Wooden Zills!

Find them at magus-obeiro.com.

Custom Hip Scarf and Headband

 Melissa raqs it customized.

Check out the quick tutorial posted on How to Custom Fit a Hip Scarf post at Belly Dance at Any Size.
~N

Bloglovin

I'm moving my favorite blog feeds from Google Reader over to Bloglovin thanks to Crystal at Straight On Till Morning.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

~N

Said the Universe

I was approached by Naia of Malaika Dancers about teaching between semesters at her studio, to which I hemmed and hawed without giving her a definite answer. A month or so later Miss Bee of Phenomenon Studios asked me to teach weekly at her studio. I figured they must both be completely desperate or the Universe is trying to tell me something. 

So I took the "should I teach?" question to the Husband Person knowing he is aware that I have become a Bellydance hermit, beading costumes that never seem to get finished, frowning at the calendar whenever a dance opportunity shows up and letting it pass by. He said, "YES," I should teach before I even got the whole question out much less listing my pros and cons. To which I was slightly surprised. I thought for sure he would encourage me to stay home with him and use all my free time to finish Far Cry 3 and XCOM. Instead he told me I need to get involved again or my interest in dance would become jaded and shrivel even more. Well, it was a little more eloquent than that but pretty close. And with encouragement from the third (but most important) person, I took the Universe's hint to begin teaching again.

Funny thing is, I immediately begin appling myself to dance again. I have been doing all kinds of practice, exercises, zills and even veil. I've been organizing my notes, making combos, weekly lesson plans, (I'm even blogging about it.) In general, just being excited about dance. I can see now how dancers cut off from the dance community by distance, time, or money can become apathetic and lean toward dropping it altogether.

I am teaching my first weekly Bellydance class in years at Phenomenon Studios, Studio B, Wednesdays at 7:30pm. I hope to add classes at Malaika in sometime in the spring or early summer.

~N

PS As soon as I post this I am playing Far Cry 3...so close to beating it.

Top: Studio B at Phenomenon. Bottom: Naia at Malaika Dancers Studio.

Phenomenon Bounce

A commercial for my homies at Phenomenon Studios featuring Miss Bee.

My Other-Other Hobby

Bookmarks stashed in an old Avon box.

I have been collecting bookmarks since 1986. My collecting has slowed down a lot over the past 10 years, with Bellydance being my primary hobby. Despite this my collection currently stands at 138 bookmarks. I keep them stashed away in a tiny box. I decided to start scanning them and uploading them to the internet making an online gallery of sorts. I have only managed to post 50 because I scan the front and back of each one and re-size them to fit together. Tedious but worth it.

http://bookmarkcollecting.blogspot.com/

~N

Your Kuchi Ain't Shit

These lovely pieces of art are made with genuine polished Moose poo. If Moose poo isn't your thing they've got some really awesome cameos (particularly the butterflies,) brooches, and tons of other crazy, cool, and dead stuff at Where on Earth.

If only I'd found this site before Christmas.

~N

Now: recovering from Christmas holiday.

UPDATED: KNOW YOUR ROOTS
To answer a question from Gypsy, "What is Kuchi?"

Kuchis (from the Persian word Koch meaning "migration"), are Afghan Pashtun nomads, primarily from the Ghilzai, Kakar, Lodi, Ahmadzai as well as some Durrani tribes, but occasionally there may also be some Baloch people among them.^[1] In the local native Pashto language the term is Kochian. - Kuchi people From Wikipedia.org

Rachel Brice

Kuchi jewelry is made and worn by the Kuchi people of Afghanistan. It is most popularly worn by American Tribal Style and other Tribal Fusion dancers and most famously worn on The Indigo's Rachel Brice.

As for the Moose Poo jewelry, it is NOT Kuchi. It's just funny and weird. But it does oddly resemble a piece of Kuchi jewelry nonetheless.

Belly Whisperer Interview

Something cool I found online to make with those little gold safety pins we buy to hold costumes together but that never really work.

My interview was posted over at The Belly Whisperer blog over Thanksgiving holiday. If you haven't checked her out, RetroKali posts good stuff and often. There is actually stuff to read there. Unlike here. I gave up on that years ago...the whole using my big-girl words. In sentences no less. I think it is from taking standardized tests as a kid. They were timed and in order to get through the whole test I learned to be a good skim reader. Now reading a paragraph any longer than the one I'm writing now starts to become tedious. I'm getting anxious just thinking about the people who take the time to read all of this. AHHH! It's not stopping. The paragraph is just getting longer...

Ok, really I just try to catch up on blogs during work breaks. Not enough time. I do like books with just words.

And pictures.

