Sonya of Chicago Belly Dance Veil-Poi Voi

[jenevlooper]

what a lovely dancer!

[YGBDO]

How beautiful and unique! It is rare to see a performer with such individuality in the EC belly dance style nowadays. Wonderfully refreshing :)

[lyflorida]

You are an amazing performer. Wow :)

[caasious]

so beautiful

[MaeLa42]

Love the veil moves;)

[red4macjc]

Magnificent! Such grace and beautiful technique! I loved that special thing with the veil! Did you make it yourself? Very unique! And inspiring to me, to see such beauty and sensuality from a voluptuous woman like myself ;)

[396M]

SHE IS aweSOMEEEE

[TABATHAGATA]

WOOOUUWWW!!! It's so beautiful... I love your style... :)

I share you a great hug from Colombia...and excuse my english...

[fabolobo]

Muy bueno

[Hema151106]

Очень красиво!

[IviSloboda]

Perfect!

[armymom453]

wow! that was fantastic! i think i need to take a nap now - it wore me out just watching.

[olive2g]

ahhhh! such skill! aiwa!!!!

[Baphomet198666]

awesome from the states!

[Daliadancer]

ohhhhhhhhh

I love it!!!!!!

Thank yoooooooooouuuuuu!

Love from Petrópolis, RJ, Brasil

[MajorasFlask]

i wish you would have played more of the secret chief 3 song, it was getting to the good part :q ~ ~

[SonyasSouk]

I totally agree! It rocks out after this point, but you can agree that it is a good break point in the song... in a showcase (not hosted by me) you're given very specific time frame to fill, & as much as I loved that song full-out, I needed to show taxim (slow) & drum solo techniques....

[Oria339]

Wow!! Simply stunning! Makes me wanna go to Chicago and see you live! Amazing shimmies and movements, the Voi was GORGEOUS!

[MNRiley1980]

I don't understand... is there a string attached...it seems to be spinning even when your hands aren't touching it.... beautiful!

[xoqtticanxo]

thats is a prop called poi

she combined them.

two props at once.

[SonyasSouk]

Veil + Poi = Voi.... right?

;-}

~S~

[Liszababe]

its a chain or a string... yeah lol.

[launovanova]

WOW!!!!!!!! you are awesome!!!!!!!! love ya!

[m0riaSaidah]

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

[ownedzzlyy]

I LOOVE the beginning!

[Dezadera]

Beautiful!!

I love how you very nonchalantly move you hair to allow the back side to be viewed during a movement.

Great!!

I need to work on doing that. My hair seems to get in the way sometimes.

[katrinaburbank]

beautimous! wonderful timing, energy...fantastical.

[rrrrrrrrrrrrr89]

sooo wonderful!

[lustrousorchid]

Gives me chills! I LUBS it!

[red158]

that was just beautiful....:-)....

[Mageborn777]

Inspiring. A true representation of the Inner Goddess.

[akhenhathor]

now that is what you call an all- rounder.

[seinitoasarahmila]

Your dance fits perfectly to the video Hisham Abbas- Sebtek on Youtube. I opened two windows and listened to his song while you danced. It's perfect together and looks really elegant and graceful set together!

5*****

[staticfax]

awesome looks like Egyptian style same one I'm studying.

[fjolkuningkona]

I love watching you dance! You are really wonderful! Do you usually come to other countries give workshops? I would definitely go!

[ghizarocha]

I'm a brazilian girl anda i loved your dance, the veil, everything, you shimie, al! All! You're wonderful!

[Magellanicloud13]

Really beautiful! Much more entertaining than many other dancers because you add so many unique details and really make it your own. So sad I was out of town during the UW show, you inspire me!

[taliamara]

Lovely!!

[taliamara]

Wonderful...i love it!!! =)

[ImmanBellystylin]

very beautiful :)

[psychoticanimosity]

Beautiful and entrancing dance...

I do believe I met you at Belies for Life! I didn't get to speak to you after danced but YOU WERE AMAZING!.....Yeah... I was totally in awe..

I still am! It looked as though you were... seducing a flame with your lovely dance... So beautiful...

I still love your gorgeous sleeve, lol. I hope you can put up your BfL performance soon.

[RaqsSaideh]

I thought that this was spectacular when I first saw this video, but it was even more amazing seeing it live last night at the UW Bellydance show.

Great job; I hope to be able to see you dance live again one day =)

[SonyasSouk]

Thanks so much for the kind words!

Take Care,

~~S~~

[Caerann]

Hey, I didn't know that you know Secret Chiefs 3! That's a very cool song choice too. =O)

[bl00dmuffin]

Wow! You have some major talent; this is one of the best belly dancing videos I've seen on Youtube. How long have you been dancing?

[SonyasSouk]

Thanks so much!

12 years since I walked into my very 1st dance class. Its was belly dance!

~S~

[claudiacal]

Are there limits of age to praticate this dance?I 'udlike to lern it but maybe toot late for me!......... you hypnotise me!

