Beyond the Shimmy

Who needs a name!

2011-03-08T15:44:00.003-06:00

So something that's been rattling around in my brain a lot lately has been this concept of labels in bellydance. It seems like everyone is in a big toot to fit themselves into some sort of hole. ie: "I'm Cabaret" or "I'm Tribal Fusion". Or even more specific "I'm Egyptian Cabaret" or "I'm Gothic Tribal Fusion". Then they all like to get in their respective corners and stay there. There's nothing more sad than hearing a dancer say "Oh, I don't want to take that workshop because the teacher is Tribal and I'm a Cabaret dancer".
It reminds of cliques in high school. You had the "Popular" girls over here, the "Goths" over there, the "Band Kids", the "Drama Kids", etc. & then there was me who made it a point to not fit into any of the cliques and just pick & chose the people and events that I actually liked.
I've noticed that I've done the same thing in bellydancing. I'm really not cabaret. I can't call myself tribal because I have no real background in ATS. I suppose you could consider me "Cabaret Fusion", but I hate the term fusion! It really doesn't describe anything. I think dancers just use it as a license to vary from the norm. Personally, I just like using the umbrella term bellydance and leaving it at that, but if pushed into a corner I would have to call what I do Modern American Bellydance. I like the word modern for two reasons. One, I feel like I pull a lot on my background in modern dance, and two, I take a literally modern approach to the art form. I'm not trying to be classical. The word "American" is thrown in there because I feel that what I do is much more western than eastern. Once again, not classical or folkloric at all. It draws on American influences in music & costume & movement styles. A lot of people get there nose bent out of shape that Bellydancing isn't very Middle Eastern anymore. So I just don't claim that it is! & of course there's the ever present debate about the word "bellydance". It might have some negative connotations to it, but I the general public GETS what bellydance is. I don't use the term Middle Eastern Dance, because (as stated above) what I do is way too westernized. & the term Oriental dance, just confuses people.
Whew! That was a mouthful! My real point with this post is to challenge dancers to challenge the title that they give themselves. Don't let yourself be pigeon holed into one little corner. Feel free to step out of bounds explore what else is out there. After all, that's what art is all about!

Baby Block?

2011-02-23T18:14:00.003-06:00

So this is frustrating. I apparently (& maybe it's just a today thing...) can no longer just put on music & dance. I'm not sure if it's because everything just feels so different on my body, or if it's because I seem to have pretty high expectations of myself lately. I either feel like I'm just prancing around or going through a list of beginner moves. It's really strange. Technique-wise I feel I'm really pretty solid, but creatively (at least when it comes to dance) I really don't think I'm in a good place. I get too brainy. Maybe I need to do some work to feel more comfortable in the space I'm in. I feel very out of place & exposed dancing in this apartment. Bleh.

The Artist Date

2010-10-01T15:15:00.003-05:00

So I took one of these last week and thought it would be a good thing share :)

I first read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron () as part of my senior project in dance in college. Fabulous book for anyone persuing an artist path.

One of the things I learned from that book and have continued to do is the Artist Date. So what exactly is this date?

I like to think of it as a play date for your inner artist :) No one else is allowed to go (no friends, no significant others); Just you and the artist/little kid that lives inside you and might not always get to come out and play. The point is to do something to nuture your artistic self. It doesn't have to take all day, it doesn't have to be expensive.

Things I've enjoyed doing in the past: going to see a movie, checking out a museum/art exhibit, doodling in sketch book in a park, going window shopping, or maybe shopping with the express idea of buying something for less than five dollars that would just make me really happy but has absolutely no practicle use (buttons, silly toys, chocolate, things that smell good....)

It's really amazing how good it feels to do something just for yourself. Having some time to yourself and then exposing yourself to something new and great food for the artistic soul.

As an artist, particularly as a performing artist, we focusing on giving all the time. We take what is inside us and try to express it to world outside. It's like scooping water from a bucket. Each time you create or perform, you take a scoop out and share it. However, eventually the bucket will become empty if you don't stop to refill it every now and then.

That's what the artist date is for!

