Hip Mix's Remember When of 2010 (#4)

Friends of Dilara Sultan have voted that "Is Misogyny Masked As "Just Conversation" Or Am I Simply A Stupid B--ch ?" is a powerful and eye-opening blog that any woman should read. Dilara challenges you to rethink how you're treated and talked to. Read on below.


Do we still have issues of sexism?  Have people, women included, allowed behavior and comments to simply "slide" as to not cause trouble?   Is it just talk and really no biggie?  Read on as Dilara Sultan introduces a new thought on the subject of casual sexism in today's society.


Is Misogyny Masked As "Just Conversation" Or Am I Simply A Stupid B--ch ?

Hip Mix's Remember When of 2010 (#3)

Our number three pick for Dilara's Diary favorites from 2010 is a three-part series that roused a lot of discussion. Read on as Dilara talks about the controversy of inexperienced belly dancers becoming teachers, and share your opinions!


A wave of inexperienced students-turned-teachers has stirred up the belly dance community. But who's responsible? Building a community is important, but so is becoming a positive force and accepting no imitations. In this 3 part series, Dilara takes a step back and lets the community speak up about students who teach belly dance after taking only a few classes.

Click here to read Part 1 of this blog series and join in on the discussions!

Part 2: Dilara continues the conversation regarding inexperienced belly dancers becoming teachers with a listing of some of the biggest offenses in belly dance teaching. What's all the controversy about? Read part 2 now to hear the complaints, and share your own!

Click here to read the 2nd installment of the series, and don't be shy! We want to hear from you!

Part 3: Wow, the response and insights have been great to Dilara's Diary posts on the subject of Belly Dancers becoming Belly Dance Teachers ~ often too soon.  Here is the final installment in Dilara's Diary on this hot topic.

Click here to read Dilara's final entry in this three part discussion.

Hip Mix's Remember When of 2010 (#2)

When asked for readers to share with us their favorite from Dilara's Diary this past year, the number one answer was "I Used to Be a Bird and I Kicked Butt! A Belly Dancer's Memoir." Not surprising to us since it's a Hip Mix staff personal favorite, as well. Join us as we take a look into Dilara's past!

What was Dilara before she was a belly dancer?  Well, actually a lot of things, including a university mascot!  In the light of recent fights and attacks on furry, fun characters, Dilara recalls her fight with a Bearkat!  Really, it DID happen.


I Used to Be a Bird and I Kicked Butt! A Belly Dancer's Memoir

Hip Mix's Remember When of 2010 (#1)

When Dilara wrote about her thoughts on belly dance and burlesque, it created a lot of buzz in the belly dance community. It even sparked others to write their own opinions- one dancer in particular was Maha, a must-read blog post of its own. Read Dilara's message that transcends time, and please, share your thoughts! Click the link below.

Burlesque and Belly Dance????  Sparked from an email she received, Dilara Sultan addresses the question and gives us a test too.  Do these two performance arts work well together??  Share your thoughts with us.


Belly Dancers: You Gotta Go With Your GUT!

Are You Treating YOU Naughty or Nice? Ho Ho Hip+Fit

Today's workout with my trainer gave me a little surprise when I ran into an old friend.  See how seeing him shifted my thinking this holiday season... maybe it will do the same for you too. Read Dilara's blog here!

"Fair and Balanced," My Belly Dance-Ass

Stereotype is something we as belly dancers fight against a great deal. Somewhere between dance practice and performances we are routinely defending belly dance as an art form as opposed to western stereotypes of harems and hoochie-mamas.
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This blog is not the first time I’ve talked about education, how we present ourselves and upholding image.  Today is another one of those days I ask myself,  “Will the stereotype die?”
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This morning, after I bundled up and ran off to the gym, excited to get my morning workout in, I noticed my trainer was just as excited as I was. To get exercise? No. To see me? No! To tell me about a controversial belly dance party for public officials in Pennsylvania? Oh great!
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For those of you not familiar with the story, in 2006 during the beginning of budget cuts for housing subsidies, the Pennsylvania Housing Authority (PHA) sponsored a diversity training event. It’s only just now hitting.
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Ok, so not a big deal, except it was $17,000 and included buffet style dinner, yodelers, salsa dancers, karaoke, and of course, belly dancers. What’s interesting about this coverage...
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To read the full blog click here!

