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| "Splendor of Egypt" College Park Rehab May 2017 |
Showing posts with label belly dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label belly dance. Show all posts
Monday, May 29, 2017
College Park Rehab "Splendor of Egypt"
We always have a wonderful time dancing with our friends at College Park Rehab! We don't get many opportunities to perform our favorite Egyptian dances as we'd like, so we appreciated the chance to dust off our canes and saidi moves for this performance.
PirateFest 2017!
We had an absolutely amazing time at PirateFest this year! We especially enjoyed doing some improv dancing throughout the day and into the evening when the stage wasn't otherwise occupied, and we'll be doing more of that at Ren Faire later this year.
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| PirateFest 2017 |
Friday, September 23, 2016
Get Ready for Ren Faire!!
Are you ready for Ren Faire? We are! We're looking forward to returning to our favorite stage at the Shifting Sands Belly Dance encampment on the following days and times:
Friday, October 5th -- 4:00 PM
Saturday, October 6th -- 1:30 PM
Saturday, October 6th -- 4:00 PM
Sunday, October 7th -- 2:30 PM
We'll be performing four different shows, so plan ahead to make it to every one of them...You'll see something different at each one!
Need more information on Ren Faire? Check out their Website for information on location, hours, parking, etc. We'll see you there...Huzzah!!
Friday, August 26, 2016
College Park "Fourth of July!"
We had such a good time dancing at College Park in July! This was our first Fourth of July performance, and it was wonderful celebrating it with our friends at College Park. See you soon! :)
Atria Seville "Belly Dance Celebration!"
College Park Cinco de Mayo Celebration!
We had a wonderful time dancing for our friends at College Park to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! We don't get many opportunities to perform our favorite Mexican choreographies, so we thoroughly appreciated the chance to do so. !Muchas gracias, amigos y amigas!
Thursday, February 25, 2016
NADHC Eastern "Spring Fling!"
Hello everyone! We had an amazing time performing for -- and particularly, with! -- our new friends at NADHC Eastern yesterday. Ladies and gents, you are terrific stage mates, and we're looking forward to celebrating music and dance with you again soon. :)
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Veil It Up for Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Day is this weekend! Would you like to dazzle your sultan(a) with a few sultry veil moves? Here's a brief primer on veil basics, and a few easy-but-effective veil moves. Even if you've never danced with a veil before, you can pick up these moves in just a week!
First, you'll need a veil. Veils can range in size, shape, and material. The moves we'll be discussing are best with either a chiffon or silk veil that's roughly 36" wide x 48" long. (The exact size that's right for you will depend on your height, but to get started, these measurements work for most women. If you have any questions about what's right for you, leave me a message.)
Once you've got your veil at hand, here's how to do the Basic Hold: Pinch the top edge (the long edge) with your first finger and thumb, with the veil in front of your body. Leave about as much space on each side past your hands. For most veil movements, the veil should be draped a little between your hands, as though your veil is giving you a little smile.
Got it? Great! You're ready to start dancing with your veil! Let's take a look at three basic movements, and some ways to vary each one:
Poses: This is the easiest of veil movements, but it packs a powerful visual punch. All you do is bring your hands together over your head! With the veil behind you, it creates a sensual background for any movement. If you drape the veil in front of you, it creates a mysterious curtain. To vary this movement, make a V-shape with your arms, instead of bringing your hands together. This variation is particularly effective with moving or traveling steps, as the veil will float up and out as you move or travel.
Turban Veil: I've heard this movement referred to by many names, but I call it this because essentially, you're wrapping your hands around your head, as if you were putting on a turban. To do the Turban Veil, begin with the Basic Hold. Bring your right hand around in front, then up and over your left ear. As your right hand passes behind your head, follow your right hand with your left hand, passing your left hand behind your head and over your right ear. Once you've got the hang of it going from right-to-left, be sure to experiment with reversing direction (bringing your veil from your left hand over your head, past your right ear, then bringing your right hand behind your head and past your left ear).
Here's a picture of me bringing my left hand behind my head, to my right ear:
The Turban Veil is incredibly simple, but effective, and you can vary it up in a number of ways. Try alternating directions; experiment with hesitating just a moment before switching directions (this creates a little whirlpool shape in the veil); or add in a level change by going up on tiptoe, then bending your knees. Try experimenting with a Turban Veil in each direction, then pausing in a Pose.
Turban Arm Veil: Once you've got the Turban Veil down, you're ready for the Turban Arm Veil. Begin with the Basic Hold, then bring your right hand and arm over your left hand (it helps to bring your left hand and arm forward a little), then place your right hand on the back of your left shoulder. When you're comfortable with doing the Turban Arm Veil to the left, experiment with going to the right (bringing your left hand and arm over your right hand, bringing your right hand and arm forward, and placing your left hand on the back of your right shoulder).
Obviously, you can do the Turban Arm Veil from right-to-left and repeat this movement, creating a sense of a bullfighter's cape. Or, you can intersperse Poses, Turban Veils, and Turban Arm Veils.
My favorite thing to do with Turban Arm Veil, though, is to work the extended arm. If your right hand is on your shoulder, your left arm will be extended...and you can use that left hand to create figure 8s, swooshes, or simply turn in place with your arm extended. (If you turn in the direction of your extended arm, the veil floats in front of your body. If you turn in the opposite direction, the veil floats behind you. Experiment with both directions!) Here's a picture of me turning in the direction of my extended arm, using the Turban Arm Veil:
Now that you have these three basics in your veil dance vocabulary, it's time to put on your favorite Valentine's Day music and get to dancing. :) Enjoy!
First, you'll need a veil. Veils can range in size, shape, and material. The moves we'll be discussing are best with either a chiffon or silk veil that's roughly 36" wide x 48" long. (The exact size that's right for you will depend on your height, but to get started, these measurements work for most women. If you have any questions about what's right for you, leave me a message.)
Once you've got your veil at hand, here's how to do the Basic Hold: Pinch the top edge (the long edge) with your first finger and thumb, with the veil in front of your body. Leave about as much space on each side past your hands. For most veil movements, the veil should be draped a little between your hands, as though your veil is giving you a little smile.
Got it? Great! You're ready to start dancing with your veil! Let's take a look at three basic movements, and some ways to vary each one:
Poses: This is the easiest of veil movements, but it packs a powerful visual punch. All you do is bring your hands together over your head! With the veil behind you, it creates a sensual background for any movement. If you drape the veil in front of you, it creates a mysterious curtain. To vary this movement, make a V-shape with your arms, instead of bringing your hands together. This variation is particularly effective with moving or traveling steps, as the veil will float up and out as you move or travel.
Turban Veil: I've heard this movement referred to by many names, but I call it this because essentially, you're wrapping your hands around your head, as if you were putting on a turban. To do the Turban Veil, begin with the Basic Hold. Bring your right hand around in front, then up and over your left ear. As your right hand passes behind your head, follow your right hand with your left hand, passing your left hand behind your head and over your right ear. Once you've got the hang of it going from right-to-left, be sure to experiment with reversing direction (bringing your veil from your left hand over your head, past your right ear, then bringing your right hand behind your head and past your left ear).
Here's a picture of me bringing my left hand behind my head, to my right ear:
The Turban Veil is incredibly simple, but effective, and you can vary it up in a number of ways. Try alternating directions; experiment with hesitating just a moment before switching directions (this creates a little whirlpool shape in the veil); or add in a level change by going up on tiptoe, then bending your knees. Try experimenting with a Turban Veil in each direction, then pausing in a Pose.
Turban Arm Veil: Once you've got the Turban Veