{"id":2480,"date":"2011-03-22T11:05:31","date_gmt":"2011-03-22T18:05:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=2480"},"modified":"2011-03-22T11:05:31","modified_gmt":"2011-03-22T18:05:31","slug":"lisa-chen-taiwan-bellydance-2-events-nefertiti-evolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/03\/22\/lisa-chen-taiwan-bellydance-2-events-nefertiti-evolution\/","title":{"rendered":"Taiwan Bellydance: 2 Events Are Perfect Ending for 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"topphoto\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<h6><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art52\/graphics52\/lisachen\/Han-yunChang.jpg\" alt=\"Han-yun Chang\" width=\"300\" height=\"321\" \/><br \/>\nHan-yun Chang<br \/>\nOne of the three Taiwan dancers selected to be BDE dancers<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Nefertiti Bellydance Carnival &amp; Bellydance Evolution<\/h2>\n<h3>by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/aboutuspages\/lisachentaiwan.htm\"><strong>Lisa Chen<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<span class=\"footnotes\">posted March\t22,\t2011 <br \/>\nImages  courtesy by Violet Lee Arabesque Belly Dance Troupe &amp; Christine Du<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>December is always a high season for the Taiwan Bellydance community: year-end parties, recitals, and workshops featuring foreigner instructors. 2010 was no exception&#8211;but rather an impressive one because of its two events: <span class=\"company\">Nefertiti Bellydance Carnival<\/span> featuring <span class=\"artist\">Randa Kamel <\/span>and former <span class=\"company\">Bellydance Superstar<\/span>  <span class=\"artist\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/aboutuspages\/jillina.html\">Jillina<\/a><\/span>, with her new group<span class=\"company\"> Bellydance Evolution<\/span> (BDE).<\/p>\n<p>The two events both had local sponsors and consist of workshops and a performance; in addition, Nefertiti held a dance competition. Nefertiti&#8217;s Bellydance Carnival was hosted by <span class=\"artist\">Bella Wang<\/span>, a Taichung-based Bellydancer and instructor. BDE was hosted by <span class=\"artist\">Violet Lee<\/span> and her<span class=\"company\"> Arabesque Bellydance Troupe<\/span>, the first Bellydance group in Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontitle\">Experience the Real Balady Fever with Randa Kamel: <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art52\/graphics52\/lisachen\/RandaPoster.jpg\" alt=\"poster\" width=\"225\" height=\"322\" align=\"left\" \/>Nefertiti&#8217;s Bellydance Carnival featured the Egyptian Bellydancer Randa Kamel, and several outstanding Bellydancers from other countries: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2007 World Cup Bellydance Champion <span class=\"artist\">Simona Minisini<\/span> from Italy,<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"artist\">Nathalie Zarate<\/span> from Argentina, <\/li>\n<li> and <span class=\"artist\">Ehab Gadalla<\/span> from Egypt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Randa brings her own band with a male singer for her teaching and performance. Although this was not the first time we had had foreigner instructors bring their own band for live music, Randa&#8217;s five-person band was the first time for local audiences and dancers to see and hear an authentic performance of Arab\/Egyptian Bellydancing and live music.<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">\nThere is no doubt that live music and an experienced band are the best (as well as the most challenging) for Bellydance performers. Randa and her band gave us one of the best demonstrations of the true beauty of Egyptian Bellydance: a highly expressive art form&#8211;a very intimate conversation between dancer and musician as well as between dancer and audience. <\/p>\n<p>I went to see the opening gala show of the whole event series at Taipei. It started with Randa Kamel\u2019s band consisting of keyboard, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/archives\/musicalinstrumentlibrary.htm#ling\">accordion<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/archives\/musicalinstrumentlibrary.htm#rowan\">frame drum\/riqq<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/archives\/musicalinstrumentlibrary.htm#murat\">Egyptian tabla<\/a>. The band played \u201cAlf Layla Wa-Layla\u201d, the song of the legendary <span class=\"artist\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art36\/YasminOmK.htm\">Um Kalthoum<\/a><\/span>, and the audience instantly adored the beautiful arrangement. This is the first time I have listened to the live version of this song, and I was thrilled totally by the power and details of live music. Friends who came with me confessed that now they have more ideas and feeling to dance with this song.