My Rakkasah Performance Time!

I'll be performing at Rakkasah on Saturday, March 13 at 6:50 PM on the Main Stage. I hope to see some of you there!

New book reviews on Shira.net

The following new book reviews are now on Shira.net:

* Earth Dancing: Mother Nature's Oldest Rite. By Daniela Gioseffi.
* The Belly Dance Costume Book. By Zarifa Aradoon.
* Pyramids & Nightclubs: A Travel Ethnography. By L. L. Wynn.
* Belly Dancing Basics. By Laura A. Cooper.
* Have Belly, Will Travel: From Elvis and Star Trek to Ambassadors and Kings. By Tanya Lemani.

You can find them all here: www.shira.net/books/sitemapb.htm

Two additional song translations on Shira.net!

I posted two more song translations on Shira.net today. They are:

1. Lamma Bada Yatathanna
2. Ghanili Shwaya Shwaya

Two More Song Translations on Shira.net!

Tonight I added two more song translations to Shira.net:

1. Yaho by Hakim
2. Wahdani by Khaled Agag


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I recently had Artist NikkiJ do 4 portraits of me from dance photos. I've featured one with this blog, and I'll use the others on future blogs!

Three more song translations on Shira.net!

have added the following from Lennie's site to mine:

1) "Al Ward Gamil" by Oum Kalthoum
2) "Sahertou Minhou el-Layali" by Soumaya Baalbaki,
3) "Ya Wail" by George Abdo.

"So You Want to Learn Arabic?"

There's a new article on my web site titled "So You Want to Learn Arabic?" It talks about how to get started - how to decide what learning method you want (classes, audio cd's, videos, etc), . You can find it at www.shira.net/culture/learn-arabic.htm . This page includes links to a couple of web sites that have free tutorial info.

I also put up two lists of resources that can be used for learning Arabic:

Books and audio CD's: www.shira.net/shopping/st...ic-books.htm
Videos and computer software: www.shira.net/shopping/st...c-videos.htm

I added 3 new video opinion polls:

* Basic Arabic, Hebrew, and Yiddish by DVD
* Alef Ba Ta - Arabic for Kids
* Speak Arabic with Bill Nagler, MD


I intend to add more articles about learning to speak Arabic in the future. I plan to write a review of the Pimsleur audio CD's, and I have some other things in mind to write about. So, stay tuned!

Five more new Arabic song translations on Shira.net!

I have added the following song translations to Shira.net at www.shira.net/lyrics.htm under "Arabic":

1) Eina el Layali by Farid al-Atrache's sister Asmahan
2) Gafnouhou by Mohammed Abdel Wahab
3) Ma Gayartish Abadan by El Amira Al Saghira
4) Ya Mayla al Ghousoune by Fairuz
5) Ya Mustapha by George Abdo and many others

Lots more to come!

Bunch of Arabic song translations added to Shira.net!

I posted 7 new song translations from Lennie's "Arabic Song Translations" site, as follows:

1) Bint el Sultan by Ahmed Adaweyya
2) El Bint El Shalabia by Feiruz
3) Tisslam Eidak by Hisham Abbas
4) Ya Bajat al-Rouh by Sabah Fakhri
5) Abu Ouyoun Garea by Abdel Halim Hafez
6) Amriika by Shaban Abdel Rehim
7) Ya Ana, Ya Ana by Feiruz

See www.shira.net/music/lyric...omarabic.htm

Lots more coming in the near future!

New DVD review: "Habibi, You Are My WHAT?" by Leyla Lanty

I've just completed my first video review in a-g-e-s! It's for Leyla Lanty's new DVD, "Habibi You Are My WHAT?" which provides an introduction to some Arabic words that are widely used in song lyrics.

The short version: I liked it. A lot.

For the full-length version, see www.shira.net/videos/vrev...-my-what.htm


And if you've already seen this video, don't forget to visit my review and vote in the video opinion poll!

Had a photo session last night!

In June, I ordered yet another custom-made dress from Hanan Mahmoud when I was in Egypt. It came in early September, but it took a while for me to find a mutually-agreeable time with my photographer to get some pictures taken of it. I made two necklaces and a pair of earrings to wear with it. The veil is (I think) by Akai Silks - I bought the veil a long time ago just because I thought it was beautiful, even though it didn't go with any of the costumes I had at the time. When this dress came, I went through my collection of beautiful silk veils, and this one reminded me that it was patiently waiting to come out and play. I think it's perfect for this costume!

Last night Kaylyn and I finally found time to do the photo shoot. We had a lot of fun with it! She took 378 photos, and of those I've chosen 19 as possible ones to use for my various projects.

I'll try to upload the best photos from the shoot to the Shira.net tribe over the next few days.