An Interview with Atlanta Fusion Belly Dance

What originally drew you to focus on belly dance as opposed to other styles of dance?
Leena:  After having danced for years, I was trying to find a form of dance that would not require a partner in order to become more proficient.  Bellydance was a very feminine and exotic art form.  I loved that I could put as much or as little time into it as I wanted.  Also, I could work on it by myself and develop something that was uniquely mine, while still being tied to a powerful lineage of female dancers the world over.  It does wonders for my sense of self and increasing my confidence.

Faaridah: Since childhood, I have always been involved in some type of dance (ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, African). During college, one of my friends invited me to a Middle Eastern Dance show. It was love at first sight! I’ve been dancing ever since.

What motivated you to found your own studio?  What was involved with your recent relocation and what advantages does your new space offer vs. the old space? 
Faaridah: We all danced together for many years prior to opening the studio and wanted to grow as dancers and instructors. I believe it was Nahari who came up with the idea of looking for ways to dance together again. Within hours, Leena had recruited a realtor to help with our search. The rest is history!  After about a year in our first studio, our Property Manager presented us with the opportunity to move into a much larger space. We stepped out on faith and moved in! Without the help of my Uncle Denny, we really couldn’t have made it happen so fast. He installed the floors and lighting, painted, sound proofed the walls and many other things. There were challenges along the way, but he was there to help us make our dream come true. We love it here! It’s comfortable, spacious and feels like home. Especially with Nahari’s art work, which adds that special touch to our space.

Why did you choose a “fusion” approach for your studio as opposed to offering only traditional styles of belly dance?
Liyana: Although traditional belly dancing is the base of what we do, we cannot help but be inspired by various other forms of dance and creative expression. "Fusion" is the natural result of that. For us it is more artistically fulfilling to be able to explore new concepts, dance, and choreograph without limitations of the props, music, or costuming used.   

Tell me about your owners and instructors and how they came to be involved with AFBD. What are their individual specialties?
Faaridah: We all studied Middle Eastern Dance and performed together in a troupe for many years before founding the studio. We have a great respect for each other and maintain a very good personal relationship outside of the studio. We really are “sisters”. The owners bring a great balance to the studio.

Anwaar: brings a mixture of pop culture and rock sensibilites. With a varied dance background, she pushes fusion into a variety of directions while making sure her students have a solid base in belly dance technique. She enjoys teaching students how to apply this dance form to their favorite western songs. She is one of our cutting edge choreographers, bringing new props to the dance, like the chair.  She's very innovative and inventive, keeps us on our toes.  Blending elements of hip hop, tribal with modern dance and some ballet keeps her style fresh and exciting.  Also the resident graphic designer!!! 

Faaridah: very organized, great multi-tasker, and works incessantly. I rak hard! Lol. I currently teach a class for Senior citizen women, ages 55-85! They are the highlight of my week and bring joy to my day. They inspire me to continue to learn and grow as a lifelong student of dance.

Hadil:  I like to emphasize self-expression.  I believe that what is right for me as a dancer may not be right for my students, and I encourage them to think about their personal styles, when they are ready.

Lamia: natural born dancer, can do anything that is thrown at her and does it well.  Her smile, warmth and vibrant personality make her a much sought after instructor.  Known for her drum solos and her ability to put a belly dance spin on just about any hot new song, she is also quite the taskmaster and her students work hard, but love it.

Leena: Very personable, great spirit. As an instructor her specialty is her ability to connect to her students and help them become the best dancers they can be, while having fun.  Her technical skills are primarily veil and sword with a focus on using body language and facials to convey more emotion in the dance.

Liyana: Main task is to keep the other troupe members in line and help everyone stay focused during practices. Also comes up with crazy ideas for costuming. As an instructor, she's got a knack for breaking down moves and sequences in a way that makes them easily understandable. As a performer, she's drawn to the more graceful and flowing sides of the dance. 

Nahari: very creative, brings an artistic edge to the studio. As an instructor her specialty is showing her students how to translate the music using their bodies as an instrument and pushing beyond what is expected by motivating them to try new techniques and ideas. (continued below)

What can students expect from becoming associated with AFBD?
Students can expect to learn the fundamentals on Middle Eastern dance and culture with a touch of our own personal fusion style, as well as the opportunity to perform!

