Dancebase asked me to provide them with a 100-150 word autobiography for their website (the beginners bellydance class I'm teaching at Dancebase begins on 1st October). After a few hours of sweating (in front of the computer!) I managed to come up with a leviathan of 85 words. Well, 86 if you count the blog address. Thought I'd share it here... all that work deserves a wider audience.
Elspeth SwishandHips has been teaching modern Egyptian Bellydance since 2006 and is a regular performer on the Scottish Bellydance scene. Her enthusiasm is for the expressive, less-is-more, contemporary Cairo style of Middle Eastern dance, using controlled, precise technique, passion, and a bit of humour. She also loves modern sha’abi, Egyptian pop music, and Saiidi style dance. Elspeth is an encouraging and enthusiastic teacher. In recent years Elspeth has taken workshops with Khaled Mahmoud, Aziza, and Yasmina of Cairo, and studies regularly with Lorna of Cairo.
If you fancy dancing with me at the Thomas Morton Halls, the term of classes is bookable through Dancebase. It'd be great to see you!
Tuesday 21 September 2010
Monday 13 September 2010
Beautiful dancer and/or beautiful dance
I was at a workshop a few weeks ago where I was lucky enough to be in the company of some very talented dancers, who were also beautiful and curvy.
I say 'lucky', but after 6 hours in front of the mirrors beside beautiful women, I didn't feel very lucky. In comparison, I felt curve-less and scruffy, in need of some new gel bras and a wig. In fact, just a makeover, please.
Later we had a discussion about a famous Cairo dancer, who was a judge in a recent UK bellydance competition, who said that the most important thing about a competitor was that she was 'clean' - that she looked as if she'd been in the beauty salon all day, nails and hair all perfect and no extra body hair. For her, this was more important that presence, costume, and technique.
I know 'the look' is important. I want to see well-presented dancers too. But for me, it's about making something beautiful, not only being something beautiful.
I am not implying for a second that any of the dancers I was with are not great dancers!! They are all brilliant!! It's only really my own insecurities talking, and I guess they're just shouting at me pretty loudly at the moment.
Which is why I thought I'd share with you a photo of myself that I like. Mainly to cheer myself up. Thanks to the smashing Kelly Archibald at Kalidescope Studios for taking it.
I say 'lucky', but after 6 hours in front of the mirrors beside beautiful women, I didn't feel very lucky. In comparison, I felt curve-less and scruffy, in need of some new gel bras and a wig. In fact, just a makeover, please.
Later we had a discussion about a famous Cairo dancer, who was a judge in a recent UK bellydance competition, who said that the most important thing about a competitor was that she was 'clean' - that she looked as if she'd been in the beauty salon all day, nails and hair all perfect and no extra body hair. For her, this was more important that presence, costume, and technique.
I know 'the look' is important. I want to see well-presented dancers too. But for me, it's about making something beautiful, not only being something beautiful.
I am not implying for a second that any of the dancers I was with are not great dancers!! They are all brilliant!! It's only really my own insecurities talking, and I guess they're just shouting at me pretty loudly at the moment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)