肚皮舞界的革命! – 專訪Suhaila Salimpour (1/2)

Suhaila Salimpour為Jamila Salimpour之女， Jamila Salimpour是中東舞蹈的先驅，而Suhaila則為Salimpour傳奇的第二代。她的父親Ardeshir Salimpour則是一位波斯鼓手。不僅是獨特的背景造就了她，Suhaila 從小就接觸爵士、踢躂舞，以及芭蕾的訓練。於是，Suhaila開始將她受過的古典舞蹈訓練以及母親所傳授的中東舞蹈做廣泛的整合，這也就是我們今日所看見的Suhaila Salimpour系統。

揭開Suhaila Salimpour系統誕生之因 

Suhaila Salimpour系統概念的誕生，主要是來自於她的母親Jamila Salimpour。Jamila Salimpour是美國部落肚皮舞的創始人，同時是第一個讓將肚皮舞術語定義與格式化的先鋒，並且這些術語仍沿用至今，屹立不搖。

「我的母親對於那些打著她名號，號稱教導Jamila系統這件事情，一直很不開心。這些以我母親之名授課的人，多半都並沒有向我母親學習足夠的時間，甚至有些根本沒向我母親學習過！我母親當時跟我說：『唉，我多希望我有辦法認證他們！』所以這其實是在我年紀非常幼小時，我的母親所提出的想法，而我認為這是一個好主意！」Suhaila解釋著。「當時人們用著我母親的名字或基本概念來授課。但是如果你跟著某人學習的時間不夠長久，你無法說你是瞭解這個系統的。例如說，如果你跟著一位大師學了一年或兩年，那也許只是冰山的一角，你根本就還沒瞭解整座山的全貌。你必須要跟著這位大師研習數年又數年！」

一開始，Suhaila Salimpour系統的誕生只是單純地為了Suhaila 她自己。「在70年代時音樂有很大的轉變。許多來自埃及的音樂變得非常不同且獨特，而當時也是第一次人們開始為舞者作曲。在我母親的世代，所有的音樂都是根據四四拍(即每小節為四拍，以四分音符為一拍)所架構而成，但70年代的音樂完全顛覆了這個規則，一首音樂即是一個相當巨大的作品，一首曲子就有可能是集35位音樂家齊奏而成的藝術。當我12、13歲的時候，我的腦袋中已點畫出我想要如何跳舞，但我的身體無法達到我心中想要的。所以我開始創造一套系統來訓練我自己的身體，讓身體可以表現出我想要呈現的舞姿。而當人們在觀賞完我所希望呈現的舞蹈後，他們跑來問我，我是如何做到的？慢慢地我才意識到，我需要將這個系統組織成一個架構，讓想要使用跟我一樣方式起舞的人們能夠學習。」Suhaila回憶著。

根據Suhaila所創建的架構，她將這個系統認證化，並分為五個等級。「我將這個系統規劃為認證的方式有幾個原因：一是因為我知道這樣的規劃可以幫助舞者進步；二是在肚皮舞圈裡，尚未有所謂的基礎或技巧系統；三是我母親心中的遺憾啟發了我，我不希望人們只來我的課上沾沾醬油就開始教授我的系統，所以我整個系統有分五個等級，也就是說，『等級』同時也代表了跟隨我所學習的年數與深度！」Suhaila繼續說明：「你可以用武術的概念來解釋我的系統，在武術裡，他們有藍帶、黃帶、黑帶……但不是每個人都可以成為黑帶高手的，對吧？就像是有些人也許只能在我的系統裡的第一等級或第二等級，那也沒所謂呀！不是每個人都可以到第三、四、五等級的。」

加強技巧的訓練！追根溯源的學習！ 

「肚皮舞者很少重視在技巧層面，總是在說『感覺！』『感覺！』『感覺！』，但是當你沒有足夠的訓練及技巧時，你看起來就是……」Suhaila停了下來，我也沒繼續追問。我想我們都可以想像那會是怎樣的畫面。「舉例來說，當我到日本的時候，如果我讓他們做一個動作，假如是第一位置(舞蹈術語)，那如果你不喊停他們至死都不會移動的，你知道嘛？相較於美國，我花了許多年的時間讓美國舞者與觀眾懂得欣賞我的系統。事實上是，人們不喜歡辛苦，而我的系統是非常困難的。如果你不喜歡辛苦努力的練習，那對你而言，我就不會是個好老師。」

「如果你喜歡一個表演者所呈現的演出，你要做的，不是向他學習，而是去向他的老師學習。你懂我的意思嗎？我們應該尋找根源，與最原始的啟蒙者或教導者學習，才能看到最根本的面貌。這也是為什麼很多學生來到我的教室向我學習的原因，因為他們喜歡我或我母親的學生們所呈現的演出。而這同時也是我所感激與欣慰的。」Suhaila由衷地說著。

