It has been said that life is not the collection of daily activity, but rather special moments that are savored in deep delight. This past three weeks has been an amazing buffet of mouth-watering, delicious moments of magic!

Hillbelly Raks 2010 featuring Raksanna and Mahsati, sponsored by Neran

Neran invited me back to one of my favorite places in America – Knoxville, Tennessee! She puts on a wonderful belly dance workshop and show endearingly called Hillbelly Raks. This year, the event was held at the beautiful, brand new Broadway Center of Performing Arts, owned and artistically directed by Cynthia Turnage (known in belly dance circles around the world as Shahira, a 25 year student of the legendary Ibrahim Farrah of New York City).  Shahira recently celebrated the grand opening of her lovely center and it is a beautiful studio indeed.

When Neran first invited me for the workshop weekend, she shared that she was also inviting the beautiful Mahsati of Ashville, NC to teach a drum solo choreography. I have long admired Mahsati – she is a gorgeous dancer with a great style … and not only is she a fantastic dancer, she is a delight to be around! When Neran told me the great news, I was even more excited about the weekend!

I arrived in Knoxville on Friday night. My husband (David), Gilae (one of my senior instructors on my belly dance faculty) and I made the 12-hour road trip from Chicago to Knoxville and arrived at my aunt and uncles house in the wee hours of Saturday morning. We enjoyed some small talk and then promptly fell into bed for a refreshing rest.

Having fun with creative combos!

On Saturday morning, Gilae and I made our way to the studio. My schedule was jam-packed with private lessons. An exciting highlight in my artistic career had presented itself – I was commissioned by a Knoxville Troupe (Shabini) to choreograph a beautiful Oriental piece. When I was first asked, my heart swelled with joy – what an honor to be invited (and commissioned!) to create art for such lovely dancers! We worked from 10:30 am until about 2:00 pm, with Gilae assisting me in demonstrating formations and moves, and the dancers quickly learning the routine and putting it in their bodies. At the end of our session, I was quite impressed by not only how fast the ladies picked up the dance, but also how lovely they looked dancing it!

Following the commissioned choreography were two hours of privates with Johnna and Terri. They had driven about four hours for the workshop weekend and it was great to see them again. We had met last year in Atlanta, when Amani Jabril sponsored me for “Meow! That’s Hot!” Johnna and Terri are beautiful dancers and even more beautiful women with hearts of love and compassion. We spent the time working on technique and patterns that could be used in their choreographies or for training purposes. I was excited to see how much both Johnna and Terri embraced the routines and really took the moves in. When I put together the lesson plan, I took into account that both dancers are quite airy – so I created four specific sets of technique to assist with getting the earthy feel and style. The time was well-spent and every one left the session dancing on air (and earth)!

That night was the Gala show. About seventy-five people gathered that evening to share an evening of art and dance. I was very impressed with each performance – I could visibly see the growth in all of the dancers from the previous year; their hours of training has certainly paid off!  One performance that really touched my heart was the interpretation by Sandy Larson and her troupe of the drum solo choreography I had presented last year. The troupe had practiced the choreography and adapted it to make the dance their own – I loved the accents, the energy and their love of the music and the choreography; I have to say that I was so touched by their performance that I had chills on my arms and a tear of joy in my eyes! Thank you, ladies, for your inspiration!

Sunday was the workshop day. Mahsati taught the drum solo choreography and the dancers loved, loved, loved it!!! I started my workshop out with some combinations that the dancers could use for their own choreographies. The patterns supplemented my new DVD, Advanced Technique and Playful Patterns, Volume 1, and included across the floor, traveling and stationary moves for entrances and “verses” of the songs. Then, we transitioned to Melaya Leff choreography. It is an original choreography that I developed after having spent time in Alexandria, Egypt. The music came straight from Alexandria, on a CD that my tour guide gave me as a present to remember the area and him.

