Leylas Belly Dance News
Lots of time gone by since the
last update but there is a lot going on, whch is no excuse We'll be posting some
new news in the next couple of days. Please stand by!
January 2008 -
The flu bug has hit so it has been a slow start from the first of the year but now we all seem to be getting over it and things are getting back to normal. We concluded December with a bang producing a number of personal belly dance videos for a number of dancers. Personal Belly Dance Video reviews have been uplifting and inspiring. We also conclude a survey to see what is on your mind and make sure that our on line video ideas are on the right track. You can view the results of the survey if you like. The information is very interesting. New Article, Weighing In On My Belly Dance Image has been posted here and on the Blog as well. You are welcome and invited to weigh in yourself with your own comments. Changing Roles In The Pearl Fantasy Production, was something that happened this month. This production is a joint venture between myself and two other dancers and originally I had planned to dance in the show, but that has changed and now my role will be one of full time producer and director. Work Has Started on the Beginners Curriculum. At this time the plan is to begin having on line videos available beginning in the middle of February. If you're a beginner and interested in being notified as these are released then join the mail list. If you have asked for or are receiving the 8 free videos, then you are already on the notification list. December 2007December 18, 2007: More feedback and testimonials are coming in on Personal Videos are coming in. We recently received one from a wonderful dancer in Texas by the name of Bonnie Cowley. Bonnie has started a great program in Texas called Windflower Seeds; They help young girls find their own voice, listen to it. So, if you're not sure about a Personal Belly Dance video, then read Bonnies testimonial I think she gives a great accounting of exactly what we're creating. Initial feedback on personal belly dance instructional video has been very positive. Here are some of your comments so far. Note, these are all anonymous, except where permission has been given. Make sure Leyla gets the message that I love my webcam! She did a great job and I am enjoying working with it! Belly dance classes have not been available in my city for a while and I have become discouraged but your videos have gotten me hooked again. awesome, great viewing and a wonderful lesson. I wish you were here in Atlanta, Georgia. I'll post more as time allows. November 2007 Practice Music: We are fortunate to have on our team Issa Malluf. Issa has composed 3 drum tracks specifically for our students totaling 27 minutes. You can read about it and see a video of Issa on the Practice Music page. For a limited time we're also making available a free additional track of originally composed music Issa has provided which is part of a CD he is in the process of putting together. Under the heading of "Just in Time For Christmas", the wolf sanctuary dedicated 25 original high quality photos of wolves from their personal collection for us to use in our "Gift Store" If you are looking for a unique gift that isn't made in China and won't poison you or your children, then you will be inspired by the wolf images in our gift store. The reason for the wolf images is because as a supporter of the wolf, I am producing a benefit show for later in 2008 and your support will help make this show a great success and we'll be able to donate a lot of money to the wolf sanctuary. Mini-Documentary Posted About The Wolf Sanctuary posted for all to see, enjoy and learn from on the "Productions" page. This little documentary is 6 minutes long. I think you'll enjoy it. Please support the sanctuary by considering a beautiful wolf poster, mouse pad, coffee much, or coasters from our Gift Store. The "Personal Dance Training Video" is gaining speed and more as more dancers begin to recognize the value and comparative advantage to ordering a belly dance training video made to their wants and needs vs. an off the shelf mass produced video. Needless to say we are very excited. October 2007 UpdatesBlogging With Leyla:
Writing has become a very significant element in the way I express myself as a dancer, so I now have a blog. Custom Instructional Videos: Students now have the opportunity to request an instructional video made to their personal specifications. Wolf Sanctuary Benefit Performance: This is a fund raising benefit show currently in the planning stages for sometime in 2008. Leyla Appears On The Cover of The Chronicles: Leyla appears on the cover of the March issue of the Chronicles with an article on "Teaching a Philosophy Way of Dance"
Press
Opinion (note the opinion section will be getting moved to the blog so people can comment)Online Video It has been quite a ride since I decided to focus on providing Hip Phylosophy on line as well as in DVD form. More and more I am convinced that this was absolutely the right decision and many dancers have graciously offered positive feedback. The video is clearest available anywhere on the internet and soon we will be supporting high definition. As well we'll soon be supporting full screen theater mode which will allow dancers to broadcast the video streamed from their computer to their TV, so it will become another TV Channel and this is very, very exciting! The original motivation for moving to an online system of distribution and delivery was to be able to offer dancers the same instruction for less. It is a system of distribution and delivery that much more effective and efficient for me because selling individual DVDS carries with it a lot of overhead due to the time and material cots of duplication, packaging and shipping. So from this perspective it has been very successful, but proving Hip Phylosophy online has opened up an entirely new universe of opportunity and is really scratches the surface regarding what is possible and the benefits for both dancers and teachers. The Current State of Belly Dance Instructional Videos If you are reading this then you have likely purchased a Belly Dance instructional video, or DVD sometime in your career and if you have been in the market you know that the number of Belly Dance instructional DVDS has increased dramatically. This is good and bad news. The good news is that there are more choices for dancers. The bad news is that is difficult to tell and know exactly what your are paying for, how useful it may be to you and hence you risk paying good money for instructional material that may not be exactly what you are looking for or need! You could end up buying many different DVDS taking a little bit of useful information from each one as a way of really getting what you need. What you do pay for to a large extent when you buy a Belly Dance instructional DVD is not actually instruction! Rather it is the cost of the videographer, the editor, the packaging design, the packaging itself and the duplication costs. At least 50 percent or more of the cost of any one instructional DVD is just to recover the overhead costs. So often the risk when buying instruction videos is that only a part of the meal is edible. This is not the fault of the teacher or the student, it is just the way it is because it is just impossible to produce a "One Size Fits All" Belly Dance Instructional DVD. The Death of the DVD, Long Live the DVDIt may be premature to proclaim the death of the DVD but the day is drawing near. Consider a student looking to expand their technique in a very specific way, or a student looking for longer term instruction options because of location or other factors. Their options are to buy a lot of instructional videos, drive for miles, or risk the wrath of a jealous coach. or for private classes. Now because of technology they have options both in terms of personalized individual instructional DVDS and in terms of longer term study. Another Reason Why the DVD Should Die! Many of us complain about global warming and the harm we are doing to the environment and did you know that the United States produces 200 million tons of eWaste every year. eWaste are the old computers, TV's VCR'S, CD'S, DVD'S and jewel cases. In fact eWaste is the number 1 landfill component. So when you opt to spend your dollars buying a DVD, check first to see if you can't get the same information without adding more plastic to the landfills. Practice "GREEN" buying. It is the responsible thing to do to do in my opinion and I am proud that Hip Phylosophy is available on line because it is a very "GREEN" thing for Belly Dancers to do. Dance From Within and Create a Style of Your Own 
Leyla Najma Belly Dance and On Line Video Productions Dance With Confidence and Create a Style of Your Own.  Send Page
Updated:04/29/2008
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