Under The Sun Light Dancer for March is:

Name:
Hilary Cinis

Location:
Sydney, Australia

How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?
Well I was involved in a pagan circle group that would gather regularly and realised pretty quickly the ritual work was dull and all I was interested was the dancing to the drums. So I found bellydance classes and happily ditched the rest. Even though I started with orientale/cabaret bellydance my real bellydance story starts about 7 years ago after seeing a troupe that literally blew my mind.  Having spent 12 years studying classical ballet I was always slightly troubled by the "looseness" of most of the bellydance I saw. When I found ATS, I knew the style for me. Being a modern western style, it has naturally branched into many variations including Tribal fusion which is what I now teach and perform, maintaining the defining elements of posture and arms while adding to the set repertoire of ATS moves anything from orientale bellydance, modern dance and ballet, yoga and martial arts, all of which I've studied for many years.

Why do you love dancing?
I don't know how to answer that without sounding wanky...  Like any other dancer if you hear the music and it moves you, then you move to it. I love just putting on something and dancing stupidly around in my kitchen, I love nailing a move I've seen or learnt, I love a fully constructed performance peice, I love moshing, I love foot tapping... I love the feeling I get when I watch amazing dancers and hope I can share that with other people when they watch me. Its a totally natural avenue of expression for me and I rarely feel self conscious dancing.

Do you teach?
Yes I teach weekly classes in inner city Sydney and workshops both in Sydney and interstate. I teach ATS, tribal fusion and contemporary bellydance.

Can you tell us more about Sydney Tribal Bellydance School?
It's not officially a school as such, I just needed a name for my students to perform under plus something obvious immediately tells  people who you are. I have a small group of dedicated students who are great. My curriculum has morphed over the time as I bring more of my personal preferences in. I do work my students hard, without being a tyrant and approach the classes seriously (well technique wise I do... I'm a bit of a clown while teaching) as I believe we should be as well-trained a dancer as any other kind of dance style. I don't run "fun and fitness" classes nor do I encourage the "folk dance" style that bellydance is often associated with. This means my class sizes are small but they are full of dedicated, interesting students.

What do you do when/if there is a rude audience member?
Firstly, I have pretty old fashioned views on manners - I think people talking through a performance is rude, but it doesn't bother me anymore. I don't do alot of restaurant work which is where that is most likely to happen but usually I ignore them.  As far being negatively heckled I'll just ignore it, I've never been groped which I'm pleased about, being tall maybe puts them off and being bendy it's easy to snake out a clumsy grasp! Recent we did a show in an out door cafe in a very posh part of town and the neighbors overlooking the courtyard called the police on the owners complaining it was "disgusting" and "inappropriate". We laughed, the owners laughed and the cops laughed. That's probably the worse audience I've had!

How has belly dancing changed your life?
I remember my husband coming to pick me up from a class one  saturday  arvo and he said he was moved at watching a room full of  women of  varying ages and sizes so at ease with themselves,  clearly feeling  beautiful from within. Being the overly ambitious  perfectionist that  I am, I of course wasn't happy with just  feeling good in a class and  since those early classes nine years  ago have been on an amazing  journey of self discovery, community  and friendship. The impact the dance has had on my life has been so rich.  I found  a  new level of personal confidence. I can't impress enough how  just  the simple act of standing with the tribal bellydance posture  can  change the sense of self. Back straight, shoulders down, chest lifted, chin level. Walk taller, stronger, more confidently.   Standing with your arms wide, open to your dance partner or an   unknown bunch of strangers is confronting! But you do it and you  win  them and confidence grows. ATS is a group dance form so  learning  trust and communication with other dancers is central to  its  success. As a tribal fusion soloist now, my level of  experimentation  with moves and music has led me on wonderfully  creative journey  where I have found a medium of expression for  very personal experiences. I have a wonderful circle of friends, who not only share the dance but who 'get me' and with whom I share more than the dance.

Where can we see you preform?
I'm not all that interested in being an entertainer in a regular venue, but I have a semi-regular thing at a Cafe in Ultimo called the Persian Room. She likes what we do as we're not 'normal' bellydancers. I dance with other ladies there under the name "The Body Serpentine", keep and eye on our facebook page for performances. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Body-Serpentine/119835718059 and my site lists my performances too http://www.hilarycinis.com/performances.html

Your costumes are amazing! What tips would you give someone making their first tribal bellydance costume?
Hmmm... Look at what you think works on other people, see if it works on you then adjust it. Dress for your body type, use colour well and be well groomed. If you're in doubt, keep it simple, your performance should be the focus. My biggest tip is avoid anything that looks home made. Invest in solid, well made re-usable peices that fit you properly and are finished properly. Some tribal costumes really do look like a craft project gone wrong. You don't see other dance styles in crappy costumes so keep the standard high. And cover up when not performing!!!

What inspires you?
People wise it would be Devi Mamak, she is the most beautiful and elegant dancer and I still consider her my teacher. Her approval and feedback is really important to me. My Mother (who died in 2008), my husband (an actor and drama teacher) who has supported and performance coached me and kicked my arse when I need it. Rita Hayworth, Georgia O'Keefe, Frida Khalo. I'm inspired by people with interesting stories who don't sit still. Particular musicians too, I'll become obsessed with a line or a phrase from a song and build a choreography around that idea. I'm inspired by the people I love and who love me which includes the people I dance with. For me dance is about transcribing beauty into form. What I am always attempting to aim for is elegance. Whatever I do with a set   of moves needs to be fluid and graceful (and it's not always a success!).  I am drawn to moves that have extended lines and   interesting shapes, that interpret the music and texture is important. Dance should use every part of the body from toes to fingertips. I love the feeling I get when I watch amazing dancers and hope I can share that with other people when they watch me.

What music makes you dance?
If you're talking about general movement, anything (accept pop music) really. I have favourite artists like everyone else, usually alternative music, and like to move to them.
Regarding performance pieces, at home we have an enormous collection of music and it's playing constantly and I listen to music all day when at work so if something comes along that captures my imagination I'll keep playing it and find patterns of movement emerging from there. It's not a set discipline, at all until I decide to use "that" peice. Examples of this is the "300" soundtrack, Peter Murphy, Tool, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Neil Young, Phillip Glass.

