Raksanna Productions Receives 2011 Best of Aurora Award

NEW YORK, NY, October 25, 2011 – Raksanna Productions has been selected for the 2011 Best of Aurora Award in the Health & Fitness The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

This is the first year that a business has qualified as a Four-Time Award Winner. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE:  U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@uscaaward.com
URL: http://www.uscaaward.com

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As our beautiful art form continues to grow in popularity, dancers are faced with many opportunities to take workshops, attend haflas and perform in multiple venues.  Among the performance opportunities are a plethora of competitions, as well.

Raksanna competes in Queen of Raks Sharki

Although I have been performing and teaching for more than a decade, I entered the competition scene in early 2006.  Before I made the decision to compete, I had to make sure I truly understood my motivation for competing. After sincere introspection, I realized these were my top three reasons for competing:

Setting and Achieving a Goal

As a “type A” personality that is driven to do more than humanly possible – and to do everything to the absolute best of my ability, I’ve found that goals enable me to reach greater heights.

During a “normal” schedule, I teach classes and workshops and continue my own personal dance training on a weekly basis.

Deciding to compete gives me a target and helps me go to the next level of professional dance.

Competitions also enable me to concentrate my time and efforts on specific results.  By identifying an event, there is a hard and fast deadline.  This means that I have to
focus my energy and resources in a very specific way and manage my time effectively. It certainly would not do to be unprepared when on stage in a competition!

While it’s great to win – and to set your sights on winning – it’s important to understand and keep in mind that anyone who participates in a competition is a winner. The hard work, commitment and courage it takes to get up on stage and ask someone (usually, three or more people!) to judge you is in and of itself a feat to be recognized and celebrated.

Kindred Spirits: A Network of Beautiful Artists

One of the largest benefits I’ve found to competing is the wonderful network of like minded spirits.  When I first started the competition route, I had many stereotypes of what kind of culture would be present at the events.  To be candid, my preconceived notions were that the line up would be filled with cutthroat and vindictive diva’s.

The great news is that the stereotypes could not be further from the truth! My personal experience is that 98% of dancers involved in competitions are wonderful, warm women who love the dance. Backstage, dancers help each other to make sure that all of us do the best we can when we’re performing.

One example I can share is about Susan, a delightfully fun dancer from Oregon. I met her at the recent Belly Dancer USA competition sponsored by Mezdulene.

We were backstage, preparing for our event and she helped hook my costume together.  As she was pinning my bra, she realized that the hook had come off.  Susan gave me a quick lesson in emergency costume repairs (did you know that a safety pin can act as a solid pin to hook your bra eyelet and guarantees the bra will remain fastened for you?) and had my costume fixed in two minutes and ready for competition.

Susan also made sure that she was in the audience when I danced and she shouted her support for me. As I had traveled alone from Chicago to Canyonville, Oregon, Susan’s acts of kindness and support meant so much to me. It is this kind of bonding and camaraderie that I’ve enjoyed immensely throughout the competitions.

Keeping It In Perspective: Feedback is a Gift

Sometimes, when you’re a teacher, you don’t get a lot of feedback on how you can improve. After all, students look to the teacher as the expert and the source of knowledge. I’ve enjoyed getting feedback from the judges so that I can see myself from the outside in. Feedback truly is a gift – it provides you with insight that you may not have had before and, when taken in a spirit of reception and thankfulness, I’ve found that constructive criticism has really given me the tools to progress as a dancer and performer.

To illustrate, I am a curvy, voluptuous dancer with a full-figured body.  Recently, I received a suggestion from two judges to try a different style of costume that would be more appealing to my figure. Rather than take the feedback offensively, I researched a variety of vendors and found a costume in the style suggested. I tried it on and – guess what? The judges were right!

The difference between the previous costume style and the new style was simply amazing!

Belly Dancer USA – A Must Do Experience!

Throughout the year, I participate in four to five competitions across the country. Most recently, I had the pleasure to enjoy Mezdulene’s annual Belly Dancer USA competition held at the Seven Feathers Resort and Casino in Canyonville, Oregon. (If you’ve never been to Oregon, it’s a state that you simply must visit. Complete with an ocean coastline, high mountains and lakes, there’s something for everyone!) Mezdulene and her husband, Don, are gracious hosts and sponsors and make every attendee feel welcome.

The event was well organized.  When I checked in, the schedule was readily available and I had all the information I needed to make sure I knew where to go and when.  The line up and competition was professionally run. When there was an occasional skip of a CD, the technical team took care of the issue promptly and with a friendly personality.  The gala show was so much fun to watch! I had the chance to see dancers from across the country and experience their interpretation of the music we all love. The vendors had beautiful goods to sell and were easy to work with. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the event and plan on participating again next year – hopefully, bringing a few of my troupe members from Raksanna’s Desert Flames to compete in the troupe category.

