Don ’ t sneer at something that ’ s little , it can be your step in the door .”
I marvel at the commonplace nature of multi-hyphenates in the belly dance arts . As you ’ ll read below , dancer , teacher , writer , grief counselor and vendor deluxe Dhyanis traveled a most challenging path through the pandemic , yet never lost her love of this art and her focus to share it with others .
“ With lockdown , my studio closed ; however , I can ’ t stand not to dance , to teach , so I started to in my driveway . Almost everybody attended : beginning , intermediate and group . My group filmed performances in the driveway and sent to virtual events like Hot Raqs , a Christmas Hafla , and others , keeping ourselves in the public eye as much as possible . Then we performed outdoors at Siren ’ s Fest . Performances and vendors were outside , under a canopy in the parking lot . I adapted at all levels . I always had individual students , clients for costume work , I didn ’ t stop that .”
“ I met someone at a Chamber of Commerce event because I belong in Novato , asking for a volunteer for a luncheon for seniors at the Whistle Stop , a wonderful senior center with
Dhyanis a cafe . This was a Middle Eastern affair , a luncheon , and a one hour show . ( It was ) indoors ; however recently , last June , things had relaxed . I got wonderful , wonderful feedback from people who really wanted that contact . The same organizer asked if we ’ d volunteer for a silent auction for the senior center ; this is a big event every year to raise money for support . I offered a package of a performance and a class . My intention is to be an ambassador for Middle Eastern dance , anyone I can reach . The winning bid was $ 600 ! A woman had 12 friends attend . I did a complete show , then started off asking what people thought belly dancing was ; I used the opportunity to say it is a dance for and by women from giving birth through menopause and beyond . We laughed , they were enthralled , she tipped me $ 200 , so moved to pay beyond what she paid . Volunteering spreads the word , money aside , and brings education to the general public . More recently another call was for a performance for a 17-year-old ’ s birthday . When my troupe member closer to that age was unable to participate , I stepped in . What happened is they got the best mentorship from “ the wise woman of Belly Dance ” and I had them dancing as if they were a troupe by the end of the event . As I was explaining the dance , another attendant of Middle Eastern descent corroborated the educational component . They loved it and they wanted more .”
“ All my high moments since my husband died last January have been around dance . Stay connected to community . Write your dance journey , or your memoire , as a story for yourself as well as the reader . Read my book “ Dancing with Life ,” the first of a trilogy ; it features very diverse life experiences with art , growth , travel , a braid of wonderfulness that doesn ’ t shirk from sharing challenges and the fabulous synchronicity that happens . Go everywhere you can infiltrate to bring the dance and music to the people , the kids , and the general community at large .”
Long-time performer , teacher and therapist Sharifa began her dance life under the tutelage of Jamila Salimpour . Her earliest dance performances were with Bal Anat in their formative years , and she hasn ’ t stopped since .
“ I will start by talking about my dance classes . My attendance was waning again , prior [ to the ] pandemic , and then Zoom changed the way I could teach and reach students outside my area . I still had to work at getting people to Zoom classes . Then eventually , the novelty of Zoom wore off .
January 2023 � The Belly Dance Chronicles 39