Things I like

I love the PA that I got for Christmas. I had a couple of outdoor events where I used a small cd player or had to burn a disc because the sound set-up wouldn't take an iPod. This prompted me to ask for a PA for Christmas. I asked my husband because he is well known for doing his research before making and purchases.

He picked out the Pyle-Pro PWMA930I 600-Watt VHF Wireless Portable PA System/Echo with iPod Dock from amazon.com 


This thing rocks. Upon opening it and testing it, I actually could not turn it up all the way because it was too loud for my ears.
It has an iPod dock on top, with controls to play, pause and advance the iPod. It is a little tricky to get the iPod into the dock because there is a spring loaded cover which I assume it to keep the area clean. With a smaller iPod (mine is a last generation nano, so current gen will be way to small), you will need to use the input cable into one of the ports. I also use this cable with a discman (yes, they still make them) to play cds. It also has a port for a guitar and 2 microphones. It comes with a wireless mic which I have used and think is awesome.
The best part, is that it has a chargeable battery so you can take it to outdoor events where there is not outlet and run it off the battery.
At my last show, my husband did the sound using our iPad connected to this. While it was a smaller show, we had plenty of volume for both the music and introduction. I give it 5 stars.

Things that are on my mind

I know I am not good about keeping up this blog and maybe if I wrote more about the things that are on my mind I would. This might be considered a rant or it might be mindless drivel but it is what I want to share.


I started teaching full time when I moved. I moved from a town with 5+ full time bellydance teachers to a town with none. Now I could have just went to workshops and practiced and performed, but I had a good feeling that if I taught I could find companions who loved this dance as much as I do. I wasn't sure that I felt super ready to teach even though my mentor encouraged me to. While I was moving, I spent countless hours on Bhuz reading threads of common teacher concerns, reading articles both about bellydance, teaching styles, adult education and brushing up on my bellydance history. I developed a syllabus for my first session and practiced teaching imaginary students in the mirror. I created my own beginner choreography. Why did I do all this? Because I love this dance. I love it so much that I am appalled to think that someone could be misinformed by an instructor. I recall overcoming my own bad habits as a beginner. They were bad habits I taught myself. How awful to think that a beginning students would pick up bad habits from me as their instructor.
This brings me to my complaint. It is a complaint as old as time, but I want my opinion on the record.
I believe a dancer needs to be at a certain level herself before she can ever be an instructor. Why do so many beginners go on to teaching? The same reason I wanted to teach. They are eager to share this dance with others. However, in that eagerness they lose sight of how important it is to be a master of the thing you are teaching. Many dancers think if they are one step past the beginner level then they can teach beginners. This is absolutely not the case. To teach beginners you need to be able to execute the move with near perfection and explain it at least 3 different ways. You need to be able to present combinations and choreographies that challenge beginners so that they will grow. How is this possible if you are barely past that level yourself?
All that being said, I think since I departed on this journey as a teacher I was forced to grow to that point. I wanted to do it right and every time I felt not good enough, I took a harder workshop, read another book, choreographed a more challenging dance. I pushed and pushed my own skills so as not to let my students down.
That is the level of dancing and instruction that I want my community to be exposed too. It hurts my heart and soul to see students and my community exposed to poor quality dancing and mis-information.
If a better dancer/instructor came along, I would take her classes and encourage my more advanced students to do so as well. Luckily for me, I have a day job so if that made my classes dry up I would be happy to share the dance with my new instructor and her other students.
Honestly, I am not sure I am ready to mentor someone to the point where they are ready to teach but if I ever had a friend or student who I felt was ready, I like to think I would be nothing but encouraging. If I thought the person wasn't ready but they had made up their mind I think I would play devil's advocate and try to make them see all the training and concepts they are missing or haven't thought of.

Anyway, that's my two cents on this topic.

Best Beauty Products of All Time (muwahahaha)

I am so glad that Princess Farhana posted her favorite beauty products. I admit that I get into a little niche and never come out when it comes to make-up. It did give me an idea. What if all my bloggy-blog friend did post on their favorite products and linked them in the comments. Then let's say in two weeks (January 22nd) I will post a poll that pits mascara against mascara and rouge against rouge and we can see who the Best Beauty Products of All Time (queue lightning) are!

Shellac Nail Lacquer 
I am lucky if I can get home from the salon with my nail color on. If I dance on Saturday, my nails get done on Friday and I DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. Enter Shellac. Cured by a UV light, this polish will last for two weeks. I am not kidding, it only looks bad then because my nails have grown out leaving little have moons of naked nails at the base.

Any and all primers
I don't care which one. They all work. L'Oreal and Bare Minerals are my favorite ends of the spectrum.

Bare Minerals
My face breaks out if I concentrate hard enough so this is my everyday make-up of choice.

Coastal Scents
Eye shadow doesn't get better than this. The high pigment colors pop and last all day or through the show which is my goal. I use them for the stage and every day.

