Turning Over a New Leaf
and after a long hiatus.. I'm back!
After processing a lot of changes, I'm happy to be back in the blogosphere, now dedicating almost 100% of my time to dance and my studies about gender issues and culture.
One very exciting new thing in my life is my involvement with the genius of Ahmet Luleci. He is the director of Collage Dance Ensemble; an award winning dance company - and an internationally renowned master dance instructor.
I also continue to be proudly involved with my dear friends Karim, Nina and Lauren-Michelle in Bellydance Overdrive. We should be doing a Boston show this Fall, and I could not be happier about it.
And I also gotta tell you all about this:
I just returned from a trip that pushed me in every way to change and improve.
I spent 2.5 months in Brazil, and 0.5 in Argentina - mostly studying dance, but also learning Portuguese, exploring the local cultures (dance and otherwise) and traveling around to see how amazing the South American landscape truly is.
I need more money to do that for several years at a time.
And I had no idea I would be able to do, see, and learn as much as I did.
I'm still working on organizing the photos from my time in Brazil and Argentina, but I can begin by saying that dance there is totally something else, that I could not have asked for better dance teachers, better friends and a better time.
I was lucky to have so so so many generous enablers!; people that helped my dance and travel dreams come true during that time. For all their help I am so grateful!
Thank you Claudia B., Dalva O., Ana Karina, Rodrigo, Salvador, John, Marita, and Lulu for hosting me in your houses.
Thanks to Betty, Fabiano, Adilson, Aline, Rafaela, Beto, Marcelo, Igor, for offering your friendship!
Thanks to all my teachers for their lessons and corrections (Amir - I am finding the subtle ;D) --)
And thanks to Zelly-Belly, my Sao Paulo accomplice who is the best friend anyone can make while traveling alone (resourceful, multi-lingual, generous, smart, helpufl, kind, funny, easy going, cool, etc etc etc..)
All these folks are stamped in my photo/video diary, which maybe in a few more months will be completely online and linked to this blog.
About my dance studies:
In Brazil I studied at Lulu Sabongi's Academy, primarily with her- as well as these other amazing dancers, who are instructors at her school: Munira, Jade, Juli and Amar. I thank them for their generosity and just overall coolness. Especially Lulu, who shared her video library of 25 years of research in the dance, with me - who took me to her house, introduced her beautiful family to me, and taught me so much - Thank you pretty lady.
In Salvador de Bahia, I studied Afro-Brazilian, Religious dances and Silvestre (Afro-Modern) Technique with one of the most amazing teachers I have ever had - Vera Pasos at the Escola De Danza, ran by the local Bahia government. I wished I had more time with her. I don't have words to describe her concentration, power and strength.
In (freezing cold) Argentina I met up with US based teacher and friend Amar Gamal and took a workshop with her and Saida (who is such a beautiful dancer! oh boy!) and whose mother Joumana was so helpful. I thank her for her help and friendship. And yes, those amazing costumes that Saida wears are made by her super talented mom. I also have to thank Leo (Saida's husband) and Mario Kirlis, for the car rides and help.
I also took 4 classes at Prince Amir Thaleb's beautiful school in Buenos Aires. I met his lovely sister, took a class (each) with 3 of the instructors that teach in his school, who are amazing (Yael, Yousef and Jonathan).
I am soo impressed by their methods, the rgurous training that is required in their school before dancers perform, the emphasis on cultural an folk dance that gives the dance it's history and correct meaning, the serious artistry and high level technical example of the teachers.
It may sound like I am exaggerating, but I guess only someone who dances and goes see on their own - can understand what I mean.
And also, people like me, who struggle here to teach and perform will be so impressed by the level of the students in these schools (the US is at such a poor level, it is depressing to be back here with so very few options of people to learn from, to be completely honest) - and by the many performance opportunities that dancers have there. Specially, not in clubs and dingy restaurants where people are trying to stuff dollar bills in your bra (why do dancers accept this!! grrrrrr!!), and your veil is landing in someone's plate - but in theaters and staged open venues where the dance is shared with an increasingly educated and appreciative audience that treats it the way it should be treated.
Some of my days in Argentina were also spent in bed, with a really bad cold and I thank my friend (of now 16 years!) Salvador and his roommates John and Maria Fernanda for taking care of me, calling the doctor twice, feeding me... thank you thank you thank you!!!
***
Another new thing I just did is get a my space page, and re-activate my orkut, since all my Brazilian friends are there (oi gallera!!). So go find me and add me!! ;-)
I'm also working on making my dance website more useful.. wish me luck.
