tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291409042024-02-28T10:00:48.215-05:00Elektra, The Native New York BellydancerIt's my city, I was born here, made here and live here. If the title fits- wear it. Take me anywhere but at heart I will always be in Manhattan. Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-23422767922400394402012-07-12T21:08:00.000-04:002014-02-07T23:02:32.514-05:00New York City Bellydancer, the incurable love affair<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nR5Jb9sxoufyj9YU48c0TAcn3TR-_XodwCUXM5_2NjQkb9LKEEgL2rF3wqY4cC-SDeL7AIVWCo4I-oKduAZSl3tAeNWrfOCLteFsbYnICo1wbeIovT3yVmBAbdagO1tFqDHB/s1600/manhattan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nR5Jb9sxoufyj9YU48c0TAcn3TR-_XodwCUXM5_2NjQkb9LKEEgL2rF3wqY4cC-SDeL7AIVWCo4I-oKduAZSl3tAeNWrfOCLteFsbYnICo1wbeIovT3yVmBAbdagO1tFqDHB/s400/manhattan.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465065739324608098" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
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Being a New Yorker says a lot about a person. It makes other people feel that your an ambitious person, someone who likes diversity, you thrive in a fast paced environment, a multitask-er, a social butterfly, seeks challenge and craves action. On the other hand some might see you as someone with little patience, egotistical, self centered, money hungry and gets irritated easily. However you slice it New Yorkers are colorful and don't apologize for it.<br />
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Now Manhattan is my world. I know all about it, I can take you all over and tell you stories about every street. Historical stuff, fun facts and even my personal experiences... take your pick. I can't help it, everywhere I go I see a memory, every corner has a story to tell. Yeah I'm one of those people who can honestly say I love my NYC.<br />
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Now this is my take on how it is as working New York bellydancer...<br />
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Working here in New York you have to be on top of your game. Whether your working as hotdog vendor or wallstreet broker, the one's who succeed the most are the one's who give their best. You see New York has too much of everything so competition here lies in any direction you aim for. </div>
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Even in the bellydance community, we have so many belly dancers here in New York it would be enough to make your head spin backwards, upside down and inside out. I'm not saying that they are all professionals but overall they are dancers just taking classes, training to be, or want to become professional someday.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMy9OvodHCBed_Y7axwSG-9MnOpvzTBJJ9Wgjc5H2x3_7t5kRRkG3N-VKe9w24Q0pZcgvssfBOISeCDrNkDmNXFKe2mevGnZvbZJxfVJyllG92HU7DflQ3GqIEZ5KQCHsmvIM/s1600/fire+escape.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMy9OvodHCBed_Y7axwSG-9MnOpvzTBJJ9Wgjc5H2x3_7t5kRRkG3N-VKe9w24Q0pZcgvssfBOISeCDrNkDmNXFKe2mevGnZvbZJxfVJyllG92HU7DflQ3GqIEZ5KQCHsmvIM/s400/fire+escape.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465067225197342386" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
See New York bellydancers have a reputation of being strong in their craft, the reason behind that is that we have some great instructors and lots of competition. The more we both work together and compete each other, the more we grow as dancers. Dancers who get the most work are the ones who work hard to be the best of their game, they know the rules and deliver. Belly dancing in New York isn't about putting a sexy costume and wiggling around like a chicken without a head (girls who do that don't get far or last long). No this city demands talent, attitude and drive..without it good luck getting a job anywhere or keeping one for that matter.<br />
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One of the big problems here (like most places) is the undercutting issues that arise. Dancers lowering their rates to get the gig and bring all other dancers down with them. Why? Because keeping up the standard becomes harder if others pull down the rate. The smart dancers stick to their guns and charge their worth but that's not everyone. Part of this stems from the fact this city is so big, I think there seems to be an inner struggle to figure out how rates should work, in all different case scenarios. Another factor is a reluctance to discuss rates openly with each other. And lets not forget the teachers who don't teach professionalism to students outside just dance technique. Ok, lets wrap that topic up because its a never ending story everywhere. Back to the good stuff.<br />
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In NYC gigs are spontaneous and almost always exciting. Hey this isn't just a city, it's the big apple. Outside performing in normal Middle Eastern restaurants, lounges and clubs, there is so much more to do. You can be booked to perform a bellygram on the empire state building, do a dance parade in central park, host a student halfa at NYU, participate in a drumming circle at Coney Island, perform for celebrities in some penthouse on the Upper East Side...possibilities are endless. Everything from grand weddings in mansions to little birthday get together at a simple one bedroom apartment. Oh how I love the fact each gig is so different from the rest. Having this lifestyle means you get to be EVERYWHERE :)<br />
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Because of this nature of gigs, all dancers need to have something to contact them at all times (cellphones, email, blackberries...etc) especially if your a dancer full time. And if your going to be out all day on a Friday or Saturday it isn't unheard of to carrying with you a simple costume and makeup in your purse in case you get that sudden gig call. This matters too if your daily commute is long and you want to cover last minute gigs. In a funny way it makes us feel like live a clark kent/superman lifestyle where we can change anytime when the time is needed. <br />
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But hey this is just my take on what it feel like to be a New York Bellydancer. </div>
Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-72004925490912334042011-01-23T17:16:00.000-05:002011-01-23T17:16:22.550-05:00Elektra, Where have you been?Seems that my presents online has been absent for quite a while. People have contacted me over and over as to where I have been and what I been up to. Well to be honest, I'm still around and still working. For the past few months I have been concentrating on performing mostly for private parties instead of public events. I been too wrapped up and involved with other projects I didn't have time and space to concentrate on participating in public events.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuy48h_UK4TkNzhDeDl5WbXNWz9LhbQE5LRYHdcnRwc7B5I9KYlyTSscncAW-llguC_Sfm0D5ITgsTfIvcF6GpmHlRsRQa45NdUYIrDAywfj1s8XCPIOoG25cvpnPRTRLhEX7/s1600/cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuy48h_UK4TkNzhDeDl5WbXNWz9LhbQE5LRYHdcnRwc7B5I9KYlyTSscncAW-llguC_Sfm0D5ITgsTfIvcF6GpmHlRsRQa45NdUYIrDAywfj1s8XCPIOoG25cvpnPRTRLhEX7/s1600/cat.jpg" /></a></div>And with me recently moving, getting adjusted, dealing with the holidays...etc my hands have been just tied. But I am still performing regularly and teaching every week. As of now I'm only teaching on Saturdays at the YMCA. I have been waiting for my schedule to clear up a bit before I start tackling more bellydance related projects and classes.<br />
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In the meantime, rest assured I will be more active especially in the upcoming spring and summer months. I have ideas up my sleeves as usual and my to do list is always active.<br />
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So keep on with Shimmy and shakes<br />
-ElektraBellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-75248376586038982892010-07-20T22:43:00.002-04:002010-07-20T22:54:01.389-04:00Merging it all onlineI'm currently trying to merge all my online world stuff. Everything from my website, blogs, twitter and facebook page. Need to bring it together. Doesn't it all get confusing anyway. Funny all this stuff feels important when really it isn't that much. It gets tiring after a while but when work over the internet its a big part of how you conduct business. So I'm on my way to find a way to tie them all in one knot and hopefully not lose my sanity...LOL<br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 325px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496187238004187634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgqsH_ZFEjDj9FC_Oddhsg0l4ThFuhluGrbkmrhIW3HmLLxqzWnwShDrdwKeULvCEmOtsWpy5DHk2dZi2UKxnagAWyrDAay_NyA0dX3iUY9XwdPdxQzNF05yAKIKqu6OBUVEk/s400/web_addict.jpg" /><br /><div></div>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-26644513448861270662010-06-24T01:22:00.003-04:002010-06-24T01:31:13.902-04:00Charging UpOh have I been on a roller coaster ride. Much going on different areas, been a little here a little there. Lots of ups and downs for the last few months. But now that summer is here and I have my new laptop which is charging me up to get back into my working groove. This also means my writing groove.<br /><div> </div><div>I'm anticipating lots of new ideas and goals for the upcoming months. So here's to good energy!