Suhaila Unveiled Article, May 1, 2006

May 1, 2006

Generations

1. Greetings
2. Editorial by Suhaila
3. Workshops
4. Workshop Testimonials
5. Booking
6. Article: Generations
7. Rashid's Old School Corner
8. NEW! Just Arrived...!
9. Sale
10. Highlighted Products
11. Classes
12. Special Events
13. Contact
14. Unsubscribe

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NEW!!! REMIX CD......

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Highlighted Products

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Classes

The Suhaila Salimpour
School of Dance
10082 San Pablo Ave.
El Cerrito, CA
(510) 527-2400

Suhaila Salimpour Format Belly Dance, Jamila Salimpour Format Belly Dance, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Adults, teens and kids!

Classes offered Monday through Saturday

For complete class listing, visit our website for our new schedule
or call (510) 527-2400

The Salimpour Technique
taught by Rashid

Located at Studio Gracia
19 Heron (off of 8th St.)

San Francisco, CA
Between Folsom and Harrison St.
(415) 307-4782

Level 1/2 combination classes are offered on Wednesday from 6:00pm-7:30pm
$12.00 Drop-In (class cards available)

For complete information, contact Rashid at:

raksrashid@aol.com

(415) 621-0669 (415) 596-0990

Events

Belly Dance Nights
at Montero's Café
A night of performance with dancers from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance
First Sunday of every month
6:00 pm
1106 Solano Ave., Albany, CA
(510) 524-1270
Sign up to dance!
Call (510) 527-2400,
email suhaila@suhaila.com
or speak to an instructor

Not a member?
If you received this newsletter from a friend, and you would like to sign up to receive it every month, visit www.suhaila.com

by Tiffany Bisconer

Tiffany Bisconer

Last week I was teaching the kids belly dance class and decided it was time for another history lesson for the girls. I was in the middle of breaking down Arabic I and I looked over at Jamila who was perched on her chair in the corner of the lobby. I asked the class if they knew who to thank for the movement I was teaching them and one of Isabella’s friends in class yelled “Isabella’s Nona”. I told her that was right and then asked the class what her name was. A few of the less shy of the bunch piped up and said “Jamila”. Then I told the class to gather around me and I brought them to the back of the studio to the wall of pictures that fills the studio with the history of belly dance not only in the school, but in the United States. I pointed to the first picture and asked the class who knew what this was a picture of. The picture was a sepia toned photo of one of the original waves of Bal Anat, with snake dancers, sword dancers and Jamila covered in Assuit in the front of the photo. One of the older kids in class was jumping up and down with her hand up to answer. I motioned for her to answer and she said “Bal Anat!” I said “That’s right, and do you know why Bal Anat is so special?” The girls shook their heads and looked up at me with big eyes. “Because not only was Bal Anat the first tribal belly dancing company in the United States” at this point they all gasped, “but Jamila was the director and founder of Bal Anat.” I pointed to Jamila in the picture and asked, “Guess who that is..?” Then the chorus of girls chimed in “Jamila!” I then went on to the next photo of Suhaila on an album cover and asked them who this was and they yelled “Isabella’s mom!” I laughed and said yes then told them that not only does Suhaila own this school (they were all impressed by the word “owned”), but Suhaila is one of the most famous belly dancers in the whole world. I then heard quite a few wow’s and a few more cool’s. I then went through all of the photo’s including a picture of Suhaila’s father who was a drummer, Andre’s mother who was a belly dancer during the same time frame Jamila was, and a picture of Andre’s father who was an Oud player. By the end of the wall of pictures they were telling me who was in each of the photos before I asked. The only ones they tripped over where the one’s of Suhaila when she was a little girl because they all assumed she was Isabella, or maybe it was because Isabella told them it was her!

