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Inquiring minds want to know…

How many sounds do you use with your finger cymbals?

And why does it matter?

The finger cymbals are a musical instrument (which makes YOU a musician!) And as such, your cymbals are capable of creating several sounds with different timbres and textures within each one.

However, when I see finger cymbals used in belly dance performances, nine times out of ten it’s going to be just one sound.

Why would we only ever use just one sound when they are capable of so much more? Honestly, using just one sound with the cymbals is a little like owning just one pair of shoes. Sure, you can get away with it, but why limit yourself where there is so much more fabulousness to be had, right?

Maybe you still aren’t convinced. And while I was let in on the secret of the importance of multiple zill sounds years ago, it wasn’t until I learned this one fact that I changed my zill playing for the better for good.

Want to know what I learned that tipped the scales and made me commit to better, more musical zilling in my belly dance life?

Check out this week’s video and I’ll give you the inside scoop!

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If you are ready to take the plunge and take those musicals instruments on the tips of your fingers more seriously, I invite you to join me for my free finger cymbal jumpstart course aimed at giving you the foundation you need to become the rock star ziller you are meant to me.

Check it out here: http://SahiraBellyDances.com/ZillStar

If you’re anything like me, the less-than-thrilling task of sewing elastics into your finger cymbals can sometimes sit on your “to do” list for quite some time, leaving you with awkward safety pins getting in your way or (even worse) no zills to play come practice time.

I’ve been sewing my zill elastics the same way for nearly twenty years. The method worked pretty well in just about all my finger cymbals… until it didn’t. I’ve found with a few sets that no matter how short I cut the tail of the elastic after I sew them on the underside of the bell, they still get in the way of some sounds, leaving me with not-so-marvelous muffled messes.

So with a bit of tinkering and a few great suggestions from other finger cymbal aficionados I’ve come up with a new and improved way to sew elastics into finger cymbals, and this method is making all my sets sound cleaner and more precise.

Today I’d love to share with you how to do it, so you can set yourself up for ultimate success with your finger cymbals too! (And I hear some of you saying “But I don’t sew!” If you can thread a needle you can do this. I promise you!)

Head to 5:00 to jump straight into the sewing tutorial.

If after this tutorial you’re still not getting around to the elastic sewing task, I’d love to make one more recommendation to you! I’ve started keeping zills that need new elastics near the TV in my living room along with my sewing kit, so on an evening that I sit down to watch a movie, I can get those babies all sewn up and ready to go while I relax.

Try it for yourself!

Happy zilling!

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Once you have your finger cymbals all set up and ready to play, join me for my finger cymbal jumpstart – a free course designed to help you become the zillstar you are meant to be!

SahiraBellyDances.com/ZillStar

The firs time I hear this song I fell in love with it. The voice, the simple guitar line, the lyrics – everything about it called to me. And while it isn’t the kind of song I would usually choose to perform to, I just knew I had to dance to it.

So I did. And this is what happened.

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This video was taken during an online Zoom showcase with my incredible students – The Shimmy Babies – during our 2021 Summer Student Showcase. (You may notice I’m performing for my webcam, which is just off to the right in the video.)

Music is “Albi Ya Albi” by Nancy Ajram

There are so many beautiful movements in the belly dancers vocabulary and we can spend a lifetime diving into the beauty and nuance of this incredible folkloric dance. (That’s totally where I am right about now!)

Within this vast treasure chest of movement are a handful of totally iconic moves that are the total “must-haves” for any belly dancer learning this art form. And this, my friends, is one of those moves.

In today’s video we are going to take a good look at the Hip Bump, an incredibly versatile movement that you will see just about anytime a belly dancer performs.

I will take you through the best way to create this movement in a strong, graceful and body safe manner, all the while building strength, fluidity and grace in your body.

Are you ready to learn this must have belly dance move and starting rockin the dance floor?

Let’s do it!

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Stay tuned for more of the Top 10 moves that every belly dancer must know series.

In the meantime, are you ready to build on what you’ve learned here? Join me online and get ten free on-demand belly dance classes to help you take your technique and creativity to the next level!

SahiraBellyDances.com/JoinMe

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Extra special thanks to the amazing Miss Thea for the use of her music in this video. You can get the entire awesome album online at : missthea.bandcamp.com/album/siren-dream

The finger cymbals are an ancient instrument with a long and beautiful history within the art of belly dance.

While not every belly dance instructor teaches finger cymbals as part of their curriculum, it is very important that everyone studying the dance gets at least a basic introduction to this amazing instrument and learns how finger cymbals can be used to enhance the dance.

In this video I will take you through the first basic steps you need to create a solid foundation for fabulous zill work – from what to look for in a first set of zills and what to do once you get them in your hot little hands.

