Blog-O-Matic

Holiday offerings!

asharah — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:31:05 GMT

Greetings dancers and friends! I hope the holidays are going well for you and your families. Just a few notes of some upcoming events and special offerings… Performance this Saturday in Washington, DC This Saturday is the Spice of Life holiday gala performance featuring Saffron Dance students and faculty. My students will be performing my choreography to Maduro’s song “Situational Mythos”, and I will be performing solo. This is a show you don’t want to miss! Two shows: 5 pm and 8 pm. Tickets are $25.00 in advance or $30.00 at the door. Visit the Saffron Dance website (http://www.saffrondance.com) for tickets and more information. Video private lessons and critiques! For those of you who aren’t in the DC area, or who might have missed one of my workshops, I am now offering video private lessons (via Skype – a free webcam service) and performance critique. Video private lessons are priced per hour and are meant to bring out the best in YOU as a dancer and performer while refining your technique, expression, and alignment. When I teach private lessons, I draw on my background as a competitive figure skater when I worked one-on-one with my own coaches, and I hope to bring that same level of mentoring and guidance to my students that my coaches did for me when I was younger. Performance critiques are priced by the length of the performance, and they include feedback on the following criteria: •Technique (including control, fluidity, traveling movements, etc.) •Musicality (Expression of the music’s style, character, rhythm) •Expression (physical, emotional, intellectual involvement) •Music selection and editing (flow, cohesiveness) •Costuming (fit, style, construction, fit with music and theme of piece) •Appropriateness of performance for venue and type of show •Presentation (use of space, concept, etc.) •Use of props (if applicable) •Finger cymbals (if applicable) If you’re interested in either setting up video private lessons or a performance critique, send me an e-mail or reply to this post. Hope all is well and that you’re having a lovely holiday season!

Asharah's virtual yard sale...

asharah — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:44:18 GMT

Selling costuming items on eBay here: http://shop.ebay.com/kiaroskuro/m.html Selling DVDs and more on Half.com: http://shops.half.ebay.com/kiaroskuro_W0QQ

Selling many things... DVDs, books, and more...

asharah — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:05:05 GMT

I'm purging a lot of my stuff.... Books on art, music, yoga, science, history... DVDs - lots of bellydance instruction and performance and a few other sundry items. Take a look: http://shops.half.ebay.com/kiaroskuro_W0QQ

Fall classes!

asharah — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:32:41 GMT

Greetings everyone! Starting in September, I'll be teaching new class sessions at both Joy of Motion (Atlas studio) and Saffron Dance! Hope to see some of you there! Tuesday Nights Joy of Motion Atlas Arts Center. 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC. ~Tribal Belly Dance: 7:30pm – 8:30pm. Please bring finger cymbals (aka zills/sagat)~ $195 for 13 weeks. Session begins September 15, 2009 Register at: http://www.joyofmotion.org/adult_schedules.php Emphasizing the development of a strong overall Tribal dance discipline, the class will focus on various tribal styles and influences with a special emphasis on the Suhaila Salimpour and Jamila Salimpour technique. The class will focus on core strength, isolations, musical interpretation, and improvisation. Alongside the breakdown and drilling of movements, we will create a comfortable and challenging space to move with intuition and expression. Special attention will be placed on each student’s level and learning style. Students will also explore the historical context and development of Tribal Belly Dance through videos and handouts. Finger cymbals will be introduced. For more what makes tribal style unique, visit www.tribalbellydance.org Wednesday Nights Saffron Dance, 3260 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA. Session begins September 9, 2009 Register at http://saffrondance.com/classes/index.html ~Tribal 2: 6:15pm – 7:15pm, $225 for 14 weeks~ Technique builds from week to week through structured drilling exercises based on the Suhaila Salimpour format.* Students will also develop strong posture, arm positions, hip work, torso isolations, and basic foot patterns specific to the tribal style. This class follows an organized approach to building the basic elements of tribal and is perfect for students who have never been exposed to tribal belly dance. *Asharah is not an official instructor for the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance, but Suhaila Salimpour has given permission for Asharah to use the Suhaila Salimpour format in her classes. ~Modern Tribal Performance Class: 7:15pm – 8:15pm. $250 for 14 weeks~ The Performance Class Workshop series offers students the opportunity to participate in developing and refining group choreography for a stage performance. Choreographies are created using the movements from their corresponding Technique and Drills classes. Performance Class Workshops will feature each class’s choreography in Winter Dance Concert at Signature Theater on Saturday, December 13. Students enrolled in a Performance Class Workshop are required to be concurrently enrolled in a Saffron Technique and Drills class. ~Tribal 3 (Technique): 8:15pm – 9:15pm. $225 for 14 weeks~ **Finger cymbals are REQUIRED. Please being your cymbals to class every week. This class builds on technique developed in Saffron Tribal 1 & 2 by using more advanced elements of the Suhaila Salimpour and Fat Chance Belly Dance formats, as well as Asharah’s own signature dance vocabulary. This class will work to develop core strength, stamina, isolations, and musical interpretation. Class work emphasizes the breakdown and drilling of each element. Students will incorporate technique and movement into traveling and combinations with a focus on execution and precision.

