Fantasy Oriental Night - Serkan Tutar Show!

Book your tickets Now!!!!

 

Thanks God for the opportunity to have a bit of rest on yesterday. The 3^rd MODF,  Fantasy Oriental Night and Workshops  are coming very soon! Amazing workshops and shows are waiting for you. Join us for a great show  and learn from Serkan Tutar, the most in-depth you study, the most magic you will learn from workshop!!

 

The flyer/poster/ticket are ready!!  I changed  the new poster on Facebook event page this morning. I am gearing up and I get so excitable and want to do it all, try everything and anything that involves, creating, imagination, playing, learning and growing. On the plus side I also like to be self-disciplined especially when learning! I can create from that lesson. Hmmmm…..That is why I can be a dancer, writer, a photographer, whatever our art form be.

 

Fantasy Oriental Night -  this will be  a memorable night for every one. Dress  up and ‘Let your hair down and ROCK through night'. The Coolest, most creative and authentic costume will win prices for The Best Fantasy Oriental Costuming. First up is behind the scenes, it’s an exciting as  we have not one. Everybody are in mood, we have Singapore guests, many dancers still on the way…. I have almost 20 performers line up on my list.  So, the Fantasy Night  I've ever organized is just about to start... What a crazy feeling! Bring your family and friends and get drawn into this crazy (but good crazy) SHORT+SWEET experience fun night! For Serkan’s  workshop - I appreciate those who already booked the  workshop with me in year ago, I am so proud and honored by their desires and willingness to study deeply from the beginning, to move forward with knowledge, respect, and their own truth of being a great dancer!!! My sweetest students and best dance friends, can’t wait to be there with you all!   Feeling thankful. Can life get better?  

What Is Right For ME...

It’s mid-night, I still have plenty of energy. It’s a time to write! Aha….What does this have to do with my topic in the mid-night?  Well, it’s somewhat about my heart, carrier and dancing. Did you ever have one of those days when nothing seems to go right? Well I recently had one of those days.  If you are my facebook friend, you’ve probably read that status weeks ago as below :

“It's really a good news and bad news:-( . I'm flattered by a good job offer this morning. It's a very difficult situation for me…… find it hard to know how to negotiate for a new job offer. Again, I should consider questions of work-life balance, such as vacation time, flextime and dancing time. I have to either accept the job offer or turn it down :((((“

For past few weeks, my heart was overcome with emotion because of  a good job offer by an oil and gas international company. I find it hard to decide and  I was sleepless for few nights. The answer was going  to be yes and my mind was reeling from the realization that I had  following my heart. A dancing friends wrote to me an long email after reading my status. After think-through the situation, I decided to turn down the job offer because of my RESPONSIBILITIES  and COMMIMENT of belly dancing. Finally I choose to follow my heart - belly dancing, work-life balance, such as vacation time, flextime and dancing time!  I know If I accept the job offer, I will have no time for others things including my dancing. My belly dance art form is much more about living, it has so many lessons that have to do with life, not just only dancing. It is a way of creating, celebrating, sharing thought, caring, joining the  community and building relationships…. Oohhh.... I think I would have so much to talk about belly dancing  and I could go on with the long list! 

I felt so much peace, calm, joy and more like who I truly am. It's as though this was one of the first times in my life I was actually being more me because I allowed my heart to guide me. I feel so blessed right now. Turning down the job offer is tough.  I am very thankful for some positive encouragement/comments.

Life is good at the moment,  I am very pleased to say :D  My workload is going fantastic! Found myself with extra reserve of energy  to meet a challenge.

Feather Boa Workshop with Shanaz

Came back from Shanaz workshop. And, I'm having a headache and flu now! God, I'm really restless! No more travel before June 18, but then I have to drive to Penang to see my doctor for my thyroid function test results on Friday! Huh huh… the most obvious place to complain about my health is in my doctor’s room. Yes, it’s the great I am getting older, and this is part of the aging process. I accept physical weakness and sickness, just enjoy whatever health can allow. I got this email Ten Commandments of over 40 years old Inspirational Quotes from a friend and I thought of sharing this with you also. Click here: http://sushmajee.com/information/misc/ten-commandments.pdf

So happy to see old friends again at Shanaz workshop. This was my 2nd time taking workshop with Shanaz. I admit, I don't know a lot about her other than she has a strong Egyptian background, and has an excellent teaching as an experienced workshop instructor. I love her teaching !!! I love her 4 hours morning session workshop, it allows the workshop to be much more in-depth where we get to learn something new. Again, the 4 hours workshop was barely enough time to finish the whole choreography. The afternoon workshop required a feather boa. I have never seen nor even heard of this style before, and it was so much fun, and it is a perfect blend of melodic Middle Eastern sensibilities and modern western beats, it was an American cabaret belly dance moves and combination enhanced the fusion style, grace, and mixed with some sassy western attitude, simple yet so elegant. I enjoyed very much with Shanaz creativity fusion choreography. Different teacher teach different thing, appreciate her great idea and seeing things from different perspectives. So much different combination to learn in different ways. Despite my own shortcomings, I want to take more workshops with Shanaz.