I invite you to join me for a magical journey and dive into the wide world of finger cymbals!

Get your very first pair here.

SahiraBellyDances.com/Saroyan-Arabesques

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Feeling inspired and ready to take the next step? Sign up here for my free zill jumpstart, designed to help you become the zill star you are meant to be!

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/ZillStar

Are you ready to join the belly dance revolution?

Find increased grace, confidence, creativity and health through the ancient art of belly dance!

Begin your journey with a collection of ten free classes designed to give you a delicious taste of what’s in store for you when you join me on the dance floor.

SahiraBellyDances.com/JoinMe 

Sometimes the most powerful things are not those that are larger than life, but the tiny little details that make something incredibly special.

While I may be blown away from time to time by a performance that was off-the-charts with the latest and greatest technique, I find more often than not it’s the little thoughtful details that make a dance impactful.

Today’s move is one that falls into that “small but mighty” category.

I’m talking about The Jewel – a movement that rarely stands on its own, but is more often seen as a tag on the end of another movement… a beautiful little bling that adds just the texture and finesse that you’re looking for.

The Jewel comes in many variations and flavors – today we are going to take it down to the basics to give you a solid foundation to build upon in your dance.

Let’s get blingy and play with The Jewel!

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Ready to take this movement to the next level. This video is a tiny gem from the newly revamped “Beginner Belly Dance Technique Toolkit”, an 8-week course designed to give you the solid foundation you need to really take off and explore this beautiful dance form. Whether you are brand new to the dance or a dance veteran wanting to hone the ever-important basics, I invite you to join me for the journey!

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Toolkit

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Special thanks to Bahaia and Samer Issa for the music in this video. Learn more about Bahaia and pick up this amazing album – “Ya Bahaia vol. 2” – at AustinBellyDance.com

Have you always dreamed of learning the beautiful art of belly dance but don’t know where to begin?

Are you tired of sorting through random videos on YouTube from dancers who may or may not know what they are doing?

Are you ready to create a solid foundation of the most quintessential movements while at the same time gaining grace, confidence and a re-energized connection with your body?

Whether you are brand new to the dance or a dance veteran wanting to hone the ever-important basics, this course is for you!

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Toolkit

Welcome to the Beginner Technique Toolkit – an 8-week course that will teach you the basic isolations and many of the most important movements used in Middle Eastern Dance.

This course is designed for people with little to no dance experience, so you can be confident to get all the explanation and breakdown you need to succeed.

Each week we will walk through 3-4 foundation movements of the dance in great detail, drill them for strength and muscle memory and then dance them with music.

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Toolkit

Watch as you build your strength, grace and confidence week by week. Once you’ve completed all seven weeks you will have more than enough movements to put together a great combination you can dance to just about any music you like to groove to.

I’d love to share this dance with you and invite you to join me on the dance floor. I keep class accessible and fun…and sometimes just a little bit ridiculous. (I believe that we all learn faster when we are smiling.)

Ready to become a belly dancer? Start here!

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/Toolkit

There are so many beautiful movements in the belly dancers vocabulary and we can spend a lifetime diving into the beauty and nuance of this incredible folkloric dance. (That’s totally where I am right about now!)

Within this vast treasure chest of movement are a handful of totally iconic moves that are the total “must-haves” for any belly dancer learning this art form. And this, my friends, is one of those moves.

In today’s video we are going to take a good look at the Hip Drop Release, a movement that you will see just about anytime a belly dancer performs.

I will take you through the best way to create this movement in a strong, graceful and body safe manner, all the while building core and leg strength and working on your balance.

Are you ready to learn this must have belly dance move and starting rockin the dance floor?

Let’s do it!

****

Stay tuned for more of the Top 10 moves that every belly dancer must know series.

In the meantime, are you ready to build on what you’ve learned here? Join me online and get ten free on-demand belly dance classes to help you take your technique and creativity to the next level!

SahiraBellyDances.com/JoinMe

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Extra special thanks to the incredible Bahaia and Samer Issa for the use of the music in this video. You can support the artist and get your copy of this incredible CD “Ya Bahaia vol. 2” at AustinBellyDance.com

There are many infinity signs we draw with our bodies in belly dance, and the inner hip roll may be one of my absolute favorites!

The inner hip roll is a vertical figure eights of the hips that is created when the legs, knees, hips and obliques work seamlessly together.

In this video I will take you through the best way to create this gooey and sensual movement and have you dancing in no time. No prior experience necessary!

Want to build on what you’ve learned here? Join me in my online studio today and get ten free on-demand classes to build grace, confidence, strength and your belly dance vocabulary!

SahiraBellyDances.com/JoinMe

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A huge thank you to the fabulous Miss Thea for the music used in this video! You can get her amazing album online at https://missthea.bandcamp.com