When I finished with my impromptu pictorial history lesson we were all standing by the edge of the lobby. I explained to them that because of Jamila starting Bal Anat and being involved in the dance, Suhaila was raised in the dance and then took what her mother taught her and added more and more over the years and because of Suhaila I fell in love with the dance. I told them that everything you learn from me was a gift from my teachers Jamila and Suhaila. I explained that their classmate Isabella is third generation dancer so she will be the next one to carry on with the dance in the family. Then I told them that Jamila keeps an eye on them and watches over them in class. I saw Jamila raise her eyebrow out of the corner of my eye. I asked them, “Do you know who the first one we have to thank for giving us this gift of dance?” I opened my hand towards Jamila and said “Jamila.” They all turned their heads and I heard “that’s Jamila….wow!!” Then a chorus of little girl voices said “Thank you Jamila!” At this point the same little girl who told me in an earlier class that she ALWAYS wanted to be a belly dancer, dropped to her knees and put her head on the floor in front of Jamila’s feet and said thank you thank you thank you…….. Then she hopped up and ran over to me and gave me a hug and said “That’s so amazing” I looked over at Jamila and she was smiling and trying to figure out what to do with all these little people standing in front of her wanting her attention. As the Grande Dame and grandmother she is she said “You’re welcome”. The girls were so excited and they scattered away to finish learning the Jamila Salimpour step they were working on now with a new focus, knowing that the creator of the movement was “watching over them”.

Having Jamila in the studio is such a treasure. Not only does she teach every Saturday, and leave the class in a puddle of sweat I must say, but she comes to the studio as if it was her second home. It is inspiring to me and the dancers around her to see that at almost 80 she is still vibrant, strong, inspired and an intregal part of this community of dancers. I hope that I am half as lively at half her age! She takes on her role in the studio as the mother of us all and her presence is such an important part of the balance of our community. In the studio the ages range from two year old siblings of the younger dancers to pre-teens to teenagers to twenty-something to middle aged to eighty years. Being around all phases of life in the studio environment has really kept awareness in everyone on where we’ve come from and where we are headed. Jamila to me has been an extremely grounding force. Staying a part of a community and being surrounded by the dance has kept her spirit full of spark. She told me the other day as we were finishing a conversation that she will see me a little later at the studio, then she said “You know, I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have the studio as my social time, no one else could understand my life! I mean who my age has the same interests?!” As she left I thought about what she said and I felt that her statement was so true and so real. I think at any age we gravitate towards communities that share our interests and reflect our values and desires, but as we age it becomes so much more important to have a solid sense of community and purpose or else it becomes harder to maintain the same type of energy and drive we so often take for granted when we are younger. Just as the studio is important for Jamila, her role there is extremely important for the younger generation, myself included, because she sets an example of how to keep a passion for dance and a passion for life even through the inevitable aging process. She is constantly coming up with new finger cymbal patterns and takes time to talk with everyone who comes into the studio. She feeds, tells stories, shares her knowledge and gives advice to her many dance children, and they in turn learn how best to pay respect to her.

I feel that it is so easy to take for granted, or just simply overlook those in our lives that are of a different age bracket, both older and younger. Being submersed in an environment that holds all phases of life at an equal value, gives everyone a voice of their own and then we are held accountable for our communications and relations with those of all ages. This is one of the many things that was a part of Suhaila’s vision on having a studio and it has created such a rich quality of life within the community here. Not only was the studio a huge gift to her mother as a built in community, but the environment that was so carefully planned out has been a priceless gift to all of us that have walked into the doors. This weekend as I was walking through the studio to grab my music to teach, Jamila called after me, “Tiffany……catch!” Luckily I turned around just in time to catch a power bar that was flying towards my head. She said “You can’t teach hungry!” I laughed, almost hyperventilated because the strength of her Sicilian power bar pitch was just unheard of for a woman of her age, but she is always surprising me with something. I just hope I can lift my arm when I am 80! I looked at her and she had a huge fiery grin on her face, because she almost caught me off guard, and the look in her eyes reminded me of what I see when I look at the young girls in my belly dance for kid’s class. She was so solid in this moment and in her role in a way that seems impossible when we run around a mile a minute to get things done. I admire her for her agility and passion for this dance and her constant growth in this dance form. She hasn’t let aging stop her passions in any way and she is a walking example of how the dance keeps you full of life. I thank her for being a strong female role model in my life and for reminding me of what’s important to hold onto as I pass through each phase of being a woman.

