Welcome to November's Zameena! It's Farah's (our 2018 resident writer in photo above) last edition ... so please enjoy!
Our Zameena community is growing month on month. Thank you for all your support. November is our time to reflect, to update and to look forward so we hope there is something special to you this edition.
Music Corner gives you a chance to get into your Egyptian groove.
There's news from Zara and a link to her new blog.
PLUS - Don't miss the competition this month! GIVE IT A GO!
It's a jam packed edition so make sure you scroll down to see it all
Without further ado, it's over to Farah ... ... ...
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THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT MYSELF THROUGH MY DANCING CAREER
by Farah Haraf
Hello my beauties,
Hoping you had a fantastic beginning of autumn. We are meeting one last time here for this year. I know, right? Time flies! But it’s the opportunity to reflect back on many things. Including one crucial question: what do you learn about yourself through dancing?
Here are a few of the major, sometimes life changing, things I discovered about myself throughout my career.
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Stamina:
I can be the laziest person some days yet put on numerous shows the same night like a crew member of the Fame movie whilst feeling like an underfed Teletubby.
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Patience:
You gonna wait! And wait. And when you think it’s over you gonna wait more. Wait for that dream contract, for that costume you ordered 3 months ago, wait for that wedding performance while the drunk maid of honor is dishonoring her title during her speech, wait for your wages sometimes and, unfortunately (I do NOT advise!) wait for basically everything. And mind you dear, you are expected to do so with a smile!
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Self motivation:
No one is gonna go to practice for you, not show up to your own show. Keep it moving, and shaking, YAllah!! Being your own boss is a blessing and a curse that we are easily tempted to brush away like the gym or the laundry. But no no: someone has to pay for that gym fee and it’s you! Do not lose credibility towards your clients.
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Hypocrisy:
Oh, I’m such a hypocrite on an absolute daily basis.
No matter how much I enjoy crowds 99% at the time, there is always going to be that one face I can’t stand. Yet, I’ll smile to it.
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Stubborn:
What is no? Is it in the dictionary? It is weird because it is one of my favorite words to use, yet I can’t hear it. I don’t take “no” for an answer. What I want I will get. Where I want to dance I will and vice versa. So, when my smile follows a “no”, the person in front of me better be aware of a big surprise.
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Ego:
There wouldn’t be the need to dance without something deep in us to express. And that’s not ego. Yet, I never dance like no one is watching. I dance like, they better put that damn phone down unless they're recording me! This girl didn’t get ready for 2 hours for ignorance. Charisma helps of course. But we all know sometimes nothing is enough to get crowd's attention on a bad vibe day. Ego can be a boost sometimes. As long as we don’t let it guide us. I have ego to always do better, be better, and perform better. I try to turn it into something constructive.
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Loneliness:
There is a form of exclusion in doing a “dream” job. Because you will be automatically outcast of late evening plans, and early breakfast gatherings to name a few. But even more exclusions, from many office people's conversations and “normal” people's problems as they assume that we can’t relate. No I can’t relate that Lucy stole my stapler or that the commute to work at 8am is hell, BUT I can indeed relate to financial issues, dress code (oh please!!) and colleague dramaaaa. At the end of the day, remind your friends that we're all just making a living, and we more or less hate our boss equally, even when it’s ourselves...
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Plan B:
Very simple: waiter wants to be manager, secretary wants to have her own secretary so what about us? Do I want my own dancer?
Where do I go from here in few years?
Reconversion includes full time teaching, costuming, or in many cases a 360 degrees reconversion. And all of them are the right answer to the right person.
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Confidence:
I used make up to hide. I used everything I could. Then I understood, if I’m never gonna show me, I’ll never get anywhere. So, I still use make up but to enhance not to hide anymore. I worked super hard to prove to myself that me is worth to be on stage. And I’m still doing that. In the process I understood that there’s no competition, except who you think you are. If you think you are perfect, then beat yourself. If you think you are not good enough, then level up. But don’t look at any other dancer’s filled cup. It’s not your prize nor your concern.
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Never stop learning:
The above point is a synonym of this somehow. Whenever you feel you are on top of your game, this is exactly when you should run to the studio to practice. This is wrong destructive ego, and the end of the thirst for greatness. And, by the way, if you could really do it all on stage then you should step down and let us enjoy someone whose weaknesses are like sugar. There’s beauty in everything, even in missed accents, but only if you are honest with yourself and your audience.
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So, I’m sure many of you can relate to these points and many more not mentioned. My dear readers it’s been an immense pleasure to share with you all this year. I hope 2019 brings you everything you wish for in and out of dance. We will meet again
Keep your head up and your shimmy on point.
Lots of love from Dubai.
Farah xx
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A big THANK YOU for this and all your incredible articles this year dear Farah.
We have enjoyed and learnt from them all!
And, we are lucky to see Farah here, dancing in Dubai
Enjoy!
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FARAH HARAF
(professional dancer in Dubai)
You can click to connect with Farah on:
FaceBook
YouTube
and
Instagram @farou7a_haraf
Support from the bellydance community is so uplifting. We are sure Farah will appreciate your interest and feedback.
