New video from Raqs Borealis!

Yippee! I've started a new sorta-quarterly professional event here in Portland, Maine called Raqs Borealis. The second one was last Friday and my friend Holly was amazing and videoed it!

We had live music by Okbari ( www.okbari.org ) and special guest Aonochi, who lotsa you will know from Tribe! Here's part of my performance including one of Eric's classic crazy drum solos. :)

www.youtube.com/watch

Acropolis Restaurant - Notice

I will no longer be working with Acropolis Restaurant.

Last night, Saturday 9/27, after having arrived on time (6:30 PM) in costume & makeup I was told that they wanted me to start later (8:00 PM) and stay later. They had booked a Greek band for 8:00 PM and wanted me to dance with them, rather than to CDs. I love to dance to a band, but I was scheduled for a specific time.

They said that patrons had made their reservations for 8:00 and later to see the band (they neglected to mention to callers that there would be a belly dancer present at 6:30) and that it would be "silly" for me to dance when no one was there.

As I was scheduled to dance three times between 6:30 & 8:30 I told her that I will dance at any point during that time for the original rate ($45, far too cheap to begin with--I successfully charge $125+ for one set at a private party--but the going rate for this particular gig). If they wanted me to stay later my rate would be $75/hour.

They responded that this was "ridiculous" and I should go home without performing at all. They also called me unprofessional. (Good one!) They pointed out that I had "danced for them for a long time, always on time" and said that it was "ridiculous" that I could not just give them an extra half-hour. (Figure that one out.)

My behavior was straightforward & polite throughout. I did not get paid, although I was present and prepared to dance at my scheduled time.

As I stated, I will no longer be working with Acropolis Restaurant, nor will I recommend them as a venue to other performers.

While independent performers make their own choices (the beauty of being independent!) I encourage others to respect our profession, our time, our training & this dance by remaining firm when faced with similar unfortunate situations.


________________
Ayperi
Portland, ME
ayperi@raqsayperi.com
www.RaqsAyperi.com
Belly Dance Performance & Instruction

New videos!

I gots some new videos!

www.youtube.com/ayperidances

Two are from Acropolis Restaurant last weekend with Okbari, and one is from a show for the League of Young Voters back in April with Jaiyana.

Woo!

Summer Belly Dance Classes - Yarmouth & Portland

Dance through the summer!

Ayperi's belly dance classes focus on musicality & technique in a warm & supportive environment. Attain elegance & poise through belly dance. Enhance your confidence & project the joy of life!

Open to beginning dancers & those with some experience, Ayperi's classes cover the movement vocabulary & musicaltiy as well as finger cymbals and rhythms used in Middle Eastern music.

Exercise wear is appropriate. Bring a scarf to wrap around your hips... and your sense of fun! The classes listed below are open to anyone over the age of 13.

Contact Ayperi to register for belly dance classes--or register online!
Paypal & credit cards are welcome online.
Mail checks to: Ayperi, PO Box 15174, Portland, ME 04112
207.409.9540 | Ayperi@RaqsAyperi.com | www.RaqsAyperi.com



Wednesdays | 9:00 - 10:15 AM
July 2 - August 27 (no class 8/6)

Portland, Maine
Maine Ballroom Dance
615 Congress Street, near High Street

$80/eight-week session
$72/six-week punch card.


Mondays | 7:00 - 8:15
July 14 - August 25. Register now!

Yarmouth, Maine
Fitness Success
94 Main Street

$84/seven-week session
$75/five-week punch card

Successful weekend!

Finally! Everything that I've been working towards for the last three months came together in the smoothest possible way--I am so thankful and happy. I couldn't have asked for things to go better--here's to lots of lists and plenty of helping hands.

What in the world am I talking about? The fantabulous Mira Betz came from San Francisco to Portland, Maine and gave a workshop & performance. I took a workshop from Mira in Boston in January that Alyssum sponsored. After I sent a thank-you email to Mira, the ball started rolling and this is where we ended up!

