I am a Belly Dancer

I am a belly dancer.I make no excuses for my body shape. Without it my dance would not be the same.

At one time I loathed my body, its shape, how it looked. I spent years trying to change it, reform it, ignore it.

Then I discovered belly dance. All of a sudden I saw my body in a new light, a bright light, a loving light.

Am I really making my hips move that way? Can I that really be my body, moving so naturally to the beat of the drum? Can I really feel this good about MY body?

Yes, I can.

Stop trying to be perfect. Stop trying to be a size zero. Stop being so hard on yourself. This is what the dance said to me and I listened.

Enjoy your body. Love the way it feels, soft across the belly. Love what your body can do, it can dance. This is what the dance said to me and I listened.

Walk like you are dancing, beautiful and strong, confident and proud. This is what the dance said to me and I listened.

I am a belly dancer. I make no excuses for my body because it is beautiful right here and right now and without it my dance would not be the same.

Nisaa Shuvani and her Dagger Dance

A video of our teacer, Nisaa Shuvani, and her dagger dance at Piratefest.

A Busy Weekend for Basha Raks

This past weekend we performed with Moksha Belly Dance Studio at a Piratefest and we also went to a local International Festival to promote Wicked Steps Dance Studio.

At Piratefest we danced in the wind and enjoyed the other dancers performances. We danced right on the street for this one. Jawhara and Laliba Ahteen decided to go barefoot on the pavement while Tabia and I kept our slippers on. Poor Jawhara and Laliba Ahteen had burnt and blistered feet by the end! I could feel the heat coming up through my slippers, it was really hot!

At the the International Festival we strolled through the park passing out brochures and information about Wicked Steps. We were very well received by all the women we talked to. I really hope they will give belly dance a try!

Wicked Steps Studio

Wicked Steps is now open for summer drop in classes! Tabia and I have been hosting 2 summer classes. Snakey Steps, a yoga inspired class to stretch and relax the muscles and Prep Steps, a conditioning style class to strengthen and prepare muscles for belly dance moves.

So far we have been having a blast with both classes! I have 3 senior ladies in one Snakey Steps class who are really enjoying the stretches and I have had a friend and her daughter come in for the drop in session.

Tabia has been working my employer, Lillian, and her daughter Julie in Prep Steps. She was really pleased when they returned for the second week and she hadn't scared them off!

Teaching classes is great for several reasons. Not only is it wonderful to hear how students are enjoying it, sleeping better and feel they got a good work out but it also helps us to keep in good shape too! Sometimes as dancers we can forget to keep up with stretching and conditioning and it really effects our dance. Being able to teach also reminds us to keep up our practice as well!

Check out our website www.wickedsteps.webs.com for more information on out fall schedule and Have a Wicked Day!

Back to School

When most people here "back to school", especially the teachers, they cringe in horror. Not us! We are about to start a summer session of lessons with our instructor, Lisa aka Niisa Shuvani, and we can't wait!

We have been off from formal lessons since early April and are we ever feeling it! It's not that we haven't been dancing this whole time but we really miss the structure of a class. All of us are thinking the same thing "what has happened to my shimmy??" and "my goodness my muscles are tight". For us getting back to lessons is something we've been looking forward to for awhile. Not only will we be learning new choreography but we are also hoping Lisa will put us through our paces and seriously challenge us.

So I say bring it on and my Sisters are thinking the same thing too!

Tabia and the Sword

Tabia trying the sword with our teacher on the beach. Tabia is a natural!