opportunities will open up for dancers of color in Oriental dance in the future . Celebrating and showcasing diversity has always been integral to my mission and directly influences who is included as performers or instructors in projects that I have the power to shape .
I would also love to see dancers move away from fixed boxes or labels (“ I only dance fusion ” or “ I only dance Egyptian style ”) to something more fluid . In BDSS , the dancers were cast into Oriental or Fusion camps , and you had to stay there for the entire show .
If someone can effortlessly switch between styles , why not give them freedom throughout the show ? Bellyqueen has a residency program called Journey Along the Silk Road , where local dancers audition to perform different dances . Those who excel in multiple styles have the chance to shine on stage performing Oriental , fusion , and everything else in between .
What is the intersection between Oriental dance and fusion ? I believe that most dancers , including me , occupy the space intersecting Oriental dance and fusion . When we dance , our personal backgrounds , culture , and life experiences cannot help but show up in our expression . I ’ ve dedicated many years to practicing MENAHT ( Middle Eastern North African Hellenic Turkic ) dances and feel at home moving this way . However , I am also of Chinese ethnicity and was raised in Brunei , New Zealand , and Australia and have training in other movement forms including Contemporary , Popping , Waving , Flamenco , Chinese , Afro-Haitian , and Physical Theatre . Therefore , I can consciously focus my movement vocabulary to more faithfully pay homage to a traditional form , or I can give myself the freedom to draw from a more extensive palette to paint with .
Kaeshi - photo by Ma * Shuqa & Carl Sermon
How has the pandemic changed your work and outlook on your life ? When Covid first hit back in mid-March 2020 , most Bellyqueen instructors , including me , lost most of our income . Within 2 weeks , we transitioned online . I resisted teaching online for many years , but when the pandemic backed me into a corner , I relented , and I am happy about that ! This decision to move the Bellyqueen school to Zoom has been an absolute lifesaver for our mental and physical health . It has helped us stay grounded during the lockdown and has proved to be an excellent way to connect with students and colleagues worldwide .
Two months ago , we launched hybrid courses offering both in-person and online instruction . Fingers crossed , we can continue to teach in person . The rapidly increasing number of Delta variant cases is definitely causing concern .
Another Pandemic surprise is I discovered how much I enjoyed staying at home and cooking .
12 The Belly Dance Chronicles � September 2021