Morocco

I had to laugh at myself the other day when Jessica and I where chatting about the blogs and I was like: I know I started this series so that I could work on my research skills and learn more about the very many cultures that form part of our very rich dance culture. I certainly didn't realise how much information is out there!

So things I knew about Morocco:

• Belly dance is called Chabbi and seen in the more cosmopolitan centres
• There is a strong Spanish influence, which created the Andalusia style
• The nomadic Tureg (Blue people are indigenous to the area)

Styles from the area that are often included under the belly dance genre:

• Andalusia - wide skirts, group work, turns, graceful moving formations
• Shikhat - dance that mimicks birth ritual, done mostly at weddings for fertility
• Tunisian - north African group dance, with very earthy hip moves and stomps
• Ouled nail - long skirts, very decorated costume from Algerian border

But then, these short descriptions hardly do those dances justice. (Quite possibly something for us to return to later)

Berber (Nomadic Tribe) Styles that I've learnt about over the years:

• Ahidous - singers and dancers form a large circle with the men and women standing alternately shoulder to shoulder. Sacred and secular influences are deeply linked in this ceremony. To the rhythm of tambourines, the men and women undulate and sing a joyful hymn.
• Guerda - women dancers kneel and are completely covered with a black veil. The steady rhythm like a beating heart brings out the hands that describe vivid and expressive motions. The head is revealed, with eyes closed, swaying like a pendulum. The rhythm is supplied by a "guedra" or cooking pot (an earthware drum covered with skin). The singing of the spectators changes to brief and guttural cries. The dancer gradually casts off her veils and finally collapses in a heap.  Purpose is seen as blessing.  

Things I've learnt:

• That it has a stronger Arab influence than Spanish or French
• That it has a very rich culture of music and dance
• That dance is part of even the most mundane activity

THE FANTASIA has been held in Meknes since 1977 and is a stunning and exciting event that has taken its rightful place among the more noteworthy examples of traditional folklore in Morocco, these demonstrations of popular customs for which Morocco is famous.

Lets unwrap this new knowledge a little further:

The Arabic invasion of Spain's Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century, created prime conditions for our Andalusian style (Spanish, Berber, Arabic, and Jewish influenced).
The musical style is attributed to a composer named Ziryab, from the 9th Century. The music was traditionally for court or state occasions, when Spain drove out the Arabs in the 15th Century, the music was spread throughout Morocco.

The many influence's from nomadic tribes and from the Arab world has created a rich culture of varied dance styles. Music that carries expression from Politics to Social causes and even Religion. If you travel from the coastal towns, through the mountains and closer to the Sahara, the musical styles and rhythms change and undulate reflecting the tribal customs of the area.

So beside, the handful of dances I knew about. I learnt that every tribe, has their own special dance language. That this language celebrates even the most mundane of activities. While also providing a way for news and history to be shared, during festivals and at tribal gatherings.
The list of the various styles of tribal dances is 4 pages long (more things to add for later blogs)

To say that we have covered all the rich and diverse nature of dance in Morocco would be a huge injustice to the many cultures that are represented there. I hope, I've managed to cover those bits that have gotten included in our own dance art and shed a small amount of light on the rich culture of the area.

 http://www.casbahdance.org/
Look up Aunty Rocky, she is a noted "Oriental Dance Historian"
She has travelled in Morocco quite extensively and written many articles and even a book.

SHAKE THE BAY

 

 

Twice a year we do a show, to raise awareness or funds for a charity of our students choice.

 

This year we did a horse charity (World Belly Dance Day in May) and Sanitary Sisters, happening this December 2016.

 

Shows are relaxed (that's for the patron), fun and interactive. Husbands and boyfriends get conscripted to help out (doormen, ushers, salesmen, sound and lighting and general carry things around for us!)

 

As we draw closer to the show, class times become both difficult and fun. As teachers this is the hardest time for us, we have to make difficult decisions so that the show looks polished and well put together. Which means that overall commitment to class and how well you (the student) are coping with the choreography, comes to bear.

For the first time in (all my years as a teacher) we had to do just that.

