Sarah Malik سارة مالك
  • Home
  • Arabic for Bellydancers
  • Business of Bellydance
  • Dance Videos
  • Dance Culture and History
  • Fitness
  • Music and Songs

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

It can be so frustrating sometimes to do what we love when what we love isn't guaranteed, doesn't make a lot of money, or is incredibly competitive. I think belly dancing fits into all of those categories. It's not guaranteed: you never know when it will end, whether because of a change in your life, a venue closing, or (heaven forbid) something happens to you physically or to your health. It doesn't make a lot of money: as an engineer, I can safely say that I will be guaranteed to have at least $50k a year after I graduate - I definitely can't say that about dance. It goes without explanation that belly dance is competitive, just like any art. 

I made a New Years resolution to post once a week. Well, it's almost mid April and this is my first post since New Years. I don't exactly feel great about that. January was lost with final exams, February started an internship, and the rest is just being too tired to even want to post. Poor excuses (except the exams). 

So many dancers I feel have the same problems as I do, just for different reasons. Money plays a major part in how we grow as dancers. I don't think that it can be avoided. Taking lessons takes money. Having the time to dance means taking time away from something else. Buying shoes, dance clothes, accessories, partaking in workshops, traveling, competing...it all takes money. So many of us get stuck in a rut when we can't afford - either with time, money, or both - to focus on our dance. It's usually a choice, for example, when we decide to have a family, or for me, when I decided to get my masters and PhD. 

I've been incredibly frustrated this year because last year was the first time I was really able to focus on my dancing. I went to multiple workshops, I started a certification program, and I even competed for the first time. This year, thanks to an error by the French government with my visa, I lost thousands of euros (remember, I live in France) and haven't been able to feed myself or pay rent, let alone focus on my dancing. There have been so many unnecessary inconveniences concerning our finances that the only thing I've been able to do (again, barely) is keep up with my once-a-week group lessons.

I think frustrating is the best word for it. I know it's only temporary. After all, I can only be a poor student for so long. This fall I'll be starting my PhD (finally, I get paid to go to school!). With a PhD in engineering, I know I will always be able to find work and afford a home and food. I am so blessed to be able to pursue this career. But sometimes it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'll be 29 this summer and not once in my life have I ever made enough money to afford all of my rent AND pay for food for one month. I'm honestly just getting a little tired of it - and I know I'm not the only one out there who is in a similar situation or feels the same way.

My mother always led me toward a degree in either math or science. She is an artist, and saw early on that I inherited her talent, but she never wanted me to depend solely on art for a living. She knew that I inherited her intelligence as a scientist and mathematician as well, and therefore pushed me toward those subjects, telling me that I can always do art on the side. Honestly, even though it's frustrating right now, I never regret listening to her. Belly dancing is amazing, and I have the utmost respect for anyone who lives solely off their art, but I like the idea of one day having a guaranteed job, guaranteed money, guaranteed paid time off, etc.. There are plenty of places around the world who hire engineers - I'll always be able to apply for work. I'll get a real contract, not just for one day or one month. I'll be paid an actual salary. If I get sick, I can have paid leave. If (again, heaven forbid) I end up in a wheelchair or something happens to me physically, I can still be an engineer.

So, I'll continue to wait. I'll continue to work. One day (and every day is closer to that one day), I'll have a great job with a great salary and be able to afford lessons and costumes and workshops and a nice house with a dance studio - and everything will have been worth it.

So if you're feeling frustrated about not being able to focus on your dance, just be patient. Have a plan to eventually get there, but be kind to yourself. As long as you're working toward your goal, you'll make it. :)



Happy New Year!


It's officially 2016. It felt like 2015 just flew by. I moved (again), began a new school (again), and then began yet another new school! Will I ever be done with my degree(s)?

One of the main differences in 2015 was that I really got serious with my belly dancing - and it felt soo good! It was long overdue. School for me has always been a top priority (gotta get a good job so I can pay for all these costumes!) so it takes up almost all of my time. As soon as school starts, there's no time for blog posts, practicing...heck, I even forget to eat sometimes! But I know that it will be worth it in the end.

I enjoy making New Year's Resolutions. Two years ago I gave up soda and I feel healthier for it (I don't scold myself if I have a coke or anything - I just rarely drink soda now). Last year I didn't officially make any resolutions, but you could say that seriously getting back into dancing was one of them. This year I have a lot on my plate, but I'm going to try to keep them all!

