Deep Roots Dance's Newest Instructor - Carmen!

Deep Roots Dance is proud to introduce you to our beautiful new instructor, Carmen. She will also be guest-blogging here at DeepRootsDance.com, and not coincidentally here is her first post:

Why, hello and welcome to my first blog post! I wanted to take the time to help you learn a little more about where this dance has taken me. I share these experience as a way to inspire and encourage you wherever you may be on your journey. As I ready myself to begin this new chapter in my dance journey, I have been reflecting on my beginning years and can’t believe where my path has lead me. I began classes simply as a way to exercise with no thoughts of performing and didn’t think about troupes.

After over a year of classes I moved to Colorado for school and found Nancy Montgomery of Bohemian Caravan. My first performance was her semi-annual student recital and now only realize that I have been performing since. I loved being able to share this art and having a group of women to support me on and off the stage. Once I was done with school I returned to Seattle and Deep Roots. I was humbled and honored when invited into Nomaditude, Shay’s student troupe. I had admired them from day one for their grace and confidence, thinking I didn’t have their ability. When you’re on the road for some time it’s easy to forget how far you have traveled.

Now my path has led me to the role of teacher, a position I never thought was for me. How then did I arrive to this crossroad you may ask? On those college nights where I had papers due or tests to study for, dance allowed me to remove myself from all my stress and worries and give me a moment to breathe. The worst of days would be made right once I danced and always left feeling revitalized. What I have been given because of this dance has inspired me to be there as others begin their own unique journeys. This is why I refer to dance as a journey – as with all paths, many twists and turns lay ahead that you aren’t expecting.

No two paths are the same, and that is okay. Each person gets something different out of dance. I hope to be able to help you along your journey and help you find the magic hidden in this dance. I so look forward to meeting you and beginning this new path together!

Mm Mm Monday - Nana Candelaria, Rachel Brice's Roots

Here at Deep Roots Dance, it doesn't take a genius to figure out we value the roots from which we all came. Nobody sprung fully formed from Zeus' forehead (though I joke to my students all the time that I have). Every dancer is the product of another dancer's inspiration and training.  So, too, with the ever-beloved Rachel Brice.

Here is a video of one of RB's earliest and most influential instructors, Nana Candelaria. A precise and playful dancer, you can clearly see her powerful influence on today's most famous fusion dancer.

Mm Mm Monday - Naemet Mokhtar

"The Woman Who Conquered the Devil" was one of her best-known films, Naemet Mokhtar was one of the film dancer greats. But her career was not as long as some of the better-known golden age bellydancers, and her departure from dancing was swift and mysterious...until 2012 when she turned up in an interview in the newspaper, El Fagr. You can read the translated version on Shira's website, but that isn't why we're here. We're here to see this delightful gem of a video, brought to my attention by the incomparable Cassandra of Minneapolis. I was completely mesmerized by her tiny shoulder shimmies, her luxurious figure 8's, and the swaying choo-choo shimmies...so much to Mm Mmmmmmm about!

Mm Mm Monday - Carolena Interview from 1997

Talk about a blast from the past. It is so interesting to see how things evolve and change over time, and how many things stay very much the same. Enjoy 40 entire minutes of this interview from Delilah's Visionary Dance retreat in Hawaii!

Mm Mm Monday - Tappin' to Beyonce

What category to put this other than "Mm Mm!!" These Sycopated Ladies do right by the Queen herself with their incredibly skilled and creative tapping video set to Beyonce's sweet tune.