</div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486208045714804962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38d9RDWDpUZFuEEEg8r-ggfKx-sR9gpEDL39dXNrrTABmC5ihtkGJzomRP-RUsJO3do88xbxI9zcNcz_VDQWL5O3nghrCaSBWwowDMjFsUVPKR15AnKKl5jgWqAtouSg_UFJ4/s400/rollarcoaster.jpg" /><br /><div></div>Rollercoasters are fun but I think I want to just lay on the beach for a while.<br /><div></div>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-79557661544199809392010-04-22T23:45:00.004-04:002010-04-23T00:14:55.154-04:00Video Blog lazy ImatitionSo I bumped into some bellydance video blogs online today. Um similar to mine but with half the effort. It's funny how some people want to create a video blog like mine but put absolutely no effort into actually writing anything in it. These blogs are just posted video dance clips people can watch in an organized fashion... that's pretty much it. The bloggers don't give any feedback or comments about any of the clips other than the title, the dancers name and where the clip was posted. Yeah a lazy man's job.<br /><br /><br /><br />Don't get me wrong, these blogs are nice to look up something interesting but then what? The person looking at these blogs don't have any interesting facts or opinions to read about, not to mention there is a missed opportunity for the reader to learn something about the dance itself.<br /><br /><div align="center">Anyone could easy copy paste videos and put them up in a blog. It really is a no brainer. </div><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 315px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463179190359772834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFol82EzTOTtHrsgvln68V36I2U5FPC2Gwp8zbVDVxj_Hlb-q3q8cM-HE-MFd4bQXrIQ9jJS595Xhe-XpezGBAz75T6UH87-fM1wLfzGqNXUCn81C5_CNoum5s1Rwt8INZjK0M/s400/lba2.jpg" />And if you don't write anything then the blog just feels empty. For that the reader is better off looking stuff up on their own on Youtube at least there they can read facts about the videos and watch other clips posted by others.<br /><br /><p>Now I'm not going to be the one to preach without admitting my own lazy habits. I will admit that I don't write in my blogs as often as I should, part of it has to do with my crazy schedule and the part has to do with the lack of time I set apart towards writing. BUT when I do write, I actually write. I sit, think and write. All my video blogs regardless of how often I update them, I always take the time to write my thoughts and give feedback about whatever I'm posting. I want to put the effort in because I want to make something I myself would be interested in reading.</p><p>I guess what I'm saying is, if you want to be a blogger then blog (write) even if its not everyday. Keep away from just copying a pasting stuff you find, its kinda like cheating or cutting corners without any real rewards.</p><p>Just a thought.</p>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-77607561620726596492009-10-11T17:57:00.011-04:002010-04-28T01:10:46.781-04:00My New York Bellydancer websiteFor my new bellydance website I decided to concentrate on the elements that shaped me as a artist today. These elements are :New York City (birth place & home), Fire (Sun sign, energy, name meaning), and professional ambition (the nature of my personality).<br /><br />So this represents me:<br /><br /><strong>The New Yorker in Me:</strong><br />I am a what you call a Native New York city bellydancer and I am totally a product of NYC. Everything from the way I speak, act, walk and dance, its shows in everything I do. And nope, I didn't drive in with a map, sail in with a backpack or fly in with family... I was born here. I was born a big apple girl, in the smack middle of one of the most diverse places in the world. Hello New York!<br /><br /><br /><strong>My Fire Energy:<br /></strong>My name "Elektra" means burning flame. My zodiac sign is Aries (first of the sun signs). My energy is completely about being bold, confident and passionate. When I perform I'm always giving lots of energy from the passion I feel to the movements I execute. I have a lot of fire in me and my passion helps my fire burn stronger.<br /><br /><br /><strong>My Professional attitude and Ambition:</strong><br />I'm the kind of professionals who sets goals. Whether small or large I'm always working on a goal. I care a great deal about professionalism. I am a person who thrives on emotion, spirit and passion. Almost every decision I make comes from the heart. I treat the dance like a science by breaking by the moves and putting them back together like a puzzle. I take time to understand the muscles being use while dancing so I could explain the movements better to others. I make being a professional on top of my priority list always.<br /><br /><br />I trying my best to pull all these things together in a pot and produce a site that is a reflection of this so lets see what is to come...Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-15067828490683788012009-09-20T01:10:00.012-04:002009-10-04T03:35:48.179-04:00Dogs, Cats & Owner types<p align="left"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzu4-KZjlhk5p_gzAbK7Y8d4NDC30jxhis47PxjlaaAqjRtTI_sEuVghlrw_QhulWbnySFLiWT9oE_PfQilx2UzWXVg3ypV4ewVkdCh9RKkO1Hb4vmaqFzPAHwEt4TBcxRJyqT/s1600-h/cat&dog.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388634649447099746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzu4-KZjlhk5p_gzAbK7Y8d4NDC30jxhis47PxjlaaAqjRtTI_sEuVghlrw_QhulWbnySFLiWT9oE_PfQilx2UzWXVg3ypV4ewVkdCh9RKkO1Hb4vmaqFzPAHwEt4TBcxRJyqT/s320/cat&dog.jpg" /></a><br />Ok, so this blog has nothing to do with dance but I'm human and I have other interests...<br /><br /><br />My topic: The cat & dog debate<br /><br />There is no such thing as "Which is a better pet, Cat or Dog?" They are equally amazing pets and for many, many different yet similar reasons. The answer lies in the type of person who owns the pet. A dog or cat will be loving, playful, responsive, active, cuddly and well behaved based on how their owners treat care and interact with them.<br /><br /><br />As a person who was raised with all types of animals, I have more than enough experience to tell you that human personally matters the most when having a pet be the best they can be. A pet is a reflection of their owner, believe it or not it works every time. Most importantly the pet has to fit the persons lifestyle which again falls back to my point on personality equals a dog or cat.<br /><br /><br />Food for thought: "<em>Pets flourish best when their owners devote themselves to them. It doesn't matter dog or cat. The right love will make the right pet </em>"<br /><br />Here's a brief rundown of bad pet owners:<br />I know people who treat their cats like furniture and wonder why their cat acts like a sofa. I also know people who treat their dogs like annoying barking and smelling objects by locking them up for hours and then wondered why their dogs act destructive become neurotic. Uhmmm.. if you did that to a growing human baby don't you think that child will grow up with behavor issues too. Duh! Pets are not humans but the saying still aplies "Give and you will recieve".<br /><br />Now back to the positive topic<br /><br /><strong>Picking Your Pet<br /></strong><em>Human personality and lifestyle:</em><br />It all boils down to picking the right pet for your lifestyle. Be realistic, write an honest list down of your daily habits. Describe your home environment, energy levels, consider other people you live with.<br /><br />Here's a helpful exercise to figure out if a cat or dog is right for you: </p><p align="left">******Write down a description of your own personality (leave out your name) then have a friend or stranger read it and tell you whether the personality type on the paper sounds like a cat person or dog person. Be careful not to show the paper to people who hate either cats or dogs because their opinion will be completely bias. Find people who are rather neutral, it's ok if they personally prefer one pet type over another just as longs as they don't hate the other type of pet. </p><p align="left">You might be more surprised than you think. I can't tell you how many dog people are really cat people and don't know it. Same goes for unexpected cat people who are better as dog owners. No joke, I see this all the time. The problem lies in the very beginning when wanting a pet transforms into actually having a pet. People get so wrapped up in the idea of a pet, until they actually have. It is only then they realize this pet crashes with their lifestyle or personally.<br /><br /><br />Here are some really basic ways to spot the difference between dog & cat people<br /><br /><em>IF you feel affection should be giving and not earned. Most likely</em>: <strong>A Dog person.</strong><br />Dogs seek approval of owners constantly not caring so much whether their owner does the same. Why, because dogs are forgiving and want to please their owners who are like god to them. You are not a cat person. If you ignore a cat, a cat will ignore you back. You are not god to them. Cats can treasure, love and be completely devoted to you but only if they feel you want to feel the same with them and treat them this way.<br /><br /><em>IF you like a silent home environment. Most likely</em>: <strong>Cat person</strong><br />Cats are silent overall. Even the ones who are naturally very vocal can only meow for so long or can't be so loud they can be heard down the street. Cats also make no sound when they walk around your home thanks to their retractable claws. Dogs bark for all kinds of reasons and their claws make noise when they walk it's a big deal. They tend to also knock stuff over more so because they are not as flexiable as cats or have the same amount of body awarness.