<\/p>\n<p>Bella\u2019s dance company, <span class=\"company\">Desert Rose<\/span>, performed with Isis wings, Tango-fusion Bellydance, and Khaleegy. Simona Minisini and Nathalie Zarate both performed choreographed pieces and live drum solos. The two skillful dancers showed their personal styles and the audience loved them. I particularly liked Nathalie\u2019s interpretation to <span class=\"artist\">Warda<\/span>\u2019s \u201cAkdeb Aleek\u201d. Singer <span class=\"artist\">Samir<\/span> sang several highly popular Arabic songs. Even though the audience didn\u2019t have much understanding of lyrics, they felt it in their hearts. <\/p>\n<p>Everyone anticipated Randa performing a grand finale, and she didn\u2019t let the audience down. When she came out, walking around the stage like a queen, the audience shouted loudly to greet her. While she danced to the song the singer performed, we realized she interpreted also the lyrics and emotions of songs with her facial expressions, hand gestures and dance movements. Her dance is more like a lively drama! <\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">\nIn the middle of her dance, Randa stopped to request turning down the stage lighting because \u201cshe could not see the audience.\u201d She said she needed to have eye contact with her audience, and then, spontaneously, she would know how to dance.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, when Randa approached toward us when she was on stage, we felt like she was coming to say something. She danced several different styles, and we were very lucky to watch a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/05\/17\/aminaadaweyashaabi\/#axzz1HGfF2NLC\">Shaaby<\/a> piece. This is quite new to many local audiences since our local Bellydance community knows something about Oriental dance or modern Egyptian Bellydance and some of them regard this dance form as the only type of Egyptian dance. <\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">Perhaps the best aspect of Randa\u2019s performance is that the audience enjoys so much about the whole presentation&#8211;regardless of not understanding the lyrics. Together, Randa and her band show the lively and earthy charm of Egyptian dance performed by a native Egyptian. <\/p>\n<p>At the end of the show, Randa Kamel thanked her audience with a very touching comment: \u201cThank you; you make me dance!\u201d I think this attitude is why Randa Kamel&#8217;s  dancing is so widely admired by global fans.<\/p>\n<h6 align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art52\/graphics52\/lisachen\/JillinaVioletbow.jpg\" alt=\"Jillina and Violet\" width=\"500\" height=\"222\" \/><br \/>\nJillina and Violet Lee    shared the applause from audiences at curtain bow<\/h6>\n<div class=\"floatright\">\n<h6 align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art52\/graphics52\/lisachen\/ChristineOzzyDickson.jpg\" alt=\"Drummers\u2019 Trio \u2013 Christine Du(Taiwan), Ozzy(BDE) and Dickson Cheung(Hong Kong)\" width=\"500\" height=\"380\" \/><br \/>\nDrummers\u2019 Trio \u2013 Christine Du (Taiwan), Ozzy (BDE) and Dickson Cheung (Hong Kong)<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"sectiontitle\">BDE: Western Theatrical Production of Bellydance:<\/p>\n<p>Two weeks after Randa Kamel won-over local audiences and brought inspiration to the local Bellydance community, <span class=\"company\">Bellydance Evolution<\/span> greeted Taiwan with a substantially different presentation: a totally Westernized theatrical production. <\/p>\n<p>BDE is led by Jillina, formerly with the Bellydance Superstars and now on her own. BDE tours around the world with a theatrical production called \u201cImmortal Desires.\u201d Fundamentally, it is story-telling through an arrangement of different styles or stage-props.<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">\nThis is not new for students of local sponsor Violet Lee because Violet\u2019s annual recital or show has been presented as a story-telling theatrical production for years and remains as one of the signature characters of her troupes.<\/p>\n<p> What differentiates BDE from local theatrical presentation of Bellydance is that BDE brings more Arab or Middle East folk dance styles such as Persian dance (by Louchia) and Central Asian dance (by <span class=\"artist\">Zurab Dudashvili<\/span> and <span class=\"artist\">Guram Buchukuri<\/span>) onto stage. In addition, widely-admired young Bellydancers such as <span class=\"artist\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/archives\/gigbagvideos.htm#8\">Sharon Kihara<\/a><\/span> and <span class=\"artist\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/archives\/gigbagvideos.htm#18\">Elizabeth Strong<\/a><\/span> were brought here and the audience was able to see a more ontemporary fusion presentation other than the stereotype impression of Tribal Fusion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">\nWhile BDE tours, Jillina chooses some local dancers to work with the production, which provides great opportunities for dancers around the world to be trained and work with professional theatrical productions.<\/p>\n<p> All candidates are required to submit a video with the required choreography. The competition is, no doubt, very fierce! For performances at Taipei and Beijing, three Taiwanese dancers were selected: <span class=\"artist\">Han-yun Chang, Vicky Wen-yin Lee<\/span> and <span class=\"artist\">Susan Hsiao-san Huang<\/span>. Together with dancers from German, Mexico, Malaysia, and South Korea, they had been intensively trained and had rehearsals for a week, a wonderful and unforgettable experience.