A Japanese Belly Dancer – Lâle Sayoko

Performing all over the world, Lâle Sayoko has a background in a diverse range of Egyptian and Turkish dance styles, and performs both traditional belly dance and improvisational fusion, with a wide range of collaborations from Arabic to Japanese to her most recent tour with psychedelic oriental dub group Baba Zula, and UK’s top Japanese drumming group, Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers . It was exciting and a pleasure to see Lâle perform @ DROM. The title of her show was HOT HOT HOT.

I loved the costumes & dancing. I’d definitely say, “It was HOT”. Lâle co-produced the evening’s performance and Belly Dance Showcase which originated in Tokyo.

ASIANCE: So why, HOT HOT HOT Belly Dance?

Lale: HOT HOT HOT SHOW originated in Tokyo with four of my really good friends, who are talented belly dancers. They invited me to join them as a guest performer in their show. The agreement was to showcase each of our talents & make the evening’s performance unique. We could choose our own music to dance to just as long as long as it was Hot!

ASIANCE: Is this the first time you produced a Belly Dance show?

Lale: Actually, I’ve been producing Oriental dance events with my dance friends in NY for about a year. Since I moved to New York, I’ve been thinking about producing a Tokyo-style event.

My friend and co-event producer, Ayano Ganaha loved the concept of the Hot Hot Hot Show. Between her and the encouragement of the original dancers in Tokyo, I decided to make a “New York” version of Hot Hot Hot.

ASIANCE: When did you know you wanted to be a Belly Dancer?

Lale: About twelve years ago when I saw, Mishaal, a world renowned Belly Dancer, perform in Tokyo.

I knew Belly Dance was what I wanted to do.

ASIANCE: What was it about Mishaal that piqued your interest?

Lale: She danced fearlessly & was proud of her beauty and passion as a woman.

Culturally speaking, in Japan, we never had this type of physical expression for women and I was drawn to it!!! I began studying with Mishaal when she began offering classes in the autumn of 1999.

ASIANCE: Have you studied other styles of Dance?

Lale: Yes I have but it was never as serious as my study of oriental dance ( belly dance).
Since I was a teenager, I learned to love & appreciate a variety of dance styles and ethnic music. I attended many types of music & dance workshops.

A funny story..When I was learning how to play the Djembe Drums, we’d all be jamming together, and l’d always end up dancing instead of drumming.

ASIANCE: What are the other dance & music styles you studied?

Lale: I’ve taken workshops in Ghana African dance. I studied the dance and music of the AINU; an indigenous tribe of Japan, classic Indian dance, Indonesian dance. All these styles, I studied before falling in love with oriental dance.

When I moved to the U.S., I continued my studies and took a dance history class, an introduction to ballet class, and I took Jazz and Japanese classic dance lessons in the Washington DC area.

ASIANCE: Do you combine these other dance styles into your belly dancing?

Lale: It really depends on the situation. If I’m hired as an oriental dancer and that’s what is expected of me, then I dance oriental dance. But, when I am hired to perform as a soloist with non-Arabic musicians like: Mugenkyo, Kenji Williams and others, they expect something different from me, and I love that challenge.

When I dance ambient-fusion style, I use different kinds of costumes and I improvise to the music. I combine other forms of movement into my belly dance. For example, when I danced in the HOT HOT HOT Showcase, I used a variety of techniques, music and costumes to express myself.

This is what dancers call their vocabulary. So, when it’s appropriate I will use what I know.

ASIANCE: How do you describe your style of belly dancing?

Lale: My style is very artistic, inspired by all of my teachers and all brought together with my own feelings.

I love both, the Oriental dance and the ambient fusion style. So, I do both, but not necessarily at the same time.

ASIANCE: It sounds unusual that you started belly dancing in Japan. Most people don’t associate belly dance with Japanese women.

Lale: I was always interested in a variety of ethnic music and dance and especially belly dance.
One night in Japan, I was out dancing, when a Turkish friend showed me a few belly dance moves, and I loved it. Then, I started to incorporate what he taught me into my dance. When I saw Mishaal perform in a traditional oriental belly dance style, I knew I had to learn the true art form.

Some people know Japanese women can belly dance very well, while others, still can’t believe Japanese women, or Asian women can belly dance at all. Sadly, it’s often the same people who are in positions to hire us.

Actually, belly dance is very popular now in Japan and other Asian countries. Nowadays, Asian women study a variety of styles of belly dance with master teachers from all over the world.

That’s another reason, I’m producing these events with my friends in order to show that belly dance is for all women.

ASIANCE: Who has had the strongest influence on you as a belly dancer?

Lale: It’s difficult to say who the one person is. I’ve had many teachers and am learning all the time.

I learn from watching other dancers who respect culture and music.

It’s inspiring to watch others dance who have their own creative way of expressing themselves through dance. When I travel, I enjoy learning from people from different cultures

ASIANCE: How did you become a professional belly dancer?

Lale: In 2000, I was a student and an original member of Mishaal’s dance troupe.
http://www.devadasi.jp/japanaese/saman.html
I took regular and private lessons with her, and studied with other Japanese teachers. After six months of training, Mishaal booked me as a professional belly dancer in a restaurant show and then there was no stopping me.