Here's what I did on my last date: I left the apartment knowing that I needed to run some errands. So I took care of everything I *needed* to first. Then wandered through the shops in Aggieville (a local shopping/food/bar district). I looked at pretty clothes and jewelry that I knew I couldn't afford. Then I looked a shop that just sells really random stuff (Acme Gift, for the locals). I love this shop. They have some seriously funny and random stuff. I ended up walking out of there with 2 cute buttons to add to my purse. One had a cartoon teapot and cup and the other had a smiling cupcake with a pirate eye patch :) Did I *need* these? Oh heck no! But they made me happy. I put them on my purse (with my other random buttons) and they make me smile every time I see them. I enjoyed walking between the shops, enjoying the fall weather.

It wasn't big or important. But it was nice to just hang out with myself :)

I challenge you to give it a try sometime!

Getting back to it....

2010-09-22T15:55:00.002-05:00

Okay...So I've really been neglecting my poor blog. However, I am going to try to do better! Here we go!

Since I lost wrote, a lot has been happening. The biggest news is that it finally looks like I'll be moving! My husband is just about done with his PhD and will (more than likely) be taking a job in San Diego (there's a still a few things that could change that....). I've already picked out the dancers whom I'm like to study with the most: Heather Stants of Urban tribal & Jim Boz. Heather's style is a truly beautiful mix of modern dance & bellydance. Right up my alley, no? And Jim does classic Egyptian cabaret. I'd love to get a more firm grasp on the basics, particularly the historical and cultural side of the dance. That just isn't something I've the opportunity to experience yet. So decisions will have to be made when the time comes and in general I'm just getting all kinds of excited & nervous at the same time!

Due to the move, I'm once again not teaching....and loving it! It's nice to be able to just focus on myself (selfish, I know, but it's necessary). I feel like I'm finally beginning to dig out what my personal movement style is. One of the days I'd really like to take Mira Betz's performance intensive. It's designed to do just that! If you go with Bartinieff Fundamentals, my movement style definitely has free flowing energy, not bound. In general, you see free flowing more in cabaret style while bound energy is found more in Tribal Fusion (ala Rachel Brice). I'm also getting more comfortable with the idea that my style isn't like anyone else's. I like colors and perkiness and a general sense of nostalgia. I want my dance to have a message, to be more than entertainment, to be art.

At least, that's where I am today...

Isadora, Mira Betz, and a personal push

2010-05-18T14:11:00.003-05:00

This is going to be an exceedingly random post. So hold on to your socks.

1. In something completely non-dance related, I've been learning how important it is to write things down. Thoughts are merely thoughts and nothing more until they are written down. Once written, they become more concrete and the writer is suddenly held liable for her statements. So in that vain, I'm going to try and write more and try to overcome my adversion to the written word! (Well, I only find it adversive when I'm the one doing the writing!)

2. One of the more recent books I read was the autobiography of Isadora Duncan, one of the founding mothers of modern dance. She was one of the first people to reject to strictures of ballet and develope dance as a more organic art move; Not a dance based on rules and lines and angles, but of flow and expressing the inner workings of the mind. She shed the leotards, tights, and point shoes and opted for flowing silk tunics and bare legs & feet (which was rather shocking during the Victorian period that she lived in). Her life complete revolved around her dance. Creating "pure, athentic" movement was her sole drive and she completely devoted herself to it. It was amazing to read about her dedication, creativity, and pioneering spirit. It's a fantastic read for any dancer out there! I think if she were around today she would definitely be a belly dancer. I think what we call modern dance has once again become too codified and structured and that Isadora would be drawn the more organic form and open spirit of bellydancing. This whole book really got my brain spinning off into new directions...

3. Somewhat spawning from reading this book, and also just coming from my own craving for continuing education and enlightenment in my chosen art form, I've decided that what I would really like to do this summer is an intensive study with someone. Over the past 5 years, I've been to various short workshops with a single instructor, or a longer series of workshops taught by multiple people I'm getting tired of just getting a taste of someone and their style and then being kicked out the door! I really want to sink my teeth into something juicy! In the fall, I did 6 months of online classes with Suhaila Salimpore and really enjoyed it. I could take class from someone else who definitely knew what they were doing everyday! However, I eventually became frustrated with how muscular based her system is. I was (and still am!) yearing to go deeper; To get away from just learning moves and really learning how to express myself with that. So upon doing quite a bit of research, I decided that I'd really like to study with Mira Betz. One reason is because she's one of the few instructors out there who offers regular intensives, rather just random workshop here and there. The particular one I'm looking at would give me 13 hours of instruction with her in a limited sized group over 3 days. I need just a little more information for that workshop, and then hopefully I'll sign up for it! Yay for con. ed.!

