January 31, 2005:  
This newsletter has been on hold while I worked on other projects, but it's back on track again, and I plan to publish it bi-monthly in the future (January/March/May/July/September/November). As always, I'll be glad 
to include the articles, photos, and event descriptions you email to me.

This issue highlights the newest addition to Maine's belly dancing scene: the MEDiM.org website, an online resource for belly dancers all over Maine, which is also the new home for this newsletter. Find out all about what MEDiM.org does in the "A Look Inside" section.

I hope to see you at one of the many events planned for the next few months - until then, keep warm and...

Enjoy!

October 9/10, 2004: Morocco in New Brunswick
Studio Sephira and Pandora Productions hosted a workshop with Morocco ("The Dancer, Not the Country") and Tarik Sultan of New York. They are both inspiring teachers and truly amazing performers! Kahaz performed in the evening gala show, as did the Aaminah Dancers of Bangor. 

October 16, 2004: Nourhan Sharif in Woburn, MA
Steven and Lisa Kouyoumjian did a wonderful job organizing this event, which included an afternoon workshop with Nourhan Sharif of New York and an evening show with live music by Steven and Lisa and dance performances from Nourhan, dancers from Yousry Sharif's Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance, Lisa, and Naya's Trance of Portland, ME.

For a full article about this show, read the January issue of Middle Eastern Dance in New England (you can subscribe to the online version or receive a paper copy). Here are some impressions of the event:

 
Above: Nourhan Sharif, with Steven and Lisa in the background

Above: Azziza in red (L) and Nourhan performing an impromptu drum solo (R).

 
Above: Leila in red with silk veil  and Mona Lisa in soft green.

Above: Naya's Trance of Portland.

December 4, 2004: Aaminah Holiday Hafla in Bangor
The Aaminah School of Dance hosted a lovely evening of performances by dancers from the Bangor area, Waterville, and Portland. Lots of guests enjoyed the open dancing, potluck, and flea market tables!

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February 5, 2005: Dance Workshop for Kids in Portland
Jamileh will be teaching a KidsCulture workshop on Middle Eastern dance for kids age 5-10

Where: Center for Cultural Exchange, One Longfellow Square, Portland
When: Saturday, February 5, 2005 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Cost: $8/child or $14/child with parent

Find out more or reserve a space 
by phone: 761-0591 x103 or by email

February 6, 2005: Mother/Daughter Workshop in Portland
Jamileh offers a mother & daughter belly dance workshop. Special Note: Granddaughters, nieces, sisters, etc., all constitute “Daughter” here. This workshop is appropriate for all levels and 100% of the profits will benefit Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

Where: Full Circle Synergy School, 500 Forest Ave. Portland, ME
When: Sunday, February 6, 2004 from 1:00 to 2:30 PM
Cost: $25 per couple

Please pre-register with Jamileh by Thursday, February 3, 2005 
by email or by phone: 773-2966 

February 13, 2005: "Be Here NOW" Workshop in Kittery
Be here NOW and move in the present! This is an afternoon to dance the unfolding moment, open to the freedom of improvising, of not planning your next move, remembering the next step -- Engage in movement and stillness, discussion and drawing; practice being present. With Helena Melone of Firedance Studios.

Where: Kittery, ME
When: Sunday February 13, 2005 from 1 ­ 4:30 PM
Cost: $50 by Feb 9; $60 after

For more information email Helena or check her website.

February 26, 2005: Fitness and Strengthening for Belly Dance
Naya's Trance will sponsor a 1.5 hour workshop with Emma Holder, who will teach exercises to target all areas of your body. A warm up will be followed by drills, strengthening and stretching to challenge all important muscle groups for posture, balance, undulations, floor-work, shimmies etc. 

Where: World Arts Bodywork & Movement Studio, 
            616 Congress Street in Portland, ME 
When: Saturday February 26th, 2005 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM
Cost:  $7 pre-registered or $10 unregistered (drop-in)

For more information click here or contact 
Emma Holder at 415-7204 or Naya's Trance at 318-0400
You can register (but not pay) for this workshop online here.

February 26, 2005: "Soul of the Middle East" in Portland
 Hosted by Steven and Lisa: a Concert of Middle Eastern music with songs from Turkey, Armenia, Israel, Greece, and Lebanon, including a belly dance show performed by Lisa and a lecture/demonstration of Near Eastern hand drumming on the Doumbek (Turkish and Arabic styles) by Steven, and followed by a dance party with music for the audience to get up and dance. 
         This event has been cancelled due to illness.
Where: Portland Center for Cultural Exchange 
When: Saturday February 26, 2005 from 8:00 to 10:30 PM
Cost: to be announced

Email Steven and Lisa Kouyoumjian or call Lisa at 207-459-7200  for more details.