What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?
Dance your truth, don't try to be someone else.

How can someone contact you?
email is easy - hilary@hilarycinis.com

Under The Sun Belly Dancer for February is:

Name:
Moria Chappell

Location:
Wherever my suitcase takes me…

How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?
When I was very young, maybe 5, my mother began belly dancing for recreation.  One of my earliest memories is of throwing her finger symbols off the apartment balcony and listening to them crash on the pavement below.  Later, when I was an adult, I saw a belly dancer at an outdoor festival dancing around a fire at night, under the stars, with live drummers, and I was hooked.  After that it became all about belly dance all the time.

Why do you love dancing?
I feel a sense of liberation physically, mentally, and emotionally.  It’s one of the few art forms whereby the body is the medium through which the art is expressed.  Dancing is of the moment.  An artist works for hours, weeks, years to perfect their craft and then present its work.  For dance, even if video taped, it’s only of that moment.  That one dance, on that stage, that evening for those observers, and then it’s done.  The video is never the same.  It’s only in the moment that there is a charge to the art.  For this reason dancing connects me more to life than any other activity.

Do you teach?
Yes, for me teaching and performing are two sides of the same coin, and maybe for the same reason.  When I teach I feel I am sharing a woman’s world with a group of women bonded together by the same passion.  This is quite rare in our modern world.  It’s a time when I see women release for a time something of the stifling dogma that society has placed upon us.  While learning women are receptive to what you tell them is good about their bodies and their art.  I adore muscular isolations and drills to strengthen the body.  And since all bodies are created with the same muscles, I know that if I can do it, so can my students.  This is a common thread among us all that makes me feel very solid.

What is it like dancing with the BellyDance Superstars?  
Exhilarating, exhausting, frustrating, fun…really it’s all emotions.  Things happen very quickly all the time with a lot of pressure to be at all times creative, innovative, precise, consistent, and “on”.  Performing on stages around the world lends a certain stress, pressure, and focus that forges your movements into a kind of grand expression and awareness of things larger than life that I think can rarely be experienced under smaller conditions.  No matter how much practice goes into studio time, restaurant work, or even outdoor festivals, the stage creates an archetypal amphitheatre that trains you more than any other teacher can.  Working with my fellow dancers lends me a sense of inspiration, collaboration, and comradery that I miss when I am off tour.  No one understands what it’s like to tour except those who tour with you.  And our management is certainly unique.  I like to think of Miles as a mad scientist who is just crazy enough, just genius enough, just workaholic enough to pull something like this off.  Agree or disagree with him, Miles Copeland has changed the face of modern bellydance and it’s an honor to be a part of that.

How has belly dancing changed your life?
Bellydance answered a deep longing for me.  In high school I ran track and was the captain of our school’s dance team.  These were passions for me.  When I went to college learning was my passion.  But then there came a time when I had no more passion.  I did everything I was signed up to do, I was very busy, and successful, but I felt empty.  I couldn’t figure out why I was doing anything.  Then I began belly dancing and it satiated that yearning.  It brought me into my body and taught me how to push harder than I thought possible.  It taught me to ignore the critical voices in my head and just keep dancing.  It taught me that even when broken hearted, lonely, or sad, I could just keep dancing.  Even when overjoyed, over-caffeinated, or over enthusiastic, I could just keep dancing.  It taught me that everything in life is fodder for the art and is even necessary to JUST KEEP DANCING!

Where can we see you perform?
Most of the time I perform exclusively with The Bellydance Superstar whose tour schedule can be found at www.bellydancesuperstars.com.  On the rare occasion that I perform solo, it’s usually during a weekend workshop in collaboration with whoever is hosting the event.  My workshop schedule can also be found on the BDSS website.  Of course, as with most performers today you can see my work on youtube and on DVDs produced by BDS: Tribal Fusion, Tribal Fusion 2, Tribal Fusion Fundamentals, Tribal LA, Babelesque, and our newest 3D DVD.

What inspires you?
Life, colors, Alphonse Mucha, coffee, make-up, antique jewelry, archetypes, psychology, Indian temples, Bhuddist statues, nature, love, Pema Chodron, music, muscles, contour, yoga…the list goes on…

Your costumes are all ways stunning, any tips for someone putting together their first tribal bellydance costume?
Keep it simple in the beginning.  It’s always tempting to overdo but the truth is when you are new at something the fascination with all that’s out there, and these days there is A LOT out there, can distract from the sophistication of classic lines and rich colors.  Look through high fashion magazines and see what pulls on your heartstrings.  What makes your heart lift is what you will love to wear.  Then mimic those colors or those materials.  Put money into a few exquisite pieces rather than spreading yourself thin with too much easy to find stuff that you won’t like later.  Find a dancer who inspires you and see what makes her style work.  Then figure out what works for YOUR body.  What looks good on others may really not be good for you.  So put it all together and then take a picture of yourself in it.  Don’t judge your body if it doesn’t look right, judge the costume.

What is one of your favorite bellydance memories?
This sounds strange but it’s a moment on tour when I fell flat on my back in the middle of our show and couldn’t get up.  Sharon, Kami and I were doing a deep layback into a sudden Turkish drop when all the cabaret dancers on stage stopped dancing and focused on us in the center.  There was a spot light on only us.  The music stopped just for that moment, and there I was, flat on my back, weighted down by my heavy headdress and heavier coin bra…stuck.  Writhing around like a seal in the middle of the light, I saw Kami and Sharon roll up out of their drops like serpentine goddesses until they saw me.  Their looks turned from practiced seduction to utter confusion, shock and then horror as I decided the only way to get out of it was to flounder onto my belly and then pop up onto all fours before shoulder shimmying into the next phrase of the choreography.  Jillina’s mouth hung open at the back of the stage.  Things go wrong in shows…costume malfunctions, choreography mis-steps, disappearing props; but I took the cake and I think still hold title for the biggest f%*# up on stage.  The memory always makes me laugh and if I close my eyes I can still feel that desperate sense of confusion as to how in he h*&#  I ended up flat on my back in the first place!  Keeps me from taking myself too seriously J

What music makes you dance?
I most prefer old ethnic sounds.  These are not always acceptable for modern audiences, so I turn to very strange music.  I LOVE Tom Waits and his bluesy creepy sound make me want to do strange things.  I also love the sitar.  It’s such a haunting instrument.  Tunisian horns are exciting to me, and a strong beledi, saidi, or tsiftitelli with no synthesized sounds on top can get me going like nothing else.