ASIANCE: Where else have you performed professionally?

Lale: I’ve been very fortunate as a dancer to have performed in several different countries and cities, all over the world: ie: Japan, Greece, USA, Morocco, the UK… to name a few.

I had the great fortune of touring with my husband, Kenji Williams’ multimedia show: www.bellagaia.com
I have been hired to tour Canada and the United States with Baba Zula from Istanbul.

I’ve also toured all over the U.K. with the professional Taiko Drum Group:
Mugenkyo http://www.taiko.co.uk/mugenkyo

One of the highlights of touring was to dance at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts in U.K. with Kenji Williams and Mugenkyo, and that was truly amazing!!!.

ASIANCE: What is the feeling you get from dancing in front of a live audience?

Lale: Usually before I go onstage, I’m feeling very nervous and excited, and I’m trying to keep myself calm. But once I hear the music and I start dancing, my nerves disappear and I feel ALIVE!!! When the music stops, I feel truly grateful for the opportunity to express myself with music in such a beautiful way.

ASIANCE: Your costumes are absolutely stunning & beautiful, where in the world do you get your costumes?

Lale: Thank you. I’ve acquired my costumes from all over the world. Oriental costumes are an art form in themselves and I always chose elegant costumes. I recently bought three beautiful costumes here in New York at:

Belly Dance America
www.bellydanceamerica.com on
265 west 37 street, f- 2, # 206 NY NY
( 8th avenue )
1 212 768 – 4888

Their costumes and accessories are all handmade from the finest designers from around the world. You don’t have to travel as far as I have to in order to get really great costumes.

ASIANCE: Please share a most memorable performance experience

Lale: Last year, when I performed with the Taiko Drum troupe, Mugenkyo, we performed in an Old traditional Theatre House in BlackPool, U.K. The house was filled to capacity, about 800 seats, four balcony’s high. And when I danced, I gave it my all. I felt at one with the musicians. I was truly in that place we call the ZONE. And when the music stopped, I stood still for a moment, ready to take my bow, and felt the love and power of all 800 people applauding.

That was amazing!

ASIANCE: You mentioned feeling at one with the musicians. What is the relationship between you, the belly dancer, and the musicians?

Lale: In a word: we’re a “Team”.

ASIANCE: Do you also choreograph?

Lale: When I’m dancing in a troupe, yes, because, we all have to be together. I choreograph for my students in class, so they learn to understand music, structure and expression.

You must understand, oriental dance is improvisation within a certain structure. A dancer is trained in dance and music. When the musicians play, we are expressing physically what they are playing.

ASIANCE: Are you currently teaching Oriental Dance (Belly Dancing)?

Lale: Yes and I love teaching. I’m so proud to see my students dancing. I’d also like to share the definition of “Oriental Dance”.
Most westerners call oriental dance, belly dancing, and it’s become a term most westerners know & have come to love…but the real term is oriental dance.

ASIANCE: What do your students teach you?

Lale: That teaching is not easy and teaching is also my learning process.
I am constantly challenging myself to think of the best way to teach & share belly dance with my students and make it fun.

ASIANCE: Who are your students?

Lale: My students are mostly Japanese women, ages: 12 – 60 years old. All Women are welcome to attend my classes and I teach in Japanese & in English.

ASIANCE: Who can belly dance?

Lale: Anybody can belly dance but, traditionally speaking, Belly Dance is a woman’s art form and women of all ages & sizes can belly dance.

ASIANCE: What are some of the benefits of belly dancing?

Lale: I think most importantly, you learn to enjoy the beauty of Arabic music and the art of dancing.

Some of the other benefits are:

1) Women get in touch with the power of their femininity
2) Belly dance strengthens your core center
3) Creates better blood circulation
4) Keeps your body warmer
5) Have fewer menstruation cramps
6) Learn how to be more sensual
7) become more confident in all areas of your life
8) Better love life
9) Women also benefit when birthing children
10) Learn how to express your strength as a woman.
11) Better coordination
12) More flexibility
13) Less stress
14) You make friends with other students
And that’s just a few…

ASIANCE: Where would you like your career to go in the next year to five years?

Lale: I will continue to study Oriental dance with master teachers and improve my style and understanding of my art form. I’ll continue teaching and sharing this beautiful art-form of oriental dance. I look forward to touring and performing again in cities and countries around the world.

I will be producing more events, especially theatrical showcases in NYC.

I’m now creating an oriental belly dance show based on Japanese mythology.

And with all these things I am doing, it’s my desire and intention to inspire and see more women dancing.

ASIANCE: Where can our readers find more information about you, your performances, classes and more information on belly dance?

Lale: All of my information can be found on my website:
www.lalesayoko.com

I’ve been teaching at:

C.R.S.
The Center for Remembering and Sharing
123 Fourth Avenue
btw. 12 & 13 street
NYC
www.crsny.org

ASIANCE: Would you please suggest a website or video where our readers can learn more about belly dance?

Lale: Bellydance NY http://www.bellydanceny.com

ASIANCE: Thank you, it’s been a pleasure being with you & I look forward to seeing your next performance.