In one of our classes the student came to us and said, "I just can't, I know I said I wanted too, but work has gotten insane. I'm very sad, but I won't have time"

Because it's not compulsory to perform in any of the shows, Jessica and I are really proud of this student also a little sad of course that she won't be dancing this time around!

In another of the classes, we had to be the baddy and tell students that they couldn't dance.

Jessica and I both feel, that it is unfair to the other students and that it puts unnecessary pressure on everyone concerned if we allow a student to dance who does not know the choreography well enough! 

 

As we prepare choreography early in the term, there is no last minute learning. We structure the classes that in the month leading to a show, we are just doing spit and polish and not learning new moves that go in or (we try) not to still be teaching a choreography.

 

This puts a whole lot less pressure on both us and our students. This also gives us plenty of time to decide what are we going to wear for each dance. In the more advance classes we try have open dialogue concerning outfits (unless the dance we are dancing already has it's own cultural outfit style as in the case of more folkloric dances).

 

Our Pinterest is full of outfit idea's and tips from the various bloggers we follow:

FOLLOW US:

https://za.pinterest.com/bellydancepe/

 

 

 

 

 

A WEIGHTY PROBLEM

Weight loss a dreaded two letter word, with Summer looming on our side of the world. It's foremost on many of our minds!

As I look back at our post's it seems to be a common topic of discussion. Not sure how I feel about that!

Our post from September,
"Who's that looking at me in the mirror"
http://bellydancemoms.blogspot.co.za/2016_09_01_archive.html

August, with thoughts turning to Spring and Summer, there were a few more:
"Moderation"
"Looking forward to Spring"
"Nurture"
http://bellydancemoms.blogspot.co.za/2016_08_01_archive.html

All this focus on weight loss and one would think that Jessica and I have it "down pat"
Um, not so much heh.

Choosing a healthy life-style is hard work and commitment, between kids, day jobs, hubby and running a dance studio, me time to be able to prepare your mind for the challenge of making healthy choice's just doesn't always happen.

Each of us are wired differently, I find climbing on a scale regularly, helps keep me motivated. Working out with a friend, works for others, working towards a goal is also helpful for some.
We need to find that little thing that will help keep us on track, so that we stick to it.

Now of course the next question is how do you find your happy weight. Many years ago, I subscribed to the "Shape Magazine" there was an article about your ideal weight that struck a cord.
It was all about finding a healthy medium, not "goal weight" but a weight you can comfortably maintain, without giving up every single creature comfort.

I have stuck it on the wall of the studio, to remind me that my goal, should not be "thin / skinny", but it should be comfortable.
So I ended up working out an eating plan that allowed me to enjoy my chocolate and my liquorice, without breaking the bank on "fad diets", "starvation plans", and all the other crazy extremes out there. Am I at my goal weight, sadly not yet! The journey is on going, every day see's us needing to choose between easy and healthy.
I started working a few months back and easy was my only "sane" choice, right now I'm working on finding that balance again to be able to make the healthy choice, without loosing my sanity or dropping any one of a dozen balls, us moms are juggling at any given time.

Quite honestly, I would much rather be playing with my two year old or dancing than making supper choice's.
Today is an example of it's going to have to be easy, I'm not feeling 100% (I'm getting over a viral infection). There is a pile of sewing that needs to happen for our end of year showcase, my amazing hubby, let me sleep in this morning. (Sadly that doesn't mind that he did any of the lunches or morning chores), so I didn't think of supper. This afternoon see's me popping into the shops for a few odds and ends (bread, milk kind of things), which means that I'll also buy something quick and easy to pop into the oven for supper.

 

Ladies night

As a studio, we like to get together and mingle.

We don't have a set day or event we do, just randomly throughout the year, we will congregate.

Sometimes with our other half's, sometimes without.

Last time we had a pot luck supper and hubbies and kids all come together and we shared a meal.
It's always a great deal of fun seeing everyone outside of a class situation. Plus its nice to include and meet the family of our dancers and let the husbands chat and compare notes, size up the ladies their wife's are making friends with and feel included in our little community.

We also find it makes the senior dancers feel and look less intimidating.