I was able to book the hot new space in Portland, The Empire, for the show and contacted various super local musicians and dancers, including Adira (Emma Holder) and Karina Khan--who we've recently "lost" to Boston ;) --the amazing Samuel James (who, ahem, happens to be my oh-so-obliging sweetheart), Over a Cardboard Sea Vaudeville Troupe, and the Portland Saw Orchestra, for a first-time-ever-in-Portland-sort-of-event. After weeks of promotion, people turned out in great numbers (despite an incorrectly-advertised price snafu!) and we generally had a ball.

The workshop was the next day. Mira proceeded to kick our butts in a great way with her workshop on isolations and layering. She brought lots of new concepts & inspiration to our town--hurray!--and throughly entertained us along the way. Given the months of preparation, I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see so many people there. We had 30 dancers present at the workshop! I met a lot of new people as well as seeing dance friends of a few years--all such fulfilling experiences. Again--hurray!

That evening, I had had the, ah, nerve to book a gig on Peak's Island... so straight from the workshop I flew home, put on my makeup and caught the ferry into the baywith Jaiyana and my sister Bragita, who, I'm thrilled to say, was on her first drumming gig with us! It was an outdoors, pre-summer celebration of friends and family. They had just the perfect evening--clear and comfortable weather, few bugs, lots of friends. We belly dancers were joined by a circus troupe of rope-dancers, jugglers, musicians, stilt-walkers & trapeze artists. The very best part of the evening was all of the families who came up to us, the children all wide-eyed and full of questions. :)

Now, of course, I'm recovering from a 3-day crash-after-the-end-of-it-all sickness... fever, cough, cold--the works. But the feeling-better-ness is in sight! Back at work today and happy.

I learned so much during this process. Got a lot of good advice from people all over the place--not least Emma here in town. Sam was incredibly supportive and just allowed me to ramble on, repeating my lists over and over... thank goodness for wonderful boyfriends! And my roommate was so lovely to put of with my madness. :) Made lots of lists, which saved my sanity... and managed to check everything off of them! I have plenty of things to *add* to the lists for next time (not least--allowing more than 3 months for preparations!). But overall, I feel darn good about this weekend.

Feedback is much appreciated. If you didn't attend, what factors contributed to your decision? If you participated--what worked? What didn't work?

But most of all--thank you to everyone!!

Mira Betz workshop update!

Alrighty--thanks to everyone who has registered early. We exceeded the minimum number of attendees!

There are still spaces available. I'm going to update my website tonight or tomorrow with a new ($70) paypal button... but if you get there first, you can still have the $55 deal.

www.raqsayperi.com/workshops.html

Woo!

Belly dance & James Bond

Stumbled across these today in a bout of procrastination...

From Russia with Love, 1963

Opening credits: www.youtube.com/watch
Belly dance scene: youtube.com/watch (includes info about the dancer!)

So fun!

Mira Betz Workshop - May 15 early registration deadline!

Fellow dance addicts!

Registration is officially open for Mira Betz's June 14 workshop!
Space is limited...
... and the early registration discount is only available till May 15!

A handful of us in Portland are more than willing to offer our futons, couches & floors to anyone who wants to crash overnight--just let me know! The show the night before will be a fun night of dancing our hearts out.

Cabaret & tribal dancers alike will LOVE this workshop.

www.RaqsAyperi.com/workshops.html
Paypal & credit cards are accepted securely online!

Here are the details:

Mira Betz - Isolations & Layering
Saturday, June 14, 2008
11 AM - 2 PM
Maine Ballroom Dance
614 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
$55 - Register by May 15
$70 - Register after May 15
INCLUDES admission to the SHOW!

Raq the Empire - Show & Dance Party
Dance to DJ Adira | Performances all night
Friday, June 13, 2008
8 PM - 12:30 AM
The Empire Dine & Dance
575 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
$15 - Show & Dance Party only
Featuring...
Mira Betz, Ayperi, Adira, Samuel James, Blinky McGee's Saw Orchestra
... and many collaborative combinations of the above!