Politics & Dance, Conspiracies & Race Relations... WTF?

Known for her outspoken wit and sometimes controversial charm, belly dancer Dilara Sultan addresses the Rev. Al Sharpton in what seems to be the biggest news in America this week: Brandi vs Bristol on DWTS.

"Yesterday morning, on my usual driving trip, I heard the tail end of a radio interview with Tom Joyner, a syndicated morning drive radio host.  The voice he was talking with I recognized immediately, The Rev. Al Sharpton.   He was passionate, as always.  In his short tirade were phrases including:

“... they turned back the clock on this country”

“... Brandi is symbolic of what just happened to this country.  That we are being steamrolled...”

“Think of the victory we American people were robbed of...”

Oh this sounds juicy... but I didn't hear it all.  But his words intrigued me throughout the day.

Last night, I was talking with my parents who watch a lot more TV than I do.  They asked my opinion of what happened on Dancing With The Stars.  To be honest, I have..."

See what else Dilara had to say in her diary on HipMix.net

Hip+Fit on Hip Mix Is Making News!

Nice to see when your work is recognized, and the Hip Mix team is happy.  When Dilara asked the question, "Why wait for New Year's? Get motivated now," people actually listened to!   See what's been published here!

Stone Cold Fusion

Belly Dance fusion is quite an artistic thing.  A dancer bringing together an external infuence into the oriental dance world is fun to watch.  Usually.

To find the best words to describe a little more about fusion, I defer to the website Fusion Bellydance.  

“... There is no limit to the influences that can be brought into fusion. Some video's feature hoola-hoop dances, african style percussion, metal and so on. Any fusion between Middle Eastern, American Tribal Style, Flamenco, Burlesque and Gothic Belly Dance to Industrial, bellynesian (fusion between bellydance and Polynesian dances), belly-salsa (crossfusion bellydance and salsa), bellywood (a fusion between bellydance and bollywood), Bollywood, Polynesian and live percussion and live bands will do.”

Yes, they will do ---- but should they be done?  Today, thanks to belly dance blogger Naima I saw a video that brought the worlds of belly dance and ice skating together.  Take a look in Dilara's Diary!

Hip+Fit Belly Dancers: What would you do with one more hour a day?

We all want more time for ourselves in order to get things accomplished, whether in our fitness, belly dance or personal life. With daylight savings time giving us one more hour, Dilara challenges belly dancers to use that hour as an investment in ourselves.

So the question is, what would you do with just on more hour a day? See the discussion in Dilara's Diary.

A Hip+Fit Oxymoron, Emphasis on the Moron

Week one of the www.HipMix.net campaign: Hip+Fit. Belly Dancer Dilara shares with us more about what the Hip+Fit Challenge is, and how goofy people can be when it comes to common sense and fitness. It's not you in these photos, is it?

An excerpt from Dilara's Diary:


"So Hip+Fit...... It's what's happened this week:

Many have said “Yes!”  when I asked the question this week about a new, personal revamp of our daily fitness.  The first group to say yes was my staff.  Did they have a choice? Yes, actually.   Some are getting into the Hip+Fit challenge more so than others.  For example, you can track the thoughts..."


Continue reading here!

Hip+Fit: What Are You Clothes Telling YOU?

Fashion can sometimes speak volumes, not only to those that see you but sometimes to yourself as well. Dilara Sultan heard her pants today LOUD & CLEAR! Perfect motivation for this month's Hip+Fit campaign on www.HipMix.net.

Visit Dliara's Diary and take a look at this month's Fitness challenge, plus what Dilara had to say to her pants. No really, she wrote a letter to her Corduroy's!

Fitness Gimicks and Goals, This Belly Dancer's In Control

Tic-Tok... another change approaches & more to follow.  Some I can control & others I cannot.

Being what some people would call a Type-A personality,  one thing I detest is things I have no control over impacting my life or my schedule.  I’m ok in traffic.  I’m ok when daylight savings comes & goes.  I can be spontaneous and a spur-of-the-moment gal.  But when I feel hostage to the whims of another.... eh, even I do not like me.

