All About Assiut:
Digital Slide Talk

I am thrilled to be presenting my slide talk, All About Assiut, as part of the Beyond Bellydance 5.0 lecture series hosted by SAMAI ORIENTAL DANCE COMPANY of India.  Some of my favorite authors, researchers, scholars, and dance instructors are presenting their research and technique in this digital workshop series.  This is one of my favorite subjects, and I’ve been working on updating and expanding the slide deck for this presentation. 

All About Assiut

I’m presenting my talk, “All About Assiut” revised and expanded for 2021. This is a slide-history talk that will trace the evolution of fabric we call by many names, Tulle bi Telli, Al-Tally, and Assiut. Learn where it came from, the technology behind the materials and structure, and how it has been used in Egyptian culture for the past 150 years.

All About Assiut: Revised and Expanded

Over the past fifteen years, I’ve been presenting this talk at belly dance workshops up and down the US West Coast and internationally in digital form via Zoom.  If you’ve attended this talk, there are dozens of new photos in this expanded edition that reflect my current research and what’s happening in the world of assiut production today.

Since publishing The Cloth of Egypt: All About Assiut, I’ve continued my research. As I’ve teased information out of the archive I have updated and revised this talk. This slide talk has dozens of images that I’ve uncovered since publishing this seminal textile history book.  The result? This 90-minute talk is not only informative, but lavishly illustrated, and beautiful to watch.

Cloth of Egypt

If you haven’t picked up a copy of my book, The Cloth of Egypt is available on Amazon.com worldwide.  Alisha Westerfeld and I are currently working on the next volume in our Assiut series.  Our current working title is Assiut Belly Dance Costume in Detail.  This upcoming book focuses on the process of designing and making belly dance performance attire from this wonderful Egyptian cloth. 

This book has it all!  It includes directions for classic robes to slinky modern dresses, bedlah sets, skirts, pants, and accessories. This new book is jam-packed with design strategies and professional sewing techniques.  Photographer Alisha Westerfeld is joining me again. We are working together taking before and after, and step-by-step photos of work in progress. Be sure to join my mailing list to get monthly updates on this new book project.

Perhaps you can join me for All About Assiut on Dec. 11?

Happy Holidays to you and yours,
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Nov. 29, 2021

 

 

 

Mahin of Belly Dance Quickies Presents:

Belly Dance Lecture Replay Sale

Sale runs – November 7th – 29th, 2021
18 Titles to Choose From
Price Varies with Title and Presenter
visit the Belly Dance Quickies Website
For a complete list of workshops included in this sale!

It’s such a pleasure and delight to tell you all about this wonderful opportunity to pick up high-quality lecture replays from Mahin’s ongoing belly dance lecture series.   She’s brought together a group of amazing researchers, scholars, and instructors working in the field of Middle Eastern belly dance!   

This year, she’s selected three of my talks to include in this sale!

• Belly Dance Showgirl: Nejla Ates
• Salomania: Fact & Fiction
• Dancer’s in Orientalist Art 

These are the original complete talks available for purchase for a limited time, but available to watch over the coming months.  After the 29th, Mahin will put these lectures back in the Lecture Vault.  Read more about Nejla, Salomania, and Orientalist Art. 

My Choice Lecture Replay Sale Picks

It’s so hard to pick a favorite out of this selection, but a few that I found outstanding and highly informative include:

• Artemis – “Knowing Your Roots” 2-part lecture series
• Ainsley Hawthorn – “Talking Belly Dance”
• Mahin – “Practical Anatomy & Body Mechanics for Bellydance”
• ANYTHING by Dr. George Sawa

Lecture Replay Sale “Taster”

I’m taking advantage of this sale to rewatch a few of the lectures I attended and enjoyed!  If you are thinking of picking up a lecture, but have never heard of some of these speakers before, Mahin has put a clip reel together to give you a taster of the presentation style of each lecturer included in the sale.

This is like having an opportunity to build your own personalized “belly dance intensive” – so why not use this replay opportunity to fill your “knowledge bucket” up!

Drop me a line via email if you take any of my workshops and have questions about the material. 
~ Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Nov. 7, 2021

 

Fabulous Fall
Belly Dance
Festival 2021
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021
1 pm – 6:30pm
Visit their Website

Many years ago, I was one of the officers of the SF/Bay Area chapter of MECDA, the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association based out of Los Angeles, CA.  In the decade that I was on the board of directors, I held a variety of positions from secretary to president, but never treasurer!   (My co-author & photographer Alisha Westerfeld aka Zemira was always the best treasurer.)  

Fabulous Fall Festival Founder

The Fabulous Fall Belly Dance Festival is one of the legacies of my time with that organization!   When MECDA disbanded, a new group, The Bay Area Belly Dance & Music Association formed to step into the void.  One of the MECDA events the new group decided to keep was the Fabulous Fall Festival!   It’s very cool to be one of the founders of an event that is still happening!

Studio Davina – Return to Vending

This Saturday, the Fabulous Fall Belly Dance Festival returns after the hiatus of 2020.  This is one of the biggest belly dance events held in the Silicon Valley area of California.  It was the last event I did in 2019, and my return to vending in 2021!   My mission is to go and have a really good time watching some of the top dancers in the Bay Area take the stage.  To see the lineup click on the flyer to visit the site and see the final line-up.

Saroyan Vintage Coin Earrings

This week, I’m making another small batch of handcrafted earrings.  I still can’t believe that I put up the first batch of Saroyan Vintage Assiut Earrings onto my Etsy store on a Friday, and by Sunday evening they were sold out!   I’ve never had such support for a jewelry collection before!  This week’s batch will first go to the event, and, if any are leftover, will get uploaded to Etsy.

