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Namaste, Sat sri akal, and Salam Alakum! Greetings!
In this issue, we pay tribute to the fun and fantasy of Bollywood! With hundreds of blockbuster Bollywood movies releasing every year, it is undoubtedly a strong part of popular culture in India. And now, thanks to "Slumdog Millionaire", Bollywood is now rapidly growing worldwide. The name originated because most of these movies were made in Bombay (Mumbai) and it is the center of the Indian film industry, much like our Hollywood. One of the great signatures of a Bollywood movie is the dancing. No film is complete without the catchy musical numbers, replete with colorful costumes, unique backgrounds, and upbeat, fun choreography influenced by various Indian and western dance styles. Jai Ho!
Namaste and Happy Independence Day, India!
Neena & Veena
Bellytwins and Bollytwins
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GET IN TOUCH
We would love to hear from you! Share your product ideas, suggestions for our newsletter or anything else that you think would make your Bellytwins experience more fun! Visit here to send us your suggestions.
CLASSES
All classes are on-going and open to ALL levels!
Bellydance: Sexy, fun!
Saturdays; North Hollywood, CA 11 am to 12 noon.
Wednesdays; Studio City, CA: 8 pm to 9 pm.
Bollywood: A blast! Excellent workout! Saturdays; Glendale/Atwater Village, CA; 1 to 2 pm.
Sundays; New! Glendale/Atwater Village, CA; 1 to 2 pm.
Mondays; Studio City, CA; 8 to 9 pm.
Thursdays; (monthly) Los Angeles; 7-8:15 pm
Online classes: Coming soon!
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Upcoming Events
July 14: Bollywood class/wkshp, Academy of Dance, Santa Ana, CA
Aug 8: San Diego, CA
Aug 9: Las Vegas, NV
Aug 18: Bollywood class/wkshp, Academy of Dance, Santa Ana, CA
Aug 21: Pasadena, CA (free to public); Levett Pavillion. For more info: www.levittpavillionpasadena.org
Recent:
Neena & Veena with our friend, Ryan Heffington (who also dances in our company) in a recent music video for INFECTED MUSHROOM. Release date TBD.
Bellytwins with Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan
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BELLYTWINS T-SHIRTS! ON SALE $9.95
Available in tanks and t-shirts – Women: Sm, Med, Lg Men: Lg, X-Lg
Call 888-41-BELLY or 818-83-BELLY to order your own BELLYTWINS T-shirt now!
BELLYTWINS Int'l Talent - providing the best in entertainment worldwide! Specializing in "Arabian Nights" Party themes! Dancers, singers, musicians, henna artists, fortune tellers, snake charmers, sword swallowers, palm readers, fire artists, exotic animals... and much more. Give us a call 1-888-41-BELLY or email us: Bellytwins@bellytwins.com
Recent:
Neena & Veena with our friend, Ryan Heffington (who also dances in our company) in a recent music video for INFECTED MUSHROOM. Release date TBD.
Bellytwins with Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BELLYTWINS T-SHIRTS! ON SALE $9.95
Available in tanks and t-shirts – Women: Sm, Med, Lg Men: Lg, X-Lg
Call 888-41-BELLY or 818-83-BELLY to order your own BELLYTWINS T-shirt now!
BELLYTWINS Int'l Talent - providing the best in entertainment worldwide! Specializing in "Arabian Nights" Party themes! Dancers, singers, musicians, henna artists, fortune tellers, snake charmers, sword swallowers, palm readers, fire artists, exotic animals... and much more. Give us a call 1-888-41-BELLY or email us: Bellytwins@bellytwins.com
Great gift!
Hard cover: $24.95 $19.95
Paperback: $19.95 $14.95
FREE AUTOGRAPH! Simply request for it in the order under "special instructions" and the twins will sign the book for you at no extra charge!
THE WAY OF THE BELLY
Rating:
Reviewed by: Diana Rohini La Vigne
Visually pleasing, packed with helpful information and fun to read, The Way of the Belly is a grand exploration into the world of beauty, health, and happiness. This 173-page reader is a treasure cove for those interested in being inspired by two of the nation's leading dancers and sensual gurus, Neena & Veena. As identical twins, they are a force times two in every way. Their styles are similar but offer a slightly different point of view.
The book is one of the best bargains available at only $24.95. Bursting with recipes that make your mouth water, easy to read side bars with tips of the trade and classy visuals that show you what the text explains in detail, it's hard to beat the value. Additionally, The Way of the Belly offers a free instructional Belly Dance DVD with the book! It's obvious the Belly Twins are more interested in educating others about the dance than counting their dollars made by their books' sales. The Way of the Belly and the Belly Twins are a breath of fresh air in the industry of dance and fitness.
