February Events 2011

What another busy, busy month!!!  Classes are still in session, my normal 1st Saturday of the month workshops, Estrella War vending with Kyla and taught a workshop in Safford.

Estrella War was something else this year.  Kyla asked me back to vend with her so John and I went out on Sunday to set up the vending tent.  Gail helped Kyla during the week and John and I went out with the puppies and RV on Friday.  I opened shop on Friday with Gail popping in and out during the day so Kyla could be at home due to the lose of their dog Willow.  Friday was very busy and the weekend looked very promising with sales.  Saturday arrived and it was pretty nice in the early morning and than 11:00 came and so did the wind!  I held the center pole of the tent till about 2:00 when I had to go check on John to see if he was okay.  Around 2:30 it started to rain and it rained the rest of the day.  I went back to the vending tent around 4:00 and started to clean all my stuff from the dust storm.  Kyla had been cleaning and finished her side of the tent and took off for the rest of the day.  I finished cleaning my side and locked up shop and went to get some dinner for the night.  Ran into several ladies from Plaza de Anaya and spent some time chatting and catching up with everyone.  Kimberly and I decided to brave the rain and went to get some food.  Back to the RV to eat and watch some movies and watched it rain.  Sunday the morning was beautiful and people were out shopping.  Than the wind started up again and Kyla and I decided to call it a weekend and started packing up.  John and I left around 4:00 that afternoon and hit rain on the way home.  The puppies did very well for their first camping experience and the RV survived another trip.

I didn't get many photos since it was such a miserable weekend.  Below are a few shots I had a chance to take on Friday.  The first one is of the puppies with Nitro telling me he wanted out of the pen.  The next few photos are of my items from Shimmy Bliss and the two remaining photos are of Kyla's work; she makes some awesome works of art.  Her hair items and jewelry are breath taking.

Of course I forgot my camera when Gail and I went down to Safford for my Tribal Asian Fusion workshop sponsored by Rajani.  Gail and I started out at 6:30 a.m. since Google Maps said it would take 3 1/2 hours and the workshop started at 10:00.  The drive was uneventful thank goodness and it only took 2 1/2 hours to get there.  Rajani was already at the gym setting up when we got there.  We unloaded her truck and my car and set up Shimmy Bliss.  The ladies started arriving and Rajani put out a spread of food that was amazing; love the chicken salad!  Erin makes the best cupcakes and she brought two flavors, hummingbird and lemon!  Erin please bring more cupcakes to Fusion Day in June and Wiggles in July; pretty please with sugar on top :0)  The workshop went well the ladies in Safford picked up everything so quickly you all Rak!  After the workshop was more eating, talking and shopping.  Thank you Rajani for having me back it was a fantastic day!!!  Gail and I left around 2:00 and had another uneventful drive home thank goodness.  Next year I'll remember the camera!

January 2011

January was a very busy month!!!  Classes started on the 11th all 8 of them and my annual swap meet was on the 15th.

The swap meet was so much fun!!!!  There were 4 workshops during the day with 18 vendors outside in the yard.  This year's instructors were Divine Chaos, Holly, Sherry and myself with the evening show featuring all the instructors along with Holly's troupe, Sherry's troupe and special guests Rajani and Ekaja.

I taught a veil workshop at Simplicity Yoga on the 29th and of course forgot my camera.  I really need to stop doing this!!!  Thank you April for sponsoring me in another workshop I always have such a great time teaching at your studio.

Below are photos from the swap meet.  I handed Kyla my camera and she took some great shots.  She also took some really interesting photos as only Kyla can; sorry they didn't make the blog :-)   Sorry to say none of the photos from the evening show turned out; thanks Melissa for trying; it wasn't you it was my camera.

Thank you all who attend the swap meet, see you again next year.

December Events

December was a very busy month with workshops, the Light Parade in downtown Chandler, Desert Mirage at Grandma's Kitchen and classes ending.

I finally have time to post on all my blogs what has been happening since we are having a break between classes.

December 4th was a very busy day!  It was the first Saturday of the month which is my day to offer workshops in my home studio.  I am now teaching 3 workshops, 2 dance workshops and 1 drum and zill workshop.  The dance workshops that day were combinations moves and balance where we mainly concentrated on tray and sword props.

That night was the Parade of Lights in downtown Chandler which is always a lot of fun.  I posted photos from the Light Parade with a short video clip of us during the parade on my Belly News blog, check it out when you have a chance.

Here is a group shot of most of us before the parade.

Saturday December 11th I taught a card class in the morning and that night it was off to Grandma's Kitchen for Desert Mirage.  Not many people showed up that night so it was an early evening.  Sorry no photos from the nights show.  To see the projects from the card class check out my Crafty Belly Dancer blog.

