Blogged

New BellyDance Session

johnbutters — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:16:05 GMT

Tribal Rhythms is offering its Autumn semester; Starting, Sunday September 13th, running for 15 weeks, ending on December 20th. Beginner classes run from 4:30 - 6pm. This course will focus on introductory and basic bellydance movement, dance drills, core development and flexibility through stretches. Advance classes run from 6-7:30pm. This course will focus on advanced drills, layering, improvisation and basic group formations. For experienced dancers only. The cost for 15 weeks of classes is $175.00, Payment due on the first class, cheque or cash please. (Barter is an option.) Classes will be held at Tycheco Studio, 170 Botsford St. (Corner of Mountain Rd. and Botsford, above Theatre L’Escaouette, stairs to right of main entry.) Wear clothing appropriate for a moderate workout that allows freedom of movement. Yoga or gym clothes are perfect. Bring some drinking water. Registration is limited, please confirm placement in class by email, jon.joncommon@gmail.com or in person.

Going Ons

johnbutters — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:35:49 GMT

Just a quick update on what been going on in the life of John. Had a really great summer, lots of work and play. Took some time off teaching dance for the first time in four or five years. That was good for the process, coming back to it five months later with a clearer vision of what I'm doing with the dance. I've actually got a couple of guys in the class, thats nice, a few students that have been with me for a while and a few new faces. The bunch of them are dedicated and already coming along nicely. The comic shop is a blast as per usual, longest 'day' job I've ever held down, lots of gaming and weird conversations. Remi's a great boss and competent, that helps... Practiced poi like crazy all summer and learned some new stuff, looks like I might join up with a group of locals that want to do some street performance, mostly movement stuff, I'll be happy if that comes together. Been shaking my head about the politics as of late. Both in Canada and south of the border. Foolishness all the way around, short sighted idiots who are so stuck on the way things were, or their pocket books, that they can't do shit for the things that we really need to be doing right now. Put down the fucking weapons, stop hoarding wealth and do something useful for yourself, your family and your community. The time of war is over, there are better ways to resolve differences and following greedy fools to exploit others is the path to doom. Stop listening to them, stop buying their crap. Find a cleaner, healthier way of life, do something beautiful for yourself, empower yourself. ...eh, bit of a rant, but I'll leave it. Winter is a coming and I should finish off a novel this year, not to mention comic scripts, short stories and a movie script too. Suddenly things are busy and everything I've ever wanted to do in my everyday, ordinary life is unfolding. Sure, I've busted my balls getting to this point, and my mind and my heart... anyway, things are good. I hope all is going well.

Good Times

johnbutters — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:07:35 GMT

Went to the Nanna Candelaria workshop this past weekend in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia. It was a good dance workshops for me, she has a way of teaching that is pretty strait forward and she really simplified a number of moves that I was making overly complex. Her performance at the show Saturday night was beautiful, fun, fluid and graceful. She's down to earth and easy to talk to, I'd recommend her to anyone who has the chance to learn from her. It was great to see all the Nova Scotia dancers, I was able to touch base with a number of dancers I hadn't seen in a couple of years, make some new friends and hang out with old friends. Good times!

NS Bound

johnbutters — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:01:48 GMT

Off to beautiful Nova Scotia for a few days, should be good times. Going to visit the folks for a couple of days and then down to the valley for a dance workshop. I'm pretty happy about getting to the dance workshop, been a while since I've been to one and am looking forward to learning new things and meeting some dancers.

Happy Canada Day

johnbutters — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:40:34 GMT

Spun some fire last night with Lou and Julie, great time. Did a bit of contact dance, felt good to be down by the river playing! Guess we'll go spin for the folk tonight who'll be out to see some fire works. Good as time as any. Happy nationalism day, eh.

Summer Fun

johnbutters — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:59:21 GMT

Lots of work this summer. Between the day job, and looking after my folks place for them, the poi and a couple of dance workshops I'm pretty much flat out with the exception of a few weekends. Anyone needs to contact me over the summer this is likely going to be the best place to leave a message. Peace and Love

Coming Around

johnbutters — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:32:44 GMT

Wow, what a year... Changes and new beginnings, betrayals and other foolishness. Went through a few months of self-enforced isolation just to process what's what. To grok in full, if you will. It was a healthy dark time, I found my core beliefs and faith in myself held up well. I'm also more thankful than ever that I have bellydance and yoga as a tool for healing and growth. The only real changes in myself have been in my willingness to put up with unhealthy people and a greater independence, both really good advancements! If you're no good for yourself or you show me patterns of abuse towards others don't expect me to put up with your shit, I've got better things to do. Speaking of better thing to do, I'm in sight of having my stories ready for publication and a couple of other writing projects have presented themselves. I don't know how many of you in my network are writers, but what a process it is to go from aspiring writer to published author. One thing that has made a very big difference this past year is having someone with experience to help you over the rough spots, people that take writing seriously are very different from people that fart around at being writers. I've read so much good stuff in the last year, written right here in my hometown, very good things abound, even in the dark times. Thinking about leaving the dance studio I've been working with for the past few years, not for any bad blood or bad feelings, its just time to be my own boss in this area and I'd like to explore opportunities and fusions that are not available if I was to stay in the present situation. Haven't decided for sure, still things to talk over with the boss and I've got to take some more time to weigh the pros and cons of staying or leaving... But my intuition is telling me its time to move along. Hope all is well with you freaks, Peace and Love, John