Smashbox Gel Eyeliner
I love cream/gel eyeliners and this one has to be favorite. I have been meaning to try the awesome colored gel eyeliners from Coastal Scents.

Make-up forever Lipstick - the Rouge series
I actually don't like that it is perfumed and reminds me of my moms old maybeline (the way it tastes) but the color is incredible and it lasts without drying my lips out and looks shiny without being so sticky my hair get stuck in it.

So go ahead, do a make-up post and link to it here. The make-up poll goes up in two weeks.

Laugh out loud

I can't stop watching this cute video made by Gia al Qamar. It has made it rounds on Oriental Dancer and facebook but if you missed it take a look.



My new catchphrase is, "I don't put mascara on my left eye for $25"

Workshop Etiquette

As a beginner attending my first workshop, I was never spoken to about proper etiquette but I understand that most of these things are common sense. Because we have all experienced workshop participants with bad or rude behavior, I think it should be a goal (especially if you are an instructor) to make sure those around you are familiar with proper workshop etiquette.

1. Arrive on time. This can be hard if you are in a new city and not familiar with the location. Allow plenty of time  for U-turns and if you arrive the night before then please find the workshop location to ease your commute in the morning.

2. Put your belongings as out of the way as possible. The organizers will usually have chairs or a sitting area. Keep your things out of the way so as not to cause a tripping hazard.

3. No unnecessary noises. This means no coin scarves or other noisy accessories. I have heard some workshop participants when asked to take their coin scarves off say they need it to feel the movement. On one hand if this true then you should be practicing without it to get away from that crutch but it is possible to get a heavy fringed or beaded scarf that will give you the same feel without the noise.

4. No talking. Not all instructors project their voices, like noisy accessories, talking can be a big distraction. If you need to talk to someone leave the room. Keep your phone off unless you are on call, and if you do need to make a call leave the room.

5. If you need a break don't be a distraction. All of us need a break every now and then. When you sit down do so quietly and keep out of the way. If you plan a lot of breaks whether from fatigue or for taking notes, keep you position at the back or side of the room so your constant up and down is not distracting.

6. Changing lines. Occasionally, an instructor will ask the room to change lines. This usually means that the first few lines move to the back and everyone else moves up. When an instructor makes this request please do so quickly and quietly. If you are in front you should always move. As a petite person, I always arrive early to get a spot in the front where I can see. If asked to change lines, I will do so to give the others an opportunity to see better. It is my responsibility to now position myself in the back to see as best as I can.
If you are in the back because you are a beginner or just shy and do not wish to move forward then please let the others come from the front and then reposition yourself if necessary.

7. Filming! Always ask if you can film. Never assume you may, in most cases it is not allowed. I find can you ask most workshop instructors to play the music again right after the workshop has ended so you can dance while the material is still fresh in your mind. Other participants might join in and have someone film them as well. If you can't film the instructor, never assume you can film another participant. Ask first! If I am alone and not getting the material, I will look for someone who is and ask if I can film them if I send the footage to them. So far everyone has said yes, but I do have close friends who will not let anyone film them.
Never ever post workshop footage that includes anyone but yourself on YouTube or similar sites! -This is why less and less workshops will allow cameras.

Please feel free to comment if you have any additional suggestions or would like to bring up less than flattering behaviors that you have seen at a workshop.

Upcoming Workshops and Events

September 11-12 - Momo Kadous in Knoxville, TN
September 18-19 - Sahra Saeeda in St. Louis
October 7-10 - Camparet in Ingram, TX
November 7 - Bellydance Superstars in Louisville, KY
November 19-21 - Dona Mejia and Karim Nagi in St. Louis

Momo Kadous 5 Day Intensive in Knoxville, TN

You don't want to miss it! Find out more and download the registration form here.

A Public Face

So today, I feel like crap. Poop, if you prefer.

I woke up with a headache, my neck has been bothering me for a week, etc.

I took some pills and slept in a bit, as I do.

When I finally rolled out of bed, I didn't put my normal hour into my morning routine. Hell, people are lucky I put on deodorant. Fortunately for me while my day job is in the business world, it is not that sort of business and I can wear yoga pants and t-shirt to work to on most days. If I had an important meeting then that would be different.

What hit me as I was driving out of my neighborhood sans make-up was What if I meet a potential student today? or a someone with a potential gig? The last thing I look like today is a bellydancer.

This all got me thinking. Are these things to be considered when ever we go out into public where the potential clients hang out.

Upcoming appearances

May 28 - Black Orchid Danse Retreat in Atlanta, GA

June 4 - Friday after 5 in Owensboro, KY (5:45 pm)

June 5 - Posey Co. Relay for Life in Posey County, IN (11:00 am)*

June 11 - Dancing in the Streets in downtown Evansville, IN time TBA*

*with Evansville Bellydance

Workshops

I just took a survey about what I am looking for in a workshop. So I ask you, dear readers, what do you look for in a workshop?