March 6, 2005: Hafla in Portland
Hosted by Naya's Trance. Come to dance, to vend, or just to enjoy!

Where: Maine Ballroom Dance, 614A Congress Street in Portland
When: Sunday, March 6th, 2005 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM 
Cost: Donation

For more information email Naya's Trance.

March 6, 2005: Barefoot Flamenco and "Zambra" in Kittery
 With Helena Melone of Firedance Studios. "Barefoot Flamenco" is 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 Gitanos of southern Spain.
In "Zambra" we will combine elements of the grounding power and graceful strength of flamenco with the sensuous, body-centered fluidity and spicy hip work of belly dance! Prior experience with one idiom or the other is helpful.

Where: Kittery, ME
When: Sunday March 6, 2005
           Barefoot Flamenco: 10 AM ­ 12:30 PM
           "Zambra": 1:30 PM - 4 PM
Cost: individual workshops: $30 by Mar 2; $40 after
         both workshops: $55 by Mar 2; $65 after

Email Helena or check her website for more details.

March 12, 2005: Benefit Show in Waterville
 Hosted by the Aaminah School of Dance and featuring performances by dancers from Bangor, Waterville, and Portland. All proceeds from this show will benefit Sri Lankan tsunami victims. 

Where: Thomas College Auditorium in Waterville
When: Saturday, March 12, 2005 
           Doors open at 7 PM, show begins at 7:30 PM
Cost: to be announced

Email Mira to sign up for a performance slot or for more details.

March 18, 2005: Naya's Trance performance in Saco
 Naya's Trance will be performing at the Thornton Academy Dance Festival in Saco, ME.

Where: Thornton Academy, Saco
When: Friday March 18, 2005 
Cost: to be announced

Email Naya's Trance for more details.

April 9, 2005: First Annual Maine Bellydance Festival in Saco
 Hosted by Steven and Lisa and featuring troupe and solo performances and vendors as well as mini-workshops taught by Maine instructors and open dancing. Table seating, light snacks, cash bar, and a nice new dance floor! There are still performance slots available for troupes of all levels and soloists, and vendor space is also available. Please contact Lisa by March 9, 2005 to sign up. 

Where: Holiday Inn Convention Center in Saco, ME
When: Saturday April 9, 2005 from 7 PM to midnight
Cost: $10

Email Steven and Lisa Kouyoumjian or call Lisa at 207-459-7200  for more details.

June 4, 2005: Workshop with Alia Thabit in Bangor
 Kahaz Productions presents an afternoon workshop with Alia Thabit
 of Vermont.

Where: Union Street Brick Church in Bangor, ME (directions)
When: Saturday, June 4, 2005
Cost: to be announced

Email Kahaz for more details.

June 4, 2005: Aaminah Spring Show in Bangor
 Hosted by the Aaminah School of Dance and featuring performances by dancers and groups from Bangor, Calais, Waterville, and Portland, as well as Alia Thabit of Vermont. 

Where: Union Street Brick Church in Bangor, ME (directions)
When: Saturday,June 4, 2005
Cost: to be announced

Email Mira for tickets or for more details.

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Jamileh dances and teaches in the Portland area, and those who attended the National Folk Festival in Bangor last summer saw her dance with the Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble. A recent interview with Jamileh was picked up by AP and printed all over the country.


  MEDiM: When did you begin dancing, and what inspired you to start?

Jamileh: I began in depth study about 10 years ago, though I was inspired many years before that. 

I am of Lebanese descent and grew up in Boston in a big Arabic community where everyone danced. My mother, my grandmother, aunts, friends and one of my church's priests! all danced at haflis (big Arabic
celebrations). They did it to raise funds for the church. All their friends and family would throw dollars over them and we children would run around
collecting the money for the church. No one raised more money than my sitto (grandmother), not even the priest, whose claim to fame was belly dancing
while balancing a glass of water on his head! 

My grandmother was a true matriarch and at 90+ she would simply shimmy her shoulders and blow kisses calling "I love you! I love you!" Her 27 grandchildren would chant "Sitto! Sitto!" and the dollars would fly. What fun!

There was also always a professional dancer who performed once during the night. I remember one in particular who had the most fluid undulations. I swore to my mother that her tummy was alive all on it's own! Anyway, as an adult, when I moved to Maine I decided it was time to pursue my love of my heritage and the dance. I am proud to call Josie Conte, of Portland and New York, my first professional teacher.

