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Maharjan: The Marvelous “Middle Sister”
Suhaila choreographed three pieces in high school, in which she experimented with the techniques that would become integral elements of her belly dance format. These three pieces—“Joumana,” “Maharjan,” and “Hayati”—showcase her intricate…
October 4, 2021 -
What You Don’t Know About Jamila Salimpour Step Names
Sicilian/Greek-American dancer Jamila Salimpour is known for many innovations in belly dance (a dance form also referred to as oriental dance, raqs sharqi, raqs baladi, among others), but is probably best known…
March 25, 2021 -
5 Myths About Jamila Salimpour and Her Belly Dance Format
Of course, we’re a little biased, but we think that Jamila Salimpour’s format revolutionized belly dance practice, teaching, and understanding around the world. Her and her daughter’s careful cataloging of steps by…
January 23, 2020 -
Unveiled: Revealing an Integrated Approach to Belly Dance
If you’ve been in the Salimpour School for a while, you are probably already familiar with at least some of the choreographies on Unveiled. And if you are newer to the school,…
June 4, 2018 -
A Seat at the Table: Full Circle with the Ethnic Dance Festival
By Abigail Keyes (SL5/JL5) In the Beginning: Joumana Jazzes up Belly Dance In 1983, Suhaila Salimpour auditioned for a unique and groundbreaking annual dance event in San Francisco. She presented “Joumana,” the…
December 5, 2017 -
Erte, Experimentation, and Irony: Suhaila Salimpour’s “Pharaonic Suite”
When looking at the total of Suhaila’s recorded performances, you might notice that the “Pharaonic Suite” on the 1988 production Dances for the Sultan is different. The movements are highly stylized, bound,…
April 5, 2017 -
The Ballets Russes
The Ballets Russes was a traveling ballet company founded by Sergei Diaghilev and comprised of highly skilled dancers, most of whom had classical training from Russian Imperial schools in Moscow and St.…
February 25, 2015