Yeah well, just don't tell him I went out drinking and dancing with Richard LaParimitiere and Jerome Blake one year :lol: :devil:

Those videos sound cool - I would love to hear your reviews.

I may try to look for those other two Dolphina videos when I am down in the U.S.

We were at the hotel party with Peter Mayhew Firday night at Celebration and we have pics with him...I swear he was more excited about that than sex! lol
He has tons of pics of me in the costume contest with Anthony Daniels and Warwick Davis...he was so excited about that...he showed them to everyone.
Aphil

Cool :cool: Sounds like the party was a lot of fun. Peter Mayhew seemed like a really nice person too! :)

The funniest part of the party was some of our pictures of some of the 501st members drunk laying out on the hallway floor of the hotel...it isn't every day you get to see and take pictures of "on the floor drunk" stormtroopers! :lol:
Yeah, Peter Mayhew was really nice, and I am so impressed at how respectful SW fans are...everyone waited patiently in line to see the "big ticket" starts like Carrie Fisher, and the smaller stars were totally able to walk around and go to the parties without being mobbed all night. Everyone was great-and treated them like one of their pals-no need for body guards or anything.

Hee, Hee...yup you don't often get to have drinks with Stormtroopers! :lol: The guys from the 501st were great!

I had a great time there and most of the people were really nice. They just seemed to be so exited to be there! It was a lot of fun and I am hoping to be at the next one.

Hey ladies!! Thought I'd jump in here. I've toyed around with the idea of bellydancing. I bought a video about six or seven months ago & used it once. Now it's collecting dust along with my others. After reading this thread, I think I'm gonna start using it again. I can't think of the name of it but Janine Rabbitt is the instructor. Do any of you use this one? I haven't read the enitre thread... would take me forever to do it!!! ;)

Hi guys I am fairly new here but I thought I would jump in since this is my area :-)

I participate in and work with a bellydancing studio, we do telegrams and we do dinners/renn fairs ....etc etc

Bellydancing can be as hard as you want it to be, its more of a slow burn activity and REALLY tones not only abs but GLUTES. I really don't consider it cardiovascular but I am sure you can do it fast and make it super cardio dance :-)

I reccomend bellydancing because it will make you feel beautiful and confident in what your body can do. Most of all to absolutly feel sexy in a midrift no matter what your size! :-P

natenkayliesmom-Since you are a newer "at home bellydancer" I would first recommend that you get a different video...the best for a beginner would probably be "Magical Motion" by Atea.
The Veena and Neena ones are also very nice, but I would recommend the one by Atea because since you are not taking a class, in her video she goes over the correct form and posture for belly dance-which most do not. It is very important for performing the moves correctly.
I have the Janine Rabbit video-I am sort of a collector of belly dance videos-I have Veena and Neena, Atea, Fat Chance Belly Dance, Alexandra King, Dolphina, Sharqui Bellydance...and more. I have videos ranging from excellent to pretty darn bad. The Janine Rabbit video has a few things that I like about it-her obvious love for the dance, that she shows how to wear a veil and "dance it off" and that she gives a history of the dance in the beginning of the video.
Where I think a better video would serve you is that Janine is not a very good dancer herself-and uses bad posture-which makes it harder to do the moves, as well as more prone to injury. There are a lot of bad habits that you could pick up if you follow her form/posture.
Since you have not read through all of the forum-here is a short breakdown of things we have discussed.

Best beginner videos for learning to dance:
*"Magical Motion" by Atea
*"Tribal Basics" by Fat Chance Belly dance-for tribal style belly dance
*"Basic Dance" by Veena and Neena (from the Discover BellyDance series)

Best beginner video for exercise-these videos are exercise videos that incorporate a few belly dance moves in them, but you are not going to learn choreography, or play veils or zils(finger cymbals) in them.
"Basic Moves" by Veena and Neena (from their Fitness for Beginners series of videos)

