sahiracc

 by sahiracc

We practiced with the recoding for three months and then danced to the music LIVE!!! 🤯

 
For some dancers, it’s an absolute dream come true.
 
For others it makes them break out in a serious sweat.
 
I’m talking about dancing to live music.
 
Belly dance at its core is an improvisational art form that historically was (obviously) always done to live music. The music and the dance were created in the moment, and often there was very little advanced coordination between dancer and musician before getting out onto the stage.
 
Becoming comfortable improvising to live music is a journey that can take a dancer many years to accomplish.
 
This amazing opportunity allowed me to give my students a very unique stepping stone towards finding joy and confidence dancing to live music and creating in the moment.
 
This performance is from Go Live, and amazing dance festival in San Antonio, Texas. Here my dancers and I had the opportunity to share the stage with the incredible Georges Lammam ensemble.
 
What made this performance particularly special was that we were allowed to choose a song to dance to months in advance of the performance. We practiced and choreographed and practiced diligently for three months leading up to this moment.
 
But as you know, the live rendition of a song rarely sounds like its recording, (nor should it, really)! Georges and the ensemble were incredibly gracious in working with us, and even we even had the opportunity for a quick rehearsal with them the evening before… What a luxury!
 
And here is what happened when we took to the stage with them, live and totally in the moment.
 
Enjoy!
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 by sahiracc

Learn this belly dance move! The Moroccan Shimmy

In this tutorial, we are going to dive deep into one of the more nuanced and lesser used shimmies in the bellydance vocabulary.

This is the Moroccan Shimmy… It is part of the triplet shimmy family, but has a slightly different accent that sets it apart and makes it even more delicious and slightly more challenging to perform well.

I will take you step-by-step through this beautiful shimmy, focusing on the weight shifts and muscle contractions needed to create a strong and juicy movement.

Once you have a solid foundation for this movement, we will take it to the next level and dance it with music.

Wondering how the triplet shimmy differs? Check it out here. The more shimmy textures you have in your dance vocabulary, the better!

Learn the Triplet Shimmy 

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Now that you’ve had a taste of some of the fabulous variations and textures the belly dance shimmy world has to offer you are ready to join me for my Sensational Shimmy Intensive and online course where you will learn how to confidently and gracefully dance 19 of the best bellydance shimmies and variations.

As a thank you for joining me here I’ve included a discount code for 20% off the course when you watch to the end of the video!

Get your shimmy on!
http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Shimmy

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Special thanks for the fabulous Miss Thea for the music used in this video. Support her on Bandcamp here: https://missthea.bandcamp.com/track/voxybeat

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Get your very own “Zillin’ Like a Villain” gear here: http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Zillin

 

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 by sahiracc

Is this actually possible after just 10 days of finger cymbal practice?!

 

Every year hundreds of dancers from all over the world come together online for a game-changing, 10-day finger cymbal challenge.
 
They come from all backgrounds and walks of life and are united by a common desire to play their zills with more confidence and creativity. Their experience ranges from brand new to the art form to veteran dancers who have been playing for multiple decades.
 
Together to form an amazing community of accepting and supportive zillers, who spend time every day for 10 days on their zill practice, as they receive support, create new friendships, and have a whole lot of fun playing their zills in a supportive educational environment.
 
This is what last year’s zill challenge participants were able to perform after just 10 days of focused work.
 
This year’s challenge choreography is totally new!
 
Are you ready to find confidence and creativity in your finger cymbal skills while putting the PLAY into your practice?
 
Join now! Registration closes on May 14th.
 
 
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 by sahiracc

Level up your zill skills and confidence in just 10 days!

 

Enhance your finger cymbal skills and boost your confidence with The 2024 Zill Challenge.

This engaging 10-day event invites dancers of all levels to connect and elevate their zill practice. Join a community of passionate dancers from around the world for this exciting learning experience.

TheZillChallenge.com

Over the course of 10 days, you’ll strengthen your technique, explore new rhythms, and improve your timing. By the end of the challenge, you will perform a dynamic short choreography featuring exciting new zill riffs. You’ll also have the opportunity to share your progress inside the exclusive challenge community, receive personal support, and win great prizes!