4. So I believe I've mentioned in a post blog how I've decided I'd like to try my hand at starting a costuming business. Well so far, I haven't done much! I really need to kick my butt in gear. I just finished reading Brisingr (which was totally sucking up all of my attention), so I'm hoping to get a little more focused. I have actually completed my first prototype. It needs some work, but hey! It's a prototype! Right now my biggest hang up is getting the patterns for the different sizes made up. It's hard to size something that isn't meant to fit yourself! I'm hoping to meet up with some friends this week and have them try my patterns on just to see if I'm even in the right ballpark. I think once that step is done, I can start actually creating belts, which will be much more fun!

And so apparently I need to write these blogs more often so they don't end up running so long. Hopefully I'll make another installment soon!

Mission Statement

2010-03-11T16:01:00.002-06:00

Okay....I need a mission statement for my new business. Let's make it real by writing it down! Hmmm...how about starting with a list of things I want to incorporate?

* Create high quality, handmade dancewear
* Accomodate for a variety of body shapes & sizes
* Focus of using colors, from pastels to flurescents!
* Provide a basis for DIY-ers by making items that are less costly and can be individulized.

There! That wasn't so hard! Let's roll with that for awhile and see how it works :)

Starting a Business...

2010-03-11T08:58:00.002-06:00

I want to start a business. A costuming business. I enjoy sewing and making costumes, and I think there's a definite niche to be filled. I like a lot of the tribal stuff, how it's made to fit a variety of body shapes, the styling. I just don't like how so much of it is dark! Where are the bright, fun colors! Does no one else want to dance in pink & lime green, & baby blue?
I think I'm going to call it Gaitri's Design, with a big scripty G for a logo. I want something that actually isn't silly. Something rather sophisticated, but with room for fun. I like the slogan "Because every dancer needs a little sparkle!"
I want to start with belts that tie on in standard sizes. I'll have a few basic shapes and make them out of "reclaimed" denim, then cover them in pretty stretch fabrics. The tie will be from grossgrain covered in the stretch fabric. From there, I will decorate them in various degrees. So a customer could be a less expensive, plain belt, and decorate it herself, or buy a more expensive belt that's all decorated & ready to go. Hmmm....they could be DIY, Ready-to-Wear, and Extravagant. I can also do custom orders.
I want to use pink & black as my logo colors and sell stuff of etsy. When I ship, I'll wrap them in pink paper and add a card. I love getting "presents" in the mail!
I'm targeting bellydancers who are more playful and/or more cabaret. We don't all want to be dark & serious all the time!
Once I'm done with my Disney scrapbook, I'm going to start dedicating 1 hr a week to my business. I'm hoping when we move that I won't take a job & I'll just work on this and start our family. (For some reason, writing all this down and "publishing" it makes it much more official and gives me more drive).

Here's Hoping!

3rd Coast

2010-01-13T16:37:00.003-06:00

Whew. I can breathe again! I just got back from 3rd Coast Tribal in Ft. Worth Texas where I did a solo in the Saturday night show. This piece was a really big step for me. For the first time in a long time, I actually allowed myself enough time to fully create and polish a piece. Also, this was the first time I feel I really allowed myself to open up on stage. I made eye contact, I danced with passion. It was scary as hell! Yet it was also really liberating. The audience responded really well, or least the portion of the audience where Troupe Duende was sitting :) I feel like I've reached a new plateau in my dancing. I plan on staying here for awhile and basking in it before moving on :)

I am an Artist

2010-01-06T13:53:00.003-06:00

"I am an Artist." This is going to be my mantra for the new year. I'm tired of pretending to be anything else. Creativity is an innate part of me. It lives & breathes inside of me. I must foster it and care for it or my soul will slowly wither. I am ready to accept the responsibility & challenge that being an artist brings.

The realization has just hit me how much energy my "day job" takes out of me. It's what makes me cranky. It leaves only an hour or two a day to devote to my art, and I usually spend at least half of that time conditioning to keep my body, my tool, in shape. I need more time to explore.

I've also been learning that art begets art. I recently read a book just for fun and was stunned at my creativity's reaction to it. It was like a dying plant that gets a gulp of water. Suddenly I was motivated and finding inspiration everywhere. Music has also made a return into my life. Year ago, I was so impassioned by music. Somewhere along the way I lost that. TV has replaced music and boy does it kill brain cells!

