The royal Juice or the Mona Said Workshop.

Mona el Said Workshop at SALAMAT MASR FESTIVAL is a subject prone to critics as well as learning curves. 
I love being a student and will gladly show my own ignorance if that means learning, developing my skills and knowledge of Oriental Dance or any other subject of my interest.
This time, I will leave the critics behind and focus on the GOODIES. 


Like it or not, Mona El Said is an icon of Oriental Dance due to the career she built for herself. What could we gain from it, yesterday afternoon?! 
Well, maybe a lot. Maybe nothing. It depends on what you´re searching for, how much beauty your eyes are able to see in the world (even beneath the superficial crap) and how wide your horizons are.


Here´s a short list of items I brought in my bag from Mona el Said workshop:


1. Teaching is a work of LOVE. If you don´t LOVE teaching ALL that you know, then DON´T DO IT. The lack of love for this work shows itself off like ugly frogs in a clear water pond. If you LOVE teaching, then do it ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the way. Do not keep information for yourself in fear that other dancers will be greater than you. Even if you share EVERYTHING you know, NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR PLACE. Each person&artist is UNIQUE and copies are always second best to ORIGINALS.


2. The Magic* of the Dance does not reside in the fancy movements, cloths, hairdo, make-up but in the SOUL you offer while you move.


3. What fills each movement and step is your own INNER LIFE. I call it "the juice". Tasteless food -no salt, no spices, no Love - is like tasteless dance where all movements are empty of emotion, intention, life ´s experience, memories, fantasies, dreams, whatever makes you an interesting PERSON. 
An orgasm without LOVE, that is a good dance performance. An orgasm WITH Love, that is an AUTHENTIC heartfelt dance performance. 


4. Let your body talk by itself, not imposing movements and techniques you find fancy and impressing. There is a POWER - BIG one! - on the spontaneity of a BODY that is connected with its soul. When both are allowed to talk freely, a personal and brand new language is born and the DANCER becomes an ARTIST. Impossible to copy, impossible to ignore. 


5.Appreciate your audiences&students as they are the main reason for all that you do and the pillars of your work, in case you´re a professional Dancer&Teacher&Choreographer. Thanking people for their attention, appreciation and respect is a BASIC MUST that should never be forgotten. 


6. Don´t be afraid to show off your vulnerabilities. You can rather use them in favor of your Art as well as a self-healing tool. Subtle, alchemic, beautiful. Like YOURSELF.


7. Open your eyes and LEARN from EVERYTHING. The good and the bad.