Some other basics that we have discussed is that their are two main kinds of belly dance-cabaret and American Tribal Style. Cabaret is what people mostly think of when they think of a bellydancer-most videos teach this style-American Tribal Style uses a more ethnic approach and they dance in groups like a tribe, and wear earthier clothes rather than the sparkly costumes like a cabaret dancer.
To see a cabaret styled dancer-and a great site with tons of information-go to www shira.net and check out her site. To see an example of American Tribal style-go to www.fcbd.com and take a look at Fat Chance Belly Dance's site. :)

When you get more comfortable with one of the beginner videos I mentioned, than feel free to come here and ask about veils, finger cymbals, and other belly dance items we dance with. We know lots of great places to get dance stuff, great cd's to dance to...etc.

Emmaleth-Welcome! Great to have you here! I am Aphil and I study both cabaret and American Tribal Style. I am a costumer for belly dance stuff-as well as other costumes and I work for myself doing that.
As far as the workout side of bellydance-I think it can be however gentle or strenious you want it to be. Some days in class or at home we (or I) do a lot of slow veilwork and lots of drills-working on my technique and form-and for me it is really a toning and strengthening workout then...like with a bolero or chiftitelli rhythm, other times we (or I) do a ton of fast moves/dancing with say a beledi or a siaidi rhythm-and then for me it is very much cardio-I can really work up a sweat. I think it is great in that sense-because it is almost like circuit training-where you are combining the benefits of cardio and strength training-and having a ball feeling like a goddess doing it! I strenght train my full body twice a week-and I feel some days I get JUST as much a strength training workout dancing-the veil in the air provides tons of resistance when you doing the moves-and you are so right about it working your buns and thighs-dancing in the correct form with your knees bent is like doing the worl's longest set of squats! :lol: I think it is wonderful, because I can go slow and easy if I want to-as well as fast and POWERFUL if I want to.
Belly dancing is great for your abs-but in a totally different way than traditional exercises. I work my abs doing traditional exercises for my center abs like crunches and Pilates, but I find that bellydancing with all of the ribcage work REALLY tones my oblique muscles (sides of the wiastline. I am still overweight, but I am really getting a nice definition line down each side of my tummy...now I just need to work my center abs a little more to get the six pack in the center to go with it! :lol:
How did you get started doing belly grams, etc? Do you like it? How do the customer's react? Any good stories?
Aphil

Thanks Aphil for the suggestions. I'll look into those videos & websites!

Ideas, anyone?
 

Hey guys...
My class reunion is in just over a month, and it is for two days. We are having a casual get together at a local bar that Friday night, and then a more "reunion like" get together that Saturday with dinner and all.
For the Friday night bar get together, I want to dress with a touch of belly dance influence...JUST in case I get to feeling frisky and want to shake it on the dance floor...anyone have any suggestions that would look good? I want to still be able to look normal-meaning no sequined bra-but with a touch of dance influence.
I have had a couple ideas-feel free to give me some more suggestions!
black dressy boot cut/flare leg pants-mine are lower waisted, not quite low rise, but lower waisted, with my black chunky heeled boots. I thought of pairing this with a cool 3/4 sleeve choli top and one of the following:
I have a black lacy triangle shaped hip scarf that has fringe around the edges-not coins. I also have a black hip belt that has small cowry shells and silver bells on it. These are dance influenced, but not as "out there" with a regular outfit as a coin scarf would be. (Although I LOVE my coin scarves.)
Any other ideas?
Aphil

well aph
 

I got started doing bellygrams when I turned 18. My mother's side of the family is of turkish decent so I was always familiar with bellydancing, I started dance when I was 2 years old :-)

The studio were I went always asks their long time students to be in their renn troupe and/or do bellygrams (I do both). I dance in middle eastern restraunts mosty, and I always get a very positive reaction. When I get hiried same thing. People always go out of their way to compliment you and try to immitate what you are doing lol. It is a very fun job to have while going to school, whenever I get my degree I plan to help my mentor teach at her school and mabey quit telegrams.

As far as abs go....listen to aph! LoL I have an extreamly flat tummy for my weight....or just in general from bellydancing. Although it is not "rock solid" washboardy in a way that the gym will make it....it is stronger and shaplier. The biggest area would be the glutes by far....you squat the whole time!

