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Costumer's Notes: January 2001
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2001 A Dance OdysseyEvery year we start out with the best of intentions. We vow to loose weight, exercise more and generally work to improve the quality of our lives. This year is no different than others. But, why not make this year's resolutions dance related? They will not only improve your quality of life, but will improve your dancing as well! Make your resolutions fun and exciting, ones you really want to keep like: Vow to attend a workshop every other month. Take a year's worth of six workshops will give you new insights and stylistic influences from a variety of teachers. Intensive workshops can revitalize your dance when you feel you may be stagnating. Attend a weeklong or intensive set of classes. Pick a favorite dancer and take the time out to do a three-day, five-day or weeklong intensive. If you cannot decide on an instructor, pick a destination. If you want to go to New York, attend Morocco's weeklong. Shooting for Hawaii? Why not check out Delilah? Planning a cruise? Arabian Nights at Sea with a collection of instructors like Fatiem of L.A. might be just the ticket. Mendocino Music and Dance camp might be the destination for someone interested in music theory and dance. Make a video date. Take a day, weekend or even a week to really watch every video in your collection. Use this time to review, look at performance tapes, instructional tapes, tapes from contests, even exercise tapes and really pay attention to what you see, what they are doing. Make a list of your favorites so that when dance buddies come over, you know right were to go to find the clip you want them to see. Use this list to get an energizing jolt when your resources are flagging. If you don't have videos, make 2001 the year you start your collection. Catch the latest news. Subscribe to a new magazine, join an organization, or make a weekly or monthly appointment with yourself to read an on-line dance magazine. Catching up on the latest news, tips, reviews and general information will help keep your mind stimulated and your creative juices flowing. Magazines such as Jareeda, Caravan and Habibi all have different points of view. On-line resources are free, check out www.bhuz.com or www.gildedserpent.com are wonderful on-line magazines and great places to start. (You may want to go through all those belly dance links, visit old sites to see what's new, or even cruise around the web and see the latest crop of dance web sites.) Attend a contest. Go out and support your dance community and see some great dancing. Dance tournaments generally have well planned routines, high quality costumes and the latest cutting edge music. This is a great venue for getting fabulous ideas for combinations and costumes. Best of all, most of these contests have vendors. Try Belly Dancer of the Universe in February in L.A., Belly Dancer of the Year in May in the Bay Area, or Wiggles of the West in July in Reno. Build a library. If you are serious about dance, now is the time to get started building your reference library. In the last four years, there has been a small, but interesting, crop of new books on a variety of subjects. If you are into theory and technique, Grandmother's Secrets might make for an interesting read. Making your own costumes? Check out Costuming from the Hip or Turban to Toe Ring. Sponsoring an event? Get How to Put on a Belly dance WorkshopWithout Going Crazy. Talk to your favorite vendor to see what's available. For General reference check out The Belly Dance book. Ask your favorite vendor for available titles. Make a dance date with yourself. Schedule a weekly rehearsal just for you. Put on some music and just have a free-form jam or work through a practice video. Find a performance you like by one of the masters of our art and dance along with them. But, most importantly, take the time to make the dance your own by feeling the movements and just enjoying yourself! Go overseas. This is the luxury of all luxuries. Make 2001 the year you travel abroad to Turkey or Egypt (or both!) There are many tour packages that will provide a knowledgeable guide who will take a group to places of interest for dancers. Ready for the ultimate decadence? Buy a custom made costume. While you are over in the Middle East, visit the shop of one of the major designers at the beginning of the trip, and pick up your masterpiece on the way home. Attend a major festival. Can't afford a trip overseas? See if you can attend one of the annual dance festivals that happen around the country. Buy an imported costume, stock up on music and live and breathe belly dance for a weekend. If you can, call and see if there are performance slots and get out there and dance! Rakkasah is the grand-daddy of them all. Check it out on the West Coast in March and on the East Coast in October. |
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