2019 Saqra and Troupe 2019 an hourglass , it really doesn ’ t matter HOW much sand is in the hourglass .... you can probably wear ANY style and look great . I take this into consideration when I help people select the style for their costumes . And yeah , back in the day I trained and worked for many years as a graphic designer .
N : So multi-talented ! You have had a long and fabulous dance career and have offered a “ mileage varies ” approach to dancer advice . What piece of advice do you feel you have put out there for dancers that is most important ?
S : Arghhhhh ..... there are so many .... Okay , one quick tip would be that there are three factors a dancer is working with : Appearance , Technical Skill , Audience Appeal . If you are fairly strong in any two areas you can be an exceptional and memorable dancer , so do your best to improve all three , but be reassured that if you aren ’ t overly strong in one area the others really can make up for it .
And another would be that if you want to become known
( like so many people do ), get out of your town . If people don ’ t see you , they don ’ t see you .
And now I want to write out ALL of my thoughts and tips ! BWAHAHAHHAHAHA ! Because I ’ m not good at doing things halfway .
I ’ m looking forward to all the workshops that have come back on the books since Covid lightened up , resuming teaching and taking on some people to coach , and getting back to Fearless Glamour and my crystal press machine ! And with my buddy and business partner Gilana moving to where I currently live , I ’ m absolutely sure we will be planning some event mischief for the future !
This was fun ! Thank you for interviewing me !
N : Thank you so much , Saqra ! Appreciate you taking the time with me and I ’ m sure the readers will enjoy this as well ! Hugs and see you at the next online hafla , and who knows , hopefully in person again !!
NIZANA
Nizana has been instructing , performing , studying , choreographing , troupe directing , event producing and otherwise being engaged in the Florida ( where she resides ), Washington ( State ), Hawaii , and Bay Area California dance communities . A published author , she is a long-time writer for “ The Belly Dance Chronicles .” Nizana and her “ occasional troupe ” ( the rest of the troupe lives in WA ), the Desert Silk Dance Company , can be found on Facebook and events on one coast or another ! Photo by Robert Akins Taylor
12 The Belly Dance Chronicles � September 2022