Belly Dance Geek Blog
Love Note
Hi there! If you’re reading this, you probably came here through my love note in Alia Thabit’s 90 day Dance Party. But no matter how you got here, I’m really glad you came! Share your thoughts In my love note, I talked about how saying “fuck it” helps me dismiss judgmental thoughts when I’m dancing. I’d love to hear what works for you: What is your personal version of “fuck it”? How do you deal with judgmental thoughts? Leave a note in the comments. (And this is an...
read moreThe Cake/Icing/Sprinkles Theory
Why more isn’t better. Have you ever eaten a spoonful of sprinkles? It’s awful. They look delicious, but they taste like chalky, sweetened wax. It was special on the cake, but now it’s just blah. Too much of something special makes it less special. When you’re performing, it’s really tempting to use all your coolest, fanciest stuff. I was especially tempted to do this when I was an advanced-level student. I had worked hard to learn all this tricky, complex stuff, and I wanted to use it, damn it!...
read morePoll About Polls
I’ve been doing a monthly polls as part of my newsletter for a while, now, but I’ve never asked if you actually like them. Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool. Your Turn What do you think about the polls? If I do keep doing them, what questions would you like me to ask? If you don’t like them, is there anything in particular that bugs you? Share your thoughts in the comments. ...
read moreGeek Out with Rosa Noreen
“Stillness Snafus” Episode 2 of the Belly Dance Geek Clubhouse: My guest is Rosa Noreen, who will debunk the myths and mistakes that keep dancers from using stillness effectively in their dance. About Rosa Rosa Noreen is a dedicated teacher and an elegant performer. Her singular style of belly dance is influenced by her ballet background and years of study of Egyptian dance. Known for her classical lines and thoughtful approach, Rosa delights students and audiences alike. A leader in her...
read moreUn-Traveling
How to travel when you have nowhere to go (This post is dedicated to my Improvisation Safety Net students. Many of them are filming their homework in small spaces, so they’re dealing with these issues first-hand!) I did one of my favorite shows on a postage stamp. (Okay, that’s not quite accurate. It was more like a strip of three postage stamps.) The space was a good twelve feet wide, but only three feet deep. There was so little space between the tables and the band that the fringe on my belt whacked the microphone...
read moreGeek Out on the Egyptian Routine with Yasmin Henkesh
Announcing our first Belly Dance Geek Clubhouse call! Episode 1 of the Belly Dance Geek Clubhouse In this summer’s Rock the Routine course, we geeked out on the 6-part routine, as used in Vintage Orientale (aka old-school American Cabaret). But many of the participants asked about how to adapt that material for Egyptian style. So I’m bringing in the big guns! My first guest for The Belly Dance Geek Clubhouse is Yasmin Henkesh. Yasmin is a seasoned performer with a decades of experience performing in...
read moreDance Style Poll
The results are in: The “something else” responses included: Bollywood Zambra Mora A little off-oriental creative visionary (whatever that is) Really don’t know the different “categories” Thanks for the great responses! Your Turn This poll is closed, but the discussion doesn’t have to end! Did you have trouble defining your style? Do you study or perform in multiple styles? Which one is your primary style? How to you feel about labeling your dance? Share it! Did you find this...
read moreThe Serendipity Habit
Why You Should Answer When Opportunity Knocks I have a confession to make: I’m not an evil genius. (Not yet, anyway.) Most of what I’ve produced has not been the result of some brilliant master plan, but of serendipity. (i.e., finding what you weren’t looking for.) Over the last four years, I’ve created sixteen different products and services, including DVDs, video podcasts, teleclasses, online courses, training programs, and private coaching programs. And most of those weren’t the result of my business...
read moreWhat’s Your Skill Level?
(Note: I’m asking about your skill level, NOT about whether you make your living dancing.) This poll is now closed! Here are the results: Your Turn Skill levels can be hard to define. Everyone has a different idea of what makes a “beginner”, “intermediate”, etc. I’d like to hear what you think. Did you have any trouble defining your level for this poll? How do you define the different levels? What skills do you think an intermediate dancer should have? An advanced one? Is...
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