step that you can count. It is about how well you know your body and soul”” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Bitter%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]How long have you been a belly dancer?
10 years. Dance is a part time hobby for me, I am a tax consultant by profession.
What was your first belly dancing performance like?
It was at the Alhambra belly dance charity event in Singapore. I was already a seasoned performer and entertainer but what made my first belly dance performance different was the audience. They were mostly Arabic who appreciated the art of the Egyptian music and dance. When you have a good audience, you will have a good performance.
What do you enjoy about performing?
It brings me happiness when I bring happiness to others.
Describe a normal day in your life as a belly dancer.
It is not unlike anyone’s normal day, except for the way a dancer would stand, walk, and talk. We are trained to be more conscious about how we carry ourselves and can recognise a dancer’s posture.
What is a common misconception about belly dancers?
The word ‘bellydancer’ is already a misconception itself. It is not reflective of the spirit of the dance. The correct reference should be the Middle Eastern cultural dance, or the oriental dance. Not all the costumes reveal the “belly”, in fact many professional bellydancers wear the traditional costumes that cover the belly. It is surely not a dance of the belly, but a dance of elegance and strength that requires a lot of foot work and hip work. Bellydance is a dance of the people, for the people. It is a cultural dance where everyone gathers to enjoy the music and dance together.
What is a challenge belly dancers face?
We are generally perceived as inappropriate and almost a taboo to some.
Besides staying fit, what else do you have to take extra care of as a belly dancer?
We must exercise care not to hurt our body by over straining. Most bellydance movements require the body to be very flexible. Plenty of warm up and warm down is important.
Do you have a beauty regime, and what is it like?
Eat healthily and stay away from bad habits. Everything in moderation including desserts, but most importantly, never forget a sincere heart and a sincere smile.
How did you find yourself in the career of belly dancing?
I met my bellydance teacher, Nur Shiblie 10 years ago. When I saw her dance, I wanted to be able to dance like she did. That was my very first bellydance lesson with Shiblie. I never became bored with the Middle Eastern dance. There was and still is so much to learn. I never get bored of dancing and performing, and subsequently becoming a teacher myself and established a humble career in bellydancing.
How do you keep up your popularity in an industry that’s always filled with new types of entertainers and performers?
I do not believe in keeping up with “popularity” per se. I believe in keeping up with the passion of teaching the right way and cultivating the right values through dance. Dance is a form of discipline, not a tool to fame. There is a life span and a good dancer will play his or her different role throughout the life span of his or her dance career, and play them well.
What was your most memorable performance and why?
My most memorable performance would be at the Nile Group Festival in Cairo, Egypt, November 2011. To have the opportunity to perform in front of the Egyptian master teachers, to their claps, was one of the most magical moments in my life as a dancer.
What’s your ultimate goal as a performer?
As a dancer, I want to be able to inspire young girls to jump out of their comfort zones. Dance is not just about learning the steps, knowing the steps and then performing the steps to show off the skills. Bellydance, especially, is about disciplining the body and that beauty and strength comes from within. Bellydance has taught me patience and kindness, without which, one just will not be able to dance well. Bellydance also taught me not to hate and judge, because this is never the spirit of the dance.
How did you go from belly dancing classes to performer level?
I would be lying if I tell someone that it is easy. But it is not that tough. All it takes, is to pay a lot of attention to the music, listen to the music a million times, and constant practise. Bellydance cannot be “taught”. There is no step that you can count. It is about how well you know your body and soul, and become best friend with them.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]