Producing and Directing Center Stage
by Leyla Najma · 2 Comments
This past week as Daniel and I were discussing our weekly work schedules, we were talking about videos that I needed to do and Daniel like always came up with several ideas. I on the other just looked at him with that look; you know, the look we morph into that comes naturally when talking to our husbands?! Anyways I said, “Look it’s not like I don’t have a lot on my plate but do we really need this one?” Daniels usual response is, “Yes we do.”
So I will be doing a video talking about “Producing” shows and the pit falls that can happen at any moment. Believe me I am an unintentional professional in the pit fall arena only because unlike the poor souls who got thrown into the lions den, I skipped in with a smile on my face.
There is no definite guideline to producing shows small or large so I will go over my thoughts on how to keep your sanity and enjoy the experience. Well, okay I can’t guarantee that you will always enjoy yourself because producing shows can be a very stressful endeavor that for most of us isn’t just a rite of passage but an act of insanity until it’s all over and we can see our achievements. Actually to tell you the truth producing shows somehow completed one aspect of belly dance that seemed out of reach. Once you become a producer a time honored understanding comes over you and you understand even more about the human predisposition to be a star.
Here is a paragraph from my book talking about what I observed from one of the shows I co-produced:
I have witnessed unusual behavior with a few of my former students in regards to a few of the shows I jointly produced. Since I have been very lucky in having very talented dancers come my way I found it perplexing to say the least when a few of these highly talented dancers acted in my opinion selfishly. This is the difference in troupe mentality and the solo attitude. The troupe dancers who participated in the shows went way beyond the call of duty because they wanted the outcome of their efforts to be successful for each other. This has to do with their sense of responsibility to each other. One person’s actions would affect the outcome of the whole troupe. The few students that I asked to perform in my shows were excited but at the same time they didn’t comprehend the idea of what team effort was. If responsibility lies only with the self, than the concern for the progressive and creative concept for the whole matrix doesn’t exist. Sometimes a solo dancer can’t see beyond her own contribution because it is a guaranteed habitual offering she can take to the bank. A dancer can’t offer what she doesn’t know how to give.
So this video will be a very personal endeavor for me because with the two shows I co-produced, the learning was like a psycho boot camp experience or being a first grader in elementary school and going straight to college. Either way I survived and I have a better sense of myself because of these experiences and I think I understand women better. It’s not all lolly pops and roses but at the end of a producing a huge theatrical show it can feel like winning an Olympic gold medal. With this video in mind maybe just maybe I can help you avoid some of the pit falls, walls and Diva attitudes that came my way. And when I say Diva attitudes I mean this for men as well. Is there such a word as Divo? Just doesn’t have the same impact though…………
Article News Alert!
I just wrote an article for Jareeda’s “Costume Article Contest” and I am very excited because the contest got my writing juices flowing and I wrote about my student photo shoot of last year. I gave it a different twist and it came out like a never before created Margarita with a twang to go with the twist. So cross your fingers for us and hopefully we will be in the running. Here is Jareeda’s website. Please support the Publisher and dancer extraordinaire, Mezdulene and subscribe to her magazine; www.jareeda.com
A Common Goal with “Belly Stretch-Thrust and Roll”
by Leyla Najma · 2 Comments
Today I was thinking about my exercise class “Belly Stretch-Thrust and Roll” and I wanted to share with you the goal for this class and why I am offering it.
First of all just like many of you who write in regarding your weight, I am dealing with that too. I am working on different options to make “Belly Stretch-Thrust and Roll” a class that will focus on upper body, abs, lower body and layering. The best part is we will be doing belly dance moves through out class time. I am working on the moves now and Daniel and I have picked music that will be fun to work out to. We decided on electronic music that will make you want to boogie along. Having fun is a huge part of this class and I want everybody to look forward to getting their groove on!
I will be thinking about doing a warm up/cool down with this class which will make class time 15 minutes longer. So let me know if you want just an hour of pure blood pumping class time with no warm up/cool down or if you want me to include them in. This is your time to speak up so let me know what you want now so I can incorporate them in.
I also thought it would be fun to lose weight together so this is another way for all of to do something together with a common goal. So those of you taking the exercise class I will be expecting photos of you as class progresses along. As for myself, I won’t be able to hide from any of you but I am ready to get the weight off that has stayed with me for a few years. I’m hoping the camera will gradually start to show a skinnier me………time will tell!!
There you have it everyone…….write in and let me know your thoughts!!!!
