The mini massive in vegas

Three days advanced instruction with the one and the only Zoe Jakes... Who by the way put on a very lovely performance at Ya Halla Y'all 2009!

but anyway... Is anyone going?

My 21st Birthday is that week (the 19th <3) so it'll be a good chance to party while still being productive. My sister wants to take me, but she's not a bellydancer and i don't want her to be waiting in the hotel by herself for 4-6 hours a day!

I'm willing to skip my yoga retreat for this... so, that means it's pretty important lol,
ANYONE WANT TO ACCOMPANY ME TO VEGAS?

AKA Kaylah... the story of finding Kari

I stumbled upon an old journal of mine. The meat of it was written sometime in the middle of my marriage, so there's some pretty heavy stuff in there. i found a peice that i can't remember writing, but describes me nonetheless.

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Here I am? Here I may be... here i'm still searching. Kaylah had some bad habits, some tendencies, confusion, some anger and some rage. Kaylah had too much love for others and none for herself. We could call this the hunt. The batism or excorsicm of Kaylah. She was a girl who ever so often found herself wishing for dead. The demons of doubt held her hands for years and took her further into the arms of evil than some could even fathom. After being given a new name, and an "eternal" promise, these black footstones became a rediculous excessory. How does one renovate the black of the heart? Here is where we are... The human mind is wired with a memory and an intuition. We remember our mistakes and we learn from them. Can you see her beauty? The hair falling on her back tells a story... of the last year or so. As do the scars and the scratches, and the body itself. Where's the need for a mirror? The outside is already the utmost reflection of what's going on inside. If she feels beautiful and sunshining happy, her bright eyes will tell you so. What could bring about this beauty? at this time? Not drinking, nor smoking, but simply inner peace.
****************************************************************************************
So as a creative spirit, i have the best outlet in dance (costume design, choreography, fire spinning and music). For some reason, recently a number of people have been asking me why i quit writing music. Well, after i said my vows, it appears that my creative spirit went through a dark ages of sorts. Part of me died. I sacrificed alot, but a new me was born. That me, is the dancer i always wanted to be, Kari. I still play my guitar and i still sing, almost as if i lived in a musical... i spiraticaly burst into song from time to time. I still have plans to eventually record some of my own stuff. But i feel the singer songwriter Kaylah was the caterpillar that went into hiding in it's cacoon for a somewhat scary time of growth, only to bloom into a bigger, stronger, butterfly. AKA Kari. Dancing has just opened so much opportunity for me, and keeps me stimulated unlike anything else, but one should never put all their eggs in one basket. There is still much to learn... and much to create.
<3

TRIBALITY

So just a little over a week left until TRIBALITY. I'm stoked to be a part of this show... i'm excited about taking some workshops and soaking into some long overdue inspiration from the wonderfull ladies teaching at this event! Thanks so much Anaid of Mystique Fusion bellydance and L'imprevu for hosting such a fun evening... Texas really needs this kind of excitement! I'm excited to see all the performers, i'm still not sure who all is performing, but there are some ladies in the line-up that are sure to blow me away. I'm still working on my drum peice and costuming! Oh it's gonna be fun, I hope you ladies coming back from Tribalfest bring that Energy to good ol' SAtown and rock the stage next saturday night <3

P.S. if you haven't got your VIP tix u should do so now cuz they're selling pretty quickly!

I'm REALLY bad at goodbyes

It's taken me a long time to be able to write this... somewhat of a goodbye to my troupe Neohips, Although i never would have dreamt of leaving any sooner than i had to!!!! For those of you who don't know, I just recently separated from my husbad, moved back to the states, and i'm living here now indefinitely. We will most likely divorce, and it was mostly his decision, but i'm more than ok with it now. I would have done anything to be a part of tribalondon but, i don't know how i feel about coming back to see all the faces and places i made a part of my life with him... i wasn't sure how it would affect me. I will carry on dancing, and Tribal LA is just around the corner!

