Murphy’s Law, Articles and Quotes
by Leyla Najma · 2 Comments
The reason this blog is a bit late is because Murphy’s Law came knocking at my door eventually breaking it down. I decided to write anyways to keep some of my sanity. I had been working on the Wednesday Training video when I discovered my transmission died on my car (Josey). The following day, Tuesday, I then realized as I was preparing to do the video again that the light stands were in the trunk of my car. My car was at the garage and long story short the video was held back another day. More minor things happened but by the time I finished with the video yesterday I was tired and brain dead. Actually towards the end of videotaping I saw a huge hole in the armpit of my outfit…if that is seen in the editing I will have to redo those parts over again…ugh! I have decided to kick Murphy’s Law in the butt!
As most dancers who do their own choreography know, we can’t just leave alone what we have already choreographed. For example I didn’t like what I came up with in my original text for Wednesday’s class so I redid the combinations. This means that if I have to redo the video, I will have to go over each drill and see what I came up with. I think I helped Murphy’s Law without intending to. So with this week coming to and end I have decided to end it with my favorite drink, a margarita and enjoy the Super bowl with family. Murphy’s Law is not invited.
On a really good note, the Body Image issue of Jareeda came out and a Belly Dance Village member, Najla (Allison Flynn) had her first article published in color titled “Looking Through the Glass.” It was great talking with Najla on the phone, she was ecstatic, dancing on cloud nine. The photo of her is just beautiful and her article is a really good read. My article, “Second Act” was published in color along with the photo of my dear friend and mentor Barbara Sayre Harmon and myself representing Fall and Spring. I highly recommend investing in a subscription to Jareeda so that you can support Mezdulene and her long running magazine. www.jareeda.com
The 8th editing of my book, The Divine Unrest, My Stories, Advice and Personal Views on Belly Dance is almost finished…yes you read correctly because writing a book just really means you edit and edit and…
I have been putting out quotes from my book on Twitter so if any of you are following me on Twitter, now you know where my quotes are coming from. I thought it would be interesting to see how people reacted to my quotes and so far they have been favorited by friends and dancers. My book isn’t a long book, it’s a little over 200 pages so for dancers it will be a quick. I’ll let you all know once we get it ready to publish. Three years and counting…we’ll have to celebrate some how.
Last but not least, Sakti Rinek and Barbara Sayer Harmon’s; videos will be next on my list of editing after the Wednesday class. I will be doing articles on the life and careers of both Sakti and Barbara so down the line you might see them in The Belly Dance Chronicles. www.isisandthestardancers.com
Remember that you get access to all my videos if you become a member at www.bellydancevillage.com so what are you waiting for? My membership fees are pocketbook friendly plus you get a family support that’s dedicated to making sure your belly dance journey is as unique and special as you are!
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Crossing My Fingers……
by Leyla Najma · 14 Comments
In the next online live classes I will be changing things slightly so that the exercise class will be fast paced and heart racing fun plus a more cohesive connection for combinations and choreography for the dance class. In doing this I have found that the feedback that I have been getting from my free classes and instructional videos is really making a difference.
Keep them coming since the classes will be starting soon. I will be working on a bunch of things all at once since this book has been taking up so much time and has pushed me behind schedule. And that’s another short note I’d like to share with you. I am editing the last chapters of my book and the editing part which has been a major part of my life is what is taking the longest. I tend to write like I talk so sometimes the words made no sense whatsoever and I was left scratching my head a few times trying to figure out what I was talking about. If I can’t figure it out then I know you guys would look at it and think I was speaking in tongues.
Once I am finished with the 26th chapter I will be screaming my head off and doing the hippity hop dance! Hopefully this weekend will be the jamming party (which just might be only in my head) just wish you were all here with me to have some fun celebrating the feeling of finally being done. Two years and counting is a long time to write and I can’t wait to get the core finished.
Hopefully the next blog will be……..telling you all I’m finished with the book. Here’s goes crossing my fingers and knocking on wood it happens
Sphere: Related Content“The Divine Unrest”©
by Leyla Najma · 7 Comments
For the most part of two years I have been typing away and writing my thoughts on dance. The words started to pour out of me and as the pages accumulated it became apparent that a book was eminent. So after all is said and done the long journey is finally over and my unexpected book “The Divine Unrest”© is finished.
The one thing that nobody told me was that the writing bug didn’t always bite me like I hoped it would and there were many times I had to drag myself in front of the computer. But it was therapeutic and healing for me and the best part is that I could read back to myself what I wrote and get a better grasp of things.
The reason for writing the book ended up being a multi-purpose response to a lifetime of experiences in this business, the reality of dance, relationships and healing. It includes all the above and more which surprised me because I really had no clue which direction the book was going. Daniel was another push in the book direction because he suggested to me that I should write one since a lot of what I wrote for the Chronicles belly dance magazine was based on experience. At first it didn’t feel like I was actually writing a book, it was more of a journal with insights and memories. And maybe that will be how it reads to people but what I am hoping for is that women will read into my words and see that this dance is just like life. No matter how magical belly dance can be it is still a part of life and with life comes issues of all shapes and sizes. I think the difference with this dance form is that sometimes situations can be magnified twice over what the normal person experiences. I say this because there is no exhaustion like what a belly dancer lives through with the postpartum production blues. Once you produce a show you will know what I mean!
I wrote “The Divine Unrest”© from a place of surrender. I realized that by surrendering to the Universe I had her infinite wisdom and humility as my compass. Hopefully down the line “The Divine Unrest”© will be a guide for dancers starting out on their journeys and a good laugh for those already on their path. Either way it was written from my heart to yours!
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