September 26, 2004:  
September started out with a bang at Kahaz' wonderful Labor Day workshop featuring Mesmera (interview and article in this issue), and the beat went on at Steven and Lisa's first Drum Circle and Belly Dance Jam (don't miss their upcoming Belly Dance Night with live music on November 13)!

The days are getting shorter, but there is no shortage of events coming up this month - check below or in the new Event Calendar for dates...

Enjoy!

August 28 and 29, 2004: National Folk Festival in Bangor 
Three days of sun, fun, and mind-boggling music! Of course the high point for many was the lovely Jamileh of Portland dancing with the 
Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble. Together they gave three excellent performances as well as a demonstration. 

Jamileh and the Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble at the National Folk Festival

Especially enjoyable was the demonstration/discussion, in which Karim Nagi Mohammed introduced the audience to some of the instruments used in Arabic music (riqq, ney, and tabla) and taught a few basic rhythms. His delivery was humorous but thought-provoking, and he made the very valid point that "people should try to learn about other cultures through their arts, not their politics".

Jamileh danced in a beautiful assuit dress and gave a lucky (and plucky) audience member a crash course in classical Raqs Sharqi, and Karim Nagi Mohammed taught a folksy Debke. 

Jamileh and Karim Nagi Mohammed at the National Folk Festival

Labor Day 2004: Mesmera Workshop and Show in Bangor
Kudos to Kahaz Productions for yet another wonderful Labor Day workshop. Mesmera is a fantastic teacher and an inspiring performer who taught and performed both cabaret and gypsy styles and wowed us with her knowledge, patience, and warmth as well as with her precision, grace, and stage presence... not to mention her gorgeous costumes!

The workshop was exhausting but very rewarding, and in the breaks the many vendors took our minds off of sore muscles and tired legs. Christine Chou (owner of China Wall, House of Hunan, and China Garden) donated a delicious lunch buffet as a special treat for the attendees.

The stage at the Union Street Brick Church was beautifully decorated by Mira (Julie Eason), and some of the performers, including Mesmera, made use of all four levels - a visual treat! 

Do you have a suggestion for next year's guest teacher? Contact Kahaz.

The images used in this article are copyright 2004 by Lynne Guimond Findlay. 
Please contact her by email for copies and enlargements of her work.

Above: Mesmera shines while teaching and while performing.

Above: Kahaz keeps it all balanced and Lorien (as a brunette) spreads her wings.

Above: Adira's beautiful candle tray dance

Above: The Aaminah Dancers' upbeat group piece with synchronized zills.

The images used in this article are copyright 2004 by Lynne Guimond Findlay. 
Please contact her by email for copies and enlargements of her work.

September 18, 2004: Drum Circle and Belly Dance Jam in Portland
The first Drum Circle and Belly Dance Jam sponsored by Steven "Drum" Kouyoumjian and Lisa Casselli (article below) was "an unqualified success", and will hopefully become a regular monthly event - a dancer-friendly live music venue which combines open dancing and the chance for dancers to perform for a supportive audience with the opportunity for drummers to practice Middle Eastern rhythms. 

The evening included an open drum circle for drums of all kinds, a Middle Eastern drum circle, open dancing, and improvised performances. The fact that there were more drummers than dancers was a bit intimidating, so Lisa broke the ice by "roping" the dancers onto the stage with her veil. She noted that "everybody left with smiles on their faces".

Steven and Lisa envision the Drum Circle and Belly Dance Jam as a place to dance to live music arranged especially for belly dancers, to "stretch out and try something new", to socialize, and to build community between dancers and musicians. They are hoping that lots of dancers will turn out for the next date in the spring of 2005.

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October 9/10 2004: Morocco and Tarik Sultan in Moncton, NB
Morocco is considered to be "one of our living legends of Middle 
Eastern dance and studies" for her dedication in collecting and preserving the history and traditions of dance in the Near East and 
North Africa. This two-day workshop and show promise to be a treat! 
Visit Morocco's website for a wealth of information.

Where: Club d'Age d'Or Notre Dame de Grace in Moncton, NB
When: October 9 and 10, 2004
           Workshops from 9 AM - 4:30 PM
           Saturday show begins at 8 PM
Cost: $160 (Canadian) for the entire weekend (includes show ticket)
         $80 (Canadian) for one day
         $25 (Canadian) for show ticket

For more details contact Studio Sephira by email
                                 Or by telephone: 1-506-383-8138

October 16, 2004: Nourhan Sharif in Woburn, MA
The Belly Dance Music Association presents Nourhan Sharif of 
New York City's Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance in a four-hour workshop followed by a gala show. All levels welcome.
"...Explore what's new in Club Style Bellydance and Folkloric Bellydance in Egypt and Lebanon." 

