2009 Nebraska Bellydance Spectacular

For those who have been wondering, the 2009 installment of Nebraska Bellydance Spectacular will be on Saturday, April 25 @ the Hitchcock Theater at Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center. We anticipate show time to be at 7:30 p.m., but will post specifics as they are available. To keep up with information on this and other Diva Soma sponsored events, please join our Diva Soma discussion group right here on Facebook.

Hope to see you at the OEA-nominated event! ;)

Gnosis Studio's Winter 2009 Schedule

New Year is the perfect time to shake things up! Gnosis Studio has added more Bellydance Basics classes to help you shimmy into 2009. We're also adding the much-requested "Belly Kids" classes on Saturdays. Below is our current class schedule. Don't forget to scroll all the way down for great discounts!

Gnosis Studio, 6916 Maple St., Omaha, NE 68104 (402) 934-9958
***Classes resume January 4-10. Happy Holidays***

Current Classes for Jan/Feb/Mar 2009:

Mondays
6:45 – 7:45 p.m. Bellydance Level 2 w/ Magdalene
8:00 – 9:00 p.m. Bellydance Basics w/ Magdalene

Wednesdays
5:45 – 7:00 p.m. Tribal Fusion Beginners/Intermediate w/ Calliste
7:00 – 8:15 p.m. Tribal Fusion Intermediate/Advanced w/ Calliste
8:30 – 9:30 p.m. Bellydance Level 3 w/ Magdalene
(Also check out Basinah's Bellydance Basics @ A.V. Sorensen Community Center, e-mail basinah@divasoma.com for more info.)

Thursdays
6:45 – 7:45 p.m. Bellydance Basics w/ Magdalene
8:00 – 9:00 p.m. Bellydance Level 2 w/ Magdalene

Saturdays
10:00 -10:30 a.m. Belly Kids ages 3-7 w/ Sapphire Phoenix*
10:45 -11:45 a.m. Belly Kids ages 8-12 w/ Sapphire Phoenix*
1:00-2:00 p.m. Bellydance Basics w/ Mehadi

-All classes* meet once per week at the cost of $15 per class, or $40 per month.

-SAVE $5 when you register before the 15th of the month prior to your class!!! (eg. Register by 1/15 to pay only $35 for February classes!)

-SAVE $20 when you pay for a three-month “Season” of classes!!! Get three months for only $100!!!

WE WILL BE UPDATING THE GNOSIS WEB SITE OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND WILL SOON OFFER ONLINE REGISTRATION VIA PAYPAL. PLEASE CHECK BACK OFTEN AT:

www.gnosismoves.com

*Belly Kids for ages 3-7 is a half-hour class and is priced at $10 per class or $30 per month. To inquire about discounts for Belly Kids Classes, please contact Sapphire Phoenix directly at sapphirephoenix@divasoma.com or leave her a message at (402) 934-9958.

In memory of Bettie Page

I am moved to tears by the death of Bettie Page. Even if you do not recognize her name, chances are you’ve seen her image at some point: her rich, black hair with bangs cut to the brow, her intense, piercing eyes, her muscular, curvy torso, and those legs! Ms. Page is probably the most recognizable of the classic pin-up models, but she is not just some pretty face.

I first saw her portraits when a friend developed an interest in Vargas girls and the art of Olivia. There is no way to miss Page in one’s exploration of pin-up art – the sheer number of her images ensure that. But it is her unmistakable presence that captivates the imagination: as if, by some powerful vibration, she could speak to you from a printed page.

While the feminist movement was embracing a masculine type of strength to prove women were equal to men, Page displayed a power that was uniquely feminine, but definitely not soft. She was the embodiment of the Wild Woman archetype: uncontained, untamed, and unashamed. Even in a submissive role, she maintained unquestionable power and self-confidence.

Her body itself is a testament to feminine power. In nearly every pose, her sculpted muscles rolled like mighty hills. She was curvy and fit; her body was strong, but supple. Unlike the many overly-thin models prevalent today, her figure did not resemble skin stretched over depleted bones. To gaze upon Page is to contemplate a Greek statue!

Much of her work is blatantly sexual. There is artistry in her eroticism that comes only from a deep awareness and respect of one’s sensuality. While many religions and philosophies advocate moving away from worldly experiences, Page’s work explores sensation to its depths. The prize is a deeply-rooted understanding of one’s desires, capacities and motivations.

Admittedly, I know very little about her biography, it is the icon Bettie Page of which I speak. It is the archetype she embodies which captures the imagination and personifies true feminine strength that, although it is continually squashed, boils like lava at the earth’s core. More than any Oprah or Celine Dion or Martha Stewart, Bettie Page is a role model to women. May we all inherit her legacy now that she has passed.

---Christina “Magdalene” Kadlec

For more on Bettie Page, visit www.bettiepage.com

I'd love to catch everyone up....

...but tribe seems to have a problem with posting my photos (even though I've shrunk them tremendously) and I'm just flippin' frustrated. This is why I spend more time on facebook these days. Argh.

"Religulous" makes some good points, but from a pretty biased P.O.V.

Even though I tend to agree with a lot of Bill Maher's points, I wasn't thrilled about his cavalier attitude as he presented them. The point that I took from the movie was that blind faith is not necessarily a healthy thing, and that if we profess to believe in a religion, we should really examine what is driving that belief. Okay, with ya on that one.

