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Are you ready to learn how to create beautiful and expressive zilling and dance to it too?

Whether you are…

→ An experienced dancer who has had a less-than-stellar experience with your finger cymbals in the past

→ A curious dance student who hasn’t been given much zill instruction in the past or

→ An adventurous zill-beginner who is ready to dive in and learn how to do it right the first time

This course is for you!

With this online course you will go from feeling MEH to feeling MARVELOUS about zills and your ability to work with them creatively with or without music.

By the end of this course you will :

🎵 Count music like a true zillstar, allowing you to better notate and play rhythms, patterns and syncopation in your zilling

🎵 Play more than half a dozen cool and creative sounds on your cymbals, opening up a brand new world of expression in your dance

🎵 Recognize, interpret and recreate finger cymbal patterns more quickly

🎵 Own a fantastic set of drills designed to help you level up your zill skills one fabulous step at a time

🎵 Feel more confident moving and playing your cymbals at the same time

🎵 Play a fun and funky new riff on your finger cymbals and dance with your groove too!

Acapella Finger Cymbal Foundations will teach you step by step the theory and technique you need to create the foundation for astounding acapella zill work.

✓ Dive in deep and learn what makes acapella zilling different from the traditional dance style zill work and give you the building blocks and drills you need to build your confidence with this marvelous instrument.

✓ Banish boring and repetitive zills and learn to embrace the multitude of sounds, textures and funky syncopated rhythms that your finger cymbals can create.

✓ Discover the building blocks you need to understand and play more complex patterns, combinations and riffs.

✓ Play focused drills that will create a deeper understanding of timing and musicality.

✓ Learn an acapella finger cymbal riff that is varied and dynamic

I would love to personally invite you to check out more details here.

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Acapella

Contrary to what some people think, confident and creative zilling doesn’t require you to know a bunch of fancy rhythms or have some magical musical gene. Fabulous zill work can be created by anyone willing to put the time and effort into learning the foundations of how rhythms are created, sounds are made and patterns are counted and practice putting these skills together in a methodical way.

I couldn’t be more excited to invite you to join me for this step-by-step course that will have you looking at those little discs on the ends of your fingers in a whole new light.

But registration is only open through February 22nd, so be sure to check out “Acapella Finger Cymbal Foundations” today! I hope to make music with you soon!

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Acapella

Just a girl and her zills…

The finger cymbals are an amazing instrument capable of so much more than we usually give them credit for. And when a dancer chooses to use them as her only source of music… well then magic can happen!

Imagine being in control of the musical and dance experience and using one to inspire the other exactly the way you want it to be. You can play with tempo, texture, rhythm and emotion… all with those little discs on the ends of your fingers.

Here’s me goofing off with my favorite Saroyan finger cymbals at TribalRev 2018 in Chicago, IL. I tried my hand at a little comedy at the opening…not sure if I’m funny(what do you think?) – but I sure had a fun time on that stage!

Listen for my 4 year old daughter totally cracking up at 2:15…it’s my favorite part of the entire performance!

Are you a belly dancer looking to play the finger cymbals more confidently and creatively?

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Great finger cymbal playing doesn’t require you to know a bunch of different rhythms or have some magical music gene. But if you are ready to rock your zills you do need to STOP making these three common mistakes.

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I invite you to join me for my FREE masterclass : Three Finger Cymbal Mistakes Many Belly Dancers Make and What You Can Do Instead to Play Your Zills More Confidently Today.

SahiraBellyDances.com/Masterclass

I LOVE a good Baladi.

There is something about the earthy playfulness and the opportunity to sink deep into the dance that calls to me. Not to mention all those fun accents! When I found this unique Baladi by Armen Kusikian I knew I just had to dance to it!

This performance is from an online showcase I hosted for members of my Belly Dance Journey program in December 2021.

Would you like to learn this choreography sometime? If so, post below and let me know! Maybe I’ll put together an online workshop for you. 😉

Music : “Baladi in Crecendo” by Armen Kusikian

The finger cymbals are an ancient instrument with strong ties to belly dance. They are an important part of every belly dancer’s training and I am here to help you make the leap into playing the zills easily and with joy!

Once you’ve gotten a pair of zills you love : https://youtu.be/SV5D53O-1vw

and sewn in your zill elastic to fit your fingers: https://youtu.be/oRplfntmckg

the next thing to do is learn the foundational finger cymbal sound that is most often used in belly dance.

In this video I will teach you the Basic Stroke – this is the most popular sound in belly dance finger cymbal playing. You will get a lot of mileage out of it if you learn to do it correctly.

Are you ready?

The journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step… and your zill journey is no different.

Here is your first step – the basic stroke. Let’s go!

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Ready to take your finger cymbal playing to the next level? Join my FREE finger cymbal jumpstart class at http://SahiraBellyDances.com/ZillStar and become the ZIllStar you are meant to be!

So often in classes we are working to the max of our potential, trying to add new skills, layers and challenge to our belly dance practice. And while challenge is certainly a good thing, it is also really important to allow yourself moments to dance the movements you already know and enjoy doing.

Whether you decide to mindfully drill some of your foundational techique to continue to hone your craft, or you choose to just relax and noodle with some of your favorite movements, I invite you today to take it back to the basics.

