Pressure.   In 2009, our dance company won the Belly Dancer of the Year Competition, and we've been chasing the "1st place" title ever since.  During 2010, we won awards (1st runner up, 2nd place, etc) at several events, but the winning title alluded us.   Luckily, we reversed the trend in 2011 and won two big competitions -- Belly Dancer USA and Yaa Halla Y'all.  

I wanted to sit down an figure out what we did differently,  and here is what I think changed our trend : we had fun and really enjoyed dancing together.   Okay, I'll admit it, this isn't the epiphany you were probably expecting, but I really believe that is the secret sauce for all dance groups.  

I've now logged tons of hours watching performers and troupes at competitions  -- the work and skill of all these dancers is always evident when they take the stage.  The ones that get my attention are the ones that engage their 'hearts' and get out of their 'heads'.  They also are clearly enjoying dancing together (that energy is always felt by and audience)  AND you can't tell who the troupe director is which is a big plus for me.    I also really like the ones that break the mold and do something unexpected.  

So back to 2010 -- we had all the right stuff -- great choreography, beautiful custom-made costume, great dancers -- we performed everything exactly right, but were not dancing to have fun and entertain --we were dancing to win -- I think when you take on that type of perspective your body, your attitude and your energy changes.    

As we entered 2011 -- it wasn't about the win, it was about performing our best, entertaining the audience, enjoying the dance, and sharing lots fun and laughter along the way.  That attitude helped fuel the year of the Troupe-A-Doop



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Raks A'Diva started as a social troupe -- our primary aim was to get to know other dancers, perform together and  enjoy spending time together.   The first adjustment was shifting from being 'soloists' to dancing together as a unit -- when the dancer next to you is six inches shorter -- you just have to adjust.    This took time as we had eight very strong soloists, each with their own style.... compromise and  persuasion took on new meaning.   

The first year of the troupe started as a  perfect dictatorship -- as we were ruled by our iron-feather-fisted Director Zamon who took care of everything.   We performed together for six months and entered a competition where we won THIRD PLACE.    This became a major wake up call for us, and we made a big shift in our focus and decided we wanted to make the effort to become a 
Professional Troupe.    

What is a Professional Troupe?    This is a group of very committed dancers who often invest 5 -10 hours a week in rehearsals to be at the top of their game.     Most professional troupes are run by an artistic director who conducts auditions, establishes choreography and sets tone for the troupe.  

Raks A'Diva troupe members made the commitment to be the very best we could be,  and we set our sites on seriously competing.   Unlike most professional troupes, all our dancers participate in decisions  -- helping select music, participating in choreography design, etc.  We're a family and a very hard working one at that.   Our troupe members often spent 6+ hours every week practice, plus attending classes or performing as soloists.      We set a goal of re-inventing ourselves each year so that we can learn new skills and grow as dancers.    We also have a strict rule that we must have fun in the process --sometime we have to remind ourselves about that one a lot !!      

We all love dancing, and we all love dancing together.  We also love to spend time together and have great fun in the process.   We're blessed because we genuinely like each other .  We don't have any formal rules or by-laws --just an incredible commitment to be the best we can be and enjoy the ride along the way.  

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Time to fess up -- dancing to live music can be about as popular as pulling rotting teeth out of an alligator.   Dancing to live music can be exciting, but it can also come back and bite you.  The clever dancers have an easy solution which I'll provide at the end. But to bring this story home, let me offer a couple of examples:  

Challenge One:  What can happen when musicians are bored? After an evening with dozens of dancers, one particular drummer looked bored out of his mind.   During my drum solo,  the drummer decided he was going to play 'test the dancer', and changed the rhythm every 8 counts.   With a maniacal grin on his face, he finally settled into a rhythm that precisely matched the rhythm of "jingle bells" --it was after all December.    I struggled through -- twisting, stepping, and pop, locking with everything I had -- I think I pulled a hamstring and distended my colon in the process (only kidding).  

Challenge Two:   What can happen when musicians get nervous? Usually musicians have played together numerous times before they are in front of a live audience.   However, I recall one dark evening when a substitute musician was called in and they all stared at each other trying figure out what they were going to do. (Really a bad sign).   When the music started, the anxiety was noticeable because the music was being played at 3x the normal speed -- always a challenge for the dancers.    

So is there a trick to live music?     The clever dancers typically will ask the musicians to play one song they know --so know matter what they are dished out they have one polished performance they can hang their hats on.    To help you in this process, I've listed a number of popular songs for live musicians that they will most likely know.   


:A Ya Zein
Alf Lelya WahLeyla
Al Atlal
Ana Fi Intizarak
Ayeela Tayha (Lost Daughter)
Ayoub
Aziza
Bahlam Beek (I saw You In My Dreams)
Banat Iskandria
Batwanis Beek (I Desire You)
Bir Demet
Yasamin
Dala'a el Helween
Daret al Ayam
Enta Omri (You Are My Life)
El Houbbi Koullou
Fakkarouni
Gamil Gamal (Such Beauty)
Gan al Hawa
Ghannili Shwayyi Shwayyi
Habibi Ya Eini (My Love, My Eye)
Habibi Ya Nour El Ein (You Are The Light In My Eye)
HaniHarrraml Ahebbak
Hazar Fazar
Hebbina
HIzzi Ya Nawaeem
Hoss Bass or Hes Bes
Istemen Babajim
Lamma Bada
Lissa Fakir (Do You Still Remember?)
Leylet Hob
Mashaal
Me 'Alli Oultilu
Nebtidi Menein el Heykaya
Nour el Nain
Noura Noura
Rezah Rezah
Rompi Rompi
Salam Allay (My Lover Greeted Me)

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