Articles
December 2008 Article
Watching my students progress through my certification program is a dream come true for me. I had always wondered who would be my first Level 4 certified dancers, and, rightfully so, the first two are Sabriye Tekbilek and Gina Bruno. Both women are amazing dancers and artists in their own right, and I have found great joy in watching them grow and evolve. The Phoenix show, my solo performance in June 2008, was perfectly titled as it included performances by Sabriye and Gina. That night was part of their Level 4 exams.
Much like in Indian dance, Level 4 in my format includes a graduation concert. For both dancers, I selected three songs that I knew would be inspirational but also challenging. Dancing to a live band, they had no idea what they would be dancing to until the first note was hit onstage. The only instruction they were given is whether they would enter with veil (or not), and whether they would need cymbals on song number two or three (or not). Each dancer brought three costumes for me to choose from, and I made sure that the vibe of the costume matched the song choices. Fathi Al Jarrah (my musical director) and I stood proud in the wings as we watched these beautiful butterflies own, execute, and display the talent they developed and fostered through the years under my training as well as their own exploration.
As I watched these women perform I could not help but tear up. When I was in high school, I remember Gina playing Barbies in the corner when she was two years old while I gave her mother private lessons in the dining room of my home. Gina was ten when she started taking classes from me full time. By the time Gina was twelve, she was a significant member of the Suhaila Dance Company, balancing being a teenager and full time member of the Suhaila Dance Company. Gina’s 16th birthday was in my home, the same home she sat in the corner of while her mother took privates from me when she was two years old. Gina also stood in front of my fireplace and took prom photos her senior year of high school. Gina Bruno is featured (as the beautiful red head) in the Suhaila Dance Company DVD.
Sabriye’s first class was in her jeans at the beginning of her freshman year at CAL. Maybe she was just planning to watch the class but couldn’t resist taking it once hearing the music. She didn’t know the dress code, but I let her join class anyway since her mother used to be one of my mother’s students. She had just started University of California Berkeley and was torn between her love for dance and her need to get an education. The only answer was to jump in with both feet, studying during the day at school and studying every night at my studio until the late hours. I remember the first “gig” I sent Sabriye out alone on; she was dressed in jeans and a sweater with her costume in her school backpack. I stopped her at the door and then helped fix her up. Now Sabriye gives lectures on professional grooming and presentation at my school as well as performs in Dubai fulltime. Sabriye became a lead dancer in the Suhaila Dance Company and can be seen in Sheherezade and Bal Anat (as the Mother Goddess). She was also featured in Suhaila Salimpour’s Fitness Fusion Series.
When it was my time to perform I made sure to look out into the audience at the faces of many of my certified students who were there to support these two women in this milestone. Each face had a look of joy . . . but also fear as they were imaging themselves on stage going through this performance part of the Level 4 exam. Which one of them would be up on that stage next year?
At the final bow of The Phoenix show, after Isabella’s knock-out performance, I brought Gina and Sabriye on stage. We all bowed and then I took a step back allowing both of them the admiration from the audience for which they deserve. It was so symbolic for me to bring forward the new generation as I gracefully step back and support in a role I take so seriously……mentor.
I have had many a standing ovation in my life . . . much applause and many admirers. Nothing in my life has come close to the way I feel when seeing the progress of each of my students and being allowed to help in their journey. I take very seriously the role of mentor and with that responsibility I so humbly accept to always grow and feed those whom want to learn.
I look forward to the next Solo Show and Level 4 exam scheduled for December 09. I can definitely predict more tears of joy.
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