What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?
Relax.  Breathe.  Enjoy.  Too much of dance is focused on going further and that is a beautiful thing because it keeps us from feeling stagnant and dull, but it can also perpetually feel like you are “not there yet”.  The sooner you can program relaxation into the learning and performing process, the better you will read on stage.  A perfect example of this is Sonia.  Her utter sense of calm on stage is so simple that it’s seductive.  This technique will also help you avoid burn out and negative competition.  We are all here for the joy of it, there is no better reason.  So always keep pushing yourself but also accept the dancer you are today and feel very centered in that.  This will make even a simple choreography or performance read as much much more.

How can someone contact you?
www.moriachappell.com
I’m also on facebook and tribe.net and I blog often on the BDS website. 

Under The Sun Ligh Dancer for January is:

Name:
Onca O'Leary & Baraka Mundi: the Bandit Queens of Bellydance

Location:
Asheville, NC

How did Baraka Mundi start?
I founded Baraka Mundi in 1999 as a live music & dance ensemble. Working within the established local bellydance collective, I was learning a great deal, but craved a more focused experience and more polished end result. I was driven by a desire to really 'get' bellydance, and in our community, in the pre-Youtube era, we had scant informational resources. That meant doing lots of group work, bringing in regional teachers, and much drilling. I went to the Bay area and took a few classes with Jill Parker and was moved by her skill, presence and humility. She had just recently struck out on her own and likewise encouraged me to seize my own destiny.
Baraka Mundi remains a directed collective; at the end of the day, all final decisions are mine, but  the gals work with total commitment and creative liberty for a month at a time while I am out touring with the Mezmer Society. I am very selective in who I invite to become a 'Bandit Queen of Bellydance', a decision rooted in their dance philosophy and personal ethics as much as raw talent. Every one of them honors the years of work that I put into building a group, wants to look great, conduct themselves with professionalism, and make a positive impact on the community. They pull together as women on a mission to make the group happen, and when I am in the city, I offer directorial support, create opportunities, and play as much as I can. I trust them to do well, and in the cat-eat-cat world of bellydance, that is saying alot.

All of your costumes look amazing! Do you make them? Any tips for someone trying to put together there first bellydance costume?
We do make them, and strive for an original, polished, inimitable look. For tips: remember: 'over the top' is barely enough onstage. Even in a restaurant or more intimate, casual setting, wear eyelashes and make-up like you are a queen from another tribe; you are, and you can better transport the viewer if you cultivate that presence. Also, when creating clothes, repurposing or recycling can be your friend - we have made entire victorian ensembles out of bedskirts - but if you want a truly glamorous look, consider spending the money on great jewelry and well-fitted, seriously constructed bras. Tribal dancers can learn quite a bit from our sisters and brothers in cabaret in terms of looking 'put together'.

Do you teach?
I personally have taught since 1999, and though poised to take a local teaching sabbatical, I will still be teaching on the national workshop circuit. In fact, almost every member of Baraka Mundi teaches, either in Asheville at my studio or in their own communities (some of us commute so as to be in the group together). Over the years, some of our dancers have gone on to be serious soloists on the workshop circuit as well.

Is there a student troupe, if so how does Baraka Mundi and the student troupe work together?
For 2007-2009, we have a student performance group comprised of the most driven dancers from of weekly classes. Baraka Mundi's fabulous Sparrow leads their work in both cued improv and choreography. They perform at haflas, benefits and in ensemble numbers as part of larger Bandit Queen narratives. For example, when we did a full set with live music as zany pirates for May Day, the student group danced with us as killer-yet-adorable trash mermaids. The mermaids had a live brass band! In years past, we have also mentored two creatively autonomous student troupes simultaneously - World Spirit Luna and World Spirit Sola. Each group worked independently on dance pieces, thus developing a flair reflective of their membership.  Each month, a dancer in Baraka Mundi worked with them thru one rehearsal, helping refine and direct their work and plans for the next month. Both models have worked really well for us overall. I value strong self-starters and like to give the student dancers the tools to find their own voice. It generally works well to give the Bandit Queens some stake in the success of the students too. It's community building.

Where can we see you perform?
Baraka Mundi is finally all over Youtube, and performs primarily at bellydance events and arts festivals in the SouthEastern US. We can always be seen of course at TribOriginal: Tribal Dance, Music & Culture Camp, our award-nominated, four-day, whole-foods-catered, family-friendly bellydance festival. It's held every October here in NC, and is an event to satisfy all the senses. The Bandit Queens are essential staff: along with our international headliners, Baraka Mundi teaches bellydance, acrobalance, henna, costuming and make-up, and a whole lot more. Check out the website at www.barakamundi.com to see what's next!
            
When performing, what do you do if there is an rude audience member?
Great question. Two things -
1. Remember that as the focus of attention, you have total control of the situation, and
2. As an entertainer and teacher, you are in the service industry. Your job description literally is to make people understand what the dance, the music, the culture, and the event you are participating in are all about. Both of these points mean that you should use any tool necessary - humor, fierceness, body language, stagecraft or even club security, to bring the audience over to your way of seeing things. If you are present and creative in the moment, you can almost always control the situation and the crowd - without anyone even realizing it.

What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?
The more you put in to any aspect of this dancefrom, the more you get out. Focus on costumes, and you will learn to look fabulous. Drill technique and you will be crisp. Put yourself in situations where improvisation and crowd dynamics are a constant factor, and you will become skilled with that. Few folks can focus on them all at once, so pick a few areas of study at a time. And train hard enough that you don't dress better than you dance...
            
