My Blog

New videos!

raqsayperi — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:05:07 GMT

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

raqsayperi — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:44:38 GMT

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!

raqsayperi — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:53:44 GMT

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!

raqsayperi — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:48:35 GMT

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

raqsayperi — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:58:04 GMT

Stumbled across these today in a bout of procrastination... From Russia with Love, 1963 Opening credits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up8NbH7Fr9E&NR=1 Belly dance scene: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Lmp0H4-CpyE (includes info about the dancer!) So fun!

Mira Betz Workshop - May 15 early registration deadline!

raqsayperi — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:22:28 GMT

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! https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=ayperi%40raqsayperi%2ecom&item_name=Workshop%20with%20Mira%20Betz&item_number=WKMB200806&amount=55%2e00&no_shipping=1&return=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eraqsayperi%2ecom%2fregconfirmation%2dwksp%2ehtml&no_note=1&currency_code=USD&lc=US&bn=PP%2dBuyNowBF&charset=UTF%2d8 ... 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: http://youtube.com/watch?v=s7F7sbuOL9Y Fusion: http://youtube.com/watch?v=diWbuuYgonA Whisky Dance!: http://youtube.com/watch?v=616itVHBNZA 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.

raqsayperi — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:46:15 GMT

Dancing = Happy Muscles

raqsayperi — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:31:56 GMT

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. :)

Yeah.

raqsayperi — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:44:29 GMT

Okely dokely... Call me crazy, but I'm in the process of redesigning my website--to look **exactly** like it does now, but to achieve that end through css rather than tables in html. Heh heh. It's part of my theme for the year: "I'm doing it by myself, dammit!" Now I'm gonna take a break and go watch the Oscars.

My even newer little baby website!

raqsayperi — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:40:31 GMT

I finally got a better version of my website up. It's still in progress, but I would love your feedback in the meantime. I made it all by myself using my newly-learned HTML. Thanks, Jan & w3schools! ;) Improvements-to-be include... - a real live logo at the top - different picture on each page - a real gallery - and, no kidding, no more "coming soon" messages... www.RaqsAyperi.com Woo!

The Great 2008 Bunny Event!

raqsayperi — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:28:50 GMT

I started working with Leigh in November. This is her 2nd annual bunny event. I'm so excited! The Great 2008 Bunny Event! Call or email to book your session! We'll send you directions to the NEW location in Harpswell. 207.729.7886 leighk@gwi.net www.leighkelly.com Bring your kids, your grandkids -- or just yourselves -- to Image Catcher's studio for photos with Cinnabun & friends. These unbelievably adorable mini lop-eared bunnies from Robinson's Rabbitry LOVE people. They are used to being handled all day long as they live indoors at the Rabbitry--and Robinson's sends us their friendliest of bunnies. Cinnabun says he wants to bring us some of his "lionhead" friends! WOW! We are also happy do do sessions at these fabulous prices WITHOUT the Bunnies, if that suits. Plan ahead for Mothers' and Fathers' Days... Not just Easter! Thursday, February 29 - Sunday, March 2 Extra Goodies~~ The First 10 people to book get a complementary set of wallets AND ~~ for every friend you send us who books, you get a complementary set of wallets Call or email to book your session! We'll send you directions to the NEW location in Harpswell. 207.729.7886 leighk@gwi.net www.leighkelly.com Fantabulous prices: Session & two identical 5x7 prints (prepaid when you book) $49 - one child or adult $20 - each add'l person per session - More photos? $25 per unit: 1 8x10, or 2 5x7, or 7 wallets - Wallet Albums - Last year's favorite! 20 pages - $95 for 1, duplicates $79 - Image Greeting Cards $20 for 4, $40 for 10, $60 for 20 - Album 8x8 - New! 20 pages, $295 - DVD show set to music: $95

Belly Dance Classes in Yarmouth, Maine

raqsayperi — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:34:32 GMT

Dates change due to weather! www.raqsayperi.com What better way to warm up than to dance through the winter months? Join Ayperi and Fitness Success for a 6-week class and enjoy this incomparable dance form. Open to beginning dancers & those with some experience, this class will cover the basics of the movement vocabulary 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! This class is open to anyone over the age of 13. Session: Mondays 7:00 - 8:15 PM Jan. 28 - Mar. 3 (6 weeks) Cost: $72/session or $15/single class Location: Fitness Success 94 Main Street Yarmouth, ME 04096 Contact Ayperi for registration & more info. (207) 409 9540 ayperi@raqsayperi.com www.raqsayperi.com

