INTERVIEW with ZAHARA

I am from Brazil. My backgrounds are in Jazz, Ballet, and some Brazilians styles: Samba, Capoeira, Axe which is a mix some African influences and brazilian moves together. After that some folkloric and Modern.
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I heard about the benefits that Belly Dance can bring to women's bodies. I decided to give it a try and I felt relaxed and happy afterwards. Then I found some muscles I didn't know that I had. Also the sexuality, which is a very important part of the dance, makes you feel beautiful. I fell in love with this amazing dance art form.
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Leea Aziz, Suhaila Salimpour, Najia Marliz, Yosifah Rose and Amina. Plus I attended a lot of workshops with wonderful masters and many famous Egyptian Dancers, including Nagwa Fouad, Tahia Carioca, Fifi Abdo and many more.
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I prepare myself by just picking songs that make me feel good and makes me feel dancing from my heart. I don't care wich step I am going to do next. I don't choreograph. I listen to the music and dance. The steps that I like most come to my mind naturaly. I like live music much more than CD's. I wish I had a band that followed me wherever I go.
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BEING ALIVE. Having two legs, two arms and all the other parts, plus a healthy body. Food on the table, a place to sleep, work and excitement for what is caming next!! That's what inspires me to never stop dannnnnnnnncinnnnnnnnng!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Lately I like Bahia, Leila Hob (live) and TamerHenna.
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It is hard to explain, but let's say that you face foward and you lift your leg, knees bend 90 degrees and you lean your upper body side to side, letting your head go, and your arms flow like you are swimming. I hope that makes sense.
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I take class once or twice a week. I eat healthy and exercise especially to make my thighs stronger to keep from injuring my knees, and I work on my breathing.
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Well, I have many, but the weirdest,I should say, disrespecful one was when the owner of a restaurant told me if I wanted to get some rest betwen shows he had a chair in the bathroom. It was not even a big bathroom with separated doors. It was a small one for all of the costumers. Isn't that weird? He also asked me out ... like a date you know. I sadi no and he started to act weird again. He started putting my songs very low so that nobody could hear it. It was terrible. I felt really bad.

At another restaurant, this weird guy w/ the weirdest voice called the restaurant and asked to talk to the belly dancer. He asked me some normal questions about the dance,make up, and teaching, but the weirdest part was when he said he was at the other side of the street and he wanted to come in. But, he said he was shy and wearing a shirt that was too small and he didn't know if was ok to come in. I got scared because I was done with my shows, it was late, and I was ready to go home. So, I told him to come back another day.
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I can say that I am a very happy person most of the time, which doesn't mean I don't have problems. When I was younge, people used to ask me if I was drunk or used drugs. No, not at all. That's just how I am!! So every time I dance, if the place has a good energy, and I feel I did good, and people come to me and tell me how much they like waching me, I feel happy and proud of myself.

Thank you very much Shab, I should also include that your contest really, really had a such good energy. The audience ... OHH MY GOD!!! they were the best one I ever had. They were clapping, screaaaaaming and having so much fun that, even though I was very nervous before I went on, the energy of your audience made me feel so goooood!!!! ... relaxed and happy that I felt very, very PROUD of myself. THANK YOU!!!!
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