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Info Spot
With love for our bellydance community we have our
Past Resident Writer Updates
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Sophia Furber our 2017 Resident Writer
(the student bellydancer)
Hi All Zameena Readers,
Well, I have been busy in dance. I choreographed and performed my first ever solo in May this year as part of Charlotte Desorgher and Aziza's dancer development programme, "The Undeniables". It was the culmination of a year of rigorous training and practice for me.
I also started learning Palestinian dabke this year with the amazing Al Zaytouna Dance Theatre. I've since become completely addicted to dabke! It has to be one of the world's most underrated dances!
Grab great dancing opportunities!
Thank you for reading my update. Love from Sophia XX
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Kay Dance our 2016 Resident Writer
(the bellydance teacher)
Hello to all the wonderful Zameena readers and thanks Zara for inviting me to write an update!
My company, LovetheBeat, will be ten years old next year! That’s a huge milestone for me personally and professionally. I intend on marking the occasion but am still deciding how. Given the fact that my hands are full with my 16 month old boy, and not to mention that I am due a second baby later this month! I need to make sure I plan the tenth anniversary event with careful consideration.
Also, I can’t wait to get back and stuck into all the exciting bellydance happenings in our communities!
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It would be lovely to hear from you so please feel free to email me at kay@lovethebeat.co.uk. In advance of the festive season & New Year, sending you all lots of loving wishes, shimmy hugs & merry kisses.
Kay XXXXX  ️️
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Chritsmas is coming
why not put some of these cute fun items from Zara's Zouk on your Christmas list to Santa (or failing that.. The boyfriend?!)
Or even better
BUY FOR A FRIEND!
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Who doesn't like Jewellery.
What about some traditional Egyptian pieces - WITH JINGLE?
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Silk Veils
Silk is beautiful and LIGHT TO SEND and no worries as ones size fits all
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Bellydance Belts
A classic gift, you can't go wrong buying a dancer a belt!
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Remember you can shop with confidence with Zara's Zouk's
no quibble, full refund policy
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Music Corner
OK, so this month we don't just have a song for you -
we have the full transliteration, translation and interpretation!
This month's song is the intro to a TV series called,
"Set-tat Adret" which means, "Able Women"
As implied, it is about a group of independent women in Egypt.
It is sung by Amina.
You may think I am crazy for featuring this song as it's a theme song... but far from it. The theme tunes to soaps and series hold their own in Egypt and get released as singles and played on the radio!
Listen to it; sing along; shimmy to it; try some improvised moves to it;
But Most Of All - Enjoy!
Words in Arabic: اغنية مين اللي قال
Phonetic Transliteration: Ognaya min Elly al
Literal Translation: Song Who told me
Meaning/ similar phrase in English: Song Who told me…..
الكلمات
El-kelmat
The words
Lyrics
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مين اللي قال ان الحياة مشوار وجع
Min elly al in hayat mshwar wgoo-3aa
Who told me that life is a journey of pain
Nobody told me life was going to be easy
وطريق بنمشي فيه بس علشان نقع
We tarrit bin-mshy fey bass Aaa-shan en-ouaaa
And we travel the journey/ road just so we can fall
We are just going through life waiting for the next thing to trip us up
اه يا زمان مفيهوش مكان للصدف
Ahh ya zaman meh-fey-hwosh ma-khan lil-soodof
Ahh the past doesn’t have space for coincidences
There is no such thing as coincidences, what has happened (including the bad) was meant to happen (hence extra unfair)
كام لحظة حلوة بس وعمرنا يتخطف
Kam Luzah helwa bass we omrinnah yit-hik-tiff
How many short good moments do we get before your life is stolen (kidnapped)
You only get a few really good times in you life, the rest of the time is hard and then before you know it you are dead.
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مش انا الجاني يا دنيا انا المظلوم
Mish ana el-ganny ya Donya ana el-mazloom
World (Donya) - I am not the aggressor/the guilty/the culprit (el-ganny) , I am the victim (el-mazloom)
Come on world. I’m not a bad person or bad to others, I don’t deserve this, I’m one of the ones always suffering and going through hard times
انا الطفل البسيط اللي امنلك يوم
Ana el tifl elbuseeyt el-ly amin-lik yoom
I am the small child that trusted you in the day (that once trusted you)
I’m young and naive, I put my faith in you (the world) that everything would be ok
^Repeat of two lines above^
انا اللي فاضل من ناس كتيرماتت علشان تعيش
Ana el-ly fuudel min nass keytir maatit aa-shan taeish
I am the one left of lots of people of lived to order die
So many people killing themselves at work so to live and end up with no time to enjoy life, I don’t want to live like this, too many I know have wasted their lives being this way.
انا اللي كل ما شمس تطلع الاقي غيوم
Anna el-ly Kol ma shams it-taalaaa a-laeey gee-yoom
It’s me who every time the sun comes up I find it is still cloudy
I wake up every day and it's cloudy even if others may see the sunshine.
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اهدي عليا يا دنيا شوية وطبطب
Ahdey aa-layaa ya Donya swahya we tub-tuby
Lay off of me world and rock/pat (reassure) me a little
Please world have some mercy on me, rock and protect/reassure me from all these bad times (rock /pat me like a baby and look after me.)