I was exhausted after the 7 hours workshop and 5 hours solo drive, and my feet were screaming...cant remember how many time I stop to stretched out my body. Luckily the new CD album from Shanaz keep me awake toward the end. Aha….I was stopped by the police for speeding over 100 mph at mid-night, police said that photo has taken and I would receive a Court Summons in due course. I knew that I am a road devil who often speed. So I was not surprised that I have many speed summons. Hahaha…wish I can drive like a super defensive driver so traffic summons is RM0. LOL!

Yael Zarca Workshop

I'm that tired after a whole day trip to K.L. Arrive home at 3.30pm yesterday, rushed to teach 2 classes. Wondering why life is always so tired. Hectic lifestyle indeed! Suffer the whole day but luckily tomorrow is a Wesak day, it will be a public holiday here, tomorrow I will sleep sleep sleep!!! 

So beautiful Yeal!!! I enjoyed her beautiful dance with beautiful expression on her face. I enjoyed her workshops – Saidi and Modern Shaqi. The Saidi workshop is only 2.5 hours, we just did 2 minutes of cane choreography. The 2nd workshop was full of emotion. Yael explained the lyrics before she start teaching the choreography. She can't speak fluently English, but more or less we can understand when she mixes her languages. The dance really beautiful, graceful and controlled but at the same time full of emotion, I love the music and I love her choreography!!!! As I say, as long as I left a workshop with three things I can use then it’s been worth it. Having learn in such a short space of time, the only downfall is that now, practicing at home, ooppps…. I’ve forgotten most of the moves ;)!

Met 2 male belly dancers participated in this workshops. Yeal made jokes with the guys when she demonstrated how to do the accent move in her upper body. I noticed that more and more Malaysian young talented male dancer take part in belly dance nowadays. In Arab cultures, belly dancing was never meant exclusively for women. Whether or not anyone is fit to be a belly dancer depends on their dedication and talent. They are less inclined to wear clothing that could look feminine, they don't necessarily dance the way women would. Well the Arab male belly dancing did not disappoint in their show! As always they kept it fresh & exciting to the audience. Friendly speaking, I'm supportive of well intending Malaysian males who want to learn this style for the right reasons and with the right mindset and attitude. I have heard rumors as to why certain people cannot accept men do belly dancing. Well what else can we say when you see His moves are as sexual/sensual as those of a girl belly dancing, but markedly appealing to a different audience..?

Well, sleeping bug is calling me….Its time to cheer up. I need some goals and motivation in life. I need the motivation! Can I? I wish...I need to ensure that things would be nice. Good and well, next shall go for Shanaz workshop and meeting good friends! It will be a busy but brilliant month!

Yael and Me

World Belly Dance Day Charity Event

Oh so busy and yes, but this kind of busy is the best kind of busy, I'm really Happy. I'm taking a few more workshops in May so I'll have to travel back and forth again to Kuala Lumpur – Alor Setar, so busy and stressed  and yet excited!

I  will be attending Yael Zarca (French) workshop on Friday 14^th May.  I have too many things and too many music on my head, I only sign up  for  the first  day workshop and I’m not attending the WBDD Charity  Show event. I’ve  been supporting this event for 3 years, and this time, I do not want to attend. Good luck and all the best to all performers.  

I received a Kind reminder email of  Shanaz (Hong Kong) workshop this morning. Yes Yes Yes...!!!! I am going for both workshops! Shanaz will teach 2 songs  that her two songs have  never been danced to before by anyone - at least she has not been able to see or hear that anyone has ever choreographed to the 2 songs! Sound exciting. I attended her workshop in past few years, her dancing isn't the same...and I don't mean by energy etc, but rather the style is different...like almost completely; and I think I know what it is.

Looking forward to a weekend of workshops with Yael Zarca and Shanaz, Yippee!!!

My New Costume Design

Here is my new costume design, what do you think?

Hmm.....honestly I don’t like the design and I am not going to use it! How fussy I am!! I'll tell you now, I aim to be almost as good as simple and not heavy costume full of beads. Hohoho...although the tailor is a fashion designer who specialist women’s clothes, it is hard to track down every single EXACT design when I explain to the  tailor. Well those are my thoughts of the costume. The design is OK, I am not criticize the design, I just don't like it that much. Sorry for the 'too much talk' about the costume!

Puduraya Bus Terminal New Look

Puduraya has always been a one stop center for me whenever I travel back and forth between North and South. Ever since Puduraya renovated,  it was my first time I stepped in to the brand new Puduraya  and amazed with it. Everything changed after renovation. The new Puduraya Bus Terminal definitely much more cleaner and tidier with modern design. The platforms get down to the basement covered up in glasses,  all stores arranged nicely, more spacious and there are ample of seats. Most importantly, they have air conditioners now!

While waiting at the  new waiting area,  I took few photos in the Bus Terminal. I instantly felt as if I was in the airport waiting area instead. I don't have  to stand for hours waiting to board my bus. Perfect area for agoraphobic and those who want to listen to music comfortably without having to blast  your  music. I can even read my books in peace.

As everything is new, it was pretty clean inside the Terminal. I also noticed the cleaners  went around to clean/mop the walkway frequently. Hope this time all of the bus operators will improving the public transportation system besides just providing the state-of-the-art facility. Also, the operators of the bus terminals should ensure the standard, cleanliness and safety of the bus terminals. 

Pictures of new look Puduraya :