<br /><br /><em>IF you need an animal to act insane for you when you come home. Most likely:</em> <strong>Dog person</strong><br />Dogs will greet you like you are reason they live and breathe. They will drown you in kisses, jump all over you to show you how much they missed you. Cats also can be crazy excited for you too, but they will not go to the physical extremes to show you how happy they are to see you again. Cats don't feel any of that is necessary because they just know you love them and to them they assume you are secure enough to know that.<br /><br /><em>IF you Obsess over a neat spotless home. Most likely</em>: <strong>Cat person</strong><br />Cats are naturally extremely clean. They groom themselves constantly. They won't stink up your furniture, chew on things or knock down objects clumsy. They have great body awareness like dancers, they know just how to balance, when to jump and how to fit just right into spaces. Dogs are clumsy in this department because they just live in the moment.<br /><br /><em>IF you are a really active person who enjoys or needs daily exercise. Mostly likely:</em> <strong>Dog person</strong><br />Dogs flourish best when they go out for daily walks, its absolutely crucial for them to be happy and balanced. A dog will go running, jogging, swimming and anything else with you out doors. Whatever activity you want to do, they are all about it. Cats have a different idea of exercise which involves running around the house when they want to play, attacking toys, jumping, climbing and wrestling with each other or stuffed animals. A cat can't really help you stay physically fit because their plan really only works for them. But cats can still make you laugh when they get excited and run around like ninja's. LOL<br /><br /><em>IF prefer to stay home, dread going out if not completely necessary. Most likely</em>: <strong>Cat person</strong><br />Cats never need to go out and have no problem being a hermit like you. They also have kitty boxes so you never have to take them out to poop. Dogs love outdoors and really need it for emotional, physically and psychological health. For some, taking a dog out every morning and evening can be a daunting task especially in bad weather (rain, snow, bitter cold, heat wave). Lot's of owners find this a reason to give their dog away after having it as a pet. Irresponsible I know, but this is what happens when people don't really realize or comprehend the importance of dog walks and this is not for everyone.<br /><br /><em>IF you want to train a pet easily. Most likely:</em> <strong>Dog person.</strong><br />Dogs are natural people please-rs. They will do just about anything to make you happy. When it comes to training they will work hard and pick up commands because you want them to. Cats are trainable too. Cats can fetch, come, sit, jump, spin and many other things on command, but your patience and commitment is crucial. They take longer to learn tricks, not because of intelligence but because they don't feel the need to impress you as much. You are not always the center of their world and because of that they can be distracted whenever they feel like it. They are highly intelligent but independent and not insecure to be so either.<br /><br /><em>IF appreciate your independence and wish not to be bothered much. Mostly likely</em>: <strong>Cat person</strong><br />Cats respect your space. They can come to you when you want them around and go away happily if you don't. They can take pleasure watching you do your errands at a distance, chill on your lap when you read or purr calmly around you when you want a bit of company. They never have to ask you how you feel about them because they just know. Dogs are hungry for attention and would prefer to be center of your world like they way you are to them. This can be irrigating for the really independent types because of the constant starring, and following around the house can be overwhelming. These people end up tie-ing up their dogs or putting them in another room for this reason. Not everyone needs a pet to constantly asking "Do you love me?" over and over and over and over and over again. Dogs are obsessed with love this way, not are not. Yes dogs can learn to chill out next to you and do absolutely nothing, but inside they are just waiting for your attention.<br /><br />Tricky personality avenues, when dogs and cats are on equal grounds.<br /><br /><em>IF you like a pet that wants to play with you:</em> <strong>Both cats & dogs.</strong><br />Cats and dogs both want to play with you. The difference is the type of play. Dogs like rough house games, chewing, fetching and will play just about any creative game you come up with. They are the pets who are just ready to go at anytime. Cats like chasing, pouncing, leaping, puzzle games (where they are attracted to catch objects through objects), attacking toys, and play wrestling. Sometimes mood affects cats attitude towards play. It is not because they never want to play, its just they want to play when the time is right. Cat's also crave challenges, they bore with the same toys and games, they crave for you to invent something that will spark their interest. Cats love to play with you, if they don't its your own fault for not playing with them daily or coming up with a better game than an old piece of string.<br /><br /><em>IF you like a pet who will sleep with you:</em><strong> Both cats & dogs</strong>.<br />What pet wouldn't want to sleep with the owner they love ;)<br /><br />There are many other examples I go write about and so many other interesting comparisons but in the end my conclusion stays the same. A happy, healthy, loving, well behaved, devoted pet is a reflection of their owner.<br /><br />So in the end lets give a round of applause to our favorite pets CATS & DOGS!!!!!! </p>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-44147975161259435332009-05-19T22:42:00.005-04:002009-10-04T02:50:49.694-04:00Confessions of a Sims gamer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01-MktvuovJkBLRvLQ2LMdtRGoOe3U_kHWEXU2m92zHbVLcZ0OPryzrJQmEIl7l4qx5i6KULTtXDsVJu1oEJ2kVF4jd8w-Y_e3I6OBpyFWHGCfBmvNBCXVCgEjPNn7HbSoT0A/s1600-h/baseGameBoxBig.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337735601417756754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01-MktvuovJkBLRvLQ2LMdtRGoOe3U_kHWEXU2m92zHbVLcZ0OPryzrJQmEIl7l4qx5i6KULTtXDsVJu1oEJ2kVF4jd8w-Y_e3I6OBpyFWHGCfBmvNBCXVCgEjPNn7HbSoT0A/s320/baseGameBoxBig.jpg" /></a> I have a confession. I'm addicted to Sims. Yes, it's an actual PC video game and I actually play it.<br /><br /><div></div>I have been secretly addicted to this game for years since it first appeared in February 2000. At the time my boyfriend bought the game, he wasn't fond of it but for me I was addicted the moment I tried it.<br /><br /><div></div><div>Yes, this is so not like me. I don't even like video games, I feel that they are a tremendous waste of time. I myself would rather get lost in a great book or take a nice walk outdoors. You don't really gain anything from video game other than entertainment, fun, stress relief...etc. </div><br /><div>But still, there is something about video games that makes people play and continue to play.</div><br /><div>For me that video game escape is the Sims. I have secretly been a huge Sim gamer since the first appeared in 2000. I had all the expansion packs and I used to play for hours and hours. The more I played the more I loved it. It was a horrible addiction. </div><br /><div>Then one day I just stopped. I refused to play. I stopped playing for over 2 years until a boyfriend bought me the game. Once I tried it, it was over. I was hooked all over again.</div><div> </div><div>And so once and while the saga continues...</div>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-32436684117024578572009-05-05T17:48:00.005-04:002014-02-07T22:12:12.383-05:00Dancer Differences (students, hobbiest, professional)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3H7mav5g_8y5U7i_CEkwjCPNNrNl31owr7-KnThu2_TTUvL-68wyrTn6lBcoBzZ1uRm5UGRAFSyRDQscVfarQL_9AEeXLYNVvdcQqt7GOUJPUx2i93rxZhMDD2WrBo_gTUQku/s1600-h/glacierqueensm.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3H7mav5g_8y5U7i_CEkwjCPNNrNl31owr7-KnThu2_TTUvL-68wyrTn6lBcoBzZ1uRm5UGRAFSyRDQscVfarQL_9AEeXLYNVvdcQqt7GOUJPUx2i93rxZhMDD2WrBo_gTUQku/s320/glacierqueensm.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332468033743250642" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 315px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 220px;" /></a><br />
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I thought it would be nice to help explain how dancers vary. </div>
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<strong>Student Belly Dancers</strong></div>
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These are student dancers. It's anybody taking bellydance classes (daily, weekly, monthly, private lessons or taking workshops.) They can range from beginners to advanced student dancers. They love learning bellydancing and some wish to become professional bellydancers some day. </div>
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<strong>Hobbyist Belly Dancers</strong></div>
