As a full time belly dancer for over 4 decades, I’ve been asked many times how I climbed the ladder to international success. How did I make my dance dreams come true? Did I know from the start where I wanted to end up? Did I draw an outline of my goals? Was I just one of the lucky ones, in the right time at the right place? The first thing I would tell you is there is no magical ‘secret’ to getting what you want. But there are some things that I would advise.
For most of us, dance is a sanctuary from the stress of everyday life.  It’s not usually someone’s full time career. Yet, every time you choose to shimmy you take another step forward on some sort of dance journey that’s unique to you, and inevitably it will lead you somewhere. You want to keep your experiences positive and add value to your life. When you go from student to performer to instructor, you are always growing and evolving as an ever-improving dancer.
Here's some things you can do to be the best you can be and make your dance dreams come true:

1. Dream:  No matter who you are, what you weigh, where you live, whatever amount of dance background and experience you have, you can always take something you love to do and extrapolate. In other words, dream! Dream big! If you can dream it, you can achieve it. It is healthy to envision what you will do with the dance that you love. There are few things in life that we truly resonate with. When you dream, you open up your creative side. You will find yourself considering possibilities that never before came to mind. You will believe in yourself a little more than you did yesterday. You will detox from whatever or whoever stresses you out. Give your soul permission to do exactly what is right for you. As a visionary, you will find that you can better…
2. Believe in yourself: Our beliefs control everything about us. If you believe you can do something, chances are you can. Maybe not at this very moment, but you will soon be able to accomplish it. If you believe you can’t do something, everything in your power, both consciously and subconsciously, will prove to you that you are right. You will only see the reasons why you would fail. The key is to keep searching for the things that are part of your dream. Keep asking yourself if whoever and whatever comes your way is serving your vision. If so, embrace it. If not, let it go. This is the work you need to do. You should not be afraid to…
3. Work hard:  Practice makes perfect. Practice your dance moves, keep taking classes, go to rehearsals, and dance, dance, dance.  When your work hard, you will improve your physical ability, you will train your mental discipline so that you can accomplish more, and you will increase your focus on your dream. To keep the momentum going is sometimes tough.  Motivation doesn’t always last, even if this is something that you love to do. When that happens, lean on your commitment to continue. People of accomplishment rarely sit back and let things happen. They go out and happen to things! So take it one day at a time and…
4. Enjoy the process:  This part is easy! Look online to see what else is out there. Go out and meet other dancers. Make friends. Make mistakes. Be ethical. Never stop learning. Surround yourself with positivity. Review your dream and sometimes update it so that you are freshly inspired. Reward yourself when you attain a goal. Acknowledge your attributes and recognize your progress. Be kind to yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others. The moment you feel like you have to prove your worth to someone else is the moment to absolutely walk away from them. Dance for yourself, not for anyone else. You dance because you…
5. Love the Art: ‘Falling’ in love and ‘being’ in love are two very different things. You can ‘fall’ in love with belly dance, but if it never develops into a state of ‘being’ in love, you will find that the excitement fades and you abandon it. Once you are in love with the dance, it becomes a part of you that you can’t deny and shouldn’t ignore. It will set roots deep inside you. Only then can it grow with any hope of lasting long enough to make an impact on your life.  We lose ourselves in the things we love. We find ourselves there, too. Dancing is not something you do logically and rationally. It works best if you…
6. Dance with your heart:  While you could dance by simply mimicking someone and performing a mechanical motion, anyone who is a ‘real’ dancer (amateur or professional) will attest that if they dance from the heart, that’s where the dream resides. That is the place where inner peace is found and from which you exude creativity. Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is unparalleled. Always trust your heart. Then, all you have to do is…
7. Repeat: Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”

Now you know what to do to get what you want from the beautiful art of belly dance. These 6 simple steps repeated over and over again will drive you forward on an upward spiral so you can achieve heights you might otherwise never experience. Go ahead. Make your dance dreams come true. Get some good vibes cranking and just be happy with yourself. Love what belly dance brings to you. Become the image of your own imagination. Go forth and shimmy!
If you want to learn how to share your dance passion with others, consider taking the Sakkara Dance Teachers’ course at www.SakkaraDance.com

This month we are honoring strong, bold, beautiful women, those who are mothers, leaders, influencers of all kinds. These women are often overlooked and underestimated. Even those who have fame don’t have the whole truth of their story revealed to the world. 