This time around, we are doing a girls only movie and games night, with a bring and share pasta. We have found a copy of Hocus Pocus and are still hunting out First Wives Club (Bette Midler)...

Scrupples is on the list of games we plan to play, for those who don't know how it works. It's a bunch  of scenario's and your team mates must guess how you would react in the situation. It makes for much laughing and loads of fun.

So I've been super bad at keeping this blog updated....

That research I did on Morocco is still waiting for final proof and I have not even started looking at Algeria and Tunisia.

I would love to be able to say, I have been super busy with preparations for Purple Belly Bus (which happened this past weekend) and Theatrical Oriental Dance Festival (which happened two weeks ago). Mostly I've just been super lazy (that is when I'm not working in the studio) to do any form of admin, or writing.

I am having withdrawal symptoms, I loved dancing 6 to 8hours a day. It was gruelling and fun and it stretched my dance ability and shaped it. I'm so excited to see where all this new "stuff" is going to take me.

I sort of feel like Dorothy, starting off in my red shoes on the yellow brick road...
Only it's not a wizard I'm looking forward to but my own potential, my own growth.

Yes, I've probably said it a thousand times, but it's the one aspect of the dance that I love so much. There is always something more to learn, the dance form itself is always growing changing and adapting.

Photo is by Jessica Perelson, we were taking a break between sessions and I went off to reflect and eat and find some quiet sunshine...

Who is that looking at me in the mirror

Oh dear, so I had started a blog about how we see ourselves and it got a little high-jacked by another topic. I've saved it, but seeing as it's not what I had set out to write about, I'll try again.

Jessica has been doing a series about body image and this morning I found myself, wondering who is that lady in the mirror! Some days she looks frumpy and some days she looks fat, but today she looked "slim enough"!

It got me thinking about how we see ourselves and how our moods play such an important role in what we see.

We have been in beginners class and seen the terror in faces when they are confronted by the full length studio mirrors (a very important rule - you may look at yourself and at the teacher, but not at anyone else - no comparing yourself to anyone else). The rule helps somewhat, and when we start laughing and dancing and getting to know each other over the 10week program, in most cases that terror abates. I have had students, prefer the only spot in the room without any mirror. (It's in front of the inter-leading door to my house) even if they get there early and can choose a spot, they still go in front of that door.

As women, we are constantly bombarded with images of what we should look like, an image that is unattainable for most of us! It takes hard work and commitment to love ourselves as we are. We find that being belly dancers helps a little. I say a little because sometimes those wounds run so deep, that your journey to self acceptance is long.

Moderation

So Jessica has been doing a series on Body Image on her blog:
belly.life

And my health and fitness studio is starting it's next weight-loss challenge:
facebook.com/Melashealthandfitness

So of course, how we look and how we perceive ourselves has been on my mind a lot lately.
I'm currently reading Look Good, Feel Great by Joyce Meyer.
To all the shocked faces - yes I'm a Christian and yes I Belly dance!!!

That's a whole other blog, for dealing with why I feel there is no religious contradiction. (I'm going to have to start a list @ some point)

My stand as a health and fitness instructor is moderation, and making little changes to your everyday routine. Being healthy and fit is a lifestyle choice, fad diets and crazy workout regimes, get you quick, "unkeepable" results. Breaking bad habits and replacing them with new better one's takes time and commitment and trying to fix 3 or 4 at once is a recipe for failure.

I know there is some of you going, but I did it all at once - Awesome, but most of us fall in the trap of tomorrow, or just this once or time, kids, husbands, work, stress (come on you can think of a few more excuses I'm sure) For those of us with "mental blocks" on our will power, slower is better, slower is easier and easier makes it doable, when you are juggling, work, husbands, kids and trying to fit in me time and a social life!

In our family a popular eat out is "two for one burger special"
White bread, deep fried onion rings and chips (all so not great for a healthy eating plan)
My tip (it's what I do whenever we do go):
Hubby and I order the rib burger (it's a double patty) and replace my onion rings and chips with the veg of the evening.
I donate me bun to hubby and have yummy flame grilled delicious ribs with pumpkin and creamed spinach (I generally struggle to finish the portions).

Small changes, make a big difference!