David, Gilae and I left Knoxville around 5:00 pm to start the road trip back home. Both David and Gilae had to be to work the next day, so we made the trip straight through and arrived back home early Monday morning, tired but energized from the magic of the weekend.

To all the dancers who attended the workshop – and to Neran for sponsoring and Shahira for supporting the event – thank you so very much!

Mahmoud Reda – A Dream Come True

The next weekend took me from Knoxville to steamy Atlanta, GA. Amani Jabril sponsored the master legend himself, Mahmoud Reda, for a workshop and gala show weekend. I had looked forward to the workshop ever since Amani told me she was bringing him.

I took the trip to Atlanta with Susan, a fantastic woman who has studied under me for about seven years and become a close personal friend as well. We flew American Airlines (my favorite and preferred domestic airline!) to Atlanta and then roomed together in the La Quinta. On Saturday, we arrived to the workshop early in order to get a good spot in front. Mahmoud began the day with technique and floor patterns that were elegant and sophisticated – and a ton of fun! Then, after lunch, he presented a heartwarming choreography to a song called “The Best People.” The lyrics speak of the people from different regions of Egypt such as Upper Egypt (Saidi), Alexandria and a port of call on the Suez Canal. The choreography was exciting, challenging and such a delight to learn. Mahmoud seemed pleased with the progress of our class and he was such a great teacher! We all left feeling like we had learned and accomplished a great deal.

Raksanna and Mahmoud Reda share a moment after the Gala Show

The show was that evening. It was held in a really nice, cozy theatre and the lineup featured soloists, duets, trios and troupe numbers. It was a great blend of Mahmoud Reda choreography, oriental and fusion style belly dance. I performed in the second act, right before Amani closed the show. It was a new piece that I started working on this summer with bold, dramatic music. The audience was so warm and responsive – I truly felt their love as I danced and I gave my heart and soul that night! The icing on the cake was when Mahmoud and I had our photos taken and he said he enjoyed my performance. I felt like the clouds had lifted me up and I was dancing on air!!! What a magnificent dream come true!!!

Sunday was the continuation of the workshop with Mahmoud. He had found out that some dancers had to leave early due to travel plans (myself included), so he switched up the day to start with choreography and end with technique. He presented a dance to the song “Khan el Kahlili,” named after the famous market in Cairo. The kanuun played like liquid magic, the tabla kept the rhythm underneath and the steps were absolutely perfect – I was transported back to the market where the merchants entice shoppers, the smells of hookah and Arabic coffee tempt diners and visitors are taken to a place where it seems time stands still. Each time I visit Khan el Kahlili now, I will think of this music and this dance and I am sure that my heart will swell with the same joy I felt that Sunday, learning the dance and training with the master himself.

From Belly Dance to Pilates

In addition to my wonderful dance career, I am also a certified fitness professional/personal trainer/Pilates instructor. I owned my own studio for about 8 years and last year, due to the economy and a personal transformation, closed the doors of my studio and moved operation to the YMCA. As part of the transition, I launched a new series of “Train the Trainer” workshops. This past weekend, I had the great fortune to train eight instructors on my award-winning Pilates curriculum. We focused on the Reformer equipment and Level 1 and 2 of the curriculum. It was a full day of training, running from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm with only a half-hour for lunch and the instructors were really excited! Their passion for learning and their love of fitness was so inspiring! I am excited that the Y is taking my program under their roof and launching it this fall for their members.

After the Pilates training, I made it to Elmhurst, a suburb of Chicago that is about an hour and a half away. I had been commissioned by Sojourner-Douglass College, a private institution headquartered in Baltimore, MD, to present an interactive workshop on belly dance to approximately thirty (30) young ladies from across the world.

Enjoying a moment with thirty girls from around the world at the recent Sojourner-Douglass College workshop!