Let’s take a look at one of the most famous women of all time. You may be surprised to learn that you (or a woman you know and love) is very similar to this fantastic historic figure. The woman we honor today is Cleopatra.
 
The story of Cleopatra is one like many others. It is filled with love and war, alliance and intrigue, tragedy and drama. Why was a woman born 2,000 years ago still commonly recognized today? Here are some highlights to her story.
 
Cleopatra was forced to face a monumental hardship when she was only 17 years old. Cleopatra’s father, the King of Egypt, died in 51 B.C. when she was a teenager. Her brother, Ptolemy XIII, was 12 years old. At the time, as was the custom, Cleopatra had to marry her brother to rule Egypt jointly. First the grief, then the formality of marrying her baby brother, then the huge responsibility of ruling a country!
 
Cleopatra was both brilliant and beautiful. For a woman, she was very well-educated. Cleopatra was well-versed in mathematics, literature, astronomy, medicine, and could speak several languages. Even though the Ptolemies ruled Egypt for 200 years and were of Macedonian descent, she was the first one who could fluently speak the Egyptian language. Her intelligence was assisted by her beauty, charisma, and passion. To others she was intimidating and envied.
 
One year later, Cleopatra suffered betrayal. Cleopatra’s own sister, Arsinol, worked with 3 official councilors to overthrow the new Queen. Because the young brother was easier to control, they kept him in place as King. It was only Cleopatra who they exiled from Egypt in 48 B.C.
 
Cleopatra’s cunning and determination won back the throne. Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria 1 year after Cleopatra was exiled. It took some time, but Cleopatra managed to pull together an army. Then she knew not to approach Caesar directly because she would be killed if seen openly at the palace. To gain an audience with Caesar, she rolled herself into a carpet and had her army deliver it as a gift. Cleopatra instantly charmed Caesar, and they quickly became lovers. He helped her overthrow her brother, but the victory paid a steep price. The Great Library of Alexandria burnt down.
 
Cleopatra stood strong and proud against gossip that slandered her. Cleopatra traveled with Caesar to Rome. There she lived with him even though this offended the conservative Republicans. Caesar was already married, yet he wanted to marry Cleopatra. There were laws against marrying foreigners, so their marriage was forbidden, and their love was ridiculed harshly and openly.
 
A year later, Rome assassinated Caesar and kicked Cleopatra out. A conspiracy of Senators had Caesar assassinated because he was considered a huge threat. Cleopatra returned to Egypt and patiently watched from a distance as Rome fell into a Civil War between Caesar’s heir, Octavian, and Mark Anthony. Eventually Mark Anthony won. Because he had fallen in love with Cleopatra when she was in Rome, he went to Egypt to find her.
 
Cleopatra had a second great love, Mark Anthony. They were politically and intimately united for a year before Mark Anthony was recalled to Rome. Unfortunately, political pressure forced him to marry Octavia, the sister of Octavian, Caesar’s heir.
 
Cleopatra marries Mark Anthony. Four years after he left Egypt, Mark Anthony led a military campaign against Parthes, which brought him near Egypt. As soon as possible, he summoned Cleopatra to his side. He was still in love with her, and they married, even though he was technically married to Octavia. The war with Parthes continued until Rome was victorious in 34 B.C. Mark Anthony celebrated in Alexandria, and soon it became evident to Rome that he intended to stay with Cleopatra, rather than return to Octavia. In 32 B.C., Mark Anthony divorced Octavia. Then Rome declared war on Cleopatra. They fought long and hard, culminating in one of the most famous battles in history, the battle of Actium. It was fought off the coast of Greece in the Adriatic Sea between Octavian’s forces and those of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. Rome won, forcing  Cleopatra and Mark Anthony to flee.
 
Rome went further to destroy the love between Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. When Octavian claimed Egypt as a Roman providence, the generals of Mark Anthony falsely reported to him that Cleopatra died in her mausoleum.
Mark Anthony then attempted suicide. Dying, he was taken to Cleopatra. He learned all too late that she was still alive. Mark Anthony died in Cleopatra’s arms and was buried as a king.
 
