Student Reviews
Mesmera's Classes and Workshops
Hello Mesmera,
I just want to say thank you for teaching in our school, it is such a thrill and an honor to have a teacher of your caliber teach for us, and your warmth and kindness is so appreciated. ~ S
Just wanted you to know that the opportunity to dance at my friends seminary
graduation celebration party on Saturday night turned out great! Everyone LOVED it.
The positive feedback I got was unbelievable. This morning I am just so FILLED with
gratitude to you as my beloved teacher and for your wonderful class!! I could
not help but think that I would not be able to dance
so enjoyably for myself and others had it not been for the Advanced Class in
particular. Those "solo" performance exercises we do at the end of the class
really make ALL of the difference. I can not help but feel that working
through all of the nervousness, lack of confidence, lack of dance steps,
finding ways to work around the knees etc, with those exercise really has paid
off. Many people asked where I was taking classes. I told them about you,
but think I need to bring some of your flyers next time! ~S
Hi Mesmera - I loved the workshop and the monday class. You're darling and have a very definitive and charismatic spirit. I saw you perform at Taxim and loved your style. You have a very distinct goddess/priestess style of movement and it is fantastic to watch. I remember your zil style as well - you embellish with them more as an instrument than as some prattling prop with the music. See you soon ~ C
Dearest Mesmera! It was sooo lovely to see you in Louisiana!!
I always learn so much from you!!! And your energy alone is worth the
price of admission!! You're a powerhouse!! Thank you for sharing your
fiery beauty with me! I was so glad to be present in the Fire and Spice Workshop today. Do I need to say you are such an inspiring, creative and wonderful dancer, instructor and a persona. I love you in so many many ways. I feel like my heart is going to burst and explode sometimes, when I am close to you.
I love the way you teach. The workshop was what I needed! ~ N Mesmera -
Just wanted to say that I thouroughly enjoyed the wokshop last weekend.
Really did not like Gypsy style before, but now it is quite appealing to me.
Your movements were quite appealing, both dramatic and body friendly!!
Loved it - can't wait until I have an hour or two to get a chance to sit
down and inhale your Gypsy video!!!
Thanks again!!
T.
"Oh!!!! Mesmera was teaching belly dance at LACC and her vibrant friendly "you can do anything!" Spirit introduced and guided me through what turned out to be a incredibly rewarding career performing for the community of the peoples from countries of middle east. War torn Lebanon allowed a large population of Lebanese to reside here in La. These years and the Lebanese community provided a rich rewarding career for many many years. I learned about a community that I would never have been able to know and bring into my heart if it weren't for Mesmera and her welcoming love for the dance of women of the middle east. I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for being at the place and time to open the door for such memories that still bring me such a strong feeling of joy and love. Anytime you want to introduce "Lebanese Debke" to your students I would love to gift you, from my heart and to thank you!!
All of my pictures from my wedding in 1982 burn in a fire in my house. Otherwise I'd post your performance!!!!!" -K. S.
"Since I have begun belly dancing I have met and seen and watched many wonderful and amazing dancing women - You are one of them - Your enthusiasm and appreciation for this dance form and all it's aspects is infectious - You are definitely a role model and I hope I can pass on to my students - some of what I have learned from you - even if it is only on video so far.............I never imagined that I could learn so much from video - it's odd and it's great. "
xo B
How to Play Finger Cymbals reviews:
"Congratulations ... very well done! I did not expect anything less from you but the best professional production and you've done a great job!" ~ Harry Saroyan, Saroyan Mastercrafts
"Badia of Ali Baba recommended the zill video and when I saw Harry at Rakkasah selling the tape, I snatched it up immediately. It is a great video. Zills have always been intimidating for me even though Joyce tries to demystify/unintimidate the process of matching moves to zill playing. Thanks for making the zill playing process less intimidating, frustrating and more enjoyable. -Fay Lin-Kight "Zina"
"I just received your video, "How To Play Cymbals" and I am really enjoying it. I am reigniting my passion for bellydancing after many years of inactivy, so at this point, I feel like a beginner again! I enjoy your style of instruction...you are very informative and concise, yet funny and entertaining! Sincerely, D"
MESMERA's GARDEN reviews:
Mesmera is a well-known dancer and teacher located in the LA area. I have seen her dance several times and she has the style of a real wild child, one who is a well-trained dancer. Filmed in Africa with the running time of 90 minutes, it was produced in 1998 and has led to countless hours of cross training for me. I dance to this training video when I need to practice but am too uninspired to fuel my own practice. The video is cut into many sections all with a different exotic African backdrop and costuming on Mesmera. On video she is nurturing and supportive while leading 7 or 8 repetitive sessions of technique and combinations from the simple to the sublime. I never tire of this video and can be challenged by her layering of each combination with shimmies or alternate footwork and body movements. She works on each pattern long enough to get something out of it and keep the pace going in order to work up a good sweat. Mesmera’s video is fresh, it’s inviting, and it’s exciting and accessible. She has a ‘You can do it’ spirit and she gives complicated enough material to keep the best dancers coming back.