Give yourself a moment to breathe and celebrate where you are, what you have learned and what’s already in your muscle memory. I promise it will feel really good.

Here is a video to help you do just that. Let’s take it back to the basics and dance the “Egyptian Basic”.

This foundational movement in belly dance is created from a step-touch, a hip twist and a little hip lift.  It’s so much fun to do and a great traveling movement too!

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Extra special thanks to the fabulous Miss Thea for the music used in this tutorial. This song is called “Bom Dia, Habibi” from her album “Siren Dream”. You can support her online at https://missthea.bandcamp.com.

Are you new to the finger cymbals (zills) or ready to solidify the foundations of your zill playing?

In this video I am going to share with you the foundational ideas and sounds you need to get started in your finger cymbal exploration.

You will learn:

✓ Where to get a great pair of finger cymbals

✓ Two different basics tones

✓ How to match the finger cymbals to the rhythm in your body

✓ How to add simple body and arm movements to your zill playing.

✓ What is the easiest way to add zills to belly dance movements

Feeling motivated? Keep your momentum going with this FREE finger cymbal jumpstart course where you can take this information to the next level.

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/ZillStar

Get your very own Saroyan Finger Cymbals here:

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/SaroyanCymbals

Happy new year!

I am a HUGE believer in the power of planning. Goals and dreams are only so helpful when they are stuck in your head, and getting a plan on to paper is a huge step in the direction of success. I have witnessed firsthand the magic that happens when thoughtful goals meet good habits and planning for both myself and my students, and I would like to share that magic with you here today.

What do you want this new year to look like for you and your dance practice?

Join me for this goal setting mini-workshop and do the real work of not only envisioning a new year full of hope and possibility, but putting into motion the habits needed to attain your goals and dreams.

There is no denying that the past two years have been incredibly challenging, and even as things start to open up in many parts of the world we are still left reeling from past events and the disruption we’ve all experienced in our lives. While nothing tangibly changes when the clock strikes midnight on the 31st, the way we prepare our minds to approach this new year makes all the difference in the world.

So let’s organize your thoughts and dreams and bring your goals into sharp focus, shall we?

This workshop will help you get clear about where you want to take your dance (or your life!) in the upcoming months. We will walk through the process of creating clear and smart goals and exploring what it takes to actually make them happen.

Are you ready to dream, make big plans, set smart goals and learn how to develop the habits it takes to make them a reality? Then grab your notebook, pen and calendar and dive in here!

Are you ready to rock your belly dance learning in 2022? Would you like to hit the ground running in the new year armed with the inside scoop on how to get the most out of your belly dance learning experience?

I know you are!

So join me for this FREE masterclass replay.

Rock your Dance Goals in 2022: Three secrets to maximize your online belly dance learning success.

I am going to share with you three secrets I have discovered in the last 10 years of teaching belly dance online – secrets that have helped hundreds of students build a successful online dance practice that allows them to reach their goals more quickly and joyfully.

Can you imagine accomplishing your belly dance dreams in the new year?

If the answer is yes, watch this free masterclass and let’s get ready for a hugely successful new year of dance!

Watch the replay before December 20th at midnight and sign up for the Belly Dance Journey for a special fast action bonus – a Mindset workshop hosted by Sahira in 2022 that will teach you 5 incredible mindset tools that will allow you to approach your dance and the learning journey with more positivity and joy!

SahiraBellyDances.com/Journey

Are you ready to rock your online belly dance learning in 2022? Would you like to hit the ground running in the new year armed with not only your newly set goals and a solid plan to create them, but also the inside scoop on how to get the most out of your online belly dance learning experience?

I know you are!

So join me for this FREE masterclass happening on Monday December 20th at 12pm CST and 7pm CST on Zoom.

Rock your Dance Goals in 2022: Three secrets to maximize your online belly dance learning success.

I am going to share with you three secrets I have discovered in the last 10 years of teaching belly dance online – secrets that have helped hundreds of students build a successful online dance practice that allows them to reach their goals more quickly and joyfully.

Can you imagine accomplishing your belly dance dreams in the new year? If the answer is yes, sign up now for this free masterclass and let’s get ready for a hugely successful new year of dance!

There are two times to choose from – 12noon or 7pm CST. The presentation will be the same for both! And to entice you to come and join me live, I will be offering a special bonus to everyone who does – and this bonus is just what you need to find the time you’ve been craving to dedicate to your dance.

Sign up here to get the link to the masterclass!

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/12Days

Can’t wait to help you make this a phenomenal new year of dance!

Today for the 11th day of Belly Dance Christmas I am inviting you to join me for a live goal setting workshop at 12pm CST. We are going through the workbook step by step to do the real work of not only envisioning a new year full of hope and possibility, but putting into motion the habits needed to attain your goals and dreams.

If you are anything like me and need a little nudge to keep you accountable from time to time, you will definitely want to join us for the event live. It’s going to be inspirational and will set the tone for the year to come. I would love for you to be there.

So print out your workbook, grab your favorite pen and your beverage of choice and let’s do it!

You can find the details and get your workbook here: SahiraBellyDances.com/12Days