It’s Not about Perfection

I love the freedom that dance brings to self-expression, especially in the forms I practice: belly dance and ecstatic dance. Oftentimes I start out on my yoga mat doing the classical postures but end up dancing, sometimes softly and slowly, sometimes fiery and upbeat. It’s not the music that moves me for I often practice in silence.


What I love about belly dance is that it is open to everyone (even men!), to all body shapes, physical abilities (a few students in my class have disabilities), and skills. Aside from the public classes, my troupe (and teachers) is entirely made up of amateurs—unlikely to ever become professionals, but we love the dance so much that it has to be shared. We may never be able to move like Rachel Brice (see video end of post), but our passion shows through just as abundantly.

I’m at the point now where I’m comfortable performing, which is a good thing because we have a lot of performances this summer (a few in front of pretty large crowds!). When I go to bed at night I often close my eyes to the sound of Middle Eastern music ringing in my ears and create detailed costumes in my mind’s eye.

I’m toying with the idea of taking Kripalu Yoga Dance teacher training in 2012 (it might be offered locally, but no details available yet--fingers crossed).

I am truly, madly, in love.