Year of the Snake

Since I started working on ANIMUS a year ago (and the show is only 5 weeks away!), the need to create animal centered dance pieces has really been on my mind. It’s been a means for me to explore my spiritual side through the use of dance.

No surprise-one of the things I have started doing is recreating aspects of Serpentine Myths from around the world. Not only has this been fun because I get to explore different kinds of music (African and Latin to name a few) but also different styles of dance. It’s also been a way for me to connect with each of my snakes-as each of them brings something special to each performance—since they each have their own personalities. Sometimes I just dance in my home studio—and the spiritual connection is deep and meaningful.

Through deep meditation and relaxation techniques-I have been meditating with my snakes individually, which has brought me great spiritual peace and a deeper connection to their beings. In particular-I have been Shamanistically connecting with the Great White Serpent who, over 10 years ago, came to me in a dream and guided me onto my path as a Snake Dancer and Snake Priestess.

I have always loved studying Serpentine Mythology-and the more books I get and read on snakes and mythology—the more and more I learn. I have given lectures and taught workshops on Serpentine Mythology-but decided it would be great to start incorporating the myths into my life via dance.

I don’t perform many public shows, but the ones I do, I have decided to keep to my exploration of the Snake in mythology and culture—at least until the end of the year. This not only makes it more interesting for me-since I get to create something with a purpose-rather than just dancing-but it’s also a way to share different aspects of snake mythology to an audience who might not otherwise know. Its also letting me go beyond the confines of belly dance and really begin weaving together different aspects of world music and dance. It also helps me when I have no idea what to dance to!!

So if you are coming to any of these shows here is what I am doing! I will post a short myth on each of the mythologies the week before the performance—so if you are interested in the myth-you can learn more!!

Each of my snakes will be present in one of the routines!

9/25-ANIMUS (Cambridge, MA)-The Rainbow Serpent, Australia
10/8-Aloha Belly Dance (Northampton, MA)-The Great Serpent, Native American
10/9-Desert Dreams (West Roxbury, MA)-Hekate, Europe/Rome
11/12-Feminine Phoenix (Attleboro, MA)-Mami Wata, Africa
11/13-Desert Dreams (West Roxbury, MA)-Manasa/Nagini
12/11-Desert Dreams (West Roxbury, MA)-TBA

On a side note, meditating with snakes is really amazing! Especially since each of them has their own unique personality. When I quite my brain during meditation, and let them slither on me, there is really a deep bond that occurs. Snakes, while not a common animal—are very spiritually connected to what’s around them. They have a strong energy around them.

Phew!

Its been a wild ride for me the past few months! I took the plunge and got married on July 2nd. Thank you to all of my students and dance colleagues for the cards! It was really overwhelming. My husband and I are currently in the process of renovating our place-which includes my home studio “Weaving Serpent Dance Studio”~I’ve decided to go for more of a darker room-where I can not only continue private lessons, workshops and rehearsals-but also start my Snake Touch Therapy sessions, Snake Meditations and Snake workshops (yes all about Snakes this year!).

I just completed a fabulous photo shoot with Paul Jones of RT2 Photography. We are working on a project initiated by Neylan of RI for a “Bad Girls of Belly Dance” calendar. I am the month November and wanted to break away from the usual Thanksgiving Day theme. I mean c’mon—its 2012, the end of the world according to the Maya..AND The Day of the Dead falls in November. So I thought it fitting that Quetzalcoatl should finally appear! I wore my new costume created by Elsie Olieveros of Totally Creative in NYC (she makes all those gorgeous costumes for the ladies of Venus Uprising. I brought along my fabulous snakes Denali and Spartacus. The shoot was amazing! We did most of it in the woods-nice scratches and poison ivy—but SO worth it!!!

In class and show news, I am currently only doing private gigs for the summer (and my teaching is limited until the studio is done—September is going to be out and out awesome with new classes!). I got booked to be the opening act for The Eels on July 28th! Which is VERY exciting! As for the classes-I will be teaching NEW Monday classes in Needham at the YMCA as well as Tuesdays in Needham and Wednesdays in Dedham. We are really going to be uping the anty on performance and my Monday classes will be learning a FULL 10 minute routine! Yahoo!