Selling my Fluevog Babycakes

asharah — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:44:31 GMT

Greetings peeps... so... I bought these beautiful boots, wore them twice, and after a trip to a podiatrist, decided that I can't really wear heels like these anymore on a regular basis. They're a size 6.5, in near mint condition (I wore them only two times). $250 OBO. Let me know if you're interested in giving these beautiful boots a new home.

My performance from Tribal Fest 9...

asharah — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:23:46 GMT

...is finally up on YouTube. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2xCbOjIPag

Asharah shirts for women and men!

asharah — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:00:54 GMT

You asked for them, so here they are! Asharah shirts for women and men! They feature an image of Asharah on the front, and a rendering of her “star” tattoo on the upper back. We have men’s t-shirts, women’s babydoll t-shirts, and women’s spaghetti strap tanks. All shirts are $20 plus shipping and handling. Shirts are available on Asharah's merchandise page: http://www.asharah.com/merchandise Order yours today! (Please note that shirts will not ship until after June 17th, because I, Asharah, am on the Durga Tour with Tempest and Tim Rayborn until then.)

Spring Caravan.... success!

asharah — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:25:30 GMT

....here's my performance this this past weekend's Spring Caravan festival in New Jersey. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0LPlISOoSo And thank you to everyone who came out to my workshop on Sunday morning... I know it was rough to get up that early!

Big News!

asharah — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:58:06 GMT

After much deliberation, examination of finances, and contingency planning I am... ...quitting my day job. It's scary and there are a lot of uncertainties, but the sense of imminent freedom is exhilarating. I have several creative projects on the horizon, just waiting to be tackled. Most of all, I'm excited about being able to give more energy to my dance, and even more to my students. Wish me luck... :D