I strongly recommend this to brides looking for fun fitness to slim out before their weddings, wives looking to spice up their romantic side, anyone interested in fitness and mostly to those who seek creative ways to health and happiness. These fitness leaders are heading for almost guaranteed global stardom.
FREE BELLY GIFT! If you order $50 or more of any Bellytwins products, we'll send you a free gift along with your order. Value $10!
BOLLY PARTY TIP How to put on a Sari
How about a bollywood theme for your next get together? All you need are some Indian food, chai, bollywood music and dance, and some friends. For attire, go elegant with a sari. There are various styles, depending on the region of India. Here's the most common:
Put on the blouse or choli and petticoat tightly. The petticoat color should match the sari color as closely as possible. The blouse can be short sleeved or sleeveless, with a variety of necklines.
Start with the inner plain edge, tuck around 2-3" it into the petticoat just right of the belly button. Make sure the bottom of the sari touches the floor. Now wrap the sari around once, so it comes back in the front on the right hand side. You should not see the petticoat at this point. Tip: wear your heals before you start to put on the sari. This will indicate exactly how much material to tuck into the petticoat so the sari hits the top of your feet. The amount you tuck in depends on how tall or short you are or how long you want to wear the sari.
Now from the tucked-in end, make pleats of equal width - about 5 to 8 pleats and hold them together neatly so they fall straight and even. Safety pin the pleated area to stop the pleats from falling apart as you are holding it. See that the pleats are piled on top of each other evenly. The lower edge of the pleats should also be even, just off the ground.
Turn the pleats towards the waist slightly and tuck the bundle into the petticoat. Tip: tuck pleats about 2 inches towards the belly button from your first tuck (#2).
Wrap the remaining sari around once more and bring it up under your right arm and over your left shoulder. Fold and arrange your shoulder pleats neatly before you place them over your shoulder. This portion should fall about knee level. Tip: if you think the portion that is over your left shoulder is too long, let go of some of the material and add more pleats (#3)
The top-end portion that is over the shoulder is called pallu. Pleat this 2-3 times (optional), and let the remaining fall off the shoulder in the back and into your arm, and pin it on the blouse.
More tips can be found in "The Way of the Belly." Buy now!
LET ME HELP YOU RESOLVE YOUR HEALTH OR WEIGHT PROBLEMS...
Medical psychic/intuitive Sheila Lakshmi Rani has been helping clients for many years, including specialists in the medical field with her psychic abilities. For more info, or an appointment, email me: sheilaknows@yahoo.com
"...My real weight issue wasn't only exercise or diet - it was a medical condition that Lakshmi said I had, and it was confirmed by a specialist! Now I am at my desired weight and I feel better than I did when I was in my teens - and I am 47!"
"...I thought my marriage was going to fail because of my mood swings from menopause. Lakshmi found the combination of herbs that got rid of them -naturally. I owe my marriage to her. God brought me her in my life!" N. K Singh, Irvine, CA
BOLLY MOVE:
Music: Pick your favorite music, medium tempo. If you want to get into the Indian groove, we suggest our Indi-Hop CD.
Start: Begin with your legs spread wide, feet slightly turned out, and bend your knees so your knees go over the toes. Be sure to keep the back straight and upright, shoulders back, tailbone dropped. Bring your arms above the head, bend elbows, and flex the hands, as if you're holding 2 plates. Engage all the muscles in your legs and arms as you slide your upper body from right to left.
Exercise: Continue sliding from side to side for 2-3 min, counting 2 beats per "side." Bring your hands to "Namaste" position, and slide 1 count for each side, as your Belly goes in toward the spine. Slide for another 2-3 minutes.
Exercise excerpt from "Indi-Hop." Be sure to warm up and cool down before exercising. Drink plenty of water. As with any exercise program, consult your physician. For other movements,
visit here for our dvds and products..
BOLLY FACTS
- India's first silent feature film was Raja Harishchandra made in 1913
- India's first Bollywood film (talkie, singing, dancing) was Alam Ara made in 1931
- India was producing over 200 films per year in the 1930's
- India's first color feature film was Kisan Kanya made in 1937
BOLLY MUSIC & DANCE
The dancing in Bollywood films, especially older ones, is primarily modelled on Indian dance: classical dance styles, dances of historic northern Indian courtesans Tawaif or folk dances. In modern films, Indian dance elements often blend with Western dance styles (as seen on MTV or in Broadway musicals), though it is not unusual to see Western pop and pure classical dance numbers side by side in the same film. The hero or heroine will often perform with a troupe of supporting dancers. Many song-and-dance routines in Indian films feature unrealistically instantaneous shifts of location and/or changes of costume between verses of a song. If the hero and heroine dance and sing a pas de deux , it is often staged in beautiful natural surroundings or architecturally grand settings.
