DtkT - DtkT - Dtk, Dtk, DtkT!

Finger cymbal sound drill.

After much cursing and frowning, I still struggle a bit with my non-dominate hand, which throws off my timing a bit, but it is definitely coming along.

~N

With Much Love

Barb Herdman 1944 - 2014

Say Hi for me, will you?

Amigurumi Naima and Husband Person

I do not normally like to show off the gifts that I get but we received these sweet little amigurumi likenesses of me and the Husband Person from my sister. This is the only time you will see me taller and with better hair than the Husband Person. =)

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

Finger Cymbals!

~N

Iraqi Style

"The Ukrainian Star Yana Tsehotskaya is The Winner of the 2013 Dance Competition With Her Group Best Iraqi dance Performance."

One of the gals in my Tuesday night class likes any excuse to throw in a hair toss to add a little personality to the dance. This idea got me on the kick of watching Iraqi Kawliya videos. I found this fantastic "hair dance" performance.

It's a Steal!

I have been stalking this costume online for some time now. It had a list price of $295 but had been discounted down to $195 due to the back of the belt was "upside down." I patiently waited for about a year until the price finally dropped to $75. I greedily snagged it up and within 2 hours cut the fringe off and resewed it on the correct side. It only took me that long because I spaced it out over 2 evenings. To be honest, the 3 different color blues (fabric, fringe, bead detail,) make it a little homely. But for a D cup bedlah with all of those sew on stones and fringe for $75 who cares?

I mean really, how do you not notice the fringe is hanging from the wrong edge? The model in the online store photo looked like she was sitting in a child's booster seat from the way the belt humped up on her back.

Fringe removal.

The width of each color varied so I laid it out in the most ascetically pleasing way before sewing it on.

 Fringe reattached to the correct belt edge.

Lining stitched back into place.

Perfect!

Fun Fact: When I opened up the bra lining to remove the pads I discovered that the cups are made out of a stiff green vinyl.

Happy clearance hunting!

~N

*UPDATE 01/02/15  *  BONUS PIC!

Original model photo from website. If you stare at it long enough you will start to see scary faces.

Recently

My late July trip to Indianapolis for the Jonatan Derbaq and Deniz workshop was went great. I met some lovely fellow dancers while there. Dancing to live music was the cherry on top. Not to mention a stop at Dahlal's and 14 hours of riding in a car nerding out about dance, music, teaching styles, gossip, AND eating, hands down, the best food I've had in my entire life at Firefly Grill in Illinois. 

Next up, Malaika hosted Bahia for a 2 day workshop in late August. I was super stoked about this and I found out that our dance philosophies have A LOT in common. But also, MANY differences. Thinking about our different viewpoints has actually helped me better define and articulate how I feel about my personal dance philosophy. Which is great. That means I'm still thinking for myself.

Saturday's afternoon class thinking "Masculine thoughts," with Bahia. Which apparently translates to "show me your guns!"

With the lovely Bahia. 

~N

Photos 1,2,and 3 generously borrowed from my FB friends.

A Tongue-in-Cheek at a Glance Guide on When to Hire a Bellydancer

Have you ever wondered why you can't seem to hire a bellydancer to jiggle her lady bits at your next rowdy shindig? Why does she become closed off, defensive, or even hangs up on you without so much as an explanation when you tell her you would like her services for a private party at the end of a dark road at midnight?

It is an outdated and frustrating notion that the general public still still thinks bellydancers are adult entertainers. So let's clear up the biggest misconception right now. Bellydancers, burlesque dancers, strippers, and escorts are not the same thing. They are all uniquely different and are hired for distinctly different occasions.

We understand your frustration at this revelation. We do all kind of look alike with our glittery boobs and hair, dancing with focus on the belly and hips, but that doesn't mean we are or do the same thing. How do you know the difference? Use this layman's at-a-glace guide to help you choose the right entertainer for your function.

Best of luck planning your next event!


~N

Naimaland State of the Union July 2014

Australia and the US bonding over dance.

APRIL:

I met my Australian dance pal Kis, husband, and daughter in St. Louis for some costume shopping at Dahlal International's warehouse. We had a great morning walk around downtown St. Louis in search for breakfast. Then Kis and I took off to Dahlal's so we could nerd out over costumes. I custom ordered a Pharonics bedlah and Kis went home with an amazing black, orange, and yellow number. Custom ordering was pretty painless. I told Dahlal what I was looking for. She showed me a selection of bra and belt designs that could be custom ordered. I tried on one to decide on cup size. Then she took my measurements and color choices. I paid the down payment and that was that.

