Laura Selenzi's Blog

10 Ways to Avoid Back and Neck Pain

2012-01-26T17:30:00.000-08:00

In my massage practice there is one condition almost everyone is plagued by, and it's back and neck pain. I would say 98% of my clients are experiencing discomfort in this area. I find myself giving the same advice over and over and thought I'd share my top 10 tips for avoiding back and neck pain...with YOU!

Now, if you already have pain in these areas, you need to deal with your tight muscles, trigger points, fascial adhesions etc through massage, osteopathy, or your therapy of choice...and ALSO do the things below to keep it from coming back.

Without further ado!

1. Stop sticking your head out.

I admit this one is a constant battle. Many of us stick our heads forward to look at a computer all day, while driving, while studying, while squinting because you're not wearing your glasses etc etc. Your head is meant to be perfectly balanced on your spine. Kapandji (Physiology of the Joints, Volume III) states that for every inch your head moves forward, it functionally gains 10 pounds in weight. So the muscles in your upper back and neck have to work extra hard to keep your head up. This puts the suboccipital muscles (at the base of your skull) in constant contraction. So gently tuck your chin back in, or think of bringing your ears back to be right over your shoulders. Instant poise! Read more on this here.

2. Correct Your Posture.

Everyone knows they need to "work on their posture", but how do you do this? Constant correction is a start...good reminders are: Weight over the arches of your feet, feet straight forward, knees straight forward, hip sockets, heels, shoulders and ear in a vertical line, chest in neutral (don't let it sink or thrust it forward) and pull up through the crown of your head.

But why is this so hard? Most people have very tight pectoral muscles (over your chest) and weak mid-back muscles. So, stretch your pecs, and strengthen your mid/upper back muscles, and you will find good posture comes easily.

3. Sleep on Your Back.

Many people sleep on their stomach with their head cranked to one side. (You know...for breathing.) To me this is pretty clear how this causes your spine and neck muscles to be irritated. Another problem is sleeping with a pillow that isn't the right size. If you can re-train yourself to sleep on your back, use a fairly flat pillow. Many people recommend sleeping with a pillow under your knees in this position to take the strain off your back. If your back is strained by having your legs straight...you need your hip flexors worked on, now. A very small pillow is probably ok. I guess.

If you absolutely cannot fall asleep like this, or you snore, try on your side with a pillow big enough to keep your head at 90 degrees to your shoulders, and hug a big pillow to keep your shoulders from rounding in. A pillow between your knees will keep your pelvis even too.

4.Drink Enough Water.

You've heard it a million times before, but did you know that being underhydrated can lead to stiffness and pain? Fascia is the connective tissue that weaves throughout your whole body, encapsulating every muscle fibre, muscle group, organ etc. See the gross pic at right (its a back). It's everything that's white. Stuck, immobile, or contractured fascia is often thought to be more responsible for pain and imbalances than the muscles themselves. And guess what, they need water to be pliable and delicious. I mean...functional. Read more on this here. Think about chewing gum. It's hard until you add moisture, movement, and warmth. More on the last two coming up.

5. Keep Warm.

Cold muscles like to contract to conserve heat. Walk out into the cold and your shoulders want to jump up into your ears. BAD SHOULDERS! Keep them happy with a cozy scarf and dress properly. This can also happen with a cold air vent or window draft hitting you, be sure to avoid this at the office and especially while sleeping.

If your muscles are already tight, we all know heat is a wonderful tool for relief! Hot showers, moist heat packs, and infrared heat are great because they penetrate deeper into muscles than regular dry heat.

6. Stop Sitting All Day.

I realize that you may be required by your job to sit for many hours a day. And although this is cruel and unusual, I get it. Oh, and no desk is "ergonomic" if you're sitting all day. It's a shocking revelation, but we didn't evolve to sit in chairs. See the diagram at right. It shows the positions used by humans all over the world. How many are you using?

The simple fact is that doing anything over and over, all day, causes injury. We know this about repetitive stress injuries, but did you consider that sitting is something you do over and over, all day? Every day, your hips and knees are put at a 90 degree angle, shortening your hip flexors, hamstrings, and calves. When you eventually stand up, your muscle length is totally out of whack and your back has to arch to compensate, among other problems. See more here. And be very afraid. But there are lots of things you can do...just read Katy's Blog. Get up and walk around as much as possible. You can even make a standing desk!

7.Get Moving.

This is the fun part! Your body NEEDS movement to be healthy. And not just a shot of exercise once a day. Change your positions as much as possible! Walk instead of taking the bus! Take breaks from sitting! Take more dance classes! ;) Moving through the ranges of your joints is necessary to keep your mobility. Use it or lose it!

8. Ditch the Heavy Shoulder Bag.

When my clients come in with a combination of a very tight shoulder/neck on one side and tight low back on the other, this is always my first guess. A couple quick fixes: Before you go out, take out every extra thing that you don't need in your bag. Carry less. Get a smaller bag. Get a bag with a longer strap that will cross over your body. If you must carry heavy things, get a rolling bag. (These have saved my neck many times.) Get a (horror) backpack! There ARE cute ones out there! And according to at least two sources on the internet, they are stylish again. So you can feel smug, not dorky.
-Reconsider the Backpack
-Oprah Said So
-15 Cute Backpacks For More Than Just The Gym
-This is actually nice. This too.

9. Stop Wearing High Heels.

We all know they're not great for us, but turns out, they're actually horrible. Remember how I said that sitting at the desk all day shortens your hamstrings, calves, and hip flexors? Well, on top of that, so do your heels. They put a ton of pressure and strain on your low back too. The human foot is a miracle of engineering, and heels of any height (actually, most shoes) seek to create their own crazy engineering. If your foot muscles aren't able to move (as in almost every shoe), they are shutting off, and throwing off your whole biomechanical chain. This has been shown to lead to Osteoperosis, and even weakens your pelvic floor. I can't get into this right now. I just can't. Go here. And here. Please.

10.Reduce Stress

*Having pets has been shown to reduce your stress level, so this adorable kitten is totally relevant.

It still amazes me the difference that stress makes in the tone of our muscles. Many clients who come to me with chronic pain feel miraculously better on vacation. Once they're back to their stressful job/life, all the pain comes back.

Make your mental and emotional health a priority. Remember that to take care of others, you need to take care of yourself first. Whether this means getting regular massage treatments, taking yoga or dance classes, finding a creative outlet, meditating before bed, or whatever works for you, you need to take care of yourself, people!

This also goes for seeking treatment, don't wait until you are in severe pain. It is much more effective to catch a problem before if becomes a fully-fledged condition. Again, be kind to yourself. Good luck!

Update: Life with the new studio

2011-10-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

Oh, hi there blog world! It's been a while.

I've been a little busy. As of now, I am responsible for updating my website www.laurasbelly.com, our studio website www.serpentinestudios.com, my massage site www.lauranewton-rmt.com, our studio facebook page, twitter, and this blog. I also have 4 email accounts and a real life mailbox. But that one is always empty except for bills. (Where ARE you new Beats Antique album??)

Anyway, I'm not complaining because I not-so-secretly love HTML and facebook and spending an hour trying to figure out why the tiny photo of Monique won't line up with the others. Ok not so much the last part.

So what else is new? The studio is humming along, some classes have sold out and others are still very small- mostly a happy medium. We love having a beautiful space to call our own. It's so great to be able to do things like serve tea from our favorite tea shop (World Tea House), and have a wall especially for practicing handstands. I also love being able to have classes that I personally think are awesome. Right now I'm taking Circus Fit with Caitlan, Acroflex with Monique, and Ashtanga Yoga with Erica and am essentially getting my butt kicked. All 3 classes are very challenging but a lot of fun.

I think my arms are getting more toned already and I'm getting stronger. Also, I did my best handstand ever the other day and it was very exciting! Handstands are by far my favorite circus trick, probably because your progress is so obvious. Other than that it would have to be splits...I would like them a lot better if I could actually do them. Must practice.

I'm also taking Flamenco with the amazing Maria Osende. I wish I were taking classes with her more often so my progress wasn't so slow. The rhythm and footwork is SO different from bellydance that it is taking me a while to wrap my head around it. The arms and posture come much easier to me.

And speaking of practice, it's definitely easier to do when you have your very own space. I love dancing in our studio, it's inspiring. I find that great music really is the key to get me off my butt and pushing myself. This week it was Fi Hagat by Nancy Ajram. It's a sad song, and has that strong Arabic emotion that I love so much. Here's the video. Although it's a different language, I think the feeling comes through.

Can't wait for the student showcase coming up Nov 19th...I may perform this song but haven't decided yet. Looking forward to seeing all of our amazing students perform at this event, it will be a great feeling to see it all come together. :)

Studio Grand Opening!

2011-09-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

It is with great excitement that I write this entry, as our dream of opening our own studio has finally come true! Our website has been updated and everything can now be found here: www.serpentinestudios.com

Monique and I are thrilled to have found the perfect space, in the heart of downtown Halifax on Barrington Street. Floor to ceiling windows, brick walls and hardwood floors are more than we could have asked for. Check out our facebook page for updates!

The amazing Elinor Crosby, Erica Schmidt and Caitlan Anthony joining us as instructors. Check out all our classes on the fabulous schedule. We will also be offering Registered Massage Therapy and infrared sauna sessions in our treatment room for your tired muscles.

We're celebrating with a week of FREE CLASSES from September 12-18 to kick off our Fall session. Come try any and all classes in bellydance, hula hoop, flexibility, pilates and more!

As if that weren't enough to keep us busy, this weekend we're performing "Mesmerize" at the Atlantic Fringe Festival. If you can't decide which style of bellydance to take, check out the show for a sample of everything! This show is has a fabulous mix of bellydance, circus and theatre. See you there!

Fringe Festival Teaser

2011-08-08T20:21:00.000-07:00

Monique and I are thrilled to be taking part in the Atlantic Fringe Festival this year. We don't want to give anything away...but here's a little teaser.