I also opened an Etsy store this month with the same name as my blog, Crafty Belly Dancer.  I'm selling my belly dance themed art along with belly dance and craft supplies.  I'm still working on my Etsy store and listing new items.

Wednesday December 14th was our last class recital and what a fun class it was.  I really enjoyed this class recital I only messed up on one dance this time! :-)  We had several soloist and group number it was a great last class!  Due to our puppies being neutered the day before the hubby wasn't there to take video of all the class performances he was home puppy sitting. 

Below is a group shot before the recital started.

Thank you students for a great 2010.  Classes start on January 11th, 12th and 13th.  I'm offering a new class next session, Drum and Zill class on Thursday nights from 8 - 9.  Check out my website for a list of all my classes at the Mesa Art Center.

Enjoy your holidays and see you next year...

Grandma's Kitchen November 2010

What a fun night is was with 2 gigs!!!  We started the night performing at the Community Spirit show at the Mesa Amphitheater to raise money for the Hawthorne Elementary School.  This show was a talent show put on by the City of Mesa.  The intermediate tribal class performed 3 numbers and we watched the rest of the show before heading off to Grandma's Kitchen to dance some more.

Below are photos from the Grandma's Kitchen her new location on the south west corner of Country Club and Main in downtown Mesa. 

Stacey, Rachel, Kelley, Melissa and the back of Lisa's head

Kay (left) and Stacey (front) performing Staar Kids

Candid shot of Lisa getting ready

Debbie performing a solo

Kay, Stacey and Lisa performing

I posted photos for the talent show on my Yasmina's Belly News blog, check it out when you have a chance.

Until next event take care...

Desert Mirage at Grandma's Kitchen

What a fun time at Grandma's Kitchen in downtown Mesa!!! Congrats to Debbie and Paula for putting on a great event!

This was the first time for this monthly event and it was great dancing with all my students and watching them perform.

Next month Grandma's Kitchen will be moving I'll post the new location and such before Nov. 13th.

Enjoy the photos from the evening.

before the dancing started, from left to right: Elizabeth, Kay, Pamela, Stacey and Lisa

Kelley and Rachel

Laurette and LA

Lindsey

FCBD routine with Kelley, Elizabeth and me

Kay with fan veils

Lindsey

My solo

Stacey

Paula

Debbie

open dancing

Sorry the rest of the photos didn't turn out I think I need a new camera!!!

Until next month enjoy...

Belly Raqs! a Flagstaff Middle Eastern Dance Collective Show

What a fun day yesterday going to Flagstaff to be a part of Belly Raqs!  Thanks to the Gypsy Chicks for inviting me to be one of the performers in their show I had a blast.

A huge thanks to Kelley and Kyla for making the drive with me you both Rock!!!!!

We started out around 1:00 from Kelley's house and hit a Circle K for goodies for our trip.  We made awesome time and found the Coconino Center for the Arts with no problem; okay one U-turn but that was it :0)

We made it to the Center by 3:30 and chatted with the Gypsy Chicks and went to grab something to eat before rehearsal at 4:30.

The weather in Flag was soooooooooooooooo niceeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!  We left 105 degree temps in the Valley to nice cool 80 degree weather in the pines in Flagstaff; we even hit a little rain on the way up the mountain!

We had rehearsal for the opening and closing numbers and a few of us ran through our numbers and it was time to get ready for the show.  We all started to get ready inside the Center and when the doors opened we moved outside to a tent to finish getting ready.  This was really challenging since there was no lights outside and we had two mini lanterns inside the tent.  I think I did pretty well putting on my eyelashes and make up by lantern light :0)

The show started a little after 7:00 and finished up around 8:00.  Being in two numbers I wasn't able to watch the show but Kyla and Kelley filled me in on the way to Cold Stone Creamy for well deserved ice cream after the show.

We made it back to the Valley in record time even going through some nice rain, winds and the most beautiful lightening show for the drive home.

Below are photos from the day.  My camera is a little slow and takes awhile to focus so most of the photos are blurred.  Kyla took photos with her camera which is a lot better than mine; I can't wait to see them.  Thanks Kelley for taking photos with my dinosaur of a camera during the show.

Group shot from the Circle K Parking lot - Flagstaff here we come!!!!!

Opening number rehearsal before the show

Topaz with the Do-Op Girls

Querida

Tribal Collective

Troupe Shuvani

Me

Part of Gypsy Chicks

Janet & Meredith

Lightning Laura

Mikaela

This month is a very busy month dance wise with lots of performances through the end of the year.  Check out my Belly News Blog for more happenings with my students from the Mesa Art Center.  We have the State Fair, MECDA Festival, City of Mesa Talent show and the Chandler Parade of Lights to name a few events coming up.

Thanks again to the Gypsy Chicks and to the dancers of Flagstaff for making me feel so welcome.