If you make your best effort just to continue your practice with your whole mind and body, without gaining ideas, then whatever you do will be true practice. Just to continue should be your purpose.
The year is 2012 and I have decided to take a hiatus from my life as an academic librarian. Last year I read two articles that changed my life. Creating a Legacy Project helped me to realize my only true passion in life is dance. Minimalist: break free from goals helped me to structure my life around my passion.
Essentrics is a fitness program that I am delighted to share with the rest of the dance world, particularly belly dancers. I will be teaching classes in San Francisco starting in early spring.
I am heavily involved in side projects right now. Of course, I am still doing the Blackhoodygrrl thang. I am a soloist, first and foremost. But these other projects just sort of happened organically...and I am truly grateful! I will give more details as soon as the website is done, but I have a new dance duet called "Tribal Ballet". We perform with live musicians which is totally awesome. Most of these musicians are not drummers, which makes us kinda special in the belly dance world. We have already booked several gigs, and here is the flyer for our next show. Come out and see us!!
Also, this week I go to a call back for an audition I went to last week. If all goes well, I will be starring in an amazing dinner theater show where I get to do some passionate flamenco dancing. WOOT! I will let you know what happens.
A few days ago at my favorite french bakery...indulging in a guilty pleasure: the giant french macaroon. This one is pistachio. YUM.
Check out this adorable nymph rock the fuck out of this violin whilst executing graceful dance movements.
Love it.
Enjoy a preview of this awesome new comp!
| GENERATION BASS [VARIOUS] | |
| Album Title | TRANSNATIONAL DUBSTEP |
| Genre | Transnational Dubstep |
| Release Date | 02 Feb 2011 USA |
| Description | CD & DIGITAL |
| Tracklist | 1.India Sleeping – Mars
2.Kaliyuga – Engine Earz 3.Undertow in G# – Alexis K 4. Rude Profile – Fleck & Fish Finger 5.Cumbia Dub – Knowa Knowone 6.Clownie – Innamorati 7. Valium Gitan – Sa Bat ‘Machines 8.Only Human – Shem 9.Kamikaze – Dysphemic 10.Shiva Step – Barbarix 11.Bukkake – Syndeasia 12.Bhangra Fever – Midival Punditz 13. Brown Skin Beauty – (liquid Stranger Remix) Bandish Projekt 14. Dub Reflex – Celt Islam 15. Salahadeen – Jajouka Soundsyetm |
WHOA. This might be intense for some people to watch but others may find it cathartic. Others still might laugh their heads off.
I loved it. I hope my next video is this creative.
I want to write about what has happened, but again and again I hesitate. Maybe some things aren't meant to be recorded, only experienced.
He was in a serious car accident but is rapidly recovering because he is a warrior. I know he wants me to dance so I left his side at the hospital and went to my gig. Here I am 5 minutes before I went onstage. It was a lovely performance and I left immediately afterwards. The important thing is I found my Zen in the middle of a perfect shit-storm, and he is going to be okay. I am so in love and so grateful for my life.
SO much eye candy! These two are my absolute favorites. Click HERE for more!
My "Winter 2011" collage represents all the stuff that is swirling around in my head at the moment.
I don't really think of my collages as art but creating them is definitely part of my artistic process. I know a lot of dancers who create collages, actually. When I am creating a dance, I ALWAYS gather most of my inspiration for the actual MOVEMENT from the music. This is crucial. But there are so many other factors that go into a performance! The most obvious, of course, is the costume. Costumery (I just made up that word) is the world of spectacle, faery glamour, smoke and mirrors, glitter and rhinestones. Unfortunately, this world leaves me exasperated and totally annoyed. This aspect of performing doesn't come as easily to me as the actual dancing, so I turn to the interwebs for inspiration. There are many places I go for eye candy, and most of them have nothing to do with dancing. They all have to do with color, mood, and the lines a body makes. That body could be a ballerina or a fetish model or joe shmo sitting in a cafe sipping cappucino. Vintage photography is awesome, so is contemporary. There are infinite possibilities when it comes to eye candy and the internet.
I am adjusting happily to my new life in San Francisco. The chilly weather makes me want to drink coffee and read all day instead of drinking coffee and dancing for most of the day. Humans hibernate during the winter too, we just aren't as obvious about it as bears. I have been quiet and introspective; not really socializing too much. Cooking and baking a lot, which is unusual for me. This move was a big one and my life is completely different now. Change is a blessing but there is definitely an adjustment period. I haven't been too inspired to dance or create choreography...until a few days ago. I secured gigs for December, January and February which lifted my spirits. Back to creating sparkling choreography! But first I'm going to bundle up, put leg warmers under my sweats and go for a walk in Golden Gate Park. Hoooraaaaay!
For more of my collages, click HERE
WOW. I was going to post something totally different today, but I just received an email that made me very sad. Apparently, this beautiful lady was killed in a car accident recently. I have been following her career for years and I must say, I am very sad to hear this. She was gorgeous and cared about her art so much. You could always tell.
Enjoy these videos. She was a sweet soul and I will really miss watching her dance. RIP JeniViva
I recently discovered a stunning blog called Existence is Elsewhere, thanks to the lovely Rachel Brice.
Amazing black and white art that will enchant your eyeballs.LOVE. THIS. HOOD.