Famous Egyptian Belly Dancer Samia Gamal

I found this great video on YouTube of the famous Egyptian Belly Dancer Samia Gamal.

If you would like to know more about Samia's history, read the web page below which gives a comprehensive biog (only some of which is shown):

Samia Gamal was born in 1924 in the small Egyptian town of Wana. Months later, her family moved to Cairo and settled near the Khan-El_Khalili bazaar. Samia Gamal then met Badia Masabni, the founder of modern Oriental Dance and accepted an invitation to join Badia Masabni's dance company. Samia Gamal became a soloist and brought forth a newer improvised style. Samia Gamal then incorporated technique from ballet and Latin dance into her solo performances.

Samia Gamal GoBellyDance.com

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Sore Belly Dancing Feet

I've been taking belly dancing classes for almost 3 years now and I've never had aching feet before! Yesterday we did alot of fast past traveling moves that require you to be on your tip toes. Yesterday was a pretty intense class, and I was fine afterwards. But today....ouch! My feet are really sore and aching on the balls and arches. How do you get rid of the pain and discomfort or at least prevent it from happening again??

Ouch! my feet... - Heavy Hips Tribal Belly Dance - tribe.net

I'd love to know the answer to this too - not so much for belly dancing, but for when I wear high-heels. The balls of my feet get so sore (I'm used to sneakers or bare feet). I'm sure others have the same problem so head over to the Heavy Hips blog and share your wisdom ;-)

Lisa x

technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, sore+feet

Utah's Annual Belly Dance Festival

This year marks the 26th year of Utah's Annual Belly Dance Festival at Liberty Park, August 18-20. Six hundred performers from around the world will perform at the fr*ee festival which features a bazaar, mouth-watering exotic food and clinics on dance, make-up, drumming and costuming. Check out the schedule of performers

http://www.kismetdance.com/belly-dance-festival/2006/performance-schedule.htm

I have just received an email about this year's Belly Dance Festival in Utah - now in its 26th year. The event is free to attend, so if you can make it, it looks like it just keeps getting bigger and better.

Lisa x

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The Growing Popularity of Belly Dance

"To me, dance is a lifestyle," Parasson said. "It’s therapeutic. It helps me keep my sanity."For others, including one of the three dancer-instructors who organized the show, it’s something closer to obsession.

The Columbus Dispatch - Local/State

An interesting article not only because it focuses on belly dancers from different walks of life who have turned it into a career, but also because it draws attention to its increasing popularity in mainstream music.

Lisa x

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Belly Dance Instructors and Performers

I*'m often asked where people can find instructors/classes or performers in their local area. I think the best place online is the directory at Shira.net:

http://www.shira.net/directory.htm

Search for your country and then area, and you should find what you are looking for. There are also links to other useful websites.

Lisa x

technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, belly+dance+instructors, belly+dance+performers