Editor’s Note
Left: Nafiseh,
Evete, & Eshta @
Urban Raqs Show
August 2009
Photographer:
Tanja Nikola
In this issue of NAFOURA Magazine, ‘the Belly feed my curiosity to persevere further with under-
Dance Entrepreneur’ we discuss the importance of standing this art. I have realized that belly dance is
sustainable business practices and etiquettes within like any other form of art, in that its admiration and
the belly dancing world. appreciation is a matter of choice. One of the more
charming characteristics of this art is its diversity.
When I had embarked on the journey to discover the Saying this, the utmost care and integrity should al-
world of belly dance, I was quite literally lost. This ways be applied when creating fusions and mixing
wasn’t necessarily by choice, I must add. I simply other dance styles with belly dance. Poor integra-
didn’t know who to speak to or where to go to get tion results in bad publicity for the belly dance art all
advice. I had spent countless hours online trying to together.
Google different variations of the word belly dance
and keywords such as belly dance magazines, Through this magazine, I aim to create a publication
teachers, classes, workshops, and history, anything that does not isolate any group within the belly danc-
in the hope that I would find guidance. It was a help- ing world. One of our catch phrases, which many
less and frustrating situation that I had found myself would have seen associated to NAFOURA Maga-
in. zine, is “Connecting Belly Dancers Worldwide”. This
is precisely what the magazine is about. I want to
It would be incorrect to imply that there wasn’t suf- create a reliable, factual and fun source where any-
ficient information from these various web searches. one can gain and learn something new and/ or old
On the contrary, there was an abundance of informa- about belly dance. NAFOURA Magazine is an un-
tion. The trouble was deciphering between fact and biased platform (a fountain - definition of NAFOURA
fiction, necessary and optional. Too many teachers in Arabic) that will provide real knowledge to those
claim /ed to be the ‘best’ or ‘professionals’. Simi- within the belly dancing world and those who know
larly, workshops and events also claimed to be the nothing about belly dance, with the ultimate aim of
‘must attend’ events of the year, “become a profes- promoting belly dance as a RESPECTABLE art.
sional dancer by attending this 3 day intensive work-
shop”. Nothing could have prepared me for what I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the
I was about to find and for how much work would contributing authors for their articles. Their willing-
be involved in trying to find the ‘true’ core of what ness to share their experience and knowledge with
belly dance is about. Needless to say, I had decided others is admirable and highly commended.
that my calling in life wouldn’t be to become a belly
dancer but instead to work as a promoter and pas- Enjoy the read!
sionate advocate of the Belly Dance Arts.
My travels and subsequent interactions have given Evete Fatima Medeiros
me many memorable experiences that continue to Chief Editor
6
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