:dizzy:

Aphil, I'd just go for it with the coin scarf! Have fun! Reunions are all about getting to know a person again---dressing the part will get the conversation going. It's who you are--go for it!:D

Thanks!
 

Eydie...thanks for the advice! You know, I may just do that...I had planned on taking a sampling of some of the costuming work that I do to the more formal reunion on that Saturday, so that everyone can see what kind of work I do...maybe my husband's stormtrooper helmet, a belly dance costume, and pictures of my competing in the costume competitions....besides, it is always good when you have an "outlandish" occupation to bring something to back it up so they know you aren't making it up! :lol:
For the "bar night" on that Friday...I may just wear the belly dance thing and go with it! I am sure it will start quite a few conversations...:D
Emmaleth-dancing in restaurants sounds like such fun! My teacher lets long time students help her teach the beginning classes, or substitute for her when she is out sick on occasion.
The bellygrams sound fun as well...my husband's boss has hinted around to him to have me dance at one of the Christmas parties...maybe next year when my skills are more refined...I would like to be able to do a sword dance or something really cool before I do anything in front of that many people.
Aphil

Great News!
 

I just got the greatest news!!!!
My instructor has asked me to make some items-curtains, etc. for her nursery-and in exchange she will give me some private lessons!
We talked about it, and she is going to teach me some sword dancing! She also asked me if I wanted some performance experience-because in September the more advanced class is doing a performance and she said she would teach me the routine and I could join them!!!!! :hyper:
I am like totally geeked up about this...my "first" performance...and with a higher class! Yay!!! Now if this isn't a good motivation for sticking with my diet plan and exercise...I don't know what is!
Aphil

Hey all...
I just ordered my top to wear for the performance so I will match the other girls...
Go to www.ganeshabazaar.com and click on "clearance tops and skirts" at the bottom of the menu. My top is Gypsy Top #2, the purple sparkly one with the sheer sleeves.
The other dancers will be wearing the same style tops, in different colors.
Oh...and I just ordered a sword. My husband is going to kill me...wait a minute....his stormtrooper costume I have been working on has cost over $800 so far...and will cost another $300 or so before it is finished...I have something to throw in his face after all. (laughs)
Aphil

Hello Ladies!
I'm new to 3fc and just found this thread. I'm a belly dance instructor and technical director for our troupe, so I thought I'd join in on this thread. I've been a professional bellydancer since 1989, though I've had 3 kids along the way and I no longer do bellygrams.

I just wanted to let everyone who's "thinking about" or "toying with" the idea of bellydance that this is the most wonderful thing you can do for your body and your soul! It doesn't matter what shape you're in, what size you are (I'm currently waaaaayyy overweight--which is why I'm hanging around 3fc in the first place), what physical limitations you have (I've taught the blind, deaf and even paraplegics to dance).....*everyone* can do this dance. Even if you think you're a "clutz" or have "no rhythm", I've seen women blossom through this dance time and time again. It's been said that the moves in this dance are born into every woman, some just need to dig a little deeper into themselves to find them. I really believe that.

Videos are a wonderful place to start, if you are shy or very far away from a class........but I would urge everyone to take a few "real" classes as well. Videos can never replace the experience of a live class...the good feelings you get just walking in the door can often last the whole week. Plus, videos can't correct your posture, can't accomodate for bad backs or knees, can't judge if you need to advance or try a different style. A good teacher can do all these things, plus add encouragement and friendship! Almost all teachers have their names on the internet somewhere, even if they don't have their own websites. (my troupe's site is at http://desertdancers.tripod.com in case you're curious. If you want to find my picture, you can go to "our dancers" or "classes, advanced")

If you must use videos exclusively, I'll share a little safety hint that I tell *all* my students. If IT Hurts, Don't Do IT!!! Which means, if a move hurts your back......don't do that move. If your knees hurt for days after you practice....something's wrong. This is a gentle dance, and should never never hurt you. Even if you're shimmying till you see God, you may be sore but should never hurt! Not all moves are right for all people. If you're experiencing pain, please find a qualified teacher to see what's going on....or post on here, and I'll see if I can help. Though it's hard to tell anything without seeing just *how* you do a move.

