I know it's not the most elaborate website, but it's mine and I'm proud of it! I designed it myself (with a little help from iWed). It pretty much so covers the basics regarding my Art career and Bellydancing. I need to work on my page for selling my artwork by adding links to eBay, Etsy, and PayPal. I'm also working on adding links for dance.
I like the simple layout. The color scheme is modern with minimal distractions. Thanks to a great photographer (people.tribe.net/swabere) for the photos which helped design my pages. I think everything displayed makes sense. If you notice any grammar errors please tell me. Oh, and if you want, write me up a 5 star review here on tribe. It could help people find me in search engines.

You guys are great ; )

www.mariaparasson.com

Photo by Swabere

Boston Diva Pageant 2007

Over the past year and a half I've placed in 6 out of 7 belly dance competitions across the United States. I've traveled to and competed in Ohio (my home state) to VA, NJ, MA, and CA. I really enjoy this aspect of being a professional belly dancer. Like other sports, you have to work hard to win and if that means doing what it takes, then bring it on. I love the thrill of competing. It's not for everybody, but for me, it works. I like to set goals for myself and have those important dates on my calendar to look forward to.

Za-Beth (Boston Diva Pageant Promoter) asked "How do you prepare physically, mentally, socially, etc. for her competition?" Well, for this years event it wasn't easy. The competition was in August. I moved myself and family from Columbus,Oh to the Cleveland/Akron area in July. The Diva Pageant date was on my calendar, that was laying somewhere on a counter in my unorganized new house. I knew I had so many days to get myself ready, but was procrastinating. I had so much else to do like unpack, enroll kids into new school, change Dr.'s, banks, utilities, work....You know!

Physically I guess my body was strong considering I had been moving heavy boxes & furniture. I quit teaching dance in Columbus before moving and had not joined a new gym yet. That was a problem because if I don't workout in some way nearly everyday I'm miserable.

Mentally I had to remain focussed prior to competition. Being in a different town was confusing. A huge part of the reason why I moved up north was to start teaching as a franchise owner of Habeeba's Dance of the Arts (www.habeebas.com). When things were chaotic, I just thought to myself all of this work is preparation for my career as a belly dance performer and dance instructor.

Socially things were and are in my favor. I have a very supportive family and group of friends that love me and my passion as a dancer/artist. You have to have love and support from your home base to be a confident member of society. To put yourself on a stage to be judged by people that have never met you before is really challenging. It takes some tough skin to be critiqued like that!

I try hard to take life and it's offerings in stride, but sometimes you just have to make the big move. Whether you win or loose while existing in this vast land you still have "to be or not to be" you. Only you can make things happen if destiny is taking too long. That's why I love to belly dance and compete for that matter. The preparation is therapeutic and rewards are personal!

MARIAH
Cleveland/Akron Ohio
www.mariaparasson.com

Raqs Nouveau
Middletown, OH
December 1, 2007

Paula Norris is a die-hard belly dance fan (like the rest of us) and travels all over to video shows. If you missed the Zoe Jakes workshop and concert featuring Zoe and dancers from Ohio and neighboring states, please check out clips on youtube.

My debut new drum solo can be seen here www.youtube.com/watch

Search pnorris63 for more great BD clips. www.youtube.com/pnorris63

Thanks Jennifer Rose for all your hard work,
Mariah

Performing last night in Akron at Leyla Soleil's hafla A Belly Dance Odyssey. Fun clip other than my sister and all her drunk friends screaming out my name while I'm trying to dance.
www.youtube.com/watch
Mariah