Alay'nya - Founder and Artistic Director of Troupe Seraband
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Alay'nya,
Founder and Chief Instructor for the Alay'nya Studio and Artistic
Director of Troupe Seraband, performs extensively throughout the
NoVA area. She recently premiered "Phoenix," a dance with multiple
veils.
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Alay'nya's performances emphasize the nearly lost arts of zils, veil, and floorwork.
Alay'nya is currently teaching in McLean, VA.
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For who we are, and why we're doing what we're doing, read
"The Grail King Serves the Holy Grail"
(Alay'nya's October 2008 Letter)
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November, 2008
-- Financial Security - "No Matter What the Market is Doing!"
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October, 2008
-- "The Grail King Serves the Holy Grail"
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October, 2007
-- A Pre-Planning "Holiday Survival Guide"
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September, 2007
-- Radical, Out-There, Edgy Suggestion -- "Practice Entertainment
Austerity"
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July, 2007
- "Create Tranquility via Organizing Your Life"
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March, 2007
- "Core Conditioning"
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February, 2007
- "Energy Shift -- the New Year"
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January, 2007
- "Moving Inwards"
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December, 2006
- "Transitioning"
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We love to read. And watch movies. Sometimes, what we
like the most isn't always what others say is good for us:
This Month's Most-Recommended Fav Read:
Jackie O did it in the White House! |
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Who'd have thought it? Jackie O., back when she was Jackie K.,
doing shimmies in the White House! (Could not begin to
imagine Barbara following suit.)
What
Would Jackie Do
Book nominated by
Alay'nya.
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If you have a fav read, send a copy
to Alay'nya -- or even write a review yourself! (Note though -- I have to read it myself and agree in
order to publish your review here.)
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Miss Kitty has her own collection of "banned books," visit
Miss Kitty
to learn about her fav reads.
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Our own "banned books" listing
will be coming up soon.
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Community networking and interaction: Do you have a skill or service
that you want to share?
- List yourself here! - must be a regular and active
member to post a listing
- Or list a friend's service, if you've had personal experience
in working with them - you must also be active to do this.
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It all started when, once upon a time, Alay'nya simply had too many cats.
Someone in her family suggested that she answer the phone "Alay'nya's
belly dance school and cat house." The idea, regrettably, stuck.
But perhaps not a regret. There is a long-standing association between
belly dancers and cats. Something about their grace, their sensuality,
their self-possession.
Alay'nya with Miss Kitty, Unofficial Mascot of Troupe Seraband
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There are drug addicts, and there
are Dior addicts. Miss Kitty is a confirmed tuna addict. Her motto
for life is "More." "More NOW."
Actually, we can all learn something from this.
Miss Kitty has the right idea.
More is always better. And she'll be happy to tell you how to
get "more." Think of this as your divine birthright,
and email: misskitty@alaynya.com
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- "Kitty of the Month," coming soon
- Other regular "kitty" members appearing
soon on a regular basis
- Look for advice from Miss Kitty!
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E-mail:
- alaynya@alaynya.com
- nancy_alaynyastudio@yahoo.com
Phone:
- Sorry - we're just never home. Please try email.
Mailing Address:
- P.O. Box 943, McLean, VA 22101
Costumes and Customs are on their own page -
we're accepting recommendations from active members - feel free to pass on any
good links, sources, and ideas!
"How to make a circle skirt" - yardage and directions -- has its very own page.
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About the "regulars" - and some of our more interesting people!
Maha Najeeb
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Maha Najeeb, aka "Miss Wabbit,"
Senior Soloist and Founding Member of Troupe Seraband,
performs extensively throughout the NoVA area. "I'm not really
bad," she says, "I'm just photo'd that way!"
Visit Maha at her
website
to learn more about Maha, her art, her dance, and her rabbit.
