- Princess Madiha: Messenger of the Dance
- How do you mentally prepare before a performance?
- What other preparations, other than thinking about the music, should a dancer make?
- Do you think it is bad to be overweight and dancing?
The Interview
Performance
How do you mentally prepare before a performance?
Don't ever think "I'm going to do the shimmy first, the spin second." Don't ever put it in sequence, because you don't know what is waiting for you on the stage. Put in your mind, "I will get up and walk around and meet people," Fast, of course because they won't be playing slow. Think, "I may do hip drop, or shimmy." In other words: dance by feelings, not like a robot. What does your body feel? Follow your body.
When I teach music, I repeat the song and I do it differently each time. My body does it differently. I react differently. That is why so many of my students have a hard time learning my style at first, because I always change. I don't want them to learn just one way to [dance to the music]. I want them to learn many ways. For each sentence of the music there are at least five different steps that could go. What you chose and how you change, shows if you have talent, and are not just [a] "monkey see, monkey do" [dancer].
What other preparations, other than thinking about the music, should a dancer make?
Make sure to have a really good shower! Make sure: you look clean, your costume is clean. Show what you are supposed to show for the dance itself, not sleazy. Sexy is good, but showing too much is not good. Wear stage make-up, you don't want to look like a housewife in the kitchen, you have to look different. Wear nice perfume that suits you; spray it on you right before you go on stage. Don't shake your chest in anybody's face; don't swing your hair on anybody. Be a respectable dancer out there: you are performing an art. Your smile should be like a baby's smile, innocent. I cannot stand somebody who makes faces when they dance to show they feel the music. You can feel it in your body, not in your face.
Do you think it is bad to be overweight and dancing?
No, I'm not saying it's bad. I am talking about my personal feelings. [regarding pulling beginner video off market due to her own weight]. I feel heavy and can't dance. I can't do the things I want to do. There are many dancers that are overweight and are beautiful dancers and can move beautifully and I love them.
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