WHAT NOW?
Now, i want to start up a little bellydance fitness class on the bases over here. There are a few troups in the San Antonio area but it's not a very eventful place. I really would like to change that! I'm hoping to start a troupe shortly after the classes pick up.... and get with some of the troupes around here to put some shows together.

Aside from that i'm living in a cute little apartment near to my sisters, my stuff is finally here from england, i'm taking 5 courses this semester at SAC, and cocktailing at a night club. I prefer this busy lifestyle... i'm much happier than i've been in years...

SOOOO, i'm sorry to anyone who felt hurt or ignored by my dissappearance, i am terrible with goodbyes, but i miss every single one of you. I am lucky to have gotten to know and dance with all of you and i hope to see you again. good luck in life and never stop smiling.

Pictures are done!

Well the Hafla was great, the workshops were fun, and I was glad to have the chance to see all the lovely ladies once again.

as promised the pictures have been put in an on-line album so everyone can access them...
There were alot of red eyes, so i'm sorry if i've missed a few!
also, my husband arrived with my camera after the first set of the performance so there aren't photo's from anything before that.

picasaweb.google.com/Khillia...ingHafla

hope you like em,
I will let you know when the videos are done!
<333
Kari

selling tribal costuming bits

all the info is in my photos and there are alot of things, let me know if you're interested!
Also don't be afraid to bargain, i'm a pretty fair seller.
I just need to clear out some space here!

good day
<3

an attempt of analysis of chaos

OKAY, wow. Work is out and BOY did I have to earn my weekend! So after the Tribalondon weekend I realized that I never get to practice dancing (other than with my troupe) because i'm so busy all the time. My day is always:
wake up, Work, Dance
Wake up, work, School
study study study
clean clean clean

Those days i get to practice aren't something to look forward to unless i've had adequate rest time, because after chasing around 14 toddlers for 8 hours, there's not much more my body can handle. So, i'm a little bit nervous. I put in my two weeks notice, and decided since quiting school is out of the question, bye bye kiddies. I would like to have more time to dance and get into it a little more seriousely. Now, the money factor is a little scary, as well as relying on dancing for income, and HOW will I be able to buy all these pretty costume peices? It's change that always gets me, I never know before hand if I made the right decision. All I can say is I wanna be HAPPY and that comes first. I have a new sewing machine, alot of time, and some great new inspiration... I just hope it all works out.
<3
Kari

Tribal London!

Ahh, I'm Amped! I always seem to miss these gatherings and i'm finaly going to be there! I know I can definetely use this training, and I can't beleive it's not until February! I'm already seeing all kinds of hair flowers and head jewelry in my dreams (is that weird?) I just want to say thanks to Kim for everything cuz without her bellydance wouldn't have been this much fun. To holly and kim... I can't WAIT, looking forward to a good time out with the girls... and thanks for EVERYTHING!

Tribal Unity

... was great. It's amazing to be able to be around so many dancers and dancing along! I met some beautiful people and WONDERFUL dancers, as well as danced my first solo. Looking back i'm sure a should have kept it solely a fire peice... i missed a few key pops and locks due to nerves and distractions, but i'm very proud of the spinning i did and i'm glad i was able to perform it! Ki has been talking about this hafla since i joined the troupe and honestly it was like a dream come true! I remember just looking around the courtyard last night... with so many skirts flying around, the flowers in everyones colorful hair, and the cool night air, then remembered the way she had very first explained to me about this party she wanted to throw! I must say, well done Ki it was beautiful! Also big thanks to the awesome drummers and everyone who came out and danced... everyone did so wonderfuly! My cheeks are sore from all the smiling I did that day! Unfortunately and strangely coincedently, both of my cameras were BROKEN! so I haven't got any picures of anyone or myself... and no video's either. which is a bummer, I am a very sentimental person so pictures would have been nice. :)

After seeing everyone perform I can't help but feel there's so much for me to learn! I can't WAIT!