How can someone contact you?
www.barakamundi.com or at my resume site
www.hardestworkingwomaninshowbusiness.com
828 232 2980

Under The Sun Light Dancer for December is:

Name:
Frédérique M. Johnston

Location:
Oakland, Ca (San Francisco / Bay Area)

How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?
In 1997, my roommate Brian at the time was dating a girl who was taking tribal belly dance lessons from Luna (Amy) in Berkeley who was a former student of Carolena Nericcio of Fat Chance Belly Dance. Brian told me that his girlfriend was performing the coming weekend and he invited me along with him; he told me that he thought I would love it, and that he could see me being really good at it which was funny because he had never seen me dance. I also had never taken any formal dance classes except when I was 9 and a competing figure skater so I'm not sure where he got the notion that I would be good at it. So I went with him that weekend...and he turned out to be right, I loved it! That following Tuesday I began my first Tribal Belly Dance class.

Why do you love dancing?
Dancing is an essential part of who I am. Without satiating this side of me that is forever moving, there is a part of me that is down. Dancing is a nutrient for my soul, without it, I am unhealthy and incomplete.

Do you teach?
I teach every Thursday to the public / walk-ins and Wednesdays are closed for rehearsals as my advanced students prepare for an upcoming showcase.
I also travel the world teaching and performing.

How has belly dancing changed your life?
It has significantly changed my life for the better. I have wonderful and unique friends that I wouldn't have known otherwise. I'm in better shape mentally and physically. But most importantly, I have a creative outlet that has been the most significant in changing my life for the better. Without dancing I wouldn't have bothered to teach myself photoshop and advertising, or teaching myself how to mix and edit music for my sets. I feel so fortunate to have all these aspects of creativity at my whim depending on my mood or inspiration.

Where can we see you preform?
The best way to find out where I'm performing as it changes often is through my website, myspace, and twitter... Facebook I'm still figuring out so I wouldn't depend on that one yet...but soon! All the others I keep up-to-date.

When you preform do you improv or choreograph?
Every solo I've ever performed in my belly dance career has been completely improvised. There are several reasons why this is the path I have chosen and they all didn't hit me at the same time; I will share three of them. The 1st reason is because my only formal belly dance training has been in Tribal Style, the original Tribal Style / ATS Format created and popularized by FCBD. ATS is essentially an improvisational style of dancing. So to impov was at the forefront for me in learning to belly dance.
The 2nd reason is because I am clinically diagnosed with Dyslexia, Dysnomia, and ADHD and unfortunately an attribute to these learning disabilities is a bad short term memory. After I was tested in my early 20's, my short term AND long term memory proved to be ridiculously below 'below average'. All this leads to the hair pulling in trying to learn choreography. I can learn it, it's not impossible, it just means that I have to work harder than the average person and I have little gadgets and techniques I use to help me along the way. Now, the 3rd reason below is why I stick with improv over choreography. The 3rd reason: after a few years of pushing through how hard it is to improv, I learned that although it takes you longer to get better at performing than for those who choreograph, the reward is grand and worth every frustration along the way... For example, by improving, I dance from the heart, always. I'm not a machine that reiterates time after time... I surrender to the music and let it consume me, possess me. For me, this union is so spiritual, so powerful, and so enlightening...and with the love that I experience on stage, I also get to share this with my audience. I haven't found anything as satisfying as this as a professional dancer.

What inspires you?
My dad inspires me, he has shown me how far a good attitude can take you in life. He has also always supported me in all my creative endeavors which has allowed me to be inspired. My husband also inspires me in so many ways that if I tried to type it all out, I'd be here all month! So here is just one way he inspires me: he's worked so hard for what he wanted to do in his life from high school, through college, and several jobs along the way to gain more experience, and pay his own way through school, never losing sight or veering from his ultimate goal; now he's doing it, working at the top, and at the top of his game to boot; SO inspiring. Life inspires me...music, colors, styles, cities, stories, people... Everything inspires me; sometimes it's good inspiration, sometimes it's bad...but all inspiring nonetheless.

What music makes you dance?
I think the easier question for me to answer is, "What music doesn't make me dance?" [giggling] Anything with slick beats, to the sounds of strings makes me want to dance. I remember sneaking in The Chemical Brothers at the end of a mixed tape that I brought to Jill Parker's advanced class in 1998 and about to get my head chewed off until she noticed that everyone in the class got super excited and motivated. That day marked my future in belly dance; pioneering the variety of music that I have used along with my mixing and editing marks my contribution to the Tribal Fusion community.

What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?
If it's hard and feels like the bane of your belly dance existence, all the more reason to fight for it and master it to the best of your ability. Don't just settle for the things you are naturally good at.

How can someone contact you?
There are several ways to contact me:
www.theladyfred.com
www.myspace.com/theladyfred
www.facebook.com/theladyfred
www.twitter.com/theladyfred

Under The Sun Light Dancer for November is:

Name:
Lily Tsai

Location:
Austin, Texas

How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?
After finishing university, I was working in a creative firm with a lot of fun people. There was a group of us that got together once a week for a hip-hop dance classes. After the session was over, someone suggested trying out belly dance classes. It was love at first try. The movements were feminine and strong, and I felt good doing the movements. I have not stopped since that first belly dance class.

Why do you love dancing?
Between the ages of 3 and 6, I attended dance classes. I couldn't tell you if I was any good. But I do have some old photos of me from recitals. Between the ages of 6 and 18, I played musical instruments, but no dance classes. Instead my younger sister was taking dance classes. There must have been this part of me that was really wanting to dance. I've always loved dance. So as an adult, I took different types of dance classes and was a regular at salsa clubs for a while. I must be making up for lost times. Dancing balances me. It allows me express and create. It has transformed me into the person I've always wanted to be.

Do you teach?
Yes, I teach weekly classes organized by series, private classes, and workshops.

How has belly dancing changed your life?
I have always been a very shy person, but dance was something I could really get into. Belly dance helped me come out of my shell. When I first moved to London, I didn't know any one there. Naturally, I sought out the belly dance community. We had something in common: the passion of belly dance. It is amazing how widespread belly dance is... no matter where you go in the world, you have instant friends. Because of belly dance I've broken out of the shell and become more confident. Belly dance has given me a close group of friends who I dance with in Austin. The Sabaya Bellydance Collective consists of Maribel, Rania, Stacey Lizette, Yasmin, and Lily. We all come from different backgrounds and different dance styles, yet we can all get along because belly dance. The magic of this dance really brings people together!