~N

Now eating: Chicken curry
mood: west coast swing

Radio Bastet - Vintage Belly Dance Music

I found a great pod cast style site called Radio Bastet - Vintage Belly Dance Music that features BD music from the 50s-80s. Each cast includes the track info and album art. The sound quality is also pretty good. It's worth checking out just for the album art. Currently, there are 60 programs for your listening pleasure.

~N

Now listeing: Radio Bastet
mood: glazed doughnuts

What Ever Happened to that Gypsy Lady?

Zivah, Naima, and KC - May 09

I previous mentioned one of 2 studios that where going through a transition. One of which is Red Moon Tribe, who I've had the privilage to dance and travel with on many occasions. RMT's director Zivah has had the wonderful opportunity to move with her family to work and live on a homestead here in the Ozarks. You can read about her adventures here at Ten Springs Farm.

When a dancer takes on a new job or moves to take on a new challenge in her life I like to reflect on how many different people lives' the Dance is a part of. Professionals, Journalists, Desk Jockeys, Homesteaders, Programmers, Art Directors, Beauticians, Students, etc. The Dance can really connect all different types of people.

Meanwhile, the 'Tribe' is transitioning into a new phase of leadership and organization, and I'm sure we will see many awesome things from them soon.

~N

Now watching: Triggermen
mood: a gyro

Naima's Bellydance Blog on Facebook

Naima's Bellydance Blog

Promote Your Page Too

So, I've had a FB page for a while but refused to be friends with, well, most of my friends because I wanted more personal privacy than FB could give. I broke down and made a separate fan page for all of my bellydance friends, family, and otherwise. This should make it easier for the folks who prefer this contact method. Although, I really do enjoy telling people I won't be their friend.

Go forth and add me!

BD in Japan

 Random pic from Japan: Naima + Chu-Hi

(I have no BD  Japan pics.)

KC sent me a cool article on the BD scene in Japan. Belly dancing in Japan | CNNGo.com. I keep up on my Japanese BD by follwoing Ozma's blog and Mishaal's site. There are other sites and blogs but these 2 are English and I don't have to decipher with a translator.

In other news, The Husband Person's sister had a baby boy on Mar 30th. We are heading over to the Tulsa, OK. area this weekend to visit.

~N

Now watching: Ah, My Goddess
mood: Chu-Hi

Gallows: A Chamber Opera (Shameless Plug)

My sister is a grad student at Missouri State and has been writing an opera for the past so many months called Gallows: A Chamber Opera. It will be premiering on campas in the next 2 weeks.

Performances: 

          Friday, April 9 & Saturday, April 10

Genre:

Contemporary Chamber Opera

Studio:

Composed by Carly A. Wilburn

Starring:

Briana Adams (Riley), JT Eberhard (Pilot), Stephanie Miller (Nurse), Kayley Olson (Judith), Chris Stanford (Andy), Vicki Stanley (Nicole) and Amelia Lawson (Understudy)

Screenplay By:

Libretto based on the short story by Melissa Brown

Directed By:

Geo Jones

Produced By:

Carly A. Wilburn

Plot Outline:

Gallows is the story of Riley, a 17 year old girl spiraling downward as she struggles to figure out her place in the world with the help of three people who are figments of her imagination.

Gallows: A Chamber Opera on FB

Free Costume Hints and Tips

Random pic: Alia @ Visioncon 2010

There is a Bellydance costume Hints and Tips book available free in PDF from Dawn Devine Brown at http://www.davina.us/publications/hintsandtips.html. Some pretty basic stuff but free!

~N

Now watching: Ah, My Goddess
mood: TGIF (the saying, not the restaurant)

This Thursday - Jordan Through The Ages

Reception - Jordan Through The Ages: An Archaeological Exhibit

Date and Time:

Thursday, March 18, 2010, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location:

Student Exhibition Center

Event Details:

The Student Exhibition Center presents a unique exhibit "Jordan Through the Ages: An Archaeological Exhibit" from the History Department.  The exhibit will be on display from March 19 to March 31, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Tuesday to Saturday.  There will be a reception on March 18, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  The public is invited to attend all dates and any group is welcome. In celebration of launching its first archaeological study abroad program in Jordan, Missouri State will host a multimedia archaeological and ethnographic exhibit.  The exhibit highlights the on-going excavations at Tall Hisban, a medieval Islamic castle site with a Biblical past, and the Northern Jordan Project, an archaeo-environmental project in the northern hill country.  These projects are under the Co-Direction and Direction of Bethany Walker, Associate Professor of Middle Eastern History at Missouri State University.  The artifacts on display come from these excavations and are under study by Missouri State faculty and students.  Collectively they document the journey through time of the peoples of Jordan, from deep antiquity, through the Middle-Ages, and into today’s era. The exhibit is designed by Missouri State students currently studying archaeology and going to Jordan this summer and is co-sponsored by the Department of History of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs, and Phi Alpha Theta, the Anthropology Club, and the Saudi Club, student organizations at Missouri State University. An opening night reception with refreshments and a program will be held Thursday, March 18, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Exhibition Center and is free to the public. Student tours from local public schools are welcome.  For tours and more information on the exhibit, contact the Student Exhibition Center (417-836-6999) or Prof. Walker (417-836-5099).  The Student Exhibition Center is located at 838 East Walnut Street, on the corner of John Q. Hammons Parkway in Springfield, MO.  The center is closed for all University holidays.  Visit our web site or call for more information.

