My Blog

Manhattan Tribal Schtuff and My Birthday!

mimibellydance — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:40:54 GMT

Okay, so I just turned...ready ....41 on July 5th...I've gotta say that I'm really more comfortable in Tribal World saying that since it seems to garner a certain amount of respect, whilst in the cabaret bellydance world that I will still on occasion gig in to pay the rent it's like I said I was an ax murderer specializing in small children and family pets, at least with the booking agents...damn that bugs me to no end...any hoo..the last year has been great, I have a wonderful partner in my life who supports my dance and is an artist himself, all good, a solid troupe of dancers that I can call my friends that I care about deeply and am so proud at how far everyone (including myself) has come in this ATS world we're creating and fostering here in NYC, a solid student base of dancers who get ATS, they love it as I do and they understand the group vibe, the limited vocabulary with endless possibilities in regard to formations and how to work the moves, the Improv! dang I love improvising... Living in such a huge city, and I've been here since 1989 when I was a punk rock bass chick, I've seen a lot, and seen communities of folks come and go...the rock scene, at least in my era and with my age group has died out, but now I'm getting the chance to foster a community of dancers in New York who can enjoy themselves, appreciate their bodies and build new friendships...it' s pretty damn awesome. I was on the fence about this video...I think I look too bouncy :-) but watching past Rakkasah vids, wow, Manhattan Tribal has come a long way in the 1 1/2 years we've been together..It's weird, we started as a troupe of my students, with Kate co-directing, and each Rakkasah vid is such a huge leap in skill....in less than two years...I'm so proud of the hard work and dedication everyone has put in to make this jump like this....can't wait to see what the future holds and what cool stuff will happen! Oh and I need to learn to follow more..I lead to much in class...it messes up my following! Here's the link and I'm feelin' pretty good about being an "old lady" :-) This is improv! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiRdTw5BXJY

Manhattan Tribal Show this Saturday at East West Yoga

mimibellydance — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:43:17 GMT

Hey everyone! Manhattan Tribal will be doing a full show plus an ATS belly dance basics lesson taught by Mimi Fontana and a tribal jam for everyone to get up and dance with us! Hosted by East West Books, 78 Fifth Avenue at 14th Street in NYC. Saturday May 3rd - Cover is $18 and the event runs from 7pm (sharp!) to 8:30pm, limited seating so come early. Feel free to dress up and bring zils! More info is on the East West site at www.eastwestnyc.com and you can always check www.manhattantribal.com for more upcoming events. Hope to see y'all soon, Mimi

Check check check it out....

mimibellydance — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:04:43 GMT

I just posted a bunch of new photos of Manhattan Tribal in our tribe. Check it out and please add us if you like what we're about :-) raq on, Mimi

Yarrr!!! Cell Phone Idiocy..

mimibellydance — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:10:09 GMT

Hey, if anyone needs to reach me, please email me. My cell phone took a flying leap down the stairs and the battery jettisoned off to parts unknown.....the model is dis-continued, so I have to buy a knock off online....I should be good to go by the end of the week. Also, if you need me to call you please leave your number in the email...no phone book access...

Vadalna Workshop this Sunday - Participants Please Note!

mimibellydance — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:27:01 GMT

Hey y'all, For anyone taking the balancing workshop with Vadalna this weekend, please bring the following: Prop - if you've ordered a sword or tray kit we will have them on us. We will have a few extra trays for sale at the festival. If you don't have a sword or tray please bring a basket or something similiar to balance Headband or Scarf - especially for sword and if you're sword is heavy, a bandana or something is fine This isn't mandatory, just for your comfort :-) Knee Pads!! - Very important, you'll need them, you can use legwarmers,but knee pads are way better. We'll have some available for sale so if you're looking to buy them you can do so at the festival. Water or other hydrating beverage Notepad and Pen thanks and see you all on Sunday! Mimi

Please be patient...

mimibellydance — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:31:40 GMT

Hey y'all I posted this on my myspace as well....My kitty is not doing well, he's very old and very sick and it's sucking up a lot of time and emotion. I'm not going to be online much for the next few days, so if you need to get in touch with me please email me at my yahoo account. I'll be answering emails and stuff when things calm down a little. thx mimi

Squishy Big Ass Thanks to Everyone for Tribal Jam!