As a child growing up you study music, has that influenced your dance? How?
Part of my music education included music theory. For dance, understanding rhythms, timing, and phrasing is critical to how a dancer can learn, interpret music, and express the music using dance. I highly recommend taking music classes or learning a musical instrument to supplement one's dance training.

Where can we see you preform?
- 'Sahara Nights', a monthly bellydance show produced by Sabaya Bellydance Collective at Copa Bar. For details: www.SabayaBellydance.com
- 'An Arabian Night', a monthly bellydance-themed night at the Red Fez lounge.
- stage shows, festivals, etc. in Austin, around Texas, and potentially anywhere in the world.

What inspires you?
Music and watching dance. Some compositions tell a story without words.
I think that is what dancers do as well.

What music makes you dance?
All types of music... any type of music I can connect with will make me want to dance!

You have taught and study all over the world, do you have a favorite place that you've been? Why?
Oh, this is a tough one. Currently, my favorite is New Zealand. There are some fabulous dancers out there who are so committed to dance. Some fuse their native Maori dance movements or music. It's so unique and beautiful to watch. The country itself is amazing. So much coastland with beaches and really laid back folks. There's nothing like sitting on the beach with fish and chips wrapped in newspaper for dinner. If you haven't visited, get there! You'll find communities of belly dancers all around.

Do you have any fun and exciting projects that you're working on?
Yes! We just finished filming an instructional DVD for a tribal fusion choreography to the song 'Heretic' by Solace. It will be available some time in November 2009.

What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?
My yoga mentor would say in her centering: "Take your worries, your previous conceptions of yoga (substitute 'dance' here), anything that prevents you from being present 100%... wrap it up and put it outside with your shoes. If you decide you still need it after class, you can collect it along with your shoes. Otherwise, you can just leave it." So from now on when I attend any class or workshop, I attempt to put what I may already know with my shoes, water bottle, and bag. With an open mind and open heart, I try to absorb anything that the teacher is sharing. When I leave the workshop, I write down the things I want to add to my tool box. If I really like something I learned, I try to incorporate that into my dance or practice as soon as possible.

How can someone contact you?
http://www.LilyBellydance.com

Under The Sun Light Dancer for October is:

Name: 
Emily Alrick, Solo Artist and Director of Circus Tribal Bellydance Co.

Location: 
Ashland, OR

How did you get involved with Belly Dancing? 
I've always been interested in dance, music and visual arts. I ended up bellydancing after several people asked me if I was a bellydancer! I was curious and decided to take a class. After a couple months I got serious and started pursuing various teachers and styles of dance which is how I found my mentor and teacher, Suhaila Salimpour. I also study ballet and modern dance and continue to seek out various dance forms for inspiration.

Why do you love dancing? 
Music is universally moving to people and what better way to express the feeling of music than with your entire body?

Do you teach? 
Yes, I teach weekly bellydance classes in my local community and workshops everywhere else.

How has belly dancing changed your life? 
I found myself focusing more and more on dance than anything else. Now it consumes my whole life! I have experience in graphic design, fashion design, sewing, make up... All these things help me in creating a complete piece of art with dance and being able to present my vision. I feel lucky to have found something I'm so passionate about.

Where can we see you preform? 
Worldwide! Well, maybe someday... For now I perform locally, at festivals and events up and down the west coast and nationally when hosted.

Can you tell us more about 'Circus Tribal'?  
Circus Tribal is my performance company. I do most of the choreography and costume design but I like to encourage personal expression as well and often I'll pull inspiration from my dancers. We are a trio of dancers that like experiment with fusion, vaudeville, and other performance art with a bellydance base. We often infuse our performances with humor but we've also experimented with other emotions and characters. I really enjoy directing this company because it's an outlet for inspirations that I wouldn't necessarily be able to express on my own or only with bellydance. My dancers are very invested in the company and in their own growth so it has also been a wonderful support system for all of us!

What inspires you?  
Everything. No joke! I love taking something arbitrary and finding a way to make it into art or into a costume or a choreography. Often I'll hear a song or find a piece of fabric and it will inspire an entire set. Music is very inspiring to me but sometimes I have fun creating a character from a magazine clip or a costume and then having to search for just the right song!

What music makes you dance?  
It's hard to find music that doesn't make me dance! My favorites, regardless of genre, are songs that evoke some sort of emotional response and have varied sound.

What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?  
Don't sacrifice what you really want in the end for what you want right now. So many of us are reluctant to feel silly or be "bad" at something, or we just want to get good and be able to perform but I think the cultivation of knowledge and continuing to put ourselves in those beginner shoes is really important. Try new things, take criticism and keep growing!

How can someone contact you?  
Email is best: Emily@circustribal.com

Under The Sun Light Dancer for Steptember is:

Name:
Ayperi
 
Location:
Madison, WI
 
How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?  
While growing up, I struggled with insecurities that made me so shy and quiet that I earned the nick name "Mouse" from my best friend in high school.  My grandmother, who was a really big part of my life growing up, recognized this, and when she saw a television show that featured "Veena and Neena Bellydance Twins," I think she saw that bellydance would be a good thing for me.  My senior year of high school, Grandma bought me a bellydance workout videotape, with the intention that all three generations of women in my family would try out the tape together - my grandma, my mom, and I.  Shortly after giving me the tape as a Christmas present, my family was struck by tragedy - Gram had a massive stroke that took her speech and her ability to walk.  We never got a chance to watch the tape together, and I went on to attend college at UW Madison in Wisconsin in the fall of 2001.  Although my grandma couldn't talk, I maintained my relationship with Gram by calling her on the phone and telling her about my life in Madison.  One afternoon in my freshman dorm I saw a poster for a bellydancing club that offered lessons on campus; I decided on a lark to try it out with the intention of telling my Gram about it on the phone that night.  Needless to say, I went to one club meeting and was hooked!  I have been dancing every single day since then, and bellydance has brought me the confidence that I needed!
 