Paypal & credit cards are most welcome. Click below for the secure online payment!
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr


... Or mail a check to:
Ayperi
PO Box 15174
Portland, ME 04112


About Mira:
Mira Betz has been teaching workshops and classes in Middle Eastern and North African dance nationally for the past 12 years. Her high energy workshops are designed to challenge the students both physically and mentally, offering clear and supportive instruction in technique, rhythm, and stage presence. Mira's passion for dance is infectious.
www.miramania.com

Videos!
Cabaret: youtube.com/watch
Fusion: youtube.com/watch
Whisky Dance!: youtube.com/watch


Email me with any questions at all.

Please do forward this to your lists. Gotta have 15 people signed up by May 15 for this workshop to go ahead. Woo!

Happy spring!

Ayperi

________________
Ayperi
PO Box 15174
Portland, ME 04112
(207) 409 9540
ayperi@raqsayperi.com
www.RaqsAyperi.com
Belly Dance Performance & Instruction

Mira Betz in Portland, ME, June 14 - Registration open! Register by May 15 for $15 discount.

Fellow dance addicts!

Registration is officially open for Mira Betz's June 14 workshop!
Space is limited...
... and the early registration discount is only available till May 15!

A handful of us in Portland are more than willing to offer our futons, couches & floors to anyone who wants to crash overnight--just let me know! The show the night before will be a fun night of dancing our hearts out.

Cabaret & tribal dancers alike will LOVE this workshop.

www.RaqsAyperi.com/workshops.html
Paypal & credit cards are accepted securely online!

Here are the details:

Mira Betz - Isolations & Layering
Saturday, June 14, 2008
11 AM - 2 PM
Maine Ballroom Dance
614 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
$55 - Register by May 15
$70 - Register after May 15
INCLUDES admission to the SHOW!

Raq the Empire - Show & Dance Party
Dance to DJ Adira | Performances all night
Friday, June 13, 2008
8 PM - 12:30 AM
The Empire Dine & Dance
575 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
$15 - Show & Dance Party only
Featuring...
Mira Betz, Ayperi, Adira, Samuel James, Blinky McGee's Saw Orchestra
... and many collaborative combinations of the above!


Paypal & credit cards are most welcome. Click below for the secure online payment!
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr


... Or mail a check to:
Ayperi
PO Box 15174
Portland, ME 04112


About Mira:
Mira Betz has been teaching workshops and classes in Middle Eastern and North African dance nationally for the past 12 years. Her high energy workshops are designed to challenge the students both physically and mentally, offering clear and supportive instruction in technique, rhythm, and stage presence. Mira's passion for dance is infectious.
www.miramania.com

Videos!
Cabaret: youtube.com/watch
Fusion: youtube.com/watch
Whisky Dance!: youtube.com/watch


Email me with any questions at all.

Please do forward this to your lists. Gotta have 15 people signed up by May 15 for this workshop to go ahead. Woo!

Happy spring!

Ayperi

________________
Ayperi
PO Box 15174
Portland, ME 04112
(207) 409 9540
ayperi@raqsayperi.com
www.RaqsAyperi.com
Belly Dance Performance & Instruction

Dancing = Happy Muscles

So, my back has really been bothering me for the last few weeks, following a series of things that just weren't good for it. Sitting for any period of time has been painful and I've been particularly conscious of posture. Haven't been able to get a massage appointment, unfortunately, and too busy & poor to see the chiropractor before my schedule appointment next week. Teaching classes has been OK, but I'm of course able to be selective about movement during those sessions.

Last night I was scheduled to dance at Acropolis Restaurant and I was worried about how my back was going to like it. Somehow, I feel miles better today! Hurray for dancing! I took some ibuprofen before the show, and avoided any back bends... but today is so much better! It's so nice when what you love to do turns out to be really good for you. :)