Belly Dance 101 Videos - Poocano

Hello Ladies,

This week, I'd like to feature another move form Wild Card Belly Dance (they're just SO GOOD). This is a great move to help get you out of your turkish step in a fun way. It's called the Poocano

Wild Card ITS - Poocano

See you next week!

Arianna

Belly Dance 101 - Sahra Turn

So, per request, I will be posting at least weekly with the things that we go over in the classes. I will also try to post a little more regularly about the journey of everything, with a little more thought into to it as well.

This week in Belly Dance 101 - Monday, we worked on the Sahra Turn, one of my favorite ATS turns. Visit the website below to see this weeks video!

http://www.ruric-amari.com/shimmy-online/tag/sahra-turn

New Hope In a New Year

In the past few months, things have exploded...sort of.

Currently there are 10(ish) students consistently coming to both of the classes. This is awesome for me.
We've created a troupe, Village Plains Tribal Fusion. It is a student troupe made of the senior members in my classes. It's awesome.
VPTF has had their first public performance at Nerdacon V8. We had a blast, we rocked it, one loved it.
We just had a very successful "Craft Day," A lot of ladies got some great things made and I really enjoyed it!
We will be appearing in one if not two Christmas Parades this year!

I've got big plans for 2014. I've named a few officers in the troupe to help me share the load a bit next year. We are meeting in December to discuss some stuff I have planned. I am really hoping for a very successful 2014, both professionally and personally. We've planned to do regular craft days and I am hoping to get some regular performances for us!

So Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and here is to a very hopeful New Year! YIP!!

Tribal Costuming

At a recent class, we actually didn't dance, we simply discussed a few things that some ladies had some questions about. It was a lot of fun and, I hope, very informative. From that, I felt the need to write a blog post that discussed some of the basic components and materials used in Tribal and Tribal Fusion Costuming. There are subtle differences in each, and we will only touch on the basics in this post. At the bottom of the post, I will post a few links to various websites that I like the best when it comes to your look! Get ready, this one is a doozy!

Tribal Style Costuming

Pantaloons - Pantaloons, or harem pants, are crucial for a Tribal Style performer and is oftentimes a requirement for American Tribal Style Dancers. They aren't just cool looking and comfy, they're practical and will help keep that big skirt out from under your feet. There are many different sizes and styles and they are incredibly easy to make. Here's a picture!

Skirts -  In tribal, the most common skirt is the 25 yard skirt. It has a lot of flow, and can be worn in many different ways. Some ladies wear two (or more, but goodness that's a lot of fabric) and bustle them so that both layers are seen. I LOVE 24 yarders on Tribal ladies. It is SO pretty and gives a little extra flounce at the hips. They come in virtually EVERY color too! I suggest saving up and buying one if you want one though, they are a pain to make, but there are patterns available. Dancers will also decorate on top with panel skirts, over skirts, or even a shawl around the hips. 

Belt/Bra - These pieces are a staple in every style of dance, but the look is different in Tribal Style and Tribal fusion. For the most part, Tribal Dancers tear tassel belts when performing. They attach HUGE, handmade tassels that can hang at varying lengths. The bra and belt both can be decorated with tassells, amulets, chain, coins, shells, extra fabric, and pretty much anything you can think of.  The coins, for a tribal dancer, are typically heavier than the ones found on the coin belts in class. Your imagination is your only limitation on this one. Most dancers I know make theirs, as buying them can get expensive.

Choli - The choli is another staple in the ATS and ITS fashion. It is again, super comfy, easy to make, and great for casual performances or class! It does bare the midriff  and the American Tribal Style Dancers wear it with on open back. This is so that the ladies following, can see the cues easier. Oftentimes, a Choli is worn under the bra. 

Turban or Headpieces - In ATS, the Turban is pretty prominent, though no longer mandatory. It does have it significance however and can help with balancing things. Tribal dancers love to decorate their hair however and will often use silk flowers, tribal textiles, plants, quills, and bits of jewelry. For many ladies, more is more. Below are two pictures of Carolena Nericcio, the mother of ATS and director of Fat Chance Belly Dance with two different head pieces. 

Jewelry -  Jewelry for tribal dancers is pretty open. Most women keep with some of the middle eastern jewelry found in the Kuchi, Rahasthani, Turkomen, Moroccan, and Afghan tribes. Again, often, more is more.

Tribal Fusion Costuming

The thing about Tribal Fusion, is that it isn't ALWAYS the costume that make you that way. A lot of fusion ladies wear 25 yd skirts, cholis, tassel belts and coin bras, but I'm listing a few things that can be different in fusion costuming. 

Pants - Whether they are Garter, "fly" or just a modified yoga pant, many tribal fusion ladies wear tight pants as opposed to the voluminous pantaloons (though they wear those too). Here are a few pictures for you to check out. 