1. I would like to continue with my dancing. I have two amazing teachers in my life now and I have so much to work on, perfect, and learn - it's so exciting. I competed in my first competition late last year, so this year I want to continue that (and hopefully win one!). I also want to take new pictures and really work on uploading some youtube videos! Looking forward to some real self-promoting this year!

2. I want to devote more time to my instruments. I unfortunately have been pianoless for several years now (it's just too hard to carry a piano everywhere...) but I have a beautiful fiddle and darbuka that love being played! My husband cringes every time I'm just the slightest bit sharp or flat when I play fiddle (and if you've ever played violin, you know how difficult of an instrument it is, what without frets and all) so my goal is to really perfect the songs I know well, and try to make an effort to learn new ones on a regular basis. I'm a true beginner on darbuka, and sometimes it's hard to know what to work on to improve after a certain point, but I hope to find a teacher in my city to help me.

3. Language. I really want to get back into my Arabic studies. When I came to France, I basically spoke Arabic to anyone who looked remotely Arab to get around. Now, my French is quite good (I'm studying engineering in French right now) and so my Arabic has fallen toward the wayside. It's difficult because I'm at such an advanced level of Arabic that most native speakers don't even remember the rules enough to help or correct me (and I don't blame them - I'm sure I couldn't do the same for English). It's also difficult to find speakers who can speak with me, since most Arabs in France are from Morocco, Algeria, or Tunisia and the Arabic they speak is quite different from the dialect I know (although they all understand me perfectly). I have to get my butt in gear and start really practicing.

4. Posting on my blog!! I would like to try and translate more songs (I have about 5 songs half translated already) and regularly post something here (maybe once a week?)

Lastly, a new year deserves a new blog template! I've changed up the blog to something a bit more crisp and clean (thanks Nejla for letting me use the same template as you haha!) and I'm really excited to start this new year off right!...well, after final exams are over... :P

Do you have any resolutions you're going to try and keep? Let me know in the comments below!

As always, happy dancing <3




The 'Muscle of the Soul' may be triggering your fear and anxiety.


The Mind Unleashed posted an article about the psoas muscle and how it may be a link to chronic pain, anxiety, and fear. 

Click here to read the article.

As I have been growing my personal yoga practice, I have felt more grounded, happy, energetic, and stable. I'm sure the yoga positions that help to relax the psoas muscles are to thank for that ;)


Vintage Egyptian Belly Dancers

Naema Akef, Samia Gamal, Tahiya Carioca, Ketty, Hind Rostom, Soheir Zaki, Nagwa Fouad, Naimat Mokhtar, Zeinat Alawi



It isn't a secret that my personal belly dance idol is and always has been Sadie. It was almost ten years ago that I fell in love with her style of belly dancing, and so far no one else has surpassed her in my eyes (and after getting to know her personally, I doubt anyone ever will).

What this DVD has to offer:

Sadie begins with explaining the sounds of the drum and what kind of movements they signify for the dancer. She then teaches combinations and techniques for a drum solo that can be used in her choreography or separately in your own choreography. Sadie uses these combinations to teach her choreography for a two and a half minute drum solo routine that is both challenging and creative.

The DVD ends with a performance of the drum solo that was taught on the DVD and another drum solo to live drumming by Amir Sofi.

This DVD is not for beginners! You should have some knowledge of belly dancing before you attempt this choreography!

My thoughts:

I really liked this DVD because it is still challenging to me today. It simply never gets old! It's the perfect combination of choreography that is exciting for someone who is trying to build their repertoire and for someone who has been dancing and performing for years.

Cons: In the beginning of learning the choreography, Sadie teaches a combination, then does that combination to music. In the combinations that follow, she doesn't do that combination to music before moving on to the next combo. I wish that she would teach a combo, practice a couple times without music, practice a couple times to the music, and then do the choreography from the beginning, incorporating the new combination. What I like to do is pause the DVD and run through the choreography with the music a few times before moving on to the next combo.


The music used for the drum solo is called "Drum Solo" by Isis and the Wings of Isis & Dr. Samy Farag. It can be found on the CD "Belly Dance Party".


Here is the performance of the choreography learned in this DVD:






Last night I attended my first ballet class!

As part of the Raqs Flow program with Sadie Marquardt, we are required to take classes in yoga and another form of dance such as ballet, jazz, etc. I chose ballet.

When I started social dancing (salsa, swing, ballroom), I noticed that the best dancers, or the dancers who looked like they were more grounded - I hope that makes sense - and especially those who had the most beautiful spins were trained in ballet.