I also am starting a new monthly showcase called “Desert Dreams: A Monthly Belly Dance Showcase”-which will feature not only fabulous dancing from area performers (including my always gorgeous, courageous and amazing students!), but a drum circle and a workshop which will change each month. We have some great teachers lined up so far, Anecka (Fan Veils for Belly Dance), Neylan (tba), Aslahan (Line Dancing for Belly Dance), Nadira Jamal (Intro to Improv) and more! This is such a great and welcoming event for those who are newbies or just want something fun to do. It will be held once a month in West Roxbury at the Theodore Parker Church!

ANIMUS is well underway—script is being typed---cast is working hard. This show will be my favorite of all the ones I produced. Tickets are on sale now and I do hope you can attend!

Its been a crazy and hectic few months for me. Things have really begun to pick up and I find myself growing more and more creative as the days roll by. In May, I teamed up with the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) and began working on my brainchild ANIMUS: A Shamanic Journey Through Belly Dance. A more theatrical based show which will feature dancers and artists from across New England. Its debut is Sept 25th at the YMCA Theatre. Proceeds from the show will go to USARK (www.usark.org). I have also begun to travel and host more workshops on Snake Dancing. I have also been working the Comic and Paranormal conventions—performing and meeting great contacts which lead to new and exciting opportunities! At the end of May I was able to work with Tamara Rodrigues, an amazing local singer with roots in Mexico. She asked me to make an appearance in her video “ItalaniO” It was a great experience and one I will never forget. My snakes also make a cameo role (Kaala and Bella). Below is the video. Look for me in the beginning and end doing some solo sword work!

Tamara Rodriguez "ItalianO", Official Music Video from Vassili Shields on Vimeo.

HR669

EVERY snake and exotic pet owner should be aware of. The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act a.k.a. HR669.

If this bill passes (its currently stalled in Congress—but its still a serious threat!) it would prevent any non-native species of the USA to be owned, sold or bought. So if you have a snake or want a snake—this is SERIOUS. The bill, with its “good intentions” initially was created to help curb the ongoing issue of Burmese Pythons being released into the wild by their immature irresponsible owners, and over taking the Florida Everglades. That alone IS a serious issue, but there are obviously other ways to stop that from happening than punishing ALL snake, reptile and exotic pet owners! This bill would also prevent the ownership and importation of the following “exotic nonnative species”: Cats, cattle, chickens, dogs, domesticated geese, ducks, goats, goldfish (yes!), horses, ferrets, hamsters, domesticated pigs/hogs, rabbits, sheep---you get the idea! Currently animals owned prior to this bill being put into effect will not be interfered with. But this means that if you are a breeder or collector of snakes—you would be in trouble. It also means mom and pop pet stores and other live hoods would be in danger.

Most in danger is python owners and breeders. Senator Bill Nelson wants a ban on ALL pythons!!!

So what can you do? EDUCATE EDUCATE EDUCATE!! If you are a snake dancer you understand the special connection between you and your dance partner. Its also YOUR responsibility to educate the public on SNAKES. Just dancing and performing with them is NOT enough!!! Also, remember that by educating the public, you are also preventing any (though not all) irresponsible person from buying and obtaining a snake (which leads to issues like the one in the everglades!).


Contact your local Congress Representative to voice your opposition. Please, give a mature, well-studied and thought-out reply to this bill. If you have no issue with a less restricting bill, then feel free to say so (like getting exotics tagged or licensed).

Support the US Association of Reptile Keepers: www.usark.org

Important Links:
The Full Bill: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-669
Opposition Website: www.nohr669.com
Information on the All Python Ban Bill- http://pijac.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=505
The Exact Text: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-373




This bill is already on the move----so, it's especially important to stamp it out now before its to late!!!

Fusion Belly Dance

Since my time off has started and since I don't know when I am dancing again, I have taken time to entertain myself with YouTube. Some of it good--some bad...

Firstly, I am a fusion belly dancer. I make that clear when I get booked for ANYTHING, teach ANYTHING, do ANYTHING. I am a FUSION belly dancer. I don't take gigs that are for traditional belly dancers..just not fair. And I cant dance to music I don't feel. Its why I am not a restaurant dancer. I cant perform to something that doesn't move or inspire to me. Sometimes, it is traditional belly dance music--erm..with my own twist.

Secondly, I have GROWN tremendously in this particular style. I get whats involved. Its more than just picking a song and adding a few belly dance moves. Its about taking the song--understanding ITS roots--and then adding belly dance to it. Its complex.