Skirts -  A lot of fusion ladies like the straight line and mermaid style skirts when they dance. They hug the curves and can really accentuate the moves. Short skirts over pants or leggings are also very popular.

Links

Buy it!

www.moondancebellydance.com
www.magicalfashions.com

www.redcamel.net
www.silkroadtribal.com

www.tribenawaar.com

Make it!

www.redcamel.net - supplies
www.silkroadtribal.com - supplies
http://www.pinterest.com/alexedmondson07/she-s-a-pattern-cuttah-a-costume-makah/ - Arianna's costume making board for instructions and inspiration

http://www.blackswantribe.com.au/Bits_And_Pieces.html - some good pattern instructions

http://catalog.fcbd.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=84&products_id=273&zenid=50941b712be4efc9c165407c4825a62a - ATS pattern to buy, has pretty much everything you need

http://www.shushanna.com/brabase.html - making a bra (some other great tutorials on here too!)

http://www.davina.us/blog/ - Lots of cotume books, how-toos, and information on tribal cotuming

There is A LOT of information for you, and that's not even the tip of the iceberg! But don't get overwhelmed! Google search some stuff and enjoy yourself! Create your style and have fun doing, that's part of the process!

The Beat of the Drum

In Columbus, Ga, there is a growing event known as the Uptown Drum Circle (see the link below). I discovered this event this past spring and my every supportive husband and I went to them. We had a blast. Neither of us are drummers, though we are both musicians. He does want to learn to drum for dancers, so we figured it would be great.

It was.

We have met a whole new group of people that we really like a lot. Not to mention the "unity in the community" that the circle creates (a phrase taken from one of the facilitators.) It has really been a lot of fun and a chance for the two of us to get out and about.

I was so honored to be asked to actually help facilitate the Drum Circle this upcoming season as a dancer. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time.While yes, I have been performing for a while now, this is a slightly different venue. My goal is to not be the only dancer. I want others to dance, drum, and cheer with me. UDC has been promoting me on their facebook page and their words about me, both publicly and in our private messages,  make me blush honestly. I hope that I can live up to their expectations and then some. I want to be a good steward of both my dance and these events.

So if you are in the Columbus area, and have the second Saturday of October, November, and December free, you had better come out here to Uptown Columbus and join me. Follow the sounds of the drum.  Bring your dancing shoes.

https://www.facebook.com/UpTownDrumCircle/x

Shock and Awe

I hosted my first ever workshop this past weekend at the studio I am teaching. The instructor was the woman who taught me how to dance. The subject was veils.

This is the third time I have taken this particular workshop. I learn something new every time and I love it every single time. However my favorite part this time around was not the education, it was not watching Dawn's moves...it was seeing and hearing the reactions from my students.

As Dawn showed them how to work double veils, a feat that takes a lot of upper body strength and a fair amount of spinning, I could hear the awe that my students were expressing.

*Gasp*
*ooo*
*oh wow*

I couldn't help but smile. Many of them had never seen a belly dancer in the flesh really working her magic, and here they were getting to see one of the best (I might be bias, but nobody does veils better than Dawn). I was so proud of them. I was so happy to be able to provide them with this opportunity.

I also hope that one day (soon hopefully) I can inspire the same kind of awe during one of my workshops.

I have two more big events this month; a festival, in which I will be performing and teaching and a Burlesque workshop that I am hosting. My prayers, as I plan for these events, is that this month is indicative of things to come in my dance journey -

Busy
Fun
Awe Inspiring.

Full Support

My husband is amazing.

Words really don't describe how blessed I am to have such support behind me. He has been ever patient as my dance takes away our "us time" and often leaves me exhausted. He understands that I not only do this because I love it, but I am doing it for him. He comes to shows, helps me vends and even adds assitance on costumes. I've gotten frustrated with him on more than one occassion and alway apologized. His patience is never ending.

His latest bout of amazingness...

My amazing husband is willing to work on his off day, pulling up poison ivy out of an event coordinator's yard, in exchange for a TribalCon pass. For me. I will be helping him, but I can't actually touch the stuff, so the grunt work is all him. But he understands the importance my dance and of this event for me.

I cannont express how much this means to me. That being said...


Support systems are important. Crucial even. You will become disheartened. You will be subject to hate speech, sometimes even your own. You will be at a low point that is so far into the gutter you feel like a Dickensian urchin. And at that point you will want to stop everything that you've done and give up.

It is here that the support system comes in. Someone, even just one person who reminds you that the voice telling you "No" is a lying slut. Someone that puts their hand in the emotional gutter and helps you out of it.

This applies not only to belly dance, but everything you do. EVERYTHING. Your job, your homelife, your hobbies. If you are trying to accomplish something, you will get discouraged. Have someone or multiple someones that understand what it is your are trying to do. they will help you achieve it.