Assiut Masks

Here in the Bay Area, mask-wearing is considered a vital part of a healthy daily life.  I’ve had many requests for more assiut masks, and so this week, I’ll be finishing up a small batch of assiut masks as well.  The style has changed a bit since my big push to use up my scraps in 2021.  The scraps have gotten, well, smaller, so the masks are a bit more narrow from side to side, making them lighter weight and cooler to wear.  In addition, they also have more seams, as I piece them together to maximize the metal embroidery.   If there are some left after the show, they will join the earrings on Etsy.

I’ve got a lot of things to make to take to the show – I better get working! 

See ya Saturday at the Fall Festival!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Nov. 1, 2021

 

Final Hours – Bellydance Bundle 2021

Whew – the last month has been so exciting!   If you follow me on social media, you’ve probably heard me spend a lot of time talking about my contribution to the Bellydance Bundle 2021.  My talk, “Danse du Ventre: 1889,” will be available exclusively to Bellydance Bundle attendees from its debut on Nov. 15 of 2021 through October of 2022.  That’s an entire year to watch or even rewatch this 4-part video series.  

55 Instructors in this year’s Bellydance Bundle

I must admit, I’m a bit starstruck by this year’s lineup.  It’s always fun to be invited to give a talk at a workshop, but it’s a major thrill to be invited back for the 5th year of the Bellydance Bundle.  My talk is snugged into the Bundle right beside legends I’ve studied with such as Jillina, Aziza, Sadie, Oreet, and Rosa Noreen. 

66+ Workshops in this year’s Bellydance Bundle

I’m also thrilled to join many of my colleagues in dance, who I’ve collaborated on in other projects.  Such as my co-author Sara Shrapnell, the phenomenal Mahin of Phoenix who’s hosted me for many workshops, and Lisa Alred who was one of the co-owners of the Bellydance Business Academy. 

Yallah Raqs Bellydance Practice Podcast

My favorite and most useful freebie is the Yallah Raqs Bellydance Practice Podcast.  Hostess Tiffany Noro interviews all the Bundle 2021 instructors.  There is also a backlog of over 80 episodes (including a few with me) if you’re a podcast listener.  Visit the Main Podcast Page – or start with one of my recent favorites:

• Ebony Qualls – Combo Creation
• Nawarra of Morocco – Dances of Morocco
• Jillina – Learning through Combos
• Sadie – Stage Presence

For a few more of my favorite Yallah Raqs Episodes,
click through and read this blog post.

Interview with Sara Shrapnell

The Bellydance Bundle 2021 is THIS BIG!  Wanna know more about the bundle?  Check out this video I did with Sara Shrapnell over on YouTube.  Always be sure to like and leave a comment to help our videos score higher in the algorithm.  For this video, the secret phrase is “Eiffel Tower,” so if you want to click through to watch on YouTube, be sure to mention the tower in your comments!   It lets me know that you followed this link to our fun and informative talk!

Maybe I’ll see you come through my workshop?
It debuts on Nov. 15, so pick up your Bundle today and join me on the 15th!  

Dawn Devine ~ Davina
October 27, 2021

 

Saroyan Coin Earrings

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Saroyan Mastercrafts founded by legendary zill-smith Harry Saroyan.  Based in a suburb of LA, Harry ran his boutique metal manufacturing company for four decades.  He handcrafted some of the most outstanding finger cymbals ever made in the history of belly dance.  Harry opened his business in 1971 just as interest in belly dance was exploding in US pop culture.  As a savvy businessman, Harry expanded his line to include other metal products to satisfy the growing demand for belly dance products.  He added exquisite dance swords with legendary perfect balance and a collection of musical costume coins.

Wear A Piece of Belly Dance History

Unfortunately, Saroyan’s costuming coins went out of production many years ago. These vintage coins are becoming increasingly rare and difficult to source.  I’m sitting on a small pile of new, reclaimed, and up-cycled coins.  I’m using these vintage coins to make small batches of affordable costume earrings. Great to wear for practice, performance, your next zoom meeting, or just because they are fun!   

First Batch of Saroyan Coin Earrings
will be available on the Studio Davina Etsy shop
on Saturday, October 28, 2021

The holidays are coming up! 
This is the 50th anniversary of this company.   
The time is right to wear a piece of belly dance history.

Vintage Saroyan Coin Earrings

Harry created these original designs and made custom tools and dyes to manufacture his exclusive coins. He sourced and selected high copper-content metals to produce a musical jingle. Consequently, when these coins touch they produce a sparkling ringing tone.  These stamped and pressed coins are much lighter in weight than they look, making them quite comfortable to wear.

I’ve paired these coins with semi-precious stones of garnet, onyx, tiger eye, and some crystal AB.  The ear wires are surgical steel.  I’m handcrafting these in earrings in small batches and plan on preparing a second “drop” of styles after I replenish my supplies of ear wires!  Supplies are very limited.  These earrings will be available exclusively through my Etsy store.  Due to international shipping restrictions, they will, unfortunately, only be available to folks in the US. 

Learn More About Saroyan Mastercrafts

A few years ago, I had the glorious opportunity to visit the Saroyan factory just outside of Los Angeles.  In 2016, I was finishing up the research for my book, “Zills: Music On Your Fingertips” and this trip provided crucial information on the manufacture of the highest quality musician-grade finger cymbals!   

Check out the video below to meet the team and learn more about Saroyan in this informative interview with Sahira of Texas.

Thank you!
I appreciate your supporting my creative work and research!

Happy Fall!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Oct. 21, 2021