Dancing my butt off!

My dancing activities seem to've kicked into high gear lately - I've actually lost a few pounds without meaning to! And I really tired myself out this week teaching seven hours in 3 days... but it's all good. So it looks like I'll be using my "days off" to rehearse for the Charlottesville show on March 3... but I haven't yet decided which number to do. I really like my "Layali" pop, but also love the music I used in December, "Layal". Two very different songs! I'll try them both and see which speaks to me more, but I'm leaning toward the Oriental piece.

PRISM's latest shows are balls-to-the-wall dancing, with heavy engagement from the core dancers throughout the entire show; but according to the gal's feedback they are digging it. The show we have lined up for next Friday is only 30 minutes, but everyone will be onstage the entire time, unusual for us up to now. Makes for a seamless show though!

Here we are at the Culpeper Country Club after the show (photo courtesy of B&K Photography):

The Culpeper show - with the two numbers that had me going up and down from a kneeling position - went really well; and those two numbers are in this week's show too. If I can make that look effortless at our late rehearsals it should look okay in the actual show - that's my goal! It's shocking how fast muscle goes away when you don't use it, and it does NOT come back as quickly.

Recently Cassandra of MN was fundraising to pay for a hip replacement; she's one of the few professional bellydancers I've seen going public with this procedure. I'm glad she's raising awareness and also that she met her goal (around $15,000 for the deductible). I hope her recovery goes well - I'll be following with interest: Get Cassandra Dancing

Anthea / Kawakib
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Homecoming: Return to The Solo!

Last weekend I did my first paid solo gig since my hip surgery, and it felt great. I mean emotionally, but of course physically as well. Since I hadn't done a 15-minute show by myself in about three years, I asked one of my regular dancers, Pixie, to come and do a number just in case I got winded and couldn't finish. I know that's silly but I felt like I needed a cushion - again, emotionally, not physically! So Pixie opened the show with a Sword solo, and I did an Oriental piece, drum solo, and audience dance number. It was great!

The audience couldn't have been better - the Richmond, Virginia dancers are some of the best at hospitality and graciousness, bar none. This particular group, the Belly Dance School of Richmond, evolved from Sheva's School of Belly Dance, and Sheva left a strong tradition of bellydancers supporting bellydancers. They've always been the warmest, friendliest people.
A big "Thank You" to Dorma for thinking of having me!

So it was a great "Homecoming" for me, returning to The Solo. Kind of like icing on the cake... being able to dance again, period, is great - but being able to solo... that's extra fine!

- Anthea / Kawakib
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I'm back!

I'm SO looking forward to December! A couple of really fun shows are in store. THAT's what it's all about: sharing the love of this dance with our besties!

Some of my super fans in Richmond invited me down to dance at their Belly Dance School's holiday party... and it'll be my first real "solo gig" since I retired prior to my THR.
This is another milestone in my recovery; solo gigs are something I said "Goodbye" to when my hip went bad. I'll never forget that emotional ride home after what I knew had to be my last restaurant show. Dancing had become too painful, and because of that my movements just weren't good enough anymore. At least I left on my own decision rather than be "let go", but that's small comfort when you're looking at the end of what you love.

I found that though I hated leaving the dance world as a performer, I didn't miss the restaurant gig scene much at all. So much time spent in dressing rooms, kitchens, cars... HAVING to perform no matter what... well, it was great experience but I'm glad it's behind me.

Now coming back, it's one step at a time, but such an enjoyable journey. Performing is something that's fun again because it's not a demand. And it's so exciting to be working up a solo Oriental piece again! Now I'm trying to figure out how long I can effectively perform solo as my stamina isn't what it was, but maybe I'm being too cautious! We'll see...

And - funny thing: the other night while I was doing my exercises I realized that my right leg is now STRONGER than my left one, since I've been concentrating on it so much! Oops!

- Anthea / Kawakib
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Getting my Dance on!

The last couple of weekends were filled with Belly Dance! I'm so enjoying getting my costumes out and planning performances again...

dancing at Zafira Daima's show (A. Savedge photo)

One Saturday evening I went to Richmond to a friend's (and fellow teacher) student recital and shared my Layali pop number. That's really my first out-of-town solo in a couple of years (and the first since my THR) - it felt great seeing and dancing for old friends again!

The next day I instigated a Drum & Dance Hafla - outside - to take advantage of the last nice Fall weather. Thank goodness it was sunny and in the mid-50's. We set up in the downtown park for some tribal improv, drumming, and a few special solos by friends.

(l-r) J.Bob, Pixie, Pat, Galiyah, Uzume join me at Hurkamp Park!

The next weekend I hosted a bellydance party at Aladin, one of the few remaining local Middle Eastern restaurants. Aladin was actually the last place I worked as a soloist before my degenerated hip joint ended that for me. I'll never forget driving home after my last performance there when I realized I could no longer continue.
Anyway, now in happier times, Aladin no longer has Oriental Dancers perform there regularly; they've decided to accommodate sports fans and hookah fans. So at this time, Fredericksburg has NO regular dancing - and just a few years ago, there were three places to dance!
During the Hafla, the other patrons enjoyed our dancing when they weren't watching football (with the sound turned down).

