Dancey Pants Weekend!

Busy weekend. Lots of dancing on Saturday!

Last performance with Cold Fusion at AYP
Saturday I had my last official performance with Cold Fusion Tribal Dance at the Angry Young and Poor Festival in Ester. I totally messed up one of the two dances I did, and was guilty of the one thing I harp about constantly in my own classes, talking at a performance, and in fact, not only did I talk, but I cursed on stage! I think I was facing to the back so no one heard me, but troupe mates in the back who could see me said they could read my lips as I said SHIT. And then, I did it again!! Sigh. Oh well, I just kept dancing, and smiling, and want to thank my CFTD troupe mates for allowing me to overcome the worst parts of my performance anxiety and learn to just smile and keep going even when I do mess up.
Photos from that show and the very short stint of my life as a fusion dancer can be seen here

Hafla
After our performance at AYP, I went home to do a quick change, and pick up my stuff for the Hafla. Tribal Wallah danced 2 times at the hafla, and then Liz, Jess and I did a CFTD song. Mind you, Jess and I had been practicing that song because she and I performed it at AYP with Mary and Jennie and we also performed it at Fruitcake’s wedding back in March, but Liz had only run though it in practice and was not planning to dance to it yet. But Liz is the secret weapon of the CFTD troupe, and that girl can perform in a pinch! I did Beni Beni without any cussing, and my solo part was slinkier tribal fusion than anything I have ever done before.

Hot Licks Ice Cream
After the Hafla I got to try Hot Lick Ice cream. It was my first time having this ice cream, and I think I traumatized the exchange student who was working the register; I walked up and said hello, and said “I am a virgin, I have never had your ice cream”. When she replied in a think eastern European accept (German I think) and just blinked at me with that “blink blink” dull stare, I knew that taking this little joke to the Rocky Horror Picture Show extreme would not work or even get a smile from the girl. But she was nice, and let me sample a flavor before I committed since I HEAR that the Oatmeal Stout flavor is gross. So, I got Banana Chip and Chocolate in my waffle cone, and then Jess gave me some of her Peanut Butter cone too. A bit pricey at $7.10 for a double scoop, but still yummy. Something that is a big treat, perhaps for after performances, and not a regular thing.

Studio Preview

Friday after work I went over to my studio which is being painted. It looks SO nice with new paint! Angie and Chris (building owners) had also laid out tape on the floor to ‘sketch’ out the changing room area, and we talked though a few changes to what they had first envisioned, simplifying it a bit. Changing area will have two large sets of shelves plus a hanging closet rod for clothing/costuming to be hung up. I also talked to them about putting up another hanging closet rod by the door for winter coats and a place for boots. I am looking at water cooler solutions, and there will likely be a small area to keep supplies like tea and sugar.

Pictures of the studio can be found here

Space for Movement Studio opening soon!

I am opening studio primarily for belly dance in Fairbanks.

Finding a name seems to have been the hardest part thus far. We are located in a historic building that was “Tommy’s Elbow Room” for a long time, and there is s neon sign with the name “Elbow Room” that will remain outside the building for historic reasons. I tried to come up with something original to name my studio but in the long run, we are incorporating the “Elbow Room”

Because what is “elbow room? It is room for movement!

So, we are “Space for Movement Studio”

That took so long. I am really happy I figured out the name. Now for all the other things to do before September 1!

This should be up no later than tomorrow and has a splash page:
http://www.SpaceforMovementStudio.com (or .net, or .org, I bought all three).

Please Help me Name My Studio!

GOOD NEWS: I am opening a studio in my town.

I am tired of renting and getting pushed around everything someone forgot about scheduling me in (again!), or decided they want to add a class right at the time my class is at. And I always keep the exact same schedule so it’s not like I change things up all the time on them. I understand that it is better for the studio owner to teach classes than rent the space, but I have only been in this little town teaching for 7 months and have already moved 2 times! And prior to that, 5 times over 4 or so years.

So, I weighed my options, and decided I am opening a dance studio in my town. It will be primarily for belly dance of any shape form or fashion. I already teach 4 classes a week and don’t want to teach more, but since studio space is so hard to come by, I already have 3 other troupes/teachers committed to renting space from me, and I am trying to also find a yoga and/or Pilates teacher as I would like this to be a place that not only teaches dance but also incorporates other forms of movement that relate well to dance and overall health.

We should open September 1. I have done the research, am in the process of getting all my legal ducks in a row, and can’t wait to announce it to the community (outside of the other dance instructors). We have a hafla this coming weekend and I want to hand out flyers announcing our Open house Hafla on September 5, and the class schedules thus far.

BAD NEWS: I am at a loss for a name! We have had a couple of brainstorming sessions at my house with some of my students and my hubby to try to come up with a name. a Whiteboard and lots and lots of liquor was involved. Still, nothing that STRIKES me as the right name.

I rather like these:
1. Inner Joy Dance Center
2. Enjoy Movement Studio
3. TriDevi Dance Center (but a bit religious sounding and maybe too obscure for a small town)
4. Fireweed Dance Collective (also like how this rolls off the tongue, but sounds like a commune)
5. Devis and Divas Dance Center

Some guidelines:

I want a name that is not exclusive of any of the forms of dance (we have ATS/ITS, Tribal Fusion, Egyptian, American Cabaret, and Belly Dance for Fitness). I don’t want to be exclusive of Yoga or the Pilates class, but think that since DANCE is fundamental part of the offerings, it warrants a possible part of the name.

Fireweed is a flower found here, and Fireweed Dance collective runs off the tongue nicely, but it also sounds like a hippy commune to me. So, that is out too.

I live in Alaska, and lots of things are named for the Native culture or natural surroundings, but I don’t want any animal names (no “Dancing Moose Productions” please!) Also, no Aurora Borealis (it is overused by troupes and businesses alike), and most people, including me, can’t spell borealis anyway! “Northern Lights” is already used for a ballet school in town and I don’t want repetitive names.

I like the word “studio”. Or “dance center”. Collective makes me think of the Borg, and while I love Trek, I don’t think I want to name my studio collective anything.

I have asked on facebook, and not got much help there.

So, anyone care to help?? ? I don’t publish most of the comments made on my blog since most are SPAM, but if I recognize your name, or your URL is not a spammer site, I’ll approve it, and then consider your suggestions for my studio!