Belly dancing as art

BELLYDANCE SUPERSTARS
8 tonight
Beckman Auditorium
Caltech
322 S. Michigan Ave.
Pasadena
$20-$30 adults and $10 children
(626) 395-4652 www.events.caltech.edu, www.bellydancesuperstars.com

Chiffon veils and costumes lush with coins and jewels are what usually comes to mind when you think of belly dancing. Some may also think of Barbara Eden in television's "I Dream of Jeanie" or perhaps women shimmying in a Middle Eastern restaurant, but the centuries-old art is much deeper.

"I think that one of my personal missions is not only to entertain people with the shows, but also to educate people about this art form," said Jillina, artistic director and main choreographer for Bellydance Superstars. "There's a lot of misconceptions about it and it's really a beautiful, respectable art form."

Pop music promoter Miles Copeland sponsors the show, which will unfold tonight at Caltech. Copeland originally contacted belly dance teachers and dancers across the United States, asking them for their favorite songs. He whittled down the selections and put out the CD, "Bellydance Superstars" (Mondo Melodia), in 2002. The record release party, complete with dancers performing, sold out the Roxy in Hollywood. This led to a stint with Lalapalooza and other tours followed. Today, the group has found itself performing on the same stages as prestigious ballet companies.

Jillina, who goes by a single name, said she thinks the interest in the troupe's shows is connected with the public's curiosity and interest in the Middle East, especially in this time of war.

"Most of what we see that comes from the Middle East is a very negative image," she said. "I think what's important and interesting for people is to come and see the beautiful side of the culture, the music and the art and another side of the Middle East."

In the beginning, the troupe's dancers were selected by Copeland, who didn't know about their training. Now auditions are held and those who pass second and third tryouts attend an intense weekend with Jillina, during which they are taught a massive selection of choreography.

"It's to see not just how fast they can pick up the choreography or what their training background is, but also to get a feel for their energy, their attitude," Jillina said.

She said she pushes the dancers past their limits, knowing that they won't be able to remember all the choreography. She watches for women who try their best and keep a good attitude. Most importantly, as most belly dancers perform alone, they have to be able to work as team, where they may not be the lead dancer or even a soloist.

The dancers must also be able to adapt to change, as on tour, the stages can be different at every stop and the choreography must be reworked accordingly at the last minute.

The current Bellydance Superstars lineup includes Jillina, as well as Sonia, Rachel Brice, Adore, Petite Jamilla, Sabah, Zoe Jakes, Mardi Love, Jayna, Kami Liddle, Hannah Nour, Colleen, Nathalie and drummer Issam Houshan.

Caltech's show will feature a variety of belly dance styles.

"Belly dance comes from so many different places, there's so many different types of music used in this art form, the costuming, stylization," Jillina said. "We also have some fusion pieces, pieces that are not just belly dance, so we branch out. Expect the unexpected."

Jillina concentrates on the cabaret numbers. Cabaret is the style of belly dance that you will often see in restaurants, where the performers wear jeweled and beaded costumes.

The tribal pieces are choreographed by Rachel Brice and Mardi Love. Tribal style originated in California and the dancers have more of an ethnic look, with costumes often boasting many intricate pieces and trims over a black base.

Jillina also oversees the costuming for the cabaret and troupe selections.

"Sometimes I buy fabric and I'll send it to Egypt to have it made or I'll contact my designer there and have them ship me out something," she said. "I'm pretty particular about what I want, the look, so sometimes I'll send him a sample of what I want or a sketch and cross my fingers and hope it comes back close to what I want."

"The tribal girls, they put all their stuff together themselves," she said. "That's part of what they do, the individual costuming, which is great because it adds so much texture to the show, to the look, to their dance."

Bellydance Superstars are on a tour of the U.S. and Canada, and after that, plan to travel to Italy to make a film. They have scheduled a performance in Casablanca, Morocco, which will be the first time the group performs in the Middle East. The group also hopes to make a stop in Dubai.

"I'm personally excited about it because I come from an Egyptian background and I've been to Egypt so many times," Jillina said. "The music, the culture and the style is all very close to my heart, so I can't wait to show what we've done with their art form, kind of bringing it back to them."

michelle.mills@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2128