These students come to the United States to earn college credits toward their college degrees. When I first arrived, the class was a bit shy at first. Very quickly, however, the beautiful Arabic beats and fun dance moves soon had everyone dancing out their hearts and shimmying in good fun. Because the workshop was educational in nature, I introduced movements from across Egypt – from Saidi to Nubian to Oriental and offered commentary on the geography and culture to the origination of the movements and music. The girls were so sweet and everyone had a great time! I look so forward to working with Angela again when students from Sojourner-Douglass return to the Windy City!

The Magic Continues …

The next couple of weeks are going to be equally amazing for me. My professional dance company, Raksanna and the Desert Flames, travel to Orlando to participate in Stellar Advantage’s “Ultimate Belly Dance Intensive” and compete in the “Pro Troupe Challenge.” We’ve been working on an outstanding original choreography to an exciting piece of music; I can’t wait to showcase it with these beautiful dancers whom I admire and deeply respect.

After the competition, I travel to Dallas to teach a workshop with Little Egypt – very fun!

And on September 8, I celebrate my 40^th birthday! I am so excited about turning 40 – this decade in front of me is sure to be a fantastic whirlwind of positive energy, magical experiences and love!

I’ll write soon and let you know how things are going!

Hugs and shimmies to you all,

Raksanna

Raksanna, is pleased to present the Desert Flames, her professional competition team under her artistic direction. Raksanna and the Desert Flames are available for performances at a variety of venues. Please call for more details or find our page on Facebook!

Raksanna and the Desert Flames

Promote Your Page Too

Raksanna, Kendalle, Fahtiem, Angelika outside of Garden of Gethsamane

This year, I decided to add another leg onto my twice-annual trip to Egypt. Fahtiem and Angelika developed a 6 day tour of Israel and I decided to come along. I have never been to Israel and wanted a chance to see the country and learn first-hand about the culture.  It has certainly been an interesting experience – a deeply spiritual experience and one that I appreciate very much.  

Fahtiem, Angelika and a beautiful woman by the name of Kendalle and I are the four who added this leg on. It is a small group, but we all get along very nicely and I have certainly enjoyed everyone’s company. Both Fahtiem and Angelika did a great job with the itinerary and our guide, Isaac, was really wonderful.

We started our journey on Monday morning at 4:00 am. For this night owl, that was certainly a stretch of the imagination, but for those of you who know “Raksi-time,” you would have been extremely proud of me for I was actually early!!!

We arrived in Tel Aviv shortly after 1:00 pm and met Isaac, our tour guide for the week. He is an Israeli-Jew and has a great sense of humor. We briefly stopped by the hotel to drop off our luggage, get some money from the ATM and call home to make sure our families knew that we arrived safe and sound. Then, we started our journey with a driving tour of the city.

Israel– The Country

Israel

Israel, officially called the State of Israel, is an extremely unique country. It is located in the Middle East, in the western part of the Asia on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Egypt and the Gaza Strip on the southwest, Lebanon on the north, Syrian on the northeast and Jordan and the West Bank on the east. It is a relatively small country – one that you can drive its entirety in about 10 hours. There are approximately 7.5 million people who live in the country and out of that populous, nearly 5.7 million are Jewish.  Arab citizens, including Muslims, Christians, Samaritans and Druze, comprise the remaining citizens.

Israel is an extremely developed country, comparable to Western cities. The infrastructure is sound, driving rules mirror our own in America and in a great many respects, is a reflection of our own American cities. The country embraces culture and refined elements of life, such as with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israeli Museum which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and dance with the Batsheva Dance Company.

To me, as an American who comes from a country founded on freedom of religion and religious tolerance, it has been quite eye opening to learn first-hand how important religion is to those who live in this part of the world. By saying that one is a Christian, Jew or Muslim is paramount to claiming a nationality – and that declaration can lead to insurmountable differences in some cases. This experience has been quite interesting to me and quite a learning one.

Israel faced with constant wars and the threat of violence, is – as one of the security guards at the Israel airport put it – a problematic country. There is an undercurrent of always being watchful and constantly on guard. I could feel the psychological strain and must say that I do not envy this mindset of life.   