I guess I've rambled long enough....I'll post more later. I'd be happy to answer questions either here or on P/M. And if anyone is having trouble finding a class near them, please let me know where you live and I"ll see if I can find you one. I'm on several listservs for MED (Middle Eastern Dance).

Happy shimmies to all!
Julie/Mira:cb:

Mira-we are SO glad to have you here with us! I totally agree with finding a class and at least taking a few basic lessons if you can find any in your area-because soem videos do not discuss proper form with your back, knees, etc.
I am going to check out your links!
Aphil

edit: Mira, you are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

aww shucks!
 

Thanks for the compliment........but I really can't wait until I lose this **#(@ 80 pounds so I can wear my old costumes again!!
Julie/mira

I know what you mean there...I am at 176, and I am hoping to get between 165-170 by the time of my first performance in September, and get my tummy a little more toned up!
Aphil

Aphil, a word of advice about performances.............enjoy every minute of it! Dance is an ephemeral art form, it does not last! You work and work and work and then it's here and then BAM, it's over! Relish all the sweat and effort you are putting into your performance right now and enjoy the **** out of the day itself! Don't fret about being 5 pounds heavier than you would like, or berate yourself for missing a step or two.......just HAVE FUN! :dancer:

Good luck, and I can't wait to hear about it!
Julie/mira

I have my regular class on Wednesday night, and then I start learning the piece for the performance on Thursday and Friday this week...rehearsals for it with the whole group start a week from today-next Monday night.
I have just finished yet ANOTHER choli top for the tribal workshop we are having in September...so far I have made 5 cholis to vend...and I have some silk veils and bindis as well. I am hoping to get a few pairs of harems and another handful of cholis done by then...the ones I have made for it so far are sage green, blue metallic (cotton/lurex belnd), and red metallic. I have some great fabric in black, as well as turquoise and rasberry metallic. I have made them in short and 3/4 sleeve...I guess I will make the next couple with long sleeves...get the whole variety thing going-all sizes, all sleeve lengths. I hope to have some good sales that day, to make some money to make some more stuff. (laughs)
Mira-what all props do you dance with? Veils and zils are pretty standard-what is your favorite? Do you do any specialty, like cane or sword? What music have you been jamming to lately? I have been listening to a lot of Hossam Ramzy and Natacha Atlas...I just love to hear about what other dancers like to do and listen to!
Mauvais-I am sure that you will be back on the boards soon from your trip to GenCon...I wasn't able to make it due to my brother's wedding over the weekend...but I have seen many pics already and heard all about it! Hope you post soon!
Aphil

Hi again!
Sounds like you've been busy sewing! I do the same thing here in Maine, sew lots and lots of costumes. Sometimes I sell them on Ebay, too, but that's been kinda dead lately. If you go to my troupe's website and click on "our dancers" and "Mirage", I made the purple/silver costume with the shell in the middle. http://desertdancers.tripod.com

I am currently teaching a group sword routine which we'll be performing on Labor Day at our annual workshop. Amaya is coming all the way from New Mexico to teach workshops. She's a super teacher if you ever get a chance to take a seminar from her. I don't much care for veil, though I do teach it because it's always a favorite with new dancers. We zill every class, just because it's nearly a dying art and IMHO every dancer should know how to do it! I've played around with candles and cane and such, but I'm really partial to drum solos. I'm a very technical, hard line, Turkish style dancer and I just love it when I can nail every little beat with a sharp hip :)

Music? Hmmmm, I'm pretty picky about the music I like....it has to be crisp and have drums and not sound like that clarinety--accordiony 70's style belly dance music (like George Abdo and Others from that period) I used to adore Hossam Ramzy, too...but lately I"ve decided that he's a tad monotonous and often drums for his own pleasure, not for the dancer. I've been partial to alot of "pop" songs lately. The new cd "Belly Dance Superstars" has alot of really good rockin' songs on it. Hate the name though! I love just about anything from Omar Faruk Tekbilek. Solace is good, though they've gotten weird lately too. One "old school" musician that I do like is Emad Sayyah.....he's the one who does all the "Best of Bellydance from ______" (fill in your favorite middle eastern country) Again, not very original titles, but he's great because he plays specifically for the dancer. Which means he's easy to follow.