Belly Dance & Circle Dance - Bath Dance Works

raqsayperi — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:25:46 GMT

Better flier picture here... http://flickr.com/photos/ayperi/2184065322/ Happy January, everyone! I'm proud to announce my brand new website: www.RaqsAyperi.com It's still in its initial stage, but will grow be growing happily before long. Let me know if you would like to trade links! In exciting dance news, Leigh Kelly ( www.LeighKelly.com ) and I are going to be alternating Wednesdays at Bath Dance Works. Leigh leads Sacred Circle Dance, a collection of old and new dances from around the world. She shows the steps to each on the spot--no experience is necessary! It is an absolute moving meditation. Good camaraderie, a lovely space, and an inspirational person to follow. I will be teaching a mixed levels belly dance class. We will explore all aspects of the dance, from the rhythms that drive our movement, to the spaces where we draw out the music with our bodies. Finger cymbals WILL be involved. Grab a hip scarf and join us! Where? Bath Dance Works 72 Front Street Bath, ME 04532 When? Wednesdays 7:30 - 9:00 PM Circle Dance: January 23, February 6 & 20, March 5 & 19, April 2 & 16 & 30 Belly Dance: January 16 & 30, February 13 & 27, March 12 & 26, April 9 & 23 How much? Leigh & Ayperi will keep separate punch cards. It's just too complicated to make them interchangeable--sorry! Prepaid classes are good for any 6 of 8 consecutive belly dance classes. Circle Dance: $7/class when you pre-pay for 6 classes ($42 total). $9/single class. Belly Dance: $12/class when you pre-pay for 6 classes ($72 total). $14/single class. Bring a friend new to class who signs up for a punch card and receive one free class! What? Belly Dance Belly Dance in Bath with Ayperi - Learn the Joyous Art of Belly Dance! What better way to warm up than to dance through the winter months? Open to beginning dancers & those with experience, this class will cover the basics of the movement vocabulary 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! This class is open to anyone over the age of 13. Contact Ayperi: (207) 409 9540 Ayperi@RaqsAyperi.com www.RaqsAyperi.com ("raqs" means "dance" in Arabic!) Circle Dance If you've never danced or if you've been dancing all your life, or you've been dancing in your dreams... We would love to have you join us. Play Laugh Meditate Be Shy Make Friends Our dances from around the world celebrate cultural influences that span the ages. Some rowdy, some trance, some in-between. Every dance is explained in a relaxed atmosphere. You don't need prior experience, or partners, but both are welcome. Contact Leigh: (207) 729 7889 leighk@gwi.net www.leighkelly.com

Busy Bee!

raqsayperi — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:52:33 GMT

I love a new project. The last couple of days I've been learning HTML and putting together a temporary website that will hold my internet space until I can get something a little sleeker up. So... here it is! Very basic... but I made it myself! www.RaqsAyperi.com Wheeeee!

Nejla Ates, 1955!

raqsayperi — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:15:20 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWNyqlnEiis This is the dancer who Anne Soffee talks about in Snake Hips, the one on the record cover. I recently found one of her records in the free pile at a local store. Yippee! Was searching for more info on her and ran across this YouTube clip. What a backbend! :) Enjoy!

My new-old sewing machine

raqsayperi — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:11:32 GMT

This Christmas my mother gave me my grandmother's sewing machine. It's a gorgeous, black & gold, old fashioned Singer. My grandmother passed away last fall, so this is our second Christmas without her. She had an incredible life, born on a ranch in Montana, lived all over the country on mining projects with her husband, flew a plane (had an emergency landing on a lake once!) and settled in Juneau, AK for over 40 years. She moved to Maine to live with us about 10 years ago. And she was the absolute most good-natured person in the world and baked yummy banana bread and fed me Cheerios and ice cream and other things that my parents didn't allow in their house. :) My mom used this sewing machine to sew a lot of her own clothes in the late 60s. She had the first mini skirt in Juneau, and she sewed it herself on this machine! And now I can sew belly dance costumes with it. It has all kinds of feet that I don't know how to use, and it is exactly what I want! It even has a nifty case with a tray that sits in the top and holds the bobbins and directions, and my grandmother's notes on sewing heavy zippers and such. Sigh... :)