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These are dancers who take classes or perform bellydance shows as a hobby. They are not concentrated on making a financial profit, but perform for the sake of performing. They usually perform at Hafla's, family/friend events, or venues with their peers. Hobby dancers can also be dedicated students who just love taking classes but are not very interested in going any further than that. </div>
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<strong>Transitional Dancer / students or hobbiest transitioning to professional</strong></div>
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These are bellydancers in that transition state of going from advanced student or hobbyist to professional bellydancers. These dancers are learning the concepts of business, teaching, performance and the art of entertainment as a professional bellydancer. This transitional state takes time, it can range from weeks to years. It depends how much the dancer gets mentored by other professional dancers.</div>
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<strong>Part-time Professional Bellydancers</strong></div>
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These are professional bellydancers who either dance or teach or both on a part-time basis. These dancers balance day jobs or sometime several jobs while maintaining a side professional bellydance career. </div>
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<strong>Full-Time Professional BellyDancers</strong></div>
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These are dancers who don't have day jobs and make belly dancing a full time career. These dancers usually balance out a number of bellydance business responsibilities including, dancing at private & public venues, marketing, teaching classes/workshops/private lessons, networking, selling merchandise and other concentrated bellydance business.</div>
Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-21505480485388677332008-12-14T23:15:00.002-05:002008-12-14T23:29:10.434-05:00Idea = Bliss<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuavuzqPqsP5y2NP53WKWPQBxq9j2d_kYzRwm75ya1r2b9v86VLVTjd00RwmLRUqpjk3rabFtGXbYLKk55E3mqe6fVe8xCAvkCfKT41sf7RlSnTVRRl-HclH3JH-DY3hzxOtwW/s1600-h/light-bulb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuavuzqPqsP5y2NP53WKWPQBxq9j2d_kYzRwm75ya1r2b9v86VLVTjd00RwmLRUqpjk3rabFtGXbYLKk55E3mqe6fVe8xCAvkCfKT41sf7RlSnTVRRl-HclH3JH-DY3hzxOtwW/s320/light-bulb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279865831759850290" border="0" /></a>Today I've made some interesting progress on my new website design. I spend lots of my evening designing a cover flyer when all of a sudden a great idea struck me. It was something that was so obvious to me yet I never really thought of it before, not the way I am now. Oh how I wish I could share my idea here on my blog... but I won't.<br /><br />I'm very serious as to how I want my design to look and feel. The reason I can't share my idea is because I don't want other bellydancers grasping the idea before me. Oh I'm sure I'll have a few bitters mimic my idea once it's out there. But they will have to wait until I plant the seed first. I'm very excited about the way I want to lay this thing out, now I just have to take time to really construct the whole thing. Oh my site will be unique, different and completely diverse... just the way I like it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2xUJhBBqOQtaxw5gdfv-Z833p6BNiXxlu5eceAP-Io58kFltL7QbmTZfLML71B2jxypdFcFk-9Stx9FNRwUBESN_rwhyxPEGZ6ATJ71_Q9i1zJrabXy3B6zaXrT71QCNcgVT/s1600-h/goals-make-us-come-alive.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2xUJhBBqOQtaxw5gdfv-Z833p6BNiXxlu5eceAP-Io58kFltL7QbmTZfLML71B2jxypdFcFk-9Stx9FNRwUBESN_rwhyxPEGZ6ATJ71_Q9i1zJrabXy3B6zaXrT71QCNcgVT/s320/goals-make-us-come-alive.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279869059114006098" border="0" /></a><br />I can't stand following the crowd and being like everyone else, it just not in my nature. This is why I really dig the new idea thats dancing around my head ;)<br /><br />I have a moment of bliss now because I know what I want.<br />I'm focused on a goal...<br />I know how to get it...<br />And I'm on my way!Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-8602163001413854342008-12-10T23:31:00.001-05:002008-12-10T23:31:25.015-05:00The Renovation ExperienceSo I'm trying to renovate my website. And I'm getting the only fat headache! Here's the story...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiM6HzooV8Ifchr5B_MY-QVOlFyIx7zkrioGgMFwLjrOxlB3SKRQChU2hxCXIj_hBZpZdje9i_BNCqo5EPsaD5ud4poOShld8hcS_vi8Flt1ZC75l-x4UQxe37jj9TiQGCvbM/s1600-h/headache.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiM6HzooV8Ifchr5B_MY-QVOlFyIx7zkrioGgMFwLjrOxlB3SKRQChU2hxCXIj_hBZpZdje9i_BNCqo5EPsaD5ud4poOShld8hcS_vi8Flt1ZC75l-x4UQxe37jj9TiQGCvbM/s400/headache.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278385017732596322" border="0" /></a>Getting my website re-designed is something I thought about for a long while now. I feel both excited about having a new designed website and also completely worried that the site will not have the same feel I have been use to all this time.<br /><br />So I started re-designing my site with my boyfriend. He gave me good advise by setting me up with a new website provider and ideas how to re-arrange articles I have posted on my site. The only problem with my newer site is that I find it harder to navigate. Sure the site is way more updated with lots of features and possiblities. But in return, I have a lot of navigational material to learn and get used to. This new experience has not been easy nor fun. I have litterally stepped away from the computer with headaches and neck pains from the aggravation. This renovation is truely painful.<br /><br />Here are some of the problems (only some),<br />So far I feel it takes me 3x times longer to post something up on my new site verses my old site. The new site looks way better in terms of clarity and professionalism but there are so many steps to take to get anything done. =( I get a big headache just thinking about it!<br /><br />I try to work on the new site every other day whenever I have the chance. My boyfriend complains that I don't work on the site long enough. To tell you the truth I don't. I'm not going to be around the bush about it, this new site is so much work it makes me want to run away from it and avoid it at all costs.<br /><br />I will stop this bad behavior and work harder on my new site. Hopefully I can get it running by the beginning of the new year. Lets see, I can't make any promises but I will try.Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-87646635118599414542008-08-12T23:13:00.002-04:002010-04-28T02:23:53.508-04:00Grammatical issues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynmVFcITnBbPaOFywnaXOdQIcAYo0I67lc636m7PDKvWN-ljcRmgrKtoJkIk6RZKMAENOrjjmCsNNE2UmHkrIlO0ymNTyQjEbfcbFJK2meClOUOllwIZipi543SLDRO5bDi2Y/s1600-h/bee.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233835317598449906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynmVFcITnBbPaOFywnaXOdQIcAYo0I67lc636m7PDKvWN-ljcRmgrKtoJkIk6RZKMAENOrjjmCsNNE2UmHkrIlO0ymNTyQjEbfcbFJK2meClOUOllwIZipi543SLDRO5bDi2Y/s400/bee.jpg" /></a> Occasionally, I know that in my blogs, articles, essays and whatever else I write that I make grammatical errors. Specifically when I'm in a rush and have little time to re-read my written material.<br /><br />With this said I welcome corrections from any of my readers when something arises. Just send me a quick note about the grammatical error on the specific blog entry and I will get to it to fix it up. Your input is appreciated :)Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-49506149452985182662008-08-07T13:18:00.010-04:002008-08-07T13:54:49.347-04:00Orgasmic music, lose my breath<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5odR64EM5d20c_LSBBt2x8V4iyL_kk2nwULtPh2PmfvDl9Pmpo772qaHRGnVrOmVTJB9Te3nprPSTZfHaiOuPYN3pDaVUJWDtaD1HfOY4_dcVHGXKWX87vtV5Gm_x01StWpe/s1600-h/Yearning-Painting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231827775759079490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5odR64EM5d20c_LSBBt2x8V4iyL_kk2nwULtPh2PmfvDl9Pmpo772qaHRGnVrOmVTJB9Te3nprPSTZfHaiOuPYN3pDaVUJWDtaD1HfOY4_dcVHGXKWX87vtV5Gm_x01StWpe/s320/Yearning-Painting.jpg" border="0" /></a>Today I encountered a song that made me lose my breathe, roll my eyes back and exhale. It was enchanting powerful song, I can literally say the hairs on my neck stood up and I felt my spine tingle. Don't you love when an emotion can move you so.<br /><br />Oh the song is simply orgasmic, I love it. I try to dance around with it for a bit but then I just melted into my chair and decided to just soak it all in instead. I heard it for a few times a felt and allowed myself to experience a wave of warm energy flow through my body. That melody made my eyes wet with pleasure. Oh the strange behaviors of artists our sense perceptions go beyond reason. <em>I know my bellydance sisters would truly understand.</em><br /><br />As I close my eyes to just listen, I imagine the textures I see, the scents I smell, the taste of the air in the room and how it drains me powerless. I feel my heart pounding away with the steady beat of the drums, I am so lost within this song I don't want to return.<br /><br />I have trouble describing this song with just words. This song can only be experienced and shared through emotions. I know I will add this song to some of my performances in the future, but I'm not going to say when or where.