I recently had the incredible opportunity to travel and share my love of belly dance with an international audience. During the summer of 2006, I was hired to travel to Bali, Indonesia; Tasmania, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; and Cairo, Egypt to teach and perform Egyptian and Tribal Style dance. What an adventure! It was an experience in itself to visit each of these beautiful and totally unique countries... and on top of that to be a part of the spread of this incredible art form to the far-reaches of the planet. The entire journey was one of wonder, joy, and plenty of introspection (amazing what those 10+ hour flights alone will do to your brain!) I felt an immediate bond with all of my students - my global sisters in dance. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some photos and thoughts from my trip, and to thank those who shared the dance with me.
click on the photos for larger image
Kiki and SahiraMay 23rd, 2006:
Third stop: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (MAY 23-30)
I have a feeling that Taiwan is going to be quite an experience, as the first thing my Taiwanese students tell me in Bali is "You are very famous in Taiwan." Me? I'm doubtful - but the next week of my adventure proves me quite wrong!
I am met at the airport by my host and dear friend Kiki. I met Kiki earlier this year when she came to Texas for visit her husband's family (he is from Dallas). She drove to Houston one day to take a private class, and we instantly became great friends. I know the week ahead is going to be an unforgettable one.
We drove to Kiki's beautiful apartment/studio in the rain - which, incidentally, she tells me is very lucky in the Chinese culture. My accomodations at her house are incredible! She has taken the cutest little apartment and made it into a welcoming studio space I would die for.
National Theater
Temple
Taipei
Four kinds of Mr. BrownThe first morning we are up early for an American breakfast (thick bread with a thin layer of peanut butter and a small vegetable salad... not sure what part of America this is from!) and then we're off to Taipei, which is about an hour bus ride from Hsinchu.
After riding to the city in serious style (big bus with lazy boy style seats and personal tvs) we visited the Chinese National Theater and the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial and Museum. I saw jade sculptures in colors I had never seen before - ivory, white, purple, and a brown that looked just like wood!
Sahira at the Temple
Fake Food!We head next to a famous temple in the middle of the city. The incense smoke is so think I can smell it from across the street. Once inside I see the pillars are black from the smoke and hundreds of people are milling about praying, making offerings, and asking quesitons of the gods.
The food in Taipei is absolutely incredible, and I spend the next few days gorging myself on noodles, edamame, hotpots, and jasmine tea that really tastes like flowers. The food displays are also incredible (some of you know of my obsession with fake food...)
The next morning is spent dancing with Kiki in her home studio, then off to the night market to shop - and I mean SHOP! We arrived at the market in Taipei around 6pm and shopped for a non-stop six hours. The markets are just as I imagined - partially covered alleyways spilling over with vendors, merchandise, people, food stalls, motor bikes and the occassional truck which forces us to duck into stalls to avoid being run over!
Friday night was the show - I got to watch Kiki's class in their first performance ever. And then - another first - Kiki and I performed the first ever tribal-improv performance in Taiwan! (You can see clips from the performance here and read all about it here!) Afterwards we all headed to the restaurant at the club for a feast of a dinner - giant steaming hot pots were served on personal gas stoves all around the table...incredible!
Kiki and Hot Pots!Over the weekend, I taught both Egyptian and Tribal Basics workshops, as well as my newest choreography - "Ali". I was extremely impressed by all the Taiwanese dancers in my class...their enthusiasm and attention to detail was incredible. One of Kiki's goals in bringing me to Taiwan is to share with everyone the history of tribal style dance. I spent some time in the workshop talking with students (with the help of Kiki as a translator!) about how tribal began and where it is going. It was truly an honor to be able to represent this fantastic dance form during my tour.
And it looks like I'll have the opportunity to do it again... as plans are in the works for Taiwan's first-ever tribal belly dance festival in October 2007. And I'll be there with coins on!
My Saturday class
My Sunday class
YUM!NEXT STOP: CAIRO, EGYPT
SECOND STOP: TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA
FIRST STOP: BALI, INDONESIA
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