Fabulous Friday - Starlight in Her Hair

Ze Frank - Thoughts on the Creative Career

Ze Frank is some kinda genius, and you know I have linked up several of his videos on this blog in the past (um, even just this past Monday folks!). This video blog is about pursuing a creative career, and touches on some amazing points Ze says he wishes someone had said to him when he was starting out.

I love every little thing about this, but here were some particularly poignant parts I think students of the dance will appreciate and relate to, and hopefully Ze passes on to you (all of us!) that wisdom he so wished he had when he was at the start of his creative journey:

"(it helps) to realize that when I am in the beginning of learning something (and the beginning can last a couple years, by the way, not just a couple weeks or months), in that time you don't really have to worry about finding your own voice. In fact, that kind of gets in the way. You can copy people--sometimes that comes naturally when you just read someone, for example, you just start using their voice. Try reading Voorhees, for example, and not writing like him for the next two days.

Mm Mm Monday - Ze Frank

If you have not yet met Ze Frank, then let me introduce you and say "You are most welcome." He is equally skilled at delivering sidesplitting comedy as heart-wrenching truths. He is amazing.

If you have met him, I am sure you will enjoy this clip of him sharing wisdom that will bring a tear to your eye.

And if you have met him, and see this particular video already, I am sure the reminder is timely or needed or valuable someday...

The Language of Bellydance - Another Take

We often liken our dance to a language. In class, we explore the idea that we are learning individual letters when we drill, individual words when we learn moves, and then as we learn to dance we are stringing those words together into sentences, and finally as a group we learn to tell a story or sing a song together.

The gorgeous Shems (pic right) wrote a wonderfully detailed article exploring this common dance metaphor, digging deeply into the evolution of a dancer throughout their studies. Over on Gilded Serpent you can read the full article. Some meaty tasters:

"Executing each movement properly is like pronouncing a word properly. Like some words are more difficult to pronounce than others, some movements in dance are more difficult to execute.

Often dancers who master some difficult movements begin to think of themselves as very advanced dancers, but like a child who has learned some complex adult words; these dancers may not yet understand how to use them properly in a dance sentence. Moreover, they are even further from creating a truly meaningful dialogue."

Mm Mm Monday - Asharah

Asharah is not only a dancer I have long admired, but a dance scholar I have long shared a kinship with. She loves to float over the labels, but not in an irreverent "I do what I want" kind way. Instead it is with great thoughtfulness, intelligence, and care that she makes her artistic choices, and it surely shines through when she dances.

She had the opportunity to perform with Bal Anat at Rakassah this year (jealous!!), and after the show they staged a nightclub evening in a studio where the dancers could perform to live music. As you will see, this is an improvised routine, with music chosen by the musicians. Asharah shares a beautifully lyrical interpretation in the video that I think deserves an Mm Mm!

Masha Archer and the San Francisco Classic Dance Troupe

Masha Archer's daughter, Larissa, has been taking classes with FatChance Bellydance! And what's more, she has become more active in discussion groups around the web, answering questions, and SHARING PHOTOS from her mother's collection. She has given me permission to post them to be linked at the TribalBellydance.org website. The DRD site will host the gallery, but you can find more resources, galleries, articles, and tutorials at TribalBellydance.org. Thanks to Larissa, we can enjoy these blasts from the past on our tribal family tree!

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Bellydance Troupe Games - A Humorous Quiz

Love this hilarious "Troupe Games" post from Raqs.co.nz, in which you can answer a simple fashion mag-type quiz to see what your troupe style is like!
 
 Sample questions:

"
You decide the troupe is going in a different direction from where you want to be, you
a: Explain the problem and give notice of your resignation
b: Say nothing because you don't want to hurt their feelings, but miss most of the practices and find reasons why you cannot perform at gigs
c: Say nothing but feel out possible like minded dancers in the troupe for one of your own then set up in opposition using the old troupe's choreographie"

AND

"
Your troupe has organized a show but has refused to give you star billing, you:
a: Realistically appraise your position and decide either to work harder to get the skill and presence you need or, if it seems unreasonable, leave.
b: Fume but perform even though you haven't put in much practice - because that's all they expect don't they.
c: Have a grandmother die on the day of the performance - that will teach them - then organize your own show with people who recognize your talent."

I'd almost laugh out loud, but then I realize...some of these alternatives are plucked straight from reality. !!! Say NO to BellyDance Drama!








Visit http://www.raqs.co.nz/humour/troupe_games.html for the rull quiz!

Mm Mm Monday - Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl was the keynote speaker at SXSW this year. I shared Bruce Springteen's moving keynote last year, and this year Dave's is just as important and beautiful for artists of all stripes. He poetically details a life of inspiration, creation, collaboration, and hones in on those key moments when we are moved in...new directions. *chuckle*

"Guilt. Guilt is cancer. It will confine you, torture you, destroy you as a musician. It is a wall. It is a black hole. It is a thief. It will keep you from YOU. Remember learning your first song, or riff, or writing your first lyric? There was no guilt then. Remember when there WAS no right or wrong? Remember the simple reward of just . . . playing music? You are still, and will always be that person at your core. The musician. And, The musician comes first.

Fuck guilty pleasure. How about . . . just pleasure?"

Read full transcript at: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/dave-grohls-sxsw-keynote-speech-
And see the video below:

Student Spotlight - Megan Romano

Name: Megan Romano
Age: 32
Profession: Epidemiologist/PhD student (I study the determinants of disease)
Hobbies: Knitting, baking, reading, hiking, swing dancing
How long have you been studying bellydance? About 4 years total - 1 1/2 years of cabaret, about 6 months of Egyptian, and the rest ATS with Shay

When did you first see bellydance? What were your first impressions?
I remember being completely mesmerized by a woman doing bellydance during a talent show in college. At the time I wasn't able to identify it as bellydance specifically, but I was fascinated by the contrast of fluid and percussive movements she used in her performance. I distinctly remember the first time that I saw improv tribal style bellydance. I had been dancing for about a year with the Goddess Dancing in Boston and was participating in their student showcase with the rest of my cabaret class. I had never seen tribal bellydance before, so I watched Tassellations dress rehearsal and was in total awe of how powerful and graceful their movements were and how much fun they seemed to be having dancing together. I must have asked Zia about a million questions afterwards -- "You make it up? Seriously, every time it is different? You use cues to choreograph as you go? Does that really work?" It pretty well blew my mind, and I knew I'd have to try it for myself.

What motivated you to finally take your first bellydance class?
My roommate practically dragged me to my first class, and I've been hooked ever since.

Mm Mm Monday - Students of Deep Roots Dance Featuring Nomaditude

I interrupt this regularly scheduled Mm Mm Monday to bring you my beloved students. They performed at Serpent's Muse at Cues & Tattoos over the weekend, and I am a proud momma. They worked hard and climbed over stumbling blocks to create this performance together. They come from various dance backgrounds to find a common dance language and share it in joy.

I am so warm and fuzzy after a family reunion of my tribal sisters and brothers. I am thrilled my little family got to be a part of it. I hope you enjoy their performance!