I had a discussion just this morning about the coffee, fizzy drinks and how much water is enough debate.
I simply cannot get through a day without coffee, I also cannot have it after 3pm, unless I'm planning on staying up very late. I have about 3 (ok maybe 4) cups, between 6am and 2pm. Not ideal, but right now it's very last on my list of things to address....

Besides, the small changes in our eating habits. Carving out time to be active can be hard, there is always dishes to do, clothes to mend, washing, work projects!
Finding that thing that goes, "that's for me" takes time in itself. But once you have found it, finding the time for it becomes easy!

Obviously mine is dance - I love how I feel, when I'm moving around to music!
I've tried, running, walking, gardening, gym, yoga, Pilates and I eventually found an excuse for each of these activities. I have nothing against them, and I love to walk and do yoga, but not enough to get me out to do the activity on a regular enough basis!

Another option, is to grab a friend and try things together. But keep in mind, that you might mind find your thing before they find theirs...

Where to start on our history/cultural trip

So with the two most believed base theories out there (see my previous blog), how do we choose a country to start from?
Just east to west? How far East? How far West?

 

While I personally believe there's some Bellydance in everyone, every culture. I am somewhat of a purist, Indian Dance and Bollywood, Persian dance and folk all have their own rich histories. Even as ballet and contemporary have their own unique identities, so do the various styles that so often get heaped under the umbrella of belly dance!

 

I'm not sure if it's the same in other countries where the style has migrated too? But here in South Africa, we seem to be influenced by everyone....

 

That sounds terrible doesn't it! But its true, each base style talks to everyone, maybe at different times in their dance journey or maybe only for short stints....

 

So what do I consider a base style? I'd like to be able to say a style that has been in existence for more than a 100years, but that would be very untrue!

 

I think a base style is more than a craze or a fad - if we look at the newest form developed by Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman in the USA (American Tribal Style), it is now considered an alternative dance language. We were lucky enough to meet Kristine Adams in 2013, who is travelling around the world, meeting and teaching at all the various studio's who teach this style. Although we do not teach this style of dance, we love the concept of community it fosters. Going to any country any where in the world and being able to get up and improvise with dancer's you have only just met, because we speak the same dance language...

Read about Carolena's journey here:

http://fcbd.com/about/about-ats/

 

So back to our question of what is considered a base style, lets look at where the dance originated:

Egypt

Turkey

Lebanon

Morocco

 

I know there are more countries that can be listed as to where the style originated from, but then we would basically just be naming countries around the Mediterranean and Black sea.

While I am sure that each of those countries did contribute to the over all image that is seen today, I wanted to explore some origin stories. But I will definitely, get around to the various rich folk dance culture of those regions. 

I tend to lean to what I know more of (less research LOL) so Egypt or Morocco, would be a natural selection of a starting point, and as Morocco is on the opposite tip of Africa to me. Lets start there!

Well, we'll make a good a start as possible, considering the various influence's of peoples experiences.

Looking forward to Spring

With the end of winter looming, our spirits are lifting. Just thinking of the warm days to come!

Hoping that Spring will see us shed our winter insulation! Ready for summer, swimming and the ocean....

 

Our new beginners course starts with the start of spring, as well as Melanie's next weight-loss challenge!

 

Check out Mela's Health and Fitness studio on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/Melasheathandfitness/

 

With spring comes the planning for our year end show and the wrap up of level class training.

The organizer in me is starting to stress, our only plan to date is that it will be an awareness evening or afternoon.
3rd December while still 3months away, tends to arrive way too fast for my liking! I am sooo not a mad rush kind of girl, so if you see me, you know I'm going to be asking about your outfit for the show!

I popped into our Elementary Class (1st years) last night and asked the dreaded question. I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic response. It's not compulsory to dance at the student show case, but it is a requirement if you would like to move onto the next level. We have structured our Elementary Class so that you can remain in that class indefinitely.

On the other hand, performing for the first time, really sticks to you, its wonderfully empowering and quite addictive!

 

Then of course we had planned to do something for Halloween! Murder Mystery maybe? Or some fun and a little scary Trivia....
Any opinions?

 

Where did our dance style come from?

