Paths that are lit by glowing Lanterns.

The below photo is a shot that I took at this years St. John's Lantern Festival (Check out the website for more info http://www.fovp.org/lanternFestival/index.shtml). The ladies above are known as The Neighbourhood Strays. They highlighted this years festival with a pre-dusk dance show, following with a stroll through the park's lanterns, and ending with a fire spectacle.

It was the first time for some of the newest strays to perform in public making their solo appearances and dance personas. The energy was high and they all looked quite spectacular. Being on the sidelines I got to experience not only a great performance but the audiences' experiences as well.

Being the sociologist that I am I had a surreal sense of sitting in between 'not quite an audience member', not a dancer, and not exactly what you may call a professional photographer. Peoples reactions to the troupe were quite interesting. For example, there were a bunch of young girls sitting in the front row in awe of my lovely friends. They would look and stare as I would zagareet and yip wondering what in the world I was doing. I explained in the simplest manner that these sounds were of respect and enjoyment and that they too could call.

The second experience was not as enjoyable, there was another young girl walking past when the show was over. Her mother explained that the young girl thought the belly dancer bellies were too big. Her mother laughed as if she didn't know about the acceptability of the statement jeering on her young daughter. The young girl replied "It's true, they do have big bellies. Bellydancers are not supposed to have bellies." I was initially enraged by this statement. I wanted to tell the young maid that this is not so, that her mind had been polluted with sexualized images. It was when my young friend, who is the daughter of one of the strays, started to speak in contrast to the girl that I was awakened from my stupor. "No" I said, "They do not know the difference." But, they should know the difference. Education is the best remedy for this young person who is unaware of the constraints she is placing upon the world and thus is placed upon her. Will they be able to learn? My young friend replied to my statement saying "I know." and rolled her eyes. If this is any indication then I think that YES people can learn about such cultures of femininity.

So, let us talk about the fire. Once darkness fell, the troupe entered into the park area designated for the fire jugglers and stilt walkers. They Zill-ed and danced amongst the flames. They finished their performance in flames as Lori picked up a fire sword and danced among her mates. Awe was sought and found in this performance. Though The people were hard to see due to the dark.

Drums rang out and all the world seemed a blaze with the energy of the festival.

Spring Blitz and Summer Vacay

It's been a wild ride in the world of bellydance for me in the last couple of months. While writing my thesis I decided to take 2 full dance courses simultaneously. Though I love dance (see below) I found it hard to maintain a focus on the skills and techniques I was learning.

I enjoyed my intermediate class, but my secondary gypsy-style beginners were terribly boring. Dancing has always felt like a free-ing thing for me to do but perhaps I have put too much on my plate this summer.

Summer classes are now over and the thesis is almost complete. I look forward to dancing regularly in the fall but I am also enjoying home-practice right now.

World Bellydance Day 2010.wmv

Rehearsing like Crazy

Well tis the night before auditions and all through St. John's all the dancers were swirling in their long flowing costumes.

Performance. What the hell would I want to do that for? Well, though I am content with the level of education I am recieving from the exellent Wild Lily Dance Centre I am moving ahead. Perhaps by moving backward (I feel like that most times).

It's been quite the battle not only to write and perform my own choreography to music using what I learned but interpreting emotion into my dance. I think that may be one of the key factors of perfromance, transfering messages through body and emotion. Who said I wasn't picking up a few ideas here and there? I will be finished this time tomorrow with all the stress and excitement that comes with auditioning for troupe membership consideration with the Neighourhood Strays. It will be bittersweet to say the least.

I chaulk the majority of this wish wash time in between finishing the coursework to my Master's degree and entering a new relam of belly dance up to experience. I have learned that I can create a solo rather quickly once I find the right music. I can also put it into body memory in a rather quick amount of time given the right space to practice in. Carpet is the devil. Pressure is a figment of the imagination. And there is no better feeling than to dance with those who share the common bond that is belly dance.

I got the most benifical information from my peers today at a self-proprieted rehearsal time in the studio with them. They will futhur my dance experience. I owe them big time. It was fun learning and understanding how they are going through this process as well. So many differences and similarities between us women. I truly valued and recommend rehearsing with others who are going through auditions. It takes the competition down to a minimum. In reality I believe it may also lessen the amount of hurt experienced should one of us fail to make the troupe. We bond as one force of auditionees rooting for each other rather than creating a space for demise and abuse.

Keep this in mind. Rehearsal with peers only provides more to your dance form not less nor does it sacrifice the piece in any way.

Gypsy Nights, Gypsy Days, & Speckled Paint

So much of my time has been placed into finishing the coursework for my Master's in the last couple of weeks. I'm glad to say that I am now finished my course work and on to writing my research up. EEE...fun!

The Wild Lily Studio has been a construction zone for so long but I'm happy to report that due to some hard working belly dancers it is all coming together! It will be so good to dance in a studio again.

