Saturday, September 17, 2011

Las Vegas Series - Special Moments

Through the almost week I was in Vegas, there were several special moments for me that warrant mentioning.

1. My students Julie and Monica were in attendance.
There was something really special about having Julie and Monica in Vegas with me. We did not take all of the same workshops or spend every waking moment together. But as a teacher, I was so excited for them to have the opportunity to experience such masters of instruction. And to see the incredible performances. And to bear witness to special moments of their own which cannot be captured on DVD. And to drink terribly cheap wine with Julie.

The other aspect of this experience was knowing that they were both seeing the festival with fresh eyes. They had no pre-conceived notions of anything. They didn't know who was who or worry about behaving in a certain way. They were just there to freely learn and absorb the environment they were in and that was so exciting as a teacher to know they were experiencing.

2. Sharing the Festival with Former Troup Mate & friend Adriana
Adriana and I have been through a lot together in dance. We generally think on the same wavelength when it comes to dancing. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding. We choreographed pieces together.  It was incredibly special to be able to share workshops and ideas. All sorts of ideas began to flow as we experienced workshops and talked.

3. Watching Ruby and Delilah goofing off to live music from House of Tarab drum god Erik Brown
This is what makes festivals and travelling to workshops. All of the little things that happen that would never happen if you purchased the DVD. The memorable things. The things that matter. Watching two incredibly accomplished dancers just goofing off and having fun together with music. Even more impactful was looking across the room and seeing Julie watch this and knowing that she doesn't realize that seeing things like this are rare.

I find that workshops in home cities tend to be very stiff. Very rarely have I gone to a workshop in Edmonton or Calgary where the imported talent ate lunch with the workshop participants or engaged them on any sort of personal level. Aziza was a notable exception to this. But usually, they keep their distance, which I think it unfortunate.

The beauty with Vegas is that at one moment you could be taking a workshop with Ahava and the next she could be standing right next to you taking another workshop herself. There was lots of opportunity to interact with talented dancers on a real and personal level.

4. Sade's music in Ariellah's class
I had the distinct privelege with being raised in a home where there was music everywhere and all the time. My mother used to sing but while my friends grew up on country, I grew up listening to Peabo Bryson, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Mariah Carey and more.

My older sister also had (and still has) an incredible ear for music and I found my own tastes heavily influenced by what she listened to at home. One of the most special artists she ever played was Sade. Such a musical and soulful voice. And my sister's favourite.

So imagine my surprise that while in Ariellah's class, which artist randomly pops into her playlist? Why, Sade. And in that moment it was an instant marriage of my childhood love for music and my adulthood exploration and journey into dance where I am blessed to have the opportunity to try and translate music into movement.

5. Responding to bitchiness w/ indifference
With the good also comes the bad, and while I do not want to dwell on it, I would merely like to tip my hat to it and thank it for the life lesson. On the last night at the cocktail wrap up party, Adriana and I were running late. But it's cocktails and everything with cocktails starts an hour later. We arrived and sure enough, people were enjoying themselves conversing (although we missed Elvis. Boo).

I saw Julie and Monica sitting at a table and went over to them. There were two chairs left at the table, but they were on opposite sides of the table (which was round). I asked the ladies to the right of my students if they would mind moving down one chair so that we could sit together. The one lady loudly and rudely proclaimed "NO." I was really taken aback by this very loud and harsh response. I looked and Julie who shrugged in disbelief. The ladies on the other side of the table (who I later found out were Canadians), offered to move over one seat. We were very grateful for their act of courtesy.

Later Julie (who was totally flabbergasted) informed me that the negative Nancies had asked Julie and Monica if they could sit at the table with them and Julie and Monica of course said yes. My only real emotional response to these women was pity. Which felt like real personal growth. Haha. In the past, I probably would have gotten angry and spent the evening glaring at them. Something weird took place inside of me. I felt pity and compassion for these women....because it dawned on me that their lives must be pretty horrible if they could not find it in themselves to move one chair to share an experience with a sister in dance. And here we are, after 4 gruelling days of dancing and workshops, where we are in this together, and basic kindness is elusive and out of reach?

Kindness doesn't cost us anything. In fact, kindness lifts us up and nourishes our own souls. In a round about way, this experience felt like real personal growth and was worth mentioning because of it. I'm not upset with them, I'm happy at my response! lol. Maybe it was the incredible bonding that takes place when you are with a group of women who are working hard and pushing through their own plateaus that builds comradery? Or maybe it's the fact that you are out of your home base, where all ties and expectations are gone. But there is a link that exists and it's pretty amazing to experience.

Whatever else it may be, Vegas is a very special place to visit and if you go no where else, save up your pennies and go to the Vegas Belly Dance Intensive.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Vegas Series - Ariellah and Artist Expression

There really couldn't be anyone better to teach Dance artistry than Ariellah. While I am not particularily interested in Goth Fusion, Ariellah's talent and beauty transcends genre and is breathtakingly expressed as she teaches and dances. If you have not had the pleasure to see her perform live, you are missing out. Video cannot possibly capture the exchange of soul that occurs between an audience and dancer.

With the delightful exception of Tania Wee and Ariellah, I've always thought goth belly dance to be super emo and way too intense (similarily to priestess worship belly dance). It reminds me of being a teenager writing twisted poems about night and roses and being misunderstood. However, Ariellah is far from emo. Her costume and music choices are more industrial, but as she translates the music through movement as if making the unacknowledged seem understandable.

