A Magi Temple Belly Dance School – Analog Artist Digital World

Fusion Fridays at a Magi Temple Belly Dance School, (3589 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32806) is hosted by Serafina Schiano. I have seen Serafina perform many times with Phantasmagoria and other productions in town.

A Magi is teaming up to promote all sorts of workshops and cultural affairs
in the Central Florida area, so there is always something fun and
different to inspire your creative side! In an effort to
make the arts accessible to everyone, this class session was donation-based.

The session began with a review of Zil Rhythms and musicality. Everyone sat on the floor in a circle and Serafina explained the Zil Rhythms. They each pt on finer cymbals on each hand and then started with 3 triple gallops Which had the simple pattern of 123, 123, 123. The 3, 3, 7 combination went, 123, 123, 1234567. There was also a 3,5,5 combination and a 3,1,3,1,3 combination. Some of these are more difficult to maintain and some got lost in the midst of their pattern. Rhythm is something that is felt intuitively not necessarily learned.

I was amazed that the students picked up a routine in just 15 minutes in the second half of class. Serafina picked a piece of music by Fifth Harmony called Work from Home (Ty Dolla $ign.) Moves taught included head circles, chest circles, and hip circles and rib combos. Written on sheet of paper, the choreography looked incredibly complex. Yet by the end of class everyone had mastered the entire routine. I have a deep respect for everyone who mastered this lesson which resulted in a hip and contemporary Belly dance routine. There was a well deserved shot of pleasure when they completed their run through.

Should you want to explore Belly Dancing you can study with Serafina every Fusion Friday at Magi Temple Belly Dance School. Class runs from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. It is an opportunity to train your body, Cultivate your unique style, and ignite your passion.

A Magi Temple Belly Dance School (3589 S Orange Ave, Orlando FL). Held a free healing through belly dance class in light of the Pulse Nightclub Tragedy in their neighborhood. Modalities included, healing belly CHI: Transcendental warm-up and stretches, Taksim Chi, Tribal Chi, Joyful Shimmies and Spiritual Chakra Hand and arm Mudras by
A Magi Temple Belly Dance School Teachers: Melanie La Joie, Linda Allegro, Cat Bruce and, Rokaya Mikhailenko. The Magi Temple Belly Dance School is located 1 mile south of Pulse Nightclub tragedy and supports healing through belly dance!

It was only as I drove to the event that I realized how close it was to ground Zero of the tragic Terrorist attack at Pulse. Traffic backed up heading south out of Downtown Orlando. I decided to drive down side streets and it looked like about 5 blocks were shut down around the nightclub. Glancing down the side streets I could see all the blinking lights of the emergency vehicles at the crime scene. It must be difficult to piece together exactly what happened based on the forensics of so many gun shots.

At the Magi Temple, about a dozen women were ready to begin their belly dance healing. Melanie, the Magi owner said that after a week of vigils, we might be ready for some healing. What better way to heal than through the joy of movement. She lives only a few blocks from the Pulse night club, and she remembered being awakened by the sound of gun shots, the sounds of emergency vehicles and the the ongoing sounds of hovering helicopters. Her voice broke as she told us this. Clearly healing takes time.

The stretches got everyone loosened up and then the dancing began. Every woman was a beautiful goddess each in their own proportions. One woman is expecting a baby girl and she isolated her hip movements with the best of them. After the workshop, several Magi dancers performed with elegant wings and then with fire. Candles lined the front and back baseboards of the studio.

Afterwards we all went outside to project positive loving energy towards the Pulse nightclub. The flickering blue and red lights of emergency vehicles could be seen in the distance. We all joined hands in a large circle. Melanie began the chant,” Peace, Love, Pulse.” I joined the chant and immediately started to tear up. The setting sun was so bright I thought. I rubbed my eyes and they stung more. Since the shooting, attendance at the Magi Temple has been way down. People must feel intimidated driving around the crime scene. If you want to heal in a unique way, you should stop by Magi. You will certainly find yourself looser and perhaps feeling more peaceful. I left with a heart full of love yet still saddened inconsolably.