Whether you’re new to zills or an enthusiast looking to grow, the 2024 Zill Challenge will rejuvenate your practice and spark your creativity.

Ready to embrace the challenge?

Discover or rediscover the fun of finger cymbals and join the 2024 Zill Challenge today at TheZillChallenge.com!

 

The 2024 Zill Challenge: May 14-23

Put the PLAY back to your finger cymbal playing!

Registration open through May 14, 2024.

THEZILLCHALLENGE.COM

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 by sahiracc

Acapella Zill with 5 Finger Cymbals!?!? | JamBallah Performance

 

Anyone who says that the finger cymbals are “just a prop” is flat out wrong.
 
These tiny instruments are capable of so much texture…not only RHYTHM, but MELODY as well!
 
Don’t believe me? Check this out.
 
Shout out to Saroyan Mastercrafts for providing the instruments that make the music that inspire my dance.
 
[I am playing the Grecians in Silver, the Afghanis in Brass and one very fabulous Al Taj in this video]
 
Now that you’re feeling inspired and understand just a bit more about what your finger cymbals are capable of, it’s time for YOU to take your zill game to the next level with the 2024 Zill Challenge.
 
 
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 ZILL CHALLENGE IS OPEN!
 
Enhance your finger cymbal skills and boost your confidence with The 2024 Zill Challenge. This engaging 10-day event invites dancers of all levels to connect and elevate their zill practice. Join a community of passionate dancers from around the world for this exciting learning experience.
 
Over the course of 10 days, you’ll strengthen your technique, explore new rhythms, and improve your timing. By the end of the challenge, you will perform a dynamic short choreography featuring exciting new zill riffs.
 
You’ll also have the opportunity to share your progress inside the exclusive challenge community, receive personal support, and win great prizes!
 
Whether you’re new to zills or an enthusiast looking to grow, the 2024 Zill Challenge will rejuvenate your practice and spark your creativity.
 
Ready to embrace the challenge? Discover or rediscover the fun of finger cymbals and join the 2024 Zill Challenge today at TheZillChallenge.com!
 
 
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Video by Amar
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 by sahiracc

Learn to improvise on your finger cymbals with this creative “Zill Call and Response” game!

 

Let’s have a conversation together… without uttering a single word!

Today we are playing a super-fun game that is a time-honored tradition in the music world – Trading 4s! Think of it as part “Simon Says” and part “Telephone Game”. I’ll play a short pattern or riff on my cymbals and you will answer back!

There are several fun ways to play with this and make it your own –
* You can repeat back exactly what I play (with a single sound or with the sounds I use)
* You can change up the sounds
* You can use my riff as inspiration and create something different in response!
* Feel free to take inspiration from any kind of music you enjoy.

And don’t forget to have fun!

These ideas are a fabulous springboard to creating your own zill improvisation… so keep playing with the concepts until you feel comfortable changing them up to make them your own!

Post a practice video and tag me on social media at @SahiraBellyDances so I can cheer you on!

*****

Get ready for the most game-changing finger cymbal challenge in the world! Put the PLAY back in your finger cymbal practice and become the zillstar you are meant to be!

The Annual 10-day Zill Challenge opens for registration on May 1st and the adventure begins on May 14th.

Register here: http://TheZillChallenge.com

Love this zills I am playing? They are Saroyan Mastercraft’s Turkish Delights in silver. Get your own set at http://SahiraBellyDances.com/SaroyanCymbals

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 by sahiracc

Sahira Featured in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai by Jatin-Lalit (J. Ashar Cover) Video

 

Are you a fan of Bollywood movies?

I absolutely LOVE them! The music, the dancing, the drama and colors and pageantry – it’s all so very decadent! I would love my life to be more like a Bollywood film. (Gotta work on figuring out how to make that happen.)

