As bellydance became increasingly popular, the existing resource could no longer satisfy local dancers and students' strong desire to learn more about this dance and its related information.
Since bellydance was first promoted as “seductive” and “mystique” harem dance from Middle East, it is very rational to conclude that we should go to the land of cultural root for the best learning experiences. With almost no information at all, it seemed like a dangerous adventure into the unknown jungle. Under such circumstance, few went to Egypt while others went to Turkey.
In 2005, some dancers went to Egypt for Ahlan Wa Sahlan hosted by Raqia Hassan and they brought back further information and beautiful accessories and costumes. People started to talk about going to Egypt for learning bellydance. Among those dancers, Eva Shen brought back Mahmoud Reda technique and this “Moscow on Nile” style of oriental dance to Taiwan. It generated another bellydance fever and remains one of the most widespread bellydance styles here.
Crystal Lien went to Turkey and introduced Turkish style bellydance to local bellydance community. She teaches exclusively Turkish style bellydance and has strong emphasis on improvisation and music interpretation, which is very exceptional approach among local bellydancers and instructors. She moves to Istanbul in June 2009.
America opens its gate to Taiwan bellydancers through the DVD called Bellydance Superstar produced by Mile Copeland. In 2005, I had a chance to see BDSS performance at New York while I visited friends there. I also had opportunity to drop in legendary bellydancer Serena Wilson’s studio and was very lucky to be taught by Serena. Such experiences truly opened my eyes. I realized that perhaps going to the culture root is a great way for some to learn while visiting somewhere I can communicate with orally works better for me. I like to ask questions – thanks to the training during my education in the States, and I cannot learn just solely relying on visual observation and imitation. I need certain explanations and discussion to help me really understand the concept. Without some knowledge in advanced, I feel very insecure. Later I learned from Carolena, founder of ATS about different learning approaches – auditory, kinetic and visual.
I told others about what I saw in America and few suggested a trip together for Tribal Fest in 2006. At that time, the Internet became very popular and highly accessible. All of sudden all kinds of information are available for just one click. You could contact anyone you want via the “contact us” bottom at their websites. Viola! They would write you back. It is so much more easy and convenient.
Going to America learning bellydance thus becomes many dancers' choice, in particularly San Francisco. I do enjoy bellydance colleagues in Big Apple for their wonderful creativities and interesting personalities. Somehow the weather and atmosphere at Bay Area really attract people. In addition, Tribal Fest is held every year just one hour driving from Bay Area; Carolena and FCBD are right at Mission district; Suhaila and her dance school are based on Albony, a quiet and beautiful town slight north from Berkeley; Mary Ellen Donald could teach wonderful ME music knowledge and skills while Amina demonstrates amazing interpretation to music through zills…. There are abundant resources at Bay Area and the friendly and widespread Asian-cultural aura makes San Francisco an ideal place to visit.
Among those dancers go to States, Jane Chung went to Hawaii for intensive workshop hosted by Delilah in 2004. In 2006, she went to attend Suhaila Salimpour Level 1 certificate workshop and became the first Taiwanese bellydancer with such qualification. She still remains the highest certification of Suhaila Salimpour technique at Taiwan now. In 2009, she sponsors Suhaila for the first overseas SSBD Level 1 certification workshop.
Another spot in American Continent where Taiwan bellydancers go visit and learn is Buenos Aires, where Saida and her wonderful orchestra are based. Saida is quite popular here for her stage presence and dance style – somehow her persistence of dancing to live music does not affect her fans here or motivate them to polish further knowledge or skills on live music…Gina Chen based on Kaohsiung City is major sponsor to Saida and she often co-sponsors with Helena, the famous South Korean bellydancer who also promotes Saida style.
Either going east or west, we want to learn more and try hard to catch up with our bellydance colleagues around the world. This is not a dance form originating in our art and culture and thus we accept the fact and go aboard for learning and seeing the constantly growing community. With a positive viewpoint, this truly enlarges our vision and helps us gain rich life experiences, and best of all, meeting with other dance sisters and friends through this journey.