The Poster:

Some of our Inspirations

5 Reasons to Have Bellydance at Your Wedding

2011-07-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

With so many wedding websites and blogs out there, there is a lot of talk about how to make your reception the most fun, the most original, and the most fabulous! I've noticed a lot of sites discussing whether belly dance is an "appropriate" form of entertainment. To me this argument is a bit funny, since belly dance is perhaps the most traditional wedding entertainment in the Middle East, an area known by some for its conservativism. There, the bellydancer is standard, and brings good luck to the new couple while making their wedding the talk of the town! So in an effort to raise awareness of this fabulous wedding option, here are your Top 5 Reasons to Have Bellydance at your Wedding:

1. Entertain Your Guests

You want your reception to be remembered as the best party of the year, right? Well, 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.* Between all the long speeches, cake-cutting, and making the happy couple kiss, there's gotta be something a little more exciting. A colorful, swirling, dramatic performance by a skilled bellydancer is just the right thing to enchant and delight your guests. That, and seeing uncle Fred try to imitate her hip shimmies! Kids love belly dance too, little girls especially love the princess-like costumes and love to dance with us.

Entertainment is often one of the Bride's last priorities, but within one week after their reception, 78% of Brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority, and almost 100% of people say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.* Something to think about!

2. Get the Party Started!

We've all been at a wedding where the food has been eaten, the first dance has happened, and music is playing...but everyone is still in their seat. Awkward! Belly dance is a great ice breaker. A professional performer will entertain your crowd, then pull a couple feisty guests up to dance with her. By the end of it, people can't wait to get up on the dance floor and show off their moves!

3. Make an Entrance

One of the funnest new trends in weddings is to have a choreographed entrance by your wedding party into the reception venue. Why not throw a traditional Zeffah wedding procession into the mix for something different? Historically the the bellydancer led the bride and groom through the streets, bringing them luck and fertility. Today the dancer(s) leads the couple (and often the whole wedding party) dramatically into the reception hall, playing finger cymbals and wearing a sparkling Shamadan (candelabra) on her head. Check out this video to get an idea!

4. Express your Culture

Do you come from an Arabic, Turkish, or Persian background? Maybe your partner does, or part of your family. What better way to pay homage to your culture than a dance performance! Whether it's a classic, glittering belly dance show or a more traditional Middle-Eastern folk dance, an experienced bellydancer can offer a wide variety of cultural dances.

5. Be SPECTACULAR!

The beautiful sight of a glowing bride, the heart-warming speeches and connections made, fun music and dancing, these are some of the wonderful things about a wedding. But if you're looking to really create a spectacular event, belly dance is a great way to do it! Let us wow you with shimmering "Isis wings", daring sword dances, sparkling candelabras and fabulous dancing, all with a smile and an eye for taking your event to the next level. Looking for a particular color scheme, a special song, or a certain guest you'd love to see try their hand at belly dance? A professional entertainer is adept at meeting all the challenges of today's weddings. Check out our hire page to learn more about bellydance performances and booking.

Wonder what a Wedding performance might look like? Check us out below!

Some thoughts from our wonderful past clients:

"On behalf of [my husband] and myself, I wanted to thank you for your beautiful performance. You added that touch of exoticness! Many guests complemented your work to us; you were fantastic." - Parisa, bride

"...Laura was absolutely fantastic, and everyone has been raving about the performance. She was professional and wonderful, and very engaging with the crowd (not to mention a very enthusiastic four year old). Many people have come up to us saying how much it opened their eyes to a new form of incredible dancing. It was the perfect touch to our wedding!" - Stephanie, bride

"You were a big hit at our wedding! Thank you for performing...and for being easy going with everything I needed, it turned exactly how I imagined!" - Rund, bride

*These statistics were published in St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine in 2003. Sources include: Simmons, 2001; USA Today, 2002; National Bridal Service, 2001; The Knot, 2002; Brides Magazine, 2001. This rendition of these statistics from the American Disc Jockey Association website adja.org

Colleena Shakti events

2011-05-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

Only one week left before our next show, and as usual, it's madness!

Monique and I are especially excited about this event as we're flying international performer Colleena Shakti in from India for three workshops and the show. I have been a big fan of Colleena's ever since I heard of her from her Odissi Guru, Padma Cherun Dehury in India. In 2005, I studied Odissi with Padma for 6 weeks in Orissa, and when he heard I bellydanced, he showed me Colleena's business card. I was instantly enamored with this western woman who had been intensely studying Odissi and Rajasthani dance since 2001.

When I learned that Colleena lives for most of the year with the Khalbelia 'Gypsies" in Rajasthan, my respect only grew. Being accepted into this group was no easy feat, and Colleena had managed to become "one of them" through respect, dedication and passion for the dance. "Colleena was the first outsider to go so deeply into the Khalbelia culture to find the origins and symbolism in their dance and lifestyle."

I finally met Colleena in person in Pushkar, Rajasthan where she helped me put on a small show at the Raganath Temple, where she now operates the Shakti School of dance. Since then, Colleena's star has been on the rise around the world, her authentic and graceful presence hypnotizing audiences at Tribal Fest and many more events. In fact, after leaving Halifax, Colleena is teaching two sold-out workshops at the opening of Studio Datura, Tribal Fusion Pioneer Rachel Brice's new studio.

Colleena Shakti

We will be blessed with Colleena's presence at the show, where she will be performing both Odissi, Rajasthani, and Indian-Arabic fusion bellydance. Besides Colleena, we have so many other amazing performers! Both Monique Ryan and I are debuting new-to-Halifax numbers, Rhonda Barrett and Nawal Doucette will be performing their delicious fusion bellydance, the ever-awesome Elinor Crosby is in attendance along with her troupe Uberwench Tribal, and I can personally attest to the fabulousness of Mahari's gorgeous new number! This is one show you don't want to miss. Buy your tickets here or at Pretty Things Boutique in Halifax.

Our Local Performers:

Mahari Tribal

Monique Ryan

Laura Selenzi (That's me!)

Rhonda Barrett

Nawal Doucette

Elinor Crosby

Nath Keo Workshop

2011-05-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend I took in Nath Keo's "Sacred Centre" and "Oriental Bliss" workshops, and they were fantastic! Put on by BC ex-pat's Kathryn Burke and Lara Kirkpatrick, the workshops were held at the Dartmouth Sportsplex. I first met Nath after he blew everyone away at the first IBCC in Toronto. He was one of the performers everyone asked about, and due to popular demand Yasmina brought him back the next year to teach. Check out any of his Youtube videos and you'll see that his precise and innovative dancing is like nothing you've seen before.

What I love about Nath is his humble attitude and sense of humor, not to mention impeccable technique and a lot of passion for the dance. Influenced by his training in both Cambodian dance and Oriental style (aka Egyptian/cabaret bellydance for the stage), his style is very unique. Nath often mentioned how his teaching style is influenced by his work choreographing for Sacred Centre dance company, with the end goal being synchronized lines and technique.

Having been away from Yasmina and my other teachers in Toronto for many months, I was thrilled to be a student again, learning a fresh perspective on oriental technique as well as new and innovative combos. I even felt Nath's aesthetic coming out when I taught my classes on Saturday.

Nath is truly a Canadian treasure and belongs on the international workshop circuit. The quality of the workshop was right up there with many I've taken with more famous dancers. So get in your classes with him while you can!

I've been thinking a lot lately about creating group choreographies for our Cabaret Serpentine shows, and for various events in Atlantic Canada. Now I'm even more inspired!

Read more about Nath and his dancers here: www.sacredcentredance.com

Casino Carnivale

2011-04-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

Monique and I performed at a great event at the Casino last week, Casino Carnivale. All week they had entertainment and special promotions. On April 16th and 17th a group of circus performers were brought in from all over the city and abroad to perform on and off for the evening. I had an awesome time meeting so many fascinating people! In bellydance land, I rarely have the chance to work with performers from different disciplines, so it was a thrill for me! So much damn talent in one room. I even got a private juggling lesson!

Monique and I (Monique's Blog here)

Caitlan and Monique (Caitlan's Blog here)

Caitlan and I, practicing my cirque skills!

Just chillin'.

Caitlan stretching

Monique before performing

Caitlan in the lobby stage

Tribally Yours 2011

2011-04-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

This April, Monique and I were invited to teach and perform at Tribally Yours in Quebec. Our friends and fellow performers Kay and Elinor joined us for the road trip. Kay drove the whole way there and back in one shot, about 28 hours of driving total! We managed to make the drive fun with good music and photoshoots.

After settling in at our gorgeous B&B, we had a fabulous supper at a nearby restaurant, fresh salmon perfectly cooked, and handmade pasta with carmelized onions and sun-dried tomatoes. Yum! The next day we woke up early to teach our workshop, Drunken Master. Not your typical topic, this was about exploring the loose, juicy side of your dancing. Letting go of inhibitions and stiff perfectionism. However, we stressed that to really achieve the "master" part of the equation, technique needs to be so ingrained in your body that you can let go of thinking about it.

This workshop was inspired by Jackie Chan's Drunken Master, as a martial artist he gets better and better as he drinks, letting the punches flow by as he moves freely and softly around his opponant. We were also inspired by dancers like Dina and Zoe Jakes who truly "let go" when they dance, as well as Turkish Rom which frequently involves pantomimes of drinking. Our featured choreography, of which we taught some sections, has us drinking out of rhinestone flasks and loosening up as we dance.

The workshop was a blast, we started with shaking out the tension in all our body parts, then learning some funky "drunken" combos, and finally I led the girls in a Zaar-inspired ritual at the end to experience letting go of our "demons" and stress of our lives.

As students, we enjoyed Marie-Chantel's awesome Bollywood/Bellydance workshop, and Domonique Senecal's Tahitian dancing.

The performance was an amazing mix of over 30 acts. A HUGE amount of talent in this show. Monique and I performed solos as well as our Drunken Master duet. My favorite act was Marie-Chantel's infectious Bollywood to "Choli Ke Peeche" which I can't get out of my head.

Monique's awesome Hula Hoop/Bellydance/Cirque act:

My sword solo:

Drunken Master:

After show pics with our road trip buddies!

We spent the next night in Montreal, drinking wine and chatting with the girls. It was a great trip- we really enjoyed meeting so many talented people and seeing their creations! We were sad to go...especially sad to leave the land of fresh squeaky-cheese and easily accesible wine. Le sigh.

New classes in Halifax

2011-03-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

I'd like to thank all of the lovely ladies who came out to my classes this Saturday at King's College Dance Studio. I'm so thrilled to be teaching again, these will be my first regular classes in Halifax since moving back from Toronto.

It was refreshing to see seasoned students from a variety of different teachers in my Intermediate class looking to brush up on their technique, study a new style and just to keep learning. Sometimes we forget that reviewing the basics can be so important and effective, so today I focused on Egyptian style shimmies and some arm patterns with this group. It's always tricky to get the Egyptian or "thigh" shimmy down when most of us start out with a bigger, more American-style shimmy that has the knees so connected to the hips. Everyone did a great job with the challenge.