Starting with that I guess you could say that I've been busy choreographing my audition piece for the Strays which came together quickly but I find I want to change it since it's so done. I have been forced to practice in my living space which though not a tiny one bedroom is carpeted and has low ceilings. For someone who's so tall that can definitely be annoying. Plus the carpet is hard on my feet. Alas, I digress.

I made my own costume bra this week. Hand sewn which turned out gorgeous by my standards. I now am starting to end up with a huge wardrobe of belly-wear which is in need of a necessary home that isn't a travel grocery bag. I know I should be shamed.

2 days until the deadline for Strays applications which means time is getting short. I am super excited but also feeling a tad intimidated. I think I must work more emotion into Revolt! It's a piece about rising to the challenge. I need to think about that.

Also, I'm reading My Grandmother's Secrets. It's great. I'm going to write about that in the future. Anyone else who has read it please share with me.

Peace, Love, & Happiness

The Call

I am very excited. Yesterday, The Strays put out their call for dancers. They are looking for 2-3 more. I have been busy putting together a letter. I already have a C.V. done. But now I have to find something to dance to. Creating a solo seems like a concept that could be very trying in such little time but I have to keep pushing. I have a goal that I love. I have women who support me in this creative process.

I only worry because of my graduate program. It's a little on the intensive side right now. In the middle of this storm I wonder if I will persevere? Most likely I will.

Back to work.

The First

Whether or not I actually remember the initial reason I took my first belly dance class seems irrelevant now that I think back. I have many words and emotions that may begin to explore my fascination with the dance. Perhaps through an introduction to what may be called my dance history in the future will help to explore or explain the preoccupation of such an obsession.
I began dancing in 2008 under Linda Bursey, of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. It started without coin belts or pantaloons but with an introduction to Raks Shakari- Egyptian Style Belly Dance. It was here that I learned the basic shimmy, washing machine, and three-quarter. Learning Linda's 'shimmy', 'thank-you', and 'ameraine' choreography. I went through a horrible break up and it was then that the dance began to save me from myself. I felt the need to gibe back to the community that held me up when I could not do so myself. I began a research project for a Folklore course I was taking that observed and studied my local belly dance community. Opening the doors of academia to those who may not have the permission to access it. I left Corner Brook upon the completion of my Bachelors Degree. Not hesitating to remember my firsts with this group. My first performance, first coin belt, my first costume sewing project.
Upon the completion of such an event it would seem fitting that the story continue in a seamless fashion. Not so! That summer I fell in a park at night and tore the ligament in my left ankle very badly. I was such forced into a premature retirement from the dance for at least a 6 month stint issued by my family physician. During this time span, I had been accepted into Memorial University`s Masters of Arts program with a full fellowship. The move to St. John`s, Newfoundland was just as difficult as my past 9 months of the year had been. Up-rooting the one last deep tie I had to the West Coast of the island that I call home was emotionally difficult. It was another 2 months on top of the recommended 6 before I would return to belly dance after my injury.
I found Wild Lily Dance Centre almost immediately after moving into 'town' but I failed to trust myself from returning that I had been away from belly dance too long to continue. I gave my ankle the extra time to prepare however, my mind did not rest. That fall was possibly one of the hardest seasons to suffer through since I found dance. After returning from Christmas break belly dance was the first thing that I planned on taking care of. I registered as a belly dance Red at WLDC. Begtinning at the lowest level, I learned Atseguin Style- A form of Gypsy. It felt so good going to class again. IT was not long after that when my performance craving started. There was a murmur of the student showcase at the end of the semester. I was the first in line to ask if they needed a soloist to perform in the show, planning on performing Egyptian Style regardless of my own failing memory of the dance I had learned. Before I knew it, 10 weeks had passed with the lovely instruction of Vanessa Paddock, co-owner of WLDC, and I had in hand another choreography called "Sudan". Along the way I have made many belly dance friends, Lori Savory, WLDC co-owner, has become to mean more to me as a friend, mentor, and inspiration to continue reaching into the belly dance world.
I now have sights on the future of my dance career. Next on my agenda is to gain more time performing, perhaps through joining a troupe. The Neighborhood Strays will place calls for new dancers soon. That will be uplifting and exciting as once again I shall try my hand at overcoming my lack of confidence in my own technique of belly dance. I have registered at WLDC for Green class this upcoming semester, where I will learn gesturing technique.
My life as a belly dancer continues to grow and expand the reaches of my mind and my heart. To be a dancer is not something of perfection or practice but an embodiment of a movement, a changing of one's soul. A belly dancer is a being of uncompromisable virtues. One who is both kind and enduring, yet strong and compassionate. A belly dancer can only be one of a kind, part of a kin from which all women come from. As a troupe those women achieve excellence in a space that is not traditionally reserved for them. Rather the communal generosity of belly dance is no a well kept secret, it is instead a force to be reckoned with, a power so connected to everything else that it should be celebrated.
There is not telling what more the dance will bring to me. Instead, I think about what I can bring to it. And how I can impact the belly dancing world from and island the world over.