Since bellydance was first promoted as “seductive” and “mystique” harem dance from Middle East, it is very rational to conclude that we should go to the land of cultural root for the best learning experiences. With almost no information at all, it seemed like a dangerous adventure into the unknown jungle. Under such circumstance, few went to Egypt while others went to Turkey.
In 2005, some dancers went to Egypt for Ahlan Wa Sahlan hosted by Raqia Hassan and they brought back further information and beautiful accessories and costumes. People started to talk about going to Egypt for learning bellydance. Among those dancers, Eva Shen brought back Mahmoud Reda technique and this “Moscow on Nile” style of oriental dance to Taiwan. It generated another bellydance fever and remains one of the most widespread bellydance styles here.
Crystal Lien went to Turkey and introduced Turkish style bellydance to local bellydance community. She teaches exclusively Turkish style bellydance and has strong emphasis on improvisation and music interpretation, which is very exceptional approach among local bellydancers and instructors. She moves to Istanbul in June 2009.
America opens its gate to Taiwan bellydancers through the DVD called Bellydance Superstar produced by Mile Copeland. In 2005, I had a chance to see BDSS performance at New York while I visited friends there. I also had opportunity to drop in legendary bellydancer Serena Wilson’s studio and was very lucky to be taught by Serena. Such experiences truly opened my eyes. I realized that perhaps going to the culture root is a great way for some to learn while visiting somewhere I can communicate with orally works better for me. I like to ask questions – thanks to the training during my education in the States, and I cannot learn just solely relying on visual observation and imitation. I need certain explanations and discussion to help me really understand the concept. Without some knowledge in advanced, I feel very insecure. Later I learned from Carolena, founder of ATS about different learning approaches – auditory, kinetic and visual.
I told others about what I saw in America and few suggested a trip together for Tribal Fest in 2006. At that time, the Internet became very popular and highly accessible. All of sudden all kinds of information are available for just one click. You could contact anyone you want via the “contact us” bottom at their websites. Viola! They would write you back. It is so much more easy and convenient.
Going to America learning bellydance thus becomes many dancers' choice, in particularly San Francisco. I do enjoy bellydance colleagues in Big Apple for their wonderful creativities and interesting personalities. Somehow the weather and atmosphere at Bay Area really attract people. In addition, Tribal Fest is held every year just one hour driving from Bay Area; Carolena and FCBD are right at Mission district; Suhaila and her dance school are based on Albony, a quiet and beautiful town slight north from Berkeley; Mary Ellen Donald could teach wonderful ME music knowledge and skills while Amina demonstrates amazing interpretation to music through zills…. There are abundant resources at Bay Area and the friendly and widespread Asian-cultural aura makes San Francisco an ideal place to visit.
Among those dancers go to States, Jane Chung went to Hawaii for intensive workshop hosted by Delilah in 2004. In 2006, she went to attend Suhaila Salimpour Level 1 certificate workshop and became the first Taiwanese bellydancer with such qualification. She still remains the highest certification of Suhaila Salimpour technique at Taiwan now. In 2009, she sponsors Suhaila for the first overseas SSBD Level 1 certification workshop.
Another spot in American Continent where Taiwan bellydancers go visit and learn is Buenos Aires, where Saida and her wonderful orchestra are based. Saida is quite popular here for her stage presence and dance style – somehow her persistence of dancing to live music does not affect her fans here or motivate them to polish further knowledge or skills on live music…Gina Chen based on Kaohsiung City is major sponsor to Saida and she often co-sponsors with Helena, the famous South Korean bellydancer who also promotes Saida style.
Either going east or west, we want to learn more and try hard to catch up with our bellydance colleagues around the world. This is not a dance form originating in our art and culture and thus we accept the fact and go aboard for learning and seeing the constantly growing community. With a positive viewpoint, this truly enlarges our vision and helps us gain rich life experiences, and best of all, meeting with other dance sisters and friends through this journey.
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