-student of Angelika
I just received your bellydance DVD, Mesmera's Garden.
I have watched many bellydance DVDs and yours is now my favorite. I have been
looking for something like this for a long time. I was so happy with what you had
to show the world. Keep up the good work, please pass on the message that I love her DVD.
Dance of the Serpent:
"I have recently had the oppurtunity to purchase Dance of the Serpent and Mesmera's Garden. I just wanted to say these are two of the best belly dance videos I've bought. Both are so full of information, I'l be working with them for a very long time.
I am a bit of a critter collector myself, and have a particular fondness for snakes. I found the presentation of this misunderstood animal very enlightening and quite moving. I will definitely reccomend her videos to other dancers!! Bravo!! Thanks for all the hard work!!
Grateufully Yours, S"
"Hi Mesmera, I haven't been dancing that long you suggested Dance of the Serpent as a good alternative to learn the basics.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I am very pleased with my purchase. The video is packed with lots of great and inspiring techniques. I love it. Thanks so much for giving others the inspiration to learn Bellydancing. I will probably be ordering Mesmera's Garden soon. Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts with you and let you know how much I enjoyed your video. Take care. A. M."
"Mesmera,I practiced to your video today and not only did I learn a lot, but have gained a better understanding about bellydancing and fell in love with it even more...I love your style Thanks again for the great suggestion on the video. -S"
Zambra Mesmera: GypsyBellyDance reviews:
By the way, I love your DVD. I have two boxes of instructional DVDs, and yours is by far the best I have ever seen. Congratulations on such a first class production. -Y
Thank you SO much for the dvd!!! That is an AMAZING dvd... Gypsy Belly Dance. It is going to take me some TIME to take it ALL in! That is a dvd that I KNOW that I will watch again and again and...
Mesmera- You have a new fan, I tell ya! I love your style and spirit!
-Evelyn
Mesmera,
“Gypsy” is stunning. It’s so beautiful, and watching it is a profoundly transformative experience I love “Dance of the Serpent & “Mesmera’s Garden” too; they each take me “back where I belong” (I think you understand what I mean). And the LACC class is also very transformative for me this time around; profoundly moving spiritually as well as physically.
You are a true Priestess/Healer, and I am very lucky to be one of your students.
Blessed be, E.
"I just got your Gypsy Bellydance DVD and it is wonderful! This is just what I needed to add variety and spice to my dance style. This DVD is perfect for an intermediate or advanced dancer. I am impressed with the layout of the DVD also. I seem to learn well from just watching and following along with a video instead of stopping and counting each step etc... which can get very boring and I lose interest quickly. I also enjoyed the way you put certain dance techniques in sections. If I just want to concentrate on arms or using geometry in steps thats what I watch. You are a truely wonderful and exciting artist that no one would tire of watching! Thanks so much!"
Tiffany from GA
Hi Mesmera!!
Just this morning I recieved the instructional Gypsy video I ordered. I was simply struct by it's content. I have just recently decided to learn gypsy style bellydance. I have seen some performances and became interested mostly because I love to spin and there was a lot of spinning. But never had I seen so much passion and emotion. I also love the technique you use for teaching. Most teachers teach very mechanical, step by step, but you teach the ENTIRE movements, the attitude, the emotion. You show the student/dancer how powerful their movements can be and how to express it. I think that is the hardest part for students is being told to smile, make it your own, and struggling to know what that means. You show them that. Trust me when I say this is not a video that will sit and collect dust. I just recieved it this morning and have gone through it 3 times already today. Loads of thanks!!!! -D.
