Dance Room Word Art

Another easy piece of art you can incorporate into your dance room decor is word art. The easiest way is just to print something and frame it, though you could pen or paint it yourself if you have an artistic flair. There are lots of ideas you could use, here are some to inspire you!

Definitions:

 Use a word that inspires you like strength, courage, perserverance, joy, etc. Copy and paste the definition and alter as you like - varying the size, font, etc. I have used the word tribe below as an example.

tribe 

[trahyb] noun

                 

any aggregate of people

united 

by ties of descent from a common ancestor, 

community 

of customs and traditions,

adherence to the same leaders, etc.

www.wordle.net:

 This is a great website. Type in the words you select and then adjust the colour, layout and font as you desire. One tip: the more you type the same word, the bigger it will appear in the final design. For instance in the wordle I created below, I typed dance six times. 

Quotes:

  Print out one word, phrase or quote in a font and design you like and frame it. You could use a reminder word like smile or posture, or a joyful word. You could use a long poem about dance or a copy of the ATS Tribal Code. Here are some quotes and phrases too:

When all else fails... dance.

"Life is a mystery, dance with mastery, walk with grace, live in beauty, be what you believe." Myra Krien

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. – Alan Watts

What is dance but a dream in motion?

Dancing frees the spirit, clears the mind, and cleanses the soul.

To dance an ancient movement in a modern era is to defy time and connect us all in spirit.

If the day is dark, dance to shine. If the day is sad, dance to smile. If the day is dead, dance to feel alive again.

Dance when you can, tomorrow isn’t promised.

A day I don't dance is a day I don't live.

When we dance, the goddess within embodies our feeble flesh- free, alive & full of peace, she strengthens us to believe in our potential - her.

The Power of Rejection

   I'm not talking about the kind of rejection you're thinking of - when we're turned down by something we want. I'm talking about how we can use the power of rejecting negativity to our advantage.

   You know that inner banter that can sometimes turn so negative? The critic within starts telling us that we're not good enough, not beautiful, not worthy. How many times a day do you struggle with this? How many times a day do you hear some backwards phrase whispered into your ears - by yourself? Sometimes we just need to stand up and shout:

I OBJECT!

   If you don't stand up for yourself, who will? Sometimes we really need to be our own best friend, defend ourselves, and reject negativity. Don't even give that inner critic a second to start tearing you down - reject it immediately. Remind yourself, 'Actually, self, I AM a great person, I AM beautiful, I AM loveable, and everything is going to be OKAY. So SHUT IT!' Get tough! You'll find your confidence grows by sticking up for yourself - even though it's only against you. 

   Some people might think that it sounds crazy to speak to yourself like that, that the only words that can hurt are the ones spoken by other people. That's not true! Often the most harmful lies are the ones we tell ourselves. Our biggest enemy can be our own mind - or we can be our biggest advocate.

   It's up to you. Listen to the lies, the critiques, the twisting of reality - and let yourself crumble into despair. Or, reject your inner critic. Reject the negativity. Reject your self-doubt. Stand up for yourself and choose a new thought, a positive idea, a thankful attitude.

   Whether it's in dancing or your personal life, please remember today that you are beautiful. You are worthy. You are going to be okay, and if something truly negative is happening, let it make you stronger.

Here are some encouraging quotes:

Whatever a person's mind dwells on intensely and with firm resolve, that is exactly what he becomes.
 - Shankaracharya

You are never given a dream without also being given the ability to make it come true.

- Unknown

Stop and appreciate what you have today. Look at what you have with wider eyes, with more compassion and more gratitude for the things that you do have.
 - M. Imperioli

Accept who you are; and revel in it.

- M. Albom

Thoughts are boomerangs, returning with precision to their source. Choose wisely which ones you throw.

- Unknown

If we understood the power of our thoughts, we would guard them more closely.
If we understood the awesome power of our words, we would prefer silence to almost anything negative.
In our thoughts and words we create our own weaknesses and our own strengths.
Our limitations and joys begin in our hearts.We can always replace negative with positive.
 -  B. Eadie

Peace and love to all of you xo

Mixing up Your Practice

Do you ever get in a bit of a rut with your practice? Maybe you're bored, maybe you feel like you're not improving - or worse - you feel like you've gotten worse! It happens to all of us. But what do we do?

I heard a quote once that said, 'To change all aspects of the spin, you must change only one thing'. There was a photo of a spiral and you could imagine if just one thing interrupted the perfect cylindrical waves, the entire pattern would be changed.  Like a pebble dropped into a puddle changes the entire surface of water, one ripple at a time.

So what one thing can you change? Here are some ideas for spicing up your practice:

- New music
- New environment - try dancing outside and see if you aren't inspired!
- Watch performances of dancing online and on DVD's
- Go to a workshop, seminar or class
- If you usually have very structured practice times, let loose. Put on music and just have fun.
- Sometimes persistence pays off - if it is one specific move that is defeating you, do it over and over at different speeds until you conquer it. You will! It's only a matter of time!
- Make a goal for yourself - one hour of practice per day/perfect a certain move/ whatever it may be, and reward yourself at the end of the week when you have done it.
- Find someone you can teach some of what you know to. Sometimes explaining things to another helps you see them in a different light.
- Pretend you are your own teacher. What advice would you give yourself?
- Try dancing in a completely different costume than usual.
- Get a dance video - latin, ballroom, zumba, something you have never tried before.
- Write about it.
- Remember why you love this dance and all the things you have accomplished so far. Make LISTS!
- If the problem is boredom, maybe you need to be challenged. Ask your teacher for a private lesson where she can push you a bit harder and teach you more.

