Is fusion getting "too hot"?

 I came across an old interview with Rachel Brice I had not read before, conducted by Salome of OrientalDancer.net. While it doesn't have a date on it, it speaks a bit about the Bellydance Superstars tour as if it were still a fairly new tour, which makes this article as much as 8 years old (she began touring in 2003), though the video accompanying the article is 2009, it may have been added later... But I digress.  Regardless of the age of the interview--which is largely the typical 'who did you study with?', 'what is it like to tour?', etc.--it has a couple of nice pearls tucked away in a short, otherwise typical RB interview. I thought I would share my faves:

On performing so much you can't grow:
"I think, however, my main struggle is that of growing as a dancer when there's no time to create. We're always performing, so that leaves very little time to go watch other dance forms, find new music, sneak into the underground for costuming ideas, practice yoga with new teachers, or make new dances. Since newness is one of the things I require to feel passionate about my dancing, I am afraid that I'm lacking direction sometimes. In fact, just the other night I had a dream that I was given amazing powers, and a guide to show me how to use them, but the guide was killed. I think this is indicative of my mental state."

On fusion straying from the purpose of tribal:
"I love the individuality of Fusion, but I think sometimes it strays from the original intent of Tribal Style. Overtly seductive movement with flirtatious expression seems to be creeping back in here and there, and the lack of that is one of the things that drew me to Tribal in the first place. With the thirst for new developments, I hope we always keep striving to go deeper rather than hotter."

Oh, Rachel! I love that. Deeper rather than hotter. For sure!

You can read the full article here: http://www.orientaldancer.net/star-interviews/belly-dancer-rachel.php

(PS The photo is from a photo shoot conceived by Kristine Adams from FCBD, where Rachel dressed as Carolena and vice versa. Isn't it awesome! There are some other great poses from this same shoot, it's really fab!)

Cues & Tattoos This Weekend!

The festival season is upon us, and for Deep Roots Dance that starts with the festival of all festivals for improv tribal dancers: Cues & Tattoos!  We are so blessed to have this festival right here in Seattle, chock full of workshops, shows, and shopping.  Nomaditude and Students of Deep Roots Dance will be performing this Saturday at 2pm. Full details on the show and much more at http://www.troupehipnotica.com/cues/

Fabulous Friday - Yasmela & John Compton

Dancing Makes Us More Alive

A fantastic article about dance and its role in our history and social interactions.  There are some real gems this author touched on, and some fabulous quotes from New England dance teachers within.
http://harvardmagazine.com/2011/11/dancing-makes-us-more-alive

“Unlike rowing a boat or chopping wood,” Marsalis noted, in “dancing you became more of yourself as you became one with others. You almost never got tired because your spirit soared the more you danced—because this was play.”

and


"Great dancing is not about satisfying the ego—it is “an offering” of your gifts, Johnson says. “If you are really dialed into the dance then you cannot think about yourself; the energy and focus [present in that creative moment] are too big. We think of that kind of thing as ‘New Agey,’ but if you are open and accessible” to merging the movement with the music and other dancers, then a new state of being surfaces. “I think it is being in touch with the soul,” Johnson explains. “These days we are so empirical; we want to know the how and why instead of having some mystery that defies words. In dance, you know the feeling when you feel it, and therein lies the connection” among body, mind, and spirit. "

Mm Mm Monday - Blue Diamonds, FC Student Troupe

An inspiring piece of work by students from the FatChance studio, performed at Rakassah just last week. Enjoy and be motivated to be just as graceful, joyful, and connected!

Fabulous Friday - Jamila Salimpour