<br /><br />I guess the observers will only have to figure it out by opening themselves to really experiencing this song and then maybe just maybe they will know that I just performed to this song.Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-49205881928844711492008-06-27T00:41:00.026-04:002008-08-05T22:56:30.180-04:00The East Coast Competition experience<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLILRY5eECFSYHnUgoxCTUXELRiPSQT_Qn2c_3TQbb0L3eCqHuo0pGAwpa4tpzsdhe1a02qCRke8xzH-3tTyb9zbh9NKtItR2gmm51tXvMM-LvDrQpCBLpJ_35h422pdDx_8MR/s1600-h/Comp1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218193849486392834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLILRY5eECFSYHnUgoxCTUXELRiPSQT_Qn2c_3TQbb0L3eCqHuo0pGAwpa4tpzsdhe1a02qCRke8xzH-3tTyb9zbh9NKtItR2gmm51tXvMM-LvDrQpCBLpJ_35h422pdDx_8MR/s320/Comp1.JPG" border="0" /></a> This blog is about my first experience entering a bellydance competition and winning...<br /><div><div><br />At the beginning of the new year, I finally made the conscious decision of competing. I decided to join the East Coast Classics competition because it was the closest one to New York City. After sending my registration form I knew that the thought was finally reality, I was really going to compete and not just think about it anymore. </div><br /><div>Well, I did second guess the idea... a lot.<br /><br />I waited literally the last 3 days before the competition to buy traveling tickets. And because of this I was stuck buying bus tickets. The rates to take a plane were off the wall and a even a train ride was out of the question.</div><br /><div>The road trip was brutal. Me and Sahazha left Friday night to take an overnight bus ride to Virginia. Sleeping in a bus is truly ridiculous but there we were. Cramped up in our seats, with soar necks and chairs that barely lean back. I'm not even sure how we managed but we did. Since we were both small we fit in our chairs very well, I was able to curl up my legs on the seat and sleep like a ball. Still it was the most uncomfortable experience I could have imagined.</div><br /><div>We talked a lot throughout and tried our best to sleep every so often. By the time we woke up we looked completely discombobulated. It was 6:30am in the morning. We were beyond loped sided, we as if someone beat us up and left us totally out of it. Since we had time to kill (the doors at the competition tacitly weren't to open until 9am) we decided to dine at a local restaurant. We found a cab at the bus driver who drove us to a local diner so we could have some breakfast.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoD2ImSMfmSwxKZNWVrV2YF2seFH3FAQYrKG9XHVZXHbS64OzkY0PAY_UQ-4GMb1dw5He2RosrhtGLARcfRdPvaJHUtz7CJsnmFcWqTqIETgGrQf2ZdC9Z3_JfClV-GGvt0So/s1600-h/DSCN0243.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218193001898047618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 186px" height="180" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoD2ImSMfmSwxKZNWVrV2YF2seFH3FAQYrKG9XHVZXHbS64OzkY0PAY_UQ-4GMb1dw5He2RosrhtGLARcfRdPvaJHUtz7CJsnmFcWqTqIETgGrQf2ZdC9Z3_JfClV-GGvt0So/s200/DSCN0243.JPG" width="246" border="0" /></a></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218192562442025362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 185px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="167" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-weMuD8U-EEck6TdaAWIZBrSegR-m1F4nwELmFMPqOXazzqiq-gdr6hzldUY91k55TCuqulYMZQfONt8ljs967Byzwpwyj5XmbR7VuVqPHzbCyWpQa-BCzLW8XlhtNxC_KLVo/s200/DSCN0242.JPG" width="225" border="0" /><br />The diner was a little place located new a few churches about 4 blocks from the place we were to be at 9am. Me & Sahazha could get over how many churches were in Virginia, I mean the temples were literally next door to each other. We had a couple of laughs over eggs, bacon, toast and ham about our morning trip. We had fun watching the local Virginia people around us talk and move about. Their natural was very calm and collective, they never seemed rushed or overwhelmed. It felt like we were living a cartoon episode of "King of the Hill". Sahazha and I totally stood out as two foreign city girls. It was so weird Virginia isn't that from from New York, yet the vibe is so extremely different. </div><br /><div>Oh and this is two pictures of Sahazha sitting around waiting for a cab and holding a can a maze. There were two strange men trying to follow us that day but that's a whole other story.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GWNKzR9IfEKGG3xjqn3ffMAYuMLli2UbAliv2gT24vOz7VDwxZ7wGv01jEpUPRKleE_gU0S6mTDUGXqUsWvE0Fpr6hZ3ksbYnqNcNkknUr722mWZ_MVWl3br1G_IHuWyd-C8/s1600-h/DSCN0240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218191444646177586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GWNKzR9IfEKGG3xjqn3ffMAYuMLli2UbAliv2gT24vOz7VDwxZ7wGv01jEpUPRKleE_gU0S6mTDUGXqUsWvE0Fpr6hZ3ksbYnqNcNkknUr722mWZ_MVWl3br1G_IHuWyd-C8/s200/DSCN0240.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218191846791853810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZY8MDjer7S3hgPh7WktTujEr7wk9NlkwPgf0Dc34dn3T3i1zwH_PmGhHuv9VmaGbT8rFbCU7RD6FEUNjivP3IeYmyqVegFIDWnonO5Wg_jMFVHLxt5R7AInT4ONCxeV6k_QxU/s200/DSCN0241.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Anyhow, we left the diner around 8:30am and got to the place we were heading by 8:45am. We were officially the earliest competitors to arrive. I looked as if I rolled out of bed and so naturally I wanted to do my hair and makeup asap. LOL<br /></div></div><div>I got comfortable (as best as I could) in the dressing room, put a bit of makeup on, fluffed my hair and introduced my self to all the dancers I came across. Me and Sahazha killed a hour or two looking at costumes the vendors were selling before the competitions actually started.</div><br /><div>The competitions started two hours later. I sat with Sahazha in the middle of the auditorium and watched the first category of dancers. This first line up was the Rising Star division (beginner dancers with experience)<br /></div><div>We really enjoyed watching rising stars shake their stuff here are a few of my personal favorite:<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222334388255981634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 423px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 88px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="129" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoXjGrqlVfRGgeuWoV14kBhPNVD0HjEYBhXKbfbpd7NhlgD3ERlILRa6p55niYOVHPutREgL-qU8SZpVN3YF8cyFvq4VUv6zxZkdg2hubZpVqBtOsBcH4ltrOstBHUr78ktse/s400/Rising+Star+clip.JPG" width="470" border="0" />To be honest, I enjoyed everyone who performed. The one who caught my eye the most was Claire from California. She was absolutely adorable and beyond talented. She seriously rocked the house! </div><div><br /><div>Next came the Troupe competition. There was really interesting line up of dance groups, everything from the strange to the exotic to the glamours and beyond.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1MzaGSiq2RibnQrlhT8tAuZPxOfLiY0FpSUyu4lQGeEO88NWwK1d6gs5pQg6y-gMwnSHNqnIwONMIuD5FaEAaKAuVN6S0brA150RBz3B4Ar6QMjRAx_sEDSm2HlLwQLeCp0/s1600-h/makeups.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222336784610817826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1MzaGSiq2RibnQrlhT8tAuZPxOfLiY0FpSUyu4lQGeEO88NWwK1d6gs5pQg6y-gMwnSHNqnIwONMIuD5FaEAaKAuVN6S0brA150RBz3B4Ar6QMjRAx_sEDSm2HlLwQLeCp0/s320/makeups.JPG" border="0" /></a>There was an hour break after the Troupe competition. I went to get ready backstage and go over my dance routine in my head. Here's me putting on makeup... well pretending to for the camera...LOL<br /></div><div>Anyhow, when the time came to line up to go on, I was more than ready. I was excited and not all nervous. I kept convincing myself this was just like any other gig and so my prime focus was to have fun and entertain. The last thing I wanted was to feel nervous because that does nothing but distract you from your main focus.</div><br /><div>I was the third dancer to go on. I watched the other two dancers before me perform from back stage. Seeing them dance out there on the stage dancing with the lights, and the crowd of people make me really excited. I had so much energy I couldn't help but dance around, I couldn't wait to go on.</div><div></div><div>Then my turn came. My music went on I took a breathe and became "Elektra on Stage". Seeing all faces within the crowd, lights beaming on me and cameras everywhere made my adrenaline rush. I felt like a kid in candy land, oh yeah I had fun dancing.</div><br /><div>I caught a glimpse of the judges staring at me from all the way in the back, they had concentrated looks on their faces as if they were studying a math problem. Automatically my intuition kicked into full gear and I said to myself, oh no I'm going to make they smile at me;) And for the next few moments I projected my energy far across the room looked directly at them and smiled and what do you know... they smiled back (;-D) That's when I knew... Hmm they like me!</div><br /><div>When my song ended I still felt fully charged with excitment. I watched the other competitors from behind stage and chatted with the dancers around me.</div><br /><div>Later when it was time for the award ceremony, I was then really nervous. Sahazha was convinced I won but I didn't take her word for it because many other dancers were great.