Venus Uprising Bellydance New York City

CULT OF MYTH - PHOTOS! :: neon

Dear friends, thanks to each of you who joined us for the CULT OF MYTH - A Fantasy Bellydance Concert NYC April 25 & 26!! And MUCH LOVE AND GRATTITUDE TO ALL ARTISTS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHOW!!!! The house was sold out on both days. Thank you for helping us make this event such a success!

Here is a link to a collection of photos from THE CULT OF MYTH - A Fantasy Bellydance Concert - enjoy!
All photos are by Kevin Fox.

And this link will take you to a collection of photos from the Venus Uprising Saturday's reception that followed the show.

Zobeida in "Emergent" - choreography, costumes: Ayshe

Rayhana as Aphrodite, with Sirrah Nur, Elena Kirsanova, Miyoko Satoh, Nana Masuda, Kai Wen, Tanya Michaca, Jennifer Bowen, Patricia Delgado, Enzina (choreography, costumes: Ayshe)

Sarah Skinner as Salome, Tava, Kazja, Kelly, Sherene, Patrica, Tanya, Melissa- perform "Salome's Sin". More info on this performance at www.matahariunveiled.com

Melissa, Sarah Skinner, Sira - curtain call for the CULT OF MYTH

Blanca as Persephone

Neon & Sean Adair

Jeniviva & friend

Blanca & Andrea Anwar

Reception - Saturday

MUSIC BY DJINN ON ABC :: neon

Yesterday ABC broadcast the "Secrets of the Sistine Chapel" - a program exploring the possibility that Michelangelo embedded powerful and dangerous messages in the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. The soudtrack for the "Secrets" incorporated a few tracks from Djinn's album "Djinn" and from "Songs for Kassar" by Pete List. "Jimmy Hafla" ("Djinn") and "Nuevinda" ("Songs fro Kassar" - the Kassar's performance music) played again and again and a few other familiar tracks faded in and out. Djinn's music seemed to be used mostly at the moments portraying passion, intense emotions and drama, while Pete List's music appeared in more serene moments.
I don't have TV and never watch it (I love it, but don't have time!), same with Blanca - she doesn't have TV -- so we converged on Carmine's couch to watch, or, rather, listen to the "Secrets." Remarkably delicious Turkish food was provided by the host and we watched with major enthusiasm everything - the program itself and the cute commercials (you may be sick of commercials, but for someone who never has a chance to see them, like myself, they are intense entertainment!). We recited the titles of the Djinn and Pete List tracks as they appeared in the "Secrets" soundtrack and had a blast. Our celebration didn't extend till the morning only because Blanca and Carmine were leaving that night for Rhode Island to teach a drum solo workshop.

"BELLYDANCE NEW YORK" CD :: neon

At the end of April, World Dance New York will release an album of traditional bellydance music arranged by Amir Naoum Chehade and Elias Sarkar. "Bellydance New York with Amir Naoum" features folk songs of the Middle East and original compositions and improvisations by Amir Naoum and Elias - all traditional favourites of our NYC bellydancers, heard at the Lafayette Grill & Bar where Amir Naoum's band plays every Friday night for the Mediterranean Nights party. Both Amir and Elias are veterans of the Middle Eastern music scene in New York: Amir is an amazing Arabic-style percussionist, one of the best in the US, and a master teacher of Arabic percussion, while Elias is famous for his spectacular work playing oud, violin and for his incredible voice you can hear on the new album.

The music was originally arranged for Tanna Valentine's upcoming DVD (end of April) - "Bellydance Show Basics for Beginners" - an instructional program teaching beginners step-by-step how to create a perform their own bellydance show within the classic American Cabaret format.

For the instructional purposes Amir and Elias created a 6-minute mini-show soundtrack, comprising all the traditional parts of the American Cabaret format - entrance, veil, party song, ciftetelli, drum solo and finale. The mini-show is a true gem that will certainly be appreciated by both students and professional dancers interested in music for shorter performances. The album also presents full-length song tracks with useful variations: for instance, the gorgeously arranged and recorded "Lama Bada" has two versions - instrumental, and the one with lyrics featuring the stunning vocal work by Elias Sarkar. Track titles indicate rhythms (and often instruments) used in each piece.