Snowy New Year

johnbutters — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:31:31 GMT

Snow, snow and snow... It hasn't really stopped much since it began a few weeks ago. I've got mountains of snow around my place. The last storm dumped a couple of feet on us. It's actually nice to see the stuff this year, we've had a few years running now with very little snow and warm weather. Today is a good day, not doing much work and spending my time practicing the hoop and spinning my chains in my living room. After my roommate moved out, thank the gods she did, I shifted everything around so my main room was clear for dancing and training. It has made a huge difference in the amount of extra work I've been able to do on dance, poi, et al. I'm thankful for the freedoms and luxuries that I have. Back to the grind starting tomorrow, working at the comic shop three shifts a week all month and I now have four classes a week at the studio and teach a couple of privates to boot! Listening to Wolf Parade, gritty and haunting... Peace...

Winter Settling

johnbutters — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:41:35 GMT

The snow has been here for a couple of days, tomorrow it will be gone, but it has begun again. It was a good summer. Lots of crazy fun and foolishness, plenty of loneliness and lots of adventures spinning fire and picking up the hoop. Setting up my writing room for the winter, have soooo much material I need to sort, edit and put out there. I've been writing for twenty years now, that sometimes feels like such a long time, I know better though. Looking forward to tribing again.

P'd

johnbutters — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:59:37 GMT

the People of the Party Publicly Protest the Profiting Politicians' Personal, Polymorphously Perverse, Pillaging of the Peaceful People.

First Burns...

johnbutters — Fri, 25 May 2007 04:43:35 GMT

Went down to the river for the first time this year and played with poi, staff and hoop... Lots of fun, Kate lit up for the first time and was amazing. Thanks C for the great shots.

Happy May Day

johnbutters — Tue, 01 May 2007 11:05:17 GMT

Hope everyone has a great day today. I'm celebrating by ending a seven year relationship with one of the most amazing women I've ever known. I guess I'll see what happens this time next year:)

Thinking About Harmony

johnbutters — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:36:46 GMT

Let us work towards the day when any of us can be what we want to be. Gender, race and moral points of view can be freely expressed in harmony. Some people say its a pipe dream, but it can be so if you will it.

Observations on Dance

johnbutters — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 01:48:58 GMT

In responce to http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/8af150fb-1aa1-4cfd-a244-386f9b9a9444#88979aad-14b1-4c22-ab4a-d2017a423d3a Dance is movement, usually accompanied by music done by an individual, with or without others, to express one's self. Culture is a group or groups of individuals who share a basic set of beliefs, values, origin, outlook, etc. It is global, national, regional and local. Subcultures make cultures. Self--Family--Community--Region--etc. Media; a manipulative artform used to commincate and entertain. Most of us have always been dancers, to preform or teach a specific dance or movement type is to share beauty and knowledge. Every individual who participates is processing and progressing at their own rate. Beginners are often not 'good' or expressive, naturals often struggle with ego issues. Someone who engages in an dance form regularly will over time become better, the time it takes is 'individual' and will lead a dancer to many other forms of movement and experience. Regionally bellydance has been steadily increasing in popularity, one of the amazing things about bellydance is the number of people who have done nothing physical for a long time, something about this dance gets them wanting to be active and to move again. When we give our beginners classes the first six to twelve weeks focuses more on breath and posture and core. When an experienced dancer or martial artist or yoga practitioner shows up in class with a good understanding of themselves they quickly learn and can easily perform well is a short period of study. These things are good. What we do here in north america with bellydance is not just Middle Eastern Dance, it has already grown beyond that. Traditional and Fussion forms can still be called bellydance, based on similar movement forms. Personally I have seen bellydance in all kinds of places, a few in cultural context, and I find that it is an amazing and beautiful dance, especially if performed by a skilled practitioner with a flare for creative expression. The politics over the various schools of bellydance disappoint me always. We of all artist should be able to get along, eh? We are so few and all the dancers I know think their forms are the most marginalized. In north america dance has long been marginalized. It still exists though, and that is because 'most of us have always been dancers'. I hope the form of bellydance evolves until it is part of every individual's experience. Bellydance can not be destoyed by Pop Culture. Dance will continue to evolve. Dance Dance

Bloggin

johnbutters — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 05:56:00 GMT

So I thought I'd give this a try. Wow, that was easy.