Kisses
RU
After processing a lot of changes, I'm happy to be back in the blogosphere, now dedicating almost 100% of my time to dance and my studies about gender issues and culture.
One very exciting new thing in my life is my involvement with the genius of Ahmet Luleci. He is the director of Collage Dance Ensemble; an award winning dance company - and an internationally renowned master dance instructor.
I also continue to be proudly involved with my dear friends Karim, Nina and Lauren-Michelle in Bellydance Overdrive. We should be doing a Boston show this Fall, and I could not be happier about it.
And I also gotta tell you all about this:
I just returned from a trip that pushed me in every way to change and improve.
I spent 2.5 months in Brazil, and 0.5 in Argentina - mostly studying dance, but also learning Portuguese, exploring the local cultures (dance and otherwise) and traveling around to see how amazing the South American landscape truly is.
I need more money to do that for several years at a time.
And I had no idea I would be able to do, see, and learn as much as I did.
I'm still working on organizing the photos from my time in Brazil and Argentina, but I can begin by saying that dance there is totally something else, that I could not have asked for better dance teachers, better friends and a better time.
I was lucky to have so so so many generous enablers!; people that helped my dance and travel dreams come true during that time. For all their help I am so grateful!
Thank you Claudia B., Dalva O., Ana Karina, Rodrigo, Salvador, John, Marita, and Lulu for hosting me in your houses.
Thanks to Betty, Fabiano, Adilson, Aline, Rafaela, Beto, Marcelo, Igor, for offering your friendship!
Thanks to all my teachers for their lessons and corrections (Amir - I am finding the subtle ;D) --)
And thanks to Zelly-Belly, my Sao Paulo accomplice who is the best friend anyone can make while traveling alone (resourceful, multi-lingual, generous, smart, helpufl, kind, funny, easy going, cool, etc etc etc..)
All these folks are stamped in my photo/video diary, which maybe in a few more months will be completely online and linked to this blog.
About my dance studies:
In Brazil I studied at Lulu Sabongi's Academy, primarily with her- as well as these other amazing dancers, who are instructors at her school: Munira, Jade, Juli and Amar. I thank them for their generosity and just overall coolness. Especially Lulu, who shared her video library of 25 years of research in the dance, with me - who took me to her house, introduced her beautiful family to me, and taught me so much - Thank you pretty lady.
In Salvador de Bahia, I studied Afro-Brazilian, Religious dances and Silvestre (Afro-Modern) Technique with one of the most amazing teachers I have ever had - Vera Pasos at the Escola De Danza, ran by the local Bahia government. I wished I had more time with her. I don't have words to describe her concentration, power and strength.
In (freezing cold) Argentina I met up with US based teacher and friend Amar Gamal and took a workshop with her and Saida (who is such a beautiful dancer! oh boy!) and whose mother Joumana was so helpful. I thank her for her help and friendship. And yes, those amazing costumes that Saida wears are made by her super talented mom. I also have to thank Leo (Saida's husband) and Mario Kirlis, for the car rides and help.
I also took 4 classes at Prince Amir Thaleb's beautiful school in Buenos Aires. I met his lovely sister, took a class (each) with 3 of the instructors that teach in his school, who are amazing (Yael, Yousef and Jonathan).
I am soo impressed by their methods, the rgurous training that is required in their school before dancers perform, the emphasis on cultural an folk dance that gives the dance it's history and correct meaning, the serious artistry and high level technical example of the teachers.
It may sound like I am exaggerating, but I guess only someone who dances and goes see on their own - can understand what I mean.
And also, people like me, who struggle here to teach and perform will be so impressed by the level of the students in these schools (the US is at such a poor level, it is depressing to be back here with so very few options of people to learn from, to be completely honest) - and by the many performance opportunities that dancers have there. Specially, not in clubs and dingy restaurants where people are trying to stuff dollar bills in your bra (why do dancers accept this!! grrrrrr!!), and your veil is landing in someone's plate - but in theaters and staged open venues where the dance is shared with an increasingly educated and appreciative audience that treats it the way it should be treated.
Some of my days in Argentina were also spent in bed, with a really bad cold and I thank my friend (of now 16 years!) Salvador and his roommates John and Maria Fernanda for taking care of me, calling the doctor twice, feeding me... thank you thank you thank you!!!
***
Another new thing I just did is get a my space page, and re-activate my orkut, since all my Brazilian friends are there (oi gallera!!). So go find me and add me!! ;-)
I'm also working on making my dance website more useful.. wish me luck.
Kisses
RU
posted by Meivelous at 2:07 PM
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