I also had a great time teaching my brave beginners! I went through the full range of motion of the hips today, accent, twist, tilt, forward, backward and sideways slides, and Egyptian shimmies. I was impressed to see how patient and focused the ladies were today, taking the time to get the technique right instead of barreling ahead and missing the subtleties.

I think I'm going to enjoy teaching the more laid-back East Coast crowd!

Choosing a Bellydance Teacher

2011-02-25T22:39:00.000-08:00

It seems like everywhere you turn there's a bellydance class these days. When I lived in Toronto, there were 4 bellydance studios within walking distance. 7 if you're athletic. When Yasmina Ramzy started Arabesque Academy in Toronto, there was nothing else like it in most of Canada. Now you can find a bellydance class at every university, gym, rec centre and dance studio. Are all of these teachers qualified? How can you find out? In this post I hope to give you a couple good tips on how to determine if a teacher is right for you.

INSPIRATION:

There are certainly more people bellydancing than ever before, and many more talented dancers. But being a great performer does not necessarily make a good teacher, and vice versa. Someone may have a great website and look absolutely stunning, but that does not make them a good dancer. You may fall in love with a performer, and find them cold and disorganized as a teacher. One thing is for sure, you want to be inspired by your teacher, so finding someone who's performance style you love is important. If you find a dancer to be awkward and uncomfortable as a performer, they will likely be the same in class, and not be comfortable teaching to large groups.

PROFESSIONALISM:

Does the teacher have respect for themselves and for the art form? Seeing one of their performances can be a good way to find out. Do they act bawdy and crass, or classy and professional? Do they teach in a clean, safe studio, or some sketchy dive? Do you really want to associate yourself with someone who is doing the art form a disservice? Also, remember that price should NEVER be your top priority, if you want to get your money's worth. A true professional will not undercut other teachers and devalue the profession by giving away their work for free or at a deep discount. Even if they turn out to be a knowledgeable teacher, it shows a lack of respect to other teachers who work hard to make a living.

SAFETY:

Many people just want a fun class to get fit, feel sexy and have fun. This is a great reason to take a bellydance class! But just because you don't have any professional ambitions doesn't mean you should go to just anyone. Many newbie teachers say, "Oh, I know I'm not that experienced, but I only teach beginners". Beginner is the absolute most important level! 90% of advanced moves are a combination of isolations learned in beginner, and if you learn bad technique from the beginning, trust me, it is MUCH harder to unlearn than it is to learn something from scratch. The other issue is your safety. Bellydance may seem like a gentle dance form, but all that hip twisting, shoulder snapping, chest popping and hip bumping can seriously injure you if you don't have a knowledgeable teacher. Someone with experience will be specific when teaching technique, warning you to avoid things like stressing your joints, compressing your neck, hyper-extending your knees, etc.

Watch out for those backbends...

One of the reasons I went in to Massage Therapy was to better understand bio-mechanics and the inner workings of the body to become a better teacher. What qualifications does the teacher have? Even if it's just knowledge collected from years of teaching and various related courses that may not have resulted in a degree, this is something you should research if you value your health! And as for learning the right technique, you may not start out wanting to be a "bellydancer", but so many girls fall in love with the art form and find themselves dedicated artists many years later. You deserve to get off on the right foot.

EXPERIENCE:

How long has the teacher been dancing before she started teaching? How long has she been teaching for? I personally waited 6 years until I felt I was ready to teach. Some people wait a year or less. Do they really have enough knowledge to be taking your money for it? I have seen some dancers become amazing bellydancers in as little as two years, however these girls usually have a very strong dance background in other styles, and study like crazy for those two years. If the teacher studied every day with top-of-the-industry teachers, then maybe two years is enough. If they studied for 10 years with some crazy lady in the park, well, not so much. Look at their training.

DEDICATION:

Is this just a silly on-the-side thing, or something the teacher is passionate about? For me, my love for bellydance is behind everything I do. There are a couple ways to tell if the teacher is serious. Have they studied with renowned teachers? If someone isn't willing to invest money and time into this dance, they can't be taking it seriously. Bellydance is expensive. Period. Do they invest in regular training? If they don't live in a big city, do they occasionally travel (or bring artists in) to stay fresh? This extends to costuming, as shallow as it may sound. No matter if they're designer, but a lingerie bra with a necklace sewn to it doesn't exactly scream "professional". Pro cabaret costumes cost at least $500 each. If you put together an amazing tribal fusion costume, it will be similar, if not more. (That antique Rajasthani jewelry adds up) Like I said, expensive! Of course, having lots of bling doesn't make you good. I've seen a couple "interesting" performers with rich husbands who love to buy them designer costumes.

Most serious dancers will have a website. I know a couple amazing dancers in Toronto who don't, but you can read about them on the dance studio website. In general, if someone is taking the profession seriously, they should have one. Good business cards too.

ORGANIZATION:

Aida Nour leads a group at the 2008 International Bellydance Conference of Canada
Now, we can all get a little flustered or disorganized at times, but in general you want to see that your teacher has a plan. Technique should build on itself as you go, and the class should have a good warm-up and cool down. Designing a class plan, what order to teach the moves in, to what music, and in what time frame takes experience. This is something you usually only find out after you take the class.

KNOWLEDGE:

It seems obvious, but simply knowing how to shake doesn't cut it. What kind of shimmy is that? What muscles are powering that chest lift? Where does veil work come from? Where does BELLYDANCE come from? Who are the Saidi? Bellydance is a cultural art with a rich history. If the teacher has no idea where it comes from, they are doing both the dance and their students a disservice. There is a lot of discussion about whether Tribal Fusion teachers (who clearly state they don't teach traditional dance) should know about the roots of bellydance and Middle Eastern Folklore. I believe that of course they should at least know about the general history of the dance. Modern dancers don't necessarily have to study ballet in depth, but they do know the basics.

PERSONALITY:

For me, this is a big one. Do you leave class feeling like crap because of a put-down from your teacher? Does she make you feel excited about learning more, or like you should just give up? How does she give criticism? Don't keep going to a teacher who crushes your spirit, or who makes you feel uncomfortable. That's not what you're there for. Sahra Saeeda is a wonderful example of the right kind of personality. Taking her "Journey Through Egypt" folklore certificate course, I felt so excited to learn more, she made us feel like scholars of dance. She respected the knowledge we came in with and was excited to teach us more.

I've had other teachers make me feel like I will never understand all the complexities of this dance and I should just give up. They may insult your other teachers and insist they are the "one true path" and their next big expensive workshop is the only way you'll ever improve. Which personality do you think will really encourage your progress?

Sahra shows Jaene a Ghawazee-style costume at left

Another thing to be wary of is teachers who are so sweet that they never correct your technique (again, what are you paying for?) or who feed your ego by promising you that you'll be a huge star. You want someone kind and encouraging, but you also want someone who will push you to be your absolute best.

There are so many more factors to take into consideration, and following your instincts will always help you. I wish everyone could have a wonderful experience learning this incredible dance and hope you can find the best possible mentor to guide you!

Laura and Monique with Rachel Brice

Going Home

2011-01-22T21:09:00.000-08:00

Most of you know I'm moved back to Halifax, Nova Scotia from Toronto this winter. This has been such a hard decision for me and about a year of angst went into it. I've had a lot of people ask why I would move to a smaller city at this point in my career, so I thought I'd write a bit about it here.

When I initially left Halifax, many of my friends had already moved away, I was at a standstill in my bellydance and photography career, and I wanted a change. I had taken the Arabesque Pro Course in Toronto in the summer and was completely excited about the idea of working with Canada's leading bellydance company, Yasmina Ramzy, and learning to work with live musicians. In October 2005 I moved to Toronto and started taking classes at Arabesque like crazy.

My first year was hard. Toronto is a hard city to crack and it took me almost the whole year until I started to like the place. When I visited Halifax, Monique and I would have intensive bellydance pow-wows and started our duet group, Cabaret Serpentine. We began putting on shows every 6 months or so and dreamed of working in the same city and starting a business together. I planned to move home in about 2 years after studying intensively at Arabesque.

That didn't happen. I became an apprentice and then a lead dancer at Arabesque. After working full time as a bellydancer, teaching and performing all over the city, I became concerned at the flighty nature of the work and wanted a side career to support it. Something that would be a compliment. After a lot of searching I found Massage Therapy. It felt like the perfect match; I would learn more about anatomy and biomechanics, I would be helping people, I could be my own boss eventually, and could set my own schedule.

2 years later I graduated from Sutherland-Chan as an RMT, with a wonderful boyfriend. :)
We spent the next year and a half together and things just kept getting better. Many of the Arabesque girls had become very close friends, and wonderful opportunities kept coming my way. I had two great jobs as an RMT and had finally started to feel at home in Toronto.

All this time Monique and I kept talking about the possibilities for our business, brainstorming new workshops, choreographies and ideas. I loved working with Arabesque but I was starting to get tired of being an instrument in someone else's vision and wanted the opportunity to create my own work. I missed my family, the tight-knit community in Halifax, the ocean and my friends. When I visited in the summer to help put on "Serpentine Circus", I saw what I would be missing out on if I stayed in Toronto. A chance to be a leader in the bellydance community with something to offer the city, as opposed to Toronto where there are so many amazing dancers, events and workshops going on that nothing really stands out. Creating your own events is so incredibly expensive and complex in Toronto that it hardly seems worth it. In Halifax our network of incredible talented people meant that our shows had been great successes.

So after about a year of driving both Monique, my boyfriend and my family crazy, I decided I needed to try moving back and see if I could make it work. My (did I mention wonderful?) boyfriend finally agreed to move down with me in April, a crucial detail! In December I left my jobs, had about 4 tearful goodbye parties with Arabesque, packed up my crazy apartment and moved home over Christmas.

Since I've moved back, everyone has been so welcoming and wonderful. I'm thrilled to see the interest in traditional Egyptian dance by Halifax dancers, with two sold-out workshops this month! It has been so good to connect with my family again and working with Monique is exciting as always. Our plans are finally taking shape and so many amazing opportunities and projects have come our way already. I've started a great job as a massage therapist as well. I can't thank everyone enough for your love, support, and encouragement this last year, I certainly wouldn't have made it without you.

Tribal Fusion and Egyptian Cabaret, what's the difference?

