Raks Star * Isis San Miguel
Written by Zaina Hart (Introduction), Virginia (Forward) and
Enrico Schiratti and Isis San Miguel
Completely feminine, totally woman, Isis San Miguel has
seemingly become the Goddess she is so fittingly named after. Her ebony hair, golden skin, and
long lean physique mixed with that enigmatic smile and graceful movement seem
to speak of reincarnation of the Goddess herself.
Stepping back a few years, my first impression of this
amazing woman was one of awe, as I watched her perform a cane routine like no
other I had seen over the last 20 years.
Isis did not do the typical gimmicky “let me swing and balance this
stick” routine, but rather, it was clear she had studied Raks Asaya and then
offered it as a skilled performer. She offered movement I had not seen anywhere
but on video right out of Egypt. I
was an instant fan.
Getting to know Isis more personally I have found her sense
of humility refreshing. She is
respectful of those dancers who have brought forth our dance, and even more
loyal to its heritage. I have
never heard her say an unkind word about another dancer, but rather hear her
enthusiastically commend performances/performers, always offering support.
She can be playful and saucy both on stage and off (oh she
has such an infectious sense of humor).
But don’t think for one minute she does not take Middle Eastern Dance
Arts “seriously”. She continually
pushes the envelope, striving for more, and raising the BDB (Belly Dance Bar).
As a dance coach and instructor, Isis San Miguel is one of
this next generation of dance artists who truly make me proud to be in our
industry. And, I am honored
to call her friend and humbled to have the opportunity to work with her.
........Zaina Hart
International performer and instructor, Virginia, has
offered the following forward for
“Isis San Miguel” . . a true testament to the “Rak Star” Isis she has become.
From Virginia:
Isis is one of
the next generation of formidable artists that will sweep the country. With precise articulation and authentic
technique she graces the stage with fluidity and presence. Fully trained in all aspects of the
dance, she has diligently trained with me for almost 7 years and has been a
principal dancer in my company for over 5. Her style and interpretation is a
reflection of my work, which she has so eloquently integrated into her own
repertoire. With determination and
discipline she has reached great levels of success as a competitor throughout
the US and I am sure there will be more to come! I am very proud of all of her accomplishments.
A dancer emerges: The early years
I was six years old when my big sister took me to see
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. When I saw that beautiful ballerina enter the stage,
I was captivated– that was when I realized, I was a dancer. I simply had to be
that dancer onstage.
Not much time passed until I was enrolled in ballet classes
and could finally experience my own first ballet performance one year later. It
would be a unique performance for me; a small mishap made me lose my balance
and I fell on stage. But I got back up while the audience was still gasping. I
will never ever forget the applause that followed.
I took my ballet training very seriously. By age 9, my
younger sister JC and I auditioned for the Vladimir Marek ballet Academy in San
Antonio and we both won full scholarships. It was a crucial step on my path; I
was finally on my way to become a real ballerina!
Focused on my art, I continued to work hard and progressed
in my dance classes and performances. So by age 13, I felt ready to move to the
next level by attending a regional open call audition for the Joffrey ballet
school in New York.
However, my ballet teacher insisted I should not go as I
would not only embarrass myself but the school as well. I was shocked. With a
sense of defiance, I went to the Joffrey audition and danced my very best. Two
weeks later I received the acceptance letter in the mail. I was ecstatic! I
went back to my ex-teacher and told her off! My dream seemed to be coming true,
that is until a fateful accident had prevented me from attending the Joffrey
Ballet School that year. I would never be able to attend, but I was unaware of
this at that time.
A family relocation that started out to NYC had ended up in
Cape Cod, Ma. There, I still had high hopes of attending the Joffrey but in the
meantime had to get back to my dance training. I was enrolled at the Cape Cod
Conservatory and under the direction of Irene Merrill; we worked toward an
upcoming Showstoppers National Competition. I chose to dance to Alexander
Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances and wore a pink two piece costume that resembled
that of a harem pants belly dance costume. The decision to compete forced me to
work hard towards a specific goal. Looking back on it now, I feel like it was a
hint that a competitive belly dancer lived inside of me. Anyhow, I was so
shocked to win First Place in the solo ballet category that later, I had to ask
my mother what happened because I didn't remember! While in Cape Cod I also
trained with Debra Pinkney and performed with her company.
