Update from Turkey - April 16th to 29th 2009,b>

As you know, I went to take lessons from Sema Yildiz. Sema is arguably Turkiye's best dancer. When I met her, it was at the Çadir Bar in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. That night, she said, a Roma Band was playing and she was dancing and to come and see her. When we arrived, I was met with this absolutely fantastic and radiantly enigmatic woman who immediately made me feel like I was her sister. Sema introduced me to everyone in the band, and we went to help her get changed in the back room of the bar

Now, if you've seen "Satin Rouge" it was exactly like that scene were the dancers are helping the new girl get ready for her first performance. This was a precious moment with a famous dancer who was so experienced and so revered, helping her get dressed was almost ritualistic. Sema wore this lovely Roma costume that was bright yellow and pink, with matching pants and lots of flowers, highlighting her stunning blue eyes and raven black hair

The musicians who played for her, I have to say, are the most passionate, skilled and adept people at their art. The deep smoky moodiness of their songs, the brilliance of their playing made the entire night pure "duende" for me. The music evokes such ancient memories I can't do it any justice by describing it

When we saw Sema take the stage, it was like watching a bird unfurl her wings in the sun. Sema's dancing is simplistic, but within that simplicity is such beauty, emotion, skillfulness and passion that is captivating. Her demeanor on stage is confident, sassy, playful and deliberate. That is what makes Turkish Bellydance so special to me. The passionate simplicity of this genre means that you don't get caught up in all the complexities and layerings of the movements that perhaps other bellydance genres demand. You can truly see the dancer's spirit without getting caught up in showing how many moves you can do.This is a women who truly loves her art with her entire being; she smiles alot and was clearly enjoying herself

At one point during the evening, I danced for Fegin, a highly respected Roma Singer/Dancer who was cheering me on in Turkish (although I wish I could have understood what she was saying to me) and Sema said "you no need lessons, you good, more passion". Murat, one of the band members motioned me over and pointed to himself and said "Brother?" and pointed to me and said "sister?" I nodded and smiled, and he grabbed me and put me into a bear hug over his doumbek. My friend Linda took a picture and my cheesy happy grin and sweat smeared face said more about the joy and loving friendship of the Roma that is now so special to me

Kobra Murat, a singer and dancer, took the stage and I was awe struck by the subtle hip movements he was doing! Oh wow did he know how to work an audience! Lots of " Charme et le charisme" Kobra also was very conversational with his eyes. When I saw Kobra work this girl with his suave charm, I finally understood what Sema meant what she said about having more passion in my dance. That sassyness and charm is immensely effective

We had to leave for Goreme, so I had planned to meet up with Sema on my return. However, we were frustratingly delayed due to bad transportation connections back to Istanbul, and I had one day in Istanbul before we had to fly back home to Vancouver. So sadly, I never got another chance to meet up with her again. We email each other constantly now, and I'm really pleased to hear that a Japanese film crew is almost finished shooting a documentary with Sema.

My short time with these good people taught me alot about myself, and my dancing. That I've been stifled for far too long by what others feel I should be dancing. It reminded me of what Artemis Mourat had said to me when I met her in 2007, dance for myself and no one else. I was heart sick at the completely wrong perception that majority of people may have of the Roma. Yeah, I've heard the stories, but in my travels through out Turkiye I spoke with other Roma who were very considerate, talented and thoughtful people. They are welcoming and incredibly hospitable to strangers, if you care to understand and value them, you will, in turn, find they will welcome you with open arms and hearts and life long friends. I pray I will see them again someday

Until I get back to Turkiye, I am planning to rework my website, and start to develop my research and bellydance instructional videos. Canada has very few Turkish dancers and Turkish dance isn't well-known as other styles, but hopefully we can begin to bring this wonderful style back into popularity!

Going to Turkey

On April 16th 09 I am leaving to go and take advanced lessons from Sema Yildiz, Turkey's top dancer of Oriental and Roma Havasi dance. I am so incredibly excited about this learning opportunity. I am truly looking forward to returning with inspiration and new skills in order to share with my students. Sema has promised me that we'll go into Sulukule district and dance with the Roma, and as she put it, "the authentic place". She's also said that we can dance together at Sultana's. This is truly going to be the trip of a lifetime! Please stay tuned!

November 10th 2008

Turkish Bellydance Vancouver now has a Facebook page!

Come in and network with other Turkish dancers, and share information about the exciting history of Turkish Oriental and Roma dances!

March 4th 2008

I was so incredibly blessed to have taken classes with my mentor Artemis Mourat of Silver Spring Maryland on March 1st to 3rd 2008. It was such a wonderful gift to have seen her in person. She's the lady who wrote that article "Critism: The Cloaked Compliment" that I posted to the resources page. Artemis is firecracker and I adore her. She spoke very eloquently about costume choices that she made when she was a student and I don't think I will quite think of bras quite the same light ever again =)

How I came to see Artemis because I was in Reston, Virginia on a work training seminar and was within 30 mins of her home. Classes with Artemis was absolutely incredible! Artemis welcomed me graciously into her home and studio in Silver Spring, Maryland. Artemis taught me some invaluable Turkish Oriental and Roma movements and paid me a wonderful compliment about my dancing that I will absolutely treasure and cherish all my days. Artemis is a teacher who passionately loves her art body and soul. Like she said in her video "Artemis Dances" about her mentor, an Albanian Rom dancer "I was set on fire by her dancing...and I really wanted to dance like her..when I grow up"...That's the way I feel about Artemis and her dancing.

After we finished the classes; Artemis and I sat cross-legged on the studio floor, like two Sufi's engaged in philosophical discussions, and she offered me her pearls of wisdom on dance and teaching in general that was incredibly helpful towards my growth as a teacher and dancer. She encouraged me to dance and teach as I choose to, not how others would choose for me. She cautioned me to not blend in with the herd. She said bellydancing is a celebration of the individual spirit, which is unique as you are and needs to be seen. Wow...

Artemis' students are a wonderful group of ladies. Artemis makes a point for all her students to sit on the ground and have a chat before class. This was very comforting and lots of laughter was exchanged. Maisha, a very voluptuous African-American dancer delighted us with her exquisite shimming and undulations. Although she was a very large lady, she moved with such beauty and grace that totally overwhelmed her enthralled audience. Size certainly doesn't matter when it comes to being a good dancer. When I mentioned this to Artemis she said there is an Arabic belief that "A women without flesh on her bones is like a night without stars".

Artemis secular educational background was profound and she has such immense power and wisdom behind her words. I've got a wonderful picture of her and I (which I promised her not to post because she had no makeup on). Her lovely kittie Nikita came peering into the studio for affection, and I'm now Nikita's Canuck Aunty.

Artemis invited me to attend a workshop she is giving in Anchorage, Alaska during the last weekend of August. Stay tuned!!!!! Yay! A month later; I'm still riding on the high of meeting Artemis.