</div><br /><div>And when they annouced the Headliner of the year award and called my name, I totally lost it. My face turned red as tomato, I was so embaressed. I didn't even know how to accept the award. I still can't get over it whenever I think about it because OMG I won. WOW!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xtP-SPUT3gc8i_p6LQJm4Nj4PPLWzWYaQGCufuFBEfNqhnzanvL01BMaTM1alMTzIq6UHydi94jYj9kWbE45A3XPsuqGCrPLdETXtHJQT2HvWfsMfW8WlHLv_hwi5jbBup1o/s1600-h/trophy2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231231243999568274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xtP-SPUT3gc8i_p6LQJm4Nj4PPLWzWYaQGCufuFBEfNqhnzanvL01BMaTM1alMTzIq6UHydi94jYj9kWbE45A3XPsuqGCrPLdETXtHJQT2HvWfsMfW8WlHLv_hwi5jbBup1o/s400/trophy2.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231231474447695170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="271" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KdDR2AzB83_IgTOgGsUHvXiv81TCVPA3wOSbVyqGGbvg6D7F2l3WotKhw8pKCtbI6HoPoHrbdCSKngU_7uIL8HJqXuo5_4RwfFcyJ5w3bap1oXKss6ZWnGrVoaUJugrKAvXc/s320/I+%26+sam+with+trophy.JPG" width="190" border="0" /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-Eo6MMBlhXgwgWssmaCafMSNwcEnM6F-deRaXVx9b17dzCfRbpLbJi7q1VdStIV_3iW2poPza7woMzgFl6fYNZq6HO1I24ugLrQZWtoE07L3ISOQSiaZiwD60zZDmJPBQBNr/s1600-h/I+%26+Clare+with+trophies.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231231748297290098" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-Eo6MMBlhXgwgWssmaCafMSNwcEnM6F-deRaXVx9b17dzCfRbpLbJi7q1VdStIV_3iW2poPza7woMzgFl6fYNZq6HO1I24ugLrQZWtoE07L3ISOQSiaZiwD60zZDmJPBQBNr/s320/I+%26+Clare+with+trophies.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-Eo6MMBlhXgwgWssmaCafMSNwcEnM6F-deRaXVx9b17dzCfRbpLbJi7q1VdStIV_3iW2poPza7woMzgFl6fYNZq6HO1I24ugLrQZWtoE07L3ISOQSiaZiwD60zZDmJPBQBNr/s1600-h/I+%26+Clare+with+trophies.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br />This blog can go on and on and on and on, but I had to shorten it because I think I can write a book about the competition day. This was a shorten version of a very long blog...LOL<br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-37309010817409333922008-06-27T00:41:00.009-04:002008-06-27T01:49:29.297-04:00Bellydancer Elektra, the name, the dancer...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRHGQTFX_0-pyAzTbdgrpdKpQ_9RBMkOHwBYoRGXFT7acW3fjtaXJMiZoN9VFOmtu94pMES6L9Td-W5tShyqFa7BUgUVk0QzcQB7sL1CKr0RCDnPENrxt3pauZfEJ4sAUPk33/s1600-h/Elektra+in+Business.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216420639094823842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRHGQTFX_0-pyAzTbdgrpdKpQ_9RBMkOHwBYoRGXFT7acW3fjtaXJMiZoN9VFOmtu94pMES6L9Td-W5tShyqFa7BUgUVk0QzcQB7sL1CKr0RCDnPENrxt3pauZfEJ4sAUPk33/s400/Elektra+in+Business.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My Name is Elektra and I'm a professional bellydancer based in New York City. My name Elektra was both earned and given to me as young dancer years ago.<br /><br />It was given to me based on the fact I was known for being a high energy and lively dancer. This natural talent to use energy came from my passion for bellydance. From the very first moment I stepped on stage I felt like my chest was going to explode with love and excitement. People use to nickname me the little fireball or the fire-cracker. So naturally when it came to pick a dance name, Elektra was going to be it.<br /><br />The name Elektra means "Burning fire/flame, firey, Sun, Shinning, Amber." This is exactly what my energy, personality and self represents through the form of dance. I have earned this name, Plain & simple.<br /><br />I have done everything in my power to stay true and represent myself as the image of the Elektra I created.<br />For this, I know that my name has been earned. I live up to the name and power this name possesses.<br /><br />Oh and let me get the obvious out of the way before I go any further...<br />Yes, the name comes from Greek mythology. Yes, there is an actress named Carmen Electra. Yes, there is a comic-book superhero name Elektra Natchios. Yes, there two ways to spell the name Elektra one with a "C" & one with a "K". But none of these had anything to do with why my name was given to me. The meaning of the name is the purpose it's mine.<br /><br />Now, I will say that I did conduct lots of online research (which I hope other bellydancers would do but everyone uses common sense) way before I even created my website. I did want to see how many bellydancers shared my name. At that time I only could find two listings. One semi-dancer in Houston Texas, another Elektra from the 1970's, and a few barely seen Electra's with a "C". I was satisfied with that and surprised.<br /><br />So I went ahead and established myself all over online and beyond. I threw myself everywhere and began to thicken the name Elektra and associated with me. I understood my purpose as a bellydancer, I understood my strenghts and I understood how to use my high energy as a talent when performing. I did it. I placed my name in the cement, framed it and crowned it on my head...LOL<br /><br />Now I got to say, I'm seeing a few other Elektra's poping up online and what-nots. Oh how corney. What is this? Why Elektra. I know it will be impossible for me to be the only Elektra bellydancer in whole world. But Hello, at least be courteous and add a LAST NAME to yours. I'm the bellydancer Elektra from NYC, reconize and get it together! (That's the NYC blood in me talking XD)<br /><br />Yeah, New York City, I'm a native New Yorker with a lot a fire energy. Let me have my name and give yours last name or spell it differently. I can't help it, I'm selfish and I don't want to share. Oh and did I mention that I'm also an Aries (fire sign hello).<br /><br />Ok, I'll be nice and add and last name to mine. I can use Elektra Anez. Oh how cute, I'm being sweet. Uh... nah, I want---> Elektra.<br /><br />If you don't like it bite me.Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-53842327544041982312008-05-01T14:54:00.000-04:002008-05-20T15:06:04.235-04:00Bad Bad Girl<div align="center"> I've been a bad bad girl...</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202535862570109426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 114px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="243" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8KXzTMsyN6sDaGbiR_GfUX_uTqYm-GTsSc5UG9gu_jb7WygDBwDAmsew8HU8IVTgwuGWokeOcJjf4rIXxAbF82iX6KmVxQQ-u_igwMPA2lksLzNpJ_KwmCrUU9YZu9KdQJnV/s320/modern-pinup-girl-illustration.jpg" width="162" border="0" />Sorry not that kind of Bad girl</div><br />But I have been the slack off the blog writing kind of bad girl again. I just realized that it has been close to 4 months since I posted anything on my bellydance video blog. Where did all my time go. I know I was working on many projects but I had no idea I slacked off my writing for so long!<br /><br /><br /><p>Sure I've had a lot of shows to do. Many classes to teach. A dance competition to work on. Crazy relationship stuff I had to sort out and a beagle named Betty. But really were did all my blog time go?</p><p>I'm really going to have to get back in the habit of writing again with my weekly blogs. Funny how promising yourself to write weekly blogs don't seem to much to ask for but when it comes down to it, sometimes you just can't find time to write.</p><p>For now I'll work in Baby steps. I'm going first catch up on my video blogs and then take it from there. So lets see how long it takes me to bring it all back.</p><p>Ouch... I have a lot of catching up to do.<br /></p>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-86086121014792268392008-03-23T23:45:00.000-04:002008-03-24T01:13:25.777-04:00Admitting defeat...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIXOc6Romd2yuUDBV0ymEEnO-itYFIxScf38P7VBoBX3a1alDRKAVJfPpPgVcJFzPSPkxsMoD9Ubm7hyekcoHimqPp2zTTBE3lVH7RZ_guq0eihbwiQ311ewdaim7tFP_KqYj/s1600-h/the+flower.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181168333815200786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIXOc6Romd2yuUDBV0ymEEnO-itYFIxScf38P7VBoBX3a1alDRKAVJfPpPgVcJFzPSPkxsMoD9Ubm7hyekcoHimqPp2zTTBE3lVH7RZ_guq0eihbwiQ311ewdaim7tFP_KqYj/s320/the+flower.gif" border="0" /></a>I'm not the type to admit defeat easily. I aim high, work really hard and live by a determined attitude. I don't give up easy, especially when it comes from the matters of the heart. I have always been a warrior that can't back down from a fight, won't allow myself to fall to my knees and surrender. Although this trait has served me well throughout the years, there are times when I don't realize that some things are not worth fighting for...<br /><br /><div><div><div><div>Some times it's good to cut your losses and move on. I've had to learn that sometimes we all make mistakes, even if we tried our best to be careful and think things thoroughly. Life is just too unpredictable, there will always be things we can control and other things we could never control. We are human, I am human and know I have to be more forgiving. </div><br /><div align="center"><em>Forgiveness is important, that's another life lesson I'm coming to terms with but that would be another story...</em></div><br /><div>I guess it's a combination of my pride and ego that makes me so determined to keep fighting even if it's clear the fight that isn't worth fighting for. I hate to give up a battle where I feel I had not tried enough. I'll even justify the situation to convince myself that if I work harder I'd win, but perhaps it's the winning notion which is really what I'm after. Even if the prize isn't worth anything, the winning becomes my obsession. Funny how that sounds, I never thought of it that way.