How long have you been bellydancing?
As of September of this year, I've been bellydancing for ten years!
Why did you decide to start taking bellydance classes?
I knew that I wanted to take a dance class in my freshman year of college, and two of my friends had at that time already been bellydancing for years and I knew how to do wrist circles and loved the awesome thing that they could do. So I signed up for my first class and have been learning since!
What classes have you taken at WIM?
American Tribal Style bellydance is what initially brought me to World in Motion - I had been wanting to learn about this beautifully-communal dance language for years. I found Dawn and Sashi on the Carolina Belly Dance Website and watched some videos of their dancing, sent out a query e-mail and showed up at the beginning of the next year!
Since then, I've been taking ATS classes regularly, first Fundamentals with the excellent Sashi and now Intermediate with the also-excellent Dawn.
Once I was more comfortable in the ATS style, I wanted to reconnect with the Egyptian and Tribal Fusion dance styles that I had done before and still love, so I've also taken:
- Emily's shimmy-specific Belly-Dance Fundamentals session
- Sara's Intermediate & Advanced Bellydance Technique
- Emily's Explorations in Bellydance (Metal edition) session
I've also been lucky enough to take advantage of a number of workshops offered through WIM as well, including (but not limited to) a robot choreography with Emily, ATS costuming with Dayanisma, ATS slow moves and also duets with Dawn, and also my first drumming class with Brian that led to me buying a doumbek!
I'm also looking forward to upcoming workshops like Sara's "Finding Your Voice" workshop, the Shimmy Clinic, and the League of Extraordinary Bellydancers' "Dance Like a Jedi (or Sith)!" workshop.
I wish I could take everything - WIM instructors are intelligent, open, kind, and highly adaptable to whatever kind of student you are and wherever you're coming from physically or experientially. They're also great dancers in their own right!
What do you enjoy most about bellydancing?
In ATS, I enjoy the communication and connection with fellow dancers the most, specifically when improvising together. There is just nothing like it.
In other bellydance forms (as well as ATS, really), I love the joy of the movement and the amount of expression that this form of dance offers. Dance, and bellydance specifically, is my favored form of emotional creative expression.
Who is your favorite bellydancer?
Oh no! That's like asking me for my favorite book!
I hold up a number of dancers as inspiration for me in various styles and for various reasons. My favorites are the ones that I get to interact with regularly, like Emily, Sara, Dawn, Sashi, all of the Dayanisma ladies, and my sister Sarah. Every dancer brings something special to your dancing that I try to incorporate in my own practice, and can because I get to see them in person and ask questions in classes later!
Outside of WIM, there are still too many. I'll go with Rachel Brice, who is my longest-standing favorite and whose DVDs helped me learn and practice and grow when I was without a formal dance class.
Do you have any favorite props or bellydance movements?
I didn't dance with props for years, but now I'm dancing with zils and baskets and (soon) a lightstaber! Don't know that I have a favorite, though.
My favorite moves are undulations in all styles - the visual effect of these moves is wonderful to watch and rewarding to feel when you're doing them yourself. When I do a belly roll and feel every muscle, I remember the years of work that went into developing that movement and I appreciate every engaged muscle.
What’s your favorite part of taking classes at WIM?
THE PEOPLE. The instructors, the students, the community of dancers brought together at events and at ATS ATTACKs from around the Triangle, North Carolina, the US, and the world!
This is the most supportive and positive dance community I have ever been a part of, and my teachers at WIM have been my favorite instructors.
I love the learning and the challenge, but what especially stands out for me about classes at WIM is the people.
Do you have any advice for prospective bellydance students?
Go watch a show! See dancers at the Carolina Rennaissance Festival, Undulation Nouvea, Oasis, or any of the places that WIM and other studios in the Triangle perform. Like their facebook pages for updates! Visit World in Motion's open house December 19th!
Following closely: take a class! Give it a try! There are so many flavors and styles to choose from, try a few!
Finally, don''t be intimidated - you can do it! The first class may feel silly as you try your first shimmy, but you'll be amazed at what your body can do with practice. And your instructor is always there to help and support you.
www.worldinmotiondance.com
