shanmonster | (no subject)

I'm home again. Well, back in Fredericton, at least. I'm currently posting from the Craft School because our modem died at home. It should be fixed sometime today. Should be. With Aliant striking and all, who knows how long it will actually take?

Anyhow, the workshop was excellentastic! I'm really grooving on the American Tribal Style dance. Although I do love solo work, the organic feel of ATS really pleases me. I love the improvisational nature of it, and I really, really, REALLY like the freedom it offers. I can mix in completely different dance styles, and even bits of my martial arts, and it works.

carrie_hiebert was a terrific instructor, and I could tell she was amazed at how quickly the group was catching on to the new movements and sign language. By the end of the second day, all twenty of us were moving in unison, like we'd been dancing together for months.

It's inspired me to start a Tribal group....

The performance went well, too. Although my legs and arms and upper back were tired from a day of dancing, I somehow managed to pull off one of the most energetic dances of my life. I danced to "Happiness (More Angels)" by Front 242, and threw in a series of jumping double front kicks, a backbend to the floor, sharp and fast head tosses and backbend, and, what surprised even me, jumping dragons. I had never attempted such a thing before, and had never even contemplated such a thing as being possible. And then, all of a sudden, I caught myself going low into a dragon, and gathering every bit of power I had in my body to explode into a dragon in the opposite direction, while turning ninety degrees in mid-air. I did four of them.

I wish there had been a video tape, because I've no idea what that looks like. I've never seen anyone do it before--not even in a Jackie Chan or Jet Li flick. And I'm not sure I'll ever be able to repeat it. It was the most physically-demanding move I've ever done.

Afterwards, I had quite a few people approach me to say how "athletic" and "explosive" my dancing had been. And Pandora of Dartmouth called me the Emeril of belly dance. I "kick it up a notch." Heh. One person said something a little strange. She said I didn't dance like someone from the Maritimes. I looked more like a dancer from Toronto or New York City. I'm still not entirely sure what that means....

Anyhow, I'll try to write more cohesive thoughts on the workshop later. It's time to go to work....