We hope that this CD will serve as a great learning and instructional tool, in addition to offering beautifully-arranged and superbly-recorded pieces for artists performing classic bellydance. If you teach bellydance, please consider this album for use in your classes, and if you like it, please recommend it to your students and friends. If you would like to review the album, let me know.

The cover model for "Bellydance New York" is Tanna Valentine, all photography is by Lina Jang.

For download, the album is available at iTunes -- see the 2-page iMix below, and also at Amazon.com, where you can now download each track individually, just like at iTunes. To view individual track downloads at Amazon, follow this link: "Bellydance New York". Or you can purchase the jewel-case packaged CD at Amazon and other stores.

LUSCIOUS - THE BELLYDANCE WORKOUT :: neon

Yesterday was a big day for Blanca, Sarah Skinner and myself: We filmed "Luscious - The Bellydance Workout." The rehearsals marathon over, the day of the filming everything went fine; we took turns leading workout segments, gossiped in the dressing room, marveled at the twists and turns of our fast-paced lives, and consumed organic coconut macaroons provided by - no doubt - Satan himself.

The workout is made 100% of bellydance moves, it is beginner level, but it offers a perspective of challenge and growth. Each section of the workout consistently builds on the dance vocabulary introduced in the previous section through combinations. It's an "instructional workout" because of the method of introducing dance vocabulary and because there is an extensive tutorial section breaking down each move used in the workout.

The program is designed to be "very bellydance." We hope that it will be lavish, overflowing with deep, rich and feminine movement - so that it can be enjoyed as a beauty ritual.

My personal conviction is that workout programs like this (where dance experience is not compromised by the imperatives of the fitness aspect, but intertwine organically) are the best form of technique practice for dancers, a functional "drill". "Functional" because the moves are not practiced in isolation, but in the contexts of combinations or transitions in which they are actually used in dance. This creates an extra layer of muscle memory, which isolated drills/practice don't provide.

Thinking of our work on "Luscious," I must admit that being involved in a group project is a more rewarding experience than the solitary activity of working on solo video projects. I will miss it!
One of the moments of unbridled fun was putting together our workout costumes - which occurred during a shopping spree at the SharifWear sale. Our pants, shirts and hip scarves are by Sharif Wear; bras and belts - Blanca's and mine are by Totally Creative NYC, Sarah Skinner's are Sarah's design.

ANDY TROY ON THE TYRA BANKS SHOW :: neon

Andy Troy, personal trainer and author, with whom Tanna Valentine and I have collaborated on 5 fitness DVDs, has recently published a book "Living Young: 32 Habits of Ageless People" (order it at Amazon.com). The book is a fabulous resource on healthful lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, and emotional well-being, full of current research and great insights. Andy himself is proof of his method of achieving agelessness, so it's no surprise that he is an attraction for talk shows.

Here is a link to an episode of the Tyra Banks show, "Stuck in a Single Rut" cleverly exploiting Andy's remarkably good looks and young spirit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYjP_BX30So
Watch it if you have a moment, it's quite enjoyable. If the link is not there, here is an illustrated summary.

Tyra Banks says that currently in the US more women are single than in a relationship because women became too picky.

Jamie, one of the guests of the show, can't find herself a soulmate because she tends to date guys much younger than her. She is 44, but she thinks that men her age don't look good enough and behave too old, so she goes after men in their late 20s and early 30s.

Jamie's best friend says: "I love you, but I don't approve of your dating strategy!"

So, the producers of Tyra's show found a guy for Jamie to date - Andy, and since she wants only men under 35, they told Jamie that Andy is 35...

Jamie and Andy go on a date to Chelsea Piers to try mountain climbing. Jamie is a cocktail waitress in Atlantic City. Andy says he is a bartender (not true!)

"I am not a good lyer," Andy says ruefully to the producers of the show.

Jamie asks Andy how old he is, and he says "35" - he is transparently lying, his hand on his heart.