I thought I might give a little info on some videos you gals haven't mentioned (probably because they're not commercially available.......you can't get them at Block buster!) The best teaching videos, I think, are by Suzana DelVecchio and Jillina. They both have series of technique and performance videos on their websites. I also love Artemis Mourat, for honest to goodness "Real" Turkish Rom (Gypsy) style. Suhaila Salimpour has some great videos out, if you like the California style of cabaret (*not* tribal) Most of the easy to find stuff (neena/veena, and the like) is a nice lure into the world of bellydance, but when you're ready to really chew on some solid techniques and choreographies there are hundreds of much better videos out there.

I don't recommend ATS (American Tribal Style--like Fat Chance) videos to people unless they're part of a group that does it together. The whole point behind ATS is that it is *always* done as a group, as a "tribe" of sisters....it has certain "rules" (like every move starts on the right.) so that the tribal leader can "improvise", but really everyone knows exactly where she's going because they know the rulebook. That's why ATS groups always look sooooo tight, there's very little variation.

Geez, I guess I've rambled long enough!:^:

Talk to you later,
Julie/Mira

Hi Mira,
The purple shell costume looked great-very "mermaid-ish!" I love it!
We are having an American Tribal style workshop in September with Jaleela Saleem, and I will be vending there. I vend cholis, harems, and other dancewear items that I make myself, and I am a vendor for A Kai silk veils as well. My instructor is a vendor for Dahlal Internationale-so between the two of us-her with all her hip scarves and finger cymbals and music-and I with a lot of apparel items-we pretty much have everyone covered. I usually make items in S-3X, but I do custom-so if a smaller or larger size is needed, I will make those as well. I designed costumes for my instructor's troupe for a show they had in May, and they turned out great. That was a week that we hade a workshop with Jajouka up in South Bend Indiana.
I make custom designs, as well as cholis-Fat Chance style and wrap style in various sleeve lengths, and I also use some patterns by B.D.Patterns and I like them lot.
I agree about the videos-I usually recommend one that is easily available for a newbie-just to see it they like it-and then I like to either talk them into taking a class and using their videos for home practice, or get them to a more advanced video if there is not a class nearby.
I totally recommend videos by Ruby Jazayre-her site is www.rubyjazayre.com. She is a super lady, and a great dancer-who also does a great drum solo! :D She has some really nice drill videos to really refine the moves. I don't have a lot of actual choreography videos...mostly technique/drills for cabaret and American Tribal Style. (My instructor teaches both.)
I like veil, but I LOVE playing zils...and I prefer doing a faster number with heavy drums and zil playing over a slow pice with veil. I am also really into learning to work with a sword-which I am starting this week! (I also prefer any zils by Saroyan) :D If I remember correctly Mauvaisroux who posts here (she is away for a couple days out of town) likes to work with veil and cane.
I also really love the dancer Laylia from Ohio-she dances with the Naughty Navals at the Ohio Renaissance Festival. Her site is www.laylia.com. What I really like about her is her presence. I have seen some really great dancers, but if they don't intereact with the audience with their expressions and smile-it just isn't as good. I have seen audiences go wild over less skilled dancers who really looked like they were just loving what they were doing, and giving a flirty glance to the audience now and then. I think presence really makes so much difference.
Laylia has that presence...let me tell you. She is flirtatious without being "too much" and she is very approachable, and has even been known to stick out her tongue and act a little goofy in a renaissance performance, and her audiences just love her. I am really hoping to go to Ohio and take a workshop with her in the near future.
I also have the Bellydance Superstars cd...Do you like the Chicky song on it by Oojami? I have the Oojami Belly Dance Breakbeats cd, and if you like that song you would probably like the whole cd. (I hate the name of the Superstars cd as well...hee hee)
Aphil

Hi Aphil! I am back from Indy-had a great time at the con- met a couple of the 501sters again :) I think it is great that these people put so much work and effort into their costumes!

