Venus Uprising Bellydance New York City

SHAKEN MY BOOTY HOME : sarah

I entered JeBon with my costume in hand. As I walked in I was greeted with a sumptuous table of goodies for sale. The beginning of the night started out with a sneak peak of the upcoming Gothic Belly Dance DVD.

Then Blanca gave a wonderful belly dance lesson, it made me want to take class with her all the time. She gave me a copy of her brand new instructional Sensual BellyDance DVD, so I now can take class with her anytime I want! You can also take a workshop with her this weekend. She also performed. I love watching her dance.

The band Djinn cranked out its unusual musical flair. Check the out each week at JeBon on weds nights. Pete List hooked me up with his brand new CD. Neon gave me the companion DVD, Fluid Precision. Neon also gave me the Samba Reggae DVD because I photographed Quenia Ribeiro for the cover.

 

I performed. I had been looking forward to the opportunity to performing with Djinn for some time. I performed in the costume that is on my I love Turkish Belly Dance DVD. Melissa came to the performance and she ouued and ahhhed over it. She also sews. Nothing makes me happier to sit with a fellow sewer and chatting over the tales of endless hours of painstaking sewing down little black seed beads. Lucky for me the skirt is so big I didn’t have to worry about the bruise on my leg showing. See previous post for the tale of the injury.
Autumn Ward also performed. She didn’t give me any booty to take home but she sure shook it great there. She is always a treat to see perform. If you missed this performance and you missed her performance at the Venus Uprising show earlier in the month you can go to her website (which features my photographs of her- she is a great model) and find video clips. For the most recent ones from the Venus Uprising show you need to go to YouTube.

At the end of the night I had piles of booty. I happily shook on home with the treasure.

All photos by Kevin Fox of www.weclick.com

RISKING LIFE AND LIMB : sarah

Norhan Sharif is having an upcoming sale. Smart shoppers sneak over a couple of days early and get the good stuff. It eliminates the need for scratching and clawing other belly dance gear shoppers for the prized sparkles. But that is not to say it is free of risks. This injury happened while reaching for a  bejeweled covered top. I was not hampered in anyway, I moved on to the hip scarves with out blinking an eye. It was not until I was gimping home with my stash that I worried about what costume to wear that would cover the black and blue scratch.

KIFM ANONYMOUS? : sarah

Do I need to join Keep It For Myself Anonymous?

I decided to dye up some veils to sell at my upcoming veil workshop. I am really excited about teaching this workshop. What better than to have more veils around.

I spent all weekend over a hot boiling stove and putting my laundry card to the test. I risked it all; scalding water, rainbow colored fingers and battled little old ladies for washing machine time. Reality at it’s best.

When it was all over, I lined up my resulting veils to count up. I made two piles, one for sale and one to comprise of the few treasures I would keep for myself. As I divided up the piles… I realized the only ones ending up in the sale pile would be the ones that I made two of the same veil.

As rational as making money is – somehow my lust for more and more veils seems to override all that logic. I mean really, how many veils do I really need?  Clearly the answer is: Most of them.

Death to the Silent "E" :: Alyra

So, I'll make this quick. I say DEATH DEATH DEATH to the Silent 'E'!! I have had it with this useless letter recently being added to normal words to make them seem somehow either more elegant or antiquated.

Shop vs. Shoppe (it's still a store, but now it's a classy store)
Old vs. Olde (well, it's still old, but now it's fancy old)
Grill vs. Grille (It's still a barbeque, but now you can add $10 onto the entree)
Town vs. Towne (it's still a one horse tumbleweed, but maybe there's still a cowboy)

Ugh!

I'm sick of it. It's stupide, dumbe and a bizarre marketinge technique and all it does is make me spell things wrongge!

There. I've said it. I am at peace now.

Silent E = R.I.P!!!!

AUTUMN WARD - MEDIEVAL BELLYDANCE :: neon

Watching the YouTube clip of Autumn Ward’s “Rose of Damascus - Medieval Bellydance” number from our last week’s Fantasy Bellydance Concert NYC, I recall my initial impression of this gorgeous dance when I saw it in our rehearsals: I am struck by how stylistically solid and modern it is. LOL, not only because in the age of fantasy fiction and arts, “medieval” IS cutting-edge, but also because Autumn’s work is amazing as a combination of technique and flair that will go far. Autumn nailed something that many dancers and amateurs seek - a modern form of original dance expression of superb integrity - free of stylistic “pose,” free of any shallow glitz or of “trying too hard” to showcase technique. It just emerges from the dark and unfolds like a rose - impeccably technical, yet what you notice is expression, not mechanics.

