Well, the end of the year always skips by so quickly, and before you know it, a new year is upon you. Here I am, staring 2011 square in the face already, and January will bring some fun new dance opportunities, it so happens.All the class details are available at http://www.doubletakebellydance.com/p/classes.htmlNEW TUESDAY CLASSA new Level 1 class will begin January 11th, at the beautiful m'illum...
I had an inquiry, years ago now, which begged the question as to what "women only" meant in my classroom. I had a transgender student contact me about joining my classes. The inquiry was light and polite:
"I have had an interest in joining a belly dance calls (sic) and my friend _*_*_*_*_ recommended you with high regards. My only concern is that I'm a male to female transgendered individual ...
Here in Seattle, we are having a white Thanksgiving. I don't remember one since I was a wee little girl, so it is magical. It will turn to rain soon, and get slushy and yuck, but hubby and I are enjoying the winter wonderland immensely for now.I have begun cooking, and the house is already filling with delicious smells. Honestly, we really began yesterday morning when I cooked up the brining liqui...
Q. So, I was watching Kami Liddle's Tribal Fest 8 performance again today...one of the (many) things I have always liked about this performance, and her performances in general, is her lovely smile! It looks so wonderful! How do I get that (or any) smile? Yes, I do smile when I perform and practice, but it looks nothing like that. When I ask a friend after I am through with a performance, ...
I was searching for an old web page of mine today, and took a little walk down memory lane in the process.A December 2001 performance by Gypsy Caravan at the Pink Door. They are wearing costumes I created for them. I remember when they used to come up a few times a year, and how magical it was to see them, to dance with them...*sigh*http://web.archive.org/web/20020707203356/www.kamikazecostumes.co...
It's yet another installment of Music Monday, and this week it's Latin-stylee for the win! A mix of titles from around the world with Latin flava', for dancing on the stage or around your living room.Song - Artist - AlbumOnda Buena - Barrio Del Rio - Baila HabibiFlamenco Tapas (Barcelona Bounce Remix) - Ethno Dance - Club Passport RemixSanta Maria - Gotan ProjectCumbia De Los Muertos - OzomatliHa...
Have a read, and let me know what you think:http://www.gildedserpent.com/cms/2010/11/03/jasmine-june-intro-tribal-fusion-belly-dance/"The “fusion” in Tribal Fusion Belly Dance makes this dance genre elusive and tricky to define. Two dancers could have nothing in common except a few core movements and a couple costuming pieces, and yet both could define themselves as Tribal Fusion dancers. While...
Made this delectable recipe on Monday night, and it was a hit!Sirloin Steak with Carmelized Onions and Butternut Squash PureeIngredients:1 medium-large butternut squash, halved and seeded2 tablespoons light brown sugarOlive oil2 tablespoons salted butter1 large onion, sliced into strips (sweet onion is best)2 servings of sirloin steak (our serving sizes are 4-5oz in our house)salt and pepperInstru...
I love iTunes for the way it can organize my playlists. I have ones for my classes, divided up by different levels of skill and paces of music. I have ones for performances, and for styles of music (Spanish, Bhangra, etc). And for personal music, I also have ones divided up by mood or feel. I have an Upbeat playlist, as I shared last week I have a Meditation playlist, a Chill playlist, and this we...
Most every teacher I know has run into this question in one form or another from new students--some of us hear it many times a year. "I saw 'The World Famous Debbie Dancer' on YouTube. Can you teach me to dance like her?"The short answer? No.The only slightly longer answer?Neither can she!No teacher can truly teach you to dance just like them. What they can provide you is tools for your own dance-...
Sandi and Wendy of FatChance Bellydance are pure magic together. Their connection is unique and inspiring. One of my favorite examples of their power as performers is in the following clip. Sure, there are some lightning-fast performances that take my breath away--the kind of speed only you and someone you know really really well, personally and professionally, can maintain together. But no other...
From Mish Mish via BellyTalk, a NW discussion group for bellydancers. It is confirmed by what Jamila told us at her weeklong, that she was essentially the one who conceived the sword as a bellydance prop:"In Turkey and Arabic countries, dancing with a sword is done mainly by menas a display of skill in combat or to prepare for battle. My troupe used to havea Druse from Lebanon who did a spectacula...
Here's music that makes me bop around happily. Movits! has a couple songs I love to use in high-action drills to start off my more advanced classes, and herein is one of them. Augustito 2004 is good for medium drills, with a fun spirit behind it (look up the lyrics). Louis Prima, The Beatles, Cherry Poppin' Daddies...yeah, we got a little bit of everything here.Jump, Jive, An' Wail ...
My sister in law was vegetarian for many years, but in recent years she and her husband have been eating some meat. Lucky for us in the Northwest, we have a lot of fantastic organic local resources for our food, it allows us all to be conscientious about our meat choices without too much effort (and a fairly reasonable increase in cost).I have been inspired by my family and friends' consciousness...
