Over the years of performing with the Bellydance Superstars, I have found that I truly prefer dancing with a group than completely on my own. I mean, I do like a nice solo or improv here or there, but I love being part of a production that includes both group and solo pieces.
For my Club Bellydance solo, I have gone thru a huge process of “what about this, no this, no this” phase and found it became so frustrating to make a decision on the “perfect piece” to present. Then it occurred to me… why do I always have to choreograph my own solo, alone…. I get rather lonely practicing and preparing solos all by myself! During my workshop weekend in Oaxaca, Mexico, I met a wonderful dancer named Carlos. I truly enjoyed his performance and found we had a lot in common as we reminisced about our different dance experiences after the show. I decided to reach out and ask Carlos if he had any interested in choreographing a solo just for me. A short time later I received a video of a choreography he said he would love to see me do. It matched exactly where I was at mentally and sparked a whole new fire of inspiration! The song is called “Ya Masafer Wahdak” which has been translated different ways but means something like “the lonely traveler” or “hey, you travel alone”… Which really speaks to me as over this past summer there has been no Bellydance Superstars tours and I have had to travel alone across the world to places like Mexico, Korea and Xi’an and Fuzhou China. I truly enjoyed my time in these travels, but it is just not the same to travel by myself verses in the company of other dancers.
Here is how Carlos describes his process in choreographing the song for me: ”To me, famous belly dancers can feel like lonely travelers, which is why the song spoke to me. In this case, when I think of Sabah dancing this song I think of her travels. She has a unique style, she doesn’t dance like Randa, she doesn’t dance like Orit, she doesn’t dance like Sonia, she dances as she is! She floats, she feels, she runs, she is sweet… as a choreographer you need to feel it as her (the dancer who will perform it), to imagine as her, to move as her, to feel yourself as Sabah, and start dancing… I saw a LOT of videos and met Sabah in Oaxaca before and I feel I have a nice connection with her dance style as I need to have that connection in order to choreograph!”
How perfect! I completely can relate to the song and his concept and am super excited! If you see my performance and fall in love with the choreography as much as I did, feel free to contact Carlos at carlitos_carmona@yahoo.com http://www.rakassah.blogspot.com. He is available for workshops!
Although I am dancing to a instrumental version of the song that can be found on Bellydance Superstars vol 1, here is a translation of the song http://www.allthelyrics.com/forum/arabic-lyrics-translation/17210-arabic-translation-75.html#post320262
and here is a video of the original song by Mohamed Abdel Wahab
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydY9dcjpop0&feature=player_embedded#!
April Rose 12:13 pm on September 21, 2011 Permalink
Wow Sabah, that’s so cool! I can’t wait to see
Sunamun 3:14 am on December 5, 2011 Permalink
Hello Sabah, I’m a bellydancer and Bellydance Retailer in Mexico, I know Carlos Carmona and well he’s nothing but an scammer!!! Using your good and well known name he has borrowed himself merchandises from me and other collegues around Mexico which he used or sold but never paid back, so we can say it was stolen. It worries me that you have to do and recommend such kindda betrayers, i have proof of what I’m saying, this guy also owes money to the very Karim Nagi and he uses your name and Sonias to present himself as the best. No doubt he can dance but the other important part of the dance like discipline and loyalty to partners and students is not in him…I have been waiting more that 6 months to get my money from him, I would have waited longer but since my father is in the hospital i needed my money very urgently, he hasn’t paid a single penny back, apologized or even answer emails or phone, he hides as the rat he is…such people shouldnt be recommended around or have anything to do with your good name.