My Blog

Costume workshop Oct 3, 2009 with Yasemin (Tribal Bazaar, and Yasemin Yildiz Designs)

weathervanedance — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:05:18 GMT

Yasemin of (Tribal Bazaar, and Yasemin Yildiz Designs) is scheduled to do the next Weathervane event - a costume workshop on October 3rd 2009 ! Weathervane Arts and Yasemin would like to get your feedback on what you would like to learn in this workshop. We will cater the event based on the information you provide. Please feel free to post here, or send me or Yasemin a message with your thoughts. We look forward to hearing from you! So far Yasemin is planning to cover basic costume construction - skirts, pants, bra and belt, vest; and she'll have patterns, and books available for notes and inspiration. Fabrics, colors, cut, and accessories as pertaining to the different dance styles will also be covered. She plans to bring her Serger and sewing machines (I will bring mine as well), so if you have a project you're stuck with bring it! Please let us know anything you want covered ahead of time, or any suggestions. Thanks! Location: EPICA, 840 Mitchell Road Newbury Park, CA Date: Saturday, October 3 (exact time TBD) Contact infomation: send Yasemin or Georgina a message here or call Georgina at (805)390-4713 More information to come....

New Series beginning 8/20 --- Drills, Zills, and Layering!

weathervanedance — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:43:05 GMT

- Begins August 20, 2009! - Thursdays, 5:45-7:00 pm Drills, Zills, and Layering! EPICA, 840 Mitchell Road, Newbury Park, 91320 Drill your zill work and zill through your drills! Expand your understanding of belly dance with zill drills and become increasingly at ease with zilling while you dance. Walks, turns, and graceful floorwork? These are all part of a basic dance vocabulary that every bellydancer needs (but many don't have). Think you can barely shimmy, let alone shimmy layer? Practice makes perfect! Build beautiful subtleties into your dance, refine what you know, and get a great workout all at the same time in this 75 minute-long class! This class runs in 6 weeks sessions. Next session runs August 20-October 1, 2009. If you have questions about whether or not your skill level would be appropriate for this class, don't hesitate to contact me. Class fees: Single class = $14 Single series = 6 class package option = $66 10 class package = $100

Dreams becoming reality

weathervanedance — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:46:28 GMT

Lee's been chosen to exhibit at the Thousand Oaks Arts Council fall exhibition! It's by invitation only and will run from October-December! This is so exciting for him and an unexpected, wonderful surprise that started with a bellydance friend of ours referring him to the Arts Council (thank you Jenn!). It's strange that this is happening now since he's recently been in the process of selecting, mounting and framing a bunch of other photos for his solo exhibit at Moorpark College - not quite as big a deal, but equally as exciting. It's all coming together for him. Two and a half years ago he designed a logo out of curiousity and built a website out of boredom. We both developed modest goals for ourselves; for me it was to start teaching bellydance and for him it was to take photos as often as possible and build a decent portfolio... for both of us it was not to turn down any opportunity no matter how scary or unfamiliar it was. Last night after learning of his invitation to exhibit, he tried to tell himself that maybe it wasn't that big of a deal, but I could tell that he was kidding himself because the corners of his lips were upturned and he couldn't hide a smile! I think that we both thought that delving ourselves into our passions was simply a way to fill our time, something to keep us busy while hunkered down and accepted the fact that we couldn't be world travelers for a while... but the fact of the matter is they've all lead somewhere. He once had a passion and a hobby. Now he has a budding career doing the one thing he loves the most.... and he's only 26!!! How great is that??? Check out the photos which won over the Council - http://weathervaneimages.com/nature/

Unexpectedly good

weathervanedance — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:40:43 GMT