It's like I just woke up and realized I've been hiding under a blanket. I'm ready to embrace my creativity and have faith that it will carry me where it wants to!

Happy New Year!

Reality Check

2009-08-18T08:45:00.008-05:00

So as I think I've stated earlier, I've started taking online classes with Suhaila Salimpor. And I love it!

I've never really thought that I was a phenominal dancer or anything, but I had thought I was in pretty decent shape, had a fair amount of control over my muscles, and a solid understanding of playing finger cymbals. Well, turns out I was wrong!

I'm physically getting my butt kicked in these classes. I haven't sweated this much while dancing since I was in college! What's really cool though, is that after just a few weeks I can already feel my body changing. I doubt I look different, but I definitely feel stronger. Not to mention that this super exercise is really great for my depression. I've been feeling really good lately!

Suhaila's concepts of belly dancing are totally different from what I first learned, so I'm having to retrain my body. Everything she does is so muscular and isolated, as opposed to large structural movements. My brain is definitely catching on faster than my body. I love the look and feel of the movements though. I think it will be really cool to be able to exert such great control over my body, but also be able to let it go to do the larger, looser movements. The juxtaposition between the two should provide for really rich material.

And then there's zills. Holy Moly Cow. I apparently don't know jack about zills! Suhaila's zill classes are turning my brain into mush and making my hands cramp up! She's striving to get dancers to play their zills independantly from what their body is doing. Yeesh! Not gonna lie, this class is frustrating me way more than I thought it would. I can do the moves by themselves just fine, and I can stand and play the zills fairly well. But combining them just blows my mind! A lot of it is simply due to the speed at which she plays. There's no slow or even medium tempo! I need machine gun fingers to keep up! But I really want to master this so I'll keep on plugging away.

Taking these classes is really giving me what I had been looking for. I'm loving it, even though I feel like I've gone back to square one.

Facelift & Zills

2009-07-30T14:50:00.002-05:00

As you can see, I just figured out how to give my blog a facelift! I think it much more accurately reflects me :)

For zills, I just took my first online class with Jamilla Salimpor. I was a little put off at first because I've never taken a class with her, done a video, or looked at her book so her lingo was new to me. That, and she didn't really slow things down much. You just sort of have to dive right in. It was a huge brain buster! But I really like the way her movements flow and zills got easier as class went. I've never been a strong ziller, so I think this will be really good for me.

Random note for those wanting to practice zills at home without driving everyone else bonkers:

Wrap thick rubber bands around those puppies to mute them! They'll make a dull thud sound so you can still hear what you're doing, but there's no loud ringing to scare your cat. Plus, they're uber cheap and easily replacable when they buts (which they will!). Also, REMOVE THE RUBBER BANDS AFTER PRACTICING!!!! They will stick to your zills and leave nasty gook on them. I bet you can guess how I figured that one out ;)

Websites & Bustles Oh My!

2009-07-24T10:09:00.002-05:00

I've been toying with the idea of starting up my own website sometime. Something to promote my dancing & teaching and what-not. And just something for me to play with!

So in preparation for this, I've been scouting out websites by other dancers to see what everyone else is doing and to start getting a feel for what I like and dislike.
Right now watch I've specifically been looking at is the "About Me" section or the "Bio", since I've really been struggling to write something about myself. In searching for this, I keep running into something that I'm really fond of: EGO!

It's seems pretty common place to brag about how wonderful you are and much everyone loves you in your bio. I can partially understand this because you want people to think you're qualified and well liked so they'll hire you/take classes from you. But doing that for myself just doesn't sit right with me. So I think I might do something a little more tongue in cheek. That seems to be my style ;)

On a completley different note: I'm really into these bustle things I keep seeing on the tribal dancers. There's all kinds of styles. I really like how femine they are, without being so traditionally "bellydance". I think I might make some here some, but in bright colors! I'll probably start with a pink one!

Latest update....

2009-07-17T16:40:00.003-05:00

So after several workshops, videos and self exploration...I'm not a pop 'n locker!!

I soooo prefer to be smooth and fluid. Not to mention I don't care for most electronic music. It just doesn't inspire me to dance.

