(As printed in the Quarter 2/2005 Issue of The Belly Dancer Magzine)
The Belly Dance Superstars
By: Oberon
(See Zaina Hart's and Nizana's Reviews from this issue about The BDS)
Because I wanted too, and for the Ying and the Yang of it…here are my two cents about our night of "Superstars of Belly Dance".
I am grateful to my friend and editor Zaina Hart. It is because of her work and reputation in the Middle Eastern Dance community that Jillina asked us back-stage before the performance of "Belly Dance Superstars."(No Zaina, you may not delete this part - it is my opinion).
I want to also thank Jillina for giving us a peek into the Hard Work and preparation that our sisters put into this show - believe me - it's not easy!
Because I really do feel, there is almost a fear to say anything but glowing comments about this show in the general community - I wanted to try to offer a somewhat experienced view - without agenda - about what I observed.
If being beautiful to look at, qualifies you as a Super Star, then all the ladies certainly are, Super Stars. Unfortunately, going in, I among others, really take issue with the name, because I didn't see any of the long revered Super Stars of our community on that stage. ( Dina, Fifi Abdou, Soheir Zake, Tahia Carioca, Samia Gamel, Mona Said - to name a few). I in fact feel empathy for the performers who have to meld back into our community having worn that heavy moniker. Yes, I've heard the comment that several of the performers were not unknown before this event - but there is a difference between "well known" and Super Star.
On the night we attended, it is my opinion that Jillina carried the show. Her drum solo alone gave the show excitement and substance and was just a tiny moment in a frenzy of performances she gave that night, from classic Egyptian styling to
Tzar, amazing floor work - she definitely was the WOW factor in this show! I was told she also designs costumes for the show, writes choreography, helps with the staging….phew, amazing talent. She just might end up …a Super Star!
In my opinion, the show was heavy with Egyptian styling. Although not the most skilled I've ever seen, I was grateful for the punctuating moments such as the spinning of Petite Jamilla with double veils, the extreme articulation of Rachel Brice while surrounded by holographic fire which definitely appealed to my ancient, romantic fantasies. The costumes of the "tribal dancers" were appropriately extreme, but I've seen skill levels and choreography that held my interest far more, on the stage at Rakassah. (This matters when you are judged as "Super-stars").
I, however, did not appreciate the Hawaiian /Tahitian number that involved even chants being done in an irreverent mixed, culture costume that confused even the issue of Polynesian dance. Ah, I can hear it now - "you know, belly-dance, Tahitian, it's all the same". Just because you can doesn't mean you should
Felt the same way about the East Indian dance to the Arabic Song with East Indian Accents. Belly Dance with Indian gestures for punctuation would have been appropriate but classic Indian costume, wrong music - confusing.
You can justify it all but in the end it is the being presented as a representation of "Belly Dance".
I was grateful for the presence of Issaam on Tabla, really missed the interaction of a real band on stage - felt it stole from the "Super star" feel also.
All said, the glitzy show was a good night of entertainment and I feel the performers could certainly engender an interest in our dance that could benefit local teachers savvy enough to hook their service wagons to the "Super Stars".