Why do you love dancing?  
Once when I was just a wee little bean, I was at the Telemark Ski Lodge in a tiny town in northern Wisconsin called Hayward.  My parents were eating dinner at the lodge and there was a pianist performing.  I got up and danced to the piano music in my little pink ruffly dress and patent leather mary janes!  I guess I would say I've been dancing ever since - whether it was in my bedroom, in a ballet class, or at a rave, I always loved music and movement!   I would also say that now that I'm older, dancing has made my life so much richer than it would be otherwise.  Through dance, I've met some of the most incredible people - wonderful artists, musicians, and other dancers.  I love to collaborate with other artists, and dance has been a great way to do that.  Right now I'm in a fantastic troupe called Ashar Dance Company, and I absolutely love getting down, dirty, and creative with my dance sisters Mahela, Seana, and Tashar.
 
Do you teach?  
I teach several weekly bellydance classes and workshops and I also teach high school English part time!  Ha!  And yes, my high school students know that I bellydance.  I have had the opportunity to teach some dance classes at the high school, and I even performed for the school talent show!  :)  I think my high school students were most impressed with my sword balancing (think: high school boys, "Oh cool a sword!").
 
How has belly dancing changed your life?  
Everyone goes through their own journey of self discovery, and dance has been a major catalyst and form of self expression in my journey.  Dance has really helped me open up - it helped me blossom out of my "mousier" days.  Bellydance specifically has given me so much confidence about my body and womanhood.  It has helped me exercise some inner demons, and it has also helped me develop discipline.
 
Where can we see you perform?  
I perform often at Middle Eastern dance showcases as a soloist and with Ashar Dance Company (www.myspace.com/ashardancecompany); I perform at Renaissance Faires in Wisconsin with Weno Gypsies Bellydance Tribe (www.myspace.com/wenogypsies); I offer bellygrams, wedding parties, and other fun events; and I also perform monthly at Mediterranean Hookah Lounge in Madison, WI.
 
What inspires you?  
As a primarily fusion artist (although I am trained in and perform in traditional styles, I am most often dancing in one fusion style or another!), there is SO MUCH that I look to for inspiration!  I love Indian saris, old bellydance movies, Mucha paintings, swords, snakes, double lattes, peacock feathers, red wine, Bob Fosse, world music, flamenco dancers, Mata Hari, modern dance, Renaissance Faires, dancing around campfires, dum beks, steampunk aesthetics, Victorian era fashion, circus showmanship, twirling fire, antique Kuchi jewelry, pinstripe suits, old coins, 70's cabaret bedlah, fan dances, strings of pearls, gothic fashion, and elements of ATS and tribal bellydance from the East coast to the West.
 
What music makes you dance?  
I love all sorts of music!  From classical orchestral pieces from Egypt to bouncy Turkish karsilama, from sharp drum solos by Hossam Ramzy to soulful fusion music by Raquy and the Caveman, from techno and drum and bass to soulful old jazz... I love to get up and dance around.  I'm also terribly guilty of "car dancing," and my students know me for my "car choreographies!"  During long commutes, I love to choreograph and envision movement to music that I hear.
 
What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?  
I think the most fun you can have as an artist is in the process of creation.  Whether you like to choreograph for big bellydance showcases or dance for your cats at home, I think the part of dance that I love the most is the creative process of taking bellydance (and fusion) movements and applying them in a unique way to music that I like.  A colleague of mine, Izzy, shared the fantastic insight with me that she views different moves as colors on a palette that she can use on her dance canvas.  As she described it - the more styles of dance you know (and the more teachers that you take lessons from), the more colors you have to play with on your dance canvas.  I thought that was a beautiful metaphor for fusion and creative bellydancing!
 
How can someone contact you?  
Please email me at ayperi@ayperibellydance.com!

Under The Sun Light Dancer for August is:

Name:
Ariellah

Location:
Bay Area/Oakland, California, USA

How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?
I grew up in a Moroccan family with lots of dancing and festivities and rituals and had been around belly dancing all my life and realized in my later teens that at some point I wanted to learn it technically.  So in my mid 20s I was at a point in my life where I had time to check out a class and from that moment on, in that first class, it was love at first site...I felt it running through my veins.

Why do you love dancing?
I think for the same reasons that I wanted to try my hand at belly dancing...from the moment I was born and as far back as I can remember there was always music, singing, clapping, dancing and whistling going in my household.  My father had 8 brothers and sisters, most of whom lived close by and we were always together and very close and there was always much dancing. I also remember my father always clapping and singing to me...and I think it instilled in me a love for all things dealing with music and dance.  I have been engulfed by it since I was born.  I also began my classical ballet training at age 3, and remained in my training til' a teenager, then picked it up again in my early 20s, so again, I was fully immersed in dance culture.  I remember on my 18th birthday my father took me to my first nightclub...granted it was a wanky place in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive, but nonetheless, we went and danced our booties off!  I have always loved to dance, whether it be professionally, on the night club dance floor, or at family gatherings...
And beyond all of those reasons, I just feel the dance in my heart. I long to dance as much as I can.  It soothes my soul.

Do you teach?
Yes I teach belly dance classes, here at home and all over the world.

How has belly dancing changed your life?
I think that belly dance has brought me closer to my ancestry and has also given me much inner contentment on so many different levels and it has also allowed me the honour of meeting and becoming friends with, some of the most amazing women I have ever known...

Where can we see you preform?
You can see me perform all over the world, from small hafla type gatherings, to huge theatre productions, to art galleries to festivals to night clubs...all over!

What inspires you?
The music is entirely my muse.  There is no mistake or hesitation about that.

What music makes you dance?
My tastes are quite ecclectic...but I think sound track type music and a bit more minor keyed, melancholic music moves me the most...songs with a bit of depth to them.

What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?
Practice and drill consistently, even if it is just 1 or 2 times a week...get strong, physically and mentally...and build confidence in your own dance practice and in your heart.