mimibellydance — Tue, 29 May 2007 01:23:17 GMT

Okay, big squirrel shout out to everyone who came out to Tribal Jam....I had no idea you guys were planning this early b-day for me! You could've floored me....I think Ruth got a picture of me being floored... Naraya! Girl you're the best friend, dance-partner-in-crime and sister a gal could ask for! No one has ever done something so nice for me and I just wanted to give a shout out to everyone who contributed to the planning and execution of the night :-) You all rock! Thanks again to Next Tribe for rocking for us, all the gals in Manhattan Tribal who were in on this whole thing and totally didn't let on, all the gals who take class with me on Wednesdays and honored me by dancing with me on Saturday as "HipSlide", Brad... just because, Ayana for being a co-conspiritor, Liz Free and Naja for working the door, Ammo and Stacy for their extracurricular talents, Paige for letting us use her fantastic loft and for dancing for us, Gilberto wrangling music and electricity, Brian Cartner :-). Pete List and Melissa the Loud for making music, and everyone else who came out to dance, and have fun with us! I was completely surprised and honestly who's gonna forget Naraya in her graduation gown doing the squirrel evangelist....not for a long time! Praise the ever-lovin' squirrel and all of YOU! hugs and smooches, Mimi

Manhattan Tribal now has a tribe!

mimibellydance — Fri, 11 May 2007 01:01:30 GMT

Finally...sheesh already, please make like a squirrel and sign up to keep up with what's happening with us :-) iffin' ya want that s :-) xo Mimi "squirrels....they're cute....they're cuddly....they get sh*t done!"

Crazeee two weeks...

mimibellydance — Tue, 08 May 2007 20:22:51 GMT

and am I looking for some downtime, let me tell ya. So Spring Caravan this weekend, absolutely rocked. The girls in Manhattan Tribal were really brilliant, as were my co-conspirator/directors Kate Reid and Naraya. I was in usual stressout freekout mode due to working for Audrena, lovely woman, but I can't no way no how deal with vending anymore....it makes the whole festival experience a real drag, I don't get a chance to watch any of the shows or take any workshops, or hang out late because of worrying about "the booth" so that was my last festival for vending. I'm a free woman! woo woo! Oh the show last week at Don Hills with Next Tribe was fantastic as well, Naraya and love dancing with those boys, such great energy and the crowd rocked! This week, I have a cabaret show with Ayana on Wednesday night, Vadalna is performing at the City College of NY Hafla on Thursday, and also on Thursday we're performing at Savalas alongside the scintillating Trisha McBride. Savalas is in Williamsburg and if yer interested drop me a note and I"ll hook you up with directions and cover charge and schtuff... Lot's of upcoming stuff, so I need to update my website, also some class changes are a'brewing....adding some new levels and switching things around a bit so that I have more time to be creative oh an sane, sanity has a lot to do with it :-) here are a few snacky like tidbits, Tribal Jam with Vadalna and Manhattan Tribal will be on May 26th at Paige's loft in b-burg....details soon, Manhattan Tribal is looking to participate in this year's dance parade on May 19th and we could use a drummer or two to march/dance/play for us....any takers? June 10th is a beneft for Poppin's Kids that Manhattan Tribal will be participating in, and June 16th will be the first of our hopefully-to-be-annual Tribal Picnic and Craft Circle. Okay kids, I'm off to do some spring cleaning before teaching tonight. Rak out squirrel army! Mimi

Hmmmmm Wednesday musings...

mimibellydance — Wed, 02 May 2007 19:08:42 GMT

It struck me this afternoon, that I have very few pictures of myself in civilian clothing...that is not wearing belly dance gear....I'm slightly disturbed by this because it's been going on for a few years now.....I suck at taking photos (for the most part) and don't consider myself particulary photogenic...so maybe that has something to do with it? I dunno....so I'm posting an old photo of me playing bass, because now I only have costume pics, then I only had band pics.....maybe I should buy a camera? Sewing today, I have to finish a coin bra by Thursday, and I have rehearsals and classes tonight and tomorrow and tomorrow night Naraya and I are performing with Next Tribe at Don Hills.....being that I'm officially single as of 10pm last night, it's going to be good to get out of the house and mingle a little without feeling like I'm sorta dating someone so I'm sorta cheating on them if I flirt or whatever with other guys....it's quite a relief actually...I still don't understand how a guy can work so hard to get me to date them, have everything going smoothly and then throw it all away in favor of pills and alcohol...I hate drugs....man they just screw everything up....it seems impossible for me to meet anyone who's not a pill junkie...what the hell is up with that? Damn I need to sort this stuff out... Okay, so back from Florida, successful trip, fun, got a little sunshine, was very stressed / sad 'bout the whole relationship with brad issue, but the time away was good to be able to finally make the break this week. I'm going to be at Rakkasah Spring Caravan all weekend working for Audrena....it's always a ton of work, but I get to see lot's of folks I don't see often, so the trade off is okay, We're dancing with Vadalna and with my new troupe Manhattan Tribal, very excited about all of that....which reminds me I need to get back to sewing this dern bra which I should have had done months ago...must....drag...butt.....away.....from......computer.......