Tel Aviv – A Cosmopolitan City

Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is a beautiful city that is quite cosmopolitan. The city itself, which was founded in 1909 and merged with Jaffa in 1950 as a single municipality, is on the coast of the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea. While it is the second largest city in Israel, it is also the richest city in this country – complete with upscale shopping, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, international corporations, beaches, bars, cafes, restaurants, and a major performing arts component.

Our hotel was about one block away from the Sea and you can feel a beautiful soft breeze off the water all day and night.  The temperature this time of year is quite hot and humid, with temps in the low to high 90’s and high humidity. Approximately 4 million people live in Tel Aviv and its greater area.

Life here is quite interesting. As a dog lover myself, I am happy to see the number of people with dogs here – in fact, the way that owners take their dogs for a ride is to put them on the front part of a motorcycle and go out on the town! It is pretty cool! There are many shops in this area and

Can you see the dog taking his ride on the motorcycle? Look toward the front of the bike.

restaurants with outdoor seating can be found almost everywhere. The vegetation along the highways is quite reminiscent of California terrain, complete with orange trees and aloe vera cactus. 

The city itself, as well as the entire country (for that matter) is very clean and you can immediately sense that there is a national pride in keeping it that way. The people are very beautiful from a physical standpoint and are extremely health-conscious and physically fit. The majority of men and women alike could easily grace the covers of GQ or Glamour magazine. It is a city that never sleeps and the night life is very active. Musicians, street artists, families and lovers enjoy the beaches and cooler temperatures – it’s an eclectic and enjoyable feeling.

Jerusalem– The Holy City

Tuesday was a very special day for me. Isaac led us on a full day tour of Jerusalem, an ancient city that is filled with life today. It is the Holy City for three of the world’s major religions: Muslim, Jewish and Catholic and it is certainly magical, for religious and humanitarian reasons.

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and, including the population of East Jerusalem, is the largest city in the country. It is nestled in the hilltops of the Judean Mountains and is approximately 48 miles in physical size.

We started by stopping on Mount Scopus to overlook the city and learn from Isaac where the landmarks are and what we would be doing. Mount Scopus is located above the city of Jerusalem and for many years, was used as a strategic military point to overlook and attack Jerusalem.  The view is simply gorgeous!

Mount Olive, looking from Mount Scopus

Our next stop was Mount of Olives. It is a beautiful hillside that has tremendous religious significance. It is the burial site for Jews and contains about 150,000 graves and tombs of famous Jews, such as Abraham Isaac Kook (the first Chief Rabbi of Israel). From a Christian standpoint, it is the place where Jesus stood and wept over Jerusalem. It is also the site of the Church of Ascension, the place where it is believed that Jesus ascended to Heaven after His resurrection. His right footprint is imprinted in a slab of stone that is located in the Church.

After the Mount of Olives, we headed to the Old City.

The oldest part of the City (which is where the religious landmarks are located) is called the City of David and was established in 4^th Millennium. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. The old walled city has four quarters: the Armenian quarter, the Muslim quarter, the Christian quarter and the Jewish quarter.

Armenian Quarter – We did not have the opportunity to visit the Armenian quarter, due to time constraints, but here is a little bit about it. The Armenian quarter is the smallest quarter of the city and is home to approximately 2,500 Armenians. One of the main characteristics of this quarter is that the Armenians remained true to their religion and ethnicity by maintaining a solid commitment to their religious views (Armenian Christian) and intermarrying to keep their culture intact.

Muslim Quarter – We began the tour by entering Jerusalem in the Muslim quarter, through the Lion’s Gate. We stopped for coffee at a quaint little shop that served excellent Turkish coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice. Then, we began our journey. We arrived just after the midday call to Prayer and were not able to get near the Dome of the Rock, the very famous Mosque with the gold

Dome of the Rock, Muslim Quarter, Jerusalem

 top. It is located at Temple Mount. This Mosque is the third most sacred of the religious landmarks for the Muslims (following Mecca and Medina) because it is the home of the Rock of Moriah. According to Islamic belief, it is the place where Muhammad ascended to Heaven, with Angel Gabriel.