致力成就藝術 靈感俯拾即是 

「我當初壓根也沒想要『創造』些什麼，這一切就是這樣自然地發生在我身上，我沒有去尋找他們，而是他們找到了我。我對於我的藝術賦予有相當的承諾與堅持，我每天都在訓練自己，每天辛苦努力的工作著，我同時接觸許多不同種類的舞蹈。我總是期許自己要保有開放的心胸，我總是在閱讀，並且教育著自己。我同時跟我的舞者們一起上第三級的課，我做這些就都只是為了我自己。即使是一位大師級的老師，你仍需要向每個人學習！」Suhaila說。

「說到靈感，我相信每件事情都是相關連的。在創造的過程中，如果你將自己的心胸保持開放，你將可從許多地方找到美麗又有創意的元素。以我來說，我非常非常少會在肚皮舞的世界裡獲得靈感，通常都是從外在來的。例如在埃及的時候，許多舞者都是藉由其他舞者身上的舞衣、所使用的音樂來得到靈感，但我不是。當走在街上時，我的啟發來自於一位無家可歸但卻十分慷慨的流浪漢，我的靈感來自於一位只剩下一顆牙齒，卻想要跟我分享他手上僅有一塊麵包的男子……喔，能激勵我的是這些在生命中的一草一木，而不是那些化妝、表演服……！」Suhaila娓娓道來。

Revolution in the Bellydancing World! – Interview with Suhaila Salimpour (1/2)

Suhaila Salimpour, daughter of legendary Jamila Salimpour, a pioneer in the world of Middle Eastern dance, and Ardeshir Salimpour, a Persian drummer. Not only her unique background has prepared her, but schooled from an early age in jazz, tap and ballet, Suhaila began integrating her extensive classical training with the Middle Eastern dance passed on by Jamila Salimpour.

How did Suhaila Salimpour Format born?

Suhaila Salimpour Format was born because her mother, Jamila Salimpour, the originator of tribal belly dance in United Sates, and also the first one to solidify a format of terminology in belly dance still used today. 

“My mom was unhappy that people said they teach her format but they didn’t really study with her or didn’t study enough. My mom told me, ‘Oh, I wish I could certify them!’ So this was an idea my mother had when I was very young, and I thought it’s actually a good idea! ” Suhaila explained. “People were using my mom’s name or basic idea to teach. But if you study with someone not long enough, you really can’t say you know the format. For instance, if you just study with a master only one year or two years, you don’t know the whole map yet. You must study for years and years and years!!”

In the beginning, the structure of Suhaila Salimpour Format was planned just because of herself. “Music had changing in the 70’s. Many recordings of music coming from Egypt were so different and unique. This was also the first time people composing music for dancers. It’s totally different because everything was based on 4/4 in my mom’s generation. In the 70’s, music was a big composition. They might have like 35 musicians there. When I was listening in 12 years old or 13, I could see how I wanted to dance in my head but I couldn’t do that in my body. So I started to create a system to train my body that could show the way how I wanted to dance. After watching I put my plan in my body, people asked me how I did it. Then I realized I needed to create a structure about my plan which people wanted their bodies moving from my way. “ Suhaila said.

Based on her structure, Suhaila created it as a certification program with five levels. “I created certification program with several reasons: one is I knew it can help dancers can improve; second is there is no technique and foundation in bellydancing; third is because of my mom. I don’t want people just show up for few classes then start teaching my format. That’s why in my certification program has five levels. It shows you need to study it for years and years.” Suhaila continued explaining, “My format is like Martial Arts. They have yellow belt, blue belt……black belt. When you are black belt, it means you really understand the beginning. Not everyone can be black belt. That’s ok! Just like some people only can be level 1 in my format, or lever 2 in my format……, not everybody can be level 3, 4, 5.”

Train Your Technique! Learn from Origins!

“People seldom focus on technique, always Feeling, Feeling, Feeling, but you don’t have enough training and technique, you will still look……” Suhaila stopped, I didn’t keep asking. I think we both know what that is. “For instance, when I went to Japan, if I put them in home position, they won’t move even they die, you know? Compared with America, it took many years to get America dancers and audiences to appreciate my format. The truth is, people don’t work that hard, but my format is very difficult. If you don’t like to work hard, I am not a good teacher for you.”

“If you see a performer, and you love their performance, don’t study with them, study with who they study with. Do you understand what I mean? You should find the origin. That’s why many students come to my class because they like my students’ performance or my mother’s. That’s also what I appreciate.” Suhaila believed.

Commit to Art. Inspired by Life

“I didn’t think to ‘create’ something. They just happened organic. I didn’t find them. Oppositely, they found me. I’m committed my art, so I train myself everyday. I work hard every day. I take many different dancing forms. I always stay opened. I’m always reading. I’m always educating myself. I do level 3 classes with my dancers. I did it for me. Even a master teacher, you still need to learn from everybody.” Suhaila said.

“For inspiration, I believe everything is connected. In creating process, if you stay opened, you can find the beauty and creative from many sources. For me, I rarely get inspiration in bellydancing world, usually from outside. For example, in Egypt, many dancers were inspired by dancers, costumes, and music. But I’m not. Walking on the street, I was inspired by a homeless person but still so generous; I was inspired by a man with one tooth, and he wanted to share his only piece of bread with me… Oh, what can inspire me is life, Not from make-up, costumes…!!” Suhaila explained.