Where: Radisson Hotel in Woburn, MA (1.5 hours from Portland)
When: Saturday, October 16, 2004
           Workshop from 12 - 5 PM (with a lunch break)
           Show begins at 8 PM
Cost: $55 before September 16; $65 thereafter (includes show ticket)
         $15 for show ticket

For more details or to register visit the Belly Dance Music Association website or email Lisa Casselli.

October 23, 2004: Tribal Fusion in Old Mystic, CT
AzarMaya Tribal Dance Presents Sharon Moore, co-director of inFusion Tribal Bellydance from Seattle, WA teaching "Funky Fusion Steps and Combos" and "Group Formations and Combinations".

From the Mandala Tribal website:
"Sharon Moore is a passionate tribal belly dance artist who devotes her energies to instructing, performing, and costume design. With a combined background of study in jazz, modern, ballet, theater, and gymnastics, she finds tribal belly dance to be the most rewarding performance art she has ever encountered, and has made it her life's work." 

Where: Dragon's Egg Studio in Old Mystic, CT
When: Saturday, October 23, 2004
           Workshop 1 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
           Workshop 2 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM
           Performance begins at 6:30 PM
Cost: $35 per workshop or $65 for both before October 1 or
         $40 per workshop at the door

For more information visit AzarMaya's gorgeous website or 
                               email AzarMaya.

October 23, 2004: Barefoot Flamenco in Portland, ME
The Woman’s Tradition: Brazeo, Marcaje y Vueltas with 
Helena Melone at The Center for Cultural Exchange in Portland.

"Explore the power, beauty and strong tradition of this dance through what was traditionally the women’s' realm of the dance: "brazeo" (hand, arm, and torso work), "marcaje" (marking steps), and "vueltas" (spitfire turns). Oriented toward both those new to flamenco (ideal for belly dancers wanting to expand their repertoire and emotional range) and those who want to deepen their knowledge of the context and "aire" of this bold, sensuous art of the Gitano of southern Spain."

Where: The Center for Cultural Exchange, 1 Longfellow Sq., Portland
When: October 23 from 10 AM to noon
Cost: $25

For more information or to register, email Jamileh 
                                or call her at 207-773-2966

October 29, 2004: "Bellyween" in Portland, ME
Arabesque Halloween Costume Dance Party presented by Turbo Tabla and Jamileh - come and dress as your favorite Arabic character or wear your most glamorous belly dance outfit and dance to the hottest, grooviest and most sultry Arabic Dance Music provided by Arabic drummer, Dabka dancer, and DJ Karim Nagi Mohammed.

Where: The Center for Cultural Exchange, 1 Longfellow Sq., Portland
When: Friday, October 29 from 8 PM to midnight.
Cost: $10

For more information visit www.bellyween.com or email Jamileh.

November 13, 2004: Belly Dance Night with Live Music in Portland
What an opportunity! Steven "Drum" Kouyoumjian and Lisa Casselli present live belly dance music for performances, open dancing, and line dancing. Bring a costume or just wrap a scarf around your hips. This is the only venue in the state that offers live music for dancing! 

Where: Full Circle Synergy School, 500 Forest Ave. Portland, ME
When: November 13, 2004 from 8:00 to 10:30 PM
Cost:  $5 donation 

For more details email Lisa Casselli.

December 4, 2004: Middle Eastern Drum Workshop in Portland, ME
Steven "Drum" Kouyoumjian and Lisa Casselli offer an introduction to Middle Eastern Rhythms - three hours of instruction, demonstrations and hands-on drumming for the beginner or intermediate drummer. Use your own drum (doumbek, frame drum, djembe, bongos etc...) and join the fun!

Where: Full Circle Synergy School, 500 Forest Ave. Portland, ME
When: Saturday, December 4, 2004 from 7:30 to 10:30 PM
Cost: $45

Class size is limited, so pre-registration is required. 
For more information or to register contact Steven Drum.

December 4, 2004: Aaminah Holiday Hafla in Bangor
The Aaminah School of Dance will host an evening of open dancing and student performances. Friends and family are very welcome!

Where: Union Street Brick Church in Bangor, ME (directions)
When: Saturday, December 4, 2004

For more information email Mira or Lorien.

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During her Labor Day workshop in Bangor, Mesmera told us that "the true fountain of youth is sweat!”, and she definitely proves it. She's an amazing dancer who has it all: musicality, precise technique, flow, energy, stage presence… and she is also a talented and generous teacher.


  What made you begin dancing and what inspires you when you dance?

Mesmera: To be a great dancer, one must be a music empath! It was the music that first moved me to dance. It's been my best teacher and continues to be my main inspiration, although I also draw from a wide range of other sources such as archetypes, geometry, anatomy, nature, plants, animals, colors…

  What does the dance mean to you?