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BOLLY JACKSON
Western music and dance was a great influence in Bollywood. But no one had a bigger impact than Michael Jackson. "Thriller" dance moves was seen in so many Bollywood songs, it was obvious that India loved the pop icon. Bollywood choreographer Farah Khan admitted teaching herself how to dance watching Michael Jackson's videos.
"Black or White" influenced Bollywood with the morphing technique in film making. The song and video features... yours truly, Veena, as one of the morphing faces in my early career. Out of hundreds and hundreds of faces, we were told that Michael himself picked the faces! Thank you, Michael, your contribution to Bollywood. Youll be missed. (BTW Tyra Banks is also one of the faces).
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BELLY LANGUAGE
This month, we feature common words and phrases of Hindi, the national language of India.
THIS MONTH'S WORDS/PHRASES:
Hello - Namaste
What is your name? - Aap ka naam kya hai?
My name is_____ - Mere naam ____hai
How are you? - Aap kaisa hai?
I am from India - Mein India se hoon
Yes - Haa
No - nahin
Please - Kripaya
Thank you- Dhanyavad or Shukriya
Excuse me- Maaf kijiye
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BOLLY SONG
The Indian Independence Day also called as Swantrata Divas in Hindi is celebrated on August 15th of every year. The day is national holiday and is celebrated in whole of India. The day is celebrated because on this day in 1947, India got its Independence from the Britishers and originated as a sovereign nation. The national flag is hoist on this day and the celebrations are at their extreme in Delhi where the Prime Minister of India raises the Indian Flag at the Red Fort and delivers a speech to the people of India. Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first Indian Prime Minister to hoist the national flag at the Red Fort after after he was sworned as the PM by Lord Mountbatten.
Independence Day holds a lot of significance to not only the people of India but also to the Indian Film Industry. We have witnessed a lot of Bollywood movies with their theme based on patriotism. From oldies like Kranti, Karma to the new movies like Veer Zaara, Pardes, Swades and Rang De Basanti Bollywood has produced several patriotic movies from time to time. The contribution of Bollywood is really great and we can expect more patriotic songs over the years. The significance of Bollywood can be seen from the fact that the song "Kar Chaley hum Fida jaan-o-tan Saathiyon" can be heard anywhere on this day.
Here ares some popular Independence Day songs:
Dharti Sunehri Ambar Neela, Har Mausam Rangeela, Aisa Des Hai Mera
I Love My India
Rang De Basanti
Des mere des mere meri jaan hai tu
Mera rang de basanti
Bollywood has always given us that patriotic feeling which is lacking from today's youths. These patriotic songs not only help us to remember those brave soldiers who died while fighting for the people but also pay tribute to the 'Shaheeds'. Independence Day is a day of pride for every individual and we can make this day of National importance more memorable with these songs. Thus we should thank Bollywood for producing songs like these.
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BELLY SUGGESTIONS
I'm sure you've already gotten this suggestion, but more indepth bellydance videos would be good. I've probably got all the videos you've got out sofar (minus the indi-hop, and bollywood etc). My interest is of course on my health, but also dancing for fun. I would like to see a video or series along the lines of you basic dance where you examine moves, go in to how to enhance the move through facial expressions, or gestures, and highlight common mistakes as well as things to bring that move to the next level.
Thanks!
We'd love to hear any suggestions you may have on upcoming events or products. Email us
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BELLY LETTERS
Ladies and Sisters,
I just want to thank you both so much, you are an inspiration and I thank of the two of you as mentors. I live in a small, small town where Bellydance is never talked of except in past tense. Well, I had my first public performance last night, and it went fabulously, thanks to the two of you. I learned just about all the moves from your DVD's, I own just about all of them, including your Book, "Way of the Belly". I Dance because I Love the Dance, it calls to me, but as an added benefit I lost 25 lbs and 16+ inches all over my body.
Thank you.
I still am a big dancer with a bit of a pudge but I feel so feminine and comfortable in my skin that its okay. I also got to see my Dance on Video, which at first terrified me, but I'm good. I'm graceful. Yea! Thanks for the newsletter, thanks for everything. When my pics come in, I'll be sure to send one. Have a Blessed Summer and I hope to write back in the future with more exciting news.
