Star Stalker Sunday: Local legend Ajsa Samia

The talented Cape Town based dancer Asja Samia, born Marina Radosavljevic (now Rehbein), is regarded as one of the best dancers in the oriental genre. She is the owner of Palace of the Winds, a dance studio and school in Cape Town.

Born in the small town of Pirot in the former Eastern Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Marina was exposed to Oriental dance from a very young age. She was part of the Pirot folk dance troupe for ten years. At age 26 she moved to Germany to pursue her career as a medical nurse. She still continued dancing and later turned her love for Belly Dancing, Folk Dancing and Gypsy Dancing into a full time career.

Marina, dancing under the stage name Ajsa Samia, trained with international dancers and musicians to further her knowledge of her chosen art form:

• Gamal Seif, Aladin Seif and Hassan Afifi from Egypt
• Lobby  from the U.S.A.
• Habib the trainer of the Tunisian National Folklore Dance Troupe
• Wawa Slavisa Jovanovic who specialised in Yugoslavian Folklore and Balkan Gypsy dance
• El Templao specialising in Spanish and Flamenco dance

Her approach to dance teaching is grounded in her nursing background as she uses her studio to teach women to regain balance in their physical and emotional lives. She is married to Stephan and has two children. She is the guiding force behind South Africa’s first (and only) Belly Dance magazine, RakSAFrica.

 

With some of her dancers during a POTW European tour

Marina is responsible for organising the annual International Oriental Dance Festival, held at the V&A Waterfront in October of every year. She is also involved in many different non-profit, charity-based initiatives in and around Cape Town. Apart from her studio and the festival she dances in various national and international events and, for many Belly Dancers in the Gauteng/Northwest area, the highlight of the year is her annual Balkan Gypsy workshop, usually hosted by Harties Belly Buttons, owned by Marinda Alblas-Schnetler-Sauerman.

Ajsa Samia at the Belly Buttons Harties Gypsy workshop. To her left is Marina (owner Belly Buttons Harties) and middle row, second from right is Jacqui Chandler (owner Rusty Belly Dance)

If ever you have the opportunity to take part in a workshop with this mistress of dance, or to see her in action, do not miss it! 

Ajsa Samia in action (YouTube clip) 

(Source: www.palaceofthewinds.co.za and www.youtube.com)

Happy Shimmying

XxX

Marina

Friday Favourites: Belly dance skirts

Hi all!

Here is a selection of our favourite pins on Pinterest this week. . . 

Enjoy!

Shades of blue

Sheer panels

I love the two tones and the added charm of the belt!

I would love to see this one in action!

More movement

This is a beautiful multi-toned skirt with an Indian feel. . .

This makes me green with costume envy!

Dramatic red

Stunning for gypsy style!

This panel makes a plain skirt extraordinary

Thanks for spending time with us!

Happy Shimmying!

Marina

Friday Favourites: Belly Dance bras and tops

Hi all!

Today we present a roundup of my favourite Belly Dance bras and tops from Pinterest. There is such a myriad of gorgeous pics, I had a tough time choosing my favourites, but here goes. . .

Dispite the fact that it still looks very much like a bra, I love the draping and the crystals.

This is originally an Indian choli top, but it's exquisite!

Muted cream. . . classic!

A bit of Turkish influence. . .

Love the coins, the cowrie shells and the fringe!

Unfortunately reserved for our smaller sisters, but extraordinary nonetheless!

This has an African feel to it that I just love!

RED!!! My favourite colour these days!

I love this! It looks like metal slivers and should have great movement!

I have a personal thing against peacocks, but this IS gorgeous!

Please let us know what you like. . .

XxX
Marina

Star Stalker Sunday: Local Diva Sandy Ashton-Smith

For today’s Star Stalker Sunday, I’ve decided to go a little bit loca(l) With the past week’s events in South Africa, I’m feeling very patriotic and for the next few weeks I will be profiling local belly dancers to put the spotlight on the amazing talent we have in this beautiful country.

This week I’m putting the amazing Sandy Ashton-Smith in the spotlight. After having the honour of dancing with her and her talented troupe at Montana Traders last weekend, I turned to Google to find out more about her. . .

Sandy Ashton-Smith grew up in Pretoria, in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.  She has been a Belly/Oriental dancer for more than ten years and a freestyle dancer for over 15. She is also the owner and choreographer for Belly Divas, her studio in Pretoria. (See www.bellydivas.co.za for more information)

After school, Sandy started studies in Theology while continuing her freestyle dancing. She spent a number of years abroad, where she studied Oriental dance under Khaleed Shalby Shafeeq in the Far East.

Since December 2008, Sandy has been running her independent studio where she gives classes in Classic Oriental, Folk, Gypsy, modern Oriental and Fusion belly dance.

She is very involved in her community and can always be found at fundraisers for various organisations such as Cansa Pretoria (notably the Relay for Life events) She is also the organizer for the Pretoria event for World Belly Dance Day. They were also part of the troupe of belly dancers that busted the Jacaranda FM studio team. We all remember that memorable moment!

At the Jacaranda FM studios

She is an infectious energy on stage and is known for her dramatic eye makeup and ever-present smile. When I commented on that smile, she said “If we don’t dance with our heart, we will not be alive.” Words every kind of performer should take to heart!

In action at the Montana Traders - photo credit: Thor Photography)

(sources: www.bellydancedivas.co.za, http://talentcoach.co.za/index.php/associate-partners/39-sandy-ashton-smith)

Hope you enjoyed this expose and please come back next week to see what other local belly dancer will be placed in the spotlight!

XxX

Marina 

Friday Favourites. . . Even if it's actually a Sunday

Hi all

Things have been a little hectic with the run-up to Christmas and unfortunately the blog was the first victim when it came to time management. Today we're going to play a little catch up and here is our favourite Pinterst pins. This week I'm focussing on belts. . .

Perfect for a DIY project. . . Made using pull rings from cans and beer bottle tops. . . Karma would love these!

Beautiful movement. I would like to see this in silver or gold.

This whole outfit is stunning, but I especially love the bead loops at the bottom of the belt.

Cowrie shells, tassles. . . what more could a girl ask for?

Simple, elegant and shiny!

A little Gothic inspiration

Exquisite!

Victorian inspired. I just love the pants too!

Purple, gold and green has never looked this pretty!

Stunning chain work

Hope you enjoyed this!

Star Stalker Sunday: Sadie

Sadie Marquardt is an international dancer, choreographer and instructor. She first appeared on the scene in 2004, but has since released multiple instructional DVDs. Her popularity is shown in the amount of hits received on YouTube. 

Sadie trained in gymnastics and swimming as a child and started belly dancing in her late teens. Apart from studying belly dance under the tutoring of many Middle Eastern dance teachers, she also learned to play the doombek from the master percussionist and musician Souhaul Kaspar in Turkey. In addition to belly dance, she also studied Samba, Salsa and Tahitian dancing. All of these influences have given Sadie a style that is all her own. 

Sadie is based in Denver, Colorado where she performs with her partner Kaya. They teach weekly classes and perform at the city’s finest restaurants and clubs. They also appeared on America’s Got Talent. 

Sadie in action 

Sadie belly dance 2008 

(Source: www.bellydancecity.com)