Spotlight Dancer/Troupe
Mitra

My first ever experience seeing a real, live belly dancer was way back in elementary school. I must’ve been about 10 or 11 years old when a student who was new to our class had invited her mother to visit our class and speak about belly dancing and give a short demonstration. It turned out that her mother was the beautiful Nefertiti, owner of Nefertiti’s Belly Dance Academy in Phoenix. I remember thinking how exotic and fabulous it must be to be a professional belly dancer and couldn’t imagine what it would be like to grow up in an environment where I was surrounded by Middle Eastern music and dancing! (My home was filled with 50’s rock & roll and - yikes! country & western music.) Although it was many, many years before I took up belly dancing myself, the impression of that gorgeous, talented woman was always with me.

Fast forward to 2001…I was out of shape and really not involved with anything other than going to work and getting up to do it all over again the next day. I was looking for some sort of positive change in my life and decided I desperately needed a new exercise regime - something that I wouldn’t be bored to tears with and refusing to do after a month. Since the only other program I had ever stayed with for any length of time (Jazzercise) involved music and dancing I felt I’d have a better chance sticking with something along those same lines. Hey…what was this? There it was - a big, fat article in my local newspaper about group belly dance classes and how this ancient art form was becoming popular (again.) The story went on to include testimonials from students who swore this was the most fun exercise they’d ever done. And look! There was a new session starting up right down the street at the library! I completed my registration and mailed my check, anxious for the weeks to pass so I could start class, scheduled for September 13, 2001.

I found myself in my first belly dance class with Samia that Thursday night, surrounded by others who were just as stunned and saddened by the tragic events that had occurred a mere two days before on September 11th, all wondering how could anything ever be the same. There seemed to be a blanket of confused feelings over the entire class and I heard comments all around. “Should we really be taking this class right now?” “Are people going to hate us because we are associating ourselves with this culture?” Seems kooky now, but everything was just so surreal at the time. Samia gave us a pep talk and assured us that this was a beautiful art form, great exercise and a whole bunch of fun. She was right of course.

I studied with Samia for well over a year - unsure of any real talent I might have, although I did seem to have somewhat of a natural instinct for many of the moves. My husband and cats suffered through months of me clanging away with my zils, trying desperately to dance and play AT THE SAME TIME. I held out for a long time, but Samia eventually convinced me that I needed to bite the bullet and be in her student show to be held at a popular cafe in Mesa a few weeks from then. I said yes before I thoroughly thought it out and almost immediately regretted my decision. Now I would have to choose music - and not only that, but it had to be at least four minutes of music! What the heck was I going to do in front of all those people for FOUR ENTIRE MINUTES?!?!? I was absolutely petrified, but rather than look like a sissy, I set about getting my act together for my stage debut. 

The day of the show came and from the minute I woke up I was nauseous, nervous and just generally freaked out. I couldn’t eat a thing all day (not like me AT ALL) and all I thought about was that four minutes and 23 seconds that I would have to endure later that day. Things had gotten out of hand, and now my husband, my mom and my step-dad were all going to be there - in addition to a room completely jam-packed full of other belly dancers. Terrifying! We got to the venue early to get a seat and it seemed like an eternity passed before it was finally time for me to take the stage. Honestly, I don’t remember a thing about my performance - it was all a big blur except for the little boy in the front row that kept shaking his probably three-year-old booty and smiling at me while I was dancing - I loved that kid! When my song was done (wow - was that really four minutes, plus?) there was lots of applause and zaghareet-ing and I remember thinking right then that I couldn’t WAIT to do that again!

And I didn’t wait too long…I started dancing at public events and recitals whenever the opportunity arose and even took part in a community theater production of Jesus Christ Superstar. I played temple dancing girl - go figure. Not long after that I was offered dance gigs at various Middle Eastern and Greek restaurants around the Phoenix Metro area and was soon serving time as a house dancer at Sinbad in Tempe for a number of years. (Four minutes now hardly seems worth putting on a costume!)

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to study with many different instructors around town: Samia of course, the multi-talented Yasmina, Morgiana, Meena, Mahin and the world-famous Helena Vlahos. I’ve also been blessed to have been able to participate in workshops by Carrie Kohnya, Ava Fleming, Zaina Hart, Makara, Margo Abdo O’Dell, Fahtiem and Bellydance Superstar Jillina. All incredible and endlessly talented women! I always look forward to an opportunity to learn.

Although I still perform occasional restaurant gigs around town, my greatest love is doing private events, belly dance parties and teaching. Along with my good pal and fellow dancer, Arlene Gil, we formed “Gimmy Shimmy” and would love to bring a belly dance party to you. I won’t bore you with all the details here, but please check us out at www.gimmyshimmy.com! 

I can’t imagine not having belly dance in my life. Until I became involved, I had no idea what this dance could do for my self-esteem, grace and overall health - the experience so far has truly been priceless. On top of that I figured out that whole “it’s a small world” thing really is true after all...

About a year ago I had signed up to perform at an open dance night in a Tempe hookah club, hosted by Mahin. There was a huge turn-out and lots of dancers. As I listened to the introduction of the troupe that was to perform right before I did, I couldn’t believe my ears. The leader of the troupe was none other than Sherry Jeffries - aka Ankesteman - a gorgeous dancer in her own right as I now knew, but even more interestingly the DAUGHTER OF NEFERTITI and my former elementary school classmate! How crazy is that?!

Contact Mitra:
website: http://www.phoenix-belly-dancers.com/
email: info@Phoenix-Belly-Dancers.com

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