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Maja
"the Girl from the Nile"

I was overwhelmed by so much attention , curiosity, affection, generosity that I received from all dancers in Sao Paulo and in Rio. . .and I am sharing some moments with you.

From Egypt, My family immigrated to Brazil where we lived for 30 years. As I grew up in Cairo inspired by the Stars of Egypt & the Dance around me, I looked for teachers for many years in Rio, I never found any then. Only when I moved to Florida in 1989, where I started the Dance, and as I went back a year later to Rio to sell all my belongings, the Belly Dance was already a fever there. It never stopped.

The Brazilian women grew up in the Dance beautifully, with so much creativity, artistry with dedication and learning all the technique, and are known by their beauty , talent & spirituality. Because they are natural dancers in Samba, in Hips work, in Afro movements, in Lambada , they become amazing belly dancers and they catch up easily the most elaborated combinations and choreographies, very much connected to the Egyptian dancers.

The fever continue and is growing, even after the end of a most famous Soap opera "THE CLONE" who told the story of a Morrocan family & all about the Arab culture. They presented the Dance and magnificent costumes through the story. Most of the performers I relate here did perform in the "CLONE" with their students, and are so proud they did.

There are hundreds and hundreds of dancers in every city, hundreds of groups and most are focus in classical and folklore Egyptian style, the Khaleegee, the Debke, the rhythms. In all schools I visited, besides the regular classes they have intense specialty classes on culture of the arab world, on make up, on costumes, on props, and on the history and the knowledge of the stars from Egypt, our Muses.

They sponsor the Egyptian dancers very often and the Brazilians were the largest group of dancers going to Rakia’ s Festival in Egypt.

I visited and was most inspired by a few fabulous teachers and studios.

In Sao Paulo, we find the largest Sirian Lebanese community in the world who promotes and generates lots of work for parties and events.

The First dancer pioneer who really started the Dance and is the master teacher of all famous teachers today is Shahrazad, of sirian origin…wrote a book "Redeeming the Feminine" translated in English.

 http://www.shahrazad.com.br

CRIS MARCONDES (SP) aldeiadance@ig.com.br

It was a very special love at first sight & trust in her talent with this amazing dancer. ALDEIA is a center of Research on music and dance in her Home, which is one hour from down town Sao Paulo and she shared with me the dance of the Orixas, the deities of the afro brazilian culture. She teaches also at the ESPACO RASA www.espacorasa.art.br studio, where I had a couple of classes with her and Indian Dance with owner Andrea. It’s the nicest & cozy studio with different disciplines as Indian, Thailand, Kempo and afro.

LULU SABONGI (SP) www.lulusabongi.com

owner of most famous Khan Khalil House of Tea and School of Belly Dance is today a symbol of the Art of Middle Eastern Dance in Brazil, offering shows from Monday to Monday . The Space is full of rooms and looks like a Bedouin-Morrocan-Egyptian tent with veils hanging , thick carpets and pillows on the floor. It’s the first space in Sao Paulo who really started the intense movement of the Dance. All students become performers at the restaurant full every night. The schedule of classes is intense going from 10 am to 9 pm, with about 15 teachers and Lulu travels around the state where she has other schools. Most of the famous dancers today had classes at Khan Khalil, or had started there. I had 2 classes with Julie and Lulu herself and she was teaching a choreography of Rakia Hassan. They produced hundreds of video and Cds. I got over 10 videos from Lulu and very beautiful music with their talented local musicians.

MAJA & THE GYPSY TRIBE W/ BRAZILIAN STAR LULU SABONGHI
IN THE MASQUERADE BALL IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA

SORAIA ZAEID, is one of the Khan Khalil dancer is in Egypt for 3 years now & very successful and is a disciple of Rakia and is the first star in a Morrocan Restaurant at the Sheraton and at the Nile Ramses.

Every time I go to Egypt I visit & have a beautiful class with her. In Aug 03 I took some of my group to her class. She is really a star and have such a wealth of moves fusion w/ Spanish & samba.

HAYAT EL HELWA(SP) www.luxordancadoventre.com.br

Owner of Luxor Dance School with 7 branches around the city, and beautiful paintings of the temples from Egypt in all rooms, is internationally renown and here in America was awarded by IAMED and also travels around the country where she teaches specialty classes. She promotes festivals, lots of parties. I had a wonderful class with LEILA one of her dancers…very intriguing choreography w/ veil. They were already in mood of rehearsing for a big Festival coming up in November.

NAJUA, (SP) international performer was also a guest dancer at the Mabruk Festival in Rio. In her home she has a nice studio set up and I really got wonderful movements.

 She is most modern dancer and follow the line of Amani, Lebanese dancer. NAJUA is the most gentle and most talented dancer, traveled around the Arab world to perform and teach.

In Sao Paulo, before I left I could see a wonderful show in belly dance with a music group ARABESQUE and their Cd is just awesome. They are fantastic musicians. YASMIN NAMMU is the dancer and choreographer of the group.

Part Two   |   Part Three   |   Part Four