Rather than become a slave to Octavian, Cleopatra committed suicide. When Octavian entered Alexandria, Cleopatra was captured and taken to him. He made it very clear that he had no intention of having a relationship with her. He planned on taking Cleopatra to Rome to exhibit his triumph, but Cleopatra refused to become his slave. She locked herself in her mausoleum. Three days before they were to leave Egypt, Cleopatra had her hand servants bring a basket filled with figs. Hidden within was a snake. The Egyptians believed that death by snakebite secured immortality. Cleopatra was bitten by the asp, as were the hand servants. Octavian found them all dead.
 
Want to learn more about the History of Belly Dance? There's a great new course you can take which covers all the delicious details and much more! Visit www.SakkaraDance.com

Romantically and spiritually, the belly is the core of a woman’s being, her femininity, her center of power.  Historically, a soft, round womanly shape was considered beautiful, and a curving belly symbolized both wealth and position.  It seems most men still prefer a woman with those curves, but modern society has influenced the opinion of most women.  In the Western world, the least favorite part for most women is the lower abdominal, affectionately (?!) referred to as the belly. It is in that area of the body where you feel muscularly lazy and find it too easy to collect a pouch of fat. Most women give their bellies the evil eye, especially when they are in front of the mirror. I don’t know how many times I have seen this in dance class and can personally say I have felt the same way! I don’t know anyone who wants to look like the jolly Buddha.
 
Webster’s Dictionary states the noun “belly” is the abdomen. The verbs “bellied” or “bellying” mean to swell out or bulge. Well, that’s not exactly promising, is it?!
 
Here are some things you can do to define your midsection and slenderize your waistline:
 

1. Engage your lower abs to create proper body alignment. Your belly is made up of four layers of muscles. Because of this, the abdominals can stand a lot of toning exercises. They work together the back muscles to support the column of the spine. Your belly will sag forward if it is weak muscles and it will pull the lower spine into “swayback”, which can cause pain. The lower spine curves naturally, but should only form a slight curve. If you lengthen your spine and tighten the lower abs, you will automatically improve your shape. Consciously practice pulling in the lower abdominal muscles. It sounds simple enough, but will take repeated practice until it becomes a habit.
2. You definitely will improve your belly is you remove excess fat which lies over the belly. Removing fat means reducing the amount of goodies you consume, as well as adding cardiovascular exercise to burn the fat away. The good news is, if you take dance class three times a week, you are getting the workout you need. You can always supplement your dance classes with a brisk walk, taking a tone class at the gym, or using any kind of cardio equipment. You simply need to choose the ones you like the most, so it does not feel like a tedious chore.
3. Abdominals exercises are also something you can do to strengthen your core. The traditional Sit-Up comes to mind, but I know for fact that often people execute them incorrectly and end up hurting their necks instead of helping their abs. Please consider something else, like holding a plank position for 1-2 minutes, or using a Bosu ball.
4. There are specific belly dance movements that strengthen the abs and lower back muscles (your core). Within the realm of belly dance, the book The Belly Dancer in You, written by famous Turkish dancer Ozel Turkbas, claims that it was the Turks who added belly movements. Ozel states that the dance became a fixture in Turkish wedding celebrations as part of the awalem, a non-verbal dance that taught women which exercises to do to enjoy painless childbirth without stretch marks. Ozel feels that belly dancing brings women the closest to the status of goddess. The stomach symbolizes the center of all community, which is a very appropriate place for civilization to be based.  She even points out that the Japanese have a whole philosophy based on hara, a point just below the navel which must be kept loose and mobile if the individual is to have a spontaneous and fulfilled existence. That hara point is the belly dancer’s abdomen.

 
There are technically only two movements that the belly can perform, namely contraction and release. The entire abdominal wall can be used, or different parts in different series, to create various interesting and challenging dance movements.  The Stomach Flutter is a great movement that uses the entire abdominal wall. Release the control of the stomach as you let it out, then grab it back in. Do it at an even tempo, in-out in-out in-out without holding your breath. As you gain control, increase the speed to create a fluttering effect.
 