But fate struck once again – The day I turned 16, an
accident occurred that dissolved my dream of becoming a dancer. I felt useless
and lost. I didn’t know what to do, or who I was. Since I was unable to
physically dance, I turned to the other arts that interested me: Painting and
music. I enjoyed those things but I just never felt fulfilled. It was not me.
New York, New
York
Finally an adult, I decided to move to New York City on my
own. One thing was for certain, I had the hunger to perform; I just had to be
back on the stage. I enrolled at the Stella Adler Acting conservatory. Oddly
enough, one year later they released me on the grounds that I was too much a
"dancer". The next step would be GATE, a theatre ensemble that would
be touring its new play “Food for Bears” in the Czech Republic and Poland. It
was fabulous to be part of this, because it was a year long training in the
classics. I fell in love with
Chekhov and Shakespeare and the theater world. But it was the yoga class in the
curriculum that truly helped me because it was subtly rehabilitating my body.
Shortly after my return form the Eastern Europe Theatre Festival I decided to
go to India to continue my healing with yoga. I ended up living there for
nearly two years, traveling and practicing yoga.
When I returned to NYC, I wasted no time in getting back on
the stage. Feeling better then ever and my body in good health, I went full
time to Broadway Jazz Center specializing in theater jazz and added dancing
auditions to my list of go-see's. Towards the end of the 10 years that I lived
in New York a dancing colleague of mine suggested we do a belly dance duet for a
Variety Show in a lounge called One51 on the East Side of Manhattan. At that
point my only experience with that dance form was from when I was a kid and my
sister had a “Learn To Bellydance” LP from the 60’s!
But not wanting to miss a chance to dance on stage, I agreed
and off we went to partake in a class at Serena's Studio in mid town Manhattan.
We created a routine and performed it! Its funny how naïve and audacious we
were. But people liked it and we were asked to perform again. After that
"belly dancing" stint, I went back for more classes. But this time I
did a little research and discovered Yousry Sharif. The moment I first entered
his class at Faizels, I knew I was in the presence of a genius. From that instant onward, I was convinced
I had returned to my true calling. So I pulled out my 3 D's: Dedication, Drive,
and Determination to make this my ultimate success story.
Soon after, I made a move to South Florida. My quality of
life in Manhattan was diminishing. I had done what I wanted to do. I danced and
acted and even though I never made it to the Joffrey, I have had so many other
experiences and joys. It did not make up for it, but it helped.
Reuniting with the dancer within
Things continued seamlessly once I was in my new home state.
I discovered Nathalie teaching at a nearby studio and decided to start taking
classes with her. Nathalie recognized my dancing ability and she placed me in
her shows. Being with Nathalie was a great learning period and a source of pure
dance enjoyment. She is a beautiful dancer and an encouraging teacher. She has
always been and continues to be a dear friend.
Shortly thereafter I made a return trip to NYC to study with
Yousry Sharif, and I followed Nourhan Sharif’s recommendation to start
attending classes with Virginia in Miami. After nearly 2 years as a student
with Virginia, I auditioned and became a proud member of Virginia's Company: Wa
Nour Al Ayun. In these past 5 years as a company member, I’ve had numerous
opportunities to share the stage with Virginia. As a company member we have
performed in Paris, Egypt, Argentina and more! Each time it was thrilling,
exciting, glamorous and very hard work! In the studio she is a very giving
teacher, the training I have with her is intense and brilliant. I am truly
thankful to have Virginia as my mentor, she is an incredible woman and
performer! The way she shares her knowledge and her superb choreographies have
all been a great source of inspiration.
