Here is my first posting from the #30DaysofDance list!
The first one calls for photo of me. Normally I would post an oriental dance photo, but my dance career has shifted so much I want to post a photo that really represents my new found power and feelings in my dance work in Cairo! What can I say, this is me right now - oriental arms, but contemporary legs
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My favorite costume.
In the life of an oriental dancer costumes come and go. The first self-made costume. The first designer costume. The first really meaningful costume. The most comfortable costume. The sexiest costume etc. It's hard to choose from these, because for me every costume has a story from a specific period of my life. If i have to choose one, it would be my Snow-white costume. I got it from Egypt after visiting Eilat festival in Israel and exploring Palestine after that, then spending 2 weeks in Egypt. My first performance in it in Finland has so many memories and emotions in my costume, it completely lifted my performance to another spiritual level. Costume by Layalie Ahmed. Photo by Tanja Haverinen.
Day3 from the #30DaysofDance list!
My dance shoes.
Different footwork needs different shoes. Here is my typical three. Barefoot for contemporary and oriental performance(quite nice combination really). Socks and warmers for every-day training. Heels for latin and vintage.
(Needed an extra leg to show all three, so a friend with a foot no. 35 came to help)
My teacher.
I have danced ever since I was 6 years old. A long career with so many teachers. Every teacher leaves a mark on me, paints a different color on my artistic palette. The most influential teacher I ever had was my first teacher Ene Jakobson. My first dance education for 13 years was in a folkloric dance company Sõleke. I also learned basic ballet, show dance, latin and character, pretty much everything you can imagine. The discipline, high standards and thrive that Ene Jakobson demands makes anyone from this company an exceptional dancer and a person. And it starts from young years already. Almost like a ballet school. From her I learnt to stand up for myself, not to be afraid of challenges, to push myself for better. I got the chance to travel the world when I was still young and broaden my horizons. A real life school. But I also got a very strong dance technique that has paid off times and times again, in my oriental dance career, in university and here in Egypt too.
Day 6 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Dance space.
By far the most exotic and dreamlike dance space was last year's location for shooting Khaleegy dance for an Iraqi tv-drama. A traditional bedouin tent in the middle of Sahara desert filled with arabs wearing galabeia. Cant get more real than that! I generally love dancing in open spaces with fresh air, makes the dance more organic, getting my feet deep into the sand and connecting to the earth, it's what we always talk about, isn't it!?
Dance space.
By far the most exotic and dreamlike dance space was last year's location for shooting Khaleegy dance for an Iraqi tv-drama. A traditional bedouin tent in the middle of Sahara desert filled with arabs wearing galabeia. Cant get more real than that! I generally love dancing in open spaces with fresh air, makes the dance more organic, getting my feet deep into the sand and connecting to the earth, it's what we always talk about, isn't it!?
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Day 7 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Partner
That's an easy one! Salah Rambo of course! He is someone I trust 100% on stage, a strong reliable partner with as much stage experience as me. In the same time we have lots of fun in the rehearsals too, we brainstorm together and complete each other ideas, improvise boldly and always tell the truth, if dance looks great or not. Many times he has challenged me to see dance from different perspectives, out of my "normal" box so it never get's boring!
Partner
That's an easy one! Salah Rambo of course! He is someone I trust 100% on stage, a strong reliable partner with as much stage experience as me. In the same time we have lots of fun in the rehearsals too, we brainstorm together and complete each other ideas, improvise boldly and always tell the truth, if dance looks great or not. Many times he has challenged me to see dance from different perspectives, out of my "normal" box so it never get's boring!
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Gift from another dancer.
The most heart-warming present I ever got was this troffee from my sweet friend and student Jelena Köönverk. It says "The best oriental dance teacher". She gave it to me on our last show before I left for Egypt. Its one of those meaningful gifts that gives me strength and courage to go on!
Day 10 from the #30DaysofDance list!
My music.
