According to the CDC website, smallpox has been documented since the 3rd century BC. By the 6th Century smallpox had spread across India, Asia, Africa, and Turkey; from the 11th to the 13th centuries, the Crusades spread it into Europe. Were you aware that the use of vaccinations to prevent epidemics has ties to the […]
Vaccination ties to Turkey Read More »
I waited to post the June blog until close to the end of the month, as we’re coming up on the Fourth of July Celebration here in the U.S. The Fourth brings picnics, fireworks, and parades with plenty of marching bands performing patriotic music. So, what’s the connection to the Turkish Mehter Bands of the
Turkish Mehter Bands Influence on the West Read More »
What is MENAHT? It’s an acronym for Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic (Greece) and Turkish. And, whether intended or not, it’s become a marketing catch-phrase that implies ‘if you don’t learn from a dancer from ‘x’ country, you can’t ever properly learn ‘y’ dance.’ What dismays me is I’ve heard this mantra repeatedly used from
MENAHT Instructors – A New Term For How We’ve Historically Learned? Read More »
April 23rd is National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey – two separate holidays which became one. Let’s take a peek into this unique holiday, as we in the West may be unfamiliar with it. Who Created this Holiday and Why? Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic made a proposal to
Turkish National Sovereignty & Children’s Day Read More »
Something’s happened over my dance career…it doesn’t receive any press coverage like global warming does, but it is still a change in the bellydancing environment that concerns me. While students in classes learn the basic care and feeding requirements of zills, outside the classroom environment zills are rarely heard in their performance habitats. What’s happening
Zills – The Endangered Species Read More »
The Tarkan Enigma: He’s created a compendium of very catchy, very danceable pop Turkish songs since the 1990s. He dances, he plays zills, and many bellydancers are drawn to his music. Tarkan can be controversial, and his songs can be difficult to dance to without understanding the lyrics and the meaning behind his songs. A
Does Dancing to Tarkan’s Music = Turkish Oryantal Style? Read More »
But I’ve Seen So-and-So Famous Dancer Do This! I have, too. I’ve danced it. There are many excellent instructors and performers of this style in the U.S. This post isn’t about them, as these professionals clearly make it known to their students and audiences what style they are performing. Is There a Problem With This
Swishing Skirts to 9/8 music is not turkish oryantal dance Read More »
Hello! I’m Amina Beres in Minneapolis – Welcome! I’m a Minneapolis-area dance instructor and the Artistic Director of Dans Askina Turkish Dance Ensemble. I began my Middle Eastern Dance journey in 1995 and spent the next 12 years learning, performing, and teaching Egyptian Oriental Dance, Arabic folkloric, American-style bellydance, American Tribal Style (ATS), and Tribal
Merhaba! Ben Minneapolisli Amina Beres – Hoşgeldiniz! Read More »