The second most common movement done with the belly is the Belly Roll.  First, try to separate your ab muscles in two parts, the upper portion above your belly button and the lower portion beneath the belly button. Practice contracting and releasing each half separately. The slower you practice, the better. Once you get confident with the separate movements, try this sequence: contract the upper half, then while holding it in contract the lower half (so the entire abdomen is held IN). Then release the upper half without releasing the lower (that’s hard but not impossible!). Finally, release the lower half (so the entire abdomen is relaxed OUT). Repeat many times. Once you have the Belly Roll, you can reverse it or build upon it by incorporating it into a roll that uses the whole torso and spine to make a full Undulation. Advance into a moving Undulation, called a Camelwalk. An excellent version of Camelwalk is what I call the "small Camelwalk", which is executed entirely on the balls of the feet. It challenges your balance, which automatically tones your core. Check out my short instructional video on how to execute a Small Camelwalk: https://youtu.be/ErSvUYmCZTs
 
Belly dance wouldn’t be belly dance without great belly movements. As you work to improve your dance technique, take special time to develop your abdominal muscles.  Not only will your dance technique improve, but you’ll love how your belly looks and will dramatically improve your long-term health. Go ahead, search for that better belly. It’s a win-win situation. You might find that Ozel was right, you are a goddess!

St. Patrick’s day is a day of 4-leaf clovers, pots of gold, and tons of good luck. Here is how you can attract good luck that will take your dance to new heights:

1. “L” stands for Love:  Ask yourself, do you absolutely LOVE to dance? Do you feel happier when you move? Do you allow yourself to truly enjoy your femininity? If you want to attract luck, you must step into your dance 100%. Not just by physically moving, but really feeling it. When you relax and wrap yourself in positive energy, it will act like a magnet for joy and abundance. Avoid being overly critical of yourself or seduced by gossip. Negativity destroys luck. Instead, focus on the positive, imagine what you want to have happen, write it down, feel it, and focus on it. Then watch for signs that it is coming your way!
2. “U” stands for Unique:  Luck doesn’t come to the ordinary, but to the extraordinary. Want to rise to that level? Figure out how you are UNIQUE from everyone else. Instead of following the current trends and copying what everyone else is doing, explore the strengths within your personality and identify what your taste is in movement and costuming. Use them to create a unique ‘brand’ for yourself as a dancer. Dare to stand apart from the crowd!
3. “C” stands for Charisma:  People are attracted to CHARISMATIC people. When you dance, forget about perfection. Insecurities will never bring you luck. Instead, what you want is to sparkle on stage. Have the courage to make eye contact and smile from your heart. Share your emotions and be playful. This will create an electric exchange between you and your audience. Once they become mesmerized by you, their demand for your talents will rise, and you’ll thrilled by how many more dance shows will come your way.
4. “K” stands for Knowledge:  Luck isn’t something you can force. It’s got to be built upon a solid foundation, formed by your KNOWLEDGE. Always be open-minded and willing to learn. Practice your dance often so you perform with sophisticated skill. Work on really knowing your ‘self’, because your authentic self will be apparent each time you step onto a stage or into the classroom. If you are clear about your integrity, your talent and your confidence, you will find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

As you see, luck isn’t something outside of yourself that magically appears. It is something that comes from within. The leprechaun’s greatest secret is that you don’t need him, because you already possess the potential. Believe in yourself and you will be the luckiest dancer ever!

The Lotus is an exotic hand movement that has roots in ancient Egypt.  It's history dates back to 4000 BC when it was an important part of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Flowers from the Nile Valley can be found on many of the objects that the ancient Egyptians used everyday. Sometimes the lotus designs were purely for decorative purposes, and sometimes they had religious meaning, particularly in funeral ceremonies in the Egyptian quest for eternal life. For the ancient Egyptians, the lotus flower was a symbol of creation, renewal and rebirth. The flower grows along the Nile, blooming at dawn and closing at dusk. It grows from beneath the depths of the water to above the surface. It is a symbol for hidden vitality, appearing as if out of nowhere, hinting at the true source of creation.

The belly dance movement called the Lotus captivates an audience more than most of the other hand and arm movements. The Lotus involves both hands and should be done at a time in your routine when you are not holding a veil or wearing finger cymbals.  When performing the Lotus, it's best if you stay in place or do a simple, graceful glide across the stage, allowing the audience to appreciate its beauty.  The center of the movement is around the wrists, which become the center of the flower. The hands and fingers are the petals. With constant movement, the petals appear to be many, creating the full blossom.