BellyDance with Finger Cymbals reviews:
Zaghareet! July/August 2009
reviewed by Sharina
OK, you’ve put on your finger cymbals, managed a few triplets … but you’re rooted to the ground!!! Now what do you do? Let Mésmera help you get to that next level!
In her new DVD, Belly Dance with Finger Cymbals, Mésmera not only breaks down finger cymbal technique in an easy to follow manner, she gradually adds arm and hip movements, then combinations … and before we know it, we’re dancing with finger cymbals! And once we’ve got the movements, she teaches us a choreography to use for practice or performance, all in one great DVD!!!
The DVD starts with a lovely performance by Mésmera in a restaurant. This is a great beginning (so many DVDs only have a performance at the end) because after watching her effortless cymbal-playing, we want to do that too! We then move into the basic instruction:
Tonality, Counting & Patterns: Here’s where we get our basic finger cymbal instruction! Mésmera demonstrates the different tones we can make with our cymbals (ring, flat or edge) and counts out different patterns for us (while the counts also appear on the screen). As we work through the different patterns, we change the tones as well.
The videography here is very clear so we don’t miss a thing, and Mésmera even crosses her hands as she faces the camera, so that her right hand is on our right side. By the time we’ve finished this first section, we’ve already gone through several count patterns done in flat, ring or edge, sometimes with all 3 different tones combined into 1 rhythm exercise.
Arms & Upperbody: Here we go past just playing finger cymbals! Mésmera gives us some arm movements to practice, breaking down the count along with the movements. We move on to shoulder shimmies, shoulder circles, rib lifts & drops, slides, rib cage circles, upper body camels, body waves, with clear instruction on where in each movement we should play our cymbals (and use of the different tones as well).
By this point, just by following along (and with Mésmera calling out the rhythm counts), we’re already gaining confidence on how to coordinate the movements of the cymbals with our upper body movements. And the DVD chapters are very easy to navigate, so we can also repeat this section over and over until we feel comfortable with arm movements before we go onto the hipwork.
Steps & Hipwork: We’re walking! Mésmera demonstrates “when” to take a step while we’re playing our cymbals. We then move on to hip drops, side-to-side hips, camel walk, hip twist, shimmies, pelvic circle, figure 8s, hip rotation, pelvic rock, plus combinations of these steps. By the time we’ve finished this section, we’ve really had a lot of practice playing our cymbals with the movements. And there’s an extra benefit here for more beginning dancers to see how Mésmera combines steps into interesting combinations!
Travels & Turns: This section includes live drummers, which is a really nice touch to the DVD! Here we learn different traveling combinations and turns, and then how to add in the finger cymbals.
Choreography: Learning a choreography is a nice reward for our hard work, and offers a fun opportunity for more practice! Mésmera demonstrates the choreography (calling out the cymbal patterns for us) and then performs it with the live drummers. As in the rest of this DVD, she doesn’t break down the dance movements, only the finger cymbal patterns, so a dancer using this DVD would have to at least have basic knowledge of movement.
And for those who are more advanced and ready to move on, the next two sections (Chiftitelli Combinations and Advanced Combinations) are for you! That’s why this DVD would appeal to a wide range of dancers, depending on your particular skill level.
The DVD ends with another inspiring performance.
Mésmera is completely comfortable in front of a camera, gives very clear instruction, and the logical progressions of her instruction make us feel very confident as we move from step to step.
The DVD was filmed at Dar Maghreb Restaurant in Hollywood, CA so we’re treated to a lavish setting for the instruction. Mésmera changes costumes in different segments of the DVD but her movements are always clear and easy to see.
This DVD would be a great addition to any dancer’s library since we’re not just learning how to play the cymbals (although Mésmera does a great job of breaking down that technique), we’re learning to MOVE with the cymbals. A beginning dancer with a basic movement vocabulary could easily follow along and a more intermediate/advanced dancer would gain insight on how to use more intricate cymbal patterns in different combinations.