April 11th... Workshops with Tempest - Washington, DC

asharah — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:22:58 GMT

Greetings everyone! I wanted to let you know that I am bringing artist, dancer, and deviant Tempest to Arlington, Virginia, on April 11 to share two workshops aimed at the performing dancer: Journey to the Underworld and Strange Presence. Singular workshops are $45, but both workshops bought together are $75. Workshop Descriptions: Journey to the Underworld (1:00pm - 3:00pm) – When’s the last time you broke down your own facades and explored the truth of what lays bare underneath? Are you brave enough to look and become stronger as a dancer for it? Being a part of the bellydance community for any length of time affects us in so many ways, many below the surface that can influence how we look and feel about ourselves and others. In this dynamic and unusual workshop, we will explore through exercises and movement combinations the mythic concept of the Descent and Encounter in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian cultures. This is a safe and supportive opportunity to challenge yourself mentally and physically, while discovering who you are or wish to be as a dancer. Warning: This is not a “woo-woo” or “new-agey” class, but it will ask you to push your boundaries. Strange Presence (3:30pm - 5:30pm) – It’s all about bleeding your soul out to audience, serving it to them on a platter, and then eating THEM for lunch instead. A truly successful performance does more than show how well you can do the moves—it should really speak to your audience and exude expression. You CAN learn how to have a stronger personality on stage and channel that energy for a more dynamic performance. Discover the key aspects of capturing your audience with your stage presence and develop your own onstage drama! We’ll particularly focus on improvisational technique, character development, and learning to be more “in the moment.” This class is especially for any dancer who is ready to perform or is considering it. Workshops will be followed by a ritual dance dedication by Tempest to friend, dancer, and artist Kaihea at the Palace of Wonders. Come explore your inner shadow, artist, and renegade by registering today at MeaHuna Productions: http://meahunaproductions.com/?page_id=12 Hope to see you there!

Interview with me by Mala Bhargava

asharah — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:28:08 GMT

Mala Bhargava's interview with me on the making of my DVD, Modern Tribal Bellydance. http://malabhargava.com/dance-diary/interviews/asharah-and-the-making-of-modern-tribal-bellydance.html

New classes starting in January - DC and VA

asharah — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:16:58 GMT

The new year is fast approaching, and that means it’s time to register for dance classes for the beginning of next year! Classes at Joy of Motion: Changes ahead! 1. Big change number one is that nearly all of the classes there are changing to a drop-in format, which means you’ll no longer have to pay for a semester of classes at time. Drop-in classes are great for students who want to continue their dance education, but whose schedules are too busy to commit to a weekly class. 2. Big change number two is that I will now be teaching “Skills and Technique” for all styles of belly dance. This class is aimed to refine students’ technique; build strength, stamina, and flexibility; and expand students’ movement vocabulary through drills. 3. Big change number three is that my classes at Joy of Motion Atlas are moving from Monday nights to Tuesday nights, from 7:30pm - 8:30pm. This gives you plenty of time to get to arrive on time and ready to move! So, to sum up: Tuesday nights, drop-in class, 7:30pm-8:30pm, Skills and Technique. Joy of Motion Atlas, 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC. Bring water and a yoga mat. For more information, visit http://www.joyofmotion.org --- Classes at Saffron Dance: Modern Tribal Style I’ll continue to teach two levels of Modern Tribal Style bellydance at Saffron Dance in Arlington, Virginia. Wednesday nights, beginning January 7th. These classes draw from both FCBD-format ATS and the Suhaila Salimpour format. * Tribal 2: For students who have completed Saffron’s Tribal 1, or have my permission to join. 7:00pm - 8:00pm * Tribal 3: For students who have completed Tribal 2 with me AND have my permission to join. 8:00pm - 9:00pm For more information and registration, visit the Saffron Dance website: http://www.saffrondance.com Saffron Dance is located at 3260 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA, just a 3 minute walk from the Clarendon Metro stop on the Orange line. Have a very happy holiday season… Hope to see you in class!

New website!

asharah — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:57:50 GMT

I've completely revamped my asharah.com website and migrated it to WordPress. I love it! This means I'll be posting news and updates there regularly, and you can subscribe to it via your favorite RSS reader: http://asharah.com/?feed=rss2 For LJ users, you can add my news to your Friends List feed: http://syndicated.livejournal.com/asharah_news/ And of course, you can still visit http://www.asharah.com I love technology!

Bellydance Paladin blog is MOVING!

asharah — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:00:52 GMT

Just a note to let you know that I've moved my blog to WordPress and a NEW domain: http://bdpaladin.com/ Please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds.

