Paulette Rees-Denis's Blog, page 56
April 8, 2012
Sunday Dance To Word
my friends, another glorious weekend, full of laughing gorgeous dancing friends, photo shoots, teaching a movement journey class with one of my dance partners, a bike ride with my man, a glass of pinot grigio in the hot delicious sunshine, a relaxing movie, a country swing band, dance rehearsal, a flash mob sequence in the streets of my neighbor hood, and more food and friend. can a weekend get any more delightful?
yes, because I wake up before the sun to have my alone time with my words! I must write, and I find time to be able to sit quietly with my pen, paper, and computer — craft, practice, and a thought to something that was said to me this week:
Cultivate an attitude of awareness! (Thank you Jenna, from the word cellar, http://www.thewordcellar.com/)
In other words, pay attention, notice the details of your life… and find your own rhythm, get it on!
ok, so with that in mind, YOU, you fabulous artist, dancer, writer, painter, cook, mother, all of you….grap a cuppa, take a few, get your favorite writing instrument, and jot it down…
after you cross the hurdle of actually doing your art, taking the time to do it, getting started (you know what I mean!), how do you feel?
after you take that dance class, or dance around your living room, after you sing your favorite song, or write your morning pages, or scibble that poem, or or or…
how do you feel?
and is it worth that feeling?
hell, yeah….
send it to me…
April 7, 2012
What I am Loving Today
*Thank you Hilary Giovale, for the wonderful interview you did with me in the latest issue of Shimmy Magazine! (issue #13) about Taking Tribal Global….love it!
*A quote from Seth Godin, "The good jobs of the future aren't going to involve working for giant companies on an assembly line. They all require individuals willing to chart their own path, whether or not they work for someone else."
*My new instagram app for my iphone!
*Being back on home turf after 3 weeks on the road in Europe, and rehearsing with my home girls (GCDC), getting ready for our first Portland show in a looooong time! Salon L'Orient Rites of Spring
April 22nd at the Star Theatre
*amazing poetry by Samantha Reynolds, and she writes one a day! http://bentlily.com/
*time to reflect back on my past few weeks of travel and teaching and looking at my photographs…
little bits of australia…magic…
enjoy your weekend…peace…
April 6, 2012
LAST CHANCE to sign up for the 19th annual Women's Weekend of Tribal Vision–Tribal Bellydance
LAST CHANCE to sign up for the 19th annual Women's Weekend of Tribal Vision–Tribal Bellydance
with Paulette Rees-Denis of Gypsy Caravan
at Breitenbush Hot Springs, Detroit, OR
April 27-29, 2012
with guest teachers
Samantha Riggs and Lynea Gillen
Celebrating Women, Dance, Art, and Community
only a few spots left, sign up by Tuesday. April 10th...
http://www.gypsycaravan.us/workshops.php
April 4, 2012
Wednesday Thoughts and Quotes
I am so loving this…Frank Lloyd Wright's manifesto:
10 qualities that hit it in the head, don't you think?
To have…
-an honest ego in a healthy body
-an eye to see nature
- heart to feel nature
-courage to follow nature
-the sense of proportion (humor)
-appreciation of work as idea and idea as work
-fertility of imagination
-capacity of faith and rebellion
-disregard for commonplace (inorganic) elegance
-instinctive cooperation
Something to keep in sight….
April 1, 2012
Sunday Dance To Words
So when I say dance, I truly mean ART, or whatever you passion is: playing music, painting, gardening, whatever speaks to your creative spirit, and to take that passion, that physical activity, and to take time to put the feelings, the thoughts about that passion, and write it down, from stream of consciousness to story-telling, however words flow out of you…allowing yourself the time to put it down in words. I have heard so many great comments about my students' and friends experiences, and these need to be shared. That is part of our life tales–to share, network, and even just verbalize what has touched our souls, our hearts, our creative spirit. Because to share it strengthens our own experiences, and strengthens others who can be inspired by and get excited by our stories. It also brings our stories that much more alive, helps them make sense, clears the fog, helps us to see what swirls arbrain in our brain…know what I mean?
So dang it, take some precious time for yourself, sit down and jot a few things or a few pages on some paper, or in that beautiful journal.
Take 15 minutes to a half hour to sit and write, and try this…thinking about your art, your dance, your music, your whatever,what would you say excites you to want to create something? What makes you want to continue to create? What get your juices flowing?