It's not the easiest hand movement to master, but once you break it down and practice it carefully, you'll see that all it takes is a coordination of flexing and bending your hands around the wrists. To help you master the Lotus, please take a look at the instructional video that I have posted on my YouTube channel. It breaks down the Lotus into 4 basic positions. It also gives you tips on moving the Lotus in a beautiful fashion.  See link at bottom of this blog post.

Incorporating the Lotus within your oriental dance routine adds a touch of beauty and is an especially authentic addition to a pharaonic-style dance. The Lotus helps your dancing blossom to exciting heights!

Ever wonder why other dancers get more accolades or seem to get ahead faster? Self-doubt can lead us to making a fatal error that leaves you feeling like you are going nowhere. Sometimes we don’t even know we made an error at all, we just struggle with frustration.

What are the common mistakes an ambitious dancer might make? Check out the following list to see if you are stuck in the mire of an error right now and need help getting unstuck. Or maybe you can relate to an error that you made in the past and learned from it. You can help guide another in their dance journey. 

1. Dancing from the neck down:  You might have the best shimmy in the whole world, but if your dancing doesn’t tell a story with feeling and charisma, it will never stand out as anything special. Mastering technique is a wonderful asset, but if you are only a great technician, your show will be flat and unemotional. Make sure that you are truly feeling things when you perform! And I don’t mean stage fright. I am talking about emotional expression like happiness, playfulness, shyness, boldness, drama, sweetness, and a myriad of other feelings. This means you must use your body language and your facial expressions to add meaning to your excellent technique. Oh, and by the way, don't forget that you should use your head when you dance. Head slides, circles, rolling, tossing the head back, throwing your hair forward, and just plain looking sharply for an accent are all exciting enhancements to your performance. (Um, about the head movements, please don't over do it! It is not in good taste to throw your hair around repeatedly. Zar dance is not belly dance.)
2. Not taking class anymore: So you feel like you have are a good dancer, are maybe teaching others how to belly dance, and/or are acquiring dance jobs and doing pretty well. This is the time when it's easy to believe you no longer need to study dance anymore. But the most well-trained dancers of any kind can tell you they still take class and look for workshops that will expand their knowledge. Plus, there’s nothing like a personal dance coach to keep you physically and mentally on top of your game. The internet is a great tool for seeing what is going on around the world, but you will always need a real-life coach that is not afraid to correct you with honesty. Find a mentor that can challenge you.  Look for new ideas. Research on the internet to learn as much as you can. Practice a lot. If you keep learning, your art will keep growing. When you stop learning, your art will stagnate and decline.
3. Doing too much, too little, too soon:  When should you claim that you’re a professional? What makes a professional anyway? These days you look online and see thousands of dancers claiming to be the end-all of belly dance. How do you know how to sort between who is for real and who’s simply good at posting on social media? The fact remains the internet alone does not make you a professional, no matter how good you are at promoting yourself there. You need to dance for real at all sorts of gigs. Build real credentials with real experience.  Accept as many dance jobs as possible, using each gig as a learning experience. When you do that, you will absolutely know that you are indeed a professional, and all your online marketing will be backed up by your true experience. Until then, hold off on declaring that you are a pro. 
4. Losing your focus: You get what you focus on. But first, you better make sure you know what that is. Do you have a dance goal? If not, you are stuck floundering and will never get ahead. If you can identify your goal clearly you are already halfway there. Be consistent and diligent. Visualize your goal often and in detail. Focus on one thing at a time, work on it, and master it. Once you have achieved that goal, you can set a new one. It’s like slowly climbing a ladder. You take one rung at a time, carefully stepping up and never looking down.  Over time, you will get grand results. It’s not easy, but it is simple.
5. Comparing yourself to others:  As a dancer you should be the best you can be. The only person to compete with is yourself. If you look around, you will always be able to find someone who looks better, moves better, and/or is more well-known than you are. That’s discouraging. It's tough not to feel even a little competitive. However, you would do yourself a huge favor if you let go of all that and stay on your own path. No one else’s approval will ever be enough if you do not feel confident in your own abilities. Ask a trusted coach if your ego is in your way, and don’t be offended if the answer is yes. You must sometimes get out of your own way in order to succeed.