I got meet some of the celebs over the weekend, the LARPS seemed to go well and I heard the costume ball was fun although I was too busy to get there :( The True Dungeon seemed to be a big hit and I hope they have it again next year.

My friend and I are hoping to bring a costume next year and I may bring one of my bellydance outfits. I have some great material set aside to sew some new costumes so that will give me a project over the winter and also inspire me to stay in shape and keep up with my classes ;)

Welcome to everyone new who has recently posted :wave: I am looking forward to getting to know you and chatting about dance with all of you. Belly dancing is one of the most fun, invigorating and uplifting things I have ever tried and I hope all of you who are trying it out for the first time have the same good experiences that I have had.

Ok, I've looked at so many sites and video clips that my head is spinning! I have the Neena and Veena tapes. They start out so SLOW. Am I just being impatient? I'd like to learn this, but I want to learn a fast dance eventually. It seems like almost the whole first tape is turning my head back and forth. Are these the videos I should still be using, or should I be looking elsewhere? I haven't watched the end of the video series, so maybe it gets quicker.

I watched a small clip (very small!) on Ruby Jazayre's site. That looks like so much fun! I like the music, too. It was fast, drummed, and sounded traditional. What type is this?

Thanks for advice - I'm a BellyDance virgin!

Oh HONEY, Get thee a better video!!!!!! Or better yet, a class. I've been teaching for 12 years and the twins and their perma-grins just send the heeby-jeebies down my spine.

If you truly want to learn this dance, you need to get a video from a "non-commercial" source. So many of the top dancers have been seduced by the commercial fitness producers and mass produced videos meant to be sold, viewed once or twice, and then collect dust on a shelf.

There are so many really good instructional videos out there, depending on your personality. There are floaty, "goddessy" , get in touch with your inner woman-ness type videos and there are hard core, just learn the moves so we can sweat together types. There are jazz-influenced videos that are still uniquely middle eastern, there are traditionalists, pure-American......whatever.

I would suggest checking out www.shira.net
This is the best overall view of the belly dance world. She has music and video reviews, and articles about all sorts of stuff....including a page for overweight dancers. And links for dancers webpages all over the world, so you might be able to find a class or two.

If you tell me where you live, I can try to point you to some classes as well. You really can't get the proper attention or outright fun from a video!

Good Luck,
Julie/Mira
http://desertdancers.tripod.com

Yeah, I like the Neena and Veena workout tapes but I haven't used their actual dance instruction tapes.

I use the workout ones as part of my cardio routines.

I like my Dolphina Goddess basic workout tape for reinforcing and refining movements but nothing beats a real class. :cool:

Basically, most beginner tapes like Veena and Neena and Dolphina are pretty basic, and a lot of the moves go pretty slowly-this is because (I think) some of the movements are different, ones that we are not used to doing-the head slides, the lifting up and down of the chest, etc. that they want you to get a feel for the movement.
The Veena and Neena tapes are a "taste" of bellydance-if you don't like it they sit on a shelf, if you DO like it you end up buying more videos or taking a class.
When my first couple of basics classes started, we took movements pretty slowly-hip circles, ribcage isolations, neck slides and circles...because now months later you are doing these same movements while playing finger cymbals, doing fast footwork or moving your hips. There is a lot of layering, so it is best to learn a basic move well and slow for proper technique, and then add on.
I totally recommend the three video set by Ruby Jazayre. Since you are a bellydance newbie, and want to learn the basics, but learn a few faster moves-I also recommend Magical Motion by Atea. It is also very basic moves like snake arms and ribcage slides, but it does some faster hipwork, and shows you how to play a basic finger cymbal pattern.
(I also use ONLY Saroyan brand zils-the Nefertiti ones are smaller and a good size for beginners. Once you have used cheap ones and then get nice ones, there is a world of difference.)
Check out www.shira.net, not only for her video reviews, but for her instructor/class directory and see if there is one near you.
I have the Veena and Neena and Dolphina videos and I like tham both, but I do them as a WORKOUT between classes-not for technique. I have other more advanced ones plus my class for more advanced technique.
I had my regular class last night, and I had my first private lesson this morning, and another one tomorrow morning to learn the piece for the upcoming performance. Rehearsals start Monday night for that, and I need to get up to speed with everyone else. The group I am dancing with is doing a drum piece-song number one off of Hossam Ramzy's Sabla Tolo cd...can't think of the name of it right off hand. I really like the choreography to this one. Very fun. :)
My top came last night as well...I really like it...very sparkly. :)
Now I just need to get some black harem pants in satin and I will be all set.
Aphil