They don't call it "classical dance" for nothing! Like classical music, it really is the backbone of all other dance forms. If you can dance ballet, you can dance anything (yes, even hip hop).

It was so refreshing to try something completely new. This wasn't a dance I could "cheat" at. For example, I can fudge my way through a class in kizomba because I already have a background in salsa, bachata, merengue, etc. This was a class where everything was brand new: the position of my feet, body, arms...

What I loved so much about taking ballet is how my muscles felt! Wow! I've always said, "Don't mess with a college or professional cheerleader!"...well, add ballet dancer to that list. I was doing the absolute basic movements of ballet and I felt every single muscle in my body working to elongate and be beautiful yet strong all at the same time - and I was probably doing most of it incorrectly!

I also found out how large my calves really are haha. No wonder ballet dancers have to be slender and thin! I was trying to touch my heels together in first position and found my foot bouncing away as my calves collided. As my Polish great grandmother would say, "You have nice, big legs. You strong. You go pull plow." Thanks great grandma ;) - I also have to buy an 11 inch ankle bracelet to fit my ankles...if you have never worn an ankle bracelet before, just for comparison, most bracelets are 9 inches long, and those 9 inch bracelets are loose and dangle below the ankle bone of most women...haha...riiiight....

I look forward to taking ballet classes on a regular basis and seeing how it affects not only my body and muscles but also my quality of dance in other dance forms. I'm most excited about being able to spin properly!

If you have never tried ballet, I highly recommend it. You can be an adult and a complete beginner. It's really a fantastic experience!


Happy Dancing <3
This video says it all...



Mr. Alonzo King, founder and artistic director of Ballet Alonzo King, San Francisco, California.

Words to dance by: "Truth is beautiful".


Happy Dancing <3
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am a professional bellydancer and (for what seems like forever) an engineering student. I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia, but I currently live in Metz, France. I speak English, Arabic, and French. I am happily married and looking forward to adopting some cute fur babies (kitties!) in the near future!

POPULAR POSTS

  • Arabic for Bellydancers - Shik Shak Shok
  • Arabic for Bellydancers - Habibi ya Eini
  • #AmericaIsBeautiful
  • Arabic for Bellydancers - Sena Wara Sena
  • Arabic for Bellydancers - Hayart Albi Ma'ak

Categories

Amr Diab Arabic for Bellydancers Business of Bellydance Certification Citations - français Dance Culture and History Dance Videos DVD Reviews Ehab Tawfik Fadl Shaker Fitness Growing as a Dancer Happy Holidays Hassan Abou El Seoud Khaled Agag Latifa Mohamed Mohie Najwa Karam Nancy Ajram Nourhanne Oum Kalthoum Photography Quotes - English Stretching Travel Warda عبارات - عربي

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2016 (2)
    • ▼  April (1)
      • Patience
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2015 (14)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  September (5)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  June (4)
    • ►  May (3)
  • ►  2014 (45)
    • ►  September (3)
    • ►  June (2)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (5)
    • ►  March (8)
    • ►  February (16)
    • ►  January (10)
  • ►  2013 (5)
    • ►  December (5)

Instagram

Powered by Blogger.
  • Home
  • Arabic for Bellydancers
  • Business of Bellydance
  • Dance Videos
  • Dance Culture and History
  • Fitness
  • Music and Songs

Blogroll

  • Mineh Ishida - Creative Marketer & Photographer
  • Belly Dance at Any Size
  • Everything Belly Dance
  • Belly Dance Blog
  • Fiddler on the Road
  • Yelena Tarakova
  • Music Layoonak: Arabic Song Lyrics and Translations
  • Egyptian Arabic Dialect Course
  • Belly Dance Blog with Mahin | She's Got Hips
  • Arab Instruments Blog - Oriental Musical Instruments Online Store
  • Orlando Belly Dancer | Jennifer's Blog
  • The Jungle in Paris
  • Jaclyn Hill - Professional Makeup Artist

Flickr

About

I created this blog ultimately to translate Arabic songs into English for non-Arabic speaking dancers. I have learned most of what I know about bellydancing and the bellydance community on my own and by making plenty of mistakes, so I wanted to also share what I have found through my bellydance journey (which, it always seems, has only just begun!).

Subscribe

 Subscribe in a reader

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright 2014 Sarah Malik سارة مالك.
Designed by OddThemes