I'm currently hooked on some neo tango music by the Gotan project and some old school cheesey stuff by Sonny Lester :)

Sexual Vs. Sensual in Belly Dance

2009-07-10T13:17:00.001-05:00

*Disclaimer* This is just my personal on this whole issue. I realize that not everyone will agree with me and I’m okay with that. I just think that this is an important issue in the belly dance world that every dancer should keep in mind and form their own opinions about.

The concept of “Sex in Belly Dance” has long been a hot topic of sore contention among most belly dancers. The public often misinterprets our sensual art form as a sexual display for the opposite sex, which weakens our credibility as performers and as an art form in general. To even begin to understand this debate, however, we need to make clear the difference between the terms “sexual” and “sensual”
To me, SEXUAL means something erotic. It’s something that exploits the body and uses sex to sell. When it comes to belly dance, it’s also more than just showing skin. Then intention behind the performance is a key factor. If a dancer gets up and dances with the intention that she wants to “turn men on”, she’ll come across looking sexual, even if she’s fully covered!
SENSUAL, on the other hand, is more about embracing the body and being confident in it. In belly dance, I think it’s the ability to say, “I’m curvy and beautiful and I love it”. It’s rejoicing in yourself.
The line between these two is not a clear cut line. Many audiences are eager to jump to the conclusion that the dance is “sexual” simply because they see a woman is comfortable enough with herself to show her belly (and maybe some cleavage and a little leg). Even if the intention behind the dance is totally pure, a skimpy costume can blur that line.
I also think that our culture isn’t used to seeing dance moves that are so internal and are designed to accentuate the flowing curves of the female form. No one thinks ballet is sexual despite the costumes. I think it’s because the movements are focused more on making lines with the extremities, the arms and legs. The torso and hips are extremely still. People are conditioned to viewing that type of dance and thinking “art”.
I know this isn’t the most articulate thing I’ve written (hey I’m a dancer, not a writer!), but putting this down on paper has at least helped me to clarify the line in my head. Hopefully it will stimulate others to explore the difference between sexual and sensual as well!

Fabulous Floorwork!

2009-07-06T10:14:00.000-05:00

Floorwork used to be an integral part of a belly dancers repertoire. Typically today we associate it with classical American belly dancing from the 50’s and 60’s, although it was (and is) still a feature of Turkish and Lebonese belly dancing. However, it isn’t something found in the ever popular Classical Egyptian Cabaret because it’s actually illegal in Egypt. There, floorwork is thought to be “dirty” and “suggestive”. As this style of belly dance become more and more popular in the states, floorwork has become less and less popular.
I believe there are some other reasons for the decline of floorwork in belly dancing today. For one, look at our costumes. Most of our cabaret costumes have been heavily influenced by Egyptian style. There’s a tremendous amount of delicate beadwork all over the outfits. You definitely don’t want to roll around on the floor with this for fear of breaking the beads! Also, the majority of skirts and are quite tight, which makes transitioning from standing down to the floor and back up again super difficult.
I also feel that the amount athleticism involved in floorwork is to blame for its decline. It takes a tremendous amount of strength in the core muscles, upper body, and quads to perform quality floorwork. I think this makes it really intimidating for most dancers.
Today, with the rise of fusion forms of belly dance, floorwork is beginning to make a comeback. I’m so glad to see this because I think I can really add to the sense of artistry of our dance form. Level changes can be very dramatic and can help to keep the attention of our audience. Learning to move down to the floor also opens a whole new world of movement possibilities to keep your creative mind flowing.
I truly believe that everyone can perform some kind of floorwork. That’s one of the most beautiful things about belly dancing. We all have different bodies with different strengths, so it’s just a matter of finding what works for you.

Tribal?!

2009-03-10T11:34:00.002-05:00

So I've been doing a lot of self exploring lately in my own belly dancing. In the past I've always just been dancing how people told me to. Now I'm starting to realize that I have my own ideas and theories on dancing, I just have to figure out what they are!

So here's what I've come up with so far....

1) All my previous dance training is still very valuable. I can actually mix in elements of modern, and jazz, and ballet into my belly dancing. The two don't have to be exclusive from each other. This really opens up worlds of self-expression possiblities for me.

2) By allowing myself to move from the confines of "cabaret" and mix in my own movements, I feel that I can more openly express myself.

But now that I've taken the lable of "cabaret" off myself, I feel a little lost! I always identified my self as a cabaret dancer, and never went in for that silly tribal fusion stuff ;) Lately, though, I've been realizing that tribal dancers tend to access a broader range of emotions will dancing and seem to take more risks. So maybe now I'm turning into a tribal fusion dancer! But I still like the cabaret look...