انا مش فارس يا دنيا ولا حتى نبي
Ana mish faris ya Donya walla haata nebey
I am not a Knight world or even a little bit a prophet
O world I'm not strong like a knight or prophet (emphasising why the world should give her a break)
انا لسه برضة هصدقك وهصدقك
Ana lessa bordou ha-sadaik we ha-sadqik
I will still trust you and trust you
Regardless of what you have put me through world I am going to still put my faith in you
ومفيش يا دنيا حل غير اني اعشقك
Wa mafesh ya Donya hall gyeer iny aaa-sha-ik
Is no world, a solution other than to love you
I have no option world, even after all the bad I have gone through, but to love you world and be in love with you /life
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مِشّ أَنّا الجانِي يا دَنَّيا أَنّا المَظْلُوم
Mish ana el-gaanny ya Donya, ana el mazloom
I am not the aggressor world, I am the oppressed
Come on world. I’m not a baddy, I don’t deserve this, I’m one of the one always suffering and going through hard times
أَنّا الطَفَل البَسِيط اللَيّ امنلك يَوْم
Ana Tifl el-beseeyt el-ly amin-lik yoom
I am the small child that trusted you in the day (that once trusted you)
I’m young and innocent, I put my faith in you (the world) that everything would be ok
^Repeat of two lines above^
أَنّا اللَيّ فَأُضَلّ مَن ناسَ كتيرماتت علشان تُعَيِّش
Ana el-ley fuddul min ness katyeer matit ala-shan ta-a3sh
I am the one left of lots of people of lived to order die
So many people killing themselves at work so to live but end up with no time to enjoy life. I don’t want to live like this, too many I know have died living this way.
أَنّا اللَيّ كُلّ ما شَمَّسَ تَطَّلِع أُلاقِي غُيُوم
Ana el-ly kol ma shams it-tullaa3 el-lyquy a3yoom
It’s me who every time the sun comes up i find it is still cloudy
I wake up every day and it's cloudy even if others may see the sunshine.
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Update from Zara Dance:
Photo: Feeling grateful - Bathroom selfie at a recent London gig
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Hi Friends, Zameena Readers and Bellydance Community
Wishing you all well!
Just to let you know, I came back from Egypt at the end of October and it has been CRAZY since. Not long after I landed, I danced at Rouh Arabi, LONDON'S TOP MONTHLY HAFLA, Then the very next day I drove all the way to Torquay for what was A BRILLIANT FESTIVAL: Celebrating Dance. I taught 2 workshops and performed. The following weekend I danced in Gloucestershire at Penny's, a great friend's, hafla. I have also been to Moonlight's amazing, opening party and next day, sneaked in a cheeky photo-shoot with Roxane Grant (Miss Bellydance UK herself!). AND TODAY, today I am off to dance at a BIG Egyptian wedding with Medo and his Band.
Through all of this I have been sooo overwhelmed with all the LOVE and GOOD ENERGY I have been getting when catching up with everyone. THANK YOU for all the support you have shown!!
I HAVE MISSED THE BELLYDANCE COMMUNITY SO MUCH.
Now I am in the UK until NEW YEAR, before returning to work in Cairo, (I decided I can't spend another Xmas away from my mum - I'm just a big baby!) so get in contact for WORK, PERFORMANCES and PRIVATE ONE ON ONE COACHING CLASSES - don't be shy - get a boost to your dance!
Also, COME TO ROUH ARABI on the 29th Nov - I am so honoured to say I WILL BE HOSTING/COMPERING this month's BIGGEST LONDON HAFLA alongside Tara, Meret and Tommy. IT WILL BE AN AMAZING PARTY: See poster below.
Love and Shimmies
Zara xxx
PS. CHECK OUT MY LATEST BLOG:
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Check out at these events for the Zara's Zouk Stall !
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The Arab Quarterly
Wednesday 28th November
Doors Open 7pm
The Cockpit
Gateforth Street
London NW8 8EH
Tickets £24
Buy online: The Cockpit.
Or
Box Office: 020 7258 2925
(Box Office Open: 10.30am - 6pm, Monday - Friday,12 noon - 6pm, Saturday)
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Snowflake Spectacular
Saturday 8th December
Doors Open 12.30pm
3Sixty at Reading University
Shinfield Road, Reading, RG6 6UR
Adults £13.50 Children £8.50
(Adult tickets rise to £16 after Nov 24th)
Book Now
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Algerian Dance Workshops and
CASBAH CAFÉ HAFLA
Saturday 15 December
Kidlington Green Social Club
1 Green Road Kidlington
Oxford OX5 2EU
All Info CLICK HERE
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Photo: Sandra and Zara at Celebrating Dance Oct 2018
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Thank you for reading
Don't forget - Have a go at the competition!
Till next month - Best wishes and happy dancing
Yours Zara and Sandra xx
PS. if you want more to read - check out these editions from the Zameena archive:
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She is a social media PHENOMENON with some of her videos having over 70 million views - YES 70,000,000!!
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