Jackie, Miles and Jillina watch and evaluate

Inside the Bellydance Superstars Final Auditions
by Michelle Joyce

Michelle swinging poi

No one knew exactly what he was looking for, so everyone was second-guessing her own choice of music, costume, and choreography. The only thing we had to go on was an email from Mile’s office that said:

“You will need to prepare a three to four-minute piece, bring your own music, and come in costume. Remember to choose something that BEST showcases your talent. Anything that sets you apart from the other girls is always good!”

Miles looks up to Stevie on Stilts

Women came from as far as Australia and Japan just for those precious three or four minutes. And they were NERVOUS! Regular competitions are nerve wracking enough, but dancing for Miles and Jillina, as they wrote on their clip-boards, was the worst. Many of us agreed that we would be more relaxed if we were performing at the half time show of the Super Bowl.

The dancers themselves were all extremely nice people. There was no attitude and everyone applauded enthusiastically for their competitors. A wide range of styles were performed, including samba/bellydance fusion, fan dancing, poi dancing, and one woman even bellydanced on stilts (to which Miles commented that he “looks up to bellydancers”).

At the end, about a dozen of us were invited to a 4-day intensive workshop with Jillina in June. There, we will learn choreography and final cuts will be made. Those who are selected will create a second group of Superstars to perform domestically while the others are in Europe.

So, love them or hate them, it is clear that there will be at least twice as many Bellydance Superstars this time next year.

“What have I got to lose?”
by Zaheea
That is what I told myself as I headed down to L.A. for the two-day Bellydance Superstars audition. With the encouragement of friends and family, I got up the nerve to try out. This chance could not have come at a better time too. With college graduation just behind me, my supportive husband beside me, and my future open in front of me, nothing was holding me back from committing myself to whatever being on tour would entail.

Nothing could prepare me for the experience of the auditions, however.

The first day was the preliminaries, located in a freezing cold dance studio in North Hollywood. Close to 80 women and 2 men showed up shivering in their dance finery, ready to do whatever it took to get noticed. We had to learn and perform, in groups of 5 with everyone watching, a short piece of choreography that Jillina quickly taught us. We were packed in the room at least 8 or more deep and seeing what she was teaching was next to impossible. By the time I got to the front, she had moved on to a new section of the choreography. I hadn’t even gotten to learn the first part yet! It was at this moment that I was ready to back out. I didn’t want to continue. I was scared, nervous, cold, and had never tried to learn choreography like that in such a short time. I really felt that I was in over my head but I had already made the journey, so I forced myself to continue.

We didn’t just dance that first day though. Miles and Jillina also asked us what OTHER skills we have besides belly dancing. Did I miss the memo? The audition announcement did say, “Be sure to note any particular abilities you may have that could be incorporated into the show.” .I didn’t understand then, like I do now, that they aren’t looking for just good dancers. They already HAVE good dancers. They want dancers who can do more—gymnasts, fire dancers, stilt walkers…

I won’t go on about the things that I can do as a bellydancer, but I will say that I can’t do a backflip and I’ve never attempted to eat fire.

Despite this apparent glitch in my talent profile, I made the first cut. Miles and Jillina pulled out approximately 30 women to continue on to the finals the next day. My new friends who didn’t get picked would say I was lucky, but with this new piece of understanding, I just didn’t feel “ready” for Saturday’s free-style audition. My confidence was rattled. I had 4 minutes to impress Miles and Jillina with no tricks up my sleeve, no fabulous sword dance prepared, no dizzying double veil, just me doing what I love to do …dance and entertain.

Some of the women who got chosen in the end were no surprise, amazing dancers that blew me away. Some of the women who didn’t get chosen were a surprise as well. It made me feel like shaking Miles and asking him “What DO you WANT?!” Not because I didn’t get chosen, but because it would have saved others and me a lot of time and money if the auditions would have read something like this:

Bellydance Superstars Audition: We are looking to add some exciting new elements to our already fabulous show. If you are a bellydancer that has a unique talent, we welcome you to audition with us. If your only talent is just being a great dancer, we already have enough of those. Thank you.

To be in a show like the Superstars, you must be an amazing dancer, have great stage presence, and a wonderful personality that shines through while you are dancing. After seeing the show Saturday night in LA, I realized that even gimmicks can’t save a dancer from looking out of place if s/he doesn’t possess all of these Superstar qualities. Auditioning for the Bellydance Superstars was a great experience, though one I don’t plan to repeat. I’ve learned a lot through this process and am grateful to have met many wonderful people. But I must say that I’ve very curious what directions the show might be heading in.

Photos
by Lynette

#1 Andrea is from New York City. Andrea danced and then when asked, sang Batwanis Beek unaccompanied except by intermittent hand clapping. She is a Greek 19 year old character! She took her beginning classes from Serena, but learned to dance mostly from Arabic videos. SELECTED   #2 Shabnam does a sword routine and is from Oakland, California

#3 Aksana is a Russian woman from Alaska.   #4 Michelle is from Oakland, California. She danced with poi. Poi are lighted balls on string that are swung in huge circles as one dances. SELECTED

aw! more lights turned on! #5 Medina is from Tampa, Florida Her dance was very feminine and musical.   #6 Nanci Traynor traveled all the way from China to perform her Tribal style routine.

#7 Helen is from Australia. She later also danced a duet with Monica.   #8 Moria is from Atlanta, Georgia. When asked about her name she commented that her parents are hippies. SELECTED

#9 Margarita A Russian from Amsterdam, she didn't want to acknowledge her mentors, though admitted to some coaching from Yomina   #10 Hannah Nour is from New York CIty. SELECTED

#11 Farida is from Houston, Texas   #12 Zaina is from New York

#13 Silvia from Barcelona, Spain. She had a bight smile, and used frequent "gypsy" leaps & kicks.   #14 Tribal Trio Ayse of Thousand Oaks, Ca, SELECTED Katie of Ventura, CA, and SELECTED Crystal of Santa Cruz. This trio let the observers know that "We just met yesterday!"

#15 Oreet from New York City. She had good timing, style, and a lovely smile   #16 Monica is from Melbourne, Australia

#17 Halima of Netherlands Her mentors include Nuriyya and Hassam Khalil. After not being selected she gave Copeland a piece of her mind about his not appreciating Art.   #18 Angela from North Canton, Ohio

#19 Laura is from Uzbekistan now living in New York She switched accent from Uzzy to New York while introducing herself. She used wings and a fire colored veil. After her intro, Mile Copeland said, "These girls have to learn to promote themselves!" SELECTED #20 Safi of Tokyo, Japan. She was very shy while introducing herself.   #21 Nadira is from Seattle, WA

#22 Daisy of Orange County, CA SELECTED   #23 Rachel New Mexico One of the only dancers to use finger cymbals! She came out spinning and avoided eye contact. SELECTED

#24 Zaheea from Sacramento, CA   #25 Lauren of Boston, MA SELECTED

#26 Meiver of Boston, MA SELECTED   #27 Coco from Los Angeles

#28 Jayna Kauzouyan, from Los Angeles. Introduced herself confidently. She is MECDA president Marta Schill's daughter. SELECTED     #29 Stevie says she is from Kansas, though is part of Jillina's troupe (?). Came back later on stilts. SELECTED

#30 Shara of North Carolina   #31 Makayla is from Canada.

[last 2 photos sent in by Azziza. Thank you! -ed] #33 Cammi Vance NYC Danced Tribal style in Rachel Brice like gartered pants.

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