Today I will use this chance to introduce someone new to you! One of my new favorite and big discoveries since I moved to Egypt. His name is OMAR KHAIRAT! He is an Egyptian superstar, but not a young pop-artist, he is an internationally recognized academic music genius. What first attracted me was his style of sophisticated mix of oriental, classical music and jazz. He is a great conductor and creator. When he has a concert in Cairo Opera house people cue up for tickets an hour before they start selling and by evening hi is usually sold out. Both me and Salah Rambo were so inspired by his music that in our first show in Estonia we decided to make a show using his music, our style is close to his, fusing oriental with contemporary. Take a look:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbSyZwv-5v8
Day 11 from the #30DaysofDance list!
My muse.
That topic really made me analyze. Before moving to Egypt, my muse was Egypt! Every time I returned home from Egypt I felt enlightened, inspired, refreshed and empowered. Now that Im living here and have made many changes in my career I have a different source of power: jazz classes! Might sound confusing, let me explain. Each day in opera we have 1,5h class before starting rehearsals, twice a week its jazz. This is the only technique class right now that makes me push myself, in technique, in speed, in balance, in style and so much more. I feel this class is making me a better dancer and the thrive I get out of it is truly inspiring
Day 12 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Troupe director.
My favorite troupe director is still the same, my choreography teacher and director of my class in university - Jüri Nael. The amounts of knowledge I got from him throughout my studies of choreography as well as dancing in musicals under his guidance shaped me the artist and choreographer I am today.
Day 13 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Favorite performer.
It used to be Egyptian dancers who took my breath away, after seeing enough of them my taste has changed to theatrical bellydance that pushes the boundaries of what is considered "authentic", I now love the manipulators. There are many that I enjoy, but if I have to choose one that I have the upmost respect for, its Maria Dourountaki. Her performances as well as her girls numbers are never boring, always bring a special "zing" to the stage, expect the unexpected as she says.
Day 14 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Class/rehearsal.
Im gonna call it "The class I miss the most". My students of course!!! In Danceact, in Rapla, Haapsalu, Jõgeva, Hiiumaa and anyone I have ever danced with. I was teaching in 5 cities teaching 9 different groups. Sometimes it was a routine, but never boring, always fun, challenging and exciting in the same time! Dancers always coming in smiling, waiting for class. PS! As a little secret, we will have another chance to dance in July:) Photo is from my last workshop in Estonia in 2012
Day 15 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Biggest fan.
That's a tough one. I wouldn't say I have huge fans, I'm not a superstar but I have people who admire my work, come up to me and say compliments about my dancing, in oriental dance and both contemporary here in Cairo. But one special story stands out from others. Päivi Eronen actually decided to travel to Estonia for my farewell workshop "Bon Vojage" back in 2012 all the way from Finland. This really warmed my heart and she is just so warm and humble sweet lady always coming to my workshops. Dedicating today's post to her.
Day 16 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Inspiration.
Art history has been a major source of inspiration throughout my dance years. My bachelor degree in choreography exam work was experimenting if people on Salvador Dali's pictures could move, how would they dance on the stage. Another incomparable project I did with Tee kuubis and Madli Tellerwas "Intimate Glamour", where we searched what was intimate and glamorous in different eras of art history and made it come live again on stage. Here is a photo from a rehearsal, inspired by...YES, beauty in ancient Greece!
Day 17 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Unusual accessory.
The most unusual dance accessories I have ever used was in my bachelor degree dance performance - crutches and and chest of drawers. These were part of creating the landscape of Salvador Dali on the stage and to create connections with dancer's subconsciousness. Looks great, doesn't it!?
Day 18 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Fangirl.
I suppose it means me being a fangirl to someone. I remember my first fangirl moment in my oriental dance career. I found her video in Youtube about 10 years ago, with no name or country of origin. She was floating in air in my eyes, dancing in a way I only hoped i would one day. I sent her video to many of my friends, but none knew who she was. Only later i found out, it was Orit Maftsir! Who knew that after years we would meet in person in Tallinn and that I would be invited to teach in her festival in Eilat, Israel.
Day 19 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Business card.
That's not a very creative daily update, but oh well, here is my card, the one I was using about 5 years ago.
Day 20 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Challenge.
There are so many challenges, past ones and future ones. The first thing that pops into mind is a huge challenge I had last year, organizing Special Olympics 2014 in Cairo, Egypt. I had to manage 100 egyptian dancers moving and dancing across the stadium. As if that was not enough also make sure the local superstar Tamer Hosny was in the right time in the right place. And as if that was enough, president Sisi came to attend our Olympics. Great honor, responsibility, learning experience, great challenge!
