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I have exciting news for you!

​I have just launched my most anticipated choreography intensive – The Samya Drum Solo.​

This program has been two years in the making – meticulously created from the ground up, giving you EVERYTHING you need to learn an exciting and cheeky drum solo right now, no matter what level dancer you are.​

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/DrumSolo

I created The Samya Drum solo two years ago for my dancers here in Houston and since then it has become one of our favorite choreographies! Full of exciting rhythm and mood changes, it has all the elements required for a fabulous and exciting drum solo performance. ​

If you have been thinking about diving into a new (or your first) drum solo… THIS IS IT.​

The Samya Drum Solo Intensive is all about learning to love and enjoy the drum solo experience – from the technique and textures to the breath and creativity – this course will not only show you the movement, but will also dive into the theory and expression behind this incredible dance.​ It’s not your average “plug-and-play” course that only shows you the steps.

​The Samya Drum Solo Intensive is SO MUCH MORE!​

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/DrumSolo​

By the end of this 6-week course you will:

✓ Have over a dozen drum solo techniques and movements solidly under your hip belt

✓ Gain new confidence with interpreting drum solo riffs and pattens with your dance

✓ Embody the high-energy playfulness that is the hallmark of many of the best belly dance drum solos

✓ Understand how to use energetic changes to create dynamics and interest in your performances

✓ Be a part of an incredible community of fabulous people dancing alongside you in the virtual world

✓ Be ready to perform a brand new 4-minute drum solo that you can call your own

​​If you’ve found yourself getting a little excited about any of that…​​I’d love to personally invite you to check out more details here.​​

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/DrumSolo​

I am so excited to share with you this fabulous new drum solo creation.​ Registration is open until August 30th at 5pm CT.

Hey there fabulous dancer!

In this video I am going to take you step-by-step through a fun and sassy belly dance drum solo combination so you can start rocking your drum solos like a pro!

I will give you all technique you need to build the combination, and walk you through it slowly with attention given to texture and transitions in order to make your dance really sizzle.

Keep with me to the end and we will run the combination with music to get you up and dancing in no time!

Like this combination? Then you are going to LOVE what I have in store for you.

Learn the WHOLE CHOREOGRAPHY with me during a super-special 6-week intensive online workshop.

Learn all about it and snag your spot here: http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Drum Solo

Registration closes August 30th

Many dancers feel a little frightened by drum solos. Maybe they’re not sure what movements to do, or how to keep up with the rapid-fire drumming. And when the music ramps up and gets faster and more intense, it’s sometimes difficult to stay calm and enjoy the dance experience.

Have you ever felt this way?

If so, please know that you are not alone. You’re in really good company, actually.

The drum solo can seem like a gigantic concept to tackle… and while a lot is going on in that music, there are ways to approach it that make it a lot more digestible.

And I’m here to help you do just that!

I would like to invite you to join me for my upcoming masterclass – “A Delicious Dive into the Drum Solo.” In this free 60-minute workshop I will share with you some of my favorite tips that help me approach drum solos with confidence (whether live of recorded) and I’ll let you in on the thought process I use to choose dynamic and creative movements for my dance. We will drill some drum solo style technique together and I will teach you a fabulous combination that you can take home and use right away!

The class will be fun and interactive, with time for questions too!

Will you join me on the dance floor?

Register to save your spot here and be sure to find the confirmation email in your inbox so you get the Zoom link the day of the class!

I cannot wait to share with you some deliciousness that will help you approach drum solos with more confidence and creativity. I’ll see you on the dance floor!

Here it is! Part 2 in our two-part series that shows you everything you need to put together a fun beginner belly dance combination with finger cymbals!

In this video I will teach you a simple belly dance combination step-by-step from the ground up. I will walk you through the technique you need to create this sassy little combo and then show you how it fits with the finger cymbals we learned in the first video of the series. We will walk the combination together with the finger cymbals slowly and then with music, giving you a fabulous little dance you can add to your belly dance repertoire right now!

I invite you to take this tutorial to your own level of challenge. If it’s too difficult right now, slow it way down (you can do that by clicking the little gear on the video) and try it like that. If it’s not challenging enough, I invite you to try adding multiple sounds to the zill riff.

Whatever you do with it, I would love to see! Take a practice video and send it along, or tag me on social media.

[Here is part 1 – The Zills in case you missed it.]

