Teaching – Officially Opened Jaida Dance studio and teach 4 days a week. The response has been overwhelming! Starting in July, Jaida Dance Studio will be hold classes 6 a week; both me and my students are really excited about that. I’ve met so many women and girls who have become enthralled with belly dancing it’s an overwhelming joy! Also, I’ve started teaching a teen class on wed and an Int/Adv class on Sunday. It’s all about being able to introduce and share my passion with others. The positive response is a dream come true.

Performing – Been doing lots of weddings as well as night clubs lately… Morrocan, Egyptian, all over the place!

Add some photos of nile and entourage..

I will be leaving for Egypt June 14th returning June 29th. I have the honor to be Invited to perform at the Nile festival in Egypt by my Teacher. Going to Egypt to dance and for 2 weeks and bring back all that I have learned to my students…Classes will continue in my absence. Please check the classes page for up to date information.

Lastly, I have a new favorite song…baed anek!! أم كلثوم بعيد عنك Om Kalthoum’s lovely song, Ba3eed 3annak (i.e., Being away from you….is torture !). The composer is Baleegh Hamdi, poet is Ma’moon Shinnawi. I won’t feel quite as deeply as this while I am away, but I will miss all my students!!!

Hope you like it. – George Wassouf a Syrian born Lebanese singer also has a version of this song which I have fallen in love with…check it out on itunes…

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Thanks to Ruhiaini for the following lyrics translation:

Beeid Annak by Om Kulthoum

I’ve forgotten what it’s like to sleep and dream
And can’t tell night from day
When you’re far away from me, my life is torture
With no companion but my tears
Longing for you has won the battle & test of endurance
Nights alone without you have burned out life’s candles
But no matter how sleepless & wasted I live without you
And no matter how arduous the nights become thinking of you
The fires of my love are dauntless and won’t ever be extinguished
Nor will the days I spend without you ever
Keep me away from loving you

Without sleep and no tears left
As I shed them all longing for you
My passion and the pain
And the fears and delusions
I fear for you but fear that you’ll forget me
And not having you with me keeps me awake without sleep
Oh the pain of missing you
Burns away nights’ candles
But no matter how sleepless I am longing for you
And no matter how not having you agonizes me
The fires of my love are dauntless and won’t be extinguished
Nor will the torture of missing you
Keep me away from loving you

Think of a precious moment of love we spent together
Remember a song that we listened to together
Take away all of my life
Except for the moments I spent with you
None of it counts or matters
But oh, what am I to do with the torture of missing you?
To heal it, I try to speak of to relieve the pain
And for another hour, I console myself for not having you
I have lost this battle of surviving being away from you
And night’s candles are burnt out thinking of you
But no matter how great the agony
My passion will always burn for you
And the torture of missing you
Won’t ever keep me away from wanting you