New video on YouTube...

asharah — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:16:20 GMT

Hey everyone... I finally have some new stuff up on the ol' YouTube. Thank you, Maduro, for filming. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGwgf7SzI0E

Aloha oe, my beautiful friend.

asharah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:12:09 GMT

Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe E ke onaona noho i ka lipo One fond embrace, A hoʻi aʻe au Until we meet again Farewell to you, farewell to you The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers One fond embrace, 'Ere I depart Until we meet again I wish nothing but peace, happiness, white sand beaches with crystal blue waters, and endless dancing and dreaming for you, Kaihea. You were a light in all of our lives. Your strength and perseverance inspired everyone who met you. You have an amazing support system of friends, dancers, colleagues, and family, and we feel blessed to have known you.

Honored.

asharah — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:02:40 GMT

I was just looking at my schedule for the next few months... and next year, and I'm honored to be teaching at some amazing events... October: Tribal Alchemy in Dallas/Ft Worth, Texas. I'll be teaching long side some of my inspirations, such as Frederique, Mira Betz, and Elizabeth Strong. February: TribalCon in Decatur, Georgia. I'm so excited about this event as well... I've heard nothing but great things about TribalCon! March: (TBA - Wee! Thank you... you know who you are.) May: Tribal Fest 9 in Sebastopol, California. What can I say? Thank you to Chuck and Kajira for inviting me, and thank you to all of you out there who requested that I teach at TF in 2009. Your support means so much to me. May: FolkTours, in Pennsylvania. FolkTours music and dance camp is one of those experiences I can't describe... it's non-stop dancing, music, and fun. Thank you Tayyar and Artemis for inviting me to teach at this amazing event. And thank you to everyone who has requested that I teach in their home town... last year, this year, and next year. I'm grateful that you would spend your time and energy to bring me out to your area for a day, a weekend, or a few days.

Two amazing events in DC! Mira Betz and Suhaila Salimpour!

asharah — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:33:13 GMT

Greetings everyone! I wanted to bring to your attention two amazing workshop weekends happening this September that you don't want to miss! I'm very much involved with the production of these events, and I'm sure they won't disappoint! September 6-7: Workshops and Performance featuring Mira Betz Presented by MeaHuna Productions World-renowned instructor and performer Mira Betz will be coming to Washington, DC, to share with us some of the secrets to her moving performances. MeaHuna Productions is presenting two full days--12 hours of instruction--with Mira, as well as a spectacular concert featuring some of the region's best dancers. Mira has tailored these workshops to intermediate-to-advanced dancers seeking to polish their performance skills and professional prowess, but the workshops are open to everyone. Locations, times, registration, and concert tickets are available now at MeaHuna Productions' webpage: www.meahunaproductions.com September 26-28: Level 1 three-day workshop with Suhaila Salimpour Presented by DCTribal For the fourth year in a row, DCTribal is bringing the one and only Suhaila Salimpour to Washington, DC, for the third annual three-day workshop focusing entirely on Level 1 of Suhaila's revolutionary format. Speaking from personal experience, I can say that this format has changed my approach to dance and how I regard myself as an artist. The three-day Level 1 is 15 hours of intense work that will inspire not only your dance, but also your life. About Level 1: The entirety of the Suhaila Salimpour dance technique grows from the principles mastered in Level 1. In Level 1 Suhaila breaks down dance movements and positions in order to provide students with a solid dance foundation. Level 1 gives students the tools to move through the Suhaila Salimpour format and become accomplished dancers and performers. Registration, location, and times are available at the DCTribal website. I really hope to see you at one or both of these amazing events!

Register for the 3-Day Level 1 workshop with Suhaila, in Washington, DC

asharah — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:34:53 GMT

Register now for the three-day Level 1 workshop with the one and only Suhaila Salimpour! www.dctribal.com/suhaila2008.html Please e-mail any questions, comments, or concerns to dctribal [at] gmail [dot] com Hope to see you there!