If you wish to sharI! I'd love to hear about it….
March 30, 2012
What I Am Loving Today
Still in Milan….
Shooting my DVD #11 today with my beautiful dance sisters, Cinzia and Amanda…
Drinking a lovely Pinot Frizzante (lightly sparkling!)
Amanda's five month old with baby belly
Rocking out with an old Cult song with morning coffee while putting on stage makeup (she sells sanctuary)
Walking around Milan in tshirt, soaking up the spring sun
Working on my tribal manifesto
Kiko make-up, made in Milan, like MAC, but cheaper!
Reading Danielle LaPorte's TruthBombs….(daniellelaporte.com)
Dancing with Cinzia, to pass her Collective Soul certification, in Level Five, the first in Italy!
A delicious espresso after lunch, with a wee bit of sugar
Getting readyfor a big weekend of 3 workshops plus a dance performance in an ancient church…
Then packing to head home to my man and my furry kids on Monday….
You?
March 28, 2012
Wednesday thoughts and quotes
Do you have any Heroes? Mentors? Gods? Who inspires you? What moves your soul?
I love to read, write, listen, watch…so many wondrous 'things' in our world…sometimes earth-shattering, sometimes awe-inpsiring, sometimes so very simple…it all makes up the big picture, yes?
One of my heroes is Seth Godin, a writer, business-man, and one who really lives life to the fullest, questioning, reasoning, watching, sharing. If you don't know him, he has written many books, blogs daily, lectures, gets around… He says things that only begin to formulate in my brain, and puts so many thoughts into perspective.
I've written a lot about change. My changes, my troupes changes, your dance changes… never being fearful of change, I look forward to it, as it moves me into a better place. many resist change, never change, stay stuck, fearful of what could be ahead.
Here is something I read recently from that man Seth: instead of using the word 'change', use the word ZOOM! Zooming is strethcing your limits without threatening your foundation. A different way of handling new ideas and new challenges.
Why not try having a new zoomwidth?
I love that! You?
March 26, 2012
the new Gypsy Caravan Dance Co, International…
hit 2012…wow, newly revamped, back in the hip swinging life of all things tribal, coming at you, new visions, new dances, new dancers, past dancers, music, words, undulations, hands, global, strangely synchronistic, improvisations, passing gestures, group it up, bring it on, living the passion, connected with the earth and the sky and the love, dancing the rituals, the days, the wisdom, the journeys, sexy, powerful, with intention and desire, being remarkable, digging into the souls, the past, the future, traveling the globe, questing for enlightenment, honoring those who came before, eons ago or yesterday, cultural fusion, urban spirit, reinvention and revolution, evolution and enchanting, the tribes grow..
What is the new GCDC, Int?
In some ways it is still a continuation of the past many incarnations that I have danced through. A troupe, a tribe, of semi and pro tribal bellydancers, who have studied my GC tribal format over the years, with from 18 to 6 years of tribal experience, ages 29-64, women who have a similar passion for the dance, specifically tribal, although most of us have studied and continue to study other styles of dance, fitness, movement, health, and positive well-being. Some of us dance for a living, some as an additional "job", and some as an added love to a full life! A continual training in life, I like to call it…
We are florists, writers, teachers, students, sales reps, investors dental assistants, yoginis, painters, jewelry makers, mothers, daughters, and so much more…all walks of life, that make up this great tribe of dance, love, support, passion…with the amazingly powerful, vibrant ever-awe-inspiring, connection with tribal. As a style of dance, as a way of life!
March 25, 2012
Introducing: Sunday's Dance To Word
My friends, to start your week, this will be my instigator day with thoughts and prompts to get your pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, head fog to clear space, dance questions and answers to words….
You are welcome to share what flows, or scrunch and burn, but my desire is to get you started or continuing, to find your thoughts of dance, put the beauty to words, clear your fog, create with your inner words, from your body to the page…
On my journeys, I see dancers struggle to define their dance, confuse their words, or just want to write more (that is me!), and there are so many beautiful ideas and poetry to go along with the dance, I am always blown away by what dancers can say when we spend time writing, and they allow themselves the space and freedom to write.
So let us start…
This week, the global question:
What is tribal bellydance?
on your marks, get set, write….and enjoy!