Leyla’s Latest News
by Leyla Najma · 11 Comments
Weight Loss VS A Performing Art:
For the past year I have been noticing a lot of women are writing in because they want to lose weight. I know belly dancing is a fun way to exercise but the serious dancer in me doesn’t see the connection from learning a cultural dance to losing weight. Obviously any type of cardio is a great way to get into shape but there is a bit of a difference here. As a professional dancer I see belly dance as an expression of individual divine creativity. It’s the self expression of the soul that is my connection to belly dance. But I had to sit back and chew on my feelings for awhile and that is why I decided to do the Belly Stretch-Thrust and Roll exercise class. Another reason is that now that I am in pre-menopause I have found that I have to exercise more to keep the weight off. So this week I am creating a fast paced regimen for everyone that should be a lot of fun!
Jibber Jam
I am in the process of working on a drum solo choreography for dancers and students called Jibber Jam. The drum solo music was a Christmas gift from Daniel 4 years ago composed by Issa Malluf. I am trying to make it something that is easy enough for dancers to follow who aren’t comfortable creating their own choreographies yet. I know that everyone loves drum solos so I thought I would make it first on my “to do” list of new videos. I must say as a spontaneous choreographer this is quite the task for me because as I have been listening to the music my mind wonders and I find I am literally “jamming” to the music.
Book is Almost Done!
I haven’t written much about my book only because it has been a long and thought provoking journey. But I am excited to say that I have only 4 chapters to go and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. But I have to say I haven’t been totally in the dark, I have been flying around with past memories, people and a few giggles. So I’m hoping to get it finished within a couple months and when I do, it will be party time!
Latest Article for Chronicles
I have been writing for Chronicles belly dance magazine for over 3 years now and wrote an article that I’m hoping you all check out in the next issue which will be Oct/Now/Dec. It’s a short article on my view of being a belly dancer and the “Flower of Life” imprint of the Goddess. I think you will all like it and maybe if I get enough interest I might post it here so you all can get a peek at it first before it comes out.
Ciao for now,
Leyla
The Buhz Dilemma
by Leyla Najma · 21 Comments
This blog is one that is very heart felt and it isn’t easy for me to write about. For the last few days I have just been at a standstill with videos, my book and belly dancing in general. Let me share with all of you why…………..
Wednesday of last week I saw that my name popped up on a chat room from a website called Buhz. It’s a site for belly dance info in general and I must say I don’t follow it much. But when I clicked to see why my name came up I saw that a gal posted a pic of one of my videos she found on Amazon and asked if anyone had heard of it.
Well that’s when I scrolled down to see what dancers had to say and to my horror and shock, I found that they were ripping me a new one. One gal in particular commented that I was an “awful” dancer and other dancers commented on the video from an ignorant and no fact position.
As most of you know who have watched my videos I come from a teacher perspective with no gimmicks. Belly dance is an individual journey and my stance is one of support and education for every woman who wants to learn the art of belly dancing. So the really bizarre thing about the comments is that not one woman who commented had viewed or bought any of my instructional videos. They just wanted to vomit out the mouth and put down someone else’s creative right to help women learn how to belly dance.
It was a blow and one that was unexpected. I’m a light weight I guess when it comes to stuff like this so when the shock of what I read hit me, I just stopped everything and I tried to grasp why women could be so hateful to other women. Just so you know, I don’t mind opinions positive or negative on what I do because I’m not the teacher for everyone and my videos might not be a winner form all points of view. This is life and everyone has a right to state what they do and don’t like. But there is a fine line between stating an opinion and being hateful for no other reason then just to be hateful. So I sat on the couch for awhile and tried to figure out what I should do.
I decided that I had to defend my right to create my videos so I went to the website and addressed all the women in general who wrote in. I told them that it was okay they didn’t like what I did but if this is the case then they needed to create their own videos and get out to the public what they feel is important for them to know. I also stated that I do what I love to the point that I don’t have time to waste writing negative things about other dancers. I addressed the mean gal and told her she could use some compassion and humility. That was pretty much it or so I thought!
When I told Daniel about the site and what the gals had said he was immediately upset just like me. He went to the site and read what was said and that’s when he decided that it was time these gals needed to hear from the point of view of a Belly Dance Husband! He decided to write in a response to all of them and the mean gal in particular. So the next day with the eloquence and the authority of the Godfather, he let them know who he was and how he felt about their comments. I had no idea that he would write in and I really thought my addressing all the gals would be the end of it.
I know those gals were probably very surprised to hear from Daniel and I think it was needed because sometimes a person has to think about the fact that what they say effects more then just the person they are talking about. In this day and age of hiding behind the computer we can forget that behind every name, video or show there is a person who has the right to do what they love to do. I guess what this blog is about is that I almost let these gals under my skin. It took about 4 days for me to realize that if the comments were made to persuade me to quit they had another thing coming.
The universe spoke to me through wonderful emails that I received these last few days from women who have taken my beginner videos and a student of mine who took one of my workshops earlier this year and thanked me for pushing her in the right direction. So why let a few bad apples ruin the barrel of inspiration and joy….not this time!!
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