RIP Peter Steel

Peter Steele

1962-2010

I don't normally make posts like this but the front man of one of our favorite bands, Type O Negative, died yesterday. This time for real. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/15/entertainment/main6399206.shtml

~N

mood =(

Gingerbread Coffin

pic by Jen squared

An email I received:

"I have been reflecting on Em's dance (I'm calling it the Gingerbread Doll dance, or GDD) for two days, and I think I've finally pulled my thoughts together enough on it to articulate.

The costuming, the mask, the black light were all fantastic -- no doubt -- but what made that dance such an amazing example of "dark fusion" or, well, just of dance in general is that even if there were NO props -- no wind-up key, no scary mask -- it would have been clear from her MOVEMENTS what she was conveying. If she had come out in a black leotard and tights and done the exact same dance under hot stage lights, I would have known what she was trying to say with it.

It was her BODY that did most of the talking -- the emoting, the storytelling. And that's what we strive for as dancers. Sure, I saw other dances that told a story, but they relied too much on costuming and make-up and didn't let enough of the dancing come through to articulate everything.

Even though I know Em will say she didn't have a particular emotional message w/ this dance, I saw one, because she told her story and let the details do the work. This is what we learn to do in writing: set the scene, give copious detail, and the reader will discern the emotional intent.

I felt the way I did when I first saw B's Chair Fusion: that everything was just so intentional, so meant to be there. Even if y'all, as dancers, didn't feel that, it was there because you HAD such intent toward the piece.

OK, so you probably want to know what emotions I saw in GDD: confusion, a sense of being in flux or trapped between two worlds, a sense of being "pulled" reluctantly in a certain direction, but resisting, a sense of being a kind of automatron, or wind-up doll, of course, forced to move through life without benefit of doing so with one's OWN purpose and intense physical reaction to all of that, but again, without have your own control of that reaction. Someone else is pushing the buttons; you're following someone else's agenda.

That's what the dance showed me, and I think everyone has felt that way and needs to reflect on those kinds of things through art. We've all been automatrons; we've all been pulled somewhere without being cognizant of it."

Wow.

I mean...

WOW.

I'm not really sure how to comment. I should probably "retire" from BD now. I don't think I could top that, LOL.

Wow.


pic by Jman

pic by Jman

For your reference, Gingerbread Coffin by Rasputina

We found an old doll that was out in the grass,
She had special powers, we said a Black Mass.
We sat in a circle all holding hands. The
Doll-bed held together with old rubberbands.

She'll rise,
she'll rise,
she'll rise...

Oh, Lay her down in her gingerbread coffin.
She's so pretty all layed out in white.
Lay her down in her gingerbread coffin.
When we need her, she'll rise to the light...

We looked down at the ground and into her eyes.
Passed around an old teacup filled up with dead flies.
Surprise, surprise!
Were brought but not used, a collection of knives.
We'd remember this moment for all of our lives.

She'll rise,
she'll rise,
she'll rise....

Oh...

Oh...

Oh, Lay her down in her gingerbread coffin.
She's so pretty all layed out in white.
Lay her down in her gingerbread coffin.
When we need her, she'll rise to the light.

Lay her down in her gingerbread coffin.
It's a flickering, beautiful sight.
Lay her down in her gingerbread coffin.
When we need her, she'll rise to the light.

Now playing: Bram Stoker's DRACULA
read by Christopher Lee, Adapted by Russ Jones, Illustrated by Alden McWilliams,
Music by Dennis Rogers

Mood: tootsie rolls (my favorite Halloween treat!)

Hips Noir @ Ground Xero

More later...

Read My Hips in Springfield, MO.

Red Moon Tribe is Thrilled to host their Third Annual Tribal Style Workshop Weekend and Show Featuring:

Read My Hips

Saturday & Sunday, October 11th & 12th, 2008
at Ground Xero
1109 E Commercial
Springfield, MO. 65803

Workshop hours will be 9:00am to 4:00pm both days, with three different classes to choose from. Red Moon Tribe will be hosting a fabulous pre-party, The SnakeCharmer Soiree, on Friday evening, October 10th, as well as the gala fusion bellydance showcase, Hips Noir, Saturday evening at 7:00pm.

Click Here for Workshop Details

Fusion Fest II info

Kimono style dress made from a king size bed sheet = $12

Corset belt worn inside out on clearance = $3

Dude with mohawk asking if we'd like to borrow the full size coffin from the hearse parked outside for "ambiance" = priceless

Now playing: Aeon Flux animated collection

mood: Stouffer's meatloaf

Got a workshop flyer for the Kansas City area for Tribal Fest II, Mar 29-30th. Follow this link for info http://www.laylabintali.com/ .

Gothla

Are you Goth?

Are you a Bellydancer?

If you're are a Gothic Bellydancer you may be interested in Gothla, a gothic fusion dark bellydance festival going on in February.

