Eurika Dance

Over three years ago my dance life changed.  After an email from my good dance friend Halyma, I was thrust into the world of Bollywood dance.  A small group of us studied and prepared in the span of two weeks a small collection of choreographies of Bollywood styled dances as well as prepared to teach a large crowd (300-400 people) Bollywood dance.  This whirlwind challenge has now turned into a second love for a different style of dance.  My first love is belly dance or oriental dance which is my inner journey as it often reflects the sensual, sassy and passionate flow of life.  My second love is Bollywood dance which is my outer of journey of adventure and social interaction with various people and cultures.  The challenge is, like everything in life, is finding a balance between the things we love.  It is difficult to do everything at the exact same time.  One thing has to give so the other can be exercised but this doesn’t have to be permanent.  Like water coming into the shore it caresses the shore and then returns out to the deeper body of water.  Water  ebbs and flows and similarly so does life.  It is important to recognize this and not worry so much about being able to do everything all at once.  Planning which dance to play with today is not so much a challenge if you decide which one to start.  You can always change it tomorrow.  What’s important is that you take the time to dance and express yourself in it.  Find a song and just dance.

After some pondering of what my dance life will hold this new year, I’ve come to the conclusion that it will be the year of the veil!  When I first started learning belly dance I was introduced to two props: 1) Stick, and; 2) Veil.  Although I didn’t like stick right away it has grown on me and I enjoy it more now than I ever did.  Stick helped connect me to more of the folkloric style side of belly dance for which I’m glad I’ve experienced.  The veil on the other hand, I fell in love with right away.  Like this dance it is fluid in it’s movement.  It can float gently or be used to help focus the audience on certain movements by becoming a frame for the body.  It can create the illusion that the dancer is a mysterious creature and behind her veil lies emotion and feeling that she shares when letting veil fall away from her body.  The veil is a prop that became popular for entrances in the forties with the film industry capturing it on film.  Today it continues to be popular as an entrance prop but has also become more an extension of the dancer who chooses to hold on to it a little longer.  I am a dancer who loves dancing with veil and I plan to share my love of this prop this year through a series of veil workshops to be held in Ottawa.  If you haven’t experienced veil work before most teachers will usually introduce it to their beginner students.  If you have experienced veil and would love to know more on how to play and perform with it stay tuned to my Workshop page for veil workshops coming this spring.  In the mean time, stay warm and keep dancing.

It’s that time of the year where the dark skies and colder weather makes you want to hibernate or stay indoors by a warm fire.  There are times where just reflecting about all the adventures, the happy moments or the challenges of the year is warranted and I stop to think about so many things.  I have had some personal triumphs and some personal lows this year but one thing that has been constant has been my love of dance.  I’ve been blessed with being part of Bollywood for Fun and experiencing new festivals that request us to perform for them.  I have enjoyed going to two Aziza Dream Camps and have made many new and dear friends with whom I hope to keep in contact with.  I have created three choreographies that were performed by my students at the end of the class party hosted by my dear friend Halyma (who also made a fabulous costume for me this year).  I was very proud of my students who worked hard of choreographies that challenged their abilities but I always knew they could do it.

So now that the parties are done what is left but to reflect and plan on the new year of dance.  What goals do I want to accomplish with my little dance company Eurika Dance?  What goals do I want to accomplish as a dancer?  One thing I know I definitely want to create more choreographies for both Bollywood and Belly dance styles.  Another is to focus on my favourite prop (silk veil) and share my love for it.  I am grateful that I have a silk veil goddess (Shirbori Borealis) who creates such wonderful pieces of art (two of which hang in my house) and whose veils I can’t seem to stop buying which stretches my budget to the edge.  But the beauty and flow of the dance is extended into these beauties so I’m not just waving fabric around; it’s the dance partner for a soloist for a dance that continues to grow, expand and I’ll forever be grateful for being part of my life.

I don’t plan to hibernate.  I plan to dance!

After an amazing summer of dance the fall looks like it’ll be busier than ever before.  For four (4) nights a week I’ll be teaching Belly dance with a introduction to Bollywood across the Ottawa-Hull area.  Check out the “Classes” section for the listing.

Although my classes will keep me busy introducing new students and challenging the returning ones, I will be working on other ventures such as organizing workshops with fellow dancers as well as continuing to hone my own skills as a dancer.  Performances and private lessons are available where my schedule will permit.  In the mean time I hope you make some room for dance in your daily lives!

It’s been a beautiful summer for weather and for dance.  I’ve enjoyed teaching at Dance with Alana this past summer and get the pleasure to continue teaching cardio belly dance starting September 14.  Also this fall I will return to teaching in Hull through the City of Gatineau – one new class is Introduction to Bollywood.  But before I jump ahead to quickly to the start of the fall session there is still a lot of summer left.  Soon I’ll be at my second Aziza Dream Camp which I’m looking very much forward to.  This camp is the technique intensive in which I expect to be pushed beyond my comfort zone in my dance and grow a lot not only as a dancer but as a person.  There has been personal challenges that have tested my strength of will but dance has helped me get through anything that has been thrown at me.  The camp is a blessing and one I treasure and look forward to.

2011 Summer continues to be busy with either dance shows (Belly dance or Bollywood for Fun) as well as with teaching summer dance classes at Dance with Alana Studios and taking time to go to dance camp.

The first Aziza Dream Camp I went to this year was with Aziza and Issam Houshan.  Both are amazing artists and wonderfully gracious teachers.  I’ve learnt so much from both of them that my approach to oriental dance again changes and grows.  I have my homework to work on and hope that the work I’m putting into improving myself as a dancer will show when I head off to the second Aziza Dream Camp at the end of August.

A Midsummer Night’s Dance 2: Shades of Light & Dark was a successful show both thanks to the wonderful dancers that donated their time and danced, the sponsors whose help allowed $1025 raised in tickets sells be donated to Neuro-endocrine cancer research in memory of Denise McCulloch.  Thanks to the audience who supported the cause and the dancers on a beautiful June night.

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS:

Canadian Group Emergency Training Inc.http://www.cget.ca/2010/index.php (GOLD PLUS Sponsor)

TAV Creations http://www.tav-creations.com/ (GOLD Sponsor)

Brenda’s Esthetics http://brendasroom.com/ (SILVER SPONSOR)

Topkapi Restaurant http://www.topkapirestaurant.ca/ (SILVER SPONSOR)

Andrea Mills & Sylvie Girard (SILVER SPONSORS)

Industry Canada Employee Group (BRONZE SPONSOR)

Jehan Khan (FRIENDS OF DANCE SPONSOR) http://www.orientaldance.ca

Taroub (FRIENDS OF DANCE SPONSOR) http://www.taroubdance.com