Munique Neith

Photo by Rebeca Sarai y Gala Martinez

1. Why did you start Raqs Sharqi?

I'm Brazilian, but I'm arabic descendent and I think I have the dance and the culture in my blood. But I realy start because one time while I'm in the University one friend did one bellydance moviment, and I ask her about it, and she told me about the classes and I went to try, and never stop…this dance is amazing…

2. What is the most important thing to do when we dance in public?

For sure, enjoy...if you enjoy the audiencie enjoy with you. Of course you need to train a lot before, understand the type of music you dance... then enjoy it...and connect with the audience, this is very important.

3. Could you tell about your dancing style?

I learn a lot egiptian style, I travel every year to egypt since 2002, to learn with the best egytpian teachers, and I love this style. For me the best compliment I received in my career was from Madame Farida Fahmy, after she sow my show in Colombia, She told me: if I didn't know you, I will think you are a Egiptian dancer...for me is the best compliment because is a recognition from many years learning this culture, not just the dance technique, but the language, play darbouka and travel around the Egypt to know more and more about the people,etc...Of course, each style reflects the personalilty of the artist and I'm brazilian and sometimes I like to put some moviments from samba, but just a touch of Latin passion in my dance.

4. Could you tell about the relationship between Raqs Sharqi and your background?

I always loved dancing, but really all my base is of oriental dance, I did jazz Brazilian folk dances, when I was a child,... but the Bellydance is what gave me all the discipline that I have.

5. Could you give some advice for dancers?

Never stop to learn...and have a lot of discipline. Today many dancers want to be a Bellydance Star, but they are not patient, or don't want to work for it, and they need understand, there is not posible to have success without work very hard before. Is also very important to be honest and ethic this should be things that they should not forget.

6. Who is your ideal dancer? Why do you like the dancer?

One mix between Fifi Abdou, Lucy and Farida Fahmy, natural and fresh as Fifi dancing, Lucy's power and elegance of Farida.

7. What is your future plan with dancing?

I travel a lot teaching bellydance (only this year, Japan, China, USA, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Egypt, Germany, Mexico,Argentina and more), working in the best bellydancers festival in the world, and have things on my agenda untill 2014...besides that I have my school with more then 800 students, and I'm preparing my new show with my professional group...it's a lot of work, but I realy love it...

8. What is the most important thing to create choreography?

Listen the music and understand it, for me my best inpiration from it is Momo Kadous (Egypt), he taught me for many years and really appreciate his work as choreographer, the secret is hearing the music, harmony, rhythm, singer, instruments ... and so do you have your guides for do it.

9. How and/or with whom do you train?

I train by myself 1 or 2 hours a day, plus 4 or 5 hours class a day…and great teachears also always give me a inspirations like Fifi Abou, Lucy, Momo Kadous, Mo Geddawi, Gamal Seif, Lulu Sabongi and more!

10. As a dancer, what special methods, or daily routines (beauty products, massage, etc.) do you use to maintain your beauty? 

Creams, creams and creams every day, never sleep with makeup, and only use makeup on stage at my shows, not every day to avoid damaging the skin. I go to the hairdresser at least once a week to take care of my hair . Other than that I do isometric exercises regularly to keep strong muscles to hold out many hours dancing.

11. ( Raqs Sharqi is said to be more relaxing and stress-free than other dances) which part of Raqs Sharqi is most relaxing for you?

I think what relaxes us is get in touch with ourselves and everything nice reveal within us and express dancing ... sometimes after a stressful day when I enter to my class with my students, I forget everything and I feel much better after the first few minutes ... This is the magic bellydance...

12. What suggestions do you have to make the belly dancing community grow? How do you think we can turn belly dancing into an industry?

I think is very important to the dance community, people working seriously and respectfully with this art, unfortunately there is a lot of prejudice about this dance, yet, and few are those who understand that this art represents a millennial culture, rich and moves thousands of women and men around the globe. It is very important to have qualified professionals to teach, and many dancers bringing this art to the big stages and teaching all about Arab culture, I think this is a good way for oriental dance grows up .

Serena Ramzy

1.    Why did you start Raqs Sharqi?

I have always loved dancing ... I fell in love with Egyptian  dance and the music at a very early age and this dance seems to hook people for life!!! Once I got into it, the interest just grew and I took it further and further then. It is a beautiful and soulful art form and very specialised for women and a dance that celebrates women as they are.  

2.    What is the most important thing to do when we dance in public?

Well, there are many important things  of course but, when dancing to a public I believe the most important thing is to dance the music for THEM. The public love to be offered such artistic expression and appreciate the sharing , not only demonstration.