Day 21 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Performance item.
Has to be my Suheir Zaki tiara! It once belonged to the most beloved and respected Egyptian dancer. It was given to me as a special present byHenna Malinen. I feel its like a good luck harm or a guardian angel when I put it on. Take a look!
Day 22 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Fuel.
What provided my energy... that's an easy one! Fruits! Some people need coffee to start the day or to keep going during the day. For me it's fruits. First they look so happy, colorful, shiny, attractive. And the juice and vitamins that pours out is so refreshing. My breakfast is not complete unless I have a smoothy or few kiwis, apples or banana. I eat them before dancing in opera and between by dance breaks. Fruits can also be my before-sleep snack. In fact I could eat just fruits all day every day! Photo is from Internet.
Day 23 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Motion.
Can't get any more dynamic than that! Salah Rambo is completely flying, so is my hair!
Motion.
Can't get any more dynamic than that! Salah Rambo is completely flying, so is my hair!
Day 24 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Emotion.
I will write to you about the best emotional moment of my 3 years dance experience in Egypt. I actually think this has been the highest point of my oriental dance career and I cannot imagine what could possible beat that. I guess time will tell. My company was showing "Naasa" performance on big Opera stage and in the final there is a 2min bellydance solo. Its always made by an egyptian lady as she is the best egyptian in the company to improvise. One day 2 hours before the performance she became very sick. The choreographer came to me, gave me her red dress and told me I will have to do the solo part. I was stunned! She had seen me improvise to oriental music before and knew I could pull it off (one time she was trying different girls for this oriental part, but could not choose me, even as I was the most suprising one out of us all, because I was still the new-girl in the company and that would have caused fury within the girls, as I later learned). Then the moment came... I was standing in coulisses, wearing the red dress and a black face veil. My fellow dancers were waiting and watching from sides, none knew what to expect from me. I was nervous, excited, confident, happy, overwhelmed in the same time. Never in a million years did I think I would be dancing oriental improvisation on opera stage, in Egypt. Doesn't get much more respectable than this, unless you are dancing to the president. So off I went... it was magical. My nervousness disappeared and what was left was just the music and me, flowing with the dance I had been training myself years to be fluent. I think it's the best improvisation I have ever made and it was never videotaped. Maybe it will be the little secret of the opera, me being the phantom. When I came off stage my fellow dancers really showed their appreciation, the choreographer hugged me and told me : "Thats the way to do it". Then it was time to make a bow and I was still kind of opressed my the thought of not showing my face for the solo. So I went for my bow, took off my veil in the center stage and felt as a proud estonian giving a my best of what I love and receiving the applause I deserve. Fair enough I think and SO OVERLY EMOTIONAL. (PS. The photo is of the egyptian girl dancing, but I was wearing the same costume so you get the idea)
Emotion.
I will write to you about the best emotional moment of my 3 years dance experience in Egypt. I actually think this has been the highest point of my oriental dance career and I cannot imagine what could possible beat that. I guess time will tell. My company was showing "Naasa" performance on big Opera stage and in the final there is a 2min bellydance solo. Its always made by an egyptian lady as she is the best egyptian in the company to improvise. One day 2 hours before the performance she became very sick. The choreographer came to me, gave me her red dress and told me I will have to do the solo part. I was stunned! She had seen me improvise to oriental music before and knew I could pull it off (one time she was trying different girls for this oriental part, but could not choose me, even as I was the most suprising one out of us all, because I was still the new-girl in the company and that would have caused fury within the girls, as I later learned). Then the moment came... I was standing in coulisses, wearing the red dress and a black face veil. My fellow dancers were waiting and watching from sides, none knew what to expect from me. I was nervous, excited, confident, happy, overwhelmed in the same time. Never in a million years did I think I would be dancing oriental improvisation on opera stage, in Egypt. Doesn't get much more respectable than this, unless you are dancing to the president. So off I went... it was magical. My nervousness disappeared and what was left was just the music and me, flowing with the dance I had been training myself years to be fluent. I think it's the best improvisation I have ever made and it was never videotaped. Maybe it will be the little secret of the opera, me being the phantom. When I came off stage my fellow dancers really showed their appreciation, the choreographer hugged me and told me : "Thats the way to do it". Then it was time to make a bow and I was still kind of opressed my the thought of not showing my face for the solo. So I went for my bow, took off my veil in the center stage and felt as a proud estonian giving a my best of what I love and receiving the applause I deserve. Fair enough I think and SO OVERLY EMOTIONAL. (PS. The photo is of the egyptian girl dancing, but I was wearing the same costume so you get the idea)
Day 25 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Make-up.