Hello Mesmera,
I just want to say thank you for teaching in our school, it is such a thrill and an honor to have a teacher of your caliber teach for us, and your warmth and kindness is so appreciated. ~ S
Just wanted you to know that the opportunity to dance at my friends seminary
graduation celebration party on Saturday night turned out great! Everyone LOVED it.
The positive feedback I got was unbelievable. This morning I am just so FILLED with
gratitude to you as my beloved teacher and for your wonderful class!! I could
not help but think that I would not be able to dance
so enjoyably for myself and others had it not been for the Advanced Class in
particular. Those "solo" performance exercises we do at the end of the class
really make ALL of the difference. I can not help but feel that working
through all of the nervousness, lack of confidence, lack of dance steps,
finding ways to work around the knees etc, with those exercise really has paid
off. Many people asked where I was taking classes. I told them about you,
but think I need to bring some of your flyers next time! ~S
Hi Mesmera - I loved the workshop and the monday class. You're darling and have a very definitive and charismatic spirit. I saw you perform at Taxim and loved your style. You have a very distinct goddess/priestess style of movement and it is fantastic to watch. I remember your zil style as well - you embellish with them more as an instrument than as some prattling prop with the music. See you soon ~ C
Dearest Mesmera! It was sooo lovely to see you in Louisiana!!
I always learn so much from you!!! And your energy alone is worth the
price of admission!! You're a powerhouse!! Thank you for sharing your
fiery beauty with me! I was so glad to be present in the Fire and Spice Workshop today. Do I need to say you are such an inspiring, creative and wonderful dancer, instructor and a persona. I love you in so many many ways. I feel like my heart is going to burst and explode sometimes, when I am close to you.
I love the way you teach. The workshop was what I needed! ~ N Mesmera -
Just wanted to say that I thouroughly enjoyed the wokshop last weekend.
Really did not like Gypsy style before, but now it is quite appealing to me.
Your movements were quite appealing, both dramatic and body friendly!!
Loved it - can't wait until I have an hour or two to get a chance to sit
down and inhale your Gypsy video!!!
Thanks again!!
T.
"Oh!!!! Mesmera was teaching belly dance at LACC and her vibrant friendly "you can do anything!" Spirit introduced and guided me through what turned out to be a incredibly rewarding career performing for the community of the peoples from countries of middle east. War torn Lebanon allowed a large population of Lebanese to reside here in La. These years and the Lebanese community provided a rich rewarding career for many many years. I learned about a community that I would never have been able to know and bring into my heart if it weren't for Mesmera and her welcoming love for the dance of women of the middle east. I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for being at the place and time to open the door for such memories that still bring me such a strong feeling of joy and love. Anytime you want to introduce "Lebanese Debke" to your students I would love to gift you, from my heart and to thank you!!
All of my pictures from my wedding in 1982 burn in a fire in my house. Otherwise I'd post your performance!!!!!" -K. S.
"Since I have begun belly dancing I have met and seen and watched many wonderful and amazing dancing women - You are one of them - Your enthusiasm and appreciation for this dance form and all it's aspects is infectious - You are definitely a role model and I hope I can pass on to my students - some of what I have learned from you - even if it is only on video so far.............I never imagined that I could learn so much from video - it's odd and it's great. "
xo B
How to Play Finger Cymbals reviews:
"Congratulations ... very well done! I did not expect anything less from you but the best professional production and you've done a great job!" ~ Harry Saroyan, Saroyan Mastercrafts
"Badia of Ali Baba recommended the zill video and when I saw Harry at Rakkasah selling the tape, I snatched it up immediately. It is a great video. Zills have always been intimidating for me even though Joyce tries to demystify/unintimidate the process of matching moves to zill playing. Thanks for making the zill playing process less intimidating, frustrating and more enjoyable. -Fay Lin-Kight "Zina"
"I just received your video, "How To Play Cymbals" and I am really enjoying it. I am reigniting my passion for bellydancing after many years of inactivy, so at this point, I feel like a beginner again! I enjoy your style of instruction...you are very informative and concise, yet funny and entertaining! Sincerely, D"
MESMERA's GARDEN reviews:
Mesmera is a well-known dancer and teacher located in the LA area. I have seen her dance several times and she has the style of a real wild child, one who is a well-trained dancer. Filmed in Africa with the running time of 90 minutes, it was produced in 1998 and has led to countless hours of cross training for me. I dance to this training video when I need to practice but am too uninspired to fuel my own practice. The video is cut into many sections all with a different exotic African backdrop and costuming on Mesmera. On video she is nurturing and supportive while leading 7 or 8 repetitive sessions of technique and combinations from the simple to the sublime. I never tire of this video and can be challenged by her layering of each combination with shimmies or alternate footwork and body movements. She works on each pattern long enough to get something out of it and keep the pace going in order to work up a good sweat. Mesmera’s video is fresh, it’s inviting, and it’s exciting and accessible. She has a ‘You can do it’ spirit and she gives complicated enough material to keep the best dancers coming back.
