Year In Review: 2008 & 2009

2008 was a CRAZY year!  I completed my first full year as a solo dancer, performing in over 22 shows in 2008!  I feel like I’ve grown a ton and found myself as a dancer, as an artist and as a woman.  I went thru a whirlwind of events both personal and professional and I feel so much stronger for it…  I had paying gigs, and charity gigs… I danced in clubs, halfas and parties… I met some of the most amazing people on the planet and have bonded with artists and like-minded nuts like myself and I am so happy for every moment I’ve spent in this insane lil world!  I can only hope to continue in 2009 with the same wonderful creative chaos that was inspired in 2008…

2009 was crazy too! I had much of the same joy and chaos as 2008 provided, but carried it off with a little more ease, I think!
2009 was also the year for me to facilitate dance happenings…
First, in ‘09, I completed a year dancing in the MECHANISMUS Industrial Art & Music show, not only as a premier dancer, but also as a co-creator, with the joy of being able to book special guest dancers to perform along with me at the shows, and help promote this wonderful lil Industrial gem… When I started dancing in this show, it was small and virtually underground… And now, a year later, we have a solid following and devoted fan base… I am proud of our not-so-little show!
I also had the pleasure of throwing another show together with my friends, Angela Silling, and Raqs Steady Eddie @ The Skylark in West Seattle. We named it ‘Alauda–An Evening of Free-Form Bellydance’ and for the last 6 months, have brought many many talented and creative artists to our stage… The Skylark has been awesome and supportive, and we have created quite a show… Bringing every form of belly dance to the stage, from Cabaret, to Tribal Fusion and everything inbetween, and providing it all in a loving, supportive environment, where the love flows like water…
We are on our 6th month, and it keeps getting bigger and better every month!

I also taught my first workshop series in 09, and I gotta say, it was a learning experience for EVERYONE…especially for me! I learned about how I dance and why… I learned how to teach something that is completely instinctual and intuitive for me (which was no easy task!)… I learned about my fellow dancers and friends… and I got a taste of what the professional side of bellydance entails… The whole process was a little intimidating at first, but I LOVED teaching and hangin out with my students and experiencing all that with them there to TEACH ME! I have workshops booked in the next few months, and I am excited to do that again…

It is now February of 2010 and I am excited to see where this path leads me next… There are so many things on the horizon… I have several shows I’m stoked about, I’m teaching more workshops, which will be exciting… AND, I have the great pleasure and honor to be a part of Seattle’s ‘Cues & Tattoos’ belly dance festival coming up in March, so that is pretty fantastic… I am very much looking forward to that!!
I am giddy like a lil schoolgirl right now, just thinking about what 2010 might bring… I am open and ready for anything! Bring it!