12-04-01, 02:20 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
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What brought me to bellydance
You know, it was just something I was always interested in. I remember in high school a friend had dressed up as a bellydancer for Halloween (in a costume no self-respecting non-prostitute belly-dancer would wear, but what the heck did she know, she was only 16) and I thought that was so cool. She knew an Iraqi girl in school who had actually shown her some moves.
The summer between my freshman and sophomore year in college I found a beginning class through the local high school district "Adult Continuing Ed" catalog and took it. (Serena in San Diego.) I had much fun! Unfortunately, once I was back at school I had no time, no money and no car. So no bellydance classes for me. At the time I was completely unaware of the wealth of fabulous teachers in the Bay Area. During grad school what shows up in the mail one day? Another local high school district "Adult Continuing Ed" catalog (different part of the state.) I was still swamped with work (although now I had a car and $) and promised myself that when I finished my master's degree I would take a class. And I did! (Elena of Cupertino.) What *kept* me with it is more important than what brought me to it, at least I think it is. It was fun, the women in the class (who later formed a troupe, Raks Jenna) were all really nice (and meeting people once you get out of school and into the workforce can be so hard!), it was good exercise, and it motivated me to exercise more so I could do more complex moves, and it got me in touch with my body in a whole new way. I learned to appreciate it for what it could do and not just what it looked like. (My own "Ah ha!" moment.) I had always loved social dancing but had never thought of myself as a dancer. It was interesting and gratifying to see this side of myself develop. When we moved to Seattle it took me a while to find a new teacher. I tried a couple before I found the right one (Aleili of Issaquah). I knew it was the one just by watching the way women in the class related to each other. (And the teacher rocked, as well.) Moving to a new town is rough--it can be so hard to make friends. One of the women in that class has become one of my best friends. I've since left that troupe to pursue a different style (along with my friend!) My new troupe Raqs al-Hamara, http://www.kamikazecostumes.com/raqsalhamara2.html is wonderful--we have no leader or teacher, we teach each other and collaborate on everything. (Fortunately we are very like-minded!) They are truly wonderful women. Gosh, that was long! Any other questions?
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Renee D Let your love fly like a bird on the wing And let your love bind you to all living things And let your love shine And you'll know what I mean, that's the reason ~Bellamy Brothers |
12-04-01, 05:58 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: California (yay!!)
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I studied for a long time with Siham in Reno, NV. She's now in Seattle, so you may have met her. I also studied a bit with Deann Adams several years ago. I do mostly cabaret style. Lots of workshops out there. Siham and I sponsored Deena from Coos Bay once - do you know her? I haven't heard from her in ages. I've danced in the Wiggles of the West contest (we won the troup segment the first year).
Email me if you want to chat more about belly dance - we seemed to have gotten off the topic of short steps.
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Judy |
12-04-01, 09:30 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Quebec, Canada
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Hey, Joanne
hang on to that Denise Austin foamy thing if you don't have a tall box for Firm style tall box stuff. Set that sucker on top of your step and it works really well - doesn't slide. I use it for that purpose all the time.
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Nora "...let bad sleeping dogs lie." - Loretta S. |
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