L.I.B. was probably one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. Not a drunken, party, didn't sleep-at-all kind of weekend... a really rejuvenating, fun, enlightening, peaceful, unhurried and fabulous experience. I'm not sure what I expected; I just know that I agreed to go because Lee was really keen on the idea and since he rarely says, "This is something we HAVE to do", I decided I should probably appease him! Had I not, I would have missed out on one of the best experiences I've had ever. Driving away from L.I.B. on Monday morning was heartbreaking... the sun came out (finally!), the tents were coming down, and the opportunity to be clean for the first time in days was right around the corner. But cleanliness was hardly going to compare to the genuine smiling faces and the wonderful people whom I met while waiting out the rain in the Orchid Lounge, doing yoga on wood chips at 9:30 in the morning, or waiting in line for an hour for a waffle! Highlights of the weekend include: Yard Dogs show , the hula hoop workshop, March Fourth parade, and the Red Tantric workshop. I was like a kid at Disneyland watching the Yard Dogs show... either my jaw was dropped or I was beaming from ear to ear the entire time. So was everybody else. I'm so glad someone told me "You HAVE to come back for this show!" OMG had I not I would have missed out on something truly amazing. I discovered I'm not very good at regular hula-hooping but rather I can hand hula hoop pretty well! I have newfound respect for hula hoop dancers because as a bellydancer I think I can do amazing things, but hula hoopers are like bellydancers except they do it with hoops! The Red Tantric workshop was an unexpected amazing experience. Lee and I thought we were going in for a lecture and within minutes we were doing couples yoga! Despite erupting in giggles every now and then, we deepened our connection on another level that I didn't know existed (or maybe I did know it existed superficially but thought only with the help of drugs). After the workshop, we stayed hugging for ten minutes or longer and of course, I cried. It was just really intense. When we left, without verbalizing it, we wanted to stay in that mindset and tried our hardest to stay there. The only thing that broke it was one of the amazing performances and then the Yard Dogs discovery! Also unexpectedly good... the 5/30 hafla. Small crowd, but an appreciative and fun one. Thank you Deanna for jumping in there and doing an impromptu tribal lesson! That was so much fun! I opened the hafla with a solo which I was not prepared to do until the day before. I hate doing it with such little preparation but it was a good exercise for me........ and I must say watching the video afterwards I was greatly relieved (if not a bit pleased!) that my interpretation of the music was better than I remembered it being! To top it off, my students and I (Dahab) had an awesome performance, too! I love that number that I worked so long and hard on to choreograph. It's so gratifying to see it on video and be like, "Yes! I had hoped that formation change would work" or whatever. I'm looking forward to performing at Froggy's in September. Keeping low expectations all the time is kind of numbing - sometimes I forget to observe, be spontaneous, just dance, or simply live because I have this mindset that if everything is just "so so" then I will never be disappointed. It's nice when something is so good that it takes you off guard and sets new perspectives in motion again.......

Hafla preparations and gitteriness!

weathervanedance — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:10:00 GMT

I am gearing up for the 2nd hafla at EPICA. The first one was an amazing success, exceeding my wildest dreams in terms of turnout, enthusiasm, quality of performances... I think this one is going to be even better because I have a solid performance lineup, added raffle prizes to the mix and have told people to bring their own pillow or chair. I got this idea because this is how it was done at the Vegas hafla and it was so cozy that way. Plus, I won't have to spend hours before and after setting up and taking down 50+ chairs! I still need volunteers, though! This is the one area that I totally slacked off for some reason. Really, I only need like two volunteers - one to manage the door/take money/admit people and another who can be like a stage manager sort of and remind the dancers when they need to be ready to go on stage. If worse comes to worse I will do it myself but of course I'm selfish and want to fully enjoy the fruits of all my efforts by actually watching the performances! I am relieved that my students won't be performing at this hafla only because it took a lot out of me last time getting everyone prepared and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with having to be such a constant cheerleader! Not that I had any doubts, it's just such a big deal to perform and I tried to be available as possible for my students. Anyways, it works out because I've decided to avoid having the same troupes perform at two consecutive haflas in a row so that everyone gets a chance and to keep it fresh for the audience. So yeah, I am manifesting volunteers from now until Saturday...........