I have not been as regular in my meditation practice this year as in previous, but I hope to get myself back on the wagon this winter. I meditate with gentle music in the background, as I find it helps center me, and my monkey mind is a little less wild. I also like to set up playlists so that they run the length of time I would like to meditate, so that I don't shortchange myself by getting grum...
Lateral Action hits it out of the park again and again. Thought I would share this snippet from their "Dark Side of Creativity - Burnout" article. And if this section sounds familiar, you should read the parts about Control Freakery and expectations!"HypersnsitivityWhy are creative people so sensitive to criticism of their work? Because our work is not just something we do, it’s an expression of ...
Ingredients:1-2 large sausage(s) of your choice (we chose a local smoked sausage), sliced into thick half-rounds3 thick slices of ham, cubed2 cans Great Northern beans (or cannelini beans)2 carrots, cut into thick rounds1 red bell pepper, rough cut2 stalks celery, rough cut1 yellow onion, chopped3 large garlic cloves, minced2 cans chicken broth (we use low sodium)2 tsp thyme1 tsp cumindash of caye...
Dance Advantage listed an article recently on dancers and injuries. Specifically the idea that injuries can take away dance from your life. I am familiar with this, having been on and off battling a severe back issue, and more recently knee problems surfacing, and my foot issue which will require surgery I cannot afford at present, which leaves me in pain every day just walking around, let alone d...
Started the weekend early with a matinee movie with my friend Arya, followed by tea and stimulating conversation. Friday night was a chill night in with hubby. Saturday morning was breakfast, then some food prep for the potluck mini-family reunion later. SIL and hubby came over a little early for a little chat, then we head to the reunion, which was filled with kind, funny, friendly relatives Chri...
It is alarming to me how often I hear about people leaving their smart phone or their iPod touch behind at restaurants, in their cars in plain view, or it slipping out in a parking lot or theater. Losing an iPod touch or a phone these days is more like losing your wallet, with ID and credit cards all in there. (And a lot like losing a laptop, too!)Recently on Ravelry, a woman said that her iPod to...
Over at Lateral Action, there is an interesting (& rather deep) post regarding a conversation between Brian Eno and the developer of Sim City, and the application of rules bringing about successful spontaneity. Read the full article here:http://lateralaction.com/articles/brian-eno-will-wright/The simplest, and most profound, summation of this conversation came in the final segment, quoted here:Pla...
Here's the truth of it: When it comes to training intensives, I sometimes wish there were no certificate tied to the coursework. Particularly in programs which are essentially "participation certificates" rather than tested on demonstrated knowledge and ability, I feel it gives a false sense of accomplishment to the participant, and sends a confusing message to the public that one need only take a...
Had a few more contracts crop up for web design lately. I am trying to streamline my design process, but am finding it tough. I just like the visual design part so much better than the code part!So today I "attended" my final online Web Design Bootcamp webinar, and it covered HTML5 and CSS3 in brief. In particular, "embedded" fonts in web page design. But it's so much more than that. Whew! I feel...
From my background in theater and dance, to a life seeped in bellydance and dance in general full-time, I have learned that one of the most powerful methods of showing emotion in performance is having a story firmly in mind as you perform. Just saying "I am going out there to have fun and smile," doesn't quite have the same impact as coming up with a more detailed motivation or imagined goal in m...
Nancy Young posted a really articulate and well-considered response to Carolena's message, and I wanted to share my favorite part of it:"By giving this gift, you have, it seems to me, officially acknowledged ATS, your baby, as a mature art form with a life of its own and sent it off with your blessing. For me—and maybe this is just me—the gift also feels like your official acknowledgment of us, th...
Alright, I have never been one for the "every day of the week has its own blog theme", but I have been wanting to give a little more space for music recommendations and discussions 'round these parts, so I am going to implement a "Music Monday" theme and see how it goes. Let me know what you think, eh?Music Monday will have a little bit of whatever it is I am listening to right now. Some will be d...
Another gem from Zen Habits, this time it's the very simple truth about increasing your fitness."Health and fitness are usually made to seem too complex.If you read a lot of fitness magazines and blogs (as I often do), you’re told a confusing variety of complex advice. It makes your head spin.You’re told that eggs, butter and meat are bad for you. Then another crowd will tell you those same things...
I have been engaged in many discussions about the New/Old ATS announcement, on Tribe and on Facebook and in mails with friends, and even had a chat with Carolena today. I haven't said too much about my thoughts on this publicly, as I have wanted to let them percolate a little while. I didn't want anyone to feel shut down or otherwise distracted from feeling what they felt, or add to their mental b...
I recently undertook the challenge of re-writing my About page (or bio page, or whatever you want to call it). It's so hard! You want to be able to talk yourself up, and you want to sound professional, but you don't want to sound cold, egotistical, or bland. You want your page to sound as vibrant and interesting as you are, without being overly flowery! You want to get lots of information across, ...
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