I LOVE bellydance parties! 

It's really good to be able to enjoy these events by DANCING again, and not just watching. I feel renewed as a dancer!

by Anthea (Kawakib)
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Don't be afraid to bellydance- it won't hurt you like it hurt me.

I've noticed that sometimes my students look a little freaked out when I mention my hip surgery.
Here's the thing: we professionals wear ourselves out by constant use in performance, teaching, rehearsing; preparing class material, etc. Not only is our physical load much more extreme than student hobbyists, but we often continue our activities when we should be recuperating from injuries - how can you keep a dance job if you miss work while you tend an injury? You won't, not without a contract.

So there's no comparison - don't be afraid to bellydance because your teacher's had hip surgery!

Here's how my hip is doing - almost back to pre-surgery strength, and it works so much better than it did just prior to my THR! Bellydancing in October 2011

Photo from bellydance show this past weekend

Meanwhile, my first belly dance teacher's had her THR and is recovering at home. I expect we'll hear of more and more bellydancers having replacement surgeries, now that we're taking our first steps out of the closet!


by Anthea (Kawakib)

My fifth tumble off a horse, but who's counting?!

So now I can relax, I've had my first horseback fall since I got my hip replacement, and all seems well.

You never know which horse will dump you. I think it's the quiet ones you have to look out for! You just don't expect it from a horse who's notoriously dead to the leg like Velvet. But put her next to a little firecracker of a pony with an attitude and watch the hooves fly!

All I know is that we were quietly warming up in the arena and passed little Belle (who's quick to take offence to other horses, especially other mares), and Velvet exploded sideways. Turns out Belle tried to give her a little kick as we passed, just for the heck of it... 

Velvet's sideways dance brought us right into a corner where a jump butted up to the fence, and I tumbled off. I hit the ground sideways, and of course on the same side with my artificial hip! Luckily though my ribs took the brunt of the fall, and I've got plenty of ribs, so no worries. It rang my bell pretty good when my helmet hit though. I can't imagine NOT wearing a helmet! That is just plain dumb.

So my ribs are pretty sore and it's hard to take a deep breath, but my hip is only a trifle sore to the touch. I'll take a day off from exercise and dance and see how I feel tomorrow. I don't have to dance until mid-week anyway!

Sweet Black Velvet

by Anthea (Kawakib)

two weeks of sweating my a** off...

The past two weeks were pretty demanding so I MUST be getting a lot stronger. I did afternoon chores at White Buffalo Horse Farm for almost two weeks straight (that's 23 horses to take care of!) and taught two mini-workshops (2 hours each) of a fast and intense Egyptian Pop choreography; and of course my regular weekly horse back rides and lessons. Nothing hurts! Well actually I had a collar bone/shoulder ouchie but that's beside the point.
I've got to admit though I was too pooped to do any regular exercising! So maybe I'll just count it as two weeks of "cross training".

This week it's "back to school", teaching my regular bellydance classes at Fredericksburg Parks and Rec. and I'll enjoy a regular routine again.

a year ago...

Last year at this time, I got my doctor's okay to resume Horseback riding and Bellydancing! A wonderful year indeed! When you think about it, 4 months is not long to wait at all!
To celebrate, here are photos taken this week, from both of my passions...

I LOVE this exercise!

A couple of weeks ago I heard from my first and primary bellydance teacher, Sandy (Bedia), because of this blog. She's scheduled for hip surgery and couldn't find much info regarding bellydancers and THR - I wish more dancers would write about their experiences, it would be so helpful to others who are facing that situation.

Sandy's always been into fitness and exercise, so after retiring from bellydance she went into teaching Pilates and Zumba. Of course, like so many other dancers and fitness professionals (including myself) who power on with their activities even through injuries and pain, she finally learned she was a candidate for hip replacement surgery. The silver lining is that I'm sure her level of fitness will help her recover quickly.

She gave me a great exercise I hadn't heard before, and I've added it to my day. It requires an appropriate slope where you can walk (I use my backyard):
1. Walk backwards up the hill
2. When at the top, turn 45 degrees, and walk downhill step together, step out, close etc.
3. At the bottom, come back uphill, same step.
4. At the top, turn 180 degrees, do downhill same step.
5. Come uphill same step.
6. Walk backwards down the hill.
This works weaker leg muscles, hamstrings, adductors, abductors.

I LOVE this exercise! You'd think from all the dance steps I'm used to doing it would be a piece of cake, but the first time I did it I could feel various leg muscles startng to burn half-way down the hill! It must be the angle of incline making the difference. Anyway, my neighbors will no doubt chalk it up to just another of my "weird" activities...

So I wonder how many dance and fitness professionals are "in the closet" about their physical ailments?
If you've decided to "come out" please connect with me: Anthea (Kawakib)

thighs...