Jamie shares with the show crew that she thinks Andy is lying about his age: she thinks he is more like 28!!!... She likes him a lot. He is a charismatic date.

So, as Jamie is sitting on stage at the Tyra Banks show, she is watching a movie of herself and Andy on a date, and just as they arrive at the mountain climbing location, Tyra Banks announces Andy's actual age: He is 50!!!!!!!.........

Jamie's jaw drops and stays that way to the end of the show.

Andy is invited to join Jamie onstage. "I never lied about my age," he says, "And the very first time I have to do it, it's on national television..."

Tyra asks Jamie if she thinks there are eligible men her age and older. Still in disbelief, Jamie says hesitantly: "Well, all I can say is: They are out there!"

World Dance New York DVDs featuring Andy Troy:

Bellydance for Body Sculpting: Abs (Neon)
Bellydance for Body Sculpting: Buns & Thighs (Neon)
Bellydance for Body Sculpting: Total Body (Tanna Valentine)
Bellydance for Body Sculpting: Floorwork (Tanna Valentine)
Perfect in Ten: Abs (Tanna Valentine)

ALYRIAN SWORD WORKSHOP - RESOUNDING SUCCESS! :: neon

Last night was the conclusion of Alyra's 4 week Sword Maiden Workshop and here at VU headquarters we have reviewed the evaluations and are happy to report another terrific success for our fellow VU Member.  Attendees ranged from 11 year practitioners to 1 year gutsy students who were ready for a real challenge and they offered spectacular responses to Alyra's program!
 
Being 4 months pregnant certainly didn't slow Alyra down! Feedback resounded on her extensive knowledge of this specialty subject, high energy during her demanding and challenging drills, her imaginative and creative techniques and whole body movement. Also known for her strength in audience engagement, the evaluations praised her committed focus on mastering the art of true performing by engaging the viewer with suspense, drama and innuendo.  "Clear and precise instruction" along with "Super fun teaching style" were a couple of Alyra's other reviews.
 
Working her students through the foundations of sword dancing with athletic drills, layered movements and diverse direction change movements, some difficult floor work and lots of attitude left everyone for the last 4 Tuesday nights sweaty, sore and sometimes shaky. Not a student walked out without a deep sword head dent and lots to digest. Included also were ad hoc explanations on  "as seen on TV" type questions where Alyra de mystified tricks of the trade that were seen by her students from the internet or video. The final class wrapping up with sessions on spinning, posing, removals and handwork that concluded with sword improvisation from start to finish.
 
And what could have been improved (cause we ask that too!). Well, all the way around, everyone just wanted more classes and more time! Alyra admits herself that if her Doctor didn't tell her to wrap it up, she would have definitely extended class another 4 weeks because they were all having such fun. She also assures us that we can anticipate an extended 8 week course next Jan/Feb once she and her husband are settled in with their new little one.
 
Well, Alyra, the world will be waiting!

BLANCA & JENIVIVA DANCE WITH DJINN :: neon

JeBon on St. Mark's place is a cute Asian restaurant and an unlikely place for an ongoing bellydance extravaganza, and yet it is the site of a successful weekly bellydance party with traditional and cutting-edge dance music performed by Djinn, one of only 4 bands playing for bellydancers in Manhattan. Yesterday, bellydancers and friends converged at JeBon to see Blanca, Jeniviva and their students perform with Djinn. Each of them delivered two traditional numbers: Blanca did a classic bellydance song and a very elegant drum solo; Jeniviva did a semai and a karsilama, both with outstanding zil playing. A costume change occurred and their second set had a Gothic flavor: Blanca's costume and mask were adorned with long black feathers, and Jeniviva was her usual Gothic Goddess self, all in black and red. Unfortunately my boyfriend's camera died right before the Gothic set, so our photo report below shows only the traditional bellydance looks.

Here is Blanca working her drum solo magic. The band: Carmine, Pete List, Brad.