The richness of Autumn’s dance vocabulary transcends any technical style. The overall look and spirit of “Rose” is very earthy, relaxed, and dream-like. The word “tribal” occurred to me, in that Autumn’s “medieval” style (and subtle costuming) easily achieves the original tribal bellydance “ideal” feel of grounded effortlessness and evocativeness - the quality so attractive in many variations of tribal styles, but it also developed this precious quality to where it touched on the ethereal, giving it a very modern edge.
Good job, Autumn - you have something valuable, attractive and innovative on your hands. Your rose will be in demand in many a garden!

And thinking of Fantasy Bellydance in general, what gives it such a “contemporary” flair is that it turns up the volume of evocativeness and eloquence of dance as an act of communication. In an age when communication expectations, as well as the focus on a plot, a story, are so intense, Fantasy Belldyance brings us another step closer to our audiences. Another great thing about it is that Fantasy Bellydance embraces the entire world of technical styles (cabaret, tribal, folk ethnic and fusion dance techniques), encouraging cross-pollination of styles in our gardens.

“Cultivated since antiquity in Central Asia and the Levant, the beautifully perfumed Rose of Damascus was carried from Persia in the saddlebags of returning crusaders, arriving in Europe in the 13th century.”

A DRESS MADE OF LIGHT :: blanca

For years I have had this image of creating a dance costume made of lights. I didn't know when or how but I knew I was going to do it. There was a purpose greater than simply creating such eccentric piece of costuming, though at the time I didn't know what it was. They say that our psyche is ahead of us.

The opportunity first came last year, when I was to represent Aquarius at Sherene's show "Zodiac Bellydance".

As you know, Aquarius rules electricity and loves being eccentric and a bit of a mad scientist, so I quickly set up my lab at home and planned how I would do the whole thing, which manifested pretty quickly. I love the idea of a person being able to plug herself onto electricity and self-sufficiently being able to light the stage, which is also a very aquarian attitude.

The idea evolved further as I worked with CollexArts on our show "Discordia 4.5". The piece became a two-part story: "Sway / Perfect Citizen".

"Sway" starts as a dark creature slowly and seductively crawls towards a white dancer who lies lifeless out in the distance. For the dark creature I used snake-like movements combined with sharp, insect-like moves and a spider-like crawl that creeps very close to the ground. Carefully, the dark creature gets close to her victim, the white dancer, and puts a spell on her, waking her from her sleep. The white dancer responds to the dark creature's commands and with her help she increasingly is able to dance, apparently becoming freer and happier... until the creature stops her in her tracks. Without the dark creature's help, the white dancer collapses. The dark creature approaches her, aiming to steal her life but the white dancer reacts and is able to stop her. The dark creature loses interest and leaves.

Shaken, the white dancer seeks refuge elsewhere, feeling vulnerable and betrayed. From the same place where the dark creature came, a savior appears. She provides comfort and reassurance and gives the white dancer strength to get up on her feet again... but this strength is once again false, she is being moved like a puppet. The piece ends as we see the white dancer collapsing when her new savior abandons her.

"Perfect Citizen" begins in darkness as we read:

"I was quite busy learning the secrets of the Universe
Building an enterprise
Telling people what to do with their lives
Being the perfect citizen
A responsible adult
Being the perfect citizen
Before I even reached nine

The task in front is now to grow up and be a child
... or is it a clown?

I've carried everyone's pain for much too long
I stared at your judging eyes till they felt like home

I say I'm done"

Then we see the dark creature's transformation. Her movements now seem more desperate than creepy... then they seem tired and longing. She stands up and slowly sheds her old skin. As she begins walking back a white skirt appears, floating in midair, reminding us of the white dancer. The dark creature has shed her dark skin and from below gets inside the white skirt as the music intensifies. As she is wearing the skirt she holds an electrical plug and outlet... then there's a blackout.

When the sweet music returns, she lights herself with a dress made of stars... realizing that she doesn't have to manipulate or put others down to have power... she can shine with her own light.

The dark creature is a symbol of that part of ourselves that craves control over our innocent, child-like nature and constantly puts her down through criticizing her, condemning any attempt at creativity, putting her down if she tries to be different. The dark creature is that part that makes you feel that your ideas are silly, that there's no time for play or innocence... it's that part that beats you up mercilessly when you make a "mistake" and it's also that part of us that criticizes others... for when we condemn others we are decreasing our own room for error.

photos: Kevin Fox www.weclick.com

 

FANTASY BELLYDANCE CONCERT:: neon

The Venus Uprising Fantasy Bellydance Concert 2007 took place on Sept.7 and 8 at the Merce Cunningham studios, West Village, NYC, a versatile and vast theater space with top-notch theatrical lighting. It was a landmark event for our creative group that drew a fabulous crowd of beautiful people, fellow artists, friends, fans and strangers. It was incredibly great to see so many of our friends and top NYC artists magically appear, all in one place. It was also the first event of this kind entirely dedicated to the genre of Fantasy Bellydance.

