On 28 February 2026, I had the opportunity to co-conduct a Taqsim workshop with oud musician Andy Smith at the INBC Annual Bazaar. INBC is a non-profit organisation that supports dancers and musicians in Indiana and the surrounding areas.
The workshop was originally Andy’s idea – and it was a brilliant one! We alternated in sharing the perspectives of a musician and a dancer on how to perform taqsim – an Arabic word for an improvised musical solo in traditional Middle Eastern, Arabic, Greek, and Turkish music. All the participants were very engaged despite the early morning schedule, asking great questions and sharing their own experiences.
This is a painting I created to express the joy of the teaching experience.
この絵はこの経験の喜びを表現したものです
Although I couldn’t stay for the evening gala show, it was wonderful to meet the headliner, Tina Maric, who is a lovely person and an incredible dancer. She taught a very energetic and playful mejance choreography and drum solo.
As the PR Officer, it was very satisfying to see the event’s success after months of preparation and promotion.
Many thanks to the Event Director, April, the coordinator, Andy, and all the board members who worked tirelessly to make it happen – and, of course, to all the participants, instructors, performers, sponsors, and volunteers who contributed!
Can you believe that this performance was completely an improvisation?? I literally did nothing when it came to choreography. I was very impressed by their musicality and the way they supported each other naturally during the performance.
主催のFarhanaさん、本当にありがとう♥Suboさんはビデオをとってくれてありがとう
Many thanks to Farhana, for organising such a lovely party!
Special thanks to my beloved Subo for filming the video xx
I had the last online class of the year
2021 with my students on 18th of December.
In the class, we watched their dance videos
improvising to the theme of the year -- Geceler and Çile Bülbülüm played by John Bilezikjian -- together.
Then we looked back the individual goals that we’d set around the same time in
the last year. It is not easy to improvise, especially to the song where both
passion and softness are required! I was truly impressed by their creativity and
eagerness to take on a new challenge. There is nothing more satisfying for a
teacher than seeing students conquer each challenge and express themselves
through dancing.
In the morning of the same day, I also had my
last online class as a student this year, with my teacher in New Jersey, TarikSultan.
After a year and half training with him, I
have to take every chance to say this. Tarik's online dance class is fantastic!
It has helped me to become more solid on my dance techniques and musicality. It
also showed me the way real teachers teach.
He is one of the most patient teachers I've
ever seen. He repeats the movements until we really get it, which is the best
way to learn. He does not do choreographies in the class. However, I have
become better with memorizing choreographies since I started taking his class. In
my view, it is because his approach helped me to develop my body awareness and better
observation skills.
Although I have been dancing for years and
performing in mainly AmCab or Turkish influenced styles, I had not gone really
in depth with Egyptian Oriental Dance. I believe I've become more comfortable
and confident with this field now. He's deeply in touch with the root of the
Egyptian Oriental Dance – the sensuality and joy from the music. By following
his movements, students can comprehend how to interpret the music. There are few
teachers who can do that.
I’m grateful for the fruitful time I have
spent with wonderful people learning and teaching. Although the pandemic has
been preventing me from performing, my love for dance has not faded away. On
the contrary, this time has taught me how essential the art was for me.
As a commemoration of this year of challenges, my online semi-private class students filmed themselves performing the veil piece we had been working on and received my feedback.
The song was Jamilleh, played by John Bilezikjian.
It's been 4years since I had my debut party as a dancer..
ダンサーデビューパーティーを開いてから4年になります。 To me it's symbolic that I finally ordered my business cards in the beginning of this year 2019, because business cards help you to transmit who you are to people (especially if you're in Japan!). I gradually started to feel more comfortable with who I am and maybe became a little more chilled- not only while performing, but in my life in general in this year.
Photographed and designed by Fuka
私にとっては、今年2019年の初めに名刺をようやく注文したのは象徴的です。なぜなら、名刺はあなたが誰であるかを伝えるのに役立つものだから。(特に日本にいるなら!) 今年は私は自分が誰なのかということについて徐々に堂々と出来るようになり、もう少しゆったりと構えられるようになったかなと思います。パフォーマンス中だけでなく、私の人生全般で。 As a teacher, I've been really content to see the students get passionate on dancing,
and work together as dance mates.
As a dancer, I've been keen on learning Turkish Roma's dance with Ozma and can't wait to explore more in the future!
I also had a precious opportunity to perform Khaleegy with my fellow dancers at lovely Silkroad Cafe on December 21st.
教師として、私は生徒たちがダンスに情熱を傾けダンス仲間として協力し合うのを見て本当に満足しています。 ダンサーとして、私はオズマとターキッシュローマのダンスを学ぶことに夢中な年でした。 今後さらに探求するのを待つことができません! 12月21日にはシルクロードカフェで親愛なるダンサーのみなさんとハリージーでパフォームする素敵な機会に恵まれました。 I can't say "thank you" enough to the people who have trusted me.
You make me live and I hope I can do the same to you! 私を信頼して力づけてくれた人々に感謝をつたえきれません。
I wish you happy holidays and a glittery year ahead! 来年がみなさんにとって輝かしい年でありますように!
Hi to all! This is Nisreen of Tokyo! お久しぶりです。オリエンタルを日々是研究、ベリーダンサーNisreen(ニスリーン)です!
After the performance at a nursing home, we've been working on improvisation at my class. 老人ホームでのショーを終えた後、ニスリーンクラスでは即興に取り組んでいます。 Choreography and improvisation- I think both of them are important. 即興も、振り付けもどちらも大事だなあと思うんですよね。
Photographed by 浮花
It's tricky to train improvisation skill, though- because it's ART( choreography is art, too, of course)! The answer is not only one.
I have given up once as a real beginner to dance spontaneously AND look good!!
Based on my own experience and my teachers' method, I created my teaching style that makes my students enjoy most, and make them really feel their own progress on improvisation. I'm so happy to see my students free themselves and motivated to improve more! (This is why I love small classes. It's much easier to teach them individually in the semi-private setting.)