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"artist\">Ozzy Ashkenazi<\/span>, a young percussionist touring with BDE, came to Taipei and brought a great chance from drummers from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China jamming together. <span class=\"artist\">Christine Du<\/span> (Taipei), <span class=\"artist\">Dickson Cheung<\/span> (Hong Kong) and <span class=\"artist\">Dolphin<\/span> (Beijing) performed with Ozzy as guest percussionists. He also gave workshops for local drummers and ME percussion students.<\/p>\n<p>BDE offered workshops during the weekend after the show. I signed up for one with Elizabeth Strong. She shared her love and what she learned about Turkish Roma dance with us in class. By the end of class, we had learned background information about Turkish Roma dance and music, and a beautiful Jazz-Turkish Roma fusion choreography.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontitle\">Two Shows&#8211;Two Faces of Contemporary Bellydance Trends:<\/p>\n<p>The two events provided fine examples of contemporary trends in the Bellydance world, at least for the Taiwan Bellydance community.<\/p>\n<p>In a way, the story of Immoral Desires is quite easy to understand: a love story between two couples through some ups and downs, with a happy ending. Stage design, lighting, and music were all professional quality. It was like a huge feast from the first sight; only later on, does one realize it is more like a sampler of everything. <\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">\nI admire those dancers participating in the production for their talents, skills, and artistic qualities, however, I feel the framework of story-telling compromises dancers from better expressing their love for this dance (or through it). They are acting through dance rather than dancing to the music.<\/p>\n<p>Watching the BDE show is a pleasant experience, and by the end, I realized that I missed Randa Kamel and her wonderful band. I like a \u201cpure\u201d Bellydance performance because it preserves all the qualities I like about Bellydancing: body interaction and interpretation with Arab\/ME rhythms and maqams. Dancers should enjoy the music and dance and have direct, in the moment interactions with the audience.<\/p>\n<p>BDE has good intention and is a commercially-successful presentation. Because most of us are not native to the lands of Belly\/Oriental dance origins, adapting it into a familiar form to express what we know and learn about Bellydance is an aid. Adaptations are also helpful to audiences, who know nothing about Bellydance or its original cultures, to enjoy watching it.<\/p>\n<p>The two events are like double action, demonstrating two sides of Bellydance to Taiwan audiences and dancers. Both Randa Kamel and BDE brought us great experiences and memories, a perfect ending for 2010.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/graphics\/acommentbox.jpg\" alt=\"use the comment box\" align=\"right\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"ready4more\">\n<p>Have a comment? Use or comment section at the bottom of this page or <a href=\"mailto:editor@gildedserpent.com\">Send us a letter!<\/a> <br \/>\nCheck the &quot;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/let2ed.htm\">Letters to the Editor<\/a>&quot; for other possible viewpoints!<\/p>\n<p>Ready for more?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<!--end ready4more --><\/p>\n<div class=\"articlelist\">\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">6-29-2010 <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2010\/06\/29\/lisa-chen-argentine-arab-dance-music-taiwan\/\">Argentine-Arab Dance and Music Charm Taiwan, Gina Chen promotes Live Music for Local Dancers<\/a> <span class=\"articleauthor\">by Lisa Chen<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nI have to say it is quite different from any other American or Egyptian style choreography I learned before; you almost always keep your feet into ballet position and body weight is relatively higher. The physical dynamic is much exaggerated. I guess this is the Argentine style bellydance and I could see why local dancers are fond of it, owing to the quality of fluidness and lightness, very outward gestures and wonderful live music.<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">1-6-09<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art46\/lisachenTapaikarim.htm\"> 2008 Drum, Dance, &amp; Music Festival Raqs Taiwan with Karim Nagi<span class=\"articleauthor\">!<\/span><\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\"> by Lisa Chen<\/span><br \/>\nShe wishes to find the bridge between dancers and musicians, performers and audiences while still keeping its cultural roots alive. DDM is the platform for dancers and musicians working together and exchanging their professional experiences. <\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">10-30-08<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art45\/lisachentaiwanATS.htm\">Aussie ATS Charm in Taipei: Devi Mamak<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\"> by Lisa Chen<\/span><br \/>\nSince both of us are not based in San Francisco, we share many common factors in terms of learning ATS and developing our own visions for it back in our own home venues. <\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">3-5-08<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art43\/lisataiwanscene.htm\">Learning Matrix: A Long Journey, The Belly Dance Scene in Taiwan<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\">, by Lisa Chen<\/span><br \/>\nSometimes, one might have to admit that learning only choreographies might