So entering into the last two months of the calendar can create some riffs in plans.  Family functions, friends and the upcoming holidays takes some special maneuvering on my part, as it does for all of us.

So I know what I cannot control --- this time I choose to focus on what I can control -- ME

Read on here to see what Dilara does to take control of her life, and how you can do the same!

Belly Dance: There IS Room For Boys Too!

I have met many great belly dancers in my journey: Jim Boz in California,  Serkan Tutar in Belgium, Horatio in Berlin, and many others.  Wait... are those guys’ names?  Yes they are.
 

In my blog, I write about the difficulty of being a woman in a man’s world. But we aren’t the only ones subscribed without permission to a list of gender rules we don’t always agree with.
 

What gender rules am I talking about? 

Find out in Dilara's Diary and share your thoughts!

On A Belly Dance Budget: It's Me Or The Gypsy Skirt!

"COUPLES??? If there is one thing we shouldn’t fight about, it’s money. Didn’t the Beatles tell us, “All you need is love?” But we do fight about money. All the time. So how do belly dancers cope when it comes to spending money on dancing?

What spurned my interest in this topic was a recent article by Women’s Health, that cited a recent trend of couples financial therapy.

Reeta Wolfsohn, a financial social worker in North Carolina, said, “If you’re lying about purchases, distrustful of each other’s spending, or not able to meet financial obligations, it can be hard to sustain the connection you need to keep your sex life healthy.”

It’s true that the belly dancing community is a tight-knit group, but does that strong connection extend to their suffering partners? After all, we’re a passionate..."

Read the full blog on Dilara's Diary on HipMix.net

I Belly Dance And My World Is A Happy Place

The title is not necessarily a quote that can be attributed to only me.  I feel pretty confident that any belly dancer would agree.  Perhaps I may sound a little “Legally Blond’ish”  but… Belly dance releases endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.  Happy people are fun to be around, so if you want to be fun and be happy – then belly dance!

Can’t we all just dance?  Yes, of course we can.  And today I was introduced to the perfect reminder of that.  Her name is Thalia.

To read this full blog, visit Dilara’s Diary!

A Belly Dancer's Issues With Sexual Imagery

Dilara’s got issues, and GQ/Glee sexy school girl photos have brought it out!! See what this belly dancer has to say about today’s seemingly silent condonement of what she sees as sexual exploitation. Is she right?

Read here.

Hey Belly Dancers, Are You Ready? Don't Count Down, Make Today Count

"Driving to HipMix.net office this morning - a message board in front of my dry cleaner gave me a shudder:

Only 65 days to Christmas!

Oh Merry Friggin Ho.  Those were the first thoughts that entered my mind.  Yes, the end of the year is busy.  Next month is that retail nightmare known as Black Friday.  There are even holiday decorations starting to crowd out the Halloween section of some stores.

ENOUGH!"

Continue reading in Dilara's Diary here!

Would The Inexperienced Belly Dance Teacher Please Sit Down? (Part 3 of 3)

I once made the following quote my Facebook status:
"Dancers aren't made of their technique, but their passion."

It got a lot of people commenting, as you can imagine.

I see both sides of the statement, and enjoyed reading the opinions on both sides of the fence.  Much like the recent posts, blogs and articles that I and my team have shared - I see both sides of the ongoing when a belly dancer decides to become a belly dance teacher.

With all this varying discussion, it’s easy to get a little confused on all of the points and counter-points. Let’s summarize...

Continue part 3 in Dilara's Diary.

Would the Inexperienced Belly Dancer Teacher Please Sit Down? (part 2 of 3)

So much buzz has been happening since my last diary entry.... thank you for the messages and the comments! I encourage you to continue to share with me. My team and I posted a new article today in response to your comments ---- it’s about that first step in the transition from student to teacher. I encourage you to read it here.

Picking up from last week, the problem of belly dance students who, after short training periods, begin to teach based on their limited experience. Of course, my passionate feelings were met with many of our belly dance community members adding their own opinions.

 

See what those opinions were here in Dilara’s Diary and share your own by creating a free profile!