Blanca and "The Blancitas": The party at JeBon is usually preceeded by a mini bellydance class. Below: Blanca and her class perform the choreography she taught yesterday. The band: Carmine, Pete List, Brad, Dale Langdon.

Blanca and Djinn

Neon & Sarah Skinner: Sarah stopped by on her way to her gig at the Cupping Room with Avram Pengas' band.

Jeniviva at JeBon.

Jeniviva, Neon, Dale Langdon

Jeniviva, Sarah Skinner, Blanca

Blanca, Carmine

Friends and students of Blanca and Elsa Leandros

VENUS UPRISING T-SHIRTS! :: neon

The Venus Uprising Signature T-shirt Collection has grown to 2 items!
The new just-released T-shirt commemorates the sword bellydance workshop series by the fabulous Alyra. The must-have "Sword Maiden" T-shirt has the "Sword Maiden" in front and the Venus Uprising logo on the lower back (to accommodate the long-tressed).

And here is our classic from Fall 2007, the renowned "Venus Uprising" T-shirt.

INSTANT BELLYDANCER DVD :: neon

The trail-blazing venerable classic of beginner bellydance instruction, "Instant Bellydancer 1" has come out in the Estonian language. Still one of World Dance New York's best selling DVDs!

BELOW: Estonian-language edition of Instant Bellydance 1, and its original edition.

PINEAPPLE FRENZY :: neon

My boyferiend Scott is an enthusiast of EVERYTHING. A journalist by profession and vocation, he gets excited and enthusiastic about many things every day and usually follows through with immediate action, acquiring objects of his current passion. The latest is - pineapples. Pineapples fall under the larger health craze that struck our household a couple months ago - juice extraction and consumption. Scott acquired a hydraulic press juicing machine, and now it rules our lives. Fruits and vegetable are ordered on the web and arrive in large quantities from Fresh Direct (there are no grocery stores in our neighborhood - NYC garment district & 5th avenue where zoning does not allow grocery stores.) Our place looks and smells like a vegetable garden.

Once the thought of pineapples infested Scott's brain, 6 fresh pineapples instantly appeared in our kitchen. (Because one is just not enough when you have a craving for pineapples and you tend to think BIG!)

Apparently pineapples are similar to papaya in that they contain proteolytic enzymes that break down and "digest" protein we consume. The health benefit is the general rejuvenation of the body's systems thanks to improved digestion. The protein digesting enzyme found in the pineapple is called bromelain, but, unlike in papaya, it resides not in the meaty flesh of the fruit, but mostly in its rind. So one of the pineapples was immediately dispatched for juicing. Here is the color of the juice extracted from pineapple rind, after it has been mixed with some parsley juice, carrot juice, and garlic juice - !!!

I was too intimidated by the ferocious look of the pineapples to try the juice made from their rind, but I did try the juice obtained from the flesh of pineapple. An interesting discovery was that the home-extracted pineapple juice is not sweet and has no distinct pineapple flavor. When you taste the dry pulp left from the juice extraction, you realize that all the flavor stayed in the pulp. The juice has a neutral "fruit" taste.

"CULT OF MYTH" - SPRING VU SHOW :: neon

The all-important Venus Uprising Shows Committee has decreed that Spring 2008 will be graced with a new Fantasy Bellydance show hosted by Venus Uprising.
The title of the event: "Cult of Myth"
The theme is images and stories from myths, legends and fairy tales of the world depicted through the art of bellydance
Dates: April 25 (Friday) and April 26 (Saturday)
Location: DNA (Dance New Amsterdam) Theater downtown, NYC
Reception: Yes! Wine, cheese and chocolates - both days, following the show.

A small group of the Committee representatives gathered yesterday to sign the deal in blood. Predictably, the meeting occurred over a box of chocolates that enjoyed a lot of attention from some of us. There were also cakes, but I won't go into the detail here, sparing the reputation of my esteemed friends.

The meeting was followed by a celebratory dinner at Brendan's across the street. For me personally an 8 p.m. meal is a dinner, but for some people at this table (below) it was breakfast (from the "dinner" conversation:
"I'm starving, I haven't had my breakfast yet..."
"Wow, and it's almost lunch time!")
Ya gotta love New York City with its "open for breakfast ALL DAY" establishments!
Below - Blanca, Sarah, Neon and Carmine who joined our group for dinner.

