A day in the life...

Elevation Video

SatyaLila — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:23:41 GMT

I've posted my video from Elevation, 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEcERhLmFsI Check it out!

Tribal Circus Style Workshop in Rome!

SatyaLila — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:47:28 GMT

I am teaching a Circus inspired concepts and combinations workshop in Rome, Italy next Sunday and participating in a small performance afterward. This is a big step out of my comfort zone, as I know no Italian, and will be new to Rome, but I am very excited! The lady who is hosting me seems really nice, and one of her dancers even does fire performance. It will be great to get out there and see what is going on in the belly dance world of Italy. I am curious to see how the language barrier and comprehension goes. Wish me luck!

New Class Session begins April 6th, AND class time change!

SatyaLila — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:13:22 GMT

Hi All! A new session of Tribal Belly Dance classes will begin April 6th at Dance Works Studio. Classes are designed to help dancers develop the strength and technique necessary for Tribal Style Belly Dance. Tribal Belly Dance Drills: Mondays, 6:30pm – 7:30pm A beginning level class designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of the stylistic differences of Tribal Style Belly Dance, as well as helping them develop proper posture and a library of dance moves. This includes Level 1 ATS basics and tribal fusion choreography. The class will focus on learning and drilling ATS moves, working in a group, and tribal format basics, as well as learning a tribal fusion choreography. This is an excellent opportunity for students at all levels to refine their skills and have fun in a supportive, all women environment! Intermediate Tribal/ATS: Mondays, 7:30 – 8:30pm Our intermediate Tribal Style Belly Dance class takes all of the skills learned in Tribal Style and pushes them to the next level. Both Tribal Fusion and ATS are explored more in depth, including moving through ATS Level 2 and 3 moves. Each month, a new concept will be introduced and explored, along with learning new choreographies and refining group improvisational dance. This class expects dancers to have mastered the ATS Level 1 vocabulary. Expect to be challenged! More info at http://www.bellarougetribal.com or register today: http://danceworksgj.com/

Vegas video finally here!

SatyaLila — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:42:29 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGqhLBkA03Y Satya performing in the Zoe Jakes Showcase Hafla Las Vegas, Nevada January, 2009

This is encouraging to me... wanted to share with you all something I received at work.

SatyaLila — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:31:18 GMT

The new culture of generosity Generosity is becoming a leading societal and business mindset. As consumers are disgusted with greed and its current dire consequences for the economy -- and while that same upheaval has them longing more than ever for institutions that care -- the need for more generosity beautifully coincides with the ongoing (and pre-recession) emergence of an online-fueled culture of individuals who share, give, engage, create and collaborate in large numbers. For many, sharing a passion and receiving recognition have replaced "taking" as the new status symbol. Businesses should follow this societal/behavioral shift, however much it may oppose the decades-old devotion to self-interest. This movement has unlocked in entirely new ways the perennial need of individuals to be appreciated and to feel part of the greater good. They are finding status and gratification in something other than consuming the most or the best. Companies need to mirror this societal shift if they want to regain their relevancy. You don't have to give it all away; simply strive to become a caring brand -- one that is generous to customers, employees, social causes and so on. Source: TrendWatching.com, February 2009

Dancing, desires and time constraints

SatyaLila — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:55:47 GMT

I've got about a billion things stirring in my head, but prioritizing is not coming easy. Where to start? How to narrow it down and focus? Eek! Maybe it's time for another list of goals... Nothing like some concrete goals to help you focus. What do you all do when the list of desires is bigger than the time allotted to work on them?

Favorite Road Snacks?

SatyaLila — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:59:24 GMT

I'd love to get some new ideas for snacks to bring on a road trip, and also snacks to bring to all day dance workshops. Generally I am into fruits and veggies, low salt/refined sugar options, and I do eat meat. Anyone have any good suggestions?

New Fire Fusion Video!

SatyaLila — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:56:12 GMT

I've posted video from (r)+Evolve last night, a fire fusion belly dance number I choreographed for the Sideshow Circus last year in Golden, Colorado. Go check it out to see what I've been up to... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDp461ElwBE

I've done it!

SatyaLila — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:44:40 GMT

...finished a whole dance in one week! Not just any dance, a good one (well, I like to think that it is...) The number is for an upcoming performance in Vegas in January, something new for me. For the last year or so, I've been wanting to dance to a violin piece, but hadn't found the right song until just recently when perusing myspace. I've taken many different approaches to choreography, this time I just danced, and danced and danced and danced until all the pieces fit together. Giving many thanks to creative inspiration, beautiful music that moves our souls to dance, and cold weather that forces me to stay inside and work on something.

