Suhaila Endorsed DVD – Amy Sigil and UNMATA !!
I have paid my dues. I have tried to keep my art in tact for my family legacy and daughter. I have tried to own all the art I produce, spending time and money trying to buy back masters (with my image on them). I have tried to make quality products for which I can hold my head up high.
As an artist we feel lucky when someone wants us on their next DVD. “They want ME?…. little old me?” and we think it’s such a compliment and big break. We do our best and tell all our friends about this great opportunity. Most producers have a line up of DVDs they are producing in a limited amount of time, and each artist has to fit into that schedule (usually with only one or two “takes” only). The artist doesn’t really get to help design the set, create personality, or have the video truly represent herself. As viewers, we might learn a few good moves, but do we really “feel” anything?
It has been my dream to produce other artists and create an empowering foundation for them to grow. I want the artists to have a product that really represents themselves. I want artists I produce to own their own masters in a few years. I want each DVD to have a different look and feel that will have the viewer able to get a look inside the process. I want to offer artists the ability to create within the process of making the DVD and not just the “dance moves” in the DVD. I want to help artists the way I wish someone helped me.
Together with my co-producer, Luka Dziubyna, we have set out to create a platform for artists never been done before. With great pride, we present the first “Suhaila Endorsed Line” DVD featuring Amy Sigil and UNMATA!
* will be available on Thursday, Oct 15, 2009
I saw Amy Sigil and UNMATA perform a few years ago at Tribal Quest in Oregon. I had been working on a choreography to a drum line for some months, and then Amy and her crew came out dancing to hot drum line music from a CD. It was hot and fresh, and I remembered that performance.
A year later, someone sent me a youtube link of UNMATA performing their Pony dance/choreography and asked what I thought. I think that people see me as a “traditional belly dancer” because I am either Jamila Salimpour’s daughter (meaning the daughter of the woman that inspired Tribal Style in America) or that I’m the woman that performed in the Middle East and night clubs for a decade (or that I’m the chick in the DVDs). So how could I like this Pony choreography? As I watched I knew that Amy was a performance artist with huge talent and potential.
Not long after that, Amy and I became friends. Not only did I hire her to teach that drum line piece to my dance company for our Rakkasah 2008 performance, but I was the Lion in her 2007 Blood Moon show, her Rodeo Queen in the UNMATA Rodeo this summer (to be released soon), and the producer of the first Amy Sigil DVD. Which, by the way, Amy only had one request for the DVD. . . to film out takes/behind the scenes at my house after the filming. I agreed and we played “Truth or Dare” and “I’ve Never”. So at 3am, totally exhausted from filming all night and with no make-up on, we snacked on Taco Bell and had a blast.
And this is just the beginning of our story. Amy and I are now talking about her next instructional DVD since this experience was so much fun.
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5 Responses to “Suhaila Endorsed DVD – Amy Sigil and UNMATA !!”
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Re: Instructional DVD!!…
looks like we can start ordering on Thursday!!!
http://www.suhailainternat……
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by marirene edwards. marirene edwards said: Unmata will have a DVD out!!!!!! http://bit.ly/32MkX [...]
YAY! I am so excited for both Amy & you!
The DVD looks great, I love how you dig deep and really show *who* Amy is. Thank you, both of you!
I love the promo…it’s so very Amy/UNMATA and to me, Suhaila and Amy are a great combo! Can’t wait.
Suhaila, i love your honesty, vunerability, but most of all, your integreity. amy is a poewerhouse,as is YOU! and to see this unity is Exactly what we need in our artform to progress! As a novice, all i have to say is keep insnspiring and fertilizing what we are…xoxo.