Competing is an experience that will help you grow, both as a dancer and as a person. By setting a goal and achieving it, receiving feedback that can enhance your dance and meeting wonderful women who will become lifetime friends, the competition circuit can bring you many great experiences to be treasured and cherished.

International icon and master of Middle Eastern dance, Momo Kadous returns to ChicagoRaks™ as the featured guest artist! This year, ChicagoRaks ™ is a two day intensive with Momo.

ONLY 30 SPOTS!!!! This exclusive event ALWAYS sells out.

Download Registration Form: 2011ChicagoRaksRegistration

Agenda, Saturday, Oct 8 – Order and topic subject to change

- 9:30-10:00 am – Registration
- 10:00-12:00 noon – Oriental Choreography, Part I
- 12:00-12:30 pm – Break
- 12:30-2:30 pm – Oriental Choreography, Part II

Agenda, Sunday, Oct 9 - Order and topic subject to change

- 9:30-10:00 am – Registration
- 10:00-12:00 noon – Baladi, Part I
- 12:00-12:30 pm – Break
- 12:30-2:30 pm – Baladi, Part II

- 7:00 pm – informal potluck dinner at Raksanna’s home (bring a dish to share)

Workshop Location

Fry Family YMCA
2120 W 95th Street (corner of Book & 95th)
Naperville IL 60564
630.904.9595
** for driving directions, please visit http://www.randmcnally.com

Tuition

- One day – $150
- Both days – $250 (save $50!!!!)
- Payment plans available!

Coming from Chicago and taking the train?

Transportation to and from Rt 59 (Burlington Northern line of the Metro) can be arranged. Pitch in $10 to cover the price of gas and time for the driver (much cheaper than a taxi!) Email raksanna@raksanna.com for info.

Need Lodging?

Recommended hotel (5 minutes from workshop location, free breakfast, free Wi Fi, reasonably priced) – Super 8, 4228 Longmeadow Drive, Aurora IL 60504, 630.898.5419

On a budget? Limited number of rooms available at fellow dancers homes. Email for details.

Rather than write about all of these fantastic experiences in one blog – and then not blog again for several weeks (life is busy!), I decided to write a blog on each one and I’ll post each week. That way, you can spend some free moments with me, if you’d like!

ChicagoRaks ™ 2010 – Featuring Momo Kadous

Gilae at the ChicagoRaks (TM) 2010 show

This year marks the fourth annual year for ChicagoRaks ™. My vision for this event is to bring Egypt to Chicago in an intimate setting where dancers from across the globe can study with a world-renowned Egyptian dance artists and showcase their talents for the artist in a fun setting. In addition to limiting the number of dancers to only thirty (30), I host dinners in my home or cocktail receptions to create a highly personalized experience where dancers can get to know the artist on the individual level, a rare opportunity in today’s world of mega conferences and festivals.

I first met Momo in Cairo about seven years ago. I had returned to the Land of the Pharaohs for Raqia Hassan’s Intensive Teachers Course, an amazing intensive where you immerse yourself in all aspects of the dance for ten days straight, dance eight hours a day and enjoy lectures in the evening in Cairo, Egypt. Momo, of course, is a featured instructor for this course.

During his workshop, Momo taught a mouthwatering Oriental choreography that was quintessentially his style – deep layering, interpretation of the grandest and the tiniest of details and utterly magnificent. I was completely inspired. Both his teaching style (demanding of our best, accepting no excuses and expecting the discipline typically found in a traditional ballet class) and his artistry touched me deeply on the soul level.

At the end of the Teacher’s Course, there is an opportunity to dance for our teachers. I decided to perform my award-winning choreography, Alfrec: An RE

Momo Kadous and Raksanna enjoying a relaxing moment

G Medley, that evening. With modern music that fused the many different folkloric styles to techno instrumentation, a brief taxim and a playful drum solo, I thought it was a perfect fit that showcased my personal style.

Momo, of course, was in the audience. He watched with thoughtful eyes and at times, I caught him nodding his head in approval and smiling. I was excited! That night, as I made my way back to my room, I passed Momo in the hallway of the hotel. He caught my eye and said quietly to me, “Raksanna, you have something very special. Please continue to train and develop. I look forward to seeing more from you in the future.” He nodded and quietly walked away.

I will never forget that moment – it was touching, humbling and oh, so exciting!