In honoring the season

SatyaLila — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:12:32 GMT

I look out over the snow-covered ground and remember. Winter is a time for turning inward, pulling oneself back inside and feeding the roots. Keep your warm glow within, appreciate the sun when she is out, and appreciate the cold wind for what it brings. It is all a part of the cycle. All equal in importance. As I reflect on winter, I also notice how my practice has also turned inward, a time of study, building, working. I began a new solo choreography last night to some music that moves my soul in entirely new ways. Jo and I finished blocking a cabaret/tribal duet Sunday. Laura and I have been putting together a fire fusion show for January that is going to be f*ng HOT. I am finding more and more reasons to just practice, create, keep learning. January is bringing new classes, and also bringing me to Vegas to study more intensely with Zoe Jakes. What an amazingly timely opportunity. Many thanks, much love, joy and happiness out to the universe. (...and spring is just around the corner!)

Okay, next, losing the salt...

SatyaLila — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:12:34 GMT

I've been working toward cutting all of my food allergens out of my diet, and recently have broken through the barrier with much success. Eggs, mustard, radish, oysters, it's been a challenge, but I am there. I am almost totally egg-free, mustard and radish-free, and well, oysters weren't really a problem. So next, I am losing the majority of the salt from my diet. I have a salt problem, waking up with a puffy face frequently, swollen eyes, swollen fingers, etc. I found this article online and thought I'd share... "THE WATER MASK, by Tim Michaels I want to talk about a four-letter word. It’s called SALT. Salt has ruined a lot of bodies. It’s done damage to digestive systems, bladders, imune systems, and has added to depression by creating a puffy face and waist. Not to mention, salt has caused many of the diseases we know today by robbing the body of valueable nutrients. It is a leading cause of high blood pressure. It totally affects how you look and feel. Salt is in all our food; usually ten times more than we need. I’m talking about sodium control - we need to control our sodium. Here’s an example of how salt works in your body. Say you go out one night, and have some salad. You put some dressing on it, which is full of salt. You have some bread, which is full of salt. You have some chicken, basted in butter. Butter is full of salt. And what do you have? Salt on salt on salt on salt. Then the next morning, your eyes are so puffy you can’t open them. And you say, “Wait a minute! My rings don’t fit! My pants don’t fit! I can’t go anywhere! Where’s my water pill?” That’s what happens when you fill up on salt before you go to bed (and most people do) - you get all bloated and puffy. Our eyes have very thin skin underneath them, right above the cheeks. All that excess water, which is retained by all that salt, stretches out your face. That thin skin puffs up, and when you get up, it droops down and hangs and sags and makes you look terrible. You know how much it costs to get your eyes done? That’s just the beginning of salt problems. Sometimes, what can look like fat to the naked eye is really subcontanious fat which is really water under the skin. It makes the skin look dimply, and cellulite-lookiny. And guess what? That’s the first thing that leaves when you get rid of salt! If you can go three days without salt, you’ll be amazed at the difference in how you look. Guess what else is in salt? Iodine. Because years ago, somebody decided there was an iodine deficiency. So they started adding iodine to salt. But iodine in salt can also be a problem. Iodine is a mineral that’s responsible for thyroid function. But there’s no RDA for iodine. We’re not sure how much we need. So there’s a good possibility, since iodine is in salt, and salt is in everything, guess what happens? You get too much iodine. Too much iodine can cause thyroid malfunction. It slows down your metabolism. So your doctor puts you on thyroid medication, because in his eyes, that’s the right thing to do. I’m a preventative maintenance person. God made a beautiful body - a beautiful device we have. We just have to understand how it works. And don’t get me wrong. We need sodium. Sodium is very good for you. Just not too much! Here’s something else: salt makes you thirsty. And what happens when you get thirsty? You drink up a storm, and you dilute the digestive fluids in your stomach. So your food doesn’t digest properly, and guess what we have? Indigestion! And then we take a digestion aid. Why not just eat right and monitor your salt? You won’t have that problem. Once again - that’s preventative maintenance in action! When you eat, you should drink a little bit, but not guzzle. Why do we crave salt? Salt coats the natural organic taste buds that you have in your tongue. And it makes everything else taste terrible except IT. Try having a baked potato plain. There’s no fat in potatoes. There’s no salt in potatoes. It’s just protien and carbohydratyes. It’s good for you. But guess what? It’s not going to taste good if you’re used to loading up with salt. Have I said enough about salt? No, there’s another bad guy in there, and it’s called chloride. When the body gets too much sodium, you get bloated and puffy, and your muscles lack energy. When your body gets too much chloride, the body shuts off the release of sodium. So your muscles will cramp, giving you symptoms of lack of sodium. It becomes a viscous cycle. So how are you going to work out when your body doesn’t have the right chemistry? ..."

Bella Rouge's new website!