Brandy Michelle Linkenhoker aka Pandora's Secret
Send us your letters... We would love to hear from you!
Chinese Astrology
2009: Year of the Ox:
dependable, hard-working, calm, reliable, modest, born-leader. They are kind, caring, souls. Theyre also patient, methodical, and social.
Numerology:The year 2009 is the numeric value of "11" a Master number. The next time the world will experience the same energy will be in 2018. Equality, creative, social, togetherness, Yin-yang energy
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
LEO
July 23- August 22
CANCER
Cancerian Dancers: As a performer, her demure may seem quiet at first, but on the dance floor, she'll rip it up, surprising the audience with her creativity and non-stop energy. Cancer teachers are probably the best because they truly care about their students. Moms should be so lucky if you could get your daughter to be taught by a cancer. She's like a second mom away from home. Like the crab, she can be tough on the outside, but soft in the inside.
Cancer celebs: Meryl Streep, Prince William, Kathy Bates, Cheryl Tiegs, Chris Isaac, Kevin Bacon, Tom Cruise, Pamela Lee Anderson, Dalai Lama, Ringo Starr, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Carlos Santana, Robin Williams, Michelle Kwan, Bill Cosby, Linda Ronstadt, David Hasselhoff, Huey Lewis.
LEO
Leo dancer/performer: Of all sun signs, Leos are probably the most dominant. They are spontaneous, creative, and extroverts making them exciting performers on stage. They are born leaders who know what they want, and go after it. And because they are enthusiastic, broad-minded, and creatively expansive, they are potentially among the greatest in directors and choreographers.
On the dark side, they can be arrogant, tempermental, pompous, and very bossy, But generally, their love and generousity shines. They are faithful to those who are faithful to them.
Leo celebs: Tony Bennett, Neil Armstrong, M. Night Shyamalon, Charlize Theron, Dustin Hoffman, Melanie Griffith, Antonio Banderas, Don Ho, Halle Barry, Christian Slater, Robert Plant, Kim Cattrell, Madonna, Tori Amos, Gene Kelly, Steve Guttenberg, Tim Burton, Mother Teresa, Shania Twain, Richard Gere, Cameron Diaz, Van Morrison, Ben Affleck.
Hey twins!
I'm married to an Indian guy from Punjab. I'm meeting my in-laws for the first time next month, and I wanted to surprise them by wearing a sari. One of my friends showed me one time, but I forgot how to do it. I was wondering if you knew how to wrap one?
BTW - I just got your Bollywood Blast dvd, and I absolutely LOVE it. I'm so excited to show off those moves on the dance floor when I see them!
Irene C, Illinois
Dear Irene,
We're actually featuring a "how to wrap a sari" in this issue. Hopefully, that'll give you some guidance.
Good luck and have fun with your in-laws!
Belly Blessins,
N & V
Ask the Twins a Question
CURRY CHICKEN KABOBS
Summer bbq grilling - Indian Style!
Ingredients:
3 cups rice, cooked
1 or 2 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas, cooked
1/2 cup plain yogurt (milk or goat)
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
1 - 1/2 pounds chicken breast
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
6 skewers
1 large tomato, chopped
Directions:
Mix garlic, yogurt, and spices. Marinate in refrigerator for at least 6 hrs, turning occasionally. Discard excess marinade. Thread chicken on skewers. Cook 8 to 10 minutes on grill, turning twice. Toss rice, tomato, green onions, and peas. Serve skewers over rice.
Tip: For a more "Indian" flavor, you may want to add a pinch of Garam Masala instead of or in addition to chili powder. You can find this spice at any Indian market. Also, add a couple of whole cloves the last minute of cooking your rice (optional). As always, try to use organic ingredients.
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HUMMUS
Quick and easy!
Disclaimer: We apologize for accidentally printing the Lebanese Fattoush recipe written 2x instead of the Hummus recipe in the last issue. Thank you for bringing that to our attention! So, here it is...
Ingredients:
16 oz. of cooked garbanzos or 1 can garbanzo beans, drained.
3-4 garlic cloves
1/4 cup of lemon juice
Sea salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper
Pinch of chili powder (or to taste)
1/4 olive oil
Directions:
Put garlic in food processor until chopped. Add remaining ingredients except olive oil. Slowly add oil to processor while running. Top with extra olive oil.
Got a favorite recipe you'd like to share with us?
For more Middle Eastern recipes, check out "The Way of the Belly."