One third of one room inside the harem at the Dahlal Intenational warehouse in St. Louis.

 "To the window (to da window), to da wall, (to da wall) Till the sweat drop down my..."

Awards for most cut-outs goes to this dress. Even the sleeves and space between my knees in front had cut-outs. Sadly it did not come home with me.

I also went on a "glamping" trip to Huzzah Valley with my lady friends at the end of April. We lounged, we crafted, we went thrift shopping, we had a fire, and played games.

 

 Photo of me with Princess Farhana's The Belly Dance Handbook taken by the book's photographer and designer, Maharet Christina Hughes.

MAY:

I attended friends, Dean and Janice's pirate wedding and met up with dance friend Maharet. She has been living and working in LA since last year and came back to Springfield to photograph for the wedding. I off-handedly mentioned how I haven't ordered Princess Farhana's new book, which was designed by Marharet, because you cannot order the book signed by the designer. She promptly went to her car and brought back a copy of the book. She handed it to me saying she brought a copy to give to the first person who mentioned it. The wedding got underway before she had a chance to sign it for me but she managed to snap this pic before she left. I have yet to read it cover to cover only because I've been skipping to the parts that are most pertinent to me (and looking at the pictures.) I will say, out of the other BD books in my library, this is the most comprehensive and will be my go to reference for a while yet.

Yoga. I started doing yoga ten minutes-ish very day from May 21st to now (July.) My knee no longer hurts. My shoulders, neck, and wrists are doing great. My back pain has greatly improved.

I added 2 pallets to the existing flower bed in the back yard at the end of April.  May gave me purple, yellow, and salmon colored irises and the beginnings of day lillies.

JULY:

I will be making my first ever trip to the state of Indiana for ISAMETD's DANCING INSIDE THE MUSIC with Jonatan Gomes Derbaq and Deniz (OH.) on Saturday July 26, 2014. Naia and I will be headed out that Friday for the 6.5 hour drive to Indianapolis. I am crossing my fingures the custom bedleh I ordered at Dahlal's back in April will be in before our trip. It takes 12-14 weeks for the order to be completed and shipped from Egypt. I should be getting an email any day now. 

Dance has taken a backseat to X Files and gardening. The Husband Person and I are also doing an X Files marathon beginning to end, all 200 plus episodes and movies, which is taking us weeks to get through. The rest of the time I am outside picking bugs off of the vegetables and making homemade garden bug sprays.  Two more pallets and two more months in the garden and we've got radishes, cucumbers, pole beans, pumpkins, tomatoes, okra, squash, herbs, and wild flowers growing. I also added a border bed around the patio slab. 

I have to get back on the dance wagon ASAP. Greek Night was moved up to August 2nd. Then Bahia will be here for a workshop August 22nd. I am exited about both.

BONUS PIC: From my late February awards trip to Disney World. Guess who found the most fabulous pair of mouse ears in the whole park. Sequins AND appliques AND feathers, oh my!

~N

New Family Member

Starting with bare bones.

After my debut of the silver shamadan, the lovely Melhessa gave me her gold shamadan. GAVE me. Like here, take this. It is plain-jane but incredibly light in comparison to the silver one. I will most likely semi-retire the silver shamadan. It is difficult to transport and oh so heavy. Pick up the chair you are currently sitting in, put it on your head and light it on fire. Yeah, it's like that. So, I got to work making the new gold family member dance ready.

Blurring pic of the super un-sexy nut and bolt used to tighten the headband.

Inside the headpiece's framework.

Using foam left over from the silver shamadan I cut strips to line the interior of the headpiece for a custom fit. I then cut strips of left over fire proofed curtain fabric to cover the foam for a nice finish. I don't plan to catch myself on fire but I find having a "fire proofed" headliner amusing.

I used hot glue to wrap the fabric around the foam strips. Every time I use hot glue I think to myself, "Wow hot glue is so easy and convenient to use! Why don't I use it more often?" And then I promptly burn the piss out of myself.

Applying hot glue to the interior of the headpiece where the foam strips will go.

In progress.

I added gold, copper, and silver rhinestones glued around the frame with E600 adhesive for extra bling.

Different sizes and colors should pick up the light without adding weight.

Green/gold metallic flower clipped to the headband for panache.

Back lit by the window but lovely nonetheless. The headpiece is still utilitarian in design. I flip-flop between adding more bling or leaving it simple. Either way, a lit candelabra on your head is always epic.

I got this.

~N

Nadia Nikishenko - Khaleegy

Found this great Khaleegy performance by Russian dancer Nadia Nikishenko floating around between my Facebook friends. Love!