You don't have to be a Gothic Bellydancer either. I'm just poking fun at those bad singles' line commericals.

---------------------------------------------------------

Now watching: Farscape more season one
mood: pineapple whip (a tasty summer time frozen snack)

I did some filming last night and it really sucks. Not the content but the filming. I am doing the videos by myself with my home video camera. I think I'm going to try again in a different location and see if I can get a better video overall.

~N

Why We Like Sashi

Why we like Sashi...Here she is performing with "pierced wings" a combination of tribal fusion and piercing the skin found in ritual dance. People gave her crap for doing something so "vulgar" in a BD performance. But I believe if no one experiments, mixes the new and old, nothing will ever evolve. Will you ever see me dance with piercings? Heck no! I'm a wuss! Don't forget Sashi will be back in Springfield next weekend for a Gothic BD workshop. Check out AraceniaDesigns.com for info.

Now playing: the Cure – Japanese Whispers
Mood: nothing much, really

So I’ve been having trouble with my female parts, more so than normal anyway.

Yea! What a way to lead into a post! Giving you the opportunity to turn back now! This post has nothing to do with Sashi. I just kinda mashed it all together. Wham Bam Thank You Mama.

Well, not bad trouble. I mean who likes having their period. But anyway, long story short, I have only had one period in the past year. Meanwhile, I’ve been to the Dr. and had lots ‘o blood tests, a PAP and pelvic exam, and an ultrasound. All of my parts are in order and most of my tests came back clean. I have elevated androgens causing super oily skin, acne, hair growth (in not so fun places as if I were a 14 year old boy going through puberty,) grumpiness when I don’t eat, gaining weight around my abdomen, and little to no periods. Now I am going to an Endocrinologist to try and figure out why my hormones are out of whack. As I said, my tests came back ok, but my Dr. has explained I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and has decided to treat me similar to those with insulin resistance. It seems my glucose/blood sugar and insulin levels are ok, so I’m not hypoglycemic or diabetic, but if I am insulin resistant my cells aren’t using the insulin properly. Which can lead to other wonky stuff like elevated androgens that can in turn mess up my female parts and equal PCOS.

The one and only time my cycle was normal was the 4 years I took birth control pills and was a complete and utter PSYCO BITCH! And even scarier I didn’t know it. They also gave me migraines. But aside from that, if you have ridiculous mood swings (like psychiatric style,) yell and cry for no reason, your relationship with your significant other has greatly deteriorated, headaches and such ALL OF THE TIME you are most likely taking birth control and are a PSYCO BITCH! <- personal opinion from personal experience, must be capitalized for emphasis. I stopped the birth control and “woke up” from my PSYCO BITCH haze. Not to say you should do that, but if you have checked off most of the things on the “What is a PSYCO BITCH according to Naima,” then maybe you should get a second opinion.

So I’m rambling now. I wanted my next post to be a dance video clip but I played Xbox360 instead of filming. I started a new character on Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Wee Hoo!

I am on day 3 of taking this new medicine Metformin. I asked my Dr. if it would make me a PSYCO BITCH. He said that the number one side effect is diarrhea. And I’m like, “Bring me some Gatorade and bring it on!” ‘Cause I mean really, diarrhea is way better than being a PSYCO BITCH. It has made me feel slightly different but I couldn’t tell you how, just different. I have also noticed waking up from dreams a lot. Normally, I just wake up and have no recollection of dreaming, but all 3 nights every time I’ve woken up I remember dreaming. Can’t remember them now mind you, but it is a bit out of the ordinary.

Go here to learn about PCOS in a way that my blabbering just can’t provide.

Today is my hubby's 30th birday. Must go now =)

~N

Sashi Workshop in Springfield

Sashi will be in Springfield, MO the weekend of Dec. 29th for a Gothic Fusion workshop.

Get info at Aracenia Designs

Sashi Pics 'n stuff

Pic of Sashi 11/16/07

Now playing: Mankind is Obsolete – Trapped Inside
Mood: French onion soup in a sour dough bread bowl, hot tea with honey

I have the hacking crud…AGAIN!
Since last Monday.
Don’t ask. I don’t know. I’m just crawling with disease. Please shoot me.

Sashi was fab this past Saturday. Ananya and I spent time on the phone trying to figure out how to put together some costuming for Sashi because her luggage was lost by the airport. But alas, it showed up and the day was saved. Good thing too, ‘cause Naima and Ananya size is not “one-size-fits-Sashi.”




Seeing her dance with the vinyl face mask was both creepy and really cool. It made you really focus on her eyes. It reminded me of wearing beak-like masks similar to the one worn by Helene Eriksen (sorry, can’t find a pic) for a Persian number and you could make all kinds of distorted faces and frown and no one in the audience could tell. I was able to see the heavy ATS influence she has along with her gothic fusion style. Comes from studying in California I bet.