I thought I would take some time and do a series on where our favourite dance style came from and how it looks in various countries.

Now depending on which path your teacher took, the version may vary.
We all agree the base style is very old. Passed on from mother to daughter, each movement having a specific purpose.

So wether you believe the style originated with the gypsy and their exodus from India in 6th century or more recently, we all agree that it's wonderfully empowering and immensely helpful to each and every one of us.

Each region and every country has its own form of the dance, along with folkloric style.
Now if you follow the gypsy theory, then you believe that the similarities are due to the Gypsy's migration through the various regions. It is believed that they would arrive in an area and learn the folk dance and then mix it with their own style, the men worked as labourers and the women danced at festivals.
When they left, they left behind this new dance style.

For the next few weeks, I thought it would be fun (for me) and informative (for you) to cover the various styles danced and what history I've been able to gather. I don't claim to be an expert, I'm not a University graduate. My everyday job, you know the one that pays the bills, has little (ok nothing) to do with my passion!
I do love the dance style and everything it encompasses, the community that is built around it. Mostly I love who I am when I'm engrossed in a dance related project. A few blog posts ago, I asked the question what nurtures you? This is my answer, a small project I can work on during down time in the office and quiet moments at home, when everyone else is napping!

Getting us online

So for the last few weeks, Jessica and I have been brainstorming about incomes and how to go about getting funding.

We learnt, the hard way that fundraising is hard work and that most people don't care too much about an adults dream for wholeness.

We learnt, that of all things, we do care about wholeness, about completeness and working with the women in our circle to help them meet those dreams!

Last year, we did a "lay" counselling course. Our aim was not to become counsellors, much to the relieve of the man in charge! But to better understand ourselves and curb "for me, my fix it" philosophy. My first instinct is always, how do we fix this, where most of the time I just need to be still and listen. Offer a hug!

You will laugh, I really struggle to offer that hug! My love language is touch, but because I was severely hurt in this area, I don't like people I don't know in my personal space. (A blog all on its own, and maybe something I'll be brave and do sometime soon - seeing as Alison has been brave enough to make a movie of her ordeal!)

With, our small dance studio getting smaller. A norm in winter for us, we have started to pursue various online avenue's, a little scary.
But with the help of our wonderful guru, you can check her out as well - foxandowlmedia.co.za
We have managed to work up the nerve...

If you have not yet started following Jessica @ belly.life then you are missing out!

We are also launching a YouTube channel, super exciting and super scary as well.

Other fun things that are happening at the moment, include putting together our annual year end show. Always a charity awareness or fundraiser - we have the ladies brainstorming charity choice's and venue options and oh my gosh the ever dreaded first time performance....

Nurture

How do we nurture ourselves?

This is something, I've felt very challenged by these passed few weeks!
If the question had been how do we nurture our kids, our husbands or our students - I have quick easy answers right and ready for you.

How do you nurture one's self?

Now I'm not so much a girlie girl. I'm not into make-up and hair and nails and quite frankly those kind of things cost money, which is pretty tight at the moment!

So, when asked recently how I nurtured myself, I was quite blank - UM?
What had I done recently that nurtured me?

I dance, but can I call it nurturing at the moment, when every minute is spent working on a new project. I recently started working in the mornings again and all that free time (45min to 2hours) I had while my daughter napped is gone. By the time I get home after work and errands, her nap is usually done and she is ready for her mommy and me time, before we start supper and I get ready for evening classes.

I do have a lovely long bath, where I read and add hot water till I'm all wrinkly. (Don't judge, I'm aware of the lying in your own filth thing!) But currently those books are not easy readers, as in my spiritual walk, I've been really challenged by what I'm reading.

I've not picked up a sewing needle to do any quilting (my current skill I'm learning), my knitting is happening on the rare occasion I do get to sit still and watch some TV, I've not had time to practice any of the new stitches I've learnt recently. Sewing - well other than some alterations I've not sat down to do any of that either...

Yes, I'm totally the crafter - I love to work with my hands and see things grow and it helps with my very impatient nature, as making a blanket takes time and effort!

So, how do you nurture yourself?
Somewhere, I need to find the time to get back to my projects, so that I can nurture me, while I create fun stuff for family and friends.