The Dome of the Rock is also the site of the Foundation Stone. The Foundation Stone is of the holiest site in Judaism. Just as Muslims pray toward Mecca, Jews pray toward the Foundation Stone. It is believed to be the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to God. Traditionally, Jews believe that this site is the Holy of Holies, the holiest spot on Earth. Jews are not allowed by the Muslim authorities to pray at the Dome of the Rock and that is why it is believed that the Jews began to pray at the Western Wall, because it is the site nearest the Foundation Stone.

From a Christian standpoint, the Dome of the Rock is also considered a holy site. It is the location where the mother of Constantine (the first Christian Roman Emperor) built a church, as did St. John at a later point in time. On the walls in the Dome of the Rock is this inscription:

“Such was Jesus son of Mary and peace upon him on the day of birth and on the day of death and on the day he is raised up again. It is a word of truth in which they doubt. It is not for God to take a son. Glory be to him when he decrees a thing he only says be, and it is.” (Quran:19:33–35)^[

 We were not able to go into the Dome, but did see it from an alley way. It is quite beautiful.

We walked through the Muslim quarter and the alleys were extremely similar to those in Cairo’s Khan el Khali. The shops and restaurants lined the alleys; the calls of “come inside my shop; I have a great deal for you” and the smells of the spices were like a transfer back to Egypt. It was quite amazing for me to experience the similarities between Egypt and the Muslim Quarter, although I suppose that it should not have been a surprise as Egypt is a Muslim State.

Map of Via Dolorosa - Christ's path - courtesy of www.christusrex.org

The Via Dolorosa, the path that Jesus walked to be crucified, begins in the Muslim quarter and continues through the Christian Quarter. The Christian Quarter is located in the northwestern corner of the Old City and as can be expected, is filled with Christian Churches of many denominations. There are a few coffee shops and museums along the way, but the majority of buildings are basically wall-to-wall Churches. It is vastly different from both a look and feel from the Muslim quarter and there is a great, visible distinction in the cultures.

The Via Dolorosa has 14 stations, or landmarks, that designate important happenings through Christ’s walk.  Although there were many places along the path that were significant to me, three places stood out in my mind. We visited the Garden of Gethsemane, a garden located at the foot of Mount of Olives where Jesus and the disciples prayed the night before his crucifixion and where He was found by Judas and arrested.

Today, the Church of Agony is located in the Garden and inside is the rock where it is said that Christ laid and sweated blood from His pores as He contemplated the impending events. We were fortunate enough to arrive at the Church of Agony in time to go inside – I joined others in touching the rock and had a very profound, spiritual experience from the bottom of my being. 

Site of Jesus Crucifiction on Calvary

The second place that stood out in my mind was the place where the cross was nailed in the ground and Jesus was crucified. There is a place where you can kneel and feel the hole and touch the stones where the cross was placed. It was a very special place and the spiritual energy there was an out-of-body experience.

The final stop in the Christian quarter and in the path of Christ is, of course, the location of His tomb. It is said to be in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which is in the heart of the quarter. The Church was full with Christian pilgrims who sang hymns and prayers as they traveled to the holiest sites in Christianity.

Once we left the Christian Quarter, we entered the Jewish Quarter. It lies in the southeastern quarter of the City and runs from Zion Gate, along the Armenian Quarter, up the Street of the Chain and extends to the Western Wall and Temple Mount in the East. As with the Muslim and Christian Quarters, the Jewish Quarter has a very distinct and different personality. It is actually quite quiet, although there is high energy and often times laughter coming from school tours and other visitors.

