Question from a Reader

Mr. Heinz cancelled class this evening. I haven't been home on a Wednesday night since 2009 and I almost don't know what to do with myself!! My California tribal belly dancing friend, Lori, has sent me a question. So I'm going to take this Adventure opportunity to respond.

Lori Tawasha writes: Soooo, I have a question for you! Since you've been studying ballet, what are the changes/effects that it's had on your belly dance instruction/performing? Or just in general--life, body, mind...? Your public wants to know. (:

I've been thinking about these questions from the time I've started, but I've been trying to think of the best way to verbalize all the things I've been thinking, feeling, absorbing as a student, as a dancer, as a performer and as a teacher. There is so many things to say, but I don't know if I have the words.....

I honestly don't know that it has made a change in my belly dancing instruction. I definitely have more appreciation for belly dance instructors. All of my ballet instructors have been sink or swim types. You go to class, you line up at the barre, they show you a combination - they hit the play button. If you don't know what a tendu, frappe, fondu is - you better pay close attention and be quick on the uptake! That is the nature of the beast - some ballet instructors don't show you combinations at all. They TELL YOU! 

As for my performing, again, I don't know.  The most recent performances haven't felt anything out of the usual or anything more spectacular. And before I ever started ballet, Christina of Blue Lotus Tribe once said that she could feel my stage presence before I even made it to the stage.  So I've tagged some people that have seen my recent performances to weigh in on this one. 

In general (life, body, mind), I think about movement differently.

I think about dancing differently.

I think about how these two forms of dance are viewed differently by the general public. 

It makes me more diligent in my belly dancing practice at home, with my dance partner, with my students. 

I think about music differently - not just the melody, the rhythm, the count. I think about all of them together, separately, what they say, how they say them.

High school is the only other time I've been this self-conscious about my body - which is also a time I was dancing.  Belly dancing embraces my figure in all its curvy glory. Ballet makes me want to cover it up with it's long, hard lines and straight edges -which I don't have. 

The most important thing is that I'm not afraid to try. There are days when it's harder than others. There are days where I go out of habit - not out of strength of character. There are days when I cry, when I'm scared, when I'm ashamed, when I'm embarrassed, when I really wish the floor would open up and drop me and all of my curves into oompa loompa land - but I'm not afraid to try. I'm hoping that this will lead to this attitude in other parts of my life where I am not so courageous, but for now - this is enough. 

Those are the words, but there are so many more......