experience pain in knees and shoulders – and may also have
chronically inflamed joints in their back, hands, and neck.
Vanessa includes important information on how to reduce
inflammation and improve the health of any area of the
body that is chronically inflamed, deteriorating, or injured.
As performing dancers, we know that even the lightest silk
veils can feel like a heavy burden if our shoulders, rotator
cuff, back and neck are inflamed.
Building Better Balance Class Series includes these four
focused titles and subject matter.
“Balance Basics” – Learn the essential elements to improve
balance, how to avoid many types of falls and how to
steady ourselves when we feel dizzy or disoriented.
Special Feature: Using the eyes to overcome dizziness
and disorientation to prevent falls.
“Legs and Feet: Walking Made Easier” – Learn how to
easily walk and no longer shuffle, plus great techniques
for climbing stairs and standing up, all while improving
the fitness of our legs and feet. Special Feature:
Peripheral neuropathy of the feet.
“Developing Spine Health” – Features safe methods to
reduce back tension, pain, and neck discomfort, while
strengthening the core to help reverse the effects of
spinal compression. Special Feature: Spinal nerve
impingement and the use of dermatomes.
“Arthritis, Rotator Cuff Injuries and Other Chronic
Conditions” – This program contains easy, safe, effective
routines for arthritis of the knee and rotator cuff injuries
of the shoulder using methods helpful for any inflamed
area. Special Feature: Arthritis of the hands.
These instructional DVDs are easy to understand, and
entertaining, with clear explanations of how and why we do
each exercise. As a dancer and instructor with a background
in health education and educational curriculum design, I note
that Vanessa’s instruction is well-designed, and delivered in
a motivating and encouraging manner. This is not a “one
and done” exercise class, it’s important to take and/or teach
Vanessa’s classes regularly for a lifetime benefit of healthful
living. As you learn the movements and feel the positive
effects on your own life – you’ll be able to share movement
tips with your dance students with chronic conditions that
impact their dancing and daily life. I agree with Vanessa –
get your life back and put the spring back into your step and
share the feeling with your dance students. If you are the
type of person who understands you are responsible for your
physical and mental wellbeing and health; I truly believe this
54
The Belly Dance Chronicles
January 2020
is the perfect workout series for you - because you are the
sort of person who takes pride and responsibility in actively
maintaining their health and wellness. If you define yourself
as a beautiful, graceful, strong, and talented dancer, then
you likely ascribe to the definition of being a beautiful belly
dancer and an active participant in your health, wellness,
happiness that results from your passion in dance.
You may order these DVDs directly from Vanessa Kettler
at www.building-better-balance.com or call (707) 318-4476
(be sure to leave a message).
MA*SHUQA MIRA MURJAN
Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan celebrates five
Lifetime Achievement Awards for Artistic
Dance Excellence in the art of Middle Eastern
Dance. She is famous for spectacular Isis Wings
performance, elegant choreographies, energetic
shows, and special musicality in performance with
finger cymbals. An internationally recognized
entertainer, belly dance school and studio owner,
instructor, writer, music reviewer, and dance coach for award-winning
performers, who’s life’s work has been inspiring the discipline of Middle
Eastern Dance and music.
Ma*Shuqa is a guardian of this beautiful dance form and supports
a worldwide movement to advance the dignity and grandeur of Middle
Eastern dancers, while promoting empowerment for women. She
participates in a transformative social movement committed to ending
social stereotyping of women who participate in traditional and Middle
Eastern Dance activities.
Ma*Shuqa authors articles in published in dance periodicals that
include: event reviews, music reviews, book reviews, instructional and
performance media, relevant topics in health education, dance movement
and styling, posing for performance photography sessions, exploration
of dance related topics in Middle Eastern music and rhythms, and
instructional aspects of developing professional performance for Raqs
Sharqi and Oriental dance.
She developed the Ma*Shuqa Method as a compendium and a body
of knowledge that provides a rubric and structure for understanding and
teaching Oriental Dance. Ma*Shuqa Method and Ma*Shuqa’s School
of Belly Dance promote unique, personalized improvised performance
through developing technique, core body alignment and strength, and
performance movement that matches musicality and qualities on Middle
Eastern music and creating performances with Taraab – emotionally
connected dance.
This amazing businesswoman is the epitome of multi-faceted success
in our industry. She is an icon, a pioneer and dance visionary in the
worldwide belly dance community who since 1974 has given selflessly to
provide a venue for Middle Eastern dance society through her Ma*Shuqa
Mira Murjan School of Belly Dance in Los Gatos, California, USA.