​My dance is inspired by Egypt, travel, the natural world and music
(to find out more click here JANE WASS)

​MAZAZIK DANCE

When people ask what my dance is, it's difficult to answer.

A word people always use is bellydance. But this is a term, coined by the west, which does no justice to the cultural backgrounds and variety of dances that are found in the Middle East and North Africa.

And most of what I do isn't bellydance but Baladi (which means in Arabic 'of my country'), the dance of the Egyptian people as opposed to the over-sexualised bellydance of the Cairo scene, or the western bellydance styles which often focus on costuming and mimic eastern dance with the western focus on pushing the body. Baladi dance has also now become more westernised, especially on social media, but I always aim to be sensitive to the values of the true Baladi culture which has given me so much joy.

I am not drawn to most of what I see in the cabaret bellydance world which in my opinion continues the sexual objectification of the female body. But I aim to express through dance who I am, as a modern woman in all my moods, and to give others the opportunity through Mazazik.

Although we are constantly under pressure to value ourselves through how we look, and many are drawn to the bellydance world because of the costuming, my aim is that through movement, self-awareness and developing creativity and musicality, we will all feel stronger both physically, mentally and emotionally. And happier and more fulfilled!

And to the word femininity - what is it? Is it just an aesthetic? A certain look, a way of dressing, and moving to bring attention to parts of the female body? Does applying that word to this dance also limit us? I think so.

I don't just want to teach you dance. I would like to ask how but also why we dance.

The good news, and what many don't know is that, when this dance is practiced with a combination of bodywork practices and discipline, it is probably one of the safest and accessible of all dance forms with its combination of earthy and natural movement.​​
And Mazazik Dance is the name of my teaching activities  It is a trademarked system of dance tuition based on 25 movement mantras, and 25 dance themes, which will give you:

​*a thorough grounding in technique
* a growing confidence to dance your own dance
* an abiity to focus on learning musical patterns
* an infinite creative approach to movement and your connection to it.

But Mazazik Dance is more than just dance classes.  It's an opportunity to socialise and to enjoy dance experiences both at home and abroad.

'The best workshop in my life ever was with you at camp doing beledi - still get the warm glows thinking of the magical time we all had'

' Without your fantastic teaching methods, encouragement and vision(s), I would not be the dancer I am'
     
' Thank you so much for the Egypt experience.  It was life changing'
​

​*NEWS*

*New* Beginners Zoom classes will start on Tuesday 18 January at 19.15.

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*VIEWS*

So this week in East Meets West, we talked about veil work.
This is a film I made with very basic veil movements during a dance trip to Turkey. It's a piece we work on in my From The Heart strand. And as well as the dance, in the film I wanted to give a feeling of the beautiful Grenadine Lodge in Turkey, and the area of Dalyan, where we were staying.
As I said, one thing you will never be led into doing in one of my sessions is what I call the yashmak move (half covering the face with veil) which I think should stay in the 1970s Frys Turkish Delight ad! I think most, if not all, of you agreed with me. Shows a lack of understanding of the word veil and the women who live veiled, I think in all our opinions, not just mine.

Buy your Zoom classes here

Mazazik Max (Tuesdays at 20.00) and Dance (Wednesdays at 11.30)

This week the elegance and confident presence of Vintage Vibes.
Weekly classes
 
Beginners Zoom (Tuesdays at 19.15)