How can someone contact you?
They can look me up on my website at www.ariellah.com and email me from there...and I am also on tribe.net, myspace, and facebook

Under The Sun Light Dancer for July is:

Name:
Amulya

Location:
Northern Rivers, New South Wales, Australia


How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?
My grandparents were writers and they used to travel to Egypt a lot (52 times!), so I heard about something called 'belly dance' but I could never picture what it really was till I actually saw a belly dancer performing. I was so impressed with this beautiful dance I wanted to learn it, but there were no classes available at that time. So when one day there was a workshop available in my town I had to check that out. It appeared to be so much fun! And it was so much more suited to me than the other dance styles I had done before (ballet and ballroom); it felt natural. Of course I immediately joined classes!


Why do you love dancing?
Dancing is such a great way to express yourself, but also a fun way to keep fit. Belly dancing in particular is so nice because it's a dance that can be improvised and choreographed. There is a huge freedom in belly dance that you can not find in many other styles. Lot of dance styles have very rigid rules of which steps or movements you can do, but belly dance is much more free. I also love the fact that it is a dance type open to fusion.

Do you teach?
Yes, although at the moment I'm having a break from teaching. I have been teaching for 14 years, weekly classes, workshops and private classes. I used to teach classical Egyptian style only, but later I added more fusion to my teaching. I love to teach the background information of belly dance as well, because I feel it's important to know more about this dance then just dancing itself.


How has belly dancing changed your life?
At first it helped me a lot with posture. I had a problematic back due to scoliosis, which made me lopsided: one shoulder was higher then the other and i had also a slight hunch. After my first year of belly dancing that changed dramatically: my shoulders were aligned and I had no more hunch. But that was not all, it also helps me with my fibromialgia and CFS. Due to the fibromialgia I often got joint pains, but dancing can make it less painful. It's tricky, because too much dancing can be bad.


Where can we see you preform?
I used to do a lot of corporate gigs, festivals, weddings and such, but after so many years I wanted a change: at the moment I'm part of a theater group. We do a lot of different types of shows, each show has a theme, so it's great for doing new things. Whereas your limited in regular gigs, because the clients expects regular belly dancing, in these performances I can experiment more with fusion.

What inspires you?
Other dancers, students, other dance forms, audience, too much to name. I love when dancers are innovative, so I really like fusion, but classical styles are great too. Music is a big inspiration too for me, as well as costumes: when I have a new costume, I feel I dance differently.

What music makes you dance?
Nearly everything! I don't limit myself to just one type of music. Right now I really love the old style classical belly dance music like they play at Radio Bastet. Music in those times had a different feel.


What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?
When you feel dancing gets hard, maybe because you're having a 'dancers' block' (yes that does exist!) or maybe your health is not the greatest: do not give up! And one for students: never limit yourself to one teacher, get as many as you can!


How can someone contact you?
http://bellydanceramulya.blogspot.com
http://uglycostumegoddess.blogspot.com

Under The Sun Light Dancer for June is:

Name: 
Frank Farinaro

Location: 
Colorado Springs, CO USA
 
How did you get involved with Belly Dancing? 
I played around with Cabaret style bellydance in my high school years.  When I graduated in 2005, I did a theatrical production of Arabian Nights.  In this production, the incomparable Donna Mejia was the choreographer, & artistic director. She opened my eyes to Middle Eastern culture, Tribal style bellydance, Bellydance Superstars, & how to cross-train.  Since then, I have been working as hard as I can to train & cultivate my technique & style.
 
Why do you love dancing? 
I have always been an artist/performer.  For as long as I can remember, I have been a singer, songwriter, poet, author, actor, comedian, etc.  I love dancing because even with all of these other creative outlets, dancing has afforded me a way to say what I need to say & communicate my message without using words.  It is a deeper way for me to connect with my audience & have them receive what I can offer.
 
Do you teach? 
After about a year and a half of training, I finally fely confident enough to teach & in the span of less than two years, I went from teaching private lessons in living rooms to teaching four studio classes a week & workshops across the US.
 
How has belly dancing changed your life? 
How HASN'T bellydancing changed my life?!  Coming from an athletic background, I can honestly say that bellydance has been the most intense, full-body workout that I have ever experienced.  I have never been in better shape.  Bellydancing has allowed me to help other people get in shape & to help people recover from illnesses & injuries.  Bellydance has allowed me to meet & connect with so many amazing people that have touched my life in ways that I can't even begin to express.  Bellydancing has given me a creative outlet to express myself in ways that I never could vocally or on paper.
 
Where can we see you preform? 
I can be seen performing across Colorado, & the US, & on youtube.

What inspires you? 
Subconsciously, I am inspired by artists like Dale Chihuly & Thomas Kinkade.  My costumes are loosely inspired by fashion designers John Galiano & Hedi Slimane.  musically, I am inspired by Cocorosie, Ratatat, Beirut, & a few others.  I am, of course, inspired by my bellydance teachers.  As an overall bellydancer, my biggest inspiration is other male bellydancer who are just starting out.  I am the first male bellydancer in Colorado to do things on a large scale.  There were really no role models for me to follow, so I had to draw my map as I traveled through the world of bellydance.  It was & continues to be hard, but when I get e-mails from other boys & men across the world who are the first in their area, or one of few, & they come to me with questions... that is one of my biggest inspirations, knowing that I can help this next generation of male bellydancers & have them learn from the lessons of my life.  I believe it was Maya Angelou who said, "Each one, teach one." That inspires me.

What music makes you dance? 
I dnce to all music.  Like I said, I love Cocorosie, Ratatat, & Beirut.  I love Electronica, Classical, Hip-Hop, Beat Box, Polynesian, Balkan, Chamber Music, Opera, Afro-Brazilian Samba, Traditional Middle Eastern & Indian.  I love stringed arrangements (especially quartets & cellos), percussion, brass, heavy beats, piano, anything that chimes (especially music boxes & celestes).
 
What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone? 
I think the most helpfum tips I can give someone are 1) You should do this dance because it is fun first & foremost.  Make sure your heart is in the right place.  2)  Take from as many instructors as you can.  Cross-training is vital.  3)  Many liberties are taken in this dance, but do hold true to some of the principles that are based in the culture that this dance is rooted.
 
