Photos, above & center, by
Hearts & Thoughts Photography
emotion would do — happy, sad, melancholic, passionate,
angry or a combination of these. Once I find a piece that
makes me feel something, I make a movie out of it in my
head: ‘I’m lost in the woods, scared and hungry; I see a light
and feel hope.’ ‘I’m climbing up a mountain at night and
get to watch the sun rise at the top.’ ‘I’m a proud huntress,
fighting to stay alive.’ ‘I’m at the beach, feeling the sun on
my skin, at peace and happy.’
“Some of these are pure fantasy, and some are based on
life experiences. But I feel the journey every time I imagine
it,” Mia continues. “After listening to the song a thousand
times and having a clear ‘journey’ in my head, I’m ready to
share my story of survival or a day at the beach with an
audience. It comes across as genuine, because I have lived it
many times, and I am reliving it as I dance.”
But as much as her dance is about emotion, it is also
about technique — and about finding the perfect balance
between the two.
That “best balance,” Mia says, depends on your audience.
“Some are a more academic audience who appreciate
technical development and precision. Others just want to
have a party with pretty lights and sparkly things. If you
know your audience and have prepared well enough in
advance to be relaxed as you perform, you’ll be able to deliver
a killer show, which is all anyone wants, really.”
Still, she warns, especially if you are a professional dancer
presenting a professional show, don’t jump in unprepared.
“The stage is definitely not a place to practice,” Mia says.
“The only reason you are able to dance on a stage is because
there are people willing to pay to see you. Whatever your level,
you owe the audience respect and consideration, which means
a well-prepared piece and mindfulness as you perform.”
As much as she enjoys her solo performances, Mia says
she “prefer(s) to work with other people. There seems to be
so much more you can do on stage with more people, and
I love to collaboratively create something entirely unique
every time.”
And during the course of her still-relatively-young
career, Mia says she has “been blessed” to perform with
many outstanding dancers and musicians in the belly dance
scene — Sylvia Salamanca, Karen Barbee, Natalie Nazario,
Arish Lam, Oscar Flores and Mohamed Kazafy, just to
name a few.
But over the last year or so, she adds, she has had the
chance to work closely with Luna Poumian of Mexico
and Diana Soto of Puerto Rico (now Houston), who have
“become two of my very best friends.” The three of them have
created an international troupe called Triad that combines
the various strengths and styles of each of the three into a
creative, unique and cohesive entity.
“I’d be lying if I said I had just as much fun with everyone
as I did with those two crazies,” Mia laughs.
January 2020
The Belly Dance Chronicles
13