Save the date - Mira Betz in Washington, DC, Sept 6-7

asharah — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:26:24 GMT

Save the date! A weekend with Mira Betz in Washington, DC, on September 6th and 7th! Presented by MeaHuna Productions, this dance-filled weekend will include two full days with Mira as well as a gala evening performance on Saturday featuring some of the region's best dancers. Mira will be sharing with us these four sessions: :Saturday: - Isolations and Layering: A Slow Build to Complicated Layering - In Praise of Improv: Exercises to Gain Proficiency at Improvisation :Sunday: - The Art of Professional Performance - The Passion, The Drama: Adding a Full Range of Emotions to Your Dance Keep up with MeaHuna Productions at www.meahunaproductions.com Subscribe to our RSS feed: http://www.meahunaproductions.com/?feed=rss Questions? E-mail us! info[at]meahunaproductions[dot]com Registration and workshop information coming soon!

A Mentoring Program?

asharah — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:44:08 GMT

(reposted from The Biz of Belly Dance tribe) So, I was blogging tonight and I thought of something that we have in my day job but don't seem to have in bellydance: a mentoring program. Basically, at my work there's a network of experienced employees who volunteer to be paired up with new employees seeking guidance from a mentor. The mentors and "mentees", as we call them, don't need to work in the same subject matter or even sit in the same space. The idea is that the mentee has one specific person they can go to for professional guidance. I thought, "damn, it would be awesome if we had something like that for bellydance!" I thought of this because I realized that in the age of myriad instructional videos and YouTube, there are probably a lot more aspiring dancers now who are learning primarily through visual media than in-person classes than there were even just five years ago. These dancers need guidance to become the best dancers they can be, not only technically but ethically. These dancers might not have a mentor to turn to when they have questions about performing, costuming, technique, or other subjects. If there were a bellydance mentoring program, would you participate? Do you think it would be worth your time to guide a few instructor-less dancers a few hours a week (or even less as the case may be)?

A different kind of drum solo.

asharah — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:54:36 GMT

Prog raqs at Spring Caravan. (Prog rock? Prog raqs! haha.... er... yeah... anyway...) Music by none other than Alex Lifeson (guitar) and Neil Peart (drums). I hope I've done their music justice. These guys and their band have inspired me as an artist and dancer so much. This piece is sort of a little tribute to that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXyJDiYHiPg

A call for integrity in belly dance periodicals.