It's fine to be discouraged or have off days - or weeks -  but we don't want to stay there. We want to keep growing and improving! This takes action so brainstorm your own ideas or use something from my list that might help you. Above all - do something. Take action, and change the spin.

Nothing worth doing is ever easy. - Unknown

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein

My Personal Thoughts on Tribal Dance

While I dance I cannot judge or hate. I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole. That is why I dance.

~ Hans Bos

To me, dancing is a sort of moving meditation. It focuses all my energy, my entire body, and my mind on completing each move. When I dance, I'm not thinking about work the next day, my to-do list of housework, a friend who is upset or family member who is sick. 

Don't misunderstand, there are times to focus the very important issues of life as well as the mundane, everyday tasks. However I find that after dancing, after releasing all of those thoughts and freeing my mind from worry, I am stronger once I go back to them.

I can relate to what the author Hans Bos means by only being joyful and whole while dancing. It gives you such a freedom that you can't help but feel more love, more joy, more gratitude, and more peace. When you leave dance class with these four gems lighting your way, life hasn't changed - but you have.

This last year has been incredibly challenging for me. Right in the middle of it I was drawn to ATS and it's been my lifeline ever since. For me, after dancing I feel more peace, and more confidence to take on what life brings. Class - through my teacher, fellow students, and the dance itself - has given me joy on days when all I thought I could do was crumble.

In a sense, I feel a great debt to the dance. Maybe that's what sparked the creation of his blog in the first place - it's my offering. It's good fun of course, with tutorials and shopping etc. - but my love for this 'tribal way' goes so much deeper. I hope dancing and this blog can impact you just as profoundly. :)

And PS: Carolena, if you ever find my blog, from the bottom of my heart, THANK-YOU.

Yes this turned into a mushy-gushy post, but I meant every word. If you want to share how dancing has impacted you, please comment below or email me at thetribalway@gmail.com

The Tribal Code

COMMITMENT

Be there for your dance sisters. Whether it’s making sure your cues are strong or getting to a gig on time, we all need to depend on one another.

COMMUNICATION

Ask questions and learn from the more experienced dancers and teachers. Also, don’t let things fester. Express yourself in a constructive, respectful way.

AWARENESS

Be aware of how your words or actions can affect others. What makes sense to you may be understood differently by someone else. Take considerations to think before you speak or act.

TEFLON

Don’t take things personally! There are too many unique individuals in this group to avoid minor misunderstandings. Let things slide off your ego – don’t let things stick!

HUMILITY

We all can benefit from going to Level 1 and Level 2 classes and working on technique. We can also benefit from allowing room for all our personalities to exist.

TRUST

This dance form is founded on trust, on and off the dance floor. Earn people’s trust and give yours as well.

RESPECT

Treat your fellow dancers (and human beings) with compassionate respect and be mindful of others’ talents and limitations. Respect the dance form for what it is rather than how you would change it.

SUPPORT

Come to the shows of FatChanceBellyDance and of your fellow dancers. Not only does it support the dancers, it is a great way to learn about performance! 

JOY

Dance for the love of it! Enjoy yourself and the company of others.

* Written/Created by the lovely and talented ladies of FatChanceBellyDance

Shine

Our deepest fear is NOT that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are POWERFUL beyond MEASURE.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you NOT to be? 

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to SHINE.

...and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are LIBERATED from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.

~ Marianne Williamson

Aren't we thankful Carolena didn't let fear stop her?  Go on, make like Nericcio and go SHINE.

Carolena Nericcio ~ The Mother of Tribal Style

Imagine this: there was a time in history, a long time ago,

when the bounce and sway of a woman’s hips

was considered so beautiful that they set it to music

and made a dance out of it...

~ Carolena Nericcio

Carolena is the creator and leader of American Tribal Style Belly Dance. She teaches and performs with her troupe Fat Chance Belly Dance. You can have a look at her website here: http://www.fcbd.com

The troupe name comes from the inevitable question every belly dancer will be asked: "Do you do private shows?"  To which Carolena would indignantly reply: "Fat chance!" Her dance moves and costume inspiration stems from middle eastern, indian and north african roots.

Carolena's most incredible accomplishment, in my opinion, is the dance language of cues that allows for pure improvisation. An ATS dancer from Spain, who speaks only Spanish, can meet with an ATS dancer from China who speaks only Chinese. They may not be able to introduce themselves or talk about the weather, but if you set them to music, they will be able not only to dance but to perform - and no one would ever guess that it wasn't long rehearsed choreography. I think it is a dance miracle if there is such a thing, and an incredible experience to witness or be part of!

It is this same philosophy of improvisation that seems to create the ambience of ATS dance. Improvisation forces the dancers to trust each other and rely upon each other. This is evident from the very first session. What a relief from society's constant mental bombardment of focusing on the self to be able to enjoy a dance that trains you to build each other up instead.


That's what the tribal way of life is all about! Thank-you Carolena!