FANTASY BELLYDANCE - INSTRUCTIONAL DVDs:: neon

At the end of February World Dance New York is releasing 3 choreography DVDs within our Fantasy Bellydance instructional series: Each program contains 3 intermediate-advanced choreographies - performance and choreography breakdown - by 3 instructors. The styles range from classic bellydance, to cabaret and tribal fusion forms.

"Fantasy Bellydance - Mystery" (Neon, Sera, Ayshe)
"Fantasy Bellydance - Desire" (Blanca, Naraya, Darshan)
"Fantasy Bellydance - Magic" (Isidora Bushkovski, Autumn Ward, Ariellah)

Below are a few screen shot from the performance sections of the DVDs.

Neon - "Serpent" - "Fantasy Bellydance - Mystery"

Sera - "Shadow" (Tribal Fusion - East Coast Tribal) - "Fantasy Bellydance - Mystery"

Ayshe - "Phoenix" (wings of Isis) - "Fantasy Bellydance - Mystery"

Blanca - "Nymph" (hand veils) - "Fantasy Bellydance - Desire"

Naraya - "Salome" (Tribal Fusion) - "Fantasy Bellydance - Desire"

Darshan - "Ritual Dance - Blessing of the Full Moon" (Tribal Fusion)- "Fantasy Bellydance - Desire"

Izidora Bushkovski - "Warrior Princess" (sword) - "Fantasy Bellydance - Magic"

Autumn Ward - "Enchantress" - "Fantasy Bellydance - Magic"

Ariellah - "Kali - Creator/Destroyer" (Tribal Fusion) - "Fantasy Bellydance - Magic"

More images from the Fantasy Bellydance DVDs

NEW YEAR'S EVE REPORT :: neon

Our New Year's Eve celebratory activities started with a photoshoot - Blanca for the cover of one of the upcoming "Fantasy Bellydance" DVDs. Blanca arrived with a suitcase filled with her costume, a couple evening gowns and a few bottles of Veuve Clicquot. One of those bottles was immediately put to use. It was a vigorous and uncompromising start to the night of revelry and debauchery.

As Blanca transformed from a bellydancing nymph to a NYC party girl, we went over our partying options and confirmed our enthusiasm for the event co-hosted by Carmine Guida and Liz Free - a party for the lost souls of the bellydance world and all sorts of bohemian misfits: we definitely belonged there.

New Year's resolution: Seduce Carmine in 2008.

We danced till 3 to live music - Carmine, Pete List and friends. It was great to meet the new year with our creative family, where you don't have to explain to strangers what you do for living and how you survive as an artist. Carmine and Liz, many thanks for the fabulous night! A few pictures - below; more - coming.

MORE HOLIDAY ACTIVITY :: neon

How does one return to normalcy after the holidays? Soon after breakfast, champagne, mulled wine and port start flowing here in smooth succession, turning the world into a magical swirl of colorful beauty. I haven't worked out in a few days. Here my sister Elizabeth, a Laura Ashley furniture freak, displays to me her mirror desk from the Laura Ashley "Gatsby" Art Deco-style collection and other Laura Ashley etched-mirror items.

Elizabeth's Christmas tree is trimmed with balls in the shape of sea mines.

Among the gifts I received today was this antique Russian cameo: my parents had it set in modern gold setting.

Meanwhile, my brother-in-law Michael is mounting a massive effort to produce the Christmas cake.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES :: neon

Still in Oxford, today I went shopping.

Meanwhile, at home, Michael, my brother-in-law is preparing chocolate truffs.

And then Michael is making mulled wine:

He also makes a Christmas meal for the birds in the garden:

And also Michael is working on Christmas eve salad, his own recipe.

Glacee fruit awaiting placement on the Christmas cake.

VISITING FAMILY IN OXFORD :: neon

Here I am, for 4 days in Oxford, UK, to visit my family -- reflecting on the patterns of the fog in my sister Elizabeth's frost-dressed garden.

