Learning to Belly Dance, one shimmy at a time.

I'm Lisa Marie and I'm a student and fan of belly dance.

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My lord.

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One way to practice belly rolls.

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Just dancing to some Natacha Atlas. Quality is not super awesome but any constructive comments always welcome! I’ve been belly dancing for 10 months.

[katerinaraqs]

Illan Riviere by Neï ’ Mad Photographies

[melodiadesignsinc]

‘Beauty is not caused. It is.’ ~Emily Dickinson

…awaken your beauty & adorn her accordingly. xo

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Hurt.

“I knew you’d get hurt,” she said as she stuck a piece of pineapple into my mouth. “There are two kinds of dancers: the ones who hate their bodies, who see dance as a contest between their brain and their bodies. They have eating disorders. They beat their body into submission. And they get hurt. They burn bright, then burn out. And then there are the dancers who love their bodies. Who work to bring their minds and bodies together. They’re the ones who can create lasting art. And you, you hate your body. I could tell from the moment I met you. And that’s why you’re in this bed.”

Excerpt from a short story I’m working on ^^^

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Amala Gameela

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Practicing a bit before bed --- song is Cybele by Solace

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this is Tahia Carioca, a dancer from Badia Masabni’s Casino Opera club, filmed during the Golden Era of Egyptian Cinema. I love to watch these early dancers! So incredible! I still can’t get over how they dance in heels too! 

[saraia]

Youssef Nabil -“Fifi Smoking”. Cairo, 2000.

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Layla Isis at Jebon, NYC, on St. Mark’s. Every Tuesday, live music and belly dance! You have to go under the main restaurant though . . . it’s hidden. Dancers in the basement!

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Rachel Brice

by Jaime Ibarra

[goddesswithinyou-deactivated201]

Colleena Shakti

[bellybollydance]

Anasma half Tunisian and half Vietnamese

ethnic dances * acting * yoga * martial arts * choreographer * Oriental Fusion * singer and song writer * Modern Jazz * Oriental Dance * Hip Hop * Salsa

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Irina Akulenko, one of my favorite teachers, performing “Justice.” A very encouraging person who also expects the best.

I have been belly dancing in New York for nine months. There are a ton of awesome teachers, like Kaeshi Chai, Maki Moves, Natalie Nazario and Irina Akulenko at Bellyqueen in NYC. I hope to travel the world learning belly dance.

Rachel Brice in Portland and Fat Chance Bellydance in San Francisco are on my domestic list of places to hit up . . . but of course I also want to travel abroad and study belly dance where it originated from.

This blog will hopefully keep me on track and be a record of my journey, and maybe even a resource for others. Also, an excuse to collect images of all my favorite dancers!

My dance studio in NYC is Bellyqueen. After nine months, I feel pretty comfortable in the beginner classes and am beginning to work on my weaker areas --- Turns! Keeping my balance! And SMILING during a performance!

Currently, I am volunteering in Nicaragua, and using Datura Online to practice while I am not near my home studio.

Shimmies and love ---

Lisa Marie