lead students and dancers away from learning the essential elements of traditional Belly dance. <\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">5-2-08<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art43\/lisajane.htm\">Live a DanceDivas&#8217; Life! Interview with Jane Yee Shan Chung of Taiwan <\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\">by Lisa Chen<\/span> <br \/>\nThen I saw the Suhaila technique workshop announced on her website and I just signed up without knowing exactly what her format is. I am the only person who did not learn Suhaila format before at that workshop. I was so na&iuml;ve, I simply wanted to give it a try. <\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">11-27-09 <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/11\/27\/jillinaahlan09\/\">My Dream: Dancing in Cairo!<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\"> by Jillina<\/span><br \/>\nTo be asked to teach at Ahlan Wa Sahlan is an amazing honor, but to be performing, in the biggest show of the year? It was unbelievable! This was the most significant phone call I have ever received in my entire career.<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">1-11-10<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2010\/01\/11\/carlsbejillina\/\">Carl&#8217;s\tCamera Captures Jillina&#8217;s Bellydance Evolution<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\">, photos by Carl, introduction by Ma*Shuqa<\/span><br \/>\nJillina Carlano\u2019s Bellydance Evolution marked the beginning of an era in which bellydance moves beyond dance Oriental imported from Egypt and performed in clubs. <\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">1-8-2010 <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2010\/01\/08\/kristinareviewsjillinabe\/\">Jillina\tAdvances Dance Theatre, A Review of Jillina\u2019s Bellydance Evolution<\/a>, <span class=\"articleauthor\">by Kristina Nekyia, photos by Carl Sermon<\/span><br \/>\nBellydance Evolution is a full-length theatrical event directed by dancer and choreographer Jillina, ushering belly dance into the world of dance theater. The production is a melding of narrative with a wide variety of traditional and cutting-edge Middle Eastern dance and music. I saw the dress rehearsal of Bellydance Evolution when it debuted in Glendale, California in August, 2009.<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">2-1-04 <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles25\/virginmegastorepart2.htm\">Youth,\tBeauty and Branding,\tThe Virgin Megastore Grand Reopening, part 2<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\"> photos\tby Lynette<\/span><br \/>\nwith Jillina, Sahlala Dancers, and Issam Houshan San Francisco,\tCalifornia, December 3, 2003<\/li>\n<li><strong>3-17-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/03\/17\/jasmine-samar-women-india-belly-dance\/\">Empowering Women in India through Belly Dance<\/a> by Jasmine June and Samar<\/strong><br \/>\nThe company works with less fortunate and troubled families and women, and pays the women a decent sum for their crafts as a way of helping them out.<\/li>\n<li><strong>3-15-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/newsgraphics\/ComKaleidoscope.htm\">MaShuqa interviews Dahlal and Tim Kent on the Cairo Revolution for the Gilded Serpent<\/a> Video report on the Community Kaleidoscope<\/strong><br \/>\nIn February 2011 while at the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition, we catch Dahlal\/Debbie Sinclair and Tim for an interview. Discussed are the affects of the curfews, blocked streets, and lack of cell phone coverage on the production of costume orders. They also talk about the difference between Cairo  and US designed costumes. <\/li>\n<li><strong>3-15-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art43\/gamilaniledance3candl.htm\">Shamadan or Candelabra: Dances Along the Nile Part 4<\/a> by Gamila El Masri and Lucy Smith\/ Scheherezade<\/strong><br \/>\nThe style is very earthy and includes great \u201ctricks\u201d like the splits, stomach work while on the floor, rolling over full length on the floor and posturing &#8212; complete with quivering buttocks, and various other individual talents. <\/li>\n<li><strong>3-10-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/03\/10\/shema-cultural-traditions-vs-sexual-stereotypes\/\">Cultural Traditions vs Sexual Stereotypes Part 2 of The Female Gaze<br \/>\nor &quot;Medusa Dualities in Female Bellydance Performance and How the Gaze Continues to be Relevant Today&quot;<\/a> by Shema <\/strong><br \/>\nThere is a fine line between respecting cultural traditions and histories and reinforcing behaviours which are inherently damaging to the perception of the female body and its rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Han-yun Chang One of the three Taiwan dancers selected to be BDE dancers Nefertiti Bellydance Carnival &amp; Bellydance Evolution by Lisa Chen posted March 22, 2011 Images courtesy by Violet Lee Arabesque Belly Dance Troupe &amp; Christine Du December is always a high season for the Taiwan Bellydance community: year-end parties, recitals, and workshops featuring [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2480"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2480"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2480\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}