The Divine Unrest: My Stories and Personal Views on Belly Dance

One Saturday morning at the age of 6 in 1969, Leyla’s life would change forever when she saw Belly Dancers performing on TV. With eyes glued to the screen, cereal coming out of her mouth she gazed longingly as each dancer wove her magical spell. Dreaming of the day she’d be twirling in a beautiful costume dancing to the envy of all her friends, mom told her good Catholic girls don’t Belly Dance. But Belly Dancing had chosen Leyla and she knew for sure that one day she’d be the one dancing on stage and in front of big crowds. Starting with Leyla’s impassioned years and her debut to a standing room only crowd in Taos, to dancing for the Gypsy Kings, The Divine Unrest is a provocative, insightful, lyrical narrative of Leyla’s 26+ year Belly Dance journey chronicling rejection, frustration, determination and triumph. About Belly Dancer Leyla Najma Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. Leyla Najma has been Belly Dancing for over 26 years. Her initial studies began in Egypt as well as traveled, taught and performed in Europe and throughout the United States. She has written extensively for the Belly Dance Chronicles magazine and is now a full time staff writer for Jareeda Belly Dance Magazine. Leyla still lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she continues to teach private classes. Leyla regularly blogs at http://leyla-najma.net and provides online Belly Dance classes for dancers who can't find a teacher, or studio, or who prefer to learn from home at http://bellydancevillage.com