How can someone contact you? 
I can be contacted via e-mail at hammerheadsharqi@hotmail.com, my myspace at myspace.com/hammerheadsharqi, & my tribe at
tribes.tribe.net/hammerhead-sharq_tank

Under The Sun Light Dancer for May is:

Name:
Phoenix

Location:Denver, Colorado

How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?
I have always been involved with dance and loved belly dancing for the feminine beauty. I began with a community class in 1997. I met so many wonderful women and found the dancing helped to relieve stress. I tried various styles and teachers. I then began focusing on performance and the art form.

Why do you love dancing?
I love belly dancing for the open, supportive, and wonderful energy that it offers to all – both men and women. I enjoy the variety of styles, self-expression, and creativity that continues to show up in the community. I feel that this dance has something to offer each individual and each individual brings something special into the dance. This is an art form that shows no limits and offers self-expression. I enjoy watching each of my students develop their own creative style. It is the community and supportive environment that keeps me dancing.

Do you teach?
I do teach in various locations around the Denver area. I am also available for workshops including Isis Wings, sword, Thai fingers, feather fans, zill rhythms, improv dancing, fusion combos, and more. I also released an instructional DVD in 2008 for the Isis Wings – the response to that has been great.

How has belly dancing changed your life?
Belly dancing offers an outlet for self-expression. This outlet is my art form and also keeps me balanced. I look forward to teaching and dancing each week. The connection with other dancers and my students is very fulfilling and I would not trade that for anything. It is worth more than gold!


Where can we see you perform?Various locations including restaurants, clubs, festivals, and shows. I keep my website updated with all my events:www.phoenix-dancing.com
Also – my husband’s band and I sponsor a huge community event 4 times a year in the Denver area. It is wonderful to see belly dancers from various styles come together and share in the fun!

What inspires you?
The music, the connection with the audience, my students, and the community. There is so much that inspires me in belly dancing. I enjoy the connection to people in the community – sharing in creative energy. I also love connecting with my audience. My students and fellow dancers are a huge inspiration. I have found that this connection carries me through tough times. Also – music is often an inspiration. I may hear a song and see a dance. I find so much inspiration in belly dance…it is a part of me now.

What music makes you dance?
Wow – that is a tough one. I use anything from traditional MidEastern style music, drum solos, heavy metal, trance, hip hop, and more. Really most any music makes me dance. Having married a musician – I love many styles. My mood and audience often is what actually makes me choose certain music for shows.

What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?
Posture is number one. I am very strict on dance posture and protecting your body. Belly dancing offers so many benefits outside of the art including flexibility, strength, and great posture. I feel that in order to have excellent technique – posture is a must.

How can someone contact you?
www.phoenix-dancing.com - website
phoenix_dancing@hotmail.com – email
303.921.0378 – phone

Here is a little info on the Isis Wings with Phoenix Instruction DVD::
Striking … fluid … mystical! Isis Wings provide a dramatic accent to any performance. Isis Wings with Phoenix teaches the art and technique of the Isis Wings to create a mesmerizing performance appropriate for beginning to advanced dancers.
This results in an effortless appearance and a personalized dance. The DVD includes:
* moves & combinations
* accents & variations
* warm-up & stretches
* performance by PHOENIX
* performance tips
* advanced skills
* tips on care & storage
* types of wings - including double wings
Phoenix is known for her unique performances and is one of the first to introduce the Isis Wings to the Colorado area. As an instructor, performer, and event producer, Phoenix approaches belly dancing from a spiritual and artistic direction emphasizing technique and self-expression. Phoenix celebrates the art of dance by fusing various styles with fluid movement. A life-long performer, Phoenix is experienced in modeling, theater and dance; specializing in belly dance since 1997.
Join Phoenix as she awakens the goddess in all of us -- with Isis Wings!!
www.phoenix-dancing.com

Under The Sun Light Dancer for April is:

Under The Sun Belly Dancer for March is:

Name: Aela Badiana (Michaela)

Location: Gloucester Virginia

How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?
Hmmm, that's a long story. I've always loved to dance. The first dance form I truly fell in love with was ballroom dancing. After I married a man with two left feet, I searched for something where I didn't need him. I was in a park at a cultural festival and I saw my Mom's friend perform with a bellydance troupe. I really loved it and decided to start for the excercise with the full intent of never performing........six months later I was in a sequined outfit performing in front of 300+ people. The rest is history...

Why do you love dancing?
When I hear a drum beat my heart syncs up and I have to move. I was especially drawn to bellydance because I love the connection that women made with each other. I loved seeing ordinary timid women blossom with self confidence, feeling empowered and ready to take on the world. and.... as a personal trainer, I always suggest to my clients to do moderate excercise at least three+ times a week and what better way than to dance.

Do you teach?
Yes, kind of. We just moved back from Germany and as soon as we are settled in I will resume normal classes. I have taught many workshops in the US and Europe. If you are interested, check out my web page. www.aela.biz

Where can we see you perform?
Being the new kid on the block, I dance at various restaurants, haflas and shows where I am invited (but I don't have a regular venue, yet). The best is to visit my site for more details. I am hoping to find a venue soon where I can host regular haflas.

What inspires you?
Good music and a good glass of wine (or two). Seriously, I find inspiration in just about everything. I guess going with the flow and not fighting life makes it easy to be inspired and to come up with new ideas. Sometimes reflecting back on all the good in life can be a huge source of inspiration.

What music makes you dance?
Just about everything makes me want to dance but my current favorites are:
(as always) Corvus Corax
Faun (German middle ages/goth band)
Subway to Sally (too unique for a category)
Old school bellydance music
Oum Kalthoum
(yes, I admit it) Turkish Pop (I can see all the Tribal dancers cringing in discust!)

What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips that you can give someone?
3. Always carry safety pins with you to performances (and a stapler, but that is another story).
2. If it feels right, who cares what others think?
and the #1 helpful tip is:
1. You are never done learning, no matter how long you have been dancing.

 How can someone contact you?
Finally an easy question.  Maybe I'll get this one right.
On the web at :
www.aela.biz
www.wickedhips.com
www.abphoto.info