What Ariellah possesses is a beautifully intense strength and vulnerability. At one moment the stage is furiously beaten by her feet, the next, her arms fold in to reveal a tender spirit looking for acceptance. When Ariellah dances, she tells a story. A beautiful and melodic story that has a beginning, a conflict, a climax and a conclusion....like a conversation.

So who better to communicate the art of artistry in dance? Too often, myself included, I see dancers too caught up in themselves and the movement to truly express and communicate with the audience. When we have a conversation, do we plaster on a big fake smile and proclaim we are hip-happy to be there while our partner in conversation is mourning the loss of their beloved pet rabbit?

Conversations don't work like that. And neither should performance. In music, there are many terms for change in mood; "dimuendo, crescendo" are just a couple of those moods. The art in artistry is creating a conversation and making a statement or having intention in the thing we are doing. So next time you perform, think about having a conversation with your audience. Allow them to respond to you. I know that's what I intend to do.

Aging Gracefully - Thanks for another year

I know some of you will laugh when you see that I am writing about age, as I am only 28 years old. But I really felt inspired to write about age and aging by watching a segment on Rachel Ray about a book on concquering your life after 40, instead of living in regret.

I love the fact that the culture around women and aging is starting to change. The adage has always been that men turn into studs as they get older and that women, well, turn into men as they age. I love the "positively ageless" ad campaigns, instead of the "anti-aging" campaigns.

My 29th birthday is in 1 week, with my greatest disappointment being that it is not my 30th birthday! I am so excited about the idea of turning 30. And as a 28 year woman, I look at so many of the 40+ year old women I know and think "Wow! 40 looks amazing!!" There's something so strong and confident and special about women as they age. I admire that strength. I look at 50s and 60s and then on and can't help but admire the dignity and class those women seem to possess.
I love that as women we are demanding to be recognized as more than just old and worn out, no matter what our age may be. I love the fact that women are dating younger men. I love that women aren't being forced to dress like matrons past the age of 40. Or wear poodle hair cuts. Or stop talking about sex after 60. Age is such a beautiful gift we are given. With age comes wisdom, knowledge and the understanding that we are here on this earth for more than just ourselves.

So cheers to all you fabulous ladies young and old and remember that for every woman that turns 50, there are five 20-somethings wishing they had that kind of confidence and certainty.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Vegas Series - Jazz Fingers and Ballet Toes

Dear Belly Dancers,

One of the most  repeated messages throughout the whole weekend of workshops in Vegas was the importance of having a firm grasp on the basics of dance vocabulary provided by ballet and jazz. From Ariellah to Cassandra Shore to Delilah to Deb Rubin to Ruby, these world class instructors lauded the importance of having a solid basic understanding of Jazz and Ballet movements.

I have heard arguments that a ballet dancer wouldn't research belly dance to become a master in her craft, so why should a belly dancer research ballet? Modern Oriental dance is incredibly heavily influenced by jazz and ballet. In fact, most of us perform jazz or ballet movements and footwork without even knowing it.

One of the problems as I see it for Belly Dancers is that Ballet isn't typically an inclusionary dance. In fact, it is a exclusive dance for dancers who are exclusively a certain body type and shape. Which is entirely contrary to Belly Dance.

I'm not suggesting (and neither were the incredible masters I studied with) that you go out and try to become a ballerina or buy a tutu and point shoes. But learning the basics of ballet and jazz will improve your own dancing in terms beyond explanation.

This is why I am offering jazz and ballet classes at my studio. My vision is to offer classes to create the best dancers possible through yoga, pilates, jazz, ballet and other training. Even if it's only one class, adding a bit of jazz hands and some pointed toes to your repetoire will benefit you as a dancer.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Viva Las Vegas!

Oh my god! I'm back from Vegas! And I gotta blog about it STAT before I forget all of the wonderful, fabulous, amazing, delicious fantastic things that I have been thinking about and can't wait to share with all of you!

In super cheesey fashion, I learned more than new moves and combos....I learned a lot about myself as a human being existing in this mortal coil, honoured to be a part of this phenomenon of Belly Dance and the grace of being amongst some of the most incredible instructors in the world. I will be writing a series of blog entries describing my experiences and what I learned.

Some of the highlights:
-Ariellah - hugely impacted by Ariellah. What a talent. *le sigh*
-Frank Ferrinero - like your best girlfriend rolled up into a yummy fabulous insanely talented dance package.
-That teaching is as much about creating a dialogue and connection as performing is.
-Double. Veil. Enough. Said.
-Rom Deussen - a clever and intelligent Rom woman sharing her beautiful culture and dance
-Deb Ruben - Can I say wowza?
-Ruby Beh - probably one of my favourites. Her style and movement emulate the goals and dreams I have for dance.
-Bright lights. Shiny Sparkly Things. Big accents. Big hearts.
-Incredible dance shows! OMG! *grasps heart that is pounding out of chest*

Oh god! I need to start blogging in more detail about all of these! What an amazing experience. Vegas is such a special place. Ugly by daylight, it's beauty is held in a night time spot where a gal can drink a triple while buying eye shadow (oh yes. this happened. and yes. I did come home with the wrong color.), look up and be taken away to far off destinations like France and the Bahamas, enticed by the dancing lights and taken aback by the power of constant club music and parties.

Would I live there? HELL no. But what an incredible place to visit. What an incredibly well organized and well run festival. What an incredibly delicious time. And how bizarre that  I managed to find a sense of peace standing next to a room full of whirling lights, loud club music and sad looking gogo girls? Vegas is called fabulous for a reason and I plan on sharing my experiences with you....cause I just can't let what happened in Vegas stay in Vegas.