  MEDiM: Which dancers or dance styles do you love to watch and why?

Jamileh: Well, I do love classical belly dance, whether it's Raqs Sharqi or Beledi. I was honored to perform with Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble this past summer at the 66th National Folk Festival right there in Bangor! What a pleasure. The music was so moving it took me right back home. It truly brought tears to my eyes. 

As far as dancers go, anyone who dances from her heart captures me. For me there is no music as rich as Arabic music, that emotion that is so deep and passionate, so hard to name. Combine that with a skilled dancer who dances from her heart and really lets the music move her...wow!

  MEDiM: Describe your proudest dance moment.

Jamileh: Without question my performance on June 28th, 2002, for The Vagina Monologues at Merrill Auditorium. I was nine months pregnant with my son, Halim. This was two days past my due date and so I say it was a duet. It was an amazing experience. I started with my back to the audience, most of whom did not know I was pregnant. I slowly turned and heard a collective 2000-person gasp. Wow! I will never forget that night.

When it was all over the audience went crazy and the feedback was wonderful, not to mention Eve Ensler was a part of this production and all the money raised went to her foundation that serves women survivors. It was so good for people to see this, and I don't mean me dancing, I mean any
woman that pregnant moving with pride and grace and fluidity. Oh yes, though sometimes uncomfortable, pregnancy is not an illness!! The capacity for it is part of our unique power as women. Celebrate your amazing bodies!  

By the way, Halim joined us on July 14th, 2002.

 Thank you for the interview, Jamileh!  

Some of Jamileh's upcoming projects include a Mother/Daughter afternoon dance workshop to benefit Planned Parenthood and a KidsCulture workshop for children.

Jamileh of Portland

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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.org Message Board

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This month's featured links:

Belly Dancing in the News:

Dr. Weil article
How healthy is belly dancing?

Interview with Alia Thabit of Vermont
Alia recently taught a workshop in Portland, and will be teaching an afternoon workshop in Bangor on June 4, 2005, right before the Aaminah spring show. In this interview she talks about her recent travels in the Middle East, dancing the way to peace, and belly dancing New Englanders.

Article about Jamileh of Portland
Jamileh talks about the positive effects of belly dance on body and soul. There's even a quote from the American Council on Exercise endorsing belly dance as an excellent form of exercise.

Article about Aisha Ali of L.A.
"It's soft for the joints and yet it's very energetic and very aerobic." says Aisha Ali.She also mentions the bonding that happens in class as well as the interest in other cultures that belly dancing often sparks.

Interview with Princess Farhana of L.A.
The author also spoke with Tempest (whose dance style is referred to as "Raks Gothique"), Jim Boz, a popular male belly dancer, and Nashwa Ahlam, an instructor who is quoted as saying: "It's really interesting that, considering current racial issues and the unfortunate fear of all things Middle Eastern, there is this huge resurgence of interest in belly dance that we haven't seen in years"

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... MEDiM.org
MEDiM.org is the new home for this newsletter. 
It's designed to be a comprehensive online resource for the Middle Eastern dance community across Maine.

If you are reading this newsletter, you are already using MEDiM.org! Here are a few of the other features of this brand-new website that is dedicated to connecting belly dancers across the state:
 (click on each link to open it in a new window)

Find a teacher: The Maine Instructor Directory lists teachers and performers all over Maine. It's easy to use: just click on a town in the map of Maine at the top of the page to see the contact information for instructors in that area. If you know of someone who is not listed, please email us with the information.

See what's up: The Event Calendar shows you at a glance what is going on in Maine, whether you are looking for workshops, performances, haflas, or festivals. It is constantly updated and can help to avoid scheduling conflicts. Email us the details of your upcoming events and they will be added as soon as possible.

Share your news: The Message Board is open to all - tell us whether you liked a CD/DVD/video, let everyone know how much you enjoyed an event, share information about upcoming happenings, post interesting links you've found on the Internet, send greetings, connect with other dancers in Maine...

The message board also includes a ride board where you can ask for or offer rides to events and a special section where instructors can post a notice if a class has to be cancelled. 

Support local businesses: The Maine Links section has information about belly dance-related businesses in Maine - from musicians to costumes and accessories to instruments to performing troupes and bellygrams. Email us if you have a link we should include.

To reach the home page of MEDiM.org, click on this logo at the top left or at the bottom center of any page in the website:

The only exception is the message board, which has a text link to the MEDiM.org home page in the upper right-hand corner.

The more dancers who use this site, the better a resource it will become, so make yourself at home - it's all yours!

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