Featuring a Favorite

One of my all time favorite dancers to watch in the valley is Sedona - so she deserved a page of her own. Rather than deleting the page each update, I decided that I needed to leave her up because she is too awesome to replace - even with the other awesome dancers that are to come...

Sedona!

Sedona was the first instructor to come teach at Black Sea Trading Company.  I long admired her style, grace, and dramatic dance personality. Sedona dances with a vision and attitude one seldom sees captured in the art. As a student, her interpretive style and passion for perfection made her someone few of her classmates could keep up with. She evolved quickly as a soloist. Now many years later, in her classes, she will have even the most novice dancer performing with confidence and beauty while her advanced students polish their techniques to perfection! Check out her Tuesday Night Classes! One of my favortie dancers and teachers!  

What does your name mean?
Well, it mostly mostly stands for the Sedona desert--an American desert of great natural beauty (!) and inherant power (!!). Initially I tried to use a similar Arabic name, but I kept being mis-introduced as Sedona. Eventually I just decided to go with it. Ironically, I visited Sedona for the first time just last year. Yup--it's gorgeous!

When did you start? Where?
I have studied the dance form for about 15 years now. I didn't accept professional bookings for my first year, didn't think it would be appropriate for a new beginner. I started studying with a friend in her home, and over time moved on to more formal training in a classroom setting with Cindy Kazmer. And it all happened here, in the Antelope Valley, although I have traveled to perform all over Southern California and beyond. After Cindy, I studied with Zahra Zuhair in Eagle Rock.

Why Belly Dance?
I've always enjoyed dance. But in most other forms, one relies heavily on others to make/create good dance opportunities. I found that with my interest in non-mainstream dance forms, the level of dedication in my co-dancers varied wildly, and I was not willing to submit to a lower standard for the sake of other's lack of comittment. In belly dance one can easily work as a solo performer as well as in a troupe.
On another level, the music motivates me like nothing else in this world. When I attended my very first belly dance class and heard my first drum solo, I got so excited I immediately wanted to move to the beat, but I recognized that it was a beat unlike any other I've ever heard, and that I would have to be taught everything from the ground up to do justice to the music. I was like a woman possessed, and have pretty much remained that way!

Where are you currently dancing?
I am a house dancer on Saturday nights (along with two other lovely performers) at Mythos Greek & Mediterranean Cuisine in Palmdale, CA. The shows start at 7:30 pm. The scheduled dancer varies from week to week, so be sure to check my website to make sure you catch my  show!

Do you teach?
Yes I do--I have discovered that I love teaching, much to my surprise! I teach at Blue Scarab on Tuesday nights, 7:30 to 8:30 pm. My classes focus on Improvisational Bellydance, both Classical Egyptian and American styles. You'll even catch a bit of Fusion in there!

Other forms of dance studied?
I've performed and taught English Country dance (like you see at Ren fairs and such), and have also competed in Irish step dance, both hard and soft shoe.

What style of Belly dance is your favorite?
I have to say Classical Egyptian thrills me, but I also greatly enjoy a well-done American and American Fusion style. I guess the key to my enjoyment is that it's well-done, regardless of the classification. That includes understanding exactly what it is being presented (don't call it Belly dance if it's hip hop to a techno Indian song...).

What does the dance mean to you? Opinions or views of dance you'd like to share?
Dance is my bedrock. It's what I can count on to stabilize me, bring me up to speed, help put things into perspective. It's my way of showing love to my audience, and to myself. It's helped me become the person I always longed to be. It's given me confidence, and humbled me greatly. It's a transcendant force, like love, forgiveness, and redemption. Deep enough for you?

Advice for new dancers? One point you stress?
One gets out of it exactly what one puts into it.

What makes a good dancer - what do you focus your attention on in watching a new dancer?
I look to see if they have enough enjoyment of the act of dancing to interpret that to the audience. There has to be interpretation, COMMUNICATION, energy transferance to and from the audience. I don't want to watch a technically perfect performance where there is movement but no emotion, steps but no lift, choreography but no spirit.

Favorite moment in the dance?
One moment happened last year, when I was dancing to a very slow song at Mythos. I was between tables, and someone at one of the tables wanted to tip me. Another person at the same table reprimanded the other, saying, "Don't interrupt her! Tip her after the song!" Made me feel like a million bucks. While I always greatly appreciate the tips, sometimes it's sad to interupt a soulful interpretive moment (I have a few, heh) for a $1.
Now for $5 or more, it's no problem to pause. :P

What do you aspire to in the dance?
To fulfill my potential.