3.    Could you tell about your Raqs Sharqi style?

Well... I dance the music as I understand it and feel it. According with the principle of translation the music, the philosophy Hossam developed of E=E and according to his article “Drumming 4 Dancers” on our website at this link: http://www.hossamramzy.com/dance/drumming4dancers.htm   

I dance what I hear from the music and translate it into movement as I feel appropriate.

This is what dancing is, for me. And the style will change as the music changes...

4.    Could you tell about the relationship between Raqs Sharqi and your background?

I entered the world of dance at about 5 or 6 years old when I started ballet and Jazz classes. I then got introduced to belly dance at the age of 8 through my sister Karima, she was already a professional Belly dancer at the time and with that I had a very close contact with the Belly Dance World that was just starting in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I started to perform professionally in 1991 at the age of 15, and have not stopped till now, 20 years later.

5.    Could you give some advice for Raqs Sharqi dancers?

Listen to the music, understand  your body, study the culture , be who You are and from wherever you are from, be ethical and honest. These are the priorities, then create your own game and play it. The least what will happen is that you will have some fun.

6.    Who is your ideal dancer? Why do you like the dancer?

My favorite dancer of all times is Naima Akef, for her subtlety and grace, together with the precision and control of her technique , and for her simplicity in presentation, and  the complexity and depth of her musical understanding. She makes watching dance enjoyable not intimidating.

7.    What is your future plan with Raqs Sharqi?

My plan is to continue educating dancers and to continue to dance and create artistic presentations that contribute to the raising the profile of the dance. We are touring the world at the moment doing just that and we plan to continue to do so. We also have a course in our School in The UK that produces professional dancers and instructors who can teach others the same philosophy and we to have many dancers graduating from it. The results of the course have been astounding and  we very much intend to bring it to the rest of the world. We welcome students from all over the world.

8.    What is the most important thing to create choreography?

To Know your music and be able to analyze it. Once you understand what is required of you from the music you can then add the movements you would like to use to translate each sound.  Understanding the layers of the music will facilitate the process of choreographing a lot. When you know what is asked of you , is easier to respond correctly.

9.    How and/or with whom do you train?

I train by myself. I have help and guidance from Hossam in the music interpretation understanding and cultural and musical background. I work mostly by myself and get much inspiration from the Golden era Dancers and learn a lot from them. I take ballet classes next to my Egyptian dance training and I love jogging!

10.    As a dancer, what special methods, or daily routines (beauty products, massage, etc.) do you use to maintain your beauty?

I would love to have a daily routine, but my touring schedule does not always allow me to have one. However, whenever I can, I like to wake up and go jogging for 30minutes then do ballet/Pilates for 1hr and then dace for another hour or 2. I think massages are the best thing for a full time dancer. It is the reward back to the body after using the body so much!

11.( Raqs Sharqi is said to be more relaxing and stress-free than other dances) which part of Raqs Sharqi is most relaxing for you?

Yes, I agree to some degree. Drum solos are not necessary relaxing or less demanding than any other style to dance. But the relaxing side of it as the fluid motions and the fact that you dance and get your mid into the dancing and nothing else. This is the most relaxing thing for me. To listen to a sound and just respond to it and not think of anything else is quite magic. 

12. What suggestions do you have to make the belly dancing community grow? How do you think we can turn belly dancing into an industry? 

I am not sure we should make belly dance into a industry. We can bring it to a higher status and positioning in the world of dance, but I like to think that we are dealing with an art form , not only a product to sell in mass and become in industry.  We can grow as a community but working as community and educating the community and grow stronger as a group.

【Related Article】

• Hossam Ramzy
• Your Idea = RaqsART (Hossam Ramzy's Answer)

[Your Idea = RaqsART] RaqsART asked your questions to Hossam Ramzy!

RaqsART is a place for belly dancers to share and create information with other dancers all over the world about events, performances, dancers; just about anything related to belly dancing. Our goal is to create the most interactive and extensive belly dancing community to bring international fans together.

One dancer on RaqsART facebook community asked a question about Hossam Ramzy's interview article. I immediately asked Mr. Ramzy the question, and he gave me the answer which is attached below.

Where do zils fit into his teaching? If the dancer is a 3D representation of the music and only responding to the music, surely they should not be making music... just wondering.

Basically, yes, of course, the dancer should be translating the music and is meant to be the final instrument that translates the music to her audience. The "Zills" ar a prop, and addition, an attraction to grab the attention of the audience... but it is not the dancing. It is a tool for making the audience look at a dancer, but this is not what keeps them interested... it is the translating of the music that keeps them there for you.... not the noise.