Oh what a week

It's been a week of learning for me.

Starting on Sunday evening, we watched War Room in house church. It's crazy how small  things, can make such a big difference, both for the good and bad. I'm really challenged to watch out for those small things, that steal our joy and doing those small things that adds to someone's joy.

Other things happening, besides my new job and Jessica launching her Belly.life website!
We have been learning all about social media, how to manage, create brands. I have been introduced to Pinterest, oh dear! So many things out there.

Follow us on Pinterest :)

https://za.pinterest.com/bellydancepe/

Other than being banned from the studio, Rose has a cough and isn't feeling her best. Ever time, I enter the studio in the afternoon, I get an emphatic NO, COME!
Rose and I survived the few days without Dad, I made it to work on time every day. Besides her cough and my blocked ear we are whole and hearty!

With our big retreat coming up our diets are being overhauled and juices of various combinations are being tried out, going vegetarian for a weekend is super challenging. Especially for me, with my crazy strange digestive issues! Going vegetarian, when you can't do raw or skins and seeds or nuts and legumes, is going to be super interesting. I'll be taking my cereal with, along with my protien shake!

Then of course, I've been really challenged these last few weeks about the content of my blog! How personal do you go?
Then of course I chat to our resident media guru and realise that, it's normal wondering if it's relevant, is it interesting, will anyone read it?

You can follow our guru too, @

foxandowlmedia.co.za

Life

Looking at the date of my last blog post! I'm shocked, life just kind of went on full steam ahead.

We are starting to stress and prepare and get our bodies ready for our Master's Retreat end of September. Quickly followed by a mad dash back to Western Cape two weeks later for Theatrical Oriental Dance Festival...

Our 2nd 10week beginners course is coming to an end and we are gearing up to meet a whole new set of ladies in September! Always a highlight for us, sharing this amazing dance style with new ladies and extending our community into their lives. Wether just for those 10weeks or a little longer, each lady being in a different season.

I started working in the mornings again and Jessica has her website up and running - (hope my link works; otherwise do it old school and copy and paste)
HTTP/WWW.Belly.life

So interesting new things going on in our lives, the transition back to work has been relatively painless. Mostly thanks to great advice from my friends, Rose does school like a professional. I think finding the right fit can be hard and we have been incredibly fortunate and wonderfully blessed. Hubby is away soon, so we'll see how confident I am about the new job then!

Rising to the challenge

This year, has been full of ups and downs!
At its start, Jessica and I decided on a few goals;
Our main dance goal (for ourselves) was to become zill proficient, then we encouraged our students to save for travelling to Festivals and for workshops.
We also decided it was prudent to start raising funds, not only for our own training, but also to help those ladies who would love to travel to Festivals and do more workshops.

To that end, we started Zahra's Fun Events and started hosting different kinds of fundraisers each and every month.
We started off with a Music, Art, Literature Trivia evening, followed by a Ladies Afternoon.

The shocking news of our studio founders sudden death, sent us spinning and we barely pulled off our annual World Belly Dance Day, but still managed to raise R3600 for the chosen charity.

We are hosting in conjunction with a local hockey club a Casino Night this month, with a Golden Oldies and Musical Evening in the planning.

Sadly, our little big city has been slow on the up take and although our students have jumped on board, with planning, promoting and helping, we have barely covered costs!
Between, family drama and winter blues, we are marching on, ever optimistic!
Honestly, I believe the ladies might even do me in, if I try find the silver lining one more time.

Enthusiasm has started to wane and moral is low, our economy in the Eastern Cape has never been amazing, but it's at an all time low.
We continue to plan and hope and work hard. Driving our husbands, boyfriends, fiance's and parents a little crazy, we tighten our belts a little more and try squeeze out an extra penny from our budgets and come up with another idea to share an event, find a venue, put together something fun.

We have contacted various markets and requested permission to do some time honoured busking.
Putting up posters and dropping leaflets, sending out emails and sharing, sharing and some more sharing on Facebook.
Press releases and diary events are sent to our local newspapers. Each event sees us holding our breathe and soothing each others strung out nerves.