Namaste, Sat sri akal, and Salam Alakum! Greetings!
In this issue, we pay tribute to the fun and fantasy of Bollywood! With hundreds of blockbuster Bollywood movies releasing every year, it is undoubtedly a strong part of popular culture in India. And now, thanks to "Slumdog Millionaire", Bollywood is now rapidly growing worldwide. The name originated because most of these movies were made in Bombay (Mumbai) and it is the center of the Indian film industry, much like our Hollywood. One of the great signatures of a Bollywood movie is the dancing. No film is complete without the catchy musical numbers, replete with colorful costumes, unique backgrounds, and upbeat, fun choreography influenced by various Indian and western dance styles. Jai Ho!
Namaste and Happy Independence Day, India!
Neena & Veena
Bellytwins and Bollytwins
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GET IN TOUCH
We would love to hear from you! Share your product ideas, suggestions for our newsletter or anything else that you think would make your Bellytwins experience more fun! Visit here to send us your suggestions.
CLASSES
All classes are on-going and open to ALL levels!
Bellydance: Sexy, fun!
Saturdays; North Hollywood, CA 11 am to 12 noon.
Wednesdays; Studio City, CA: 8 pm to 9 pm.
Bollywood: A blast! Excellent workout! Saturdays; Glendale/Atwater Village, CA; 1 to 2 pm.
Sundays; New! Glendale/Atwater Village, CA; 1 to 2 pm.
Mondays; Studio City, CA; 8 to 9 pm.
Thursdays; (monthly) Los Angeles; 7-8:15 pm
Online classes: Coming soon!
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Upcoming Events
July 14: Bollywood class/wkshp, Academy of Dance, Santa Ana, CA
Aug 8: San Diego, CA
Aug 9: Las Vegas, NV
Aug 18: Bollywood class/wkshp, Academy of Dance, Santa Ana, CA
Aug 21: Pasadena, CA (free to public); Levett Pavillion. For more info: www.levittpavillionpasadena.org
Recent:
Neena & Veena with our friend, Ryan Heffington (who also dances in our company) in a recent music video for INFECTED MUSHROOM. Release date TBD.
Bellytwins with Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BELLYTWINS T-SHIRTS! ON SALE $9.95
Available in tanks and t-shirts – Women: Sm, Med, Lg Men: Lg, X-Lg
Call 888-41-BELLY or 818-83-BELLY to order your own BELLYTWINS T-shirt now!
BELLYTWINS Int'l Talent - providing the best in entertainment worldwide! Specializing in "Arabian Nights" Party themes! Dancers, singers, musicians, henna artists, fortune tellers, snake charmers, sword swallowers, palm readers, fire artists, exotic animals... and much more. Give us a call 1-888-41-BELLY or email us: Bellytwins@bellytwins.com
Recent:
Neena & Veena with our friend, Ryan Heffington (who also dances in our company) in a recent music video for INFECTED MUSHROOM. Release date TBD.
Bellytwins with Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BELLYTWINS T-SHIRTS! ON SALE $9.95
Available in tanks and t-shirts – Women: Sm, Med, Lg Men: Lg, X-Lg
Call 888-41-BELLY or 818-83-BELLY to order your own BELLYTWINS T-shirt now!
BELLYTWINS Int'l Talent - providing the best in entertainment worldwide! Specializing in "Arabian Nights" Party themes! Dancers, singers, musicians, henna artists, fortune tellers, snake charmers, sword swallowers, palm readers, fire artists, exotic animals... and much more. Give us a call 1-888-41-BELLY or email us: Bellytwins@bellytwins.com
Great gift!
Hard cover: $24.95 $19.95
Paperback: $19.95 $14.95
FREE AUTOGRAPH! Simply request for it in the order under "special instructions" and the twins will sign the book for you at no extra charge!
THE WAY OF THE BELLY
Rating:
Reviewed by: Diana Rohini La Vigne
Visually pleasing, packed with helpful information and fun to read, The Way of the Belly is a grand exploration into the world of beauty, health, and happiness. This 173-page reader is a treasure cove for those interested in being inspired by two of the nation's leading dancers and sensual gurus, Neena & Veena. As identical twins, they are a force times two in every way. Their styles are similar but offer a slightly different point of view.
The book is one of the best bargains available at only $24.95. Bursting with recipes that make your mouth water, easy to read side bars with tips of the trade and classy visuals that show you what the text explains in detail, it's hard to beat the value. Additionally, The Way of the Belly offers a free instructional Belly Dance DVD with the book! It's obvious the Belly Twins are more interested in educating others about the dance than counting their dollars made by their books' sales. The Way of the Belly and the Belly Twins are a breath of fresh air in the industry of dance and fitness.