asharah — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:39:55 GMT

Why is it that belly dance periodicals don't seem to pride themselves on well-crafted, objective, and thought-provoking writing, and instead publish poorly-written, subjective, insulting, and inflammatory articles? Are we belly dancers as a community that nasty, ill-educated, catty, and insecure? I would like to say that on the whole, most of us are well-educated, nice, and generally good people. If an outsider read the most popular of our online periodicals and message boards, she would not get that impression. This dancer is tired of the poorly written articles that value style over substance and controversy over content. Here's what I wish for: * Articles written by dancers who are experts on the subject matters on which they are writing. * Articles that focus on the art and history of this dance, rather than the gimmicks and controversies. * Authors who can proofread their own writing, or have the foresight to have a colleague proofread for them. * Authors who check their facts. * Authors who can identify and check their assumptions about other styles and dancers. * Authors who can take the time to spell other dancers' names correctly. * Authors who, if presented with a DVD or CD to review, have the honesty to tell the periodical, "I am not qualified to review this, so please ask someone else who knows more about this style/subject/dancer." * Performance and product reviews that are neither hate-fests nor love-fests, but are objective and analytical dissections of the performance or product in question. * Authors who, if they are offended by a particular style or dancer, do not immediately write an emotionally charged article for the sake of stirring up controversy. We are all passionate about something in this dance, yes, but we don't need to go insulting others to show others how passionate we are. * In relation to the previous point, authors who, when faced with something that offends them, take the time to understand and conduct some research on the offending style/dancer. * Authors and articles who don't resort to commenting on the appearance or costuming of a dancer. (Please comment on the quality of the dancing; frankly I don't care if someone was dancing in a baggy sweatshirt and sweatpants or if she's in a $1000 Eman.) * Publications who seek out quality authors, rather than just allowing their friends and favorite dancers to write articles. I find it ironic (explained below) that one of the only surviving popular and prolific periodicals is the Gilded Serpent. Most of the Gilded Serpent's articles are either insipid "reviews" of recent events which merely describe a dancer's lovely new Bella bedlah or who performed at a recent stage show, or the articles are ignorant attempts that insult fusion styles of dance. The Gilded Serpent's core authors appear to have an agenda: one that praises the old school and degrades those of us experimenting and pushing this dance forward for a new generation of dancers. To its credit, the Gilded Serpent does accept articles by guest authors; however, I feel that these articles are lost in the cacophany of criticism and nearly substance-free articles. I feel that the Gilded Serpent has become the tabloid of belly dance news, and yet so many people continue to read it... because there are so few other options. I assume (yes, I could be wrong) that most of the Gilded Serpent's readership is the same population of dancers that lament the passing of the more scholarly paper publications of Habibi and Arabesque, both of which developed a well-earned reputation for well-crafted, well-researched, and honest reporting on our dance. Where are all of those dancers who read these periodicals? Wouldn't you want to see our dance's publications rise up to the high standards that these now defunct periodicals set? Or did these publications perish because we as a community don't really have an appetite for academic research and writing on our dance? I would hope that isn't the case, but I fear that the passing of these magazines indicates that our community would rather wallow in insults and subjective ass-kissing and back-biting than to take the high road of objectivity, research, and integrity in our written products.

Whirlwind of life.

asharah — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:55:45 GMT

Dance is officially a 2nd full-time job... I have so much going on that i hardly feel like I have any free time at all! I do enjoy being busy, but sometimes a break is needed. So, today I took a sick day (my sore throat, coughing, and stuffy nose insisted), and caught up on some dance business... and I'm not even done. But here are some things coming up in the near future: MAY 2008: Tribal Fest 8: Performing on Friday, May 16th at 9:13pm. Awesome time slot! Thanks Chuck and Kajira! Sestraluna show with Kami Liddle and Petite Jamilla: I'll be performing in the gala show, hosted by Sestraluna, in Brooklyn Park, MD. May 24th. More info at http://sestraluna.com/workshops.html JUNE 2008: Spring Caravan: Teaching and performing on Saturday of this fusion festival, in Somerset, New Jersey. Check out www.rakkasah.com/spring June 7th. Raqs America: I'll be teaching and performing at the BDSS Raqs America event in Washington, DC. The RA website isn't up quite yet, but it's scheduled to go live really soon. I'm so excited to be a part of this event! June 21st. Gothalyptic: Teaching and performing at this mini gothic bellydance fest in the Louisville, Kentucky area. Check it out here: http://www.tl2productions.com/gothalyptic.htm June 28th. SEPTEMBER 2008: Mt Zion Music and Dance Fest: Hosted by Rom Deussen. I'll be performing to live music by the awesome and amazing Helm, as well as teaching a workshop. OCTOBER 2008: Tribal Alchemy: Teaching and performing at the third annual Tribal Alchemy in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas. I'm so honored to be a part of this event, teaching along side such amazing dancers as Mira Betz, Elizabeth Strong, and Frederique. October 18-19. 2009: TribalCon! I'll be an official instructor at TribalCon in 2009! Details coming soon!

Web difficulties.

asharah — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:41:28 GMT

So... I was trying to install WordPress on my asharah.com website and goobered up some things. So, until I figure out what the heck I did, the main page, www.asharah.com will give you a weird error message. If you really want to take a look at my site, go to www.asharah.com/news.htm and the rest of the site will work fine from there. Sometimes technology just doesn't want to behave! EDIT: Nevermind! Fixed it! MySQL will bow to my superior (uh, yeah, right) web skilz.