| In a month where the official arrival
of springtime warrants much to look forward to, it's only fitting
that young budding talent with representations of many nationalities
gets a month of praise to represent the art form.
That woman is NATHALIE. She hails from South Florida, sharing performance
time between Miami and its growing bellydance scene and Hollywood,
respectively. At the tender age of just 23, she has built an impressive
resume' that commands immediate respect from those in the bellydance
community to the dedication that's required to be a professional.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina with a Palestinian background, she
found the passion to dance at an early age. that craving followed
well into her teen years. Known for grace, fluidity and precision
to the basic foundation of movement to bellydance music, live or
taped, she demands to herself that every performance be graceful,
passionate and mesmerizing--and better than the last. Nathalie loves
to integrate classical dance with modern techniques to make her
style remarkable, soulful and absolutely dynamic. Quite an amazing
feat considering that she’s experienced the powers of the
art form at the tender age of 17, when she moved to the US.. She
has not only performed as a dazzling soloist, but has taught, choreographed
and produced many local festivities and recitals amongst her students,
making her mark in the bellydance world in the Miami area.
She has been taught my some of the world's best Middle eastern dance
talents: Saida (also of Argentina and a member of the Bellydance
Superstars in 2005), Tamayn Dallal, Bozenka, Virginia, Amir Thaleb
(ARG) and Yousry and Nourhan Sharif. She has been featured in numerous
music videos, opened for cirque de Soleil in las Vegas and has been
highly recommended for private events held by local celebrities
in South Florida, including Alonao mourning and Shaquille O'Neal
of the NBA's Miami Heat, Jason Taylor of the NFL's Miami Dolphins
and Gloria and Emilio Estefan, just to name a few.
She admits to strive daily to perfect her artistry, wanting ot
perfect her craft to be one of the elite in her art form at
the professional level. She recently updated her website to
add videoclips online to show that exact passion she displays.
With commitment, poise, excellent stage presence and the determination
to give the audience more than they expect, Nathalie's graceful
and sensual movements has earned respect, including accolades
in bellydance competitions, earning 2nd runner-up at the Miss
Bellydance USA in Portland, OR in 2004..
She is famous for her impressive shimmies, amazing hip lifts and
drops, engaging undulations at any pace to music, a captivating
elegance to behold, and the abilities to do belly flutters and
other abdominal isolations that leaves anyone spellbound. This,
along with her amazing beauty and powerfully sensuous physique
makes her a role model and inspiration to those her age who cares
equally about bellydancing Nathalie is a strong young woman. She
also has feelings, just like anyone else does. Her feelings and
passion was recently tested. Earlier in April, she found out after
auditioning that she was chosen to join the Bellydance Superstars
on their upcoming leg of their European tour.
After gathering her things and going out to Las Vegas, she spent
hours and hours a day training and learning from ladies she looked
up to and admired. Then, came bad news. She was told by Miles A.
Copeland that after a change of heart (and the fact that she was
height-challenged compared to the others), a last second decision
was made to send her back home to South Florida.
She was good enough in audition to go to Europe, but determined
too short to move on afterwards. This would devastate and bring
doubt to most, but Nathalie is not just anyone. In fact, she felt
personally that she let her friends and students down, and took
the time to break the news tto them personally, caring so much
about them. That's what being a Bellydancer truly is, wanting to
be a representation and success, not just for one's self, but for
others you affect and touch along the way.
To no surprise, including myself, the support that was handed back
to her was overwhelmingly positive. The truth of the matter is
that Miss Nathalie doesn't need to be a part of the Bellydance
Superstars tour to be a superstar in bellydance. She already is.
Those lucky enough to be near her vicinity can catch her regularly
at Lalay Miami in Miami Friday nights and Zaraka Lounge in Hollywood
on Saturday nights, putting a fine signature to winding down the
weekend.
On her bio page, she says she feels she was born to dance. On this
month of May 2006, she was born to lead, and represent those in
good or bad to persevere and continue to strive to make a path
for today's generation of young bellydancers to see a success and
say to one's self that they can do it, too. For that reason alone,
Nathalie is a special Bellydancer. And even more special a woman.
BFJ 5/1/06.
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