<br /></div><div>I don't know... but I do know that sometimes everyone reaches a point when they have to admit defeat. We can't always win, no matter how hard we try. Life has a way of throwing wild cards, the best thing to do is sit back and try to play the game fair. Give it all that you can and hope for the best. Most importantly allow room to make errors because nothing in this life is perfect or promising.</div><br /><div></div>I'm starting to re-evaluate my attitude on choices I made and ones I will make. In the end of the day my happiness is all that matters to me and I have to put that first before everything else. </div></div></div>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-91687473430038741472008-02-26T21:15:00.005-05:002008-02-26T21:34:47.606-05:00Eye of 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIeqyKz2mr8h82kYviLfibQ2mRwY66hRX9cjIDDK3S2F6L50S8RsKSpDAWLdXUdPgvnTSwHj4Ce8eEmilVVgh2eutb10_oA8iEF0_B9KaO5ZySqXYzSDsXXvxnpB_xQVZ18n0/s1600-h/thecandle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171481807477473570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIeqyKz2mr8h82kYviLfibQ2mRwY66hRX9cjIDDK3S2F6L50S8RsKSpDAWLdXUdPgvnTSwHj4Ce8eEmilVVgh2eutb10_oA8iEF0_B9KaO5ZySqXYzSDsXXvxnpB_xQVZ18n0/s320/thecandle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This new year has been a real eye opener for me. I have gone through many changes and challenges. I have been taking to time to learn more about what I want and need. I always seem to be on a quest to figure out if the path I'm taking is the journey I'm ready for. If the decisions I've made are based on what I want and not what others expect from me.<br /><br />Am I finally believing in the dreams I've always had? Am I following my heart? Is this all a crazy dream, life can sometimes feel very sureal...<br /><br />Sometimes everything makes sense and sometimes nothing really does.<br /><br />I'm aware of all the different energies that come across my path. New faces, old friends and different situations. Constantly trying to do the right thing but completely unsure what the right thing is. I embark on the challenging road, seeking adventure and testing my limits.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">I'm not afraid.</div><div align="center">My eyes are open</div><div align="center">so my heart can lead the way.</div><div align="center">Where I go is up to me</div><div align="center"><br />You can either follow or stay behind.<br /><br />But this is my calling, I'm finally living for me.</div>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-4641979485600996652007-10-30T15:24:00.002-04:002014-02-07T22:20:36.761-05:00How to Prepare for Bellydance Class<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUSCUI_lVFTBuicAQesI0xXxMzXOtuV_Lpl2TG02FZv-48-hbNM52zUtqdYNJn90zcIMsuxLUMyXy_xwsfqwYM9-3YqzvTrCTEvlixUbbfCmOZbhhOCNpH01GOtMjyBr15IHz/s1600-h/gold.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184737636321770530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUSCUI_lVFTBuicAQesI0xXxMzXOtuV_Lpl2TG02FZv-48-hbNM52zUtqdYNJn90zcIMsuxLUMyXy_xwsfqwYM9-3YqzvTrCTEvlixUbbfCmOZbhhOCNpH01GOtMjyBr15IHz/s320/gold.gif" border="0" /></a> <strong>Clothing:</strong><br />Wear comfortable clothes that you would wear to the gym. Consider cropped tops, Cami shirts, light t-shirts, sports bra, leggings, long skirts and anything breathe-able! Don't wear lingerie or just a simple bra. Keep your bra under your blouse.<br /><br /><strong>Shoes:</strong><br />Bare foot is highly recommended. Although you can wear ballet slippers, or dance shoes. ABSOLUTELY NO SNEAKERS! Socks can be an option but they tend to be slippery so be aware of this.<br /><br /><strong>Hip Accessory:</strong><br />I always recommend wearing some kind of hip accessory. It can be anything from a hip scarf to a coin belt, to shawl, to a fancy fringe belt...etc. This is very important to use when you are first learning bellydance technique. Having something tied around your hips that shakes or makes noise helps reinforce learning. The best type of hip accessory I would recommend will have to be the standard coin hip-scarf. It looks great on everyone, makes a cute noise and its alot of fun to wear. I love my students wearing them because it helps them stay motivated and having fun.<br /><br />If you decide to buy merchandise please do so before you use it: This counts for veils, zills, and hip scarves.<br /><br /><strong>Class Payment:</strong><br />Be sure to pay for class before it begins.<br />For late comers: If you arrive late don't walk up to the instructor and hand her cash. Sign your name on the attendance sheet and wait to after class to give your payment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">New York City Bellydance Class by Elektra of Shimmyheart.com</span></div>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-1917469248789408962007-09-24T23:26:00.003-04:002008-02-26T21:15:33.359-05:00VoiceI'm so glad my articles have become a teaching tool. I remember a time when I was afraid to combine my writing skills and passion for dance together, but I'm so happy I overcame my fear and allowed my two worlds to merge together. I found a way to make a difference, it may be small but it's still enough to make a small difference at a time. There is an endless supply of people out there that no little to nothing about the art of bellydancing and continue to taint it's reputation further encourage the sterotypes. I believe it's up the members of the bellydance community to constantly educated and re-educate the public about the dance we love and practice daily. Our biggest challenge of what we face is what ever image the media decides to portray of the dance. The media has the large impact upon what the general public believes. We have to fight the dragon som But if we don't take it upon ourselves to educate though around us who will. Should we leave it to Akon, Mandy Mor, R Kelly and Shakira to teach the public about bellydancing? Oh heavens no.Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-52112306451069374102007-09-07T19:06:00.000-04:002014-02-07T22:34:28.762-05:00One Voice at a time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVkLSjdspb8I1RmNW3loCF7u03Y6pi7B0syQNYehUbinR4fpGzpynIw4Wr0gElmYC3E9E77uMYl9ZheSbXvla4mU4rmOTZ3Chgv4tLagMNiyAS-36JIHTTmhRYAST9TJ7jRFP/s1600-h/mic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113979150785999426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVkLSjdspb8I1RmNW3loCF7u03Y6pi7B0syQNYehUbinR4fpGzpynIw4Wr0gElmYC3E9E77uMYl9ZheSbXvla4mU4rmOTZ3Chgv4tLagMNiyAS-36JIHTTmhRYAST9TJ7jRFP/s200/mic.jpg" border="0" /></a> I take it upon myself everyday to be responsible everyday by educate though around me about what bellydaning is exactly. I do because I want people to understand the beauty of the art. I want people to understand its history, it's culture, it's spirituality and it's community. Bellydancing is far more than the sexy stereotype the general public would assume it is. I've mentioned much of this in countless blogs and articles. There are bits a pieces of my wisdom and so much more all over my published material. And I do this everyday. One person at a time, one voice at a time trying over throw the stereotypes. Believing in such a thing seems completely unreasonable. Outrages at that... but I beg to differ. Sometimes it only takes one person and one voice.<br /><br /><br /><div><div align="center"><strong>Here's a Story to remember</strong> (<em>and inspires me to continue my quest</em>)<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><em>One day I received an email from my very best friend Marquita about how she accidentally ended up talking about bellydancing to a complete stranger. What compelled me was not the fact she got into a discussion about bellydancing (although that was a surprise itself) but that what came out of her mouth about the topic was beyond what I imagine. </em></div><em>Now before I tell you what she said let me tell you a bit about my best friend who I call Quita. Quita is a navy girl at heart. She joined the service shorty after high school and traveled a bit while on duty. She relocated to Virginia and then moved to Georgia. She has a house, a car and started a family of her own when she had her son Alijah. A working mom and career women who works with computers. She enjoys most spending time with her son and watching TV among many other things. </em><br /><em>Because we live so far apart we hardly see each other. We occasionally talk on the phone when our schedules link together. And when we speak, we speak for hours. I think we could go on days if possible... LOL =)</em><br /><em>Anyhow Quita get into this discussion about bellydancing with this woman because the woman wanted to take pole dancing and bellydancing believing somehow that they were linked. Quita stopped the woman in her tracks and began to teach the woman about what bellydancing was really about. She told the woman about how the dance was used as a form of healing, empowerment, community, sisterhood and expression. She even taught the woman that bellydancing was linked to childbirth and cultural traditions. Most importantly Quita told the woman that bellydancing isn't about sexuality it's about art. </em><br /><em>My heart was overwhelmed with joy and pride. I was so taken away, it felt as if I was blessed. I couldn't believe my best friend learned so much about bellydancing and she's not even into bellydancing. She told me that she learned it from my articles and blogs. Wow, that's truly beautiful to hear. </em><br /><em></em><br />I'm so glad my articles have become a teaching tool. There is an endless supply of people out there that no little to nothing about the art of bellydancing and continue to taint it's reputation further encourage the stereotypes. I believe it's up the members of the bellydance community to constantly educated and re-educate the public about the dance we love and practice daily.