2014 Year-In-Review

I hope you’re enjoying many great memories of your 2014. Certainly there are the struggles, but always much to be grateful for. My communications often look forward, focusing on upcoming events in the near future. Here I take a moment to reflect back and recount the highlights of 2014, hoping some were shared with you!

In January, Olympic College kicked off the first of several cultural education events in which I arranged multiple artists. These are a wonderful opportunity to connect cabaret belly dance to a broader historical context and share many other less familiar but equally spectacular styles from North Africa and the Middle East. Then there was the first round of Belly Dance Off in February, featuring House of Tarab with belly dance expert judges Tamalyn Dallal and Mirabai, and Tim Gonzalez-Wiler of Teatro ZinZanni. This round yielded Rising Star finalist Sunniva and Pro finalist Laura Rose. Ooooo, and speaking of February, how can I forget that Valentine’s Gala I illuminated with flashing blinking lights on head and hands.

March featured excerpts from my production Cinderella – An Egyptian Story at Open Space for Arts & Community, in which I was joined by bands House of Tarab, Avaaza, and more than eight spectacular dancers. April featured one of my sillier surprise birthday party performances in which I was hired to appear in a corporate office during lunch hour and embarrass the manager. Mission accomplished! In May we took Belly Dance Off to Portland, Oregon, featuring Ritim Egzotik with judges Sedona, Nemra Khan, and Erik Brown. This second round yielded finalists Rising Star finalist Emily Sitara and Pro finalist Violetta!

May was also when I joined Forge Dance Theatre, marking my new chapter as a dance artist – full integration of all forms I’ve trained in! June was filled with delightful performances at summer parties and new adventures with Seattle International Dance Festival (SIDF) – a roaming dance and drum performance at Art on the Fly in which Suzanna & Friends “serenaded” a Starbucks, and a “dancer and oud” stage showcase with Stephen Elaimy in Spotlight on Seattle. I am excited to have the director of SIDF, Cyrus Khambatta, join the judge panel of Belly Dance Off in Round 1 of 2015!

---

May was also when I joined Forge Dance Theatre, marking my new chapter as a dance artist – full integration of all forms I’ve trained in! June was filled with delightful performances at summer parties and new adventures with Seattle International Dance Festival (SIDF) – a roaming dance and drum performance at Art on the Fly in which Suzanna & Friends “serenaded” a Starbucks, and a “dancer and oud” stage showcase with Stephen Elaimy in Spotlight on Seattle. I am excited to have the director of SIDF, Cyrus Khambatta, join the judge panel of Belly Dance Off in Round 1 of 2015!

In July I encountered one of my most joyful moments of 2014 – training high school youth on Middle Eastern dance improvisation and choreography for a Seattle Public Theatre production of Arabian Nights. Veils, expressive hands, and shimmies for the young women and a dabke inspired choreography for the young men which I developed by repeating the question, “What would Reda do?” Working with these youth was a tremendous joy I am determined to carry into 2015. I’ve never worked with such open human beings, so ready to absorb the depths of fun and creativity. This note from one of the teens says it all: “Thank you so much for teaching us Arabian dance styles! Not only is it super fun in the play, but I'm probably going to just dance like that to any kind of music for a little while…”

August and September brought more outdoor parties and lasting memories, like the one where I climbed a treehouse and danced on top, or that sublime gala at Dumas Bay I performed with guest artists Mellilah, Erik Brown, and Stephen Elaimy. A big August highlight for me was watching my students Angie, Seyi, and Doreen perform with MB Orchestra at Harissa. The big event of September was Round 3 of Belly Dance Off, featuring MB Orchestra and judges Delilah, Mish Mish, and Philip Borunda. This yielded Rising Star finalist Amber and Pro finalist Nazaneen! The following morning I yanked myself out of bed at 7am to perform the Arts Crush Rush showcase at Seattle Center, joined by Tracy Helming, Mellilah, Azar, and Nafiah to represent a spectrum of styles.

And to think I was supposed to dial it down in 2014 to focus on my manager position at an arts agency. In October came the debut of Forge Dance Theatre, performing our tormented “Discordia” in a unique festival, Waking Persephone. Now we’re blazing into 2015 with all six choreographies at GAZING WEST together with an amazing array of guests in film, poetry, music, painting, and other media. The show is February 28th at Langston Hughes Performing Arts. Be sure to get tickets now. I’ll be celebrating my birthday that night afterward! Too much excitement for one night!! Now back to October 2014… Ah yes, there was also that show at Tulalip Casino accompanied by Janelle  Bel Isle in which I choreographed jazz/hip hop to a Native American band featuring rapper, Komplex Kai. Yes, what a wild year it’s been. My shows at Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant have become a safe haven where I can be “just” a belly dancer.

---

Photo by Drumroll Studios

The first of November opened with the big Belly Dance Off 2014 Grand Championship, featuring House of Tarab and judges Elisa Gamal, Sabura, and Shannon Knauss. Laura Rose from round 1 (Pro Category) and Amber from round 3 (Rising Star Category) scored the magnificent trophies, tiaras, and titles! In December, my students and I closed an excellent year of weekly Core Belly Dance Workout classes. Since then, my prayers of less adventure and more practice time have been answered. In addition to my focus on the Forge choreographies by Trish Kitiera Morehead, I am developing a dance poetry solo to the prose of Maged Zaher. I’m also looking forward to a fantastic NYE show with MB Orchestra! Each week is filled with dance training across multiple styles, making me feel stronger and more present than ever before. Now when asked what I do, I no longer say “belly dancer.” I say “dancer.”

---