2010-10-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

No matter which style you prefer, or what you call them, you have to agree that bellydance is becoming more and more divided into these two categories, each with its own strong identity and style. In this post I won't be dealing with the complex politics that surround these issues, nor do I plan on defending the legitimacy (or awesomeness) of either. That's a whole 'nother topic.

Often I think there should be a "bellydance for dummies" style summary for beginners who are trying to understand the complex world of bellydance which they are entering. Below is a chart I made a while ago to try and come up with a quick "cheat sheet" to help beginner dancers understand the difference. I would LOVE any feedback as this is a HUGE topic! Let me know your thoughts.

	Tribal Fusion	Egyptian/Cabaret
Description	Dark, Mysterious, Powerful	Sensual, Expressive, Playful
Influences	Middle Eastern Folklore, Modern, hip hop, Indian, Spanish, and African dance, the list goes on.	Middle Eastern folkoric and social dance, Russian ballet, golden era Hollywood movies and tourism
Origins (in a nutshell)	Carolina Nericcio developed American Tribal Style (ATS) an offshoot of bellydance and world dance involving group improv using established combos and cues. Suhaila Salimpour developed her own technique out of middle eastern cabaret and modern dance using complex muscle control and isolation. These created a technical base for individual expression and freedom of style. Dancers like Rachel Brice created interpretations which have been emulated the world over. Tribal Fusion is considered by some to be the evolution of bellydance, and is experiencing a huge creative boom where almost any kind of fusion is being explored.	Middle Eastern folk and social dance was adapted for the stage by the national folkloric troupes of Egypt, (The Kowmeya and Reda Troupes) encouraging national pride and tourism. The “Oriental” or cabaret style seems to have originated in the mid 1900's mainly by Badia Masabni in her Cairo "Casino Opera", again powered by tourism. Russian ballet dancers were brought in to teach poise and elegance. Hollywood movies and American theatre exotized the dance and the Middle East, and in turn influenced the dance and costuming. Americans and dancers the world over have since created their own styling to suit their individual character and audience.
Famous Dancers	Rachel Brice, Jill Parker, Zoe Jakes, Mardi Love, Sharon Kihara, Mira Betz... Canada: Audra Simmons	Samia Gamal, Tahiya Karioka, Dina, Randa Kamel, Aziza, Tito, Jillina... Canada: Yasmina Ramzy, Hadia
Posture	Strong, proud, controlled, arms are higher, hips heavy.	Poised, relaxed, hips heavy, upper body elegant.
Costuming	Folkloric/gypsy to Industrial, urban-primitive to minimalist. Leg and cleavage not as common. Influences of world dance layered in a gypsy-like collection of treasures. “Melodia” pants, antique jewelry, large hair ornaments, coin bras and low belts with medallions and tassels are common. At this point anything goes!	Feminine and sensual. Beaded bra and belt sets with flowing skirts, now common is the embellished lycra skirt and matching bra. Legs, stomach and cleavage are often artfully shown. Sparkling jewelry. Elegant beaded dresses with cut-outs are also an option. Folkloric costuming is individual to the region.
Props	Anything you can imagine including sword, zills (finger cymbals), fans, fire, "Spanish" skirts, trays….	Veils, assaya (cane), shamadan (candelabra), zills…
Music	Anything. Popular choices are interpretive, electronic with world music influences, strong drum beats, mysterious and dark. Circus and vaudeville elements are becoming popular. Beats Antique, Solace, Amon Tobin, Balkan Beat Box, Pentaphobe, Karsh Kale and Cheb I Sabbah, Mosavo...	Arabic music which can be instrumental, upbeat and catchy or slow and expressive, can be very powerful and beautiful, runs the gamut of moods. Uses instruments such as dumbek, nay, quanun, accordian, mizmar, oud, etc. Famous singers are Oum Kalthoum or Farid Al Attrach for the classics; and Saad El Sogheer, Hakim, Nancy Ajram, Tarkan, Amr Diab and Warda etc for upbeat pop music.
Why try this style?	Mysterious and powerful, this dance gives you freedom of expression, and is impressive and exciting to a western audience. Learn muscle control and strength. Costumes are creative, fascinating and exciting. Express your individuality!	Sensual and exciting, cabaret is considered more authentic and traditional, with a rich history and culture to explore. Express all of your emotions from joy to heartbreak. Learn muscle control and poise. Costumes are beautiful, sparkling and elegant. Express your femininity!

New Blue Bella!

2010-10-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

My Bella finally arrived! Adjusted a couple hooks and it fits beautifully. I was so happy to find a Bella on Bhuz in a color and style that I like. But you know what they say, "you have to sell Bellas to get Bellas!" ....I just don't think I can part with my ruby red one...it was my first real pro costume! SOB! I can keep it for now, right? RIGHT?

Dancing With The Girls

2010-10-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

I've had so much fun doing duet and trio shows this summer. A gig is always more fun when you're going with a friend. It feels safer of course, travel is less mind-numbingly boring, and any difficult or ridiculous situation is always hilarious, rather than making you upset or annoyed.

For example, here are Samara and I turning what could be an intimidating venue into a movie set.

Context: We are asked to change in a bathroom and I am getting the most out of the situation. Samara is standing on the edge of the bathtub taking my photo. No one got hurt. True story.

In a group, any problem is creatively solved. In this photo, Saba improvises her costume (as I cleverly forgot to pack her costume change, a matching red outfit). She becomes the gypsy-esque star and Yzza and I are her back-up dancers. Crisis averted!

Waiting time "backstage" becomes much more productive.

In other crazy stories, nothing went wrong at this show with Maryfer! I am not making this stuff up folks.

Oh, and no we're not changing in a public washroom (bellydance purgatory), but were actually given an entire "spare" ballroom including a staff washroom. That's how you do it.

And here I am NOT lighting anything on fire with my Shamadan. SUCCESS!!

And finally, walking through a giant complex of banquet halls from the changeroom to your show is about 300% more entertaining.

Moroccan Tent show

2010-09-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

Last night I performed at what I was told was a "tent party" for a client on a "tight budget".

...It turned out to be the most opulent engagement party I've ever seen. The tent was on the front lawn, draped with fabrics and filled with candles and moroccan lanterns. There was a fabulous Arabic band who I wish I could've stayed and listened to. The drummer played with my CD which was great. I changed into my costume in the house which was an incredible mansion which reminded me of "Beauty and the Beast" for some reason.

Yeah, like that.

The clientele was Arabic and Afghan so I wore a veil wrapped like a sari under my bra and around my torso. I was able to use the "pallu" (loose end that hangs over the shoulder) like a veil, so it worked out nicely. Here are a couple pics that my wonderful boyfriend/amazing gig assistant took with his iphone.

Here I am with hand candles, the video boom above me:

And with the sword, which turned out to be the hit of the evening:

So it turned out to be a great evening. This is a great reminder that no matter how "tight" your client's budget apparently is, you should stick to your guns and charge what you're worth. After all if they're hiring entertainment they either can afford it or they can't. I doubt the caterer, band, security, and decorators are giving them a discount!

Happy dancing,
Laura xoxox

Photoshoot with Ritesh Das

2010-09-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

I had such a wonderful photoshoot with Ritesh Das last week. I chose to work with Ritesh not only because of his wonderful photography, but because he is such a warm-hearted, fun, fascinating person. Not just a photographer, Ritesh is Toronto's tabla master. His group the Toronto Tabla Ensemble create incredible world music that I actually listen to all the time! As a "fellow Gemini" (as Ritesh would say) we get along famously.

I tried not to let my photography background take over and make me a nightmare micro-managing client...which turned out to be easy as Ritesh did a fabulous job!

Here is a sneak preview of our shots, check out my website gallery or Facebook Page for the full report!

New Sahar Okasha costume!

2010-09-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

SO excited! Finally had this beautiful designer costume tailored to fit perfectly. Hopefully pro photos will follow soon, but here's a sneak peek I couldn't help but share!

Yes, that's my poor roomie in the background, trying desperately to live a bellydance-free life.

A Bellydancer’s Guide To Gigs

2010-09-05T21:24:00.000-07:00

After an extremely unpleasant experience with a recent show, I found it helpful to refer to an old article of mine as a reminder to always stick to your guns and demand fair treatment; from the very first contact with the client until you leave. I hope this is helpful and that some of you can avoid unpleasant situations in your future! And for you potential clients, perhaps this could clarify a bit of the industry for you.

A Bellydancer’s Guide To Gigs
or
How To Make A Living And Still Like Yourself In The Morning
Originally published in Mid-Bits Magazine, Winter 2009. Edited Sept 2010.
By Laura Selenzi

After my last article about the Arabesque Pro Course (published in Mid-Bits, Fall 2008), I began thinking about how much I had learned about the business of bellydance. Four years later, I now perform and teach regularly in Toronto and many of the issues discussed have come up for me. Although it was intimidating at first, I’ve found that insisting on respect and high standards has left clients pleased and impressed. Yasmina Ramzy’s resolve to change the public’s view of bellydance to that of an art form has stuck with me as I attempt to make a living in this industry.

The profession of bellydance is a highly misunderstood one, to say the least. When I inform people of what I do, “I study Middle Eastern dance” (because, to say I’m a bellydancer right off the bat always sends eyebrows through the roof and evokes much nudging and tittering, of course…) the reaction is usually one of intense curiosity and surprise –and occasionally shock or skepticism. “What do you actually DO?” they ask. Well…besides teaching and dancing with Arabesque Dance Company, the sort of shows I do are vast in range.

The classic is of course the Arabic wedding. Then there’s the usual restaurant show. There are also bridal showers, birthday parties, children’s parties, baptisms, fundraisers, corporate events, television and movie appearances and more. On the other hand there are dancer-created events such as stage and theatre shows, studio “hafla’s” (parties) and gala events. However, it’s the events where the general public hires us that I’m interested in discussing.

How do these people find me? Many find me through the Arabesque Agency, which is where I gained an understanding of fair pricing, professional ethics, and more. I also receive a number of requests from my website and other sites where I list myself. Some come from recommendations from previous clients and other entertainers. One of the main things I find myself doing is educating clients about hiring a bellydancer. I would say at least 95% of clients have never done this before and are looking to the dancer for guidance.