Virginia has encouraged me to grow and to do the things I am
doing now. For instance, she practically forced me to go to the SYTYCD
auditions in Miami. When I didn’t succeed I felt too embarrassed to tell
Virginia, because I KNEW that I could do better! Determined, I flew up to the
audition in Manhattan. I felt excited and strong – I sure wasn’t going to let
this one slip by with out a fight! Nigel was instantly willing to let me through
to the next level but I said “No I want to dance!” And I did and I kept getting
past the eliminations however the choreographies were getting harder and
harder. And while I was excited that I could learn them quickly the very last
choreography was a partnered hip hop combo, and that one kicked my butt. After
leaving the filming studios on 34th Street I felt exhilarated and hopeful. I
didn’t learn about my elimination until a week later when I had to fly back to
NYC from Florida. Still, it was rewarding to see that I was the featured
belly dancer once the show was aired!
Presently: Isis the competitor
Virginia knew I wanted to make my dream of being a
professional belly dancer a reality and early on she suggested that I consider
the competition circuit to help get my name out there. My first results were
mixed and I didn’t have a clear direction or focus of what was expected of me
as a competitor. So I did my research and discovered that a number of winners
were also Suhaila Salimpour students. It was around that time that Nathalie had
brought Suhaila to Miami for the pre-MBC event. I took Suhaila’s mixed level
workshop and ended up walking out in the middle because I just couldn’t do it!
I said to myself: this is something I have to investigate further!
A couple months later Suhaila had a level 1 weeklong in DC
and I went. I was in awe when I met her. Here was this remarkable woman with an
amazing history behind her and yet she was approachable, friendly and
genuine. This special encounter
opened up new horizons for my development based on her curriculum and
technique. I was and still am, really excited about it. From that week on, I decided to go
through Suhaila’s Certification Program. I am very proud of having succeeded in
reaching level 2 and am working hard on getting ready for level 3.
Competing has become an integral part of my dance training
and expression. It is a learning tool and a chance to force myself to face new
challenges. I am thankful for being able meet many wonderful people and
talented dancers on the circuit. It is something that I look forward to every
year with excitement and anxiety. Being in the presence of angels along the way
that truly care and invest their time and energy in me has also been an honor.
People like Zaina Hart who surprise me with their interest and insight or a
word of advice that felt more like a charm, has been a rare blessing.
In 2008, I did a tribute to one such angel: my old ballet
mistress, Irene Merril. As an honor to her belief in me, I returned to the
Showstoppers Competition that I had already won as a teen. This time, I entered
the Folkloric category with belly dancing. Much like in a dream, the dancer
that performed just before me was in the exact same age and category as I was
when I entered as a teen. It was as if Isis past and Isis present met in the
wings of that competition stage. Once more I won first Place in that
competition, both in my category and as an overall performer. And I owed it to
Irene to show her I didn’t give up on the dream we both believed in so long
ago.
In 2009 the efforts of my hard work have started to show
results: Yvonne (also a company member of Virginia’s WNAA) and I won the 2009
Mini Ensemble of the Year at Wiggles. I came in 3rd in the Entertainer
category. Virginia’s Wa Nour Al Ayun was the First Place winners at the MBC in
2009. I came in 2nd in the Pro category.
The future:
As a company member of Virginia’s Wa Nour Al Ayun, I feel
safe enough to grow towards my dream with a mentor who believes in me and has
instilled a strong foundation and creative inspiration. With Suhaila, I get the
additional layer of technical motivation; a synergistic blend that feels right
to me. It is a life long journey with many lessons, and now, I can finally
control my present to create my future. God gave me a second chance to dance,
and I am not wasting such a precious gift. Dancing is beyond a passion, it is
the essence of who I am. My body is a vessel for my spirit to live out its one
and only dream: To become that beautiful dancer I saw on stage when I was 6
years old.
Isis San Miguel is certified in Hatha Yoga level 1 and 2.
She also teaches belly dance classes in the South Florida area. To find out
more about her class schedule and shows please visit: www.isissanmiguel.com. Isis wishes to
thank Zaina Hart for inviting her to be a part of iShimmy.com.
Photo credits: Florida Glamour, Giovanna Molina, and Zizi
Zabaneh. All others are from family archives.
