Cabin Fever Bellydance

Ah, winter in Virginia.
The Richmond event I was invited to dance in today was cancelled due to weather. It would've been my first "real" solo with my new hip! For the last couple of weeks I've been working on my 3-minute Arabic pop number; and just the day before yesterday I was thrilled to be doing my dress rehearsal, and posting about it on instagram. In these two weeks I'd gone from barely wobbling my way through the first 90 seconds, to being able to run through the whole number several times. That's real progress! 

But it's a mess outside - no one should be out driving in a "wintry mix" of snow, sleet, and freezing rain! So I kept myself busy making another quick technique tip, this one on Better Hands and Arms in Bellydance, to add to my Playlist of "Best Bellydance Tips". 

Diagonal Arms

I really love this particular topic too, because there's SO MUCH going on in the shoulders and arms - the emotion of the dancer flows through them; they provide the frame to ALL the body moves; they help direct the audience's attention; and beautiful hands provide the finishing touch! 
So because I was stuck in the house today, here's my latest endeavor in the world of bellydance:

Anthea Kawakib

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Anthea's hips are working again

Dancing again makes me so HAPPY!

One of my students told me in class last night that when I was dancing at our Hafla this past Sunday, her husband said "I see Anthea's hips are working again." That made me laugh!
Doing that short one-song improv was a mental challenge, as I am not so sure of my body as I used to be, but once I started, I really enjoyed it. Although I know it wasn't the "artistic best" I'm used to doing, it still was fine. And like I kept telling everyone, "it's just a party!"
Getting this first post-op performance done kind of reminds me of getting on a horse again after you've been tossed off. You gather yourself together, brace yourself, take a deep breath, and just do it. Speaking of horses, one of my riding friends attended the Hafla with her husband, and took this photo of me: 

Anthea does an improv solo at the Hafla

NEXT: More dancing in store!

I'm super excited to be dancing at a show in Richmond (VA) in a couple of weeks! A very sweet lady, Rose Ravia, is hosting an afternoon restaurant show and invited me to dance, as well as my PRISM Dancers; and our own Pixie will be doing her Double Sword dance too. The event is "An Afternoon with Friends", 1 - 5pm at the new Pho House of Noodles on Broad Street. 
For this show I decided to tackle my old pop number, Layali by Angham. Getting through it in my studio the other day was challenging, but I did it; my left hip gets tired, and the muscles are lazy, but articulating these easy moves will be good exercise for my left side. I'm SO happy Ravia invited me! Not only do I get to dance, but my dancers will be with me too. I'm absolutely intoxicated with anticipation! 

Anthea Kawakib

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Out of the darkness into the Light

Emerging from the long dark...

It's been a wearisome winter, cold and wet; making my bones ache. I've been dancing in little bits now and then in my studio (and teaching my regular classes) trying to recover and refine the old skills.
It's funny, but after not being able to move one hip very much for so long you'd think all the belly dance moves would be gone - but they're not! They're a little weak and sloppy on that particular side, but I think the fact that I continued teaching even though I was pretty much disabled kept the muscle memory intact. I feel like I'm bringing it back now. Even though I don't have a lot of stamina, it's SO much fun to dance!

Now it's mid-January and I'm really looking forward to our first event of 2015, the "Bring the Light" Hafla, celebrating the return of lighter days. I think it will be a small party, in a small restaurant, with only a few performances, but I know we'll make it fun!

It's such a small space that we've had to adjust ourselves to fit; I wanted to do our Candle Dance especially; and Tribal Sword because we love it. It may be a tight squeeze! And there's several solos planned as well, which I can't wait to see.

While I was teaching a private lesson today I realized the music we were using was by John Bilezikjian, who passed away this week. It's such a lovely song; his music was indeed heavenly. The oud is such a soulful instrument! So now I'm thinking maybe I'll do this veil dance myself at our Hafla, in his memory. It's a lovely, short chifti-telli called Aphrodite's Mysteries, from Dolphina's Goddess Workout music; or as we call it for short, "Aphro Myst"! Anyway, I'm looking forward to this, our first event of the year, and the first solo for me with my newest hip!

As we're reminded so often, our time here is short; we have to make of it what we can. Use your life for good things - don't waste your energy on the bad stuff. Move forward, be happy, and spread good cheer!

Anthea Kawakib

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new joint, new life!

I totally thought I had published a post in October after I started bellydancing again! It's been buzzing around here for the last month since then - honestly, it must be the renewed energy through my chakras!

Since I started - very gingerly - dancing in class again last month, my stability, strength, balance, and skills have improved steadily. I'm still doing my rehab exercises, mostly on "off days"; that is, days when I don't teach class, ride, or work at the barn. In late September I resumed riding; and soon after that resumed morning chores at the horse farm once a week.
My left leg (the rehab side) gets tired quickly, especially the outside thigh muscles; so side steps continue to be the hardest exercise to do. When my leg gets tired I start limping a little bit but I know it will continue to improve. When I teach, it's very interesting to experience what feels like a "beginner leg" on that side.

My biggest excitement: dancing at the hafla!

The PRISM Dancers had our Fall Hafla at the beginning of the month, collecting food donations for the local Food Bank; and I absolutely danced my ass off during open dancing! Yes, it was amazing, fun, and so thrilling to be dancing again!
We always enjoy Kabab City restaurant - the staff, food, hookah, and spacious dance floor; not to mention to colorful and beautiful atmosphere.

My students and I danced and enjoyed guest performers. 

We were all happy to meet Lulu and Zyzy, a couple of Veda Sereem's students from Maryland; as well as Nadira from VA Beach, host of the rejuvenated East Coast Classic weekend bellydance festival. It was great to get out and dance, and enjoy time with my wonderful students and friends. 
I'm so happy to be able to dance again! 

good to meet dancers Zyzy and Lulu!

Nadira and I enjoying hookah and libations

Anthea Kawakib

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