The major hurdle I run into at this point is price. I will absolutely not go below my standard rate unless there is a very compelling reason, ie: for charity or an event that will absolutely lead to a significant amount of future business. This is why most dancers charge less for recurring restaurant bookings – they promise a reliable weekly income and the prospect of contact with new clients. Private events are a one-off and do not give you as much exposure, so charging more is appropriate. Standard rates (charged by professionals and popular agencies in Toronto) are $125 and up for a recurring weekly show, and $200 for a private event downtown. Most of my shows are farther outside of the downtown core, and normally run at about $250-$350 depending on location. Arabesque lists the pricing scheme very clearly on the agency website.

So why all this talk about pricing? As I mentioned earlier, this is the biggest hurdle in booking gigs and dealing with clients. I lose about 50% of the potential clients who call me when they hear my price. “Oh ok…I’ll talk to my husband and get back to you.” And…they’re gone. Or “Well my friends niece said she’ll do it for $50, why do you charge so much more?” I feel its important at this point to mention that you are a seasoned professional who takes the dance seriously and have put years of time and money into your training, and it shows. People often thank me profusely after shows, mentioning another event where a non-professional danced (often a family member or friend who has taken a couple lessons, people have too often been embarrassed by hiring someone like this) -they are thrilled to see a real pro. If people want something decent, they will pay for it. I’m not going to argue with clients here. I pleasantly state my case, and thank them for calling. There have been many times when I could have really used that $150 to help pay the rent, but I have stuck to my guns.

I’ve overheard Yasmina Ramzy’s struggles in the Arabesque Agency as she attempts to convince clients no true professional would charge $150 for a private event and yes, her dancers are educated about Arabic music and culture, and yes they are stage-worthy and attractive. Clients have had way too many bad experiences with inexperienced dancers who use inappropriate music, props and costuming, etc. and are now nervous about hiring again. As I mentioned in my last article, one of the wonderful things about bellydance is that it is welcoming to all women; but in the case of commercial gigs, most clients want a dancer who is young, fit, and attractive.

The real problem with pricing is when other dancers charge below the standard rate. Some state they love to dance and would happily do it for less or for free (some even go so far as to suggest that being paid for your art implies you love it less). Some say that they are still inexperienced and don’t feel right charging the standard rate, or are simply trying to beat the competition and get more shows and experience. The issue here is that this devalues us as artists and professionals. If one dancer charges $100 for a private party, the client then feels that this is the “real” price, and the next time they or their friend tries to hire a professional, they think we are trying to rip them off. So no one wins here, the public will now insist on a lower price for everyone. So when you are “ready” to charge the full price, no one will want to pay it. (This of course goes for teaching rates as well.) If you are just starting out and don’t want to charge the full rate, dance for charity events, fundraisers, students gala’s etc. until you do feel ready. Performing for the public before you’re prepared not only lowers the bar of the entire art form, people will remember you as such and you want to present yourself at your best.

In many cities bellydancers charge much less due to factors such as high competition and low market price. Arabesque ran into the same problems in Toronto originally but began to slowly raise the fee, encouraging others to do the same. Soon it was clear that those clients who were discerning were willing to pay for the best. In price checking other dance entertainers such as hip-hop and bollywood, you may notice that the rates start around $300 for private events. Why do we charge less?

Another issue I have come up against, and that the Arabesque Agency has to deal with frequently is the client who wants to hire dancers as “ambience”. They want a pretty girl in a costume to dance around behind musicians, on a podium at a club or to hostess an event. Now while this may sound like easy money, and maybe even fun, it is an area in which to tread cautiously. Why? The problem is that we are being treated as a backdrop, like a prop. In this case dancers are rarely treated with respect. If they want a model in a costume, they should hire one.

The issue of being treated as artists is a big one. Of course a major part of our role is as entertainers and not always as a serious artist, but we still need to represent the art form fairly. Interacting with the audience is one of the joys of bellydance, however it certainly brings up its share of problems. A good example is tipping. I personally don’t feel comfortable with strangers tucking money into my bra or belt, or touching me at all for that matter. My way of dealing with this is to smile and take the tip in my hand and tuck it into the side of my belt myself. It is a difficult subject as the tradition of tipping the bellydancer is a part of Arabic culture and most people have the best of intentions. Usually they just want some sort of interaction and to compliment you. My issue is that the most well known image of a dancer accepting tips in her costume is…you guessed it, the “exotic dancer”. And we have fought for too long to separate ourselves from this image to risk appearing as something we’re not. I find that people are often relieved that you have saved them from not knowing the appropriate conduct here.

In the case of audience members who are intentionally disrespectful, lewd, or distracting it is best dealt with swiftly. You may need to talk to the owner before hand, making it clear that you will not continue your show if such behavior occurs. It is a challenge to keep the polite patrons happy and appear cheerful while attempting to tell off a drunken letch. If the organizers are not dealing with this for you (as they should) the best approach here is to make a bit of a joke out of it, embarrassing the jerk and making the rest of the audience laugh. Slapping a wayward hand and wagging your finger is a simple example. People love to see that you can stand up for yourself. I think it’s important to mention that if you ever feel threatened or uncomfortable it is fully within your rights to leave. Never stand for that kind of treatment as you are setting an example as well as looking out for your own safety. While it’s sadly true that some organizers may be upset with you after this, do you really want to work for people like that? Most will be overly apologetic and embarrassed.

In conclusion, I believe we should dance with a conscience and an awareness of the greater affect of our actions. Obviously none of us can be perfect and may occasionally find ourselves in less than ideal situations. A good question to ask ones self is, will I feel proud or ashamed after this choice? Will showing up for a surprise “bellygram” at this office make me feel proud of my art form, or humiliated? Is allowing this person to shove a $5 bill into my bra cup going to make me feel uncomfortable or gracious? Is charging less for this gig going to make me feel badly, or is it appropriate? If you are honestly asking yourself these questions it is hard to go wrong. For whatever your answer is, if you are being true to yourself, then you are being true to the dance itself.

Updated Galleries

2010-07-22T22:43:00.000-07:00

Just updated my Performance and Studio Galleries on my website! Take a look: Gallery

For more updates, photos, news and more, join my facebook group!

Double Veil and Drum solo

2010-07-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

Newest video! My improvised performance at "Serpentine Circus" in Halifax Nova Scotia on June 26, 2010. Music is "Crying Angels" by Said Mrad and Khatwet Serena by Hossam Ramzy.

Incredible Headpieces

2010-05-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed with headpieces right now...I'm looking at creating one for the upcoming Serpentine Circus show using braids, wire, feathers, silver chain, coins...ok I haven't really decided yet, but I do have a big stash of creepy fake hair waiting for me in my living room. My outfit is brand new, a top I made for an Inversion show, with amazing ruffled pants from Maral and a bunch of amazing silver goodies from my stash. And it's WHITE! I never, ever wear white so this should be interesting. Maybe I won't even spill anything on it by June! It could happen!

Moving on, here are some of my most exciting finds for inspiration from the world of the internets.

Butler and Wilson

Gaultier

Another angle of the Gaultier piece

Nicole Richie

Galliano

McQueen, I'm kind of obsessed with antlers too...I'm gonna do it! Try and stop me!

Unknown designer

Lucian Matis

Chanel Moscow

??? !!!

Peacock Blue...the initial inspiration for all this

Styling by Nadia Lev

HAYSA

2010-05-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

Haysa, Arabesque's latest drum solo from our show OUM is up on YouTUbe in all it's glory!! woo!

The Massage Job Shuffle!

2010-03-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Some people have asked me where I'm currently working doing massage, so here's the scoop.

After graduating I tried out a couple places which turned out to be less than ideal. Working in a condo with a physiotherapist turned out to be very slow and a bad set-up. Working at a new gym/wellness center was also very slow, but I loved my co-workers and the big bright space. I also tried working one day a week at a small Chiropractic clinic just two blocks from my house, but an unpredictable schedule and dingy work environment meant I eventually moved on.

We can't all work in a location like this...

I eventually found my place at a gorgeous and warm place in High Park where I now work with naturopathic doctors and other alternative health care practitioners in a great neighborhood. They haven't had an RMT in a while (they were very successful when they were there in the past however) so it seems its a matter of getting the word out and things should get rolling there.

Then I had an interview at an amazing multi-disciplinary rehabilitation clinic at Yonge and Davenport. Everything sounded fantastic but I would have to go through a second interview and I didn't know if I could even accept the job, what with my other two positions. Despite me regretfully turning down the second interview, the owner pursued me and said just to come in and chat.

Talking with her helped me put everything in perspective. What do I want out of my career? A chance to grow and learn, to be challenged, to work as a multi-disciplinary team, to help people reach their goals, and yes, to be able to pay my rent!

I realized that as much as I had loved my first job at a gym, I just couldn't achieve those goals there. So when I was offered the other job, I took it. I was sad to leave but it seemed to be the best decision. The new place offers an amazing opportunity to work with the owner who has 31 years of experience and regularly works with Olympians, and some other truly incredible therapists (physio, acupuncture and pilates) in a wonderful system where everyone works together to help the patient get back on track. It's the ideal inter-disciplinary environment. That, and it's crazy busy.

If you'd like to know the names of these places and see their websites, check out all the details on my website! www.lauranewton-rmt.com

March Massage Article

2010-03-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

How Massage Works to Relieve Pain

The Massage Manual- March edition

Posted in the March |LIVE|BODY monthly newsletter

Most people will tell you that massage helps to relieve their pain and tension, but how exactly does it do that? Your body is a very complex instrument and works in ways even the most educated scientists cannot understand. Through research and clinical trials we have come to know a little bit about how exactly massage therapy relieves pain. After being asked this exact question by a client and being a bit stumped on how to explain it, I set about writing this article to break it down.

One of the most basic ways it works is the increase of circulation. An RMT will always have the deep, broad strokes going towards the heart to encourage healthy venous return. The light sweeping strokes and deeper kneading act like squeezing a sponge in water; fresh blood and lymph flow back into the area as the pressure is released. Lymph carries white blood cells and is the highway of the body's immune system. Encouraging lymph flow helps to literally flush out toxins and bacteria.

Another way that massage reduces pain is though the nervous system. This works in multiple ways. Manual touch releases your natural painkillers such as endorphins and mood-enhancing serotonin as well as reducing the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone. When a muscle or tendon (the part of muscle which attaches to the bone) is kneaded and stretched, it activates a part of the muscle called the muscle spindle. This structure communicates with the brain, which reads the change as being excessive tension, and it tells the muscle to relax. Effectively, this "tricks" the brain into releasing the muscle. A clear example of how this works is how quickly and effectively a massage therapist can release a spasm or a "cramp".

