Sarah Malik سارة مالك
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Home Archive for 2016

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
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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!

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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!).

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