November 2011 Blog

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:01:33 -0500

What can I say....

It’s been a tough few weeks. The passing of so many who have touched our lives. Friends and family are deep in the throes of grief and the never ending parade of life’s challenges.

How do we get through it with a broken heart that feels like it will never heal? By knowing that a life that touches others is a life well lived and to thereby live with their example held before us. Platitudes, latitudes, beatitudes... They help a little at a time. And a little at a time is what we can do. Life is moments on the move. And we keep moving.

Live your Life. And never miss an opportunity to tell those you love and appreciate what they mean to you.

Dance Your Dreams even when your heart is crying

Still Falling Head Over Heels

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:21:38 -0400

I have been dancing for over 35 years now and when I tell the story of how I came to be a dancer, I always smile at the remembrances and the feeling that is still with me.

The Story:
A friend of mine was working for General Foods, a company that was ahead of it’s time with Wellness Programs for their employees. She had received a free pass to a 10 week Belly Dance Class at a local YWCA. She asked me if I wanted to come along. I said, “Why?!?” She retorted,”Are you afraid?” I said, “Of course not!” So on the dare of a friend, I went to my first dance class .
I walked into the room not knowing what to expect... I heard the music and I fell in love. I saw the movements and I fell head over heels. And here it is, oh, so many years later and I am still falling.

With every new piece of music, with every magic performance, with every new challenge as a teacher and dancer, I continue to fall head over heels for this beautiful art form.

This past summer’s challenges with Anahid Sofian’s Atelier and Theatrical Belly Dance Concerts pushed me past my comfort level into a new place. July’s performance with Transition and Taxim at the New Rochelle Library and on the last week of August at JeBon and The Cupping Room had me feeling the magic of dance as the music from these wonderful musicians takes me over and places me who knows where...

Next weekend, I will be teaching my first NYC Weekend Intensive and I am excited at the journey that the students will be taking. And I will be taking the journey as well as I fall head over heels again.

*Be Well and Dance Your Dreams

Gilded Serpent Article on Anahid Sofian’s Atelier Concert
http://www.gildedserpent.com/cms/2011/09/14/anahid-sofian-atelier-new-york/

The Snoring Djinn

Tue, 31 May 2011 16:03:45 -0400

"The Snoring Djinn"

This weekend was the wonderful Folktours Music and Dance Camp in NJ. The teachers were all fabulous (proud to be one myself) and as I always say about the Folktours Weekend, there is inspiration around every corner.
My teaching schedule permitted me to take Lee Ali's Moroccan class where we had a lecture about the trance dances from different regions in Morocco followed by dancing some of these specialized movements. Lee Ali talked about djinn and saints, touching on the physical climate and hardships these people endure, their beliefs, their lives, their stories... An hour and a half is never enough to truly realize all the information but it does inspire me to find out more. It's not that the teacher has not done a good job; it's that they've done SUCH a good job that you want to discover much more! Lee's class made such a deep impression on me, when I was woken early in the morning by thunder, my waking dream impression was that it was her djinn snoring!
Learning from anthropologists such as Artemis Mourat, Eva Cernick, Morocco, Anahid Sofian, Lee Ali and Sahra Saheeda adds important dimensions to our understanding of not only the dance but to the significance of the culture from which these dance impressions spring.
Not being brave enough to travel rough, or scholarly enough to get answers to questions and then discern the actual truth out of facts and fantasy, I depend on these wonderful dance-ethnologists to add to my knowledge of this art form that I so dearly love and respect.
Every time I attend one of their classes, I go to my own small resource library, review my notes from class and read a little more about their topics from different authors. Sometimes the aspects and information is different than what I learned in class - sometimes the information fills in some blank spots - sometimes the information sparks a remembrance of an article I read 25 years ago and I must find it to share with them.
Whatever the outcome of my light research, the additional readings and immersion into my little library renews what excited me when first I entered this wonderful world of Middle Eastern Dance. Connection to my Heart and Learning.

Come to next year's Folktours Camp and Be Inspired!

Lee Ali’s website
Lee@MoroccanDance.com

Folktours.com

Finally I am Doing It!

Fri, 4 Mar 2011 16:44:22 -0500

3/4/2011

Finally, I am doing it!
My First NYC Dance Intensive September 24 -25, 2011.
And even more excited as I plan September 21-23, 2012’s Dance Intensive Retreat at the beautiful Wainwright House in Rye, New York!
For over 15 years in Switzerland, I taught Weeklong Workshops in the countryside, surrounded by nature’s beauty, cows and horses. The house was a true Frauenhaus, filled with women taking care of each other and sharing their joy of life and dance with each other.
We had magical times together. There were special parties every night; sometimes spontaneous - zill speaks, zar night, story telling - sometimes in accordance to what was in class with drumming and dancing. And always a Hafla the last night where everyone performed with and for each other. Some of the performances were hysterical - the dance of pirates, the week’s choreography performed with an iron and ironing board, parade of masked dancers... The pleasure of watching the growth of the dancers throughout the week really was highlighted on Hafla night. The women enjoyed themselves and were able to let themselves go with the flow of dance and life.
The Swiss Weeklongs were such a joy in my life with thanks to all those who worked so hard to making those events a reality - Cornelia, Theres, Fe, Johanna. Now it is time for me to create new memories for myself and you... See you in September!

Be Well and Dance Your Dreams

Happy New Decade

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 15:12:56 -0500

1/2/11
Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!
2010 was an exciting year and I'd like to thank all those who hosted me from Canada to Baltimore and the many places in between. Thanks to all of my lovely hosts and to the wonderful dancers with which I worked. We had a great time in these workshops exploring the dancer within as we connect to the music and audience. Continue to Dance Your Dreams and Live your Love and Passion.

* "The Passionate Veil "Workshops Hosted by Farasha and Su'ad in Connecticut and Najia in Philadelphia
* "Dance is Emotion in Motion" hosted by Nina Amaya in Baltimore
* NYC Theatrical Belly Dance Conference created by Ranya and Anasma
* Mahmoud Reda Concert in Danbury CT Thanks to Dolores Riskallah
* Gypsy Caravan Enterprises Annual Spring Fling hosted by Chadia
* Performance Skills Workshop hosted by Ileena in Ebensburg, PA
* Tribally Yours 2010 Special 5th Edition Tribal Fusion Wokrshops & Concert in Quebec hosted by Marthyna
* Folktours Camp Memorial Day Weekend
* Plus my Master Class Series at Anahid's Studio, Choreographed the New Rochelle Opera's production of 'Turandot' and hosted The New York City Nightclub on a Sunday Afternoon in New Rochelle

This year I'll be returning to Folktours in their new location in New Jersey ( Folktours.com ) and to Najia's in Ardmore, PA. Other workshops are being set up and I will send e-nnouncements as they come up. The Master Class Series at Anahid Sofian's Studio will resume this month with subject and date TBA.

Be Well and Dance Your Dreams