Found Sasha Waddington!

raqsayperi — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 23:32:26 GMT

Alrighty... Remember this posting? http://maine.tribe.net/template/pub%2Coc%2CDetail.vm?plugin=blog&inst=3157924&topicid=550bb32e-bb73-4aae-9cae-b7eec00953e6&commentid=249ec36d-e1db-4213-a458-a5bbbd368f25#249ec36d-e1db-4213-a458-a5bbbd368f25 The artist found my blog and posted her email address... go to the link above and scroll all the way down. More info to follow. Yay!

How to Give a Cat a Pill

raqsayperi — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:18:38 GMT

A friend sent this to me yesterday... I don't usually post these things, but this one really hit home. :) How to Give a Cat a Pill 1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As the cat opens its mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow. 2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. 3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away. 4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten. 5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden. 6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously. 7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later. 8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw. 9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap. 10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door on to neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band. 11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom. 12. Call fire department to retrieve the darn cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap. 13. Tie the little bugger's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down. 14. Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table. 15. Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters. How to Give a Dog a Pill 1. Wrap it in bacon. 2. Toss it in the air.

Big step!

raqsayperi — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:40:41 GMT

According to the New York Times (yet again today...) a middle school right here in my fair city is taking a great step towards helping teenagers make choices about their future. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/us/18portland.html?ex=1350446400&en=4bea8138bf206e59&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink "The Portland school board on Wednesday approved a measure allowing middle-school students to gain access to prescription birth control medications without notifying parents." Go, Portland!

Deborah Kerr

raqsayperi — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:41:27 GMT

Deborah Kerr has passed away... http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Obit-Kerr.html?hp

Artist found!

raqsayperi — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:39:57 GMT

I saw this image in someone's photos months ago and totally fell in love with it. Unfortunately, that person did now know who the artist was... it was a picture that had been found somewhere on the internet. Today I ran across www.torontobellydance.com and was thrilled to see this picture on their site! The artist is Sasha Waddington. Her site, however, appears to be down and a Google search hasn't turned up anything yet. I'll post when I track that down. Just wanted to share this beautiful image, however, and the artist who created it!

Woo! Verizon reversed the decision!

raqsayperi — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:21:44 GMT

Not that I'm now going to flock to them... but thank goodness! http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/business/27cnd-verizon.html?ex=1348632000&en=5774524c69776d60&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink “It was an incorrect interpretation of a dusty internal policy,” Mr. Nelson said. “That policy, developed before text messaging protections such as spam filters adequately protected customers from unwanted messages, was designed to ward against communications such as anonymous hate messaging and adult materials sent to children.”

Verizon working against choice.

raqsayperi — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:24:03 GMT

I saw this in the New York Times this morning. It makes me very mad & sad. From the New York Times. 9/27/2007 "Saying it had the right to block "controversial or unsavory" text messages, Verizon Wireless has rejected a request from Naral Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group, to make Verizon's mobile network available for a text-message program. "The other leading wireless carriers have accepted the program, which allows people to sign up for text messages from Naral by sending a message to a five-digit number known as a short code. More here... http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/us/27verizon.html?ex=1348632000&en=a1232dee7638e939&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Advice needed... job applications and such

raqsayperi — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:41:49 GMT

I am applying to CIEE, a study abroad program that is relocating to my town. They have programs in the US for foreign students to study and work here, and they have programs abroad for US students & faculty. One of my friends went to Brazil on a CIEE program in college. There are 3 different positions that interest me there. The question is... should I apply for just one position? For all at once? For one each in 3 different resumes? All applications go to the same email address, and you put the name of the position in the subject line. So... does anyone know what would be best to do? Is anything proper or not? Thanks bunches...

Beware...

raqsayperi — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 03:10:35 GMT

... this WILL get stuck in your head! I blame my chiropracter. He's into gypsy punk and got me all excited about these guys. Now I can't get the damn thing out of my head! http://youtube.com/watch?v=p_81l4DXlwM Gogol Bordello's "Start Wearing Purple"... beware! :)