The celebratory mood was enhanced by candle-lit receptions following the shows. On day 1 the reception took place on the 13th floor, with a stunning view of Hudson river sparkling with reflections of city lights and boat traffic. The show also helped our group to bond deeper - although most of us have worked on various joint creative projects for years, a week of tech and dress rehearsals and the inevitable logistical challenges of a live event brought us all closer together.

So what is Fantasy Bellydance? Fantasy Bellydance implies adding a theatrical,
highly imaginative componenet to your dance, to give it an edge that appeals
to modern audiences. Through your movement, acting, costuming, and music you
tell a story, and you create an image that is different from our traditional
role as a bellydancer - the cute sexy entertainer who arrives at a party to
dance for the guests. In Fantasy Bellydance, dance is your language, but the
essence of your act is the fantasy image you are creating, the story you are
telling.

Venus Uprising and guest artists who generously contributed their talents
to this remarkable event include Autumn Ward, Ayshe, Blanca, Jeniviva, Maiiah,
Neon, Sherene Vismaya, Sarah Skinner, Tanna Valentine, Tempest, Sarah Murphy,
Isis.
Among the stories / images / motifs created through our dances:
Angel (Tanna Valentine - fan veils)
Peacock (Tempest)
Serpent (Neon)
Amazon and Sorceress (Ayshe and Blanca)
Goddess Isis appearing as a Serpent (Isis)
Vampyre Queen (Jeniviva)
the Absynthe Fairy (Jeniviva and Maiiah)
medieval /Silk Road bellydance (Autumn Ward)
Mata Hari (Sarah Skinner)
Lakshmi (Sherene)
manipulator of minds and souls morphing from predator to an icon of innocence (Blanca)
and others.

Three numbers featured in the concert, "Initiate Amongst the Forsaken" (Ayshe with Blanca and Sarah Murphy) , "Mata Hari" (Sarah Skinner and BellyEssence) and "Amazon and Sorceress" (Ayshe with Blanca / Adrienne ) will also appear in the "Gothic Bellydance - Revelations" DVD (World Dance New York, October 9, 2007).

Dear friends, thank you for this opportunity to work with you and to see you as guests at our show - deepest gratitude to you for your support of our work!

See more photos from the Concert Photos by Kevin Fox

VACATION JOURNAL: THE VEIL EXPERIMENT :: tanna

Having recently purchased 3 commercial silk veils, and been quite disappointed in two of them, I decided to take advantage of my mother's large kitchen and outdoor clothesline to attempt to dye my own silk veils.

To that end, I ordered lengths of both 5mm and 8mm habotai (China) silk and an assortment of dye colors from Dharma Trading.

Mom lent me her huge canning pot for my dye bath, and I got to work.  At first it was a lot of fun, rather like dyeing Easter eggs.  3 days and 6 veils later however, it had become slightly tedious.  Still, it was enjoyable overall, and brought back memories of my high school art training - one of my professors was a noted regional fiber artist.

I would classify the experiment as successful, both because I now have 6 custom color-and-length (3.5-4 yards each) veils, but also because I learned a great deal during the process.  My decided preference is for the 5mm silk, and I will use that again in the future.  Although, for the smaller half-circle veils I can see the advantage of the heavier 8mm fabric.

There is quite a bit of dye powder remaining, and I estimate that I can experiment with another 12 veils.  The difficulty will be conducting the dyeing and drying in my one bedroom apartment.  Oh, and the fact that my stove has been broken for about 5 months. 

I ordered the new lengths of silk last night.  I guess it is time to call a repairman for the stove.

CAUGHT in the Act!! Martini Cat:: Alyra

My darling Shebalinga caught in the act of sipping from a left over-Martini. The little sneaktheif!

"Oh, what's this....it could be yummy"

*lick* "Hmm....I think I like it."

"Dry...yes, definitely the way to go. MeeeeeYowwwwzah!"

*lick lick lick lick lick* "I can quit anytime....I don't have a problem"

"BUSHTED?! Reddikewlus! Innoshent byshtander, dats me. Wrong playshe and time, is all.... Yoo kant prove nuffink."

WATCHING WHALE :: sarah

Being a wedding photographer -that happens to be a bit fish tank crazy- makes it thrilling when clients pick the Mystic Aquarium as their location. We photographed this wedding last weekend. It was great fun!

The whale watched the entire service!!! He seemed to be smiling for the camera!

The entrance had an extremely impressive jelly fish tank.

During the reception I was in heaven taking photos of the massive anemone tank that was the focal point of the room.