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A HUGE thank you to the amazing Miss Thea for use of her music! Music – Electro Belly Funk by Miss Thea 

Like the finger cymbals I’m playing in this video? Get your very own set here: Zills Ghawazee in Bronze 

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And if you like this kind of finger cymbal tutorial, you are going to LOVE my FREE finger cymbal jumpstart course. Get the solid foundation you need to become the zillstar you are meant to be! Join me here: SahiraBellyDances.com/ZillStar

I am super excited to share with you this two-part video series!

If you have been wanting to put finger cymbals to your dance or have been standing by the sidelines wondering how it’s done, now is the time to jump in and take action!

In this video I am going to walk you step-by-step through a beginner finger cymbal combination. We are going to use a simple pattern and I will show you how you can make even this basic pattern interesting and engaging without making it more complicated.

Then, next week I will teach you a sweet little bellydance combination to pair with the finger cymbals you learn today so you can be dancing and zilling at the same time like a pro!

Intrigued?

Then grab your zills and let’s get started!

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If you like this video that you are going to LOVE my FREE finger cymbal jumpstart course. Get the solid foundation you need to become the Zillstar you are meant to be. Get it here: SahiraBellyDances.com/Zillstar

I absolutely LOVE to introduce my Houston students to the larger belly dance community, and Migrations Dance Festival in Austin, Texas has always been a friendly stage for us to play on.

I started taking my intermediate dancers to this festival three years ago, and we have been hooked on the community, energy and joy of the event ever since.

Here is a special video from our 2022 Migrations Dance Festival performance. This is my original choreography to Armen Kusikian’s “Baladi in Crescendo”.

Enjoy!

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If you would like to get on the stage with us and you live in the Houston area, we would love to see you in class! You can get more information about class schedules and registration at SahiraBellyDances.com

Today I would love to share with you an incredible online belly dance magazine. I’ve been a fan and a reader of it for some time now… but this recent issue was a little bit different.

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This time, I am a contributor!

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I am talking about the incredible Fanoos Magazine, and this summer they released an issue all about ZILLS! (So how could I possibly not jump in on that party?!)

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Check out the article I’ve written – Focus on Finger Cymbals: How to play them, when to play them and why we should all try to play them.

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While I know that you are no stranger to finger cymbals, I would love to hear if you gained a new insight or idea from this article. Hit reply and let me know!

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And while you are at it be sure to take a moment to read some of the other incredible finger cymbal articles in the issue. There is some serious zillicious goodness inside!

Enjoy!

This tutorial is going to give you exactly what you need to execute the two most popular Bellydance shimmies cleanly, correctly and safely.

In this video we are talking about the Egyptian Shimmy and the Hip Shimmy.

Are you ready?

I’m going to show you the technique behind each as well as help you understand how these shimmies should feel in your body.

We will talk about knee safety in the execution as well as finding the most comfortable place to create these shimmies with confidence and grace.

Once you have all the technique under your belt, we will drill both shimmies with music to help you set them into muscle memory!

Are you ready to expand your belly dance shimmy repertoire? Join me for my FREE online course “5 Fabulous Shimmies Every Bellydancer Should Know” and increase your shimmy knowledge today!

Sahirabellydances.com/5Shimmies

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Special thanks to Miss Thea for the use of her amazing music in this tutorial. The title of this song is “Short Belly Dance Drum Finale”. You can find her music online at missthea.bandcamp.com

Layering more than one movement together is a hallmark of great belly dance and a fabulous intermediate/advanced technique challenge.

So let’s layer, shall we?

In today’s tutorial I will walk you through both the ommi of the hips and the chommi in the chest so you have all the technique you need to create this super gooey and challenging belly dance layering movement.

Sometimes called “The Corkscrew” when put together, I am going to take you step by step through how you layer the hips and chest together to create the most luscious and smooth version of this gorgeous layer.

I will also give you a few tips on what you need to do in order to make your belly dance layers easier to accomplish.

Then we will drill the movement to music and have some fun!

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Special thank to the amazing Miss Thea for the use of her amazing music! This track is “Hourglass” from her album “Dreams of Egypt”. Learn more about her and support her awesome music here: missthea.bandcamp.com

Today I’d like to share with you what I believe is the most versatile finger cymbal pattern in belly dance.

I wonder if you would agree?

While this simple patten is often overused, it is an important part of every finger cymbal player’s repertoire. So today I am going to break it down for you in a way that is clear and easy to understand so that you can learn to play it cleanly and musically with your dance.

Let’s dive in.

If you are ready to create a rock solid foundation for your zilling, please join me for my FREE Zillstar Finger Cymbal Jumpstart.  SahiraBellyDances.com/ZillStar