I've noticed my thigh muscles are still really weak so have added lots of lunges during the day. I was really surprised; I only found out trying to do a leg extension/squat exercise, or I wouldn't have noticed from dancing. I'm also putting the weight belt back on for dancing, but with less weight than formerly as it feels REALLY heavy :)

shimmied in Richmond Va!

My shimmies feel A-OK! My PRISM Dancers & I did Egyptian tribal (Ghawazee and Raks al Qaria) for the Shimmy Sunday show in Richmond this past weekend. I so enjoyed it - that style is earthy, funky, flirty, fun!

Happy Birthday, Right Hip!

Officially a year old now, my right hip joint is well and happy!
To wit: this week I taught six dance classes, performed several numbers in a PRISM Dancers show, worked on White Buffalo horse farm, and went horseback riding once and am planning to ride again today.

Life, as the saying goes, is good!

Back with a bang!

December's turned into a busy month, making up for lost time I guess!

Between me and my PRISM Dancers we have 6 bellydance events, and I participated in my first horse show last weekend.

My strength still isn't what it used to be but I am getting stronger all the time. I've adapted the exercises I was "supposed" to do ("keep doing the exercises thru the end of the year" the Dr. said) to more pertinent ones, and added a fun balance board to the routine too.

Using the balance board I did fine some differences between one side and the other, mainly in flexibility through my hips and back, so am working on that.

People ask me often "how's your hip" and I'm so happy to say, "GREAT!"

a little bit (more) at a time...

Baby Steps! My favorite horse Phoenix is recovering from lameness but he's sound enough for me to ride since I'm only doing very very gentle stuff. So Sunday I added 5 minutes in the saddle, yesterday another 5... for a total of 20 minutes! My legs are still messy & the right one gets out of place & swings around, but that's nothing new. I might go again tomorrow if the weather holds (we're waiting to see what Hurricane Earl's going to do), and Sunday morning.

Saturday afternoon I'm planning on joining my students onstage for a videotaping of our Tribal Odyssey dancing, just a short set. And next week, classes start again!

back in the saddle...

My Dr. "signed off" on everything Monday, with only a few reservations. He says don't get crazy with the dancing... and stay in the arena on horseback. So I'm good to go!

I did dance with my students in a show this past Saturday, only a couple of days early...
I figured it was OK & I didn't do too much, just a little bit of group improv Chorus Line, Veil, and Duet dancing. I loved it! Got to wear my new Ganesha Bazaar set.

Yesterday I dressed & went to the farm, actually did get on my favorite horse again for about 10 minutes, with my teacher right there. I was sort of nervous... then when it came time to dismount, had an attack of nerves, as that's how I fell off originally & needed surgery. So my teacher pulled the mounting block over & I used that to get off. I think I'll get over that soon, my leg's much better than it ever was, just had a mental block or something.
I don't really want to ride with no other horses in the arena right now, so I'm going to go back when there's class happening.
Sitting in the saddle felt much better than it ever had, though my right foot needs attention in the stirrup. I'm sure it'll come back really soon.
Even that short ride gave me a sore spot - and after all the exercising I've done! I was surprised. Just a little spot between the hammie & glute... maybe more backwards leg raises....
All in all, I'm pretty psyched about it all!

12 weeks out!!

Last week I "officially" started a little barn work again where I go riding, just cleaning out a stall or two; taking the wheelbarrow up the ramp to dump it is still iffy but I CAN do it -

THIS week I FINALLY got rid of the damn hip abductor pillow at night! Wow! It was starting to fall apart anyway... I can also get in & out of bed like I used to instead of scooting up from the bottom of the bed.

This is great! My "restrictions" in terms of movement are relaxed, but I know the Drs. said to keep them in mind 6 - 12 months & not do more than one of the positions at a time, that is, not lifting the knee above 90% AND crossing the knee over, etc.

I can walk around really great, am a little stiff when I get up after sitting but that's due a lot to my spinal arthritis. I'm still trying to slow down & be careful when I walk & not get carried away with feeling good. It's still hard not to dance, but I'm not cleared for that yet. I am having fun with "bellydancing" without any hip movements....
I can get on & off my saddle really well, with no pain or discomfort. In fact, sitting on the saddle (which is on a barrel in my house) is absolultely pain-free. Sitting in the saddle has NEVER been pain-free before, so when I discovered that I was totally amazed & happy. I can also walk up & down stairs really well because I've been doing my exercises!

My chakra energy is freaking amazing. All I can say is NEVER underestimate the power of chakra energy; I've seen surprising changes in myself since recovering from the surgery. Now I've added chakra energizing exercises to my routine, and am continuing the chakra isolations I learned from my student Shakti; in fact I did vertical circle isolations today as well. Having the energy flowing better through those chakras has manifested as increased expressiveness of my material interactions with life, so to speak... there is DEFinitely a change here. In fact the energy has increased up through all of the centers, affecting many aspects of living, and how I deal with people. I'm aware that I need to stay on top of this new energy & not let it get crazy; I'm enjoying the new experiences and also enjoying learning firsthand about how the energy goes.