<br /><br />These are thoughts that will continue to lurk my thoughts. I must write an article about this some day!!!</div>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-71935401351112148972007-08-25T02:17:00.000-04:002010-04-27T02:17:51.923-04:00Bellydance Duet<div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The Duet world</span></strong></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDSh-631Kv1jxPJWDkWypIA8Y1SzFniOgElzO8cNJYkd8s67MMGOXa1oLkG5EGievc0PNyFZxDhrU5-kd0HrrzP1QyCQ8e7R9GcQPlWtbKnq6Q4Xqp1BU85sAZecF22CHFSBl/s1600-h/duel.BMP"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106934263202841554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDSh-631Kv1jxPJWDkWypIA8Y1SzFniOgElzO8cNJYkd8s67MMGOXa1oLkG5EGievc0PNyFZxDhrU5-kd0HrrzP1QyCQ8e7R9GcQPlWtbKnq6Q4Xqp1BU85sAZecF22CHFSBl/s200/duel.BMP" /></a>Yes, me and Sahjaza have been working on launching our duet website. We are very excited about the project and about all the new shows have together lined up. This website should be coming up sometime this month (hopefully maybe next week or so). But this really has been or focus this summer.<br /><br />The only thing keeping the website down right now is the fact we need to take a couple of updated professional photos together. All the other mechanics of the site are done, this baby is ready to go anytime.<br /><br />For now we focus on the photos and plan to figure out how we want to announce our new duet site to the world. The minute the website takes off I'll write about it here. I can't wait to show the world what we came up with!!!Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-33610145934383239862007-08-20T23:39:00.001-04:002010-04-27T02:18:43.983-04:00Blog distanceI'm still working on creating a duet website but I also noted...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZBm-d9bXcUmUfSDzeK6Hwxvxy__Veq-ENzhbsZ21-5PEOS5QHPyTEco1nUssaD6wzrLTToYExnelYLnl3XND6bmHuavn0uGYU-XD1B9jqgD_R3IXkonBTRzeap8X_wXQ36-l/s1600-h/the-computer-demands-a-blog.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106932686949843906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZBm-d9bXcUmUfSDzeK6Hwxvxy__Veq-ENzhbsZ21-5PEOS5QHPyTEco1nUssaD6wzrLTToYExnelYLnl3XND6bmHuavn0uGYU-XD1B9jqgD_R3IXkonBTRzeap8X_wXQ36-l/s320/the-computer-demands-a-blog.gif" /></a> This funny cartoon made me remember that I've been neglecting my blogs lately. I've been so focused on web-design and relaxing a bit during the summer air that I haven't posted many entries in a while. But now that summer has ended yet again, it's back to work and back to business!Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-53975056890541006522007-08-03T00:03:00.000-04:002007-09-06T00:14:30.759-04:00Picture Editing finally!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboBtP6ZJ46hc4QFooLrxNfWdQru4tkPA9dmTpMMiXqU02VccVUIKSNUDF5DzAEf3MwgtmWv5i7hJtomom0I0CG31tRv6fAZ5L5k3cWLd8U2N4_OSd-eJ4AdxDLwHorsGzLAHg/s1600-h/vista-box.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106938717083927522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" height="226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboBtP6ZJ46hc4QFooLrxNfWdQru4tkPA9dmTpMMiXqU02VccVUIKSNUDF5DzAEf3MwgtmWv5i7hJtomom0I0CG31tRv6fAZ5L5k3cWLd8U2N4_OSd-eJ4AdxDLwHorsGzLAHg/s320/vista-box.jpg" width="283" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So my boyfriend finally bought me a photo editing program for my PC. I bought a new computer this spring and lost my old photo editing software along with it. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Well it would have not worked anyway because I have the new stupid "Vista" thing. Whoppie... what's the point? (I don't get the hype)</div><div></div><br /><div>I was asking him for the longest time to get me a copy of photoshop but instead he bought me a program called photo explosion plus. The program is a lot of fun and not too hard to learn which is why I like it. </div><div></div><div>I've been staying up for hours playing with photos. Sometimes I can be the biggest computer nerd... Lol</div><div></div><div>Look out world I'm making new picture stuff!</div>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29140904.post-42987688704914724082007-07-17T09:55:00.000-04:002014-02-07T22:20:36.758-05:00Addressing the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8<blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCWW9G0XgHd5QcaL5gdrwyykZKvJHK53ILn9cPGRF5lVT-ot-_hJoI1xlFxukKBQx1VRUofAAd_Cmlg1VaqTUVm5nIE63S8AkqWRRZVz-I-9Og2YZjSle5HgL1bu-cH4K9MpW/s1600-h/toy+numbers.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCWW9G0XgHd5QcaL5gdrwyykZKvJHK53ILn9cPGRF5lVT-ot-_hJoI1xlFxukKBQx1VRUofAAd_Cmlg1VaqTUVm5nIE63S8AkqWRRZVz-I-9Og2YZjSle5HgL1bu-cH4K9MpW/s1600-h/toy+numbers.jpg"></blockquote></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088373039814667922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCWW9G0XgHd5QcaL5gdrwyykZKvJHK53ILn9cPGRF5lVT-ot-_hJoI1xlFxukKBQx1VRUofAAd_Cmlg1VaqTUVm5nIE63S8AkqWRRZVz-I-9Og2YZjSle5HgL1bu-cH4K9MpW/s320/toy+numbers.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We all learn in different ways. Some of us are visual learner, some of us are auditory learners, some of learn by just doing...etc. Seems like common sense doesn't it?</span><br /></span><br />Well when it comes to dancing, belive it or not but some of us find it extremely hard (if not impossible) to count steps while dancing. I know for a very long time that was the situation for me. I waited to see if anyone would discuss that issue but since I haven't seen anyone voice their opinion on the matter, I decided to step up to the plate and address the issue myself.<br /><br />For people who were brought up in homes where their families played cultural music and were taught how to dance traditional forms of dance know exactly why this "count dancing" seems impossible.<br /><br />Let me give you an example:<br />For Hispanic women this is a reoccurring issue. Latin dancing like salsa and meringue are not the kind of dances where Hispanic children count 1-2-3-4 to learn the dance technique of their parents. Latin families teach their dance to children by example and by physically encouraging to just dance. They encourage children at a very young age to listen and feel the music because the music will tell you how to move. Everything from the beat of the rhythm to lyrics of the song become embedded in the children. The movements become like second nature and no counting was ever necessary. This is the way many people were taught to dance, this is the way I was taught to dance.<br /><br />Not to long ago I encountered a wonderful article on orientaldancer.net about a woman who took dance classes with the legendary Dina. The writer named Yonisha mentioned that Dina kept stating, "in between her explanations of the movements and kept repeating over and over to everybody NO COUNTING! LISTEN TO THE MUSIC, DANCE TO THE MUSIC, NO 1, 2, 3..." and then laughed out loud. She was trying to make everyone understand that the music needs to be felt."<br /><br /><div align="center">I can't tell you how relieved I was to read those words!</div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">You can find the full article here by the way </span></em><a href="http://www.orientaldancer.net/guest-stories/dina-belly-dance-class.shtml"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Amazing weekend of bellydancing</span></em> </a></div><br />I'm not a fan of counting and dancing as you probably figured out by know. I don't like it because it pulls my emotions from the song. It's distracting and I also feel like I'm doing some kind of math problem... Lol <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7_RcUQeCRSpQ5S1gnBFBcAeHkMZNQLbWvWdfqCq0CfNFaLljveNfjmRHXIGuJIi9FyC0lvtL0eecaDxNREzut84Ua28s_bR1iwCzfLewsjivg7Plogie4VYR7smzRc7_4cpB/s1600-h/the-count.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085698741365087746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7_RcUQeCRSpQ5S1gnBFBcAeHkMZNQLbWvWdfqCq0CfNFaLljveNfjmRHXIGuJIi9FyC0lvtL0eecaDxNREzut84Ua28s_bR1iwCzfLewsjivg7Plogie4VYR7smzRc7_4cpB/s320/the-count.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />So what is with the tendency to count anyway? I find that counting is most important when you dancing with a group. Seriously, I can't find a single reason why a soloist should ever count when dancing alone. Yuck, then you could notice that the dancer is concentrating and that is just plain tacky.<br /><br /><br />I know for some dancers it does feel like relearning something from Sesame Street all over. It's annoying but you have to learn to do it one way or another. Learn it and change it as I always say.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>Todays blog was brought to you by the letter N for no and by the letter C for counting.</em></strong>Bellydancer Elektra Anezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14565297659754017878noreply@blogger.com