I strongly recommend this to brides looking for fun fitness to slim out before their weddings, wives looking to spice up their romantic side, anyone interested in fitness and mostly to those who seek creative ways to health and happiness. These fitness leaders are heading for almost guaranteed global stardom.
FREE BELLY GIFT! If you order $50 or more of any Bellytwins products, we'll send you a free gift along with your order. Value $10!
BOLLY PARTY TIP How to put on a Sari
How about a bollywood theme for your next get together? All you need are some Indian food, chai, bollywood music and dance, and some friends. For attire, go elegant with a sari. There are various styles, depending on the region of India. Here's the most common:
Put on the blouse or choli and petticoat tightly. The petticoat color should match the sari color as closely as possible. The blouse can be short sleeved or sleeveless, with a variety of necklines.
Start with the inner plain edge, tuck around 2-3" it into the petticoat just right of the belly button. Make sure the bottom of the sari touches the floor. Now wrap the sari around once, so it comes back in the front on the right hand side. You should not see the petticoat at this point. Tip: wear your heals before you start to put on the sari. This will indicate exactly how much material to tuck into the petticoat so the sari hits the top of your feet. The amount you tuck in depends on how tall or short you are or how long you want to wear the sari.
Now from the tucked-in end, make pleats of equal width - about 5 to 8 pleats and hold them together neatly so they fall straight and even. Safety pin the pleated area to stop the pleats from falling apart as you are holding it. See that the pleats are piled on top of each other evenly. The lower edge of the pleats should also be even, just off the ground.
Turn the pleats towards the waist slightly and tuck the bundle into the petticoat. Tip: tuck pleats about 2 inches towards the belly button from your first tuck (#2).
Wrap the remaining sari around once more and bring it up under your right arm and over your left shoulder. Fold and arrange your shoulder pleats neatly before you place them over your shoulder. This portion should fall about knee level. Tip: if you think the portion that is over your left shoulder is too long, let go of some of the material and add more pleats (#3)
The top-end portion that is over the shoulder is called pallu. Pleat this 2-3 times (optional), and let the remaining fall off the shoulder in the back and into your arm, and pin it on the blouse.
More tips can be found in "The Way of the Belly." Buy now!
LET ME HELP YOU RESOLVE YOUR HEALTH OR WEIGHT PROBLEMS...
Medical psychic/intuitive Sheila Lakshmi Rani has been helping clients for many years, including specialists in the medical field with her psychic abilities. For more info, or an appointment, email me: sheilaknows@yahoo.com
"...My real weight issue wasn't only exercise or diet - it was a medical condition that Lakshmi said I had, and it was confirmed by a specialist! Now I am at my desired weight and I feel better than I did when I was in my teens - and I am 47!"
"...I thought my marriage was going to fail because of my mood swings from menopause. Lakshmi found the combination of herbs that got rid of them -naturally. I owe my marriage to her. God brought me her in my life!" N. K Singh, Irvine, CA
BOLLY MOVE:
Music: Pick your favorite music, medium tempo. If you want to get into the Indian groove, we suggest our Indi-Hop CD.
Start: Begin with your legs spread wide, feet slightly turned out, and bend your knees so your knees go over the toes. Be sure to keep the back straight and upright, shoulders back, tailbone dropped. Bring your arms above the head, bend elbows, and flex the hands, as if you're holding 2 plates. Engage all the muscles in your legs and arms as you slide your upper body from right to left.
Exercise: Continue sliding from side to side for 2-3 min, counting 2 beats per "side." Bring your hands to "Namaste" position, and slide 1 count for each side, as your Belly goes in toward the spine. Slide for another 2-3 minutes.
Exercise excerpt from "Indi-Hop." Be sure to warm up and cool down before exercising. Drink plenty of water. As with any exercise program, consult your physician. For other movements,
visit here for our dvds and products..
