Alessandra, Signing Off
Sequins and Shimmies
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3y ago
Well, 2020. What to say about that. I would love to never hear the phrase "social-distancing" again. However, when I reflect back on these last 12 months, for the year that was "canceled", I actually did quite a bit.  Before the lockdowns hit the U.S., I got in an epic vacation to the Yucatan peninsula where I got to visit Chichen Itza, amongst over Mayan ruin sites, which was one of my dreams since childhood. The trip included Cancun, Tulum, Merida, Playa del Carmen, and sites in between. There was swimming in cenotes, dancing to salsa, watching epic live performances, and relaxing at th ..read more
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Halloween Creativity
Sequins and Shimmies
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3y ago
Halloween is my favorite holiday, hands down. With 2020 being, well 2020, and limited options for celebrating in the traditional way, I still wanted to get into the spirit of things. So I grabbed my favorite photographer, Al Martinez, along with a red wig, black horns, cool props, and vampire teeth and headed to a local park to see what kind of cool visual art we could create. Here's what we came up with ..read more
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Fantasy Photo Shoot
Sequins and Shimmies
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3y ago
With live performing at a COVID-lull, I'm having to find new ways to exercise and indulge my creative spirit. The perfect opportunity for that happened a few weeks ago when I met up with the photographer-extraordinaire, Al Martinez, for a fantasy inspired photo shoot. Check out the fruits of our creative labor below, and be sure to check out Al's other photography work on his Facebook page.  ..read more
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Arabic Music: An Intro
Sequins and Shimmies
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3y ago
Like many Western dancers who discover Arabic music and dance in their 20s, 30s, and beyond, I didn't have much exposure to Middle Eastern music growing up. It wasn't until I was in my mid-20s and started taking belly dance classes that I began to regularly hear and learn about this rich, beautiful musical tradition. Growing up, I was a classically trained violinist and studied Western musical theory for around a decade, and as such I was very familiar with Western scales and octaves. I thought this was the only "organizational" format that music could exist in. Ha! Turns out that was defin ..read more
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Don't Forget Your Mask!
Sequins and Shimmies
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3y ago
It's the new thing, the new normal. When you feel your house you have to don a mask or face covering. Wearing a mask might not be the most enjoyable thing ever: it can make you feel overheated on warm days, lead to undesirable breakouts ("maskne"), fog up your reading glasses, and generally be a pain trying to remember when you leave your house. But hey, if you got to do it, might as well try to make it a bit more agreeable. So here's my nod to having a bit of fun with our new mask couture. Photos by Fred Dimaano ..read more
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Find Your Big Magic
Sequins and Shimmies
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4y ago
I recently finished reading Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic, and here's what I thought of it: Absolutely wonderful inspirational advice. If you are pursuing any kind of creative passion, at any kind of level, read this book. It's such a refreshing take on the creative process. In short, Big Magic is the ideology of freeing artistic endeavors from labeling or valuing them by external quantifiers, such as money, fame, awards, recognition, status, and the like, and admonishes to instead purse creativity for creativity sake. For the joy that it brings. Let the ego go, and let the heart tak ..read more
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The Show Must Be Paused
Sequins and Shimmies
by
4y ago
I originally had a different post intended for this month, but I think this topic is far more relevant and important. Black lives matter. No echo of all lives matter needed. Just this: black lives matter. (If that doesn't resonant as true or makes you feel uncomfortable, try reading this.) I think recent events have highlighted for me that it's not enough just to be non-racist. To change the system we all need to do our part to actively be an ally. The active part is something I will admit to not having done well at in the past. So one of the first steps I'm working on, highlighted by thi ..read more
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Quarantine Dance & Fitness Resources
Sequins and Shimmies
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4y ago
Quarantine, social distancing, shelter in place, self-isolating. Whatever you might be using to describe it, it's certainly dragging on at this point. While of course we want to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities at large, this extended stay at home can't help but bring up uncomfortable and anxious emotions. If you're feeling like me, you're starting to feel pretty trapped and stir crazy at home. But one thing that always helps me: movement. Moving my body to music, moving my body to break a sweat, moving my body to get out of my head, moving my body to free my spirit. E ..read more
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What is a Zeffah?
Sequins and Shimmies
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4y ago
You may have heard the name, or perhaps even seen a recreation at a folkloric or cultural event, but what is a zeffah? While there are multiple kinds of zeffahs, but the one most commonly referred to is the zeffat al 'Arush, or wedding procession of the bride. It is a tradition in Egypt dating back many years, in which a wedding party is escorted though the streets by a musical procession of drummers, bagpipes, horns and other instruments. Sometimes even car horns! In more recent years, the procession frequently happens indoors, such as through a hotel. To mark the occasion, a traditional r ..read more
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Yucatan Adventures
Sequins and Shimmies
by
4y ago
I just had the wonderful experience of spending the last two weeks traveling around the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, visiting the cities of Cancun, Tulum, Merida, and Playa del Carmen. I climbed Mayan pyramids, swam with turtles in cenotes, watched folkloric dance, ate the best street tacos of my life, snorkeled with giant manta rays, checked Chichen Itza off my bucket list, danced salsa to live music, and even ate crickets. That was definitely a first! Here's a few fun highlights from my recent adventures.  Now to get caught up ..read more
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