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(Photo Credit: Lisa Whalen, used with permission. CLICK
FOR LARGER IMAGE) |
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With luck, fortune, and the grace of the Goddess, an ongoing series
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First Year ("Level 1") Studies
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March
- "The Season of the Diva"
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April
- "Deep Cleaning Our Lives"
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May
- "Good Orderly Direction"
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June
- "Diva Consciousness"
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July
- "Creating Personal Style"
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September
- "Fantasy Requires Determination"
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November
- "Gathering In"
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December
- "Contraction is as Important as Expansion"
Second Year ("Level 2") Studies
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January
- "Coming Through Our Dark Side"
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June
- "Journal of a Fast"
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July
- "He's Doing the Best He Can"
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December
- "Transitioning to Level Three"
Level 3 Studies
A Little Bit About These "Levels" ...
Levels give us clarity about our use of dance as a personal path,
as part of our inner evolution. The understanding of these Levels
draws from our esoteric Western tradition. Because this approach is a
combined body/energy/psyche pathway, the practices supporting our evolution
from one Level to another draw from Chinese Taoist energy practices
and yoga, as well as traditional women's multicultural dance.
At each Level, we deal with a different aspect of energy work, forming
the foundation for our "esoteric dance practice."
Level 1
- "Grounding"
Level 2
- "Releasing Resistance"
Level 3
- "Building, Circulating, and Directing Internal Energy (Ching)"
Level 4
- "Cosmic Dancing: Creating through Intention"
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People, places, things ... and sometimes, just friends ... (and Studio
members - feel free to recommend your favs!)
Helpful People
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Our personal fave for hair in the McLean area is
Nadar Rafigh's
Figuroe's Hair Salon
right here in downtown McLean.
Alay'nya and some of her
McLean-resident students have been seeing him for years, with ultra-happy results!
Educational Links
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Shira
has a wonderful site full of all sorts of
factual, educational, and cultural articles that
she has written. I recommend taking the time to peruse this site often;
there is more than is easy to read at virst visit. Well worth your time!
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A beautiful site with lots of links on
Egyptian Belly Dance
- worth the visit, for artistic quality and more!
Fashionistas
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Check out
Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring Fashions
to see his skirts modeled on both
Turkish gypsy ("Rom") as well as
classic belly dance skirts.
Those of us who've loved these looks for years are style setters this spring!
Friends
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If you're visiting New York soon,
Stella
has a wonderful site all about
belly dance in New York City that
she keeps up-to-date. It includes links to the NYC teachers, belly dance events,
good shopping sources, and even to page for belly dancers and their cats!
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Fun Things to Do - Around and About the Metro DC Area
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Hot in the City: "DCist"
the best DC blog
has tidbits of political and cultural events around the town.
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The Best of DC: "The
Washingtonian"
publishes a select guide to the best
theater, music, dance, art, and special events
that the city has to offer.
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The "Town and Country" approach to DC: "Washington
Life"
for DC "high society."
You'll need to sign up for access to their site.
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The "dinner party" way to meet new people: "DC
Dinner in the City"
carefully arranges "dinners out"
(and other lovely events) carefully orchestrated
to help you mix and mingle.
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For more: Washington DC
Mettro Area Resources
contains links to all sorts of cultural,
artistic, and just plain fun opportunities right
here in town.
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"I always have a book [in progress]," says Karl Pribram, Professor
Emeritus at Stanford University and currently with the Georgetown University.
So do we - but we're not as prolific, nor as dutiful in getting them published.
Here - as there is time to do the posting - will be some excerpts from
the one[s] in progress.
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... for some of the more outrageous goings-on. And those who are likely
to be involved.
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Tiraz Dance Network
is a Northern Virginia Mid-Eastern Dance affiliation group
sponsoring and supporting educational and community events; good listing of area workshops and events!
"WAMEDA"
is a labor of love from leading area dancers and dance aficionados;
best guide to DC-area Mediterranean, Mid-Eastern, North African, and Central European dance events --
sponsors events, workshops, and maintains a good area events calendar and teacher's directory!
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