BOLLY FACTS
- India's first silent feature film was Raja Harishchandra made in 1913
- India's first Bollywood film (talkie, singing, dancing) was Alam Ara made in 1931
- India was producing over 200 films per year in the 1930's
- India's first color feature film was Kisan Kanya made in 1937
BOLLY MUSIC & DANCE
The dancing in Bollywood films, especially older ones, is primarily modelled on Indian dance: classical dance styles, dances of historic northern Indian courtesans Tawaif or folk dances. In modern films, Indian dance elements often blend with Western dance styles (as seen on MTV or in Broadway musicals), though it is not unusual to see Western pop and pure classical dance numbers side by side in the same film. The hero or heroine will often perform with a troupe of supporting dancers. Many song-and-dance routines in Indian films feature unrealistically instantaneous shifts of location and/or changes of costume between verses of a song. If the hero and heroine dance and sing a pas de deux , it is often staged in beautiful natural surroundings or architecturally grand settings.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOLLY JACKSON
Western music and dance was a great influence in Bollywood. But no one had a bigger impact than Michael Jackson. "Thriller" dance moves was seen in so many Bollywood songs, it was obvious that India loved the pop icon. Bollywood choreographer Farah Khan admitted teaching herself how to dance watching Michael Jackson's videos.
"Black or White" influenced Bollywood with the morphing technique in film making. The song and video features... yours truly, Veena, as one of the morphing faces in my early career. Out of hundreds and hundreds of faces, we were told that Michael himself picked the faces! Thank you, Michael, your contribution to Bollywood. Youll be missed. (BTW Tyra Banks is also one of the faces).
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BELLY LANGUAGE
This month, we feature common words and phrases of Hindi, the national language of India.
THIS MONTH'S WORDS/PHRASES:
Hello - Namaste
What is your name? - Aap ka naam kya hai?
My name is_____ - Mere naam ____hai
How are you? - Aap kaisa hai?
I am from India - Mein India se hoon
Yes - Haa
No - nahin
Please - Kripaya
Thank you- Dhanyavad or Shukriya
Excuse me- Maaf kijiye
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BOLLY SONG
The Indian Independence Day also called as Swantrata Divas in Hindi is celebrated on August 15th of every year. The day is national holiday and is celebrated in whole of India. The day is celebrated because on this day in 1947, India got its Independence from the Britishers and originated as a sovereign nation. The national flag is hoist on this day and the celebrations are at their extreme in Delhi where the Prime Minister of India raises the Indian Flag at the Red Fort and delivers a speech to the people of India. Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first Indian Prime Minister to hoist the national flag at the Red Fort after after he was sworned as the PM by Lord Mountbatten.
Independence Day holds a lot of significance to not only the people of India but also to the Indian Film Industry. We have witnessed a lot of Bollywood movies with their theme based on patriotism. From oldies like Kranti, Karma to the new movies like Veer Zaara, Pardes, Swades and Rang De Basanti Bollywood has produced several patriotic movies from time to time. The contribution of Bollywood is really great and we can expect more patriotic songs over the years. The significance of Bollywood can be seen from the fact that the song "Kar Chaley hum Fida jaan-o-tan Saathiyon" can be heard anywhere on this day.
Here ares some popular Independence Day songs:
Dharti Sunehri Ambar Neela, Har Mausam Rangeela, Aisa Des Hai Mera
I Love My India
Rang De Basanti
Des mere des mere meri jaan hai tu
Mera rang de basanti
Bollywood has always given us that patriotic feeling which is lacking from today's youths. These patriotic songs not only help us to remember those brave soldiers who died while fighting for the people but also pay tribute to the 'Shaheeds'. Independence Day is a day of pride for every individual and we can make this day of National importance more memorable with these songs. Thus we should thank Bollywood for producing songs like these.
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BELLY SUGGESTIONS
I'm sure you've already gotten this suggestion, but more indepth bellydance videos would be good. I've probably got all the videos you've got out sofar (minus the indi-hop, and bollywood etc). My interest is of course on my health, but also dancing for fun. I would like to see a video or series along the lines of you basic dance where you examine moves, go in to how to enhance the move through facial expressions, or gestures, and highlight common mistakes as well as things to bring that move to the next level.
Thanks!
We'd love to hear any suggestions you may have on upcoming events or products. Email us
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BELLY LETTERS
Ladies and Sisters,
I just want to thank you both so much, you are an inspiration and I thank of the two of you as mentors. I live in a small, small town where Bellydance is never talked of except in past tense. Well, I had my first public performance last night, and it went fabulously, thanks to the two of you. I learned just about all the moves from your DVD's, I own just about all of them, including your Book, "Way of the Belly". I Dance because I Love the Dance, it calls to me, but as an added benefit I lost 25 lbs and 16+ inches all over my body.
Thank you.
I still am a big dancer with a bit of a pudge but I feel so feminine and comfortable in my skin that its okay. I also got to see my Dance on Video, which at first terrified me, but I'm good. I'm graceful. Yea! Thanks for the newsletter, thanks for everything. When my pics come in, I'll be sure to send one. Have a Blessed Summer and I hope to write back in the future with more exciting news.
