Yallah Magazine
Publish This!  Segment 7
Publisher:  Jackie Tucker, Nika
Boca Raton, FL
http://www.yallahmagazine.com  info@yallahmagazine.com

When did you begin publishing your magazine/newsletter?

I launched Yallah Magazine in fall 2008. I had the idea for two years before then but with the work schedule I had, it was next to impossible for me to begin this project. I didn’t want it to be mediocre, so I waited for the time to be right. I made the sacrifices necessary in other areas to get it done and I have no regrets.

Why do you do it?

I do it because I know that beyond the physical aspect of the dance - the movements, the technique - there are so many other layers that many of us as students of the dance do not know about or don’t even think about. I want to get to those other layers, I want to know the hows, whos and whys and share what I’ve gathered with everyone.

What do you want to accomplish with your publication?

I hope that Yallah will educate as well as entertain. I want it to be one of the best belly dance printed publication based on its content, a publication loved by belly dancers yet it brings awareness to the art form to those who have the wrong perception of it.

What do you feel is the criteria for a publisher in our business and what are your own credentials?

A publisher, along with knowing how to put a magazine together, should have a general interest or basic background in the dance but honestly, it is not required. I think it is important to have this interest because that’s the first way of knowing your target audience and choosing relevant content for the publication. You have to be out there also to know the people, to experience the workshops and the different events. I have had several years working for a publication company so I have the experience of dealing with editorial, design and printing. I have been in the belly dance world for 6 years, so even though it’s not decades of experience, I still have the general idea of what this community is about.

Why have you continued, year after year – or in other words, what is it that motivates you to continue?

Maybe in a few more years I’ll be able to answer this question because we are still in our infancy.

Now I am motivated by the people who send me emails and letters to say they love the magazine, they loved the story done on a particular subject or on a person who was featured. I am also motivated by my own personal interest to learn all that I can about the art form. This includes its origin, the people, the culture, and of course the vast influences that includes other dance styles to create fusions.

Are you a Local Publication?  Regional?  National?  International?

Yallah started out as a local publication in Florida but quickly changed/added some of the content because of the feedback we were receiving from across the nation and internationally. It’s strongly Florida based because of all the great dancers here but now we are growing nationwide.

I was dancing for four years with Maja before I started Yallah. I still attend classes and workshops as often as I can.

Did you have previous publishing experience before your publication?

Yes, as earlier stated, I have been working for a publishing company for nine years before I started my own publication so I had the background.

How do you pick your staff; writers, editor?

We have a managing editor that has over thirty years combined experience as a former teacher and publication editor; she helps me choose writers.  We are very selective because we want the best for our readers. Our staff writers usually have several years of experience in journalism, writing for magazines and newspapers.

What do you feel is the “highlight” of your publication? What special features do you offer in your magazine?

I think the highlight of this magazine is its clean presentation with the most intense color images. I am a visual person so I spend a great deal of time selecting images. I love color and the fun thing about belly dance is that it is so colorful and that’s why I chose to do Yallah in full color.

We offer a variety of special features each quarter so readers are always eagerly awaiting their next issue.  Our most unique feature? We also do our own cover shoots.

What do you see as the main difference between a few page newsletter and a magazine? Were you always been in print?  Do you offer the same information online?  Have you considered going to online?

I love to see the tangible product, I love feeling the paper and flipping the pages. I had to do web design in College but I did what was required of me to make the grade; I never loved it. I intend to start putting one or two issues online for people to see but as far as going online with the entire magazine, I would have to say I have no plans to do so right now.

What was the cost for your publication’s subscription and how many issues did you print throughout the year?  Did you have specialty issues?

Yallah Magazine is a quarterly publication. Four issues are for $20.00.

Do you have anything additional to add?

Visit us online and subscribe. It’s everything a belly dance magazine should be! 

Publisher’s Bio

Jackie Tucker (Nika) was born in St Andrew, Jamaica.  She loved music, dance and art as a young child. It seemed quite natural to her mother that as much as she feared that her only child would grow up to become a starving artist, this way Nika’s gift. Like any good mother, she bought the brushes, the paints, the sketch pads, the easels and allowed Nika to explore.

Nika moved to the United States to pursue her studies in Graphic Design in 1996. She now holds a B.F.A degree in Graphic Design, a B.A. in Art History and a M.Ed in Foundations in Multicultural Education. 

In 2004, Nika began searching for Jamaican dancehall or reggae dance classes in order to remain connected to her native music and dance styles. She couldn’t find any of those classes but her search led her to belly dance. She fell in love instantly with the music and watching her first teacher, Maja, dancing with the veil. Nika could easily identify with the beats of drums because it was very much a part of her culture and African roots. She became addicted ever since.

In 2008 she launched Yallah Magazine that marks the combination of both her passions, the love of the visual arts and the love of belly dance.