-student of Angelika
I just received your bellydance DVD, Mesmera's Garden.
I have watched many bellydance DVDs and yours is now my favorite. I have been
looking for something like this for a long time. I was so happy with what you had
to show the world. Keep up the good work, please pass on the message that I love her DVD.
Dance of the Serpent:
"I have recently had the oppurtunity to purchase Dance of the Serpent and Mesmera's Garden. I just wanted to say these are two of the best belly dance videos I've bought. Both are so full of information, I'l be working with them for a very long time.
I am a bit of a critter collector myself, and have a particular fondness for snakes. I found the presentation of this misunderstood animal very enlightening and quite moving. I will definitely reccomend her videos to other dancers!! Bravo!! Thanks for all the hard work!!
Grateufully Yours, S"
"Hi Mesmera, I haven't been dancing that long you suggested Dance of the Serpent as a good alternative to learn the basics.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I am very pleased with my purchase. The video is packed with lots of great and inspiring techniques. I love it. Thanks so much for giving others the inspiration to learn Bellydancing. I will probably be ordering Mesmera's Garden soon. Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts with you and let you know how much I enjoyed your video. Take care. A. M."
"Mesmera,I practiced to your video today and not only did I learn a lot, but have gained a better understanding about bellydancing and fell in love with it even more...I love your style Thanks again for the great suggestion on the video. -S"
Zambra Mesmera: GypsyBellyDance reviews:
By the way, I love your DVD. I have two boxes of instructional DVDs, and yours is by far the best I have ever seen. Congratulations on such a first class production. -Y
Thank you SO much for the dvd!!! That is an AMAZING dvd... Gypsy Belly Dance. It is going to take me some TIME to take it ALL in! That is a dvd that I KNOW that I will watch again and again and...
Mesmera- You have a new fan, I tell ya! I love your style and spirit!
-Evelyn
Mesmera,
“Gypsy” is stunning. It’s so beautiful, and watching it is a profoundly transformative experience I love “Dance of the Serpent & “Mesmera’s Garden” too; they each take me “back where I belong” (I think you understand what I mean). And the LACC class is also very transformative for me this time around; profoundly moving spiritually as well as physically.
You are a true Priestess/Healer, and I am very lucky to be one of your students.
Blessed be, E.
"I just got your Gypsy Bellydance DVD and it is wonderful! This is just what I needed to add variety and spice to my dance style. This DVD is perfect for an intermediate or advanced dancer. I am impressed with the layout of the DVD also. I seem to learn well from just watching and following along with a video instead of stopping and counting each step etc... which can get very boring and I lose interest quickly. I also enjoyed the way you put certain dance techniques in sections. If I just want to concentrate on arms or using geometry in steps thats what I watch. You are a truely wonderful and exciting artist that no one would tire of watching! Thanks so much!"
Tiffany from GA
Hi Mesmera!!
Just this morning I recieved the instructional Gypsy video I ordered. I was simply struct by it's content. I have just recently decided to learn gypsy style bellydance. I have seen some performances and became interested mostly because I love to spin and there was a lot of spinning. But never had I seen so much passion and emotion. I also love the technique you use for teaching. Most teachers teach very mechanical, step by step, but you teach the ENTIRE movements, the attitude, the emotion. You show the student/dancer how powerful their movements can be and how to express it. I think that is the hardest part for students is being told to smile, make it your own, and struggling to know what that means. You show them that. Trust me when I say this is not a video that will sit and collect dust. I just recieved it this morning and have gone through it 3 times already today. Loads of thanks!!!! -D.