[kharin2007]

You move so nice, i love belly dancing and youre one of my idol!!! where do you usually conduct your workshop?

[raemckay]

Enchanting. Positively enchanting.

[shakininfa]

hay una cosa q se llama gracia..otra movimiento y otra verguenza....no tiene ninguna... =S

[red158]

this must be the prettiest performance i've seen so far... great job...:-)....

[aylabellydancer]

You inspire me! I love to watch you dance. When would you be comin out to the Boston area?

[SonyasSouk]

Thanks! I have more on my website...

Hmm, I've never been to Boston, I guess when someone brings me for a workshop, then I'll see Boston! Take Care/keep warm,

~S~

[aylabellydancer]

So what would it take to get you out for a workshop? The MBDA's People's choice is happening in March.......

[SonyasSouk]

I'm pretty easy... feel free to email me for details, or thru my website (see the description box for web addy) Thanks for thinking of me!

~S~

[MagycArwen]

can u tell me the name of the song in the middle, please? u r gorgeous!

[SonyasSouk]

Thanks so much!

I've it listed in the details, it is a Chiftitelli by Salaam, off of their album Raqsat Salaam (dance of peace).

~S~

[tinaelkins]

Sonya,

this is beautiful! First time I've had the pleasure of seeing you dance. Much happiness and inspiration to you in 2008! Tina Enheduanna

[juuicy]

u r so beatiful, yur moves are so smooth. i loved it

[bellyrockin]

Wow, I love it!

[bellyrockin]

Wow!

[GypsyArdor]

Wow! You are a gorgeous dancer!

Love, Gypsy XOXO

[SonyasSouk]

Thanks so much!

~S~

[ThespiSis]

Spectacular! I was happy to see you *dancing* with the voi too!

[ZahiraBellydancer]

Always fabulous!!

When are you coming out to NH? :D

[AmandaQ01]

I am so glad that you posted this!!! I love your drum solos- always wonderful to see. I have a red & black veil from L. Rose designs that I am in love with too- called "Dragon's Blood". :-)

[BellyDancerDawn]

You know I've always had a soft spot for you Sonya since the very first time I saw you in Ruby's show.I'd give you a 10 star rating but they only allow me to give you five.

You are stunning to watch and are as beautiful as ever. :)

Thanks for posting a new video!

[SonyasSouk]

Aww, pitter patter, my heart!

Thanks for the kind words, lady!

~S~

[anaisis]

Very beautifull, congratulations

[Floofytail]

Oh my goodness... you should make an entire video devoted to your veil poi - I wanted to see more. All the same, it was a gorgeous performance!

[SonyasSouk]

Thanks so much!

My focus is trying to really *dance* while I do it... the challenge!

~S~

[Oreibasia]

Wonderful performance!

[Raqsdama23]

going strait to my faves

[SonyasSouk]

~Also~

The veil is a hair shy of 4 yards long, 50" wide & dyed by L. Rose Designs out of Cali, I believe it's "Autumn Leaves" or something.

You don't mind I call it Voi do you?

I assumed it was the name for it. Like swinging a braided hair-poi would be .... Hoi?

~S~

[wyrdo0ochick]

LOL Hoi! thats cute. No I dont mind at all thats the name I gave it after showing Aziza my idea. I want it to be a prop were we can share ideas to help it grow, its so new, I created it no more than two years ago. so it has room to grow. I have a DVD out for sale on the basics. I hope it does well for you, and I cant wait to see the next one. ~Dana

[wyrdo0ochick]

Hello,

Just dropping in to say that your performance with the Voi is very well done and that I would like to add your video to my gallery to share performance ideas with other Veil Poi fans! The veil you use is huge where did you get it? and how did you learn about Voi?

Inventor of Voi: Veil Poi,

Dana Beaufait

[SonyasSouk]

Greetings!

I so love what you've done! I dabbled a bit with bean-bag poi (never felt the desire for fire) when I was learning to hoop. I am a big lover of dancing with a silk veil, & never put the thught of the 2 together until I hosted aziza here in Chicago for my 2nd "Where the Mid-East Meets the Mid-West" Seminar Show October of 2006. I was stunned in love with Aziza's representation of the prop (kept a total suprise for me, even as the shows producer!)...

[wyrdo0ochick]

Hello from Veil Poi inventor Dana Beaufait,

That is AWSOME! I was wondering were you learned it and if I could add your performance to my Video collecton? I want to put all the Voi performances togather on my webage to share ideas with people. That and that Veil is HUGE! Great Job moving it around the stage!

[SonyasSouk]

(cont'd) I found Aziza was to teach a poi/voi workshop in Orlando the following January I flew in & enjoyed the whole weekend hosted by Babylon Breeze. After 4 months of playing with it, I came up with these 30 seconds. Thanks you for the kind words, they mean a lot to me coming from you.

[bruce235001]

Fluid, graceful and powerful. Very nice.5*.