Sacramento World Festival

Hi Blog,

Last night I danced at the Sacramento World Festival, and had a great time. This was my first time performing at this event so I did not know what to expect. I am not familiar with Sacramento or it’s happenings, but was very pleased with the support everyone had for this event.

The other performers were positive, talented and so nice and the staff treated me well -felt like a supastar…extra points for that(hee hee) The theatre was HUGE, and about every seat was filled. The stage was large as well with pro sound and lighting and I got a spotlight like I wanted which was super duper. The audience was very lively and positive which is always a plus and just great energy all the way around. The show was a mix of ethnic dance and live music acts. Only downside was that I did not get to see many of the acts which is always a bummer - they put me next to last which is great for a performer, but I missed everyone..boo. There were great troupes representing dances from Russia to Polynesia

I am very honored to be the only solo dancer chosen to perform at the big show and tickled when I was asked to dance on a Sacramento morning news show to promote the event. I was interviewed and got to dance in 3 teasers and a full performance on TV. 'Yay'! for representing Bellydance in a positive light!

Thank You World Festival for helping raise the art form and awareness of Ethnic Dance.

Whats next…I have several high profile events this and next month and dare I say….a wee break in November…maybe…

Happy Shimmies

Dancing in Oakland Sunday

At Mary Ellen Donald's Birthday Bash. I 'll be dancing to live music and there will be cake, yum! The show is about sold out with only a handful of tickets left so this should be fun...www.maryellendonald.com

New Dance Space/More Classes

Yay! I got a new dance space and I'm thrilled with the possibility of having more classes, weekend and week long intensives. The studio is across the street from Grand Lake Theatre and there is good parking on Lakeshore in the evening. Ballet barres will be installed next month, but we have portable ones to use until then. My Basics students will be thrilled that there will be an extra one added and more in the future. 454 #B Santa Clara Ave Oakland

My new schedule for August session is:

BASICS:
Wednesdays 6:30pm
Saturdays 11am

DANCE TECHNIQUE INTENSIVE:
Wednesdays 7:50pm

INTERMEDIATE:
Mondays 6pm

ADVANCED:
Mondays 7:25pm

TROUPE REHEARSAL:
Thursdays 6:30pm

World Arts West

Thanks to all the staff at World Arts West. Once again I had a wonderful time performing at the Palace of Fine Arts last weekend. Thanks again to WAW for giving Ethnic Dance a chance to show itself in a super high quality production with the best in lighting, sound and professionalism. I was honored to share the stage with so many wonderful dancers. I left this year feeling inspired and with many new friends in dance.

I feel sad that it's over, but will only take a week off, and do absolutely nothing tomorrow except read Vogue and watch TV. My 2 days of eating all I want is now over and will begin exercising and dancing again next week. The last time I took a break and stopped dancing cold turkey I ended up with the worst flare up in my back -my doctor advised I keep moving, so I will...

Whats next for Summer...I am dancing improv to Jazz music at Mary Ellen Donald's Birthday show in August, so that will be fun, and I will begin studying piano again. I am also looking for a new dance space where I can fulfill another goal of having weeklong and weekend long training courses. Wee!

SF Ethnic Dance Festival 2008

After several months of stretching, strengthening and practicing my bootie off, it's time to perform again at this years Ethnic Dance Festival. 'Demoiselle Crane' is a very challenging dance piece - (esp cardio) and I'm excited to show my work. One of the artistic directors said the 2nd weekend, June 14-15 has the strongest show -and I won't argue with that cause I'm dancing in it, hee hee ;^)

I really just can't wait to get on that great stage again at the Palace of Fine Arts and watch the other amazing troupes. All the performers chosen for this event are really top notch in their field. The best part of being in this show is bonding with the other dancers and seeing everyones work. Can't wait!
www.worldartswest.org

Mr Happy Birthday

My kitty's birthday is June 10th and he will be a decade old...not sure what that is in cat years. He has CRF but has defied logic and is doing well. Slippery elm, massages and energy work has been very beneficial for him and he likes to be decorated with beads and hats for special occasions.

Another Gr8 one from RJ

Wow. He is the man. This guy can take photos like no one else. From what I know, he is the most successful and in demand commercial photographer in the Bay Area. I've seen his work of Ballet dancers, most notably Lines and I've always been blown away by his work. The way he captures spirit and movement is just awe inspiring. He did my Fire Dance photo for the 2007 Ethnic Dance Festival and I was just tickled to be able to work with him again for the 2008 EDF for my Demoiselle Crane dance. What an honor.

To see more of his incredible work visit: www.rjmuna.com

Birthday

Yay, I made it! A year older and wiser. I had the best birthday ever this year, the pic is from Jewelz s and I'm holding up the pinata I massacred at my party. It was the prettiest Pinata ever...I collected some of the candy in my skirt too, yummm.

Inspirations & 2008 SF Ethnic Dance Festival

Good afternoon Blog. I finally had time to update, but to my dismay Tribe was down again this afternoon...arg! Yipee it's up again. I'm currently looking for a new monitor to clear away all the cobwebs on my Tribe, since I don't have time these days to play in cyberspace . I'm also going to try to organize and fix up my Facebook account and slowly try to migrate my blogging over there...um shooting for at least once a month :>I

January was a handful. I was scouted by Cirque to audition (I will write about that in my next blog) and auditioned for EDF again. I don't know what it is about January but last time I auditioned I was sooo sick with the flu and this year I had pulled my hamstring 2 weeks before . I taught classes sitting in a chair old school ballet style. Note to self :I need a stick to poke the students with.. haha.

I was accepted to perform again for this years Festival and honored to be the only Bellydancer and performer to represent the Middle East. I just started training again last week and my hamstring feels better. I based this years piece on the Demoiselle Crane and I had so much fun researching this amazing creature. I am tightening up on the choreography and by performance time It should be better than the audition. This piece is probably one of the most physically challenging dances I have ever done. There is so much stamina and upper body strength required for this piece, that I have to practice it almost everyday or I'll exhausted after 2 minutes.

I was one of the groups chosen to receive a grant for the 30 year anniversary of EDF. The grant is to bring musicians from Egypt to accompany my dance. I was really excited by this opportunity, but right now it's not looking so great. I have some contacts in Egypt, but the biggest obstacle right now is getting the visa and time logistics. Due to the 'war on terror' bringing people here from the Middle East is, eh...complicated..

Current inspirations are...Cranes, the sun, and spring blooms...hooray for the spring blooms.

and Mandanah too...

She'll rock your socks. I've had the pleasure of teaching and dancing with her since 2004. She's blossomed into a fantastic performer. The photo above is Mandanah doing her signature move. The photo does it no justice. I just think of her doing his move and it puts a smile on my face. If you see her, be sure to ask her to do it..you will not regret it. Watch her dance here: www.youtube.com/watch