Soooooooooo.........this change in dancing has now led to a change in costuming! I'm starting to fuse cabaret and tribal together with a touch of vintage, 1970's bellydance. I love the look from that era.

Look for big changes to come!

Teaching Philosophies

2009-01-03T19:33:00.001-06:00

As I've been reworking my lesson plans for the coming semester, I've been developing my own philosophy on teaching belly dance. It's been really fun and enlightening to make my own lesson plans from scratch and not have to base them off of someone else's ideology.

I decided that my goal for beginner dancers is to get them familiar not only with the basic moves of belly dancing, but also with their own bodies. I want them to leave the class feeling like they've truly accomplished something. I don't want to get nit-picky about technique this early in their dance education. I want to show them that yes, they can dance! I want them to feel safe enough to explore their creative sides and to get to know their bodies on a deeper level. Getting too heavily into “proper technique” will only intimidate most people.

For intermediate dancers, I want to start delving more deeply into technique. I want them to be aware of which muscles are used for each move. By this stage, they should feel fairly confident in themselves and their dancing abilities. Gaining strength in their bodies and clarity in their movements is the main goal for this level.

In the advanced level, I want to really fine-tune things. I want to work on musicality and stage presence. These issues will be addressed while working with special topics. In beginner and intermediate, we just work with basic moves and what I would call “American Cabaret” style. In advanced, we'll start to study more specific styles and topics, such as drum solos, cane, gypsy, veil, and so much more!

I'm really excited to start implementing these ideas in my classes. This is the first time I've really came up with a personal teaching philosophy and I think it will help give my classes a better direction.

Moving Beyond my Shimmy

2008-11-26T10:10:00.001-06:00

I’m not going to lie, one of my favorite aspects about belly dance is the technical side. I love honing my hips into precise isolations, positioning my arms with just the right angle, and learning how to control individual muscles. This probably comes from my background in more classical dance forms (ballet and modern) and from my training as a massage therapist.

But I’ve recently started to delve deeper in my dancing, beyond just the physical aspects of it. I’ve always known there must be more to dancing than just the moves, it just didn’t interest me for some reason. Maybe it’s age, but I’m starting to feel like what I’ve been doing is very superficial. I want more! It’s like the technical side is the cake, and now I want frosting! And sprinkles!

I’m learning to pour my emotions and my personality in my dancing. It’s scary! I’m putting my inner most self out there for others to see. What if they don’t like it? What if they decide I’m crazy? How will my friends and family react? Most importantly, though, does any of this matter? Part of me says no, but that still a huge barrier to break down. I think that’s why I’ve mostly been working with happier emotions, why most of my work tends to be “cute & perky”. That seems easier and safer to tap into. I’d like to slowly work into other realms.

So how do you do this? I wish I had a simple answer! Part of what works for me is to use music that inspires me. Certain songs just speak to your soul and cause your hips to move. Music also has the uncanny ability to tap into your emotions. So I start there. I listen to the music and become familiar with how it moves. Then I start to improv to it, allowing the music to tell my body how to move (this works best when home alone while the cat is sleeping). Even if I don’t intend to perform to what I’m working on, I’m finding this to be great practice in just letting go and expressing myself without any pressure.

The second thing I’ve been working with is probably even more vague: Energy. Instead of just running through the movements, I’ve been practicing doing them with energy. I think of the energy pulsing out from my heart and flowing out my limbs. I allow myself to believe that what I’m doing is worthwhile, and the most exciting thing in the world. Each time anyone dances, it’s special and important, I think we have a hard time believing it though. Most of us come from backgrounds that make us think in the back of our heads that our dancing is just a “hobby”, “something we do for fun”, not something to take seriously. However, I know many dancers who have been dancing for years (myself included!) and who have invested large amounts of time and money into their art form. Why would we do that if we’re not truly serious about our dancing? Because we’re passionate about what we’re doing, each of us for our own reasons. So why not allow that passion to show through in our dancing? It’s okay to prove to yourself that what you’re doing is worthwhile. Embrace your passion and use it to fuel each and every dance move, from the biggest shimmy to the smallest hand gesture.

My goal for the new year (no, it’s not too early to make resolutions!) is to continue working on letting my passion for my art form show through in my dancing and pass these lessons on to my students.