One more way that massage therapy works through the nervous system is by the gate control theory, essentially "distracting" your brain from the pain. Your brain is constantly receiving pain signals (among others) from the injured muscle, but it can only process so much information at once. Manual therapy sends its sensations to the brain faster, effectively distracting it so you don't feel any pain, sort of like how scratching an itch or rubbing a bruised elbow works. Certainly this is somewhat temporary relief, but it can actually de-rail the escalating cycle of pain. In the long run, the less pain signals your brain receives from the muscle, the quicker you will experience relief, and the less likely it is that the pain will become chronic. This is one reason why regular massage is more effective than sporadic treatments.

In addition to these effects, massage has been proven to increase restorative sleep, increase relaxation and decrease stress, all of which have a surprisingly large effect on your pain sensitivity and healing.

For more information, check out these informative links:

How Does Massage Work?

Effectiveness of Massage Therapy for Chronic, Non-malignant Pain

Massage Better Than Relaxation Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Take care of yourself,

Laura

February's Massage Article

2010-02-03T23:21:00.000-08:00

Winter Footwear...Beware!

The Massage Manual- February edition

Posted in the February |LIVE|BODY monthly newsletter

I have to admit that I check out peoples feet. On the subway, on the street, I can't seem to help myself. The most cringe-inducing thing I see has to be the lack of support people are giving to their feet and ankles. Flip flops are the summer culprit, and in winter the worst is the soft moccasin boot, like Ugg and Emu boots. The lack of support both in the ankles and the arch of the foot can cause painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis and "shin splints". The flat sole of the shoe allows the foot to pronate (the arch to fall) - meaning you have no shock absorption. The impact is then absorbed into your ankles, your knees, your hips and even your back. So, can lack of foot support be the cause for your back and knee pain? Absolutely.

I see the same problem with women's high heels. I often have to stop myself from approaching people and begging them to invest in some supportive footwear. What I see is their feet wobbling and inverting (foot turning in) as they put their weight down, often the stiletto heel wobbles on every step. This puts incredible strain on the ligaments on the outside of your ankle and the muscles in legs. When you buy heels make sure they are stable, walk around the store and ask a friend to see if you are wobbling or if your ankles are turned in or out. If you wear heels everyday you will have shortened calf muscles and an over-lengthened tibialis anterior (on the front your shin) causing walking in flat shoes to be uncomfortable.

Take a look at the sole and heel of your shoe. If you see wear significantly more on the outside, you are likely supinating your foot and straining your "ATFL" ligament on the outside of your ankle. If you see more wear on the inside you are likely pronating and loosing your arch support. Seeing a podiatrist and getting some proper insoles means you can wear your favorite shoes and avoid the wear and tear on your body. A massage therapist can help you interpret these wear patterns, and asses your feet, ankles and related joints to get a picture of your biomechanics and help you improve any muscle imbalances. Often the hips, legs, and feet will need treatment to loosen tight muscles, release painful knots and lengthen connective tissue. A strengthening program for the over-lengthened muscles will help support your joints, helping you adjust to your new proper biomechanics much faster.

Be nice to your feet - take care of yourself.

January's massage article

2010-02-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

Posted in the first |LIVE|BODY inaugural monthly newsletter this January!

Post holiday stress isn't the only reason to get a massage this winter. Your muscles are on high alert in the cold weather, contracting to conserve body heat. Ever notice that the second you step out in the cold your whole body tenses up, your shoulders are up in your ears until you can get warm? That day to day tension adds up (especially if you sit at a desk all day). A combination of massage treatments and regular stretching can be hugely beneficial.

Another great reason massage treatments can be beneficial this season are the winter blues. Lack of adequate sunlight, dreary, freezing cold weather and the inability to be outside more often can really get you down. Massage has been proven to improve mood and even help relieve clinical depression in some cases when combined with a full treatment plan.

Take your health and happiness seriously and take care of yourself this winter.

Costume Inspiration

2010-01-06T16:22:00.000-08:00

Wasted some perfectly good time on the internet today looking at pretty, pretty things. I like to collect images like these to inspire me when I'm putting costumes together. Enjoy!

New Jobs

2009-11-18T21:35:00.001-08:00

I am thrilled to say that I've been hired by two great clinics. I was very pleasantly surprised to receive 6 job offers out of 8 interviews (one of which I had to turn down before they even had the chance to offer)! It certainly boosts my ego and feels great! In truth however, making the choice was extremely difficult. One clinic that I turned down really felt like home and I just loved the owner. However it was just a bit too far away for my liking and I wasn't sure that they would be able to give me enough clients right away.

I'm very happy with my final choices.

The first, which I'll be working 3 days a week in, is a clinic inside a gorgeous condo building just off Spadina. Fantastic young, inspired owner who seems to have great business sense and is really flexible. There is a pool, hot tub and gym for the tenants to use (me too!) and it's just a streetcar ride away. Also because it's right inside the condo there is a built in clientele.

The second is a fantastic new wellness studio just up the street on Spadina. (I don't think there should be a conflict of interest as the first place mostly draws from the condo tenants) I really love the space, the owner is another easy-going, smart, enthusiastic entrepreneur who wants to have me as the official on-site massage therapist. I'm starting there just one day a week as the clientele builds. I will be the first therapist there so I get a say in how my practice will work and can help start up the business which I think is great experience for me.

I start in about two weeks, as soon as I get my registration! :)

Massage spaces

2009-11-15T19:01:00.000-08:00

So all this week I've been running all over the city to job interviews to start my career as a massage therapist. I think I've been to every possible kind of workplace for an RMT. A private gym/wellness center, a slick interdisciplinary clinic, a beautiful spa, a home-y chiropractic center, a giant film studio, a clinic in a condo building, and next week I'm off to a yoga studio and a sports rehab clinic. I have to say they were all pretty great.

The treatment rooms themselves were just as varied. Most were quite small and went from warm soothing spa atmosphere to slick and medical looking. My favorite space was spacious and bright with a skylight and plants. I find that as RMT's we're trained to think beyond the relaxation element -emphasis is put on the clinical aspect of the profession- working in rehab, disease management, injury prevention and such. However relaxation is a huge part of healing and shouldn't be downplayed. I love the idea of having a clinical practice in a spa atmosphere.

So just for fun, here is an extensive collection of my fantasy treatment rooms, gathered from the internet. Sigh...someday!

New Costume

2009-11-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

My new costume!

I finally let go of my amazing blue Hoda Zaki Costume, as it was too big in the hips and I'd worn it everywhere. I swapped it for this incredible "naked dress" from Shems on the Bhuz swap meet. It was a little too big all over so it required major surgery. I hemmed it, took in the bodysuit waist and bra straps, almost completely took off the skirt and re-stitched it lower and with a nicer curve, stitched down a couple loose stones, took off some beaded strands I didn't like, and added some new rhinestone swirls over the slit and over the low back. (The back had no rhinestones when I got it). I thought it would be perfect for Shamadan at Myth, and I'm really happy with the way it turned out!

My old costume looks fantastic on Shems so this was a very successful trade. I love Bhuz!

Halloween update

2009-11-15T10:51:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd post my final costume decision after my previous post! I had a blast with the Arabesque ladies at Myth, and with my man at a house party the next night. :)

With Suleiman

With my girls

I begged him to dress up like a carny, and it looked amazing!

Senior Showgirls!

2009-10-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

Belinda Ferguson posted this link on facebook and I love it! So great to see seniors continuing to have fun and show off their talents and vitality. I really want to go see this!

Gypsy Caravans

2009-10-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

I have always been obsessed with Gypsy Caravans (Vardos), and I've been stalking them all over the web lately.

As I mentioned in my last post I've been watching HBO's Carnivale and the caravans they live in are gorrrgeous, i especially love the girls' caravans with elaborate vanity mirrors with feathers and sequins and silk strewn all over them. <3

I'd love to actually have a hand in making one, and have tried to convince my father numerous times to head up the project. He's an incredible craftsman...his projects have included our barn, furniture, woven baskets, knives, canoes, didgeridoo's, stone work and a lot more. He doesn't seem to interested in the excessive cabinetry that would go into it though. Sigh. I'll keep working on him though.

Here are the sites I've found the most informative or inspirational.
http://www.les-verdines.com/index2_us.htm
http://exploringthethames.blogspot.com/2009/03/gypsy-caravan-for-sale.html
http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house-concept/gypsy-caravans/
http://www.enslin.com/rae/gypsy/wagon.htm
http://gypsywaggons.co.uk/varhistory.htm

I've been collecting photos for ages so thought I'd share a couple.

Halloween costume ideas

2009-10-25T09:27:00.001-07:00

I love Halloween!

Monique and I are dying to be Orion Slave Girls (from Star Trek...thats right) but are going to wait until we can do that together someday.

So this year I am going as a circus ringmaster, and my wonderful box'o'costumes has provided me with almost the entire outfit...just need a top hat and a whip. (that's key) I've been watching HBO's Carnivale online every night...I'm obsessed. I've always wanted to live in a gypsy caravan with a tribe of perfomers! Wouldn't recommend watching that show before bed though, it's intense.

Here are some of my inspiration pics:

Here are a couple more that I love...saving for the future!

Heidi Klum always has the most amazing costumes:

Amazon Woman?

I love Xerxes and the 300 harem girls...

Of course, gypsy fortune teller:

In between

2009-10-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

I am finally nearing the end of my massage training and registration process! I've graduated from Sutherland-Chan and am now studying for provincial exams which I'm performing on Tuesday (ack!) and my written exams are a week after that.

I have to admit that it is incredibly hard to concentrate as I'm so close! Also it's been very difficult and frustrating for me to put dance on the back burner while I pursue my massage career...I just want to dance now that school is finished!

The reason I decided to follow massage was that I don't want to put all the pressure on my dance career to support me full time. I'd like to be choosy with what gigs I take, how many classes I teach, etc. I don't want to wear my mind and body out and lose my love for it.

Massage is a great match as it has given me a huge body of knowledge in regards to the body...recognizing dysfunction and having the tools to help. It will be a great supplement to my teaching! Also I wanted some brain-work, to develop a strong knowledge base and be able to help people. I believe that we are very disconnected and touch-starved in our modern culture, and massage is a safe and healthy way to address that. :)

Meanwhile I'm also studying Arabesque choreography for the upcoming show in February, visiting with my sister, helping a friend with some promotional work for her new studio, doing gigs, teaching a bit and preparing for my favorite holiday, Halloween! Wish me luck....

