Comments on: Wiggles of the West

By: Susan Goeke

Susan Goeke — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:03:36 +0000

Thank-you for writing this article. Concise & accurate.

By: Drum Solos:3 Masterful Approaches | Belly Dance News & Events - Gilded Serpent

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:40:07 +0000

[...] Wiggles of the West: One Dancer’s Foray into Competition by Sonja In the world of belly dancing lately, dance competitions seem to be the big thing. Love [...]

By: Barbara Grant

Barbara Grant — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:43:26 +0000

Hi Sonja,

I watched the YouTube video of your “Wiggles” performance, and thought you were great! You had excellent technique and I appreciated your interpretation of the music. I’m surprised that you didn’t make it to the finals.

I also noted Surreyya’s “Letter to the Editor” and I agree that because many dancers spend so much time preparing for, costuming for, and traveling to these events, they might benefit by knowing more about the intent of the contest producers. Background information about the judges, specifically in terms of style, might also be helpful, as a potential contestant might be able to discern whether the pool of judges has background in the style she wishes to present.

Again, Sonja, great performance, of which you should be proud!

Best,

Barbara

By: Sonja

Sonja — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:01:46 +0000

Hi Barbara,
Great question! I wish now that I had thought to mention my style in the article. I would describe myself as mixed Lebanese/Egyptian classical cabaret. My mentor, Alexia, draws her 30+ years of dance training from combinations of jazz and ballroom along with intensive study with Ibrahim (Bobby) Farrah and participation in his dance company in the late 70′s along with intensive training with Yousry Sharif from the 80′s through today. We incorporate quite a bit of jazz and balletic influence into our choreographies, and very little of the modern “pops and locks”, although I’m trying to better myself at that, now.

I can’t link to my video from the computer I am on, but if you go on to YouTube and search “Sonja Knoxville Wiggles of the West” you should be able to pull up my performance from the competition.

I hope that helps! Thank you for reading, and for your comments.

Sonja
Tennessee

By: Barbara Grant

Barbara Grant — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:09:33 +0000

Hi Sonja,

This was fascinating, but as a reader I wonder: What is your dance style? You mentioned that it differed from the numerous pop-locks of the duet following you, but I didn’t get an impression of how you and your partner danced, except that it was “less technical.” Was it more classical Egyptian rather than American cabaret? Was it Egyptian sha’abi? Or something else altogether?

Thank you for your article; you raise some interesting points.

Barbara Grant
South S. F. Bay Area, CA

By: zaynah cantara

zaynah cantara — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:37:47 +0000

What a timely article for me to read! I will be competing in BellyDanceNationals, this November and having no prior dance competition experience have been at a loss as to what to expect. You answered many of my unasked questions and posed many more for me to consider. Thank you for sharing your experience at WotW with us, in such an honest and friendly way.