Event Website:

http://sec.missouristate.edu

Event Sponsor:

Arts and Letters, College of

Admission:

Open to current students, future students, family of students, alumni, faculty, staff, community, visitors.

Contact:

Johnson, Lynda C, Dir Student Exhibition Ce at LyndaJohnson@MissouriState.edu or (417) 836 - 6996.

Original post on MSU website  http://calendar.missouristate.edu/viewevent.aspx?EventID=48388&OccurrenceID=94233

Upcoming Springfield Bellydance Events

Friday Mar 12th is Ozark Mountain Gypsy's monthly hafla. 7pm
The Alive and Well Studio
2740 S. Glenstone Suite 105

Saturday Mar 13th is Global Dance Collective's Showcase, which is not posted on their site but I was just in the studio last week and it is on their in-house calendar. I think it starts at 8pm Potluck, Dancing, and Fun!
3165 S Campbell Ste C7
Springfield, MO 65807
417-234-9007

Saturday Mar 13th Greek Night @ Galloway Station. Sa'dia and myself will be dancing 2 sets (9pm and 11pm) for their quarterly Greek night with food, music, and dancing. I believe it is around $7 cover.

~N

Now watching: Twin Peaks
mood: espresso

World Dance: Bali

Balinese dance is one of the most unique and beautiful dances to see. The dancers incorporate their heads, eyes, arms, hands, fingers, and more into the movements. I am fascinated with the way they can flutter their fingers. The music makes me think of an orchestra made out of nothing but wind chimes. Here are two videos of dance followed by some links for you to learn more about how Balinese religion and dance developed and are practiced.





Learn more about Bali here and check out the National Geographic special for free on www.hulu.com - Bali: Masterpiece of the Gods

Visioncon 2010

Wow, Cobra Commander is damn tall! - Visioncon 2006

(Those are Harry Potter costume glasses I'm wearing.)

Springfield's gaming, sci-fi, fantasy convention, Visioncon, is Jan 22-24, 2010. According to the con schedule bellydancing is scheduled for 12pm on Saturday. I will again be a volunteer and working at the registration desk. There is also a possibility I may participate in the Friday night Charity Slave Auction.

Also, my super secret "performance art" project will be revealed during this year's con. It is not BD so it will not appear during the BD hour. The schedule for this performance has been up in the air. And even though I got conformation today on when it would be, I am going to wait until it is set in stone before listing the time for it here.

Hope to see you there!

www.visioncon.net/

~N

Now watching: Samurai Champloo
mood: no more headache, please

Happy Hedonistic Holidays

Here is the clip of Tanya Lemani dancing in the Star Trek episode Wolf in the Fold. I thought it would be fitting since her costume looks like Christmas tree tinsel. I also get a kick of bellydancing being associated with a "hedonistic society". They even imply all of the women there are prostitutes. Way to go 1960's stereotypes!

I hope you all are having a "Hedonistic" Holiday without getting into too much trouble.

http://www.tanyalemani.com/

~N

Now playing: The Guru
mood: spiced cider

If I had $60

3-DVD Package Deal!!
Buy all three together & save!
Also sign up for the free teleconferences for the DVDs you buy

BONUS: INCLUDES BALADI, MODERN ORIENTAL & CLASSICAL ORIENTAL TELECONFERENCES(ONE CONFERENCE FOR EACH DVD)

SPECIAL: FREE PERFORMANCE DVD WITH PURCHASE OF
3-DVD INSTRUCTIONAL PACKAGE pick one performance DVD "Layali Lafayette" or "Live at the Hookah Lounge" as a bonus gift

That's 4 DVDs AND you get free teleconferences with each teaching DVD where you call in to a mass virtual meeting to discuss the DVDs with Ranya. How cool is that?
http://www.ranya.net/shop.html DVD page
http://www.ranya.net/dvdinfo.html Teleconference info

~N

Now watching: Jpop videos
mood: dark chocolate coffee anything