Maharet was there too. She and her husband just closed on a new property and she is pretty sure she is going to change the venue for my May workshop to this new place. It will save her lots ‘o monies. If so, I will post it once details are solidified.

Here is a random BD event I got in the mail, spread the love…

· Dec. 1st, 2007, Open House @ Cartouche’s Belly Dancers’ Garage
1344 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, KS., 12pm-5pm.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Remember to give thanks bellydance is in your life.
Do a little dance. Eat a little turkey. Take a little nap. Have a little pie…ok, lot of pie. Do a little dance…

You get the idea.

~N

Memorare

(photo of Gita by Raven at Springfield BD Meetup)

Now playing: Fiona Apple – When the Pawn…
Mood: Lamberts …fried okra, country fried steak, throwed rolls, mmmm

I went to Gita’s memorial Saturday. I saw some old friends.
Haleema said, “We should stop meeting like this.”
Very true.

The memorial was very nice, but I was crying within the first 5 minutes and ended up out in the lobby for most of it. I cry very easy and then my head puffs up for the next 24hrs. I can watch a sad movie on TV and the next day it looks like my husband beat me by the way my eyes get red and puffy.

Later in the evening there was a celebration of life party which was much more light hearted. The family put together a slide show and video of Gita which was super neat. The pics from the 40s and 50s were particularly fun. Then of course there was dancing. After which I left to go to work at the club. There were some oldie but goodie numbers some of the girls danced to. I will have to dig through my music again. OH! And I swear I will beat Jemina up for her dresses one of these days. And I know she reads this…You better keep watch over your shoulder.

This weekend Sashi of Ascend will be at Ground Xero (1109 E Commercial, Springfield, MO) on Friday, Nov. 16th for Blotmonath IV. Cover is $7, 21+ only. Check her out here:

Ariellah Highlights

pic: Ariellah and the coolest mask ever.

(This post was written almost two weeks ago. I finally am on the same computer as the pics so I can upload them.)

Now watching: V for Vendetta
Mood: homemade yeast rolls hot out of the oven with melted butter

Friday night’s Snake Charmer Soiree had a bit of a late start but had a lovely turn out. There was a shimmy contest, costume contest, and tons of dancing. Most people stayed until after 11pm. Quite a few of my dance friends came to GX for the first time that night. I myself didn’t get out of the club and in bed until 4am. Five hours of sleep later I was up and dressed heading to the Ariellah workshop. It was in a nice clean carpeted room at the Baymont near the airport. I made it a point to try and stay far from the vending so I wouldn’t be temped by things I couldn’t afford. Ariellah started us off with some core strengthening yoga and drills.

AAHHH! Hold on….just dumped frappuccino down my shirt…looking for napkin…Ok, anyway…

You wanna know what sucks? Tribal arms. You know, with your elbows “up”. Holy cow, I suck at them. Well, I mean, they look good, but only for the first 30 seconds or so until the intense fatigue sets in. Aside from that, I feel I have pretty good form considering I’m pretty out of shape for such a muscular based BD style.

We broke for lunch and when I went to the bathroom I noticed the front of my right thigh was numb and tingling as if it were asleep. It initially freaked me out because I hadn’t noticed it at all until the motion of pulling my pants down over it gave it that weird prickling that happens when your foot falls asleep. I must have pinched a nerve during the morning exercises. I decided to sit out for the second half of the workshop and just take notes and within five minutes of sitting there I started to doze off. So I snuck out the back and went home for a nap before the show that night.

The show was much better than the one last year. And, I was able to get more workshop time the next morning when Ariellah taught another choreography. I sat it out though because my leg was still numb. Actually, it is still kind of numb today but not nearly as bad. (editors note: numbness lasted about a week. It is gone now.) As usual, my pics are crummy. If any of you want to buy me a camera with more than 4.2 pixels I promise to take better ones. I prefer Sony, btw.


Saturday, after the show, some of the ladies came back out to GX and had a grand time. I am posting a few pics but will leave off the names, LOL! It did feel kind of weird just to stand back and watch everyone have a good time, but in reality, I was working. I was there to clean tables, keep an eye on the trash, make sure no one walks out the door with an open container, help out the bartender, wash dishes, etc. Not so much to hang out and party.

(Wow, I guess I didn't finish writing this post. It just kinda stops, huh? Oh well.)

~N

Sashi at Ground Xero

(click pic for bigger flyer)


Now playing: bass that makes my bowels jiggly
mood: apple juice

Sashi of Ascend Tribal Dance will be performing at Ground Xero on Friday, Nov. 16th for Blotmonath IV. Cover is $7, 21+ only.

Sorry, for not getting the Ariellah workshop post up. Every time I am online (like now) I am not on the same computer that my pics are on. Maybe tomorrow...

~N

ps. I think my Frappr map is wonky. hmmm...maybe it will pass.