SatyaLila — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:20:52 GMT

Things are beginning to take shape... http://www.bellarougetribal.com/

I love ATS AND Tribal Fusion!

SatyaLila — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:14:48 GMT

A girl can't make up her mind, so glad I don't have to! They are both amazing and wonderful.

Ballet for belly dancers?

SatyaLila — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:55:57 GMT

I realize as I am taking this beginning ballet class that belly dance does not teach us everything we need to know about movement. I feel lacking in understanding footwork, in my ability to change my dance posture for other styles of dance (this is a hard one!) and in how I remember choreography. Ballet challenges different parts of my brain, different parts of my body, and reminds me of what it was like to be a beginning belly dancer. It is a humbling experience, to say the least. While I have no intentions of being a ballerina, the techniques I am learning are valuable, and I am grateful for the experience.

Dark and Light

SatyaLila — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:57:49 GMT

I find myself in between dark and light hovering through translucent clouds on a new moon horizon. I feel within warmth and cold heartache and love loss and rebirth I wish to hold the light but as I draw it near it disappears like a puff of smoke Memory and future haunt the mind while now is whittled to a point I breathe in love and peace and exhale sorrow and loss I breathe in compassion and understanding and let go of worry and doubt I breathe in truth and faith and release fear

Some things change.

SatyaLila — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:59:22 GMT

Some of you already know this, to others it may be a surprise. I've resigned from Women's Tribal Fusion, and the troupe has disbanded for now. I am still teaching classes on Monday nights at Dance Works Studio, and we will still be dancing at the Dark Show this year. From there on, looking to new beginnings. Many thanks to everyone who has held a part in all we've done over the years. I will keep dancing, and you can bet you'll be seeing me again on the dance floor!

I have a new song to choreograph!

SatyaLila — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:48:04 GMT

Yay, some creative work to do!

RESURFACE 2008, Saturday October 18th at Mesa Theater

SatyaLila — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:54:46 GMT

This is an unofficial Burningman decompression party in Grand Junction, and it will be off the hook! Come out, come out, where ever you are... (and come in costume!) Schedule of events for RESURFACE 2008 Saturday October 18th 7:30 Doors 8:15 DJ Coltrain 9:00 Belly dance w/ Satya (inside) 9:15 DJ BullNasty 10:00 Fire performance w/ BDFC 10:30 DJ Pink Poodle 11:15 Playa Fashion Show 11:30 DJ Strangefellow 1:00 DJ Hydro

Does your food come from China?

SatyaLila — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:27:41 GMT

Cadbury says Chinese-made chocolate have melamine http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080929/ap_on_re_as/as_cadbury_chocolate_recall They continue to poison us, themselves, everyone, don't support the food industry in China, people!

New video!

SatyaLila — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:44:18 GMT

I just posted new video on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d62PRFHET-k This is my solo for the Glenwood Goddess Hafla. I would love your feedback and critique. I choreographed this piece last spring for our local hafla, and brought it back out for this event.

Well, we are online, but I can't seem to get in to anything...

SatyaLila — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:14:11 GMT

Hmm. No tribes, no posting comments, but at least this is something.

Eek! Holy Cow! Freak Out! Jumping up and down and all that jazz!

SatyaLila — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:50:10 GMT

The first Rigged to Flip caravan is leaving tonight for Nevada. I am not completely packed, but close... And here I am at work, knowing all the stuff I have to do at home, anticipation is killing me. We will arrive in BRC Friday and set up Rigged to Flip. The rest of the campers will be arriving throughout the week. I am looking forward to spending additional time out there, and look forward to the experience of being on the playa a little longer this year. I'll TRY to take more photos this year, though no promises. Last year it just didn't work out. Love to you all! Those of you who will be out there, see you soon!

Black Rock City

SatyaLila — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:00:20 GMT

Once again, we are preparing for the long haul out into the desert. For all of my friends who will be out there, we are camping at 4:30 and Portal (this is right off the Esplanade.) Come by and visit! We'll have a flavored water bar with daily drink specials and other fun stuff. I'd love to hear where you will be camped and to meet up with some of you out there!

Today I want to express Gratitude

SatyaLila — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:21:34 GMT

For so many little things in my life that make it so great. For my f*ng awesome husband whom I adore, for the women whom I dance with who are each gorgeous and teach me new things each and every time I dance with them, for finding ways in which I can give back to those I love, for costume inspiration, and for the upcoming trip to the burning desert which I am so looking forward to spending with my fiery peeps. Many thanks for the beautiful things in life...

I miss my friends.

SatyaLila — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:38:00 GMT

Miss you guys. Hope everyone is doing well, living their dreams and playing often! It's been a time of being home for us, which is so nice every now and then. Love to you all, Satya