Would the Inexperienced Belly Dancer Teacher Please Sit Down? (part 1 of 3) - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

Would the Inexperienced Belly Dancer Teacher Please Sit Down? (part 1 of 3) - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

"Leave it to me to hit a nerve in the belly dance community *wink*

I did it again recently when I vented to others on my Facebook Fan Page: "I am SO tired of 'belly dance teachers' popping up here and there after a short stint as a student!"

I knew I wasn't the only one who felt this way, and boy was I right!

Right away, Lisa Lopez, a New York City native currently living in El Paso, Texas, concurred, "Oh yeah, too many times. But I'm not naming names..."

She's such a sweetheart, protecting these dancers, and as a veteran of many variations of dance, I'm sure she's seen this across the board, not just in her belly dance experience.

Lisa and I are not alone in our recognition of sub-par teachers who can crop up after their short time as a student. But why does this happen?"

Read the full blog and share your thoughts in Dilara's Diary on HipMix.net. And stay tuned for part 2 and 3!

A Belly Dancer On The Validity Of Women's Issues - This Is NOT Only A Man's World, Is It?

"I want to give a shout-out to drummer (and uber-cool guy) Todd Deatherage, who recently told me that some of my phrasing and sharp comments made me “a true Southern belle” just like his mom. Thanks for the compliments Todd, but I’m afraid you might have spoken too soon…because today’s topic is…

SEX AND ADVERTISING

Who says the only dysfunction we can talk about is men’s?

Yes Todd, today I might disappoint you. And if your mom reads this blog too...well, tell her to look the other way.

We all know what Viagra’s for, and most of us can recall the latest Cialis commercial. Don’t forget about that happy guy, either --- you know, Bob from the Enzyte commercials. So funny and kitschy!
 

So to take a cue from recent advertising, the only people in the world who have issues with sex are men. Ummmm, we know better than that, don’t we? Or do we?"
Continue reading Dilara's thoughts on HipMix.net!

Skin Care Basics for the Active Belly Dancer - Belly Dance, Belly Dancing, Belly Dance Beauty & Body Tips

Skin Care Basics for the Active Belly Dancer - Belly Dance, Belly Dancing, Belly Dance Beauty & Body Tips

"Most of us become really obsessive (bordering on obsessive-compulsive, really) with our skin care regimen. We have every cleanser, toner, serum, gel, cream—for day and night—and lotion to pamper the face, legs, and arms. We’ve got it down to a science—or have we?

Not exactly.

While we’ve definitely zeroed in on these parts, we’ve also neglected some body parts which are actually equally important, even more, as they show early signs of neglect and—yikes!—aging. You don’t want to have the face of a 30-year-old—but with a décolletage that looks 50! (Yes, the décolletage is one of the oft-forgotten parts.) Here are the body parts you..."

Continue reading this article in the Beauty and Body section of HipMix.net!

Travel Alerts... My Advice-Watch Yourself First! - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

Travel Alerts... My Advice-Watch Yourself First! - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

Sunday as I was getting ready for the day, I got a call. “Did you hear that there’s travel alerts in Europe?” My friend went on to tell me so very matter-of-factly the high points on the topic she fully didn’t understand. Bless her heart, she is sweet and her concern is nothing to belittle. It is however, something that happens to me often. Something that I have to bite my tongue about – people feeling the need to warn me about things they have no experience with. That topic being international travel.

Before I go further, if you want to better understand the details of the current travel alerts for Europe as well...Continue reading Dilara's Diary here!

"The Look" What Does An American Look Like? - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

"The Look" What Does An American Look Like? - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

Not too long ago, I was having dinner in Istanbul with one of my favorite girlfriends, Julide. She’s a flight attendant and occasionally has to fly to the USA. She told me about the first time she went to America.
It was New York City. She was looking forward to seeing this infamous place. I asked her what she thought of the city and the people.

“Well, I remember when I was walking on the street, and looking at people I thought to myself: ‘Where are the American people?’" Not wanting to jump to the wrong conclusion, I asked her what she meant.

“Well, I looked around and I saw everything. I was surprised” There were people from India, from Asian countries, Latinos… but she wanted to see Americans. I giggled. And I understood.