Dead leaves and flowers, decomposing fruit, seeds and grass are trimmed with frost. Frost-covered, cobwebs turn thick, displaying every nuance of their design.

Behind Elizabeth's house, beyond the garden, a wheat field coated in thick fog extends far away, ending somewhere over there, at the Victorian canal.

Davis weather station informs my sister's weather-observant family about the state of wind and temperature in their frozen garden.

My niece- out to observe the winter garden.

Frost-covered Iris berries.

Frost-covered amaryllises decay at the entrance to the garden.

Meanwhile, in the house, my brother-in-law Michael sets out to cook ratatouille.

The ratatouille.

RAYHANA'S ROCK & ALTERNATIVE BELLYDANCE SHOW :: neon

Rayhana's Annual Rock and Alternative bellydance show is a massive 3 plus hrs event featuring 4 categories of rock and alternative numbers by student and professional bellydance talent of NYC - Vamps, Classic Rock, Latin and Contemporary/New Age. Me, Tanna Valentine and Autumn Ward (pictures below) graced the Contemporary/ New Age section of this annual extravaganza.


Tanna Valentine appears as a Fantasy Geisha (photo by Brian Lin)



Tanna - Kid Rock cane number (photo by Brian Lin)




above:Autumn Ward: the red ball dance (photo by Brian Lin)


below: Neon: "Opium" (photo by Brian Lin)



Sarah Skinner, Blanca, Neon, Dale Langdon:

BELLYDANCE WITH VEIL - SARAH SKINNER :: neon

As we were finishing work on the World Dance New York's December DVD release "Bellydance with Veil," I pulled a few images from our October videoshoot to share. Created by Sarah Skinner, the DVD program is 2 hrs long and beautifully designed - veil moves featured by category (veil wraps, turns, cascades, traveling steps, switches, endings, mishap recovery) and broken step-by-step, elegant combinations, a full 6-min veil choreography and an extensive section about veil fabrics, their properties and logistics of dancing with the veil.

Sarah and makeup artist Andrew Jones

Sarah performing choreography

Teaching turns

Veil wrapping and unwrapping: "Poof! And you are out!"

Testing veil fabrics

AYSHE AS PHOENIX :: neon

The other day we filmed Ayshe's "Phoenix" choreography - performance and instruction - for World Dance New York. Featuring wings of Isis, the choreography presents all the elements of Ayshe's spectacular signature style - flawless body lines and angles, pacing and sophistication of wing work patterns - condensed into 3 minutes of soaring dreamlike images. Both, performance and choreography breakdown will appear in "Fantasy Bellydance: You are Mystery" DVD by WDNY coming in Feb. 2008 (intermediate level).
The images below are screen shots from the video.
After the videoshoot, we settled for dinner at Brendan's: Ayshe ordered "banana zango" desert for her main course. The habit of frequenting Max Brenner's chocolate restaurants (where ordering chocolate martini followed by chocolate soup and chocolate pizza is appropriate) has greately affected many an impressionable soul in NYC since the latest onset of the chocolate mania.
Ayshe lives off Times Square in a hi-rise building overlooking theater district: she has two cats and "Wings: The Complete Technique" DVD.
See a Flickr set of images from "Phoenix."

NEW POSTERS BY VENUS UPRISING :: neon

Two new additions to our posters collection!
1. "Amazon and Sorceress" featuring Blanca and Ayshe and based on their Fantasy bellydance number performed at the Fantasy Bellydance Concert 2007 hosted by Venus Uprising. Photo: Scott Shuster
2. "Swan Maiden" featuring Neon (based on Neon's dance work in progress) Photo: Sarah Skinner
To view all posters by Venus Uprising, visit BellydancePosters.com

A SKELETON IN THE CLOSET :: neon

WHEN BELLYDANCE IS YOUR LIFESTYLE... :: neon

When bellydance is your lifestyle, you dress to impress wherever you go!!!

Carmine, Blanca, Neon

DANCE OF MIND :: neon