What I mean when I say “Good!”
Anyone who has been in my classes for any length of time is very familiar with a common exclamation I make during drills or at the end of class: “Good! Really good job, guys!” I say it so much, perhaps … Read More
The Five P’s of (Bellydance) Hooping!
Shea Brock is a hooper extraordinaire, and wrote a great blog post about “The Five P’s of Hooping”. Everything about it could be easily translated into bellydance. (Note: I take exception to the “Pass It On”, only inasmuch as I … Read More
“OH MY GOD, I’M DOING IT!”
I recently read a blog post on Portland Flamenco Events entitled “Do you know what just happened?” and it reminds me of a little anecdote I relate to my students when I am teaching them shimmies. Taking a trip into … Read More
Fear of Group Improv – It Gets Better
Recently in class a student asked me how long it took me to feel proficient at tribal group improvisation. I told her it would be wildly different from person-to-person, depending on previous dance/movement experience, mind-body connection, home practice, etc. But … Read More
An ATS Bellydance Quiz – Level 1
First let me say, HAPPY 4th OF JULY to all my American readers. I hope this holiday finds you enjoying all the many freedoms and joys our country affords us. Let’s celebrate the truly positive today! Now, on to today’s … Read More
Watching and Learning in the Dance Studio
The “Taking Correction” portion of this anonymous handout has been making the rounds on Facebook. I wanted to share it in its entirety, because the entire thing is just so awesome. Enjoy! Watching your fellow dancers Technique, timing, corrections, there … Read More
Six Steps to Becoming a Great Dancer (no, really!)
If you have been reading my blog for even a short time, you have likely come across the popular “Four Steps to Becoming a Great Dancer” article I posted in late 2011. That article stands as the first and most … Read More
New Year Tuition Changes
I want to let my weekly students know that class prices are going up in 2012 to reflect market-rate pricing for our area. Drop-ins will now be $15 per class; pre-registration will continue to be equivalent to getting six classes … Read More
Class Holiday Get Together this Thursday
Hello lovelies, This Thursday night, December 15th, we are having an informal all-class holiday get-together at In The Red Wine Bar at 65th and Phinney, just two blocks south of PNA. Level 2.5ers and myself won’t arrive until 9:15ish. You … Read More
Teacher Loyalty – a dying virtue?
I have written in the past of teacher loyalty, both in the “Teacher Loyalty Redux” as well as expressed my own homage to my dance Mommas in the lengthily named post “Sharon has two mommies…no, wait…four…no” The former is an … Read More