So how would you answer the question: What does an American look like?

I told her that with the exception of the Native American Indian there's not really an American "look." Yes, the country has...

Continue reading this entry in Dilara's Diary on HipMix.net!

I Used To Be A Bird & I Kicked Butt! A Belly Dancer's Memoir - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

I Used To Be A Bird & I Kicked Butt! A Belly Dancer's Memoir - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

Today I learned about an attack on Elmo in Florida. Thank you CNN for opening up those unresolved wounds for me. Office Goddess Jenn (yes, that is her new title) told me the best way to work through painful memories is to tell the story. So, here we go:

When I went to college, for some fun-loving reason I decided I wanted to be the school’s mascot. A cardinal. I waited, tried out – and I got it. Never mind the fact that the only other competition I had was the current mascot, who was ineligible due to poor grades. I still was the mascot… and I got to go to Mascot Camp!

Yes, there really is a mascot camp. (See me? I'm the one with the pretty yellow legs)

While there, I met a number of other characters. Some well known, like TCU’s Horned Frog and K-State’s Wildcat. Some not so well known, like Austin College’s Kangaroo and some strange Purple Glob from someplace I never heard of.....

Continue reading in Dilara's Diary!

Miss Piggy Raqs! Move Over Katy Perry, Let's Learn From This Diva

So, yeah - Katy Perry and Elmo had their 15 minutes.  All the attention’s on Katy... but as my Office Goddess Jenn (her new title BTW) pointed out:

ELMO’S NAKED!!!!! :S

So does Katy have boobies?  Yes.  *gasp*  But she’s not the first buxom broad on the show.  Climb the Muppet Family Tree and you’ll find one of my favorite ladies of all time: Miss Piggy

Mix 1 part Mae West      
with a shot of Marilyn
a pinch of sugar
add a splash of  SHIMMY!  

 

That’s right..... Miss Piggy has been seen doing lots of fabulous things, with her fabulous rack of ribs for years... including dabbling in the oriental dance world.

As Cleopatra

Donning Her Isis Wings

And finally - and most recently, a dance number with the Cheetah Girls during their Bollywood phase.  I really encourage......

Continue reading at HipMix.net in Dilara's Diary!

Affording A Belly Dance Addiction ~ Coupon Shopping Part 1

Ok... I'm here to share with those of you that wanna know -

"How the #3*% did Dilara spend only $15.08 for almost $200 in groceries?"

Yes, I clip coupons.
Yes, I watch the weekly ads
Yes, my store does double some & triple some coupons

In this quick installment, I will talk about sources to explore for getting those little pieces of paper money.

I get my coupons the way most others do: the Sunday Paper. I subscribe to my local hometown paper, but also have a subscription to the nearest large metro city. Here's why:
 

a. they are not always the same inserts
b. even if they are the same, sometimes the face values are different
c. having duplicates is good to have!

Yes, there are some sites on line that offer coupons, and there are even some sites that will (for a fee) organize for you what you need to buy each week based on the store's specials in your area.
Hello?? ---- If you are paying...

Click here to continue reading Dilara's advice in Share Your Story.

Confessions of a Belly Dance Coupon Shopper

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Dilara Sultan, and I am a coupon shopper.  You have seen my kind before.  Perhaps you were in a hurry and got stuck behind one of us at the supermarket, slowing down the checkout process with stack of clippings reaching up to the sky.  Or perhaps you have been intrigued by us.  Our uncanny ability to save money with little more than a few paper cutouts from a Sunday paper, can dazzle.
 
Over the past 15 years I have cultivated myself into a lean-mean, margin-busting-shopping-machine.  Yes, I did get inspiration from my buddy George Foreman for that title.

For many of you who have followed me on Twitter & Facebook, you have seen my postings of delight.  “Headed for the market.... look out store manger - I’m going to bust your margins for the day”    or “I have super hero shopping skills.  got $310 in groceries, only paid $122.”  Yes, there are times I even impress myself.

Last year I was encouraged to recap my coupon strategies so that others may learn and save as well.  I did...Continue reading in Dilara's Diary on HipMix.net!