Still beaming

weathervanedance — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:07:26 GMT

Three days after the hafla, I am still reeling over how much fun I had and what a beautiful event it was! The studio looked great from the lounge with two long tables full of food, the dressing room, the embossing room where Weathervane Images (Lee) shot portraits, and the dance studio lined with 50 plus chairs! At one point there were 80 people, including my parents whom I never thought would be interested in coming to a hafla! However, it was the bellydancers and their friends who were the majority of the crowd and for whom I have to thank for the turnout, enthusiasm, and great vibes! Karma was THE perfect MC and was very patient as my line-up developed organically since not all the performers were there when we started. But like clockwork, they all rolled in one after the other and the student showcase magically flowed. Laurie, my Sisterhood sister whom I only met that night received people all evening long and never seemed to need a break even when we offered one. How did I get so lucky to draw such amazing, giving people? She' and Sol Y Luna were magical in their dynamics with eachother and the audience. Tonantzin - you rock with your crazy hips! The crowd was captivated by the intimacy of the performance and Sol's rendition of "Hotel California" even had my mom grooving out. There are some pictures posted on .tribe but still others can be found at my website: www.weathervanedance.com in the "Gallery" section (along with several others from past parties, studio shoots, etc.) The next one is being planned for sometime in March. Stay tuned!

I'm getting there - my website is up and running!

weathervanedance — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:33:29 GMT

I never thought knowing HTML coding would come in handy. My website has a place in this universe now! It is at http://www.weathervanedance.com It's such a baby - very simple and not all the links work yet. I'm getting there! But I'm excited! p.s. Lee gets credit, too for the photos and designwork.

Hafla in Conejo Valley, Saturday 1/19/07

weathervanedance — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:33:56 GMT

Finally a date has been set! My original hafla in October was postponed, but now it's on for real! My students are in the works of rehearsing outside of their normal class time and they will do two choreographies. I am trying to encourage other local teachers to have their students do performances as well so that it will mostly be a student showcase, but I hope She' will perform, too! I'm very excited (but nervous too)! Bookmark Saturday 1/19/08 in your calendars for an evening of food, fun, drink, music and more importantly dance!

Monthly hafla once a month in Conejo Valley?

weathervanedance — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:38:40 GMT

I am big-time wanting to do a monthly hafla here in Thousand Oaks since my trip to Las Vegas where I was inspired by those Vegas bellydancers and their halfa! It was so much fun and so inspiring to see so many people (men and women) dancing. What's more, UNMATA performed their pony play as a late-night special..... and that was truly mind-blowing if not otherworldly! Anyyways, back to my hafla. I want to do it every second Saturday of the month starting October 2007. There are a few key purposes I hope to achieve with this hafla: 1. Give all the belly dance students in the Conejo Valley an opportunity to perform more often 2. Bring on guest dancers and/or troupes (obviously She' would be one I hope to woo...) 3. Give us SO Cal dancers another excuse to get together, bond, create, collaborate, etc. etc. Thoughts???

Classes - Belly Dance

weathervanedance — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 06:20:04 GMT

Tuesdays, 6:45-7:45 pm: Intermediate-level class focusing on choreography and veils. Lately I have also been playing the doumbek for my students and teaching them short combinations to which they dance to the beledy rhythm. This has become a favorite part of class; I especially love playing at different speeds (which they probably hate), but it's challenging and out-of-the-norm (which I love). Wednesday, 6:45-7:45 pm: Beginning-level class focusing on learning the basics, a lot of drill work, and a heavy emphasis on cardiovascular activity. This is my "forget the gym, get your workout here" class. My students have fondly called me "drill sergeant" in this class because we do one move after another, drill, constantly move, and get a good sweat going. I love both classes and all my students for their commitment, perseverance, and sheer enthusiasm if nothing else. Both classes are taught at EPICA, 840 Mitchell Road in Newbury Park. They are both ongoing although I group them in six-week series so that the focus changes and new choreographies are introduced.