Upcoming Workshops
	August 7-11, El Cerrito, CA Weeklong Workshop Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, www.suhaila.com suhaila@suhaila.com Register Online August 26-27, Boston, MA Workshop/Performance Contact: Za’Beth Robinson (978) 373-0601 zills@earthlink.net More Info
2006 Workshops: May 13, St Louis, MO Master Class Taught By Tiffany Bisconer (Authorized Instructor from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance) Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format Time: TBA Contact: Lois Marshall salwaabd@aol.com (314) 961-3790, (314) 956-9725 May 14 , Portland, OR Master Class Taught By Tiffany Bisconer (Authorized Instructor from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance) Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format Time: 10:00am-1:00pm (Level I Format) 2:00pm-5:00pm (Level II Format) Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707 June 3-5, Broxell, Belgium 3-day Workshop Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique Date: Saturday, June 3, 2006 5 hours of teaching Sunday, June 4, 2006 5 hours of teaching Monday, June 5, 2006 4 hours of teaching Location: LLN Contact: Leïla Bouguerra lbouguerra@skynet.be June 8, 10, 11, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec Encore International Dance Festival Content: Baladi Teachers: Suhaila Salimpour, Tiffany Bisconer, Kendra Katz Suhaila Salimpour: Baladi (Intermediate/Advanced) Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 1:00pm-5:00pm Baladi (Intermediate/Advanced) Sunday, June 11, 2006 from 1:00pm-5:00pm Tiffany Bisconer: Baladi (Elementary) Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 1:00pm-5:00pm Baladi (Elementary) Sunday, June 11, 2006 from 1:00pm-5:00pm Kendra Katz: Baladi (Beginning) Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 9:00am-10:00am Baladi (Beginning) Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 10:30am-11:30am Baladi (Initiation) Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 12:00pm-1:00pm Baladi (Initiation) Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 1:30pm-2:30pm Baladi (Initiation) Sunday, June 11, 2006 from 9:00am-10:00am Baladi (Initiation) Sunday, June 11, 2006 from 10:30am-11:30am Baladi (Beginning) Sunday, June 11, 2006 from 12:00pm-1:00pm Baladi (Beginning) Sunday, June 11, 2006 from 1:30pm-2:30pm Performances: Thursday, June 8th and Saturday, June 10th at approximately 8:30pm, Sunday, June 11th at approximately 7:00pm Location of Workshop and Performances: TBA Contact: « Encore » International Dance Festival Represented by: Martine Perrin, staff coordinator Phone: 1-877-533-2673 (toll free) or (819)376-2769 Fax: (819)376-1093 m.perrin@festival-encore.com More Information June 17-18, Paris, France Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique Time & Location: TBA Contact: Amana amana@club.fr June 22-July 2, Cairo, Egypt Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique Time & Location: TBA Contact: Raqia Hassan 2027482338, 20123292386, raqiahassan@hotmail.com Register Online July 15-16, Somerville, NJ SOLD OUT!! 2-Day Workshop Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm Location: Indigo Ballroom, 17 Division St, Somerville, NJ Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707 Register Online August 2-6, Portland, OR Tribal Quest NW-Workshop & Show Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique Times: Friday, August 4th, 3:00-4:45pm Saturday, August 5th, 3:30-5:15pm Location: TBA Contact: Caravan Studio (503) 287-1794 www.gypsycaravan.us jen@gypsycaravan.us Register Online August 7-11, El Cerrito, CA Weeklong Workshop Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique Optional Level I and II Certification Testing Aug 11 Time: 9:30am - 3:30pm Location: 10082 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707 Register Online August 13, Seattle, WA Master Class Taught By Tiffany Bisconer (Authorized Instructor from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance) Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format Time: 10:00am-1:00pm (Level I Format) 2:00pm-5:00pm (Level II Format) Contact: Renee Drellishak (206) 568-1514 renee.drellishak@gmail.com August 21-25, El Cerrito, CA Level III Weeklong Workshop Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique *Must be Level II Certified to attend Optional Level III Certification Testing Aug 25 Time: 9:30am - 3:30pm Location: 10082 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707 Register Online August 26-27, Boston, MA Workshop/Performance Content: Drum Solo Choreography, Suhaila's Layering Technique, Jamila Salimpour Format with Finger Cymbals Time: Saturday 11:00am-4:00pm Sunday 10:30am-3:30pm Location: Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Dr., Medford, MA 02155 Contact: Za’Beth Robinson (978) 373-0601 zills@earthlink.net More Info September 16-17, Ann Arbor, MI 2-Day Workshop Location: TBC Contact: Crystal Dunlap dunlapcrystal@hotmail.com 734-330-8976 September 8-10, El Cerrito, CA Level I 3-Day Workshop Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique Optional Level I Certification Testing September 10th Time: 9:30am - 3:30pm Location: 10082 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707 Register Online September 17 , Portland, OR Master Class Taught By Tiffany Bisconer or Kendra Katz (Authorized Instructor from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance) Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format Time: 10:00am-1:00pm (Level I Format) 2:00pm-5:00pm (Level II Format) Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707 September 23-24 , Albuquerque, NM Master Class Taught By Tiffany Bisconer (Authorized Instructor from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance) Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format Time: TBA Contact: Amaya mamaya1@comcast.net (505) 281-4492 September 25-29, El Cerrito, CA Level II Weeklong Workshop Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique Must be Level I Certified to attend Optional Level II Certification Testing Sept 29 Time: 9:30am - 3:30pm Location: 10082 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Contact: Suhaila Productions, LLC (510) 526-4344, suhaila@suhaila.com www.suhaila.com Send Checks/MO to: PO Box 8612, Landscape Station, Berkeley, CA 94707 Register Online October 20-22, Munich, Germany 3-Day Workshop Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique, Drum Solo Chorography, Layering, Folkloric Fusion, Jamila Salimpour Format, Finger Cymbals Time & Location: TBA Contact: Monika 0049-8072-98477; Momo 0049-6162-915999, mobile 0160-640-8281, monika@werksper.de www.tanz-zentrum.de October 27-29, Frankfurt, Germany Content: Suhaila Salimpour Technique Time & Location: TBA Contact: TBD Nov 4-6, Hannover, Germany Content: Friday: 6pm-9pm Folkloric Fusion/Tribal Style Saturday: 10am-1pm Technique & Combinations Saturday: 2pm-5pm Suhaila Layering Technique Sunday: 11am-4pm Drum Solo Choreography Contact: Sina Bremer sina.b@t-online.de Nov 9-12 Toronto, Canada 4-Day Workshop Content: TBA Time: TBA Performance: TBA Location: TBA Sponsor: Audra Simmons (800) 431-0418 audra@cleopatrasbazaar.com More Info Nov 18-19 Vancouver, Canada 2-Day Workshop Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format Time: Saturday 9:30am - 2:30pm * Including 1hr Catered lunch Sunday 9:30am - 2:30pm * Including 1hr Catered lunch Performance: Saturday November 18th Performance/Workshop Location: The Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St., Vancouver Sponsor: Martina 604-241-4371 martina@bellyfringe.ca More Info 2007 Workshops: February 17-18, Austin, TX 2-Day Workshop Content: Suhaila Salimpour Format Time: TBA Location: Diva Dance Studio, 11940 Manchaca Rd., Austin, TX 78748 Sponsor: Stacey Wuest (512) 924-7257 stacey@staceylizette.net Register Online
Workshop Testimonials
Congratulations on Becoming Certified... Level I Hayley Nuttall Jennifer Zaghloul Level II Amy Anthony Brittney Banaei Geneva Bybee Tiffany Dorlac Carleigh Fastame Patricia Morehead Laura Pietrzyk Alexis Rodich Crystal Silmi Audra Simmons Leila Tayeb Jennifer Tether Attending this Workshop has been an inspiring life changing experience. Suhaila is a warm-hearted woman whose passion is the dance, and has become my inspiration. Through this experience, she has helped me internalize every moment, and has taken me to a new level of the dance. She and her staff are down to earth, and you can tell they all love their work. I can’t wait to take another workshop to further my dance knowledge and have a great time and meet new friends, who all share the same love. -Roselee Kislowski Bristow, VA
Bring Suhaila to your event!
Suhaila and the Suhaila Dance Company travel all over the country and the world performing and teaching workshops. For availability and booking information, contact Suhaila Productions at (510) 526-4344 or email suhaila@suhaila.com

Suhaila Productions · P.O. Box 8612 · Landscape Station · Berkeley · CA · 94707
510.526.4344
suhaila@suhaila.com
www.suhaila.com

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