The BellyGram Newsletter

Babi Habibi

Greetings to All in Shimmyland.

We have someone special this month for the Belly Gram. Salome Alexander. I had spotted her at a class we were about to join at Cassandras School of Dance in Minneapolis.

She caught my eye because she was different,  she stood out, she had this beautiful straight dark hair and the most beautiful check bones I had ever seen.  In class she was definitely serious. She was poised, confident and strong willed to precision. I had to meet her and did. Of course I had to hear her story...

Salome Alexandra:
"What started as a simple but fun way to get a sore back into shape turned into a life style change.

"All I was really looking for was a little more exercise.  Carrying and picking up my two little daughters was ruining my back.  I just could not see being in that much pain for the rest of my life.  I am too young for that!  I did not want to join a gym.  Been there, done that!  It was too expensive and the general attitude at the places I tried did not meet my needs. 

"My chiropractor suggested belly dance because one of his former patients (did he say former?) took classes and improved so much she rarely needed any tune ups.  I was interested!  I used to take regular dance classes; like Ballet, Modern Dance and Bharatanatyam (the vibrant classical dance style of India).  The dance world is a wonderful place and still attracted me.  

"But I am too old to take classes!"  And the popular, "I certainly can't do THAT!  What would people think of me?"  However even with those typical Western ideas of what Belly Dance is, in January 2000 I picked up the phone and called the Cassandra School.

"The first person I spoke to was Cassandra Shore, the founder, teacher, performer and Artistic Director of Jawaahir Dance Company in Minneapolis MN.  As it turned out their Annual Henna party was coming up and she suggested I attend to see some dancing, eat some delicious food and find out more information.  The first dancers I saw were Kathy McCurdy, Sarah Larson and Lilah Perry, all members of The Jawaahir Dance Company.  I was dazzled. But could I move like they do?

"The other thing I noticed right away was all the sizes, shapes and ages of all the dancers, student and professional, dancing all in the same place.  They looked so happy dancing.  This was the place for me!  I started taking classes at The Cassandra School that month and never looked back.  I found muscles I had forgotten and the pain went away.  I met wonderful people from all parts of the world.  I learned more about the culture where this dance was born.  I found my Tribe.

"Through my contact with Cassandra I attended many classes taught by her and members of her company plus workshops taught by other dancers in many other Middle Eastern Dance forms; including Dahlena (Raks Sharqi), Tamalyn Dallal (Raks Sharqi), Habiba (Tunisian), Meera (Bollywood), Amel Tafsout (Algerian Rai) and Aishia Ali (Raks Sharqi), Leili Tajadod Pritschet (Persian), Colette Marie Illarde (flamenco) plus many talented local dancers.

"I have the honor of performing Oriental style in many performances with The Guild of Oriental Dance annual shows and with the former Ammala Middle Eastern Dance Company.  I performed in the Persian style for "Hidden Yearnings" a performance based of the life experience of Persian dancer Leili Tajadod Pritschet.  As of January 2009 I have been asked to rejoin the cast for the September 2009 presentation of "Hidden Yearning" with Leili.

"And what do I do with all this information?  I teach through the Minnetonka and Robbinsdale Community Education.  New students bring all the excitement I had as a student.  They remind me what it was like for me as a dancer who is new to this style. 

"When not dancing, I am a mom of two teen daughters (the greatest of life's events), a seamstress (she with the most fabric wins!), a gourmet cook (but only in my own mind!) and a full time executive assistant in a venture capital firm in Minneapolis, MN.  This just goes to show you, everyone has time to dance!

"One smart dancer told me that dance is the fountain of youth.  So let's dance in the fountain!"
-Salome

From Babi Habibi:
I have to ask you - isn't she wonderful?  This just goes to show you that we come from all walks of life and anything is possible. I've seen her perform and she's wonderful. There is this air about her, it's not just confidence, it's something more. There's a kind of glow about her.  She's talented and very intelligent, she works hard at her craft and is always... yeah, glowing.

I'm glad I got to know her a bit and feel that I have made another wonderful friend in the process.

Gotta go, gotta go shimmy,
Babi Habibi

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