Author: Davina

Davina ~ Dawn Devine is a belly dance costume designer, dance instructor and author of more than a dozen publications on Middle Eastern dance.

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General

Assiut Masks? More Coming Soon!

Hello Gang!

Over the summer I spent two months making more than 350 assiut masks.  These were made from scraps, pieces, and partial panels leftover from past projects.  When I did the costume and clothing build for my book “Cloth of Egypt: All About Assiut,” I kept every little scrap, and I had a couple of bins filled with these parts and pieces.  At the time I figured I would transform these assiut scraps into costume accessories like hair flowers and headbands.

In the past four years, I’ve dipped into a bin here and there and made some pieces, but there was still quite a pile of scraps.  Fast forward to summer 2020 and a project was born!  Four bins of scraps became a huge pile of assiut masks!  I collected names in an epic wishlist and worked down the list in order.  Unfortunately, I ran out of scraps before I got to the bottom of the list!

Assiut Ordered

After many many requests from dancers via social media, I decided to invest in some new assiut panels to make another big batch of masks.  This month, however, I’ll be placing these masks onto my Studio Davina Etsy store for a more streamlined workflow and record keeping.  Working through a wishlist was fun, since I got to make pieces for my friends, fans, and extended dance family.  However, it’s time to open this project up beyond the members of my Studio Davina Facebook Group.

I’ve invested in some more black, blue, purple, red, and aqua assiut panels so there will be an assortment of colors and panels coming soon.  Be sure to visit my Etsy store and give it a like so it shows up first when you head over to Etsy.

And now that the fabric is on its way, I’m getting very excited about this upcoming project!

Happy Dance and Costuming!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina

Categories
General

Raqs Talks Interview

 

I was aboslutely THRILLED to be invited to chat with Faizah and Perizaad on their new YouTube channel “Raqs Talks: Belly Dance News and Reviews.”  These two ladies were so warm and welcoming, asked some great questions, and we had some laughs. This talk is a little nerdy, a little silly, and a bit uncensored!!

Watch the talk below – or head directly to YouTube to check out this interview

You can find Faizan and Perizaad on the “Raqs Talks” Facebook Page – and I encourage you all to visit their YouTube channel, and subscribe.  They are an emerging new voice in belly dance media and can use our help growing their YouTube channel.

I’m really looking forward to future interviews!
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy our talk.
Dawn Devine ~ Davina

Ps:  The Bellydance Bundle 2020 sale ends on Wed. Oct. 25.  As I write this, that’s TOMORROW!  If you want to enjoy an informative talk with me and some of my heroes like Morocco, Sahra Kent, Terri Allred, Sara  Shrapnell, Katie Sahar, Keti Sharif and many more, follow this link to reserve your copy!

Categories
General Publications

Catch the Yallah Raqs Podcast

Episode 39 – “Mad About Maud” 

As part of the build-up to the release of the Bellydance Bundle 2020, many of the contributors were interviewed on the Yallah Raqs Podcast.   I’m featured in Episode 39 and Tiffany Noro interviews me about why Maud Allan is so important for belly dance costume historians. If you enjoy my talks, be sure to check it out.

Bellydance Bundle 2020
Goes on Sale – October 21 – 28
Sign up for their mailing list by following this link.

I really enjoy participating in the Bellydance Bundle!  It’s one of the highlights of my year because I so enjoy picking up my copy and spending the year soaking up the knowledge through all of the workshops, lectures, and reading printable .pdf’s.   It’s like attending the BEST belly dance convention from the comfort of my own home.  Unlike an in-person festival with multiple tracks of programs where you have to strategically choose which workshop to take, you have a year to work through every component of the Bellydance Bundle.

The Bellydance Bundle 2020 has an impressive contributor line-up. I feel honored to be included with such an illustrious group.  Many of my mentors, scholars I revered, and dancers I’ve admire are part of this year’s bundle.  This year, the Bundle is broken into three parts.  There is a dance series, a lecture series, or you can get both as a complete package.  I’m part of the Lecture Bundle, and am offering a workshop entitled “Mad About Maud: Salomania & the Birth of Bedlah.”  This is my current research project that will eventually lead to a belly dance history book.