2009-10-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

Just posted a new vid on the Youtubes:

Update!

2008-03-31T11:07:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

I've avoided this blog for a while, I got a little upset after my last posts and I think I may have taken my readers comments a little too personally. I think that this is a common reaction however, as bellydance is such a personal thing for so many people. For a lot of us, it has been a long process of personal development, and along the way we fight many stereotypes. It becomes who we are, and any question of this art form can leave us deeply affected and personally affronted.

Moving on! Much has happened since my last post! Monique and I (aka Cabaret Serpentine) have put on two sold-out shows in Halifax, and this has been an incredibly uplifting and inspiring experience for me.

Click on the posters to go to the photo galleries.

I learned a lot putting together these shows. After dancing for strangers all year, including some very cynical crowds (and some great ones too!) it is SO wonderful to come home to a huge crowd of friends and family who have not seen professional bellydance regularly. The crowds were amazing. Loud, supportive, hugely appreciative. I don't think I've ever gotten that kind of response to a solo before (our show in September) the crowd was so excited and loud that I really choked up at the end of my number. It was amazing.

In Halifax there is a pretty big bellydance scene, for the size of the city. Off the top of my head I can think of 4 professional teachers and a bunch more that teach here and there. Competition is fierce as the population is limited! Shows tend to be limited to Fringe Festival performances (which are great), student recitals and the occasional appearance at events and festivals. There are now two restaurants which have dancers every week. There are some great dancers in Halifax, but (as with everywhere) there are also some people who call themselves bellydancer's (aka gyrators) who do not have an appreciation for the complexity and artistic subtleties of the dance. I am 100% for students getting experience performing, but there is a time and place for this...student recitals. If these people bill themselves as professionals, the general public sees them and thinks, "Oh, so this is bellydancing", and leaves thinking that it is not a very refined or technically skilled sort of dance. Worst case scenario is they see someone who thinks of bellydance as this super-sexy thing, and they wear something trashy and dance in a disturbingly seductive way. Sigh.

Monique and I really wanted to show the public what professional dancers can do, and do it in a great atmosphere. It was also important to us to pay our dancers like the pros they are! We were thrilled each time with the calibre and creativity of the dancers we hired. Another reason I fly to Halifax to do these shows is that I want to keep my connections there strong. I don't think I'll ever feel completely at home in Toronto, so the development of the Halifax bellydance scene is important to me.

In other news....I have FINALLY decided "what to do with my life", at least for the next couple years (besides bellydance of course). I will always want to dance, but I don't want to have to take every sketchy gig that comes my way, or teach a bazillion times a week and burn out, just to pay the bills. I want to do things because I want to, not because i need to. So what will positively affect my dance career, allow me the flexibilty to keep teaching, performing and travelling, and pay the bills? Well my answer to this is becoming a Registered Massage Therapist. I'll become a better teacher with an in-depth knowledge of the body, and i can make my own schedule. If I decide to open a studio one day, I can even have a massage clinic under the same roof. :) So right now I am completing my pre-requisite physiology course, (which is fascinating) and plan to attend Sutherland-Chan School of Massage Therapy soon after. This means I'll be in TO for at least 2 more years...and then....???

xoxox
Laura

A Response

2007-10-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

I'd like to publicly respond to a comment from a reader, "Charlotte" who's profile is not public, meaning I cannot reply to her personally. Here is her comment on my previous post:

"Laura, I'm having problems with quite a bit of what you said in your post:
First, from your description this is not a brush with "fundamentalism". Fundamentalism is a much more extreme and serious and dangerous condition. Bellydancing is still a questionable "art form", and there is a very very fine line between it being distasteful and it being classy - and I've seen both.

You mention at the end that maybe the nightclub/party scene isn't for you, what did you expect at the nightclub/party scene? The people who frequent that scene expect that you're nothing more than a stripper... Do you think nightclub owners want you to perform there so their patrons can appreciate Middle-Eastern culture? To enjoy Arabic music? Or perhaps, it's more likely to salivate over your shimmies? Why are you surprised? And it isn't the "fundamentalists" only who think that, I've heard liberal Arab mothers say the same thing, as well as cultured feminist white Canadians. I've seen Arabesque dancers perform in wonderful "toned down" choreographies, but I've also seen some performances which were - nothing more than unrelenting displays of "come-hither" sexuality, and the latter left me feeling cold and disgusted.

As for your trip to the Middle East, please remember that what you have been trained in, is nothing more than cultural appropriation at best, and that Middle Eastern culture has a lot more richness and history to it than just hip accents and undulations. And the last time I checked, China isn't a resource on feminism and respect for humanity.

Bellydancing is tons of fun most of the time, but I don't think you should take it so seriously, nor pretend that it is a serious form of art."

Alright, lets start at the beginning. Fundamentalism refers to the strict adherance to a set of fundamental, often conservative principals and beliefs, and an intolerance of other beliefs and an unwillingness to question their own. So in this case, I believe I am correct in referring to this man as such.

Unfortunately, some people continue to performed less-than-classy bellydance routines. Bellydance is very much an interpretation and not a standardized art form so there are bound to be less than flattering interpretations. I can only take responsibility for my own dancing.

I'm not sure if you know what I mean by Nightclubs. When a bellydancer dances at a "Nightclub", it is often the same as an upscale supper club or banquet hall where families and friends go to eat, drink, unwind and enjoy themselves while taking in a great show. I'm not talking about a drug-fueled rave, here. And in case you missed it, I am QUESTIONING the ideal-ness of this venue, not defending it. I myself am wondering how this casual environment showcases the dance. However, I hardly think that a crowd of Arabic families are expecting a stripper, I hope they are more educated than that. My issue is that because we are dancing in and amongst the people, it doesn't show us the same respect and dignity that a theatre show might.

But lets get one thing straight here. Bellydance, while I KNOW it is an art form (yes, I don't just believe it, I know it), does take pride in celebrating female sensuality. And while you may find this "disgusting" some of us believe that sensuality is beautiful, and an expression of our truest nature and ultimately, as Yasmina Ramzy has said, an expression of love. No, this doesn't mean a lascivious and raunchy in-your-face display of sex, but a dignified, powerful and feminine joy at celebrating your innate sensuality.

And I am very aware that some Arabic people as well as Canadians and many other people think that bellydance is nothing more than a woman in a skimpy costume jiggling and gyrating. This is a stereotype we fight everyday. If you have ever studied this dance, it becomes immediately apparent that it is much more. Every time I teach new students, they are always shocked to learn that it is actually difficult, and full of subtleties.

And as for your comment on bellydance being "cultural appropriation at best", this may have some truth to it, but if you have studied this dance for 10 years as I have you'd understand that this appropriation is a sort of evolution and creative process. The Middle East and Western culture have been "appropriating" each other for decades, and bellydancing is one result. "Appropriating" can also be described as "being inspired by" and it is how many art forms evolve. As someone with a degree in the Fine Arts, this is one thing I can say is true in the art world at large.

I am of course aware that the Mid-east has countless fascinating aspects to it, why do you think I've dedicated my life to studying the music, culture, folklore, and dance of this region? I find it unbelievably insulting that you think I shouldn't take it so seriously, and to state that is is certainly not a serious art form. Have you studied the subtleties of an undulation, or attempted the perfect staccato of a hip accent? Attempted to perfectly express a heart-wrenching taqsim? Listened to the heart-breaking songs of Oum Kalthoum? Have you studied Arabic rhythms and maqams? Have you choreographed for hours into the night, trying to express the music through your body in a way that will transport your audience? Have you watched your students blossom from scared and awkward into proud and beautiful dancers?

Maybe then, after just a bit more education and experience, you'd understand the depth and power of this undeniable art form, instead of making a statement after letting a few sub-par dancers cloud your vision. I suggest you check out some of the masters...Aida Nour, Tito, Randa Kamel, Jillina, and our own Arabesque Dance Company, and then see if you can deny that this is ART.

bellydance-related-crisis.

2007-07-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

I have to admit i'm having a bit of a bellydance-related-crisis.

I encountered my first brush with fundamentalism a while ago, I was asked why I "degraded myself in front on an audience" and how would I ever expect to find a husband? And while I think that I explained the dance and my motives pretty well, it was still a bit of a wake-up call.

I'm planning on going to the Middle East to teach English and study dance in the winter, and it's just hitting me now that I can't say that I'm a bellydancer if I expect to be employed, respected and treated as a professional. This really upsets me as I think that being a dance teacher and performer is a wonderful thing, and I'd love to have in on my TESOL resume as I think it really qualifies me to teach there. It seems so ironic to me that the very countries that I have dedicated my life to studying the dances of, are the ones that I can't admit this to! You'd think they'd appreciate someone who is so fascinated with their culture, yet it's places like China that would actually respect this!

Also, it's hard to feel like people appreciate your art when a large portion of our audience views us as some sort of party trick, and assumes that we want to be sexualized. Just last night I pulled up a guest at a restuarant and had him dance with me, and instead of thanking me as he sat down, he slapped my butt. Shocked, I kind of gave the audience an unimpressed look, but I was in full performance mode and couldn't think of what to do. I wanted to come back after I'd changed and give him a piece of my mind, but I just wanted to leave at that point.

This is a serious problem for dancers, people have been fired for stopping a show due to customer harassment. Restaurant owners seem to think it's just a hazard of the job and it's our job to just "go on with the show" and not make any one feel uncomfortable, even if they just grabbed us.

I think that Western men just don't understand how they are supposed to react to a bellydancer. Should they look away? Smile politely? Made crude comments to their buddies? Shake their pelvis wildly at us? Its pretty disheartening after studying this dance for so long and working so hard on being a great performer, so see that a lot of our audiences view us as basically a clothed stripper who is there to embarass, seduce and make fun of the men.

My plan of attack has always been to project my joy and love of the dance and hope that this shines though...but people always project their own experiances and assuptions onto you no matter what you do. I'm starting to wonder if the nightclub/party scene is really for me.

Thoughts?

It's been a while

2007-07-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

Well it's been about a month and a half since I've updated...eep!

