Who is Zareen Amar?

It is agreed that we all wish to emulate internationally acclaimed belly dancers Sadie Marquardt, Didem, the belly twins Neena and Veena Bidasha, tribal dancer Rachel Brice, and so many more. Even here in our own home studio the AALIM Belly Dance Academy we dream to emulate our reigning queen Soraya Al Musri and beautiful princesses Ayperi Al Jawahir, Arastya Amar, Alifia Amar, Zafirah Amar, and countless others. It takes time and dedication, but most importantly it takes finding our own self. We are intimidated by dancers who are the true professions of the elite. Yet in being timid, we tend to lose our sense of self and our own confidence in who we stride to represent, that is, the dancer within. A dancer is not of full bloom until she can free her mind and express herself through her music and her body. She should be unique in character and be capable of telling a story. She should be complete, whole, in sound and body to transition into a masterpiece. A dancer is an artist and storyteller.

When I envisioned Zareen, I didn't envision the names of the dancers mentioned above. I envisioned gold. That is what Zareen's name means just as my own. She is not just of any gold, but one of rare gold that flows like water from the Nile. When she rises, she is a goddess of sensual beauty with a fierce persona. She is the representation of what I long to be - a woman more than just an artist, but a masterpiece. She is a passionate storyteller with her body and mind. Her green (or honey) eyes and signature arm movements are her weapons of mesmerizing expression. All else is a sedating illusion. Zareen makes her presence known. She owns you in her brief performing moments. She is fluid in her moves that it is difficult to divert your eyes from her. The goal is to surrender all thoughts and become enamoured in her character. When she tells a story, she tells it from the heart. Seldom may one catch her shed a tear during her performances, though when one does, the feeling is mutual as the response from the audience is to embrace the beautiful emotions she feeds through her music. Should the audience share in the same emotions as Zareen, then she has not only left her mark, she has proven her love and passion in her own artistic manner. Zareen is more than just a princess, she IS a golden goddess. That is my envision of Zareen Amar.

I am far from proclaiming that golden status, but she is the fire I seek within and will soon be capable of being. There is no doubt that being Zareen will be my biggest obstacle, however, I do not wish to be any other. To emulate a dancer is a loss of character. To create a dancer is the evolution and adaptation of one's own character and confidence. We should never attempt to emulate those around us, but we should never fear them as our resources as well. I dare not continue to hold back. I AM Zareen Amar. I own her proudly and like the belly dance princess she will one day want me to be. :)