BellyDance with Finger Cymbals reviews:
Zaghareet! July/August 2009
reviewed by Sharina
OK, you’ve put on your finger cymbals, managed a few triplets … but you’re rooted to the ground!!! Now what do you do? Let Mésmera help you get to that next level!
In her new DVD, Belly Dance with Finger Cymbals, Mésmera not only breaks down finger cymbal technique in an easy to follow manner, she gradually adds arm and hip movements, then combinations … and before we know it, we’re dancing with finger cymbals! And once we’ve got the movements, she teaches us a choreography to use for practice or performance, all in one great DVD!!!
The DVD starts with a lovely performance by Mésmera in a restaurant. This is a great beginning (so many DVDs only have a performance at the end) because after watching her effortless cymbal-playing, we want to do that too! We then move into the basic instruction:
Tonality, Counting & Patterns: Here’s where we get our basic finger cymbal instruction! Mésmera demonstrates the different tones we can make with our cymbals (ring, flat or edge) and counts out different patterns for us (while the counts also appear on the screen). As we work through the different patterns, we change the tones as well.
The videography here is very clear so we don’t miss a thing, and Mésmera even crosses her hands as she faces the camera, so that her right hand is on our right side. By the time we’ve finished this first section, we’ve already gone through several count patterns done in flat, ring or edge, sometimes with all 3 different tones combined into 1 rhythm exercise.
Arms & Upperbody: Here we go past just playing finger cymbals! Mésmera gives us some arm movements to practice, breaking down the count along with the movements. We move on to shoulder shimmies, shoulder circles, rib lifts & drops, slides, rib cage circles, upper body camels, body waves, with clear instruction on where in each movement we should play our cymbals (and use of the different tones as well).
By this point, just by following along (and with Mésmera calling out the rhythm counts), we’re already gaining confidence on how to coordinate the movements of the cymbals with our upper body movements. And the DVD chapters are very easy to navigate, so we can also repeat this section over and over until we feel comfortable with arm movements before we go onto the hipwork.
Steps & Hipwork: We’re walking! Mésmera demonstrates “when” to take a step while we’re playing our cymbals. We then move on to hip drops, side-to-side hips, camel walk, hip twist, shimmies, pelvic circle, figure 8s, hip rotation, pelvic rock, plus combinations of these steps. By the time we’ve finished this section, we’ve really had a lot of practice playing our cymbals with the movements. And there’s an extra benefit here for more beginning dancers to see how Mésmera combines steps into interesting combinations!
Travels & Turns: This section includes live drummers, which is a really nice touch to the DVD! Here we learn different traveling combinations and turns, and then how to add in the finger cymbals.
Choreography: Learning a choreography is a nice reward for our hard work, and offers a fun opportunity for more practice! Mésmera demonstrates the choreography (calling out the cymbal patterns for us) and then performs it with the live drummers. As in the rest of this DVD, she doesn’t break down the dance movements, only the finger cymbal patterns, so a dancer using this DVD would have to at least have basic knowledge of movement.
And for those who are more advanced and ready to move on, the next two sections (Chiftitelli Combinations and Advanced Combinations) are for you! That’s why this DVD would appeal to a wide range of dancers, depending on your particular skill level.
The DVD ends with another inspiring performance.
Mésmera is completely comfortable in front of a camera, gives very clear instruction, and the logical progressions of her instruction make us feel very confident as we move from step to step.
The DVD was filmed at Dar Maghreb Restaurant in Hollywood, CA so we’re treated to a lavish setting for the instruction. Mésmera changes costumes in different segments of the DVD but her movements are always clear and easy to see.
This DVD would be a great addition to any dancer’s library since we’re not just learning how to play the cymbals (although Mésmera does a great job of breaking down that technique), we’re learning to MOVE with the cymbals. A beginning dancer with a basic movement vocabulary could easily follow along and a more intermediate/advanced dancer would gain insight on how to use more intricate cymbal patterns in different combinations.