Since then I've:

Headlined at Layali Arabesque at Myth
Had three more seniors gigs
Performed with ADC at the Canadian Arab Federation
Performed at parties/weddings in Oakville, Vaughn, Woodbridge, Maple and downtown
Celebrated my 25th birthday!
Bought two new costumes (sigh)
Negotiated making an instructional DVD (still in process)
Took my course in TESOL so I can teach English overseas next year
Headlined at Layali again
Learned a bunch of new parts for ADC shows
Taught regular classes at Aradia and Arabesque...and a veil variety class.

So it's been busy!

Layali both times was a blast.

I love dancing for a band full of friends...these guys know how to play FOR a dancer and really keep it interactive. Bassam was hearbreakingly amazing as usual, and the second show featured a whole new set of talent, including a really incredible violin player from Isreal. I think I felt better about the first (June) show, I had more time to practice and get ready. The July show was right after my 5 day TESOL course and I was going on 4 hours of sleep and was exhausted. I performed Assaya (cane) for the first time ever that night, and nothing horrible happened! ;)

The Canadian Arab Federation performance was a little crazy, massive crowds, great food, amazing Ethiopian singers... We had re-positioned Nawaem, a, oriental veil number, and the Khaleegy piece. It wasn't perfect, but we made it work! The audience seemed to love it.

It's been a little crazy getting out to all the parties and weddings I've been doing. I don't drive so I've been TTC-ing it out to the ends of the earth, usually it takes me an hour and a half to get to these places. For the most part they've been a complete pleasure. People at parties are in a great mood and are very appreciative. However, interesting situations come up...I've had men waggle thier tonges at me while i'm dancing, kids complain loudly of boredom, guests dying to show me up, clients making me wait an hour and a half to go on, and oh, so much more. You gotta have a thick skin! On the other hand, I've had delighted grandparents dancing with me, big-eyed little kids join me on the dance floor, elderly women's eyes light up, Bride's-to-be learning to shimmy and having a blast, and really heartfelt thanks from almost everyone. It's such a mix of rewarding and trying at times!

I'm in talks with a company about "starring" in an instructional dvd...something for the mainstream market, low key and not too fancy. I'm excited about it because I'm being given quite a bit of artistic freedom and they seem very interested in including the history and background info of bellydancing, and I'm always interested in opportunities to educate people. I am in the process of editing the script, negotiating pay (it's more about the publicity and opportunity, not so much pay), and finding music that we can afford the liscence to. Nothing is signed yet, but it's looking good!

I'm also planning my vaction to Halifax for late August early September, and Monique and I are planning our first "Cabaret Sperpentine" show! I'm also planning on teaching a couple workshops, and hopefully performing arounf town a bit. I can't WAIT to get back to NS and just relax....my family and I are planning on going camping and I can't wait!

Well that's what I've been up to!

Shimmy for seniors?

2007-06-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

The lovely Maryfer and I met up on the King streetcar yesterday, and headed off to our show at Lakeside Longterm Care Facility for seniors. I've been booked for a number of seniors homes this summer, and she wanted a duet for this show. When we arrived we were sent to the second floor to be met by a caretaker, Michael. While we were waiting several seniors were watching TV and one was desperately clawing out of her chair, crying "Please...PLEASE!....please...help....please..." in a very weak and desperate voice. The caretakers informed me that "that's just how she goes on, she's alright" but still her desperation was very unsettling. I haven't been in a seniors facility since I've seen my grandmother in Halifax, and I had all but forgotten the kind of sad atmosphere that can be inherent in these places. Maryfer was telling me about seniors homes in Mexico and how filthy and poor they can be, and that the Canadian facilities are quite luxorious by comparison.

We were led to a room to change in, and were told that we would be performing to mostly men, as this was "men's night" entertainment. Both of our eyes got all wide, and we're thinking....oh god, have we been hired as a men's novelty here? Are they expecting strippers? Anyway, although normally we don't perform for men-only audiences, these are still seniors and they need some entertainment! And generally, seniors tend to be a very respectful and enthusiastic audience.

As this was a casual show, we walked on first and I introduced us, and gave a bit of a chat about the history of the dance. I tried to be funny but I don't think they were really listening (hearing?) at this point. "Maryfer comes to us all the way from Mexico, and I'm from the exotic location of Halifax, Nova Scotia!" ...not even a smile. Oh well. It turned out to be more of a mixed audience, and they were great. Two of them were very enthusuastic, breaking into applause at a moments notice and really enjoying themselves.

Maryfer and I traded off, alternating doing three songs each. DAMN that girl is amazing! She is so incredibly expressive and her dance was full of joy, playfulness, and a wonderful variety of movement and feeling. We ended it all off with a drum solo "dance-off" style number, and then we taught the residents a little lesson which was mostly for the entertainment of the other guests. It was a blast, really!

I gave my card out to a bunch of the workers who requested it for other shows they had in mind, and then we got dressed and headed out for a delicious Thai dinner before parting ways. It was so great working with Maryfer, and i think our energy and styles really compliment each other in a performance. I hope to do it again sometime soon!

'besque-y weekend

2007-06-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

Friday: Rehersal

Saturday: Student Gala and Najwa's wedding!
Braved the madness of the student gala and had a fun time dancing Milaya (cheeky Alexandrian folk-ish dance). We then bolted out the door and into a cab to Najwa's wedding. Najwa is the wonderful female voice behind ASALA's Inte Omri. We were all dressed up in our bestest and then performed Nawaem (big shiny veil number), Yasmina danced a solo, then we performed the end of Inte Omri which was very intense and quite emotional. Yasmina then did a zeffah, and we all joined her to pull the audience up. It was great! Najwa was incredibley generous and had arranged for us all to have the full dinner. It was wonderful to sit down with all the girls and guys all dressed up and just have a nice evening. We then danced the night away with Sulimen on drums adding to the DJ's music. I don't think the men there knew what to do with us...there was a bit of hovering around nervously as well as some staring from afar, and a lot of impromptu dance lessons! Hehe.

Sunday: Teaching and performing in Queen's Park, and the Triple Arabxx Stagette party!
There were no students for my class this day as it was the recovery day from the gala. So Lisa, Maryfer, Yasmina and I all trapsed over to Queen's Park for the drum festival and performed Majnun drum solo to a great crowd. One of the organizers came back and started to talk to us about the possibility of performing in a festival in Tobago! EEeee!

That night was the triple stagette party for Mary, Suzanne and Christina D. We started at Vivance (Joanne's studio) with a wicked potluck smorgasboard, the girls got their makeup done, and then we got some chair/pole dancing lessons which was inevitably hilarious. We all then headed down to Myth for the official party, watched the gorrrgeous Samara dance and got amazing henna done. The best part of this evening was when Emese brought out her "perfect man" costume to perform "Candy Man" and suprised the brides to be with a dance which had them all screaming in laughter. Samara did an adorrrrable Milaya for the second set, having the stagette girls pull three garter's off her upper upper upper thigh.

All in all it was a hilarious and fun evening, the best part being part of an incredible group of wonderful and stunning women, most of Toronto's top bellydancers, all in one room!

Busy Busy!

2007-05-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of activity these past two weeks. Last week I danced at a birthday party in Richmond Hill for a really great family, lots of adorable kids! It was fun, I pulled up a guy to dance who then grabbed his aunt's cane to dance with. I grabbed it and did a little saidi and balancing which was a real crowd pleaser!

The next day Samara, Lopa and I performed at Besharam, a fun night in the village popular with an Indian crowd. We did a cute burlesque number which was a ton of fun and went over really well with the crowd. It was really fun to work with the girls!

This past weekend was Crraazzy! First of all, I was coming down with something, i had (have) a sore throat, a cough, sniffles and the occasional feverish dizziness. So the weekend line up was as such:

Friday: Practice with other ADC girls, ADC rehearsal, show #1 at Turkish Pavillion in the Carassauga Festival.
Saturday: Show in Brampton, show #2 at Turkish Pavillion in the Carassauga Festival.
Sunday: Teach at Yoga Studio (bellydance), show #3 at Turkish Pavillion in the Carassauga Festival, show at the Bata Shoe Museum to promote my classes at Aradia Fitness.

yikes!

Anyhoo it all turned out well. The show in Brampton was great. I can't understand why we ALL don't wear gorgeous vibrant sari's and salwars like the women at this party. They looked STUNNING. A highlight of this night was when i pulled up a guy to dance and he started busting out this breakdancing thing! I was so thrilled so we had a little battle during the drum solo....I lost him at the ballet-shimmies-with-an-undulation in a circle...haha.

Carassauga was a total delight, a sweet volunteer drove me there and back every day, made sure I was fed and had plenty to drink. It was great for networking as I met a lot of new people. It was also wonderful to have such a eager and enthusiastic audience...some of them had a very hard time staying in their seats! ;) There were bouts of really rambunctious dancing in the back, people suddenly showing up on stage to dance with me, and even girls chasing me down after the show to ask for lessons! On my last show I was asked to pull the mayor up to dance, and did she ever! No phoning it in here, she really gave it her all! Everyone was very sweet and accomodating, which I've found to be the norm with Turkish people. (I'm DYING to go back) However by the end I was not feeling very well and my balance and energy was not in top form.

Also I had my fortune read from my Turkish coffee (yum!) and she predicted lots of travel, dance, love and success for me. Hurray!

Focus

2007-05-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

Since losing my retail paying-the-bills job last week, I've decided not to panic (as per my original plan) and do what I came to Toronto to do. Dance!

I'm putting all my energy into getting shows, promoting myself (shamelessly, of course) and trying to do more teaching. It's funny -since I made the decision to really go headfirst into dance work, I've been getting more and more emails and calls from potential clients. I've already got 6 shows booked, and that's just for May! Teaching at Aradia Fitness is going great, and I'm also subbing a lot more at the 'besque and hoping to be teaching my own classes there this summer. I'm presently teaching the Kids Class on a fairly regular basis...it's a blast! Their attention span is as short as mine so we have a great time.

Today Samara and Lopa and I rehearsed for Besharam, where we're doing a Bolly/Belly/Burlesque number this Sunday. It should be a lot of fun, I haven't done burlesque in ages! (miss you, Halifax ladies!)

So as part of my shameless self promoting, I've made fancy new business cards and updated my website. I'm going with a purple theme because it matches my new pics, and plus, it's pretty much all I wear. What'cha think?

Front......................................................................................Back

Oh yeah, I'm using my great grandmother's last name now...it has a nicer ring to it, protects my privacy and announces my Italian-ness proudly to the world! It's pronounced see-LEHN-zee. I'm discovering now that people tend to pronounce it wrong 95% of the time. Here I come, awkward introductions!