I've had first hand experience with this type of soul-searching. I was brought up in a traditional Catholic home and remained very adamant in that belief system as I took my first steps into adulthood.

I consider myself very fortunate to have had people challenge me along the way. Such challenges made me defend what I believed and, if I could not defend it, really examine if there was a foundation to it. It was a bitter, stinging process, but in the end I really started to differentiate between what I truly believed and what I was taught to believe.

I'd like to think Bill Maher is trying to accomplish something similar in this movie. My beef, though, is that he is SO anti-religion that I don't see why anyone who didn't already have his point of view would go see the movie. While I see merit in his "gospel of doubt", I think it blocks out many realms of possibility. For instance, he mocks the idea of speaking in tongues (which, don't get me wrong, is a little out there even for me.) But I could see where the experience of vocalizing, even in jibberish, could be very liberating and cleansing... for some, perhaps "sacred". Not much different than a jazz singer doing "scat" singing.

Does that mean people should pass it off as the voice of God? Honestly, I don't think anyone should claim their access to the god-essence is the "one true" voice of God. Even in Christianity we were taught we are created in the image and likeness of God. I think we need to really examine what that means. I think the creative force of the universe pulses through every atom, every cell, everyTHING in existence.

If we shut down believeing in all things unexplainable, how can we believe in love, instinct, or other intangibles. Requiring scientfic method on the sacred seems to put a big "ix-nay" on the idea of the universal subconcious (Jung), the nature of reality as it is tied to our perception (existentialism), and the idea that our intentions & emotions influence existence both in the microcosmic and macrocosmic levels.

Archetypes and parables can be very powerful. I think what we need to do is move past worrying about whose god is the right one and learn about each other through what these figureheads emcompass.

While I've moved on from the religion of my childhood, I still believe in the mysteries of the universe. I think that, just because we know how a human body works, that doesn't make it any less magical. We need to have room for wonderment, to let experiences take our breath away and leave us with a sense that something bigger exists - something that is both in us and yet extends far, far beyond us.

There doesn't seem to be room for that in Bill's "Gospel of Doubt", and perhaps he had to take the hardline extreme to get his point across. But I fear, with his polarized presentation, he is likely doing no more than preaching to the choir.

Yallahween 3: Attack of the Zombie Bellydancers

(I can't seem to get this to show up in my events module, so here goes...)
Our Halloween, er, Yallahween show is typically our fans' favorite. Come see why on October 18th!!! See the attached photo for details.

Calliste's Tribal Fusion classes @ Gnosis move to Wednesdays

Calliste (Hallie) is moving her Tribal Fusion classes at Gnosis to Wednesday evenings. Below are excerpts from her e-mail about times & class descriptions:

Beginners/intermediate: 5:45pm-7:00pm
Intermediate/Advanced: 7:00pm-8:15pm

Class Descriptions:
Beginners/Intermediate class will take you to the next level by teaching leading and following necessary for group improvisation and Basharaat’s intermediate combos, along with warm-up, intermediate isolation drills, and cool-down.
Intermediate/Advanced class will take on Basharaat’s more challenging combos and choreographies, and of course we will warm up, drill with a higher level of skill, and cool down.

Class Fees:
$15 drop-in fee per class
Or $45 for September – 5 classes
$40 for October – 4 classes
$40 for November – 4 classes

*Take10% off when you pay for 2 months at a time
*Rain Checks – If class is cancelled due to bad weather you will get a coupon that you can use for an upcoming session with Calliste. Coupon value will equal the amount of the class fee you paid.

Classes held at:Gnosis Studio6916 MapleOmaha, NE 68104
(402) 934-9958 www.gnosismoves.com

Hangin' more & more on Facebook

So, if you're looking for me, that's where I'll be. Couldn't figure out how to use my stage name there, so I am plain old Bohemian girl "Christina Kadlec" if you'd like to look me up. Also, join our Diva Soma Belly Dance discussion group or have silly fun with me on Mystubenmyspec group.

I love tribe, but all the outages have kind of ruined the tribe experience for me.

Of course, you can always catch me by e-mail at magdalene@divasoma.com or keep up with us at www.divasoma.com or www.gnosismoves.com

Rising from the Ashes

Lately, it's felt like I'm living the phrase "no good deed goes unpunished." I've thrown myself a pretty decent pity party, but it is time to be done with that. It is up to me to make some changes. Destruction is the mother from which new opportunities are born, right?

I've changed my phrase to "for today, just for today, what is a small positive step I can take?" It is digustingly sappy, I know, and a week ago I would not have been ready to hear it. I think my full spectrum lamp & a few good jogs have helped... as well as giving myself permission to consider alternatives.

I've decided that today I am going to make the following positive steps:
-I'm going to put some feelers out for a new job that will allow me to spend more time at the studio and gets me closer to my goals.
-I'm going to spend at least a little time seeing what I'd need to do to get some grants and/or loans for the studio.
-I'm going to take a walk over lunch and enjoy this gorgeous fall weather.
-I'm going to catch up a few things at my desk here at work so that I can confidently say I am doing my part.
-I'm going to focus on & enjoy my students and troupe members who genuinely enjoy dancing.
-I'm going to give Ryan and the kitties big hugs & kisses when I get home.

It's not a lot, but for today - just for today - I can make the choice to take positive steps.