Western Wall - Women's Side

We entered the Jewish Quarter and immediately went through security to visit the Western Wall. The Western Wall is the only remaining part of the retaining wall around the Jerusalem. It is made from huge ashlar blocks and has vegetation growing from its walls. The wall is divided into two separate areas, one for males and one for females. It is the site of pilgrimage for Jews around the world and was constructed by King David the Great. Many people come to the wall to pray and to place notes in the cracks of the walls. It is reported that more than a million notes are placed at the wall in a year. The notes are collected twice a year and then buried on the Mount of the Olives. I went to the wall and said a prayer and had another meaningful, spiritual experience. The energy and the prayers of the people who came before me seemed to reach out and touch my soul.

We left this beautiful ancient city and I returned a different person, deeper as an individual and spiritually uplifted from the journey.

Completely Cool – The King in Jerusalem! (and yes, I mean Elvis!!)

Elvis Cafe - Jerusalem, Israel (NOT Vegas!)

On the way back to Tel Aviv, we stopped for coffee. Imagine my astonishment when we pulled up to this café/gas station that was called “Elvis Café!” For those of you who don’t know, I am actually a very big fan of Elvis. (However, for the record, I do not believe he is still alive.)

Yes! This entire restaurant/café was dedicated to the King himself with

Raksanna and the King (Elvis, that is!)

 larger than life statues, favorite Elvis songs blaring from the gas station pumps and in the restaurant and tasty dishes that were Elvis’ favorites. I was so excited that I had to go to the payphone and call my mom and daddy to let them know about it! What a blast!

On our last night in Tel Aviv, Fahtiem, Angelika, Kendalle and I enjoyed a stroll and found a delicious restaurant where I enjoyed a

Hungry Kendalle! And yes, that is McDonald's in the background

Caesar salad, shrimp with garlic and butter and a gorgeous glass of wine.  My dear friend and roommate, Kendalle, was starving for a steak!  Hey Kendalle – Very Interesting! Very Interesting, Indeed!!!!

God Bless the USA!

Greetings from the Shadows of the Pyramids! – June 29, 2010

Lynn and Raksanna at Chicago O'Hare, getting ready for take off!

June 19, 2010

I’m on my way to the world famous belly dance festival, Ahlan Wa Salan, sponsored by Raqia Hassan and  held in Cairo, Egypt each year. As a returning featured instructor, I am very excited to be on the way to a fantastic event! More than 1,000 dancers from across the world, representing all seven continents, gather in the shadow of the Pyramids to dance, learn, tour Egypt and meet new friends and colleagues. Raqia does an outstanding job at bringing together to top instructors with a variety of styles, highly professional tours and a fun-filled festival for serious dancers and hobbyists alike! I am honored and blessed to have the opportunity to teach and be a part of such a great event.

Each time I visit Egypt, I come back a different, deeper person and a stronger dancer. One of the things I love so much about teaching at the festival is the inspiration I get from the students who share my passion for the beautiful art form of belly dance – and the joy that comes from bonding with each other through ancient movements and artistic interpretation of fantastic melodies, pulsating rhythms and gorgeous instruments! It is ALL good!

This year, I am taking a small tour group with me. Lynn, Deb and Joy decided to come with me across the waters to the continent of Africa, the cradle of civilization. Deb and Joy departed from their home town in North Carolina yesterday and will arrive at the hotel in Cairo about six hours prior to Lynn and me. We departed from the Windy City of Chicago and arrive tomorrow morning at approximately 1 am. It takes a full 24 hours (with flight time and lay over) to make the trek across the world.

Lynn and I are now in London, enjoying a late breakfast and several cups of coffee. Lynn is a great person and so excited to go Egypt. She is staying for one week and her itinerary is filled with exciting, spectacular tours of the country. Lynn picked up a lecture series on Egypt and has made it all the way from the birth of the human race to the time of Alexandria the Great. It is such fun to experience her excitement for the trip! I’m glad she decided to come along!

Well, I promised to blog throughout the next three weeks. Stay posted for photos, snapshots and journal entries so that you can “travel along” with me!

Happiest of shimmies,
Raksanna