As we prepare for the autumn months, I think back to my move out to Subterra (www.subterracastle.com) last fall and all of the changes that have taken place. Like many of our students and clients, The Maya Zahira School of Belly Dance was deeply affected by the economic down-turn. As some of you may know, in 2008, our student enrollment suddenly dropped by 75%, and in the process, we lost most of our staff. We came extremely close to going out of business, but I was determined to keep that fr... read more

The drum solo is a dynamic and exciting dance performance, commonly performed at the end of a dancer’s routine, which showcases the dancer’s ability to perform sharp percussive dance moves and seamless shimmies. Drum solo music typically features rhythms played with a doumbek or tabla, a goblet shaped drum from the Middle East and North Africa. Whether the music is performed live or via a recorded CD, the dancer performs either choreographed or improvised dance moves that match the complex rh... read more

Recently, I attended a belly dance convention which included belly dance workshops, costume vending, and a dance show. It was a lovely event, with eager students, knowledgeable workshop instructors, reasonably-priced merchandise, and an interesting and diverse show. For this particular event, I chose to participate solely as a vendor, and as I sat at my vending table, I took on the role of observer. I sat back and pondered the beautiful, complicated, and messy nature of human relationships. I... read more

I sat at the edge of the circle and watched, while rhythmic hands made music with doumbeks and djembes, while hips swayed, shoulders shimmied, and bodies moved to the beat of the drums.

The New Year’s Eve celebration at Subterra was a yearly occurrence. The former missile base, retired and privately purchased 25 years ago, had been transformed from a place of potential violence and war, to a place of sacred beauty—filled with hanging tapestries, rich fabrics, and statues of ancient deitie... read more

I sat at my desk with a list of common Middle Eastern names which had been emailed to me by one of my belly dance teachers. Although I was not yet dancing professionally, I wanted to choose a stage name for myself, a name that sounded both mysterious and glamorous.

On my list of names, I was drawn to the name Maya because it was both simple and pretty like my given first name, Jane. Delving deeper into the meaning of Maya, I knew that it was the name of the goddess of illusion in Indian t... read more