In the Izzy workshop, that was one of the points she made, and it made me glad. I always try to explain, but she made it more articulate.Being a fusion belly dancer is more than just performing to something that is not a typical belly dance piece. Its about taking the music-whatever it is-and finding its "link" and weaving it together with belly dance.

Some of my points when it comes to Fusion Belly Dance:

1. Its WAY more complicated than it seems. Picking a non-belly dance song and belly dancing to it--is not as easy as black and white.

2. TRIBAL Fusion is NOT the same as FUSION Belly Dance.

3. Its not just the music. Its the EVERYTHING. Example, I saw this video of a "fusion" belly dance. She picked this ultra jazzy number..and wore a mini chiffon skirt, hip scarf and coin bra. It looked awkward. The costume didn't match the music. It didnt match the choreography. By the end it looked like a mess.

4. Props. So here's another thing. If you pick a non-traditional song, and use a prop, make sure the prop meets the music. Example: Dont do a veil number to a song that has a "saiidi" feel. Again, a video where a dancer was dancing to a 1940's swing number using a veil--like--well, like a belly dancer would. It looked awkward.

5. Know the culture and/or other style you are fusing with---and their traditional dances--Say, Flamenco Belly Dance Fusion should have aspects of both Flamenco and Belly Dance. Hip Hop Belly Dance Fusion--should have hip hop in it. So don't just pick a song and just belly dance to it...it doesn't work.

6. Know your audience. Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing a fusion belly dancer performing for a non-fusion accepting audience. You may think its a fucking awesome choreography--but if your audience was expecting a straight up Raks Sharqui number--erm...you just boned yourself!

7. Don't be afraid to bag it. I cant tell you how many choreographies I have bagged because well, in my brain, I thought the fusion would work, but when I did it--OMG! Yeah no. So try and if it doesn't work, don't be afraid to try again.

8. Get creative. Seriously. Example: I choreographed this HOT number for a troupe mate with a dagger. She's an assassin. If you do fusion--create a character.....

These are just my opinions. Now..back to YouTube!

Izzylicous!

I had the BEST time yesterday at the Izzy workshop and show in RI. Manuel did a fabulous job putting everything together--and it was a dream >finally< come true to meet, learn and perform in the same show as Izzy. She really is the only reason why I never gave up dancing. Why I never quit and kept doing my thing regardless of being the odd gal out...and I wouldn't be where I am now if I didn't know there was actually more belly dancers out there like me.

It was an immediate weight lifted off me when she spoke the same words I have said and felt through the 7 years I have been dancing. It was like finally meeting the person who understood what style I do, why I do it and why I struggled for years to "fit in." She did to. She discussed the issues she had when she started dancing belly dance fusion in a primarily traditional Raks Sharqui community. The fact she got blacklisted-started her own shows-cant dance in restaurants-and finally, being accepted as a belly dancer that doesn't perform traditional dance. The struggles she had to become accepted and finally the realization that its OK to be different--so long as you do it good.

It was a breath of fresh air and after e-mailing her for 7 years--it was great to finally meet her. When I introduced myself to her she gave me a huge hug and said, "finally get to meet you!!"---I felt the same. A 7 year email friendship-it was nice to finally meet my dance idol!! She's beautiful, talented, total goof ball (like me!) and really--who I want to be as a dancer.

Her workshop was amazing. She took three or four simple belly dance combo's and we used them with various pieces of non-traditional and traditional music. It was a ton of fun! And I am totally using one of the Saidi-fusion combo's--it was fabulous!

Mind you, I did the workshop (took a 15 minute break though) AND performed all on a severely sprained ankle! There was no way I was missing it!

The show was awesome. A nice mixture of belly dance, burlesque and variety acts. I did my "Devil Went Down to Georgia" number--my favorite. Izzy told me backstage she's stealing it. I took that as a huge compliment. I told her its only fair since I have stolen her stuff (with permission). It was great to meet new people. I love shows when I get to meet new people. A bunch of the folk are going to the Burlesque Expo, so I get to meet them again in April (if not sooner).

The biggest realization I had yesterday--was that I do have a community. The belly dance fusion community is small and dispersed--and not as big as the tribal/traditional communities. But we are here, small though we maybe. I left yesterday feeling like I have a support system of dancers now. Its nice. With them, I can do what I do and not be afraid to kick it the way we do. Its kind of nice.

A DANCERS OASIS IN THE WEST ROXBURY PATCH

http://westroxbury.patch.com/articles/come-dancing-in-the-belly-of-west-roxbury