Each dance style requires a different make-up approach. For estonian folkloric It was classic stage make up with dark eyes and red lips, for medieval dance its natural modest look, for contemporary it can be anything, depending on the stylistics and story. For oriental its dramatic extotic. So I decided to choose none of these and go with something that only happened once in my life. 60's style photoshoot! My sweet friend Iris Frolov needed a model for her make-up school practice and I decided to model Here is the outcome...
Make-up.
Each dance style requires a different make-up approach. For estonian folkloric It was classic stage make up with dark eyes and red lips, for medieval dance its natural modest look, for contemporary it can be anything, depending on the stylistics and story. For oriental its dramatic extotic. So I decided to choose none of these and go with something that only happened once in my life. 60's style photoshoot! My sweet friend Iris Frolov needed a model for her make-up school practice and I decided to model Here is the outcome...
Day 26 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Worst costume.
Has to be this over the top red-light-district girls costume from a theatre show I did 2 years ago. Can't think of anything I like about it.
Worst costume.
Has to be this over the top red-light-district girls costume from a theatre show I did 2 years ago. Can't think of anything I like about it.
Day 27 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Why I began.
I began dancing because it was close to my mother's heart. She mother used to dance estonian folk dance for many years. She was the one who took me to my first dance class in "Sõleke" company when I was just 6 years old. I am forever grateful for her decision! It gave me more than I could ever ask for. (In this photo I'm in the left and my sister on right, It was my first Estonian Dance Festival and I had one dance named "Emake hellake")
Why I began.
I began dancing because it was close to my mother's heart. She mother used to dance estonian folk dance for many years. She was the one who took me to my first dance class in "Sõleke" company when I was just 6 years old. I am forever grateful for her decision! It gave me more than I could ever ask for. (In this photo I'm in the left and my sister on right, It was my first Estonian Dance Festival and I had one dance named "Emake hellake")
Day 28 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Battle buddy.
That's not hard to guess. Laura Zaray Huovinen of course! Crazy and suprising is what happens if we come together! We think alike in life and in dance. The most epic battle moment was when we had to evacuate each other out of Egypt in 2011 revolution. 2 young ladies sitting in front a map and thinking where to go next...Greece is where we ended up. Will never forget our adventure!
This photo is takes one day before leaving the uprising in Egypt and quite well reflect our way of doing things - out of the box!
Battle buddy.
That's not hard to guess. Laura Zaray Huovinen of course! Crazy and suprising is what happens if we come together! We think alike in life and in dance. The most epic battle moment was when we had to evacuate each other out of Egypt in 2011 revolution. 2 young ladies sitting in front a map and thinking where to go next...Greece is where we ended up. Will never forget our adventure!
This photo is takes one day before leaving the uprising in Egypt and quite well reflect our way of doing things - out of the box!
Day 29 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Spins.
Almost getting to the end of this photo challenge. Love the topic of spins, love spins and spins love me, nothing wrong with spins. I think nature has blessed we with good "spinning genes". Got an early start in training them in "Sõleke" and still learning new spins every day in my work in opera. This is the only photo I have where it looks like I'm spinning:)
Spins.
Almost getting to the end of this photo challenge. Love the topic of spins, love spins and spins love me, nothing wrong with spins. I think nature has blessed we with good "spinning genes". Got an early start in training them in "Sõleke" and still learning new spins every day in my work in opera. This is the only photo I have where it looks like I'm spinning:)
Day 30 from the #30DaysofDance list!
Me.
This will be the last post of the "30 days of Dance list". Im gonna present you the latest me! Taken only yesterday in our company rehearsal. This is our dance prop - an arabic style tea tray which we are using in our coffee-shop inspired dance choreography.
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