When you consider everything you get at one price, the bundle is an amazing value. There are a whole host of freebies that you get just from joining their mailing list including a series of great informational .pdf’s – even if you decide the bundle isn’t for you, I encourage you to sign up to get the amazing .pdf  “How to Get the Most Out of Online Classes.”  This ebook is a compilation of tips contributed by us participants including me!

Thank you for supporting me in my research projects! 
Happy dance and costuming!
Davina ~ Dawn Devine

ps: Need more info?  Click on the Image Below!

Categories
Assiut/Assuit General

Assiut Mask Makes TV Appearance

Over the past few months, I’ve been making and sending assiut masks made from scraps and pieces of past projects.  It’s been a lot of fun – and a lot of work – but I’ve run out of scraps and pieces.  I might make some more masks in the future, but I will have to invest in more assiut before I can make more.

In the meantime, I’ve been having a blast looking at the dancers who have posted photos of their new assiut masks on Instagram, Facebook, and one even made a TV appearance!  Here’s Mahin owner of One World Dance & Music Studio in Phoenix being interviewed by AZTV channel 7 wearing one of my purple assiut masks!  If you haven’t signed up to receive Mahin’s Bellydance Quickies, follow this link to enjoy her curated content that’s a mix of dance-demos, vintage videos, DIY’s, informative blog posts and more.

 

I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with Mahin as part of her lecture/workshop series and I look forward to working with her in the future!  It’s so great to see her dance studio being featured on local TV.

Take care and be well!
Davina ~ Dawn Devine

 

Categories
General

Mad About Maud – My Contribution to the Bellydance Bundle 2020

It’s Bellydance Bundle Season!

Great News!  The organizers of the Bellydance Bundle 2020 invited me to participate!  This year, the Bundle is bigger than ever. It’s the best belly dance festival right – but without having to choose during that 11 am time slot!   I love going to festivals.  But in this year, with social distancing rules in place, I haven’t attended a single in-person event.  I’m really looking fowrad to enjoying these classes and workshops too!

New eBook and it’s FREE!

The folks over at the Bellydance Bundle HQ have put together a new ebook, “How to Get the Most Out of Online Classes.”  This publication includes the top tips on how to study in the digital age from the contributors of the Bellydance Bundle 2020. It includes a fantastic assortment of tips and techniques for taking notes, learning choreography, communicating via zoom, and many-more ideas.

This booklet is FREE even if you decide not to by the Bundle, be sure to click through to sign up and get this eBook.

There will be more freebies and give-aways so signing up for this free eBook will bring more content and opportunities to win prizes (like Saroyan Finger Cymbals) right to your inbox.

“Mad About Maud: Salomania & The Birth of Bedlah”

This year, I’ll be presenting a 60-minute slide lecture about dancer Maud Allan, the most famous of the Salomé dancers from the first decade of the 19th century.  In this talk, I’ll be giving an overview of the Salomnia “moment” in history and the impact that Maud had on the look and style of costuming.  Our modern professional belly dance bedlah has its roots in this era, and we will look at how this style coalesced into its iconic style.

This talk will include an informative .pdf including the “Salomé Timeline” that traces the transformation from a historical figure to a theatrical femme fatale.  Also included are a biographical overview and select readings for further research.

Two Tracks of Workshops?
Bring it on!

This year, the bundle is broken into two tracks for focussed learning.  I’m happy to be included in the Lecture Bundle with other dance thought leaders, scholars, and historians.  So you can tailor your learning experience to your taste and needs.  This splitting of the content is new for 2020 and I look forward to learning more about how this will progress.

I’m quite excited to find out what’s in the Bellydance Bundle 2020 along with my own talk!  I’ll be sure to add some more posts when more details and specific information available.

In the meantime – Stay Safe – Stay Healthy and Keep Dancing!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Sept. 22, 2020