Sabaya and Atash at Dougherty Arts Center, June 27, 2009

Here are photos of Lily, Maribel and Stacey dancing to Leilet Hob with Atash. I took these photos from the wings with my iphone. Unfortunately, Rania was unable to perform with us due to a sprained ankle.

Yasmin

A Dancer's Perspective
by Maribel

June is hot, hot, hot! Despite the heat I'm still revved up about continuing my exercise regime by accomplishing it in the morning. June is a reflective month for me as it marks the middle of the year, which means if I don't reflect now on my fitness goals I won't think about it again until the end of the year when it's too late to make it count for 2009. Fitness has always been important to me since the early years of my youth when I was an aerobics instructor in the early nineties or should I say "group exercise instructor" as they say now. No I didn't wear dental floss, it wasn't my style. Instead of teaching cardio class, I now teach belly dance classes. I often get comments from audience members in awe of Sabaya's strength and stamina to dance a full hour show. Indeed, there is a mix of dance training, cardio work, and strength just like any dance form to make a 5-15minute dance performance look effortless. However, having access to specialized classes like belly dance, Pilates, and yoga for example can add up. Not to mention your gym membership. Luckily, Austin has a variety of FREE classes to help you reach your fitness goals. What do I do? Here's my breakdown. You are all welcome to join me as follows.

Monday:: Run 3mi. Townlake/ 7am usually with Stacey Lizette
Tuesday:: Teach BD intro 6:30-7:30pm, take Stacey's Drill Class 8:15-9:30pm
Wednesday:: Run 3mi. Townlake or Rosedale/ 7am w/Stacey or Carolyn
Thursday:: Practice my own dance routines for upcoming shows 1-2 hrs.
Friday:: Pilates at Eastside Balance, only $35 a session vs. $65 a session.
Saturday:: Run 4 or more miles with Stacey, Townlake. 8ish am of course.
Sunday:: Swim or Yoga or both/ Practice Dance routines.

FREE OR SUGGESTED DONATION FOR YOGA & CORE CLASSES.
Outdoor Yoga: By donation yoga classes for all levels held daily in Butler District Park. Butler District Park is located at 1000 Barton Springs Rd. (78704). The suggested donation is $5.00. Visit www.OutdoorYoga.org for more information and class times.

Full Moon Yoga: FREE yoga class held outside at different locations each full moon. This class is lead by Charles MacInerney. Visit www.yogateacher.com for more info.

Ruta Maya Yoga: With a purchase from the cafe enjoy a complementary yoga class. Ruta Maya is located at 3601 S. Congress Ave (78704). Visit www.RutaMaya.net or www.PamelaBrewer.com for more info.

Yoga in Shipe park: By donation yoga classes for all levels held on Wed. at 6:30pm in Shipe Park (off of 45th str. & Ave.F). Visit www.YogainthePark.net for more information.

Kundalini Yoga: By donation classes lead by Tom Woller every Tuesday from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at the Tara House. The Tara House is located at 610 Highland Drive (78703). Email Tom at thomas.woller@amd.com to let him know you are coming and to confirm the class times.

Lululemon Athletica on 6th Street: FREE yoga held in their store every Saturday morning at 8:30am. Sign up for their newsletter to be informed of other specialty classes such as a free belly dance class from yours truly~ Maribelly.

Yoga Vida on W.7th Street next to the Khabele Studio. FREE Yoga Happy Hour - Fri at 6:30pm

http://www.yogatoday.com : FREE online yoga classes posted daily. All classes are held outside! View classes at www.YogaToday.com. I personally have used these classes and love them.

http://www.yogadownload.com This is great yoga on the go. Download on to your MP3 player. You can print diagrams of the classes to have by your side in case you don't know what an eagle pose looks like for example. Classes are as minimal.

Core Class & More- FREE If you are in the market for an intense hour-long core class, look no further than the parking lot at Jack and Adams. Held on Monday and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. (give or take a 10 minute lag time), you'll do a mix of planks, push-ups and crunches that will leave you crying. Bring a mat, some water and a prayer book-this workout is tough. They have other classes such as running and cycling.

Cross Fit Nation- http://www.crossfitcentral.com/ FREE cross training this weekend there are several free workouts for you to choose from! These workouts are open to everyone so bring your friends and family. Just print this Waiver and bring it to the workout of your choice. I think I might have to try this instead of running this Saturday.