Who are some of your favorite dancers and how do they inspire you?
Faaridah:  Samia Gamal, Ansuya, Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, Jillina, Aziza Nawal, Samora.
Samia Gamal incorporated a fusion of ballet and Latin dance into her repertoires which I really admire.  Ansuya’s fusion on Cabaret and Tribal, Aziza’s innate talent, her audience interaction and how her personality shines through every performance. Samora’s graceful style.

Hadil: I love to watch Soheir Zaki. She was incredibly graceful.  I am also continually inspired by Jillina's ability to choreograph. 

What recommendations would you give someone who is new to belly dance?  What’s the key to proficiency and developing one’s own style?
Faaridah: Never give up. Never underestimate your talent. No one is looking at you. They’re really looking at themselves! Take your time with technique. No matter how long you’ve been dancing, you always need practice. Oh, and don’t rely on a safety pin! ;-)

Leena:  Take your time and enjoy it. Learn to love the body you have and how the dance moves on your particular shape. Be open to all styles and respectful of everyone's journey with this dance.  Also, don't be afraid to ask for help.  The bellydance community is one of the most welcoming and friendly environments you could hope to be a part of.  If you succeed, then we all succeed.  Finally.. practice just like you were performing in front of an audience, using your facial expressions and energy to add to the dance.

What are some of the traditional approaches/techniques you find frustrating and how do you deal with those in your own practice/performance?
Liyana: My knees do not want to do the knee shimmy even after years of practice. They are just not built for it. My approach is to practice the knee shimmy as much as possible and include it in performances as little as possible.

What is unique about AFBD?  What do you offer that other studios don’t?
Faaridah: It’s rare that you find 7 women who not only get along, but also share the same vision.  We have a plethora of talent among us. We all want the studio to be successful and our students to grow into the best dancers they can be. We currently offer a mix of classical belly dance, tribal, and fusion of many styles of dance (ballet, jazz, hip hop, Tahitian, Asian, to name a few!) We also teach how to dance with various props. We have a lot more in store, secrets that we can’t tell you right now :)

What does the future hold for AFBD?
Faaridah: The future is bright for AFBD! We plan on staying in our current space and offering lots more fusion style classes for our students. We will continue to host workshops, perform, compete, and make our studio a real home for belly dance!

What’s on your iPod? 
Faaridah:  Najwa Karam, Amr Diab, Samira Said, Hakim, Tarkan, Beats Antique, Elisa, Cheb Khaled, Shakira, Beatbox Guitar. 

Leena:  I don't even have an iPod.. guess I really should invest in one!  I love most everything.  The beauty of working with all these talented women is that I can explore all sorts of new music due to their varied interests.  Love Hisham Abbas and Amr Diab.. who doesn't love Tarkan, Solace, Djinn, Beatbox Guitar, Danyavaad and, of course, Beats Antique.

Nahari: Balkan Beat Box

Hadil: It's been around for awhile, but I have just discovered Yasmeena of Cairo's album "Aheb Masr" and I am in love with it.

What’s the key to truly entertaining an audience?
Leena: I believe the key to entertaining an audience is to truly and genuinely interact and connect with them... using your eyes, your smile, and your dance to convey the joy or whatever emotion you are feeling.  If you are really feeling the music and have some genuine emotions tied to the dance, it resonates with the audience.  There is a huge difference between a pasted on, pageant queen smile and a genuine heartfelt grin when you are rocking out to a song you love.  Love what you do/dance or don't do it is my personal motto. 

How do you feel traditional Middle Eastern values factor in to modern belly dance techniques?  Or do they? 
Nahari: Growing up in a Middle Eastern family (Lebanese), I was taught that you pride yourself on family, ability, and achievement. These values directly relate to the art of belly dance not only in its techniques, but in its community.  We strive to be the best dancer that we can be by continuous learning and practice. Once we achieve, we push the envelope further by expanding our horizons and our abilities. Our sense of family and the loyalty within our sisterhood is our strongest value that keeps this beautiful art form alive and moving forward.

What would you change about the world’s perception of belly dance if you could?
Faaridah: I would love for everyone to understand that belly dance is truly an art form, a family friendly dance which welcomes all shapes, colors, and sizes.