I agree with you Aphil. I am using mine for the summer until my class starts up again in September. And then I will use them as a between class workout :D

Thanks for the advice! I'm going to search these out and see if I can find something that works well for me. Thanks again. :)

I just came back from my private lesson, and learned the rest of the drum solo piece for the show. Now all I have to do is go to the rehearsals, and work on getting everything nailed perfectly and all of the movements/form perfected.
We had a few minutes left over, so then we played around with the sword for a little while...fun, fun, fun!
Aphil

That sounds like fun Aphil!

How do you find if there are any classes near where you live -- I am out on the eastern end of Long Island, NY "The Hamptons"

Thanks -- this sounds like it would be a great addition to my new workout routine and fun to boot.

rho

That reminds me of that old Seinfeld episode...where George gets a "house in the Hamptons." :lol:
Check out www.shira.net on her instructor directory...and you can also call local dance schools and ymca's...places like that and see if they know if any are offered around there. I would try Shira's site first!
Aphil

Thanks -- there is one about 45 minutes away from me according to that list -- I saved the info to check into it later.

:lol: I remember that Seinfeld episode --

Hey everyone!
Updates: I got my Saroyan Scimitar sword recently and I am LOVING it...I also have a new favorite dance cd...it is by a group called "Solace" and the cd is called "The Gathering." I love it-it is very tribal sounding. I am working on a choreography with sword to a song on it called 'Sudan."
I have been dancing a lot lately for exercise and for performance practice, and I have also been doing various tapes-both choreography and technique oriented, as well as more workout oriented tapes/dvds such as Veena and Neena.
Aphil

Your sound sounds très cool Aphil! :cool:

I can't wait - my class starts again on September 20th! :cb:
I have really missed it over the summer.

Yay! I bought some beautiful fabric at an Indian sari store this weekend. It is chocolate brown with a gold paisley type print and a wide gold print along the bottom that shines irridescent pink and green when the light catches it. I am making a skirt and a matching veil out of it for our class performance.

I bet you are glad it is starting up again soon! I have rehearsals and such...but I will be glad in November when my actual weekly class starts up again after her baby is born.
Speaking of that-her baby shower was today...it was to die for. It was held in an upscale Italian eatery...and we had a private room called the Wine Cellar...which looked like a wine cellar with stone walls and everything. Fancy salads with pine nuts, wine, wparkling water and lime...pastas and grilled vegetables...and to finish it off we had berry sorbet with fresh berries and a small Godiva chocolate...it was awesome. Much better than a cake and ice cream/parlor games type of shower.
Only 6 more days until the tribal workshop...I am excited about that-the workshop and vending there both. It will feel great to get back in the dance school for a few hours Saturday...we have two more rehearsals before the show the next weekend, but they are at people's homes and it just isn't the same!
Aphil

Oohhh sounds pretty! I just bought some emerald green sari fabric that has gorgeous designs on it to make a choli out of...I am going to use the pattern band that runs along the one selvage edge of the fabric as the bottom of the sleeves....
I bet that color you chose will look GREAT with your red hair and the snow white skin I hav heard all about!
Aphil