1. Why did you start Raqs Sharqi?
Hummmm why I start to Raqs Sharqi. I think it is my destiny. When I was 10
years old, I had been to Saudi Arabia. I am a Turkish and since I was born I use to listen and dance with oriental sound which is in very rich in Turkish culture. After I had been to Saudi Arabia, I fall in love completely Arabic sounds.
In Saudi Arabia, there is no belly dance or belly dancers. They have their own dance style and music. I falled in love deeply oriental sound during I stayed in Saudi Arabia. When I went back to Turkey, I brought lots of video tapes and started to study Raqs Sharqi with these videos. Turkish people always love to dance at a wedding party and a festival. It was good exercise and experience for me.
When I was 17, I had a chance to perform in public. It was my first professional performance. I felt stress because it was a big party, but I did it. I stayed on a stage more than 45minutes. I felt this is the place for me when I danced on a stage. I did not stop learning Raqs Sharqi.
I found Nesrin Topkapi. She is the Queen of Turkish belly dance. She is a legend in Turkey !!! I have had great chance to learn Raqs Sharqi with her. Moreover, I could keep learning from other great teachers.
I have 18 years dancing career. Dancing is my life. Why I started Raqs Sharqi? The answer is that Raqs Sharqi gave me a chance to enjoy the moment and I just started. I can not stop learning, because there is a lot of things to discover in belly dancing world.
2. What is the most important thing to do when we dance in public?
The mos important thing is "connect with your audience!"
If you are perfect with your music, costume, and presentation, the performance will be OK at the beginning.
First of all, you must respect yourself and your audience with your costume and your music which you chose and express yourself correctly.
"Simple is the best”
Don’t forget that every your audience is not expert.
Keep your dancing movements simple and clear. You arms and hands must be elegant, and you have to keep a beautiful posture. Never look down to the floor. Always keep looking to your audience.
"Smile is very important!"
You should connect with your audience with your natural smile.
Nobody enjoy watching dancers without smile.
3. Could you tell about your Raqs Sharqi style?
My style is more multi-cultural. Moreover, I want to add some fusion elements or gypsy stuffs, because I believe these things will make my dance style more rich.
My Raqs Sharqi style is mix of Turkish style belly dance and Egyptian modern style, because I am a Turkish and Turkish style is in my blood.
Of course, I have big respect to dancers who prefer one style.
I prefer my modern style and mix of Turkish style, Egyptian style, Gypsy style, and some fusion elements.
4. Could you tell about the relationship between Raqs Sharqi and your background?
I think everybody has one own color. but I want to be more colorful to keep learning.
You can chose staying in one color. You can go to adventure to add more different colors on your current Raqs Sharqi style. I prefer learning different styles, and I believe these experiences will make my dance more rich.
I’m Turkish. You can hear oriental music at a festival and a wedding party. Raqs Sharqi is in our blood. We have really mix and rich culture. So I was born and grown up in this mix culture. I think Raqs Sharqi is heritage for me from my culture.
5.Could you give some advices or comments for Raqs Sharqi dancers?
5.Could you give some advices or comments for Raqs Sharqi dancers?
*Respect to yourself, to your dance, to your audience
My ideal Turkish dancer is Nesrin Topkapi. She is a dancer and a teacher like everybody have to be. Her respect to her professional, herself, and her students is wonderful. You can feel her respect directly when she dance or teach. Every one will fall in love with her dance, because you feel her elegance, her beautiful movements, and her charisma. Unfortunately, younger generation dancers might lose these parts.
* Never stop learning! There are always new things to learn.
*Accept Raqs Sharqi is Art !! You can show your emotional feelings with Raqs Sharqi, but don’t make it in vulgar way.
* If you really love Raqs Sharqi and want to be a dancer, you should overcome all difficulties.
*You don’t have to love everybody or every dancers, but you should respect each other, because you will never know who will be co star in the future.
*Never think “You are the best!”, because its not true. Everybody has a different style, taste, and color.
6. Who is your ideal dancer? Why do you like the dancer?
My another idol is Aziza from Canada. She is a beautiful dancer and a teacher. I do not need to explain much about her. If you watch her videos, her dancing will show you what I mean.
7. What is your future plan with Raqs Sharqi?
Try to improve this dance as an art form. I have traveled around the world, but I will travel more and more to see dancers who have same passion with Raqs Sharqi.
*Choose right songs for you. You have to feel good with the songs which you choose for your dancing!
*Don’t forget to smile, keep good posture when you create your choreography.
For example, if you are a tribal or a fusion dancer, you don’t choose Egyptian classic music, because it will not fit your dance style.
*Listen your song 50 times or even 100 times, because the song will tell you what you have to do with the music. Moreover, listen the song in different places (in dance studio, in your car etc.) and you will hear and recognize different details of music each time.
*Be make sure what you want.
*Make sure that your choreography is for solo, group, or duet.
*OPEN YOUR MIND !!! you have a potential and possibility more than you think. Don’t block yourself.
9. How and/or with whom do you train?
I’m teaching everyday minimum 3-4 hours at weekly classes. I’m travelling around the world for giving workshops in the weekend. These are part of my training. When I have to create new choreography, I train 5-6 hours everyday.Serkan Tutar teaches the detail meaning of Raqs Sharqi
First of all, Raqs Sharqi is a general name. Raqs means "dance", and Sharqi means “middle eastern”. So, Raqs Sharqi is “dance of middle eastern”. The middle eastern includes these area from Morocco, Tunusia, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, India, China , and Japan. There was a silk road in old time. All those countries had connection with their culture, dance, and music.
Raqs Sharqi is a general name like Oriental Dance. French people say “Dance de ventre" which means Belly Dance. “Dance de ventre" includes those kinds of dances who are Indian dance, Turkish dance, Moroccan dance, Gypsy style, and Thai dance.
“Dance de ventre" becomes more popular with Egyptian style or Lebanese style. Both styles are called Raqs Sharqi.
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