Brandy Michelle Linkenhoker aka Pandora's Secret
Send us your letters... We would love to hear from you!
Chinese Astrology
2009: Year of the Ox:
dependable, hard-working, calm, reliable, modest, born-leader. They are kind, caring, souls. Theyre also patient, methodical, and social.
Numerology:The year 2009 is the numeric value of "11" a Master number. The next time the world will experience the same energy will be in 2018. Equality, creative, social, togetherness, Yin-yang energy
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
LEO
July 23- August 22
CANCER
Cancerian Dancers: As a performer, her demure may seem quiet at first, but on the dance floor, she'll rip it up, surprising the audience with her creativity and non-stop energy. Cancer teachers are probably the best because they truly care about their students. Moms should be so lucky if you could get your daughter to be taught by a cancer. She's like a second mom away from home. Like the crab, she can be tough on the outside, but soft in the inside.
Cancer celebs: Meryl Streep, Prince William, Kathy Bates, Cheryl Tiegs, Chris Isaac, Kevin Bacon, Tom Cruise, Pamela Lee Anderson, Dalai Lama, Ringo Starr, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Carlos Santana, Robin Williams, Michelle Kwan, Bill Cosby, Linda Ronstadt, David Hasselhoff, Huey Lewis.
LEO
Leo dancer/performer: Of all sun signs, Leos are probably the most dominant. They are spontaneous, creative, and extroverts making them exciting performers on stage. They are born leaders who know what they want, and go after it. And because they are enthusiastic, broad-minded, and creatively expansive, they are potentially among the greatest in directors and choreographers.
On the dark side, they can be arrogant, tempermental, pompous, and very bossy, But generally, their love and generousity shines. They are faithful to those who are faithful to them.
Leo celebs: Tony Bennett, Neil Armstrong, M. Night Shyamalon, Charlize Theron, Dustin Hoffman, Melanie Griffith, Antonio Banderas, Don Ho, Halle Barry, Christian Slater, Robert Plant, Kim Cattrell, Madonna, Tori Amos, Gene Kelly, Steve Guttenberg, Tim Burton, Mother Teresa, Shania Twain, Richard Gere, Cameron Diaz, Van Morrison, Ben Affleck.
Hey twins!
I'm married to an Indian guy from Punjab. I'm meeting my in-laws for the first time next month, and I wanted to surprise them by wearing a sari. One of my friends showed me one time, but I forgot how to do it. I was wondering if you knew how to wrap one?
BTW - I just got your Bollywood Blast dvd, and I absolutely LOVE it. I'm so excited to show off those moves on the dance floor when I see them!
Irene C, Illinois
Dear Irene,
We're actually featuring a "how to wrap a sari" in this issue. Hopefully, that'll give you some guidance.
Good luck and have fun with your in-laws!
Belly Blessins,
N & V
Ask the Twins a Question
CURRY CHICKEN KABOBS
Summer bbq grilling - Indian Style!
Ingredients:
3 cups rice, cooked
1 or 2 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas, cooked
1/2 cup plain yogurt (milk or goat)
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
1 - 1/2 pounds chicken breast
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
6 skewers
1 large tomato, chopped
Directions:
Mix garlic, yogurt, and spices. Marinate in refrigerator for at least 6 hrs, turning occasionally. Discard excess marinade. Thread chicken on skewers. Cook 8 to 10 minutes on grill, turning twice. Toss rice, tomato, green onions, and peas. Serve skewers over rice.
Tip: For a more "Indian" flavor, you may want to add a pinch of Garam Masala instead of or in addition to chili powder. You can find this spice at any Indian market. Also, add a couple of whole cloves the last minute of cooking your rice (optional). As always, try to use organic ingredients.
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HUMMUS
Quick and easy!
Disclaimer: We apologize for accidentally printing the Lebanese Fattoush recipe written 2x instead of the Hummus recipe in the last issue. Thank you for bringing that to our attention! So, here it is...
Ingredients:
16 oz. of cooked garbanzos or 1 can garbanzo beans, drained.
3-4 garlic cloves
1/4 cup of lemon juice
Sea salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper
Pinch of chili powder (or to taste)
1/4 olive oil
Directions:
Put garlic in food processor until chopped. Add remaining ingredients except olive oil. Slowly add oil to processor while running. Top with extra olive oil.
Got a favorite recipe you'd like to share with us?
For more Middle Eastern recipes, check out "The Way of the Belly."
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Washington, D.C.
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