Belly dance ambassador
The “Mother of Belly Dance in Cuba” will visit New Mexico this weekend to share her story of bringing the art form to her native country, as well as to teach and perform with Santa Fe’s young dancers.
The documentary “Havana Habibi,” habibi meaning “my beloved” in Arabic, follows Tiffany “Hanan” Madera’s 12-year journey of bringing belly dance to Cuba. Since 2003, Madera has dedicated herself to teaching and educating Cubans in the art of belly dancing. Despite disapproval of her Cuban-born parents who fled the country, as well as pushback from Cubans who did not see it as a tasteful art, Madera stayed and created her dance company, Aisha Al Hanan.
Leading up to Pomegranate Studios’ annual “Invaders of the Heart” show, Madera will come to Santa Fe to screen her film and hold a Q&A on June 22 at the New Mexico School for the Deaf.
The message of the film, according to Madera, is one of empowerment and rewards for people who are “steadfast” in their goals. Though her story focuses on how belly dancing can teach those lessons, she says the story can resonate with people from all backgrounds and their desire to overcome adversity.
“The film has something for everyone because it’s a very human story,” she said.
Madera comes to Santa Fe for the first time at the request of Myra Krien, founder of Pomegranate Studios. In addition to the film, Madera will be doing a June 24 workshop
with her students and will perform in the studio’s June 23 and 24 shows.
“She’s the kind of person who is a leader and visionary, and that’s always so inspiring.” said Krien, who brings in dancers every year for the show. This is the first time she’s hosting a screening.
Madera has taught the workshop “Dancing My Mother’s Body” with groups worldwide since 2013. She was inspired by the works of French writer Hélène Cixous, who wrote that people should treat themselves like they were their own mother or daughter.
The message of selfacceptance and positivity is what Krien said she wants her students to learn, and it also goes with the 2017 show’s theme of portraying feminine archetypes and goddesses.
“It’s around identity, self-exploration and using belly dance movement language to create a new pathway and inner dialogue between intellect, memory and the body,” said Madera.
Proceeds from ticket sales for the show go into Krien’s SEEDS program, which mentors girls through dance programming. This year’s “Invaders of the Heart: Ascendance of Athena” will include portrayals of Aphrodite, Athena and the Egyptian goddess Isis by members of Pomegranate Studios; Madera will portray Yemaya and Olokun, both goddesses passed from West Africa to the Caribbean.