Saqra

Why Many Belly Dance Events Ban Flash Photography

By Saqra

We've tried to get people to stop using flash photography at the events I organize and this photo is a great example of why.

When you take a flash photograph, not only do you wreck the possibility of anyone else taking a photo f that moment from any other angle, but you also create a big, blinding flash in the video of the dancer's performance. If the dancer is doing something prolonged and interestingthen it can be completely wiped on video. If she's particularly famous, the frequent, constant flash effects on the video can ruin it.

So, we increased the lights on stage, and we asked people to stop using flash at our events. This photo illustrates what looks like a bomb going off in front of the stage when the flashes from two different cameras fire at the same time.

About the Author

Saqra (Seattle, Washington, USA) is a powerful dance artist and a master instructor. Her fluidity, grace, and technical skill is highlighted by her friendly demeanor and clear joy of the dance. She did not inherit the diva gene. Saqra won titles in Belly Dance USA (Oregon), Belly Dancer of the Year (California), Belly Dancer of the Universe (California), Wiggles of the West (Nevada), and many other competitions. She was voted "Best Kept Secret of 2005" and "Instructor of the Year 2008" by readers of Zaghareet Magazine. Saqra's journey in this dance form began in 1977 and has led her to study with many of the best dancers in the world, including in America, Canada, Turkey and Egypt. Saqra continues to travel and study both in the USA and abroad and prides herself on proper research for anything she teaches. Folklore, fakelore, and stage creativity: all three are valuable, and Saqra clearly presents for each what they actually are. Saqra is constantly expanding her expertise in the traditional ethnic forms of the dance, the modern stage variants, and the continuing evolving fusion techniques, all these areas combined keep her material fresh and current. Saqra is widely known as an event promoter, musician, music and instructional video producer, and a registered hypnotherapist in the state of Washington. That is enough stuff to start explaining what she has been doing in belly dance since 1977. Visit her at www.saqra.net PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Michael Baxter, Santa Clara, California. In the photo, Saqra is holding her Teacher of the Year 2008 Award from Zaghareet Magazine.

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