Mesmera: Life is movement, and dance is an artful expression of life and our creative co-existence with all forms of life. Everything dances: trees dance in the wind; light dances on water; insects dance through the air. To me, dance appreciates and celebrates our active inter-connection with everything and generates loving, gracious awareness.

  You teach workshops all over the country; are there any trends you have noticed?

Mesmera: Yes, I see dancers pushing the boundaries. In the interplay between the traditional and the modern, I've seen both fusion and confusion! Of most interest is the persistent emergence of a strong creative feminine modern archetype. It's evident in the music and thematic choices, as well as individual dancer's names and particularly troupe names. 

I like to say: Dance ON! Dance UP!!

 Thank you for the interview, Mesmera!

Image used with generous permission of Mesmera

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Check out the online forum for all Maine dancers:

MEDiM.org Message Board 

It includes a ride board, a flea market, news about upcoming events, recommendations about online vendors, class cancellation notices, rehearsal information, and whatever else you choose to post!

This Month's Featured Flea Market Item:
Black leather Grecian Dance Sandals, size 8, 
for sale for $25.  T-Strap, 1" covered heel. Snug fit.

The shoes for sale are a similar style to those pictured.

Please contact Kim Corey if you are interested.

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• information about your upcoming events
• articles about your dance experiences 
• how-to tutorials
• interesting internet links
• descriptions of items to swap or sell
• ideas and feedback for this newsletter
  
  by email to MEDiM.org  
  or post the information directly to the

MEDiM Message Board

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This month's featured link:

Jas' Middle Eastern Rhythm Guide

Drum animation from Jas' Middle Eastern Rhythms website

Are you learning to play Middle Eastern rhythms on the doumbek or finger cymbals? It sure would be easier if you could hear the rhythms broken down and played slowly, wouldn't it? 

Jas can help you with that - he is the lead drummer for Khafif, a Middle Eastern dance and music troupe in Pittsburgh, PA. His website is an excellent resource which includes many of the widely-used Middle Eastern rhythms and features a unique "rhythm generator" - choose a rhythm, the tempo, and the number of times you would like to have it  repeated, then drum or zill along!

Hint: This is a great way to get in practice for the next Drum Circle and Belly Dance Jam!

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... The Belly Dance Music Association
In 1999, Steven "Drum" Kouyoumjian and Lisa Casselli formed the Belly Dance Music Association to produce belly dance events that focus on bringing music and dance together.

Now they are bringing live belly dance music to Maine! Steven and Lisa are dedicated to making music specifically for belly dancers and to creating venues for dancers and musicians to come together. Some of their upcoming projects include: a Belly Dance Night with Live Music in Portland, ME; a workshop and show with Nourhan Sharif in Woburn, MA; a Middle Eastern Rhythm workshop in Portland, ME; the Middle Eastern Festival of Rhythm in Portland, ME; and the First Annual Maine Bellydance Festival on April 9, 2005 * in Saco, ME.

Steven plays doumbek, oud, mandolin, Arabic keyboard, and guitar, and has worked with Turkish, Greek, Lebanese, and Armenian bands, including playing as lead drummer with such greats as George Abdo. His passion for music arises from his Turkish-Armenian background.

Lisa belly dances, plays zills, guitar and frame drum, and sings in eight languages, including Turkish, Armenian, Arabic, and Greek.

Steven arranges the music for their Belly Dance Music Duo with belly dancers in mind. They use well-known classics from many different cultures, most of which are familiar to dancers and all of which are dancer-friendly.

With the Drum Circle/Belly Dance Jam and the Belly Dance Nights they hope to be able to offer a regular venue where dancers of all levels can experience the thrill of dancing to live music and experimenting in a sympathetic and supportive atmosphere. 

There are also plans for a Middle Eastern Festival of Rhythm at the Portland Cultural Exchange in early 2005 (date to be announced), which will include live belly dance music by Steven and Lisa and Friends, Steven's exceptional drumming, belly dance performances by Lisa and guest belly dancers, open dancing, and line dancing. Keep an eye on the Event Calendar for the date and details.

All of these venues are great opportunities to network with other dancers. This is something new and exciting for our Maine dance community!

And for those who are thinking of traveling to Woburn, MA on October 16 for the Nourhan Sharif workshop/show there are two special treats ahead: not only will Nourhan Sharif herself be performing along with dancers from her Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance, but Maine's own Naya's Trance of Portland will be performing as well.

Welcome to Maine, Steven and Lisa!

For more information about the Belly Dance Music Association, visit their website or email Steven and Lisa.

All of the photos in this article are from the 
Belly Dance Music Association website 
and are used with permission.

* If you are interested in participating in the First Annual Maine Bellydance Festival, please contact Steven and Lisa at 207-459-7200 or by email to reserve a performance slot. Return to sentence

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