Gearing up while gearing down

In many ways, things are gearing down. There's only a few weeks left of school for my kids, the summer's on it's way which means several other things are coming to a close (another belly dance session for example). Summer's on it's way, well, okay, some may say spring is still on it's way, but you get the feeling that the nice weather is coming anyway. Thoughts of ice cream, long sunny days and swimming invade my brain more often than I'd care to admit...

In many ways though, things are just starting to gear up for me.

With the end of the spring session comes the annual gala student show, This Ain't Egypt. This is year three and it always fills me with excitement and joy as I get the students ready, teach them choreography and drill and drill and drill the dance into them. I only do this once a year, as the rest of the sessions are focused on teaching technique and there's just not time to do both and have the technique at the standard that I want.

Learning (and teaching) DANCING, is totally different than teaching/learning movements or technique. It's an entirely different thing to string together some undulations up to down, a few hip drops and a floreo as your arms are in high 2nd, rather than walking with hips on the up matching the stepping foot. (As a complete aside but topic for later, what a shame that many instructors and dancers don't realize that there IS in fact a difference, sigh)

Each week sees new movements incorporated into their repetoire, and then the unveiling of the newest combination of the dance does my heart good.

I'm also excited to see what Danielle, Karen and Valizan will present, as this is the first year others will have presented group choreography besides myself. Another first, and another exciting addition to TAE 09.

I'm also working on notes, ideas and teaching strategies for the upcoming Dark Summer Intensives. This year I'm doing things completely differently than the previous two - no choreography will be taught, but instead I'll be concentrating on integrating creative aspects with technique and technical aspects to bring everyone (this year 3 levels!) to a new awareness in their dance. I'm very excited, not only to see the various out of town/province students who have already signed up, but also to work with everyone on this level. More intense than weekly classes, more in depth (no matter what what level they'll be taking) and (I hope) altogether more rewarding for everyone.

A few performances here and there including the second Hipnosis gala in a few weeks as well as a spot in the Eros Avant Garde Cabaret (a beautifully non-bellydance event) and then that's that... A few weeks off for me, spent at farmer's market's, swimming, sewing and generally hanging with the family! I can't wait...

In the meantime, I have more than enough to keep me excited and busy - speaking of which, I'd better get on it!