I had not seen Kuch Kuch Hota Hai when I was approached by my friend and fellow creator J. Ashar a few years ago to create a music video in honor of the 20th anniversary, but I always have such a great time working with him that I said yes to his wacky idea right away.

While I’ve spent my entire life in the theater, playing roles from Marian in The Music Man to the Cabbage in my high school PSA play against drug use, and have danced for over two decades in so many different scenarios, I had never been asked to do this on stage before. I tried hard not to giggle too much, but I may have lost it just once or twice. (Can you see it in the video?)

A huge thank you to J. Ashar for inviting me to be a part of this special project. Enjoy!

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 by sahiracc

Four things I wish I had known when I started to play the zills

 

Not everyone enjoys playing the finger cymbals. (Yet!)
 
Maybe you are a dancer who feels intimidated or confused by the zills, so you choose not to learn them.
 
Or perhaps you are a long-time dancer who was not introduced to them early on, and now it feels too frustrating to add them to your practice.
 
I believe that every belly dancer has the ability to play the finger cymbals confidently and creatively with the right training, but there are a few ideals that are essential to making this happen.
 
In this video I am going to tell you four things I desperately wished I had known when I started playing the finger cymbals.
 
And then I’m going to share some of the answers I received when I asked thousands of avid zillers what they wished they had known when they first got started.
 
Some of these things will make the learning process so much easier for you. Some concepts will make it more exciting, and some will open you mind up to just how important this incredible art form is and in turn will super charge your practice and up your motivation to learn how to play.
 
So, if you are a little zill hesitant (I see you and I understand!) do yourself a favor and take a moment to hang out with me while I share these game changing ideas to allow you to unleash your zill creativity today.
 
And if you are already steps (or miles!) into your zill Journey, what do YOU wish you had known before you got started? Post below – I would love to hear from you!
 
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📀📀 Join my free Facebook group where thousands of zill stars from around the world unite to share our love of the finger cymbals : sahirabellydances.com/zillicious
 
🎁 Snag my FREE Finger Cymbal Jumpstart Course to get the solid foundation you need for confident, creative and super fun zilling : http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Zillstar

 

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 by sahiracc

Finger Cymbal Essentials – Learn to play the Beladi rhythm

 

Finger cymbals are an ancient and time-honored tradition in Belly Dance and a beautiful way to accompany your movement and be part of the music that you dance to!
 
There are many beautiful patterns and rhythms that can be used when playing your zills, and the Beladi is one of the most important ones that every dancer should know.
 
A foundational rhythm in Arabic music, the Beladi comes up all the time in the pieces we dance to. It is important to be able to identify and dance to it, and in this video you will learn to identify this essential rhythm and play the most popular filled version on your finger cymbals.
 
No matter your level of experience with the finger cymbals, this is a fabulous rhythm to learn as it can be used with a lot of different music and performance situations and has lots of room for creativity too!
 
Practice this rhythm with me now and I will have you dancing confidently with it in no time!
 
 
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Are you ready to elevate your zill skills and unlock the door to endless creativity? Don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of finger cymbal mastery. Enroll now in “Acapella Finger Cymbal Foundations,” my advanced online course, and embark on a journey of musical discovery at
 
 
 
 
Just getting started with the zills and looking for a solid foundation to help you play confidently and creatively? Join my FREE online course to get started today!
 
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 by sahiracc

“Princess of Cairo” performance at the 2023 Amethyst Dance Festival

 

 

After 24 years of dance this song still remains at the top of my personal charts for a song that every belly dancer must perform to!
 
I come back to this piece from time to time when I have a special event or I am feeling particularly nostalgic. I knew I just had to dance to this belly dance classic at the incredible Amethyst dance festival when I was brought in to teach at the event in the fall of 2023.
 
And even though I have created a choreography to this gorgeous piece… every stage, every audience, every unique moment always brings out some subtle nuance or idea I have not played with before. It is an ever-changing work in progress and a fun exploration of dance creativity, overtime.
 
I hope you enjoy this iteration.
 
Join me on the dance floor! Find confidence, creativity and health through the ancient art of belly dance with me at SahiraBellyDances.com.
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