AHLAN WA SAHLAN!
Greetings to all my students and dancer-friends.
As the year comes to a close, I find myself going inward, taking stock of my life and achievements. Remembering things I set out to do... for our Life, our Dance. Some of these goals came to fruition, and some didn't.
Winter is not my favorite time of year. I want to go to the cave! On those gray days, I feel the overwhelming desire to hibernate, to sleep, to think (or not) instead of act. After many years of this, I realize it is my natural cycle. I don't like it but I accept it.
This shift allows us to explore the cycle of life that is ultimately ... death!
And so we should allow ourselves to go deeper into self. Fully experiance the dark, the withdrawal, the seasonal shift that signals our primal need to draw inward. We should all ake time to draw in, to "whither", be frugal and reserved.
Allow yourself sometime to reflect, not only about the New Year's Resolution to lose weight, or our goals to get a better job or house.
But to see past ourselves toward others.
Let's take time now to go inward, to re-evaluate and clarify our intentions for the coming year.
Let's give a bit more time to help others, let's try to inspire a very young or senior person to get excited about something.
Let's be thankful for having another year to make our mark on this earth.
CLASSES
Hayward Area Recreation and Park District
Current winter session starts January, ends March 7. No class Presidents Day.
Spring session starts April to June. Check the schedule for more info.
This past year my classes have grown and I have met more terrific people! Besides my regular and new students at Castro Valley Community Center, I am pleased to offer classes at Holistic Fitness; a new studio for Yoga, Martial Arts and Dance which opened earlier this year. Holistic Fitness is located on Castro Valley Blvd. next to the Chabot Theater. Check out the great teachers and classes listed on their web site: www.HolisticFitnessCV.com
2005 To be updated soon!
Troupe Benazir and Hipnotik
classes
performances Come and watch us.
upcoming dance events,
Troupe Benazir is concentrating on our Raks Assaya piece for the Peoples Choice competition in April. Raks Assaya means stick dance and is a parody of the mens dance.
Hipnotik will be performing at Rakkasah, on the Cabaret stage.
local teacher's
dancers haflas,
I'm so Critical... Review:
AMEL TAFSOUT
I enjoyed and was inspired by the Amel Tafsout workshop at FatChanceBellyDance Studio, SF www.fcbd.com
Amel is Algerian born, but has lived in Europe and U.S.A, has a great command of the english language. She is an earthy dancer.
There's something about the dances of tribal cultures, that reality of life; that resonates with me. The passage of time, the expression of day to day chores, seasonal celebrations and rites of passage; we can re-enact, celebrate and create through this dance that is ages old and holds our ancestors' good thoughts for us and our progenitors.
She reminds us that making couscous took some hours & didn't come out of a box. Washing clothes took place at the river's edge, the passage of a girl into womanhood was a celebration, not hushed up as if it was a bad thing
I am really drawn to the folkloric & traditional dances of No. Africa and Amel imparted the spirit raw energy of the dance. She has a great teaching skill; circling around to make eye contact with each one of us... communicating not with words, but with facial expressions and movements. The participants seemed varied in skill level and age, but we all blended together and managed to keep up! The first workshop was Berber shimmies. Getting used to the swivel shimmy took some work. Amel also discussed the cultural improvisational flavor of the berber style
The second workshop was the Tuniesan style.