Oh my! My last post to my blog was November 29! That's waaaaaaaaaaay too long for me!
Well, I was a bit down last week. My sweet husband monitors my moods very well and quickly realized that his wife needed to do the plant thing: be out in the sun. I had no desire to do anything... nothing... nada... zero... rien... Not even belly dancing... not even playing World of Warcraft.
I should have known: when I am on the couch and flipping channels and it feels comfy, it means that something is not so good with me. I usually have tons of plans.
Well, it kind of feels weird to make plans now. You know, there is this usual weird stasis before the Holidays. You can't start things really because you're on the verge of the craziness for the Holidays. That was already the case for a number of years but, ever since moving here, it's even more true!
It's actually maybe even different again this year. It's as if I am putting my life on hold because of the upcoming travel back to Canada for the Holidays. Like, I can make plans but they need to be like super short term since we are leaving on Dec. 21 or like for after Jan. 2. My life is here now... and I've known that for quite some time.
Anyway, after feeling blah for couple of days and *gasp* not feeling like going to Cracker Barrel for breakfast on Saturday (we go every week to the same one), I kicked my behind and went to Cracker Barrel... and did the plant thing on rockers on the porch. People were looking at Jeff and me like we were nuts. Little did they know that, not only are we crazy goths, but we are also Canadian goths... i.e., well equipped to deal with cold. lol So I basked in the sun until there was no more sun and it was too cold to stay outside. And that cured me.
Ain't it weird? A goth chick who needs the sun so much! lol But I do need the night too. ;op
Saturday, I did a very good practice. Sunday, I did the vhs that I had borrowed from our troupe library. Boy, I had forgotten how cabaret is hard on ankles. Or maybe I'm just out of shape.
Last week, I realized that part of my inertia had to do with me having no plan. Baaaaaaaaad thing. I had no plan for my practices. So I didn't know what to do in them so I didn't do them. I started thinking of some structure and whatnot.
Among some of the things that I figured out is that it feels more fulfilling for me if I learn something. I told Jeff today that I am a type of Peyton Manning of belly dancing. Okay, if you've ever seen the Colts play, you are bound to have heard the announcers say that Peyton Manning is the eternal student. So I'm like that too. That's why I loved our practices when Jaleela could teach us. I was learning stuff. I was learning new ways of doing moves and new moves and such. And then we practiced a lot for shows, which was all good. And then Jaleela got hurt.
I NEED to learn. Although I know lots of things, I feel like I know nothing! Not because I forget stuff or whatnot. No. It's just that I feel like there is so much out there that I don't know. It's not a bad thing. It's a very exciting thing.
But then... WHERE TO START?
And that was my problem. Figuring out where to start. I want to learn. I want to do my own thang. I want to practice the troupe stuff. I NEED A PLAN!
The plan is forming. And the plan will involve making use of my time in Quebec too.
So... the plan is...
- Doing a little bit of technique via a dvd in each practice session. Maybe one or two chapters. Example, one or two chapters from the Kajira dvds.
- Working on isolations on my own. Take one or two moves per practice session and drill them.
- Practice Snake and finish up the choreography. I will not force moves on it. I will just free dance (improv) to the not yet choreographed parts and, in due time, something will fit.
- Practice improvising to a random song.
- Read the book from Erich Schiffman on Yoga. Do some Yoga too.
- Do Rachel Brice's dvd at least once per week. Damn that's a good workout!
- MAKE TIME FOR PRACTICES. NO EXCUSES.
- While in Quebec, fill up on family love and old friends' warmth. Relax. Enjoy. Come back refreshed. Oh but keep on practicing while in Quebec.
- Enlist hubby's help to remind me of all this. I know that I will regret ever writing this. He's VERY good at reminding me of stuff.
Oh and I just ordered today the Cymbal Dance dvd from John Compton. From what I read, that will greatly improve my quasi non-existent zill skills (I know some of the rythms... putting them on top of moves is soooooooooo hard).
I have been practicing a bit more lately... AND BOY DOES IT SHOW! My isolations are improving. To the point of almost where they were before I stopped dancing so many years ago. I feel it more in my body.
Sooooooooo... If I practice stuff while in Quebec, I will have the double effect of improving my dancing skills AND not gaining too much weight from parents who, in the same breath, tell me that I have to watch my weight and I should have another serving of my favorite dessert. :s
Now, THAT'S a plan!
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