Random Thoughts

hmn... i am drifting 'back' to ATS... it looks so, earthy, so feminine, so "i am gonna dance round the fire with my homegirls". i admit i get bored watching big ATS dances, but i figured out why - it is the sort of dance that makes me want to DO, rather than watch. the repetition, the simple yet powerful moves - this is not a spectator sport. it seems more like something a five year old girl would jump into, in the womens' circle, and keep doing all her life. all the dancers have a connextion that is visible, maybe from the cue mechanisms, i don't know. but it is so graceful and lovely to see. and the idea of the 'chorus', the turn-taking, where every woman gets to showboat a little, and lead, and follow, and get out of the way of the next gal, is so egalitarian. women making way for each other, instead of harsh competition. i felt that with another chica in my dance class, when we had time to freestyle together - each move was a joyful lemme-try-that-too challenge we threw at each other, rather than an i'm-gonna-show-her-up insult.
this 'fusion' thing, i think is getting out of hand. i like mixed drinks as much as anyone, but much of what is coming across the screen lately isn't even bellydance anymore. and yes, i believe there is a thing such as Bellydance (with the capital B), a collection of movements from a specific region and people and such.

speaking only for me - even though i am just beginning, i feel like i need to clean up my act; bring it back to the real deal. i love the costuming, the layers and shiny bits and the modesty of Tribal. and i think i will only learn the zills - all the other stuff is getting gimmicky. fans with silk flares? trying to dress like the entire Asian continent at once? Banghra? hula hoops? wings? glow-in-the-dark cyber dreads? even veils are a bit beyond me [and they are too gossamer and floofy for my personality anyway]. fans are for Flamenco. Banghra is a bit farther to the southeast. hula hoops just don't belong. [i feel the same way about men attempting the female styles of fusion. there ARE traditionally manly 'belly' dances - do those, stop being wishywashy. it's just not right.] and Goth is one thing, silly another - try for ancient priestess of Erishkagal, rather than Blade Runner extra.

these are but the random thoughts in my head tonight. apologies if i offend anyone, i am venting; and i am also still learning and defining my own style. i'm gonna keep taking 'classic/cabaret' lessons, my teacher is great and i learn alot. the first chances i get i will take Flamenco too [i have allways loved it.-the drama! the grace!] and ATS. and since i can't get Depeche out of my system [why should i?], i guess i will call it "Dark Tribal", rather than "Tribal Fusion". hmn. i can feel the difference already...

blessings and biscuits from the Empress, i'm goin'ta bed.

Food for Thought?

I have been browsing different university level dance programs online, thinking of maybe getting an AA in Dance so i will seem more respectable as a dancer.... and i am realising, that when I finish my BS in Sports Med, i will have more of the knowledge I think dancers should have than what is taught in most programs.
Now here's what I think should be included in a Dance degree, maybe even instead of all the Ballet/Jazz/Broadway stuff...
- Kinesthiology
-Anatomy and Physiology
-Stage Makeup
-3 Forms 'Ethnic'/Folkloric Dance
-Nutrition
-Kinetic Phrasing in Different Cultures
-
Yep, stuff like that. Any one else?

PS: The 1st Disaster

If y'all wanna see it, look up username "femmasapiens" on youtube. there me is!

The First Disaster

Well, folks, i did it - worked up the ovaries to dance IN PUBLIC. ick. scary. i was so nervous, i forgot my routine, and unwisely untucked the hip swags of my skirt, so to keep from tripping, i had to keep it moving, which meant the whole dance disintegrated into a sort of gypsy tribal thing. At least i didn't 'overcrowd' the dance with too many moves, i was trying to keep it simple - and most folk said it all looked 'kinda delibertate' anyway, and good overall. Ah, but they aren't DANCERS! They can't see exactly where i goofed! (this is a GOOD thing, i tell myself.)
The costume is dead simple (that is the ony skirt i have so far, and i love it, can you tell, it is only in half my photos!), and the HIM bandana was a save, as my hair is down to 1.5 inches again, and i forgot (forsook) my curly wig. besides, i was supposed to do a HIM song, leading in, but it would have been too long, and i really would have chunked it all up...
At least now i know i can do it!

Minding My Own Busy-ness

Seems that bellydance is all about the busy-ness. It is difficult for me to embrace this, as i am by nature somewhat spartan in my fashion, and mum is a pretty classic dresser too. (Tho, she can be more accouterment-heavy than me.) So into this Tribal forest... where everything is embroidered, mirrored, tasseled, fringed, flowered, painted, and then embroidered some more, till i wonder "how much does that damned bra WEIGH?!"
Well... i have yet to mingle with the Tribalistas in person, so i cannot know the weight (tho i do know the weight of coins, cowries, beads,etc from years of crafting), and seeing all the lovely pix in closeup is misleading, as it will look different at a distance. Up close, it gives me a mild autistic episode, as there is so much STUFF everywhere on headpieces, bras, belts, arms, you name it, it's adorned within a centimetre of its poor life.
Hmn. "Too busy", my Vulcan fashion sense says. "But i like it!" my inner Bedouin howls. And really, at a distance, it is beautiful. Troupe shots, youtube clips, DVD's that addict me, so much of it looks coherent and very elegant once in motion.
Beh... so i have to set aside my "This is Sparta!" attitude toward embellishment (which even on goth clubbing nights makes me pare down to only one or two jewellry pieces, severe lines and understated makeup). I have to embrace the "welcome to the tent" thing, and layer it on thick - scrapfringe belt over panel skirt over pantaloons, beads next to cowries next to coins bra, half the florist's shop balanced on my noggin and eyeshadow that i would usually cringe before wearing....
Well, that, and maybe create some sort of pared-down Tribal (can this be done, and still be Tribal?!), minimalist yet fun style of my own.
Either way, this is gonna be a blast.