National Geographic Video on Cairo Bellydancers

It seemed like so long ago since Sabaya went to Cairo. We had a blast... taking private classes with world famous instructors, shopping at the Khan El Khalili, getting custom couture bellydance costumes made by Egypt's top designers, dinner with our Egyptian family friends... We're planning to go back soon. You can find our Egypt trip photos in our Gallery page.

Here is a video clip from National Geographic on Cairo Bellydancers. We saw Soraya live!



With lots of hips,
Sabaya

ABDC 2009 Thanks

I'm still processing everything the phenomenal weekend we just had at ABDC with Yasmina Ramzy and Suleiman Warwar. What a whirlwind! Until you've been in the shoes of an event producer, it is difficult to comprehend all the little details which need attention. So, I'm sending gratitude and love to everyone on staff, in the audience, in attendance, working the controls, providing services or just plain sending us good vibes.

Special props to Bahaia, founder of ABDC; Rox, Mar, Phillip for thier continued dedication to customer service and "getting it done"; and of course Sabaya for being true dance sisters and supporting me every step of the way. ~Stacey

Nurturing Creativity

As artists, we sometimes go through spells of fear and disappointment. We fear that what we've put our energy and heart into may be rejected. We may be disappointed with the result of what we've created. There is also the pressure of continuing to create something new and inspiring.

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love", gives a 20-minute, funny, and heart-warming talk about creativity. We hope you find her talk as inspiring as we did.

Keep showing up,
Lily

A Dancer's Perspective by Rania

It's May and I turn 39 next week. I bet you didn't know I was 39. I firmly believe that bellydance has kept me looking and feeling young.


I attended my first bellydance class when I was 30. Yes, 30! Most women would never dream of taking up a dance form at that age because they think it's too late. It's never too late with bellydance and I'm so happy I attended that class. It was one of the best decisions I ever made and changed my life forever.


From my first dance class, I fell in love with this art form and I don't plan on retiring any time soon. Most of the belllydance legends that I love to watch are nearing 60 and still dance and teach to this day. One of these dancers is Aida Nour from Egypt. In 2006, I and my other bellydance sisters from Sabaya visited Egypt and had the great honor to take classes from her. I watched this 60 year old woman dance and wished I could move like her. What an inspiration!!


Bellydance is one of those art forms that easily spans generations and can be shared from grandmother to mother to daughter. This is most obviously seen with the Salimpour legacy of dance in which Jamila Salimpour taught her daughter Suhaila and both of them are teaching Isabella, Suhaila's daughter. Isabella is eleven years old and has performed to a live audience with her mother countless times.


With practice and dedication, bellydancing can be the ultimate expression of a woman's internal and external beauty, regardless of shape, size or age.

A Dancer's Perspective by Yasmin

I gladly take any opportunity I can to brag about the Sabaya dancers. I could go on about each of the dancer's unique styles, personalities and dance achievements but because of a timely event happening this month for Stacey Lizette, I offer up an exclusive snapshot of her dedication to the art form.

On Wednesday, April 8, Stacey Lizette will be honored by the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Texas as a finalist for the 2008 Texas Blazing Star Award. She achieved this recognition through her double life as a certified IT Project Manager in the day and a bellydance leader in the evening and weekends. She has been an active member of the non-profit Austin Bellydance Association for the past 14 years, a member of Sabaya Bellydance Collective for the past 5 years, a dedicated student of Suhaila Salimpour for the past 9 years, a teacher for the past 4 years and has recently taken over the reigns as sponsor for the Austin Bellydance Convention, an annual event that brings dancers from across the US to Austin. These accumulated achievements have given her the opportunity to support various local communities by performing in support of charities and cultural events and through teaching women of all ages the power and fitness of Middle Eastern Dance.In all of her work, as an IT Project Manager, dancer, sponsor, and dance instructor, Stacey exercises the professional values of communication, prioritization, and positivity. She communicates to alleviate misperceptions and heighten awareness about the art form. She facilitates a positive attitude in herself and in others, which is especially important due to the demanding physical coordination and self-image challenges addressed in belly dance. By exemplifying these core philosophies, Stacey has become a role model and mentor for many dancers in the Austin community. I can attest to the fact that nearly every evening after work and most weekends, one can find Stacey either teaching, organizing dance events, working on costumes or rehearsing. In essence, her life is a delicate balance of two full time pursuits and I congratulate Stacey on her well-deserved recognition by the Women's Chamber of Commerce as a Texas Blazing Star finalist.