Journal

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!

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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 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

It’s been 14 months since I last took the stage here in Houston.

I was honored last month to make my post-quarantine debut on the Red Dwarf stage as part of Shunyata Dance’s monthly stage show here in Houston.

This moment was like coming home. These beautiful dancers, the incredible audience, the stage, the lights, the music, the DANCE!

It was a defining moment in my slow emergence from quarantine and it felt so good!

Thank you for sharing it with me here.

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A huge thank you to my friend and fellow dancer Emalie for being right there in the front to support and for sharing this video with me.

Are you ready for a fabulous technique challenge?

In this video we are playing with lots of great belly dance isolations:

shoulder drops, pelvic pushes,

chest lifts & drops,

reverse ommis,

forward & reverse undulations

and chommis

and putting them all together in a challenging intermediate level technique drill.

All of this technique can also be found broken down in more details here on my YouTube channel if you would like additional explanation and drill practice.

Are you ready to challenge your body, your brain and strengthen your dance?

Let’s do it!

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Ready to take your dance to the next level? Join me for TEN FREE ON DEMAND CLASSES that will help you do just that:

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/JoinMe

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A huge thank you to Ms. Thea for her amazing music! You can find her albums online here: https://missthea.bandcamp.com

I’m so excited to share with you my newest acapella zill composition, created for the incredible Mojo Flow Online Dance Festival last month.

Since I knew this was going to be a recorded at-home performance I decided to play a little bit with the editing, and even figured out how to duet with myself to create more complex melodic ideas with the cymbals.

What do you think?

I used more than one pair of zill for this piece in order to take advantage of the incredible diversity of textures and tones available in this amazing instrument.

Can you guess how many different pairs of zills I’m using? Comment below and share your guess!

Enjoy!

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Want to learn to compose your own acapella zill symphonies? Start your adventure here with my free ZillStar Jumpstart course:

http://SahiraBellyDances.com/ZillStar

Already experienced with the finger cymbals and ready challenge yourself? Check out my exclusive zill membership course here: http://SahiraBellyDances.com/MoreZillicious

Are you a dancer who loves the idea of performing exciting and engaging dances with a beautiful belly dance prop?

Do you sometimes struggle with what to do with your arms within the dance and are looking for a way to strengthen your arm movements and expand the creativity of their pathways?

Are you ready to dive into a unique online hybrid learning experience that combines the best of on-demand video learning with the personal touch of live online classes to ensure you get what you need to succeed?

Join me for this “Fabulous Fan Veil” 5-week choreography intensive to get all of that and more as we flutter, flourish and turn through a beautiful and exciting fan veil choreography that is a spell-binding addition to any dancer’s repertoire.

SahiraBellyDances.com/FanVeil

This online real-time format is designed with the “flipped classroom” methodology being used in many top universities and institutes of learning. Within the course I will be offering the recorded content at the beginning of each week for you to work through and review as many times as you would like. At the end of each the week we will have a 45 minute live class on Zoom to work through questions and dance the material together. (Time to be decided based on all student’s availability).

The online real-time format also not only ensures that you will take the time to access and actually use the course you’ve purchased but it will also give you the opportunity to dive deeper with me by your side as you learn.

The end result? A new choreography that you’ve actually learned in just five weeks!

A fabulous dance adventure awaits you! Join today and begin your journey towards an exciting and joy filled dance life now!

I cannot wait to share the dance floor with you.

SahiraBellyDances.com/FanVeil

Get ready to fly away with a beautiful fan veil combination!

Many dancers struggle with finding ways to creatively use their fan veils through an entire choreography (not to mention arm fatigue!)

In today’s video you will learn a beautiful fan veil combination from technique to finish, as well as gain an insight on how you can dance with this beautiful prop while keeping it closed, giving you the option for a dramatic opening moment later in your choreography.

We will explore gorgeous arm pathways and graceful ways you can dance WITH your fan veil, making it a beautiful extension of your body as you move.

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Are you a dancer who loves the idea of performing exciting and engaging dances with a beautiful belly dance prop?

Do you sometimes struggle with what to do with your arms within the dance and are looking for a way to strengthen your arm movements and expand the creativity of their pathways?

Are you ready to dive into a unique online hybrid learning experience that combines the best of on-demand video learning with the personal touch of live online classes to ensure you get what you need to succeed?

Join me for this “Fabulous Fan Veil” 5-week choreography intensive to get all of that and more as we flutter, flourish and turn through a beautiful and exciting fan veil choreography that is a spell-binding addition to any dancer’s repertoire.

Registration is open until April 12th: SahiraBellyDances.com/FanVeil

Get your special insiders club discount here: SahiraBellyDances.com/Discount

Do you love to belly dance with beautiful props?

The fan veil is a gorgeous prop that many dancers incorporate into their routines. They bring a floaty, fluid and exciting element to the dance and are so much fun to work with.

In this video, I will give you four tips that will make huge impact on your belly dance fan veil work, making this exciting prop easier to work with and lending a polished edge to your dance.

Are you ready to level up your belly dancing? Join me today and receive 10 free classes to get you on your way to becoming a stronger, more graceful and joyful dancer!

SahiraBellyDances.com/JoinMe