Jeremiah,

I am so glad you wrote this.  True in the dictionary means genuine, authentic, exact, accurate, valid, or correct.  In my opinion, musicians have a gift that not many other people have.  To be a true composer, one has to reflect who he or she is through that gift of composition. 

Just as a dancer who truly understands how a composition is structured, where rhythms and accents come in, etc., musicians know how to sculpt sound to fit the piece in thier head. 

Where the art comes into play is how the dancer expresses the mood or emotion of the composition through movement.  Music is the reason dance exists. 

In order to truly choreograph to good music, a dancer must know the music inside and out!  Now, back to musicians...a true musician or composer has a gift.  If, in the dictionary, "true" means genuine, authentic, exact, accurate, valid, or correct, then, logically shouldn't the musician express who he or she is in the music, just as an artist reflects his soul into his paintings or sculptures? 

True art and the ability to create comes from a place that is sacred.  Now, musicians should learn theory, technique, and history of what they are doing, yes.  But when musicians are all cookie cutter duplicates of each other, it makes no sense.  The same goes for all of the arts. 

Taking your skills and then being able to give the world an expression of who you are is where the gift comes in.  Again, the same goes for ALL of the arts. 

I love all of your music, some more than others.  I like your Middle Eastern based stuff.  But, there are certain pieces that definitely stand out to me more for some reason. 

Now, many dancers enjoy the Middle Eastern Pop, and that is ok...I have done some myself usually when I wish to choreograph something light, cute, and breezy.  But usually the compositions that stir me up mentally and emotionally are the ones that the "masses" usually are not as receptive to.  It has to do with humans' fear of not being part of the group. 

Also...sometimes just listening to a piece is the best therapy in the world.  Not everything is meant to be danced to. 

In the world of dance I have discovered that many women who take classes and get into it have reasons of thier own that differ very much from mine.  To them, it does not really matter what they dance to, just as long as they get to look pretty and wear a fancy costume. 

Then, there are dancers who dance because they really love the music.  It affects them. 

Your true friends will be your friends no matter what, and everything happens for a reason.  Maybe it is best that you all can walk beside each other, supporting each other as you each follow your own musical paths. 

A lot of people wonder what the next "Big Thing" will be, yes.  I think that true art is timeless, and that includes music. 

I like traditional Middle Eastern music, yes.  It is beautiful, but what I notice is that a lot of it consists of the same songs just redone over and over......Yawn... Yes, culturally those musicians from the Middle East want to preserve thier musical heritage, but one has to wonder why so much Arabic Pop is coming out these days. It certainly does not reflect the same atitudes as thier past traditional forefathers.  

I tend to think that self-expression is a natural thing that occurs no matter what purist thought tries to contain.  It is as if both paths of thought in this genre of music are parallel; I am looking for where the true heart of that type of music is.  It is quite a journey to listen to all of the stuff that the Middle Eastern distributors are putting out these days, and it makes me question tradition. So do the old rules still apply, and should they??  The world is changing, so why should the arts stagnate? 

Now to uncomfortable feelings.  : D  Here is a story...One day I had to go with my class to an art museum to study paintings.  Most of the people in the class gravitated towards the lovely serene landscapes that reminded them of thier last summer vacation.  Further down the exhibit, there was some Modern Art. 

A handful of us were standing on front of a very stimulating and disturbing painting in the rear section of the building.  My small group and I were viewing the piece, taking it all in, and discussing it.  Some of the "happy masses" group strolled over, and made comments such as "Look at that...what the hell is that ugly thing?" 

Since they could not instantly recognize what they were seeing, they grew fear about it, and instantly thought we were strange to even consider writing our papers about it.  I turned around and looked at the nay-sayers.  I smiled and said..."ladies and gentlemen, this is art!" 

All aggression and insecurity is based in fear.  If you were a threat at work to these people, they probably realized they could not do what you do, and became afraid and threatened.  Instead of supporting you and learning from you, they decided to act like juveniles. 

Don't give up...and most certainly do not let these insecure people jeopardize your ability to provide for your family.  I have seen how these type of people have tried in other communites to hold people back, and to try to jeopardize opportunities...My best advice is from my own experience...never give up on what is in your heart, and what you wish to accomplish! 

TRUE art IS raw.  True art can make you remember what it feels like to be hurting, angry, lonely, and betrayed.  It can also bring warmer feelings, such as love, laughter, sensuality and sarcasm, depending on the piece. 

The interaction between the piece and the viewer, or listener, in your case, is where the true art manifests.  Uncomfortable feelings are part of being human, and are real. 

You are on the right path for you, and I support and agree with that!

Create with openness and honesty........a LOT of us are still listening, and we like what we hear. 

Sieze the day, and don't give up! 

Maria Chavez
Scheherazade Dance Produtions
Mahsati Dance Troupe
Albuquerque, NM







 

Maria, well put and thank you for your honesty and support. I means alot to me.
 

..You are talented enough dahlin' that you don't need to follow any formulas - let whatever music is inside you out - please.  It seems like the whole American Belly Dance scene is going through transitions - new ideas are being explored all the time.  It's an exciting time to have ideas outside of "Dancing Wind". 

I would like to share one of my favorite dance quotes with you (though you will need to slightly modified it to fit the musican), but it's "dance to express, not to impress".

Always your fan - LadyMe..
 

..Hey Lady, thanks dahlin', thank you for your words and insight. Still going to rock it out baby!..
 

You always do dahlin'  ..
 

Yes!  Just be you, and compose what you feel like doing!  Create...and the world will listen! :D

Maria