Fast forward and I found myself producing ChicagoRaks ™. My first year, I sponsored the delightful Faten Salama and she was such a win! For the second year, I decided to bring Momo – and it was fabulous! The girls LOVED him. Year three showcased the lovely Fahtiem from Los Angeles.

When I saw Momo in Cairo last December, we talked about what a great experience everyone had had when he had visited us. We both decided that it was time for him to return to Chicago and quickly made the appropriate arrangements. He agreed to teach his beautiful Oriental choreography and then have some fun with a drum solo and a modern pop song.

Dress rehearsal - the Shamaden dancers opened the 15-minute production number, an original Raksanna choreography that honors the beautiful genres of Egyptian dance

As registrations started coming in, I was so excited to see that we had dancers representing five States (Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Wisconsin and California) and seven countries (Canada, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Thailand, Mexico and the United States) participating in the weekend festivities!

There was a special dinner for Momo at my house on Friday evening and then a cocktail reception with him on Saturday, prior to the show. Guests had the chance to meet Momo one-on-one and get to know this extraordinary legend and dance master on the personal level. In class, Momo kept dancers challenged and on their toes (literally) with amazing choreography, tantalizing technique and musicality that is top notch.

Ariel of Chicago performs a beautiful fan veil dance at ChicagoRaks (TM) 2010

Saturday’s gala show was held in an eclectic theater near downtown Chicago called The Viaduct. The lineup was a wonderful mixture of solos, duets and group numbers. Erika of Chicago kicked off the evening with an energetic Sha’abi dance; Diana the Dancer from Wisconsin performed a beautiful dance to “She,” Tammimi of Japan danced to a gorgeous Oriental number and Amani Jabril delighted the audience with a lovely wing piece.  My professional competition troupe, Raksanna and the Desert Flames, performed our award-winning number featuring swords, veils and wings to Dr. Samy Farag’s Habipti.

My production company had been hard at work over the spring and summer perfecting one of my original choreographies that was a tribute to Egypt. The sixteen minute number started off with Shamaden as a nod to the Pharonic times then moved to Alexandria for a Melaya Leff number. A soft, spiritual number came next to feature the Zar, followed by the joy of Nubia. A traditional Saidi stick dance came next and the piece culminated in a rousing drum solo. I dedicated the number to both Momo Kadous and Faten Salama for their deep inspiration to me.

The girls rocked it! My heart swelled with pride as Momo’s eyes lit up throughout the show – and in the end, when we presented him with a Chicago cap and a photo of us all, his remarks brought tears to my eyes. “Tonight, I have seen my country, Egypt, on the stage. The passion and the spirit of these dancers show this art is not just about the body … but this art is about the soul, about touching the audience with your spirit and bringing us each closer to our humanity.”

Momo Kadous and Raksanna, Sept 2010

Momo, thank you. Thank you for your inspiration, for those words of belief so many years ago and for your own spirit that brings me closer to my own humanity, allowing me to dig deeper into my own artistry. I will see you in a few weeks, back in the shadows of the Pyramids, as I study with you again.

Hugs and shimmies to you all,

Raksanna

International icon and master of Middle Eastern dance, Momo Kadous returns to ChicagoRaks (TM) as the featured guest artist! This year, ChicagoRaks (TM) is a two day intensive with Momo himself, complete with a gala show in his honor. Co-sponsored by Turquoise International and Raksanna, Momo Kadous teaches  brand new choreographies, a special drum solo section, emphasis on rhythms and technique and much, much more!! This exclusive event ALWAYS sells out.

Registration Form

Early Bird Special – on or before Sept 5, 2010
Weekend Package $ 175 | One Day Pass $ 100

Regular: On or after Sept 6, 2010 or at the doorWeekend Package $ 200 | One Day Pass $ 125

All tuition payments are made directly through Ali at Turquoise International. www.turquoiseintl.com  800.548.9422.  Contact Ali at  turquoiseintl@earthlink.net to register or for payment plan options! Class Size Limit: 30.

Gala Show Tickets
Platinum Tickets (invitation to Wine and Cheese reception with Momo Kadous, Platinum priority seating):  $35
Gold Tickets (Advance entrance to theatre, VIP seating): $25
General Admission: $20

All show ticket sales are made through Raksanna Productions. 630.689.3611 or www.raksanna.com/events-workshops/store/ All show ticket sales are final.  No refunds, no replacements, no transfers, no exceptions.

Contact Raksanna at Raksanna@Raksanna.com for details (location, time, etc.) and registration form. If you would like to perform, please let Raksanna know. Limited performance spots available.