Well, its Wednesday and Ive just about caught up on the sleep I didnt get from a busy weekend at the wonderful Jewel of Yorkshire event in Bradford. It was rather fabulous spending time with friends and women who inspire me to become not only a better dancer but to understand my limitations and to work with them instead of working against them. For the last few years I have struggled with the notion of 'not being good enough', or not having any 'right' to perform a dance form that I love.
Egyptian music moves me in ways that other music doesnt. I love the raw emotion of Eyptian singers voices and having spent the last few years travelling to Egypt and hearing the music in its native environment, the emotional attachment I have to certain pieces of music, can sometimes move me to tears.
I went to JoY this year with an agenda - not a negative agenda, just a plan to spend some time on my own, learning from those around me and not living in anyone elses shadow. I feel that although I have had some very kind and supportive dance friends, who have helped guide the way, that my time now, is for me. Its for me to step away from the shadows and find my own place in the community. Im not wanting to become a professional dancer (for sadly I have a full time job, Im too old and frankly, I dont want to be a professional dancer) - I just want to be me and to be happy with my ability.
My weekend was filled with the insightful teachings of Sara Farouk. Ive always loved Sara's open teaching style and her honesty. I prefer honesty in a world that is so full of hidden meanings, competitveness and one-up-manship. I am who I am, I dance how I dance. I dont befriend other dancers in an attempt to gain from them and certainly knowing a talented dancer, doesnt make me a better dancer. I try not to trample over others in an attempt to get what I want and I will always try to listen to others opinions - although I may not always agree but doesnt that make the world go round?.
Sara reaffirmed a lot of this for me this weekend. She taught me (again as she always does) that its ok to be me. Im not a bad person because I cant master every technique in the dance dictionary. I do have the technique (or words) to be able to construct a half decent choreography (sentence) and its ok to have a short and kind or happy sentence than a long and complicated one. She taught me to hold my head high, stand tall and remain grounded and just dance! I also learnt the funky saiidi thumbs which will be making a weekly appearance in my classes! Now thats the type of teaching that I like - supportive, honest but kind.
This weekend reconfirmed a lot - there are people who live for one-up-manship, the dance community is competitive and people unfortunately will behave badly in order to get what I want. I know this sounds very negative and depressing but really, there is a positive and bright upside to this. Not engaging in those behaviour traits is simply very refreshing and enlightening - it allows you to just be able to dance because you want to, as you, not because you are trying to prove something to someone else or because you are trying to be someone else. Its OK not to like something - personal taste has a place in dance.
Now I know you are probably wondering what this has to do with the Jewel of Yorkshire festival. This wonderful festival always leaves me with the most amazing insights and feelings around dance. This weekend was a theory one for me but previous weekends have left my body and brain buzzing with creativity when dancing with some of the worlds most inspiring teachers. I would recommend this event to everyone - not only do you have an abundance of workshops to choose from - its a great excuse to hang out with your bellyfriends, drink tea and talk about your shared passion - dancing!
This weekend will be filled with more joy - learning new choreographies for Sara's Last Stand as she going to stop performing in the UK (sob, sob) so although, I still have slight feelings of inferiority (as there are some fantastic performers attending), Im going to take a deep breath, stand my ground and dance like its the last time I will ever dance. Its going to be great and another weekend filled with laughter and pure joy!
Abs
xxxxx
Egyptian music moves me in ways that other music doesnt. I love the raw emotion of Eyptian singers voices and having spent the last few years travelling to Egypt and hearing the music in its native environment, the emotional attachment I have to certain pieces of music, can sometimes move me to tears.
I went to JoY this year with an agenda - not a negative agenda, just a plan to spend some time on my own, learning from those around me and not living in anyone elses shadow. I feel that although I have had some very kind and supportive dance friends, who have helped guide the way, that my time now, is for me. Its for me to step away from the shadows and find my own place in the community. Im not wanting to become a professional dancer (for sadly I have a full time job, Im too old and frankly, I dont want to be a professional dancer) - I just want to be me and to be happy with my ability.
My weekend was filled with the insightful teachings of Sara Farouk. Ive always loved Sara's open teaching style and her honesty. I prefer honesty in a world that is so full of hidden meanings, competitveness and one-up-manship. I am who I am, I dance how I dance. I dont befriend other dancers in an attempt to gain from them and certainly knowing a talented dancer, doesnt make me a better dancer. I try not to trample over others in an attempt to get what I want and I will always try to listen to others opinions - although I may not always agree but doesnt that make the world go round?.
Sara reaffirmed a lot of this for me this weekend. She taught me (again as she always does) that its ok to be me. Im not a bad person because I cant master every technique in the dance dictionary. I do have the technique (or words) to be able to construct a half decent choreography (sentence) and its ok to have a short and kind or happy sentence than a long and complicated one. She taught me to hold my head high, stand tall and remain grounded and just dance! I also learnt the funky saiidi thumbs which will be making a weekly appearance in my classes! Now thats the type of teaching that I like - supportive, honest but kind.
This weekend reconfirmed a lot - there are people who live for one-up-manship, the dance community is competitive and people unfortunately will behave badly in order to get what I want. I know this sounds very negative and depressing but really, there is a positive and bright upside to this. Not engaging in those behaviour traits is simply very refreshing and enlightening - it allows you to just be able to dance because you want to, as you, not because you are trying to prove something to someone else or because you are trying to be someone else. Its OK not to like something - personal taste has a place in dance.
Now I know you are probably wondering what this has to do with the Jewel of Yorkshire festival. This wonderful festival always leaves me with the most amazing insights and feelings around dance. This weekend was a theory one for me but previous weekends have left my body and brain buzzing with creativity when dancing with some of the worlds most inspiring teachers. I would recommend this event to everyone - not only do you have an abundance of workshops to choose from - its a great excuse to hang out with your bellyfriends, drink tea and talk about your shared passion - dancing!
This weekend will be filled with more joy - learning new choreographies for Sara's Last Stand as she going to stop performing in the UK (sob, sob) so although, I still have slight feelings of inferiority (as there are some fantastic performers attending), Im going to take a deep breath, stand my ground and dance like its the last time I will ever dance. Its going to be great and another weekend filled with laughter and pure joy!
Abs
xxxxx