I do a lot of thinking about belly dancing. Maybe too much?
I don't know... My thoughts recently were about how I just need to commit to it when I perform. As in, F*** whatever what people will think and just do your thing, girl! If you think that it's cool, it's going to look cool.
I am trying to find out what this stage presence is and how can I improve mine and stuff. So, recently, I saw a cute little girl belly dancing and I couldn't help but notice how she didn't seem to care what people think. And I realized that a lot of kids are just like that: they give it their all and just are totally committed to whatever they are doing. Boy, I wish that I could go back to that stage. Did I ever go through that stage, though?
Then, for some reason (well, in retrospect, maybe I was thinking about that at Ulana's), I remembered the video for Timekiller by Project Pitchfork. Man, the guy looks psycho. But, still, I thought that it looked cool... you know, psycho-cool? Anyway, obviously, like beauty, coolness is in the eye of the beholder (no, don't look into the eye of the beholder! If you've never played D&D, this one is totally lost on you.). But, yeah, the guy made it still look cool.
So then I asked my very wise hubby, Jeff, why is it that some people do something and it looks cool and others do the same freakin' thing and it looks dorky or lame or whatnot? Like, another example. I love Razed in Black. When last I saw them live, the singer was doing these moves that were quite reminiscent of how William Hung (American Idol reject) was doing... yet, cute, goth little guy looked oh so yummy while doing them and Hung looked like... well, like he was hung for something... Anyway, so Jeff definitely thinks that charisma has a lot to do with it. Damn! I am doomed! I have developed charisma since I moved to the US (ze leetle French accent helps) but I'm nowhere near coolness factor creating level.
Well, I think that there is another factor: total commitment to whatever you're doing. A GREAT example, imho, is like the Ok Go! videos... especially the backyard dancing one (pic of this blog; link: www.youtube.com/watch Okay, they still look a bit dorky but their dance is damn entertaining. They just totally committed to what they are doing.
I need to do the same and just quit doubting what the hell I am doing because, anyway, it seems that I'm the only one doing it. lol Heck, however silly I try to look while joking around while dancing, I always end up looking cute. It's a curse! (No, not really)
Now, that doesn't mean that I will become complacent and just do whatever... but I would have a loooooooooooooooooong way to go before reaching the complacent stage! ;op
Comments I had received
From Desari:
Ahhh, Celeste...I really want to meet you. You sound so fun. You have online charisma for sure! ((hugs)) :))
From Dale:
She's got it in person, too...
From Suri:
You have charisma, charm, and presence ooooozzzzzing out of you at every minute of the day! Quit doubting yourself! When you dance, you are totally there and in the moment and you so do not look like a dork! This goes for performance and goofing around!!!!
From Haifa:
I know enough to never look in the eye of a Beholder! ;)Hun... you have charisma oozing out of your pours!! Heck, I think that anyone who can wear that cool black vinyl top DEMANDS attention and has charisma! (absolutely LOVED that top!!!!) But I think I know what your talking bout... When I started delving deeper into GBD (how dark does that sound? delving deeper into GBD! Muhahahaha) I felt awkward belly dancing to modern songs at hafla's when everyone else was doing tribal or cab numbers. I felt very out of place yet at the same time, I was so proud to not look or dance to the same songs that everyone else was. Heck, if a mousy chick from the country can do it.... ze beautiful French Canadian goth chick can do it as well. What it comes down to is, have alittle faith in yourself (or so my hubby always told me) and you'll be just fine. *hugs*
From me:
Oh guys!I must look like a lobster now because I must be red from head to toe from blushing! ;o) Big hugs for everyone! Yeah, Haifa, that's what I was getting at. I'm kind of scared of doing my own thing, whatever that may be. And there is one more thing that is REALLY a good description of my personality and all my likes and such: I am eclectic. Now, that word sometimes has a bad connotation attached to it when, really, it shouldn't. Here's what the venerable Merriam-Webster says about that word: Pronunciation: e-'klek-tik, i- Function: adjective Etymology: Greek eklektikos, from eklegein to select, from ex- out + legein to gather 1 : selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles 2 : composed of elements drawn from various sources; also : HETEROGENEOUS And, incidentally, that's the word that we use for Black Rose Caravan too: Black Rose Caravan is an eclectic tribal belly dance troupe from Indianapolis, Indiana. ;o) So, given that I like so many things and almost have ADHD when it comes to styles, it's hard to pinpoint what is Celeste's way of dancing and it's kind of throwing me off. And, yes, I should follow Ken's advice and have a little faith in me. Btw, Jeff also gave me that advice REPEATEDLY. I'm just NOW starting to listen a little bit. :s
From Haifa:
Humm... I wonder if Ken and Jeff are distantly related? ;) I agree 100% with eclectic .... I also like the term amalgamated. Thats how Ken views religion.. he 'amalgamates' the parts that he likes from different religions. And personally, I think I do that in dance.
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