Months of planning, over in hours and we plunge ourselves into the final prep of the next event!  Exhilarating, stressful and we do enjoy ourselves at each event, regardless of how much it has brought in!
Having said that, well it would be really nice to say, guess what we have covered the cost of the nicer accommodation, to our ladies, you can use your portion of the so so accommodation money for that other workshop or that outfit or that silk veil you have been eyeing!

Having drawn no salary from our small dance studio, so that we are able to attend an amazing retreat, hosted by our two favourite master teachers, has been hard, but being able to say to our husbands, we've got this covered has been worth the sacrifice! Especially when winter dawns and jeans need replacing or we discover last year's winter wardrobe no longer fits, here I proudly celebrate our community of ladies. Everyone stepped in and shared the little excess we have, I read a blog a while back about a random lady shaming another because she had not bought from a fancy boutique and here I tell all and sundry most days, of how my new "jeans" came from a bag, my mother-in law was clearing and how my daughter's whole winter wardrobe is hand me downs.

The show must go on

As another week comes to an end, with another show being marketed and promoted. I'm struck at once by how amazing our students are, putting in extra time and effort with practices, bugging family and friends to buy tickets and also the complete apathy of our extended community!

From raising funds for additional training and various charities over the years, this year has been the slowest ever or maybe the fastest. May seems to have sprung up and caught us unaware, the economy is, it seems is strained to breaking point. With plenty of interest, but no action.
There are of course plenty of exceptions, so again we ask what do we need to do different?

After months of hard work, practices, costume making and the lot! Our amazing ladies, pulled another amazing show out of their hats. With our amazing friends from Port Alfred and East London.

Behind the scenes, each of the dancers family's offered up, valuable time with their loved ones and helped in many small and large ways.
We couldn't be more proud of the dancers and thankful to their families. As we contemplate some rest and our next challenge, we bask in the post show glow.

In remembrance of a beautiful soul

As I sit in absolute shock, I know my very dear friend, mentor and teacher would prefer we celebrate her life and not mourn her passing.
My heart feels as if its breaking, as I slowly accept that it's not a cruel prank. That our world has lost a bright light, heaven has a new angel!

I remember meeting Janka for the first time in February of 2006, her soon to be mother-in law was with, helping translate when she struggled.

As I type this, I'm finding it hard to choose the story that best describes Janka. I know those of us who's life's she touched are forever changed for the better! You could not help, but be captivated by her gentleness, enthralled by her effortless beauty, a beauty that shone from within her. 

Her memorial service took place on 26 April in her home town at 1pm. We hold a remembrance today, with as many of her students as we could reach this week.

A dear friend and mentor suggested I share my story, so as I sit here waiting for my daughter to fall asleep for her nap and listen to Rose's jabbering, I realise that during my last conversation with Janka, she emphassised how precious she held these moments with her own daughter!

So I've decided to tell a Mija story, it's one of many, that I was so privileged to be part of. 

Mija had been at school almost a year already, and had made some friends. Janka, had phoned me to come and look after Mija, while she gave her bi-monthly Saturday class. It was a lovely spring day, so Mija and I went for a walk. We chatted about the things we saw, the colours of the cars that passed. Eventually we spoke about school, Mija was at this stage about 3yrs old. She told me all about her friend at school, who had taken her (placemat/blanket?), I struggled to understand the concept, but apparently each child had their own. Mija, was hurt by the action, as no amount of asking could get the other child to return it. Mija, had decided that she would hide this object from now on, and would no longer be friends with the other child. She told me matter of factly, that she didn't shout like her pappa, but she did cry. That she didn't take the other child's thing away, like her "grandpa" (Mija used the Slovak term here, Janka had to translate it later). But that she went to the teacher for help, who then gave her another one, so that Mija could do the class activity too. 

Although, my dear friends diplomacy drove me a little insane, I'm much more a tow my line or show me a better way to achieve the goal, type of person! I drive many people insane with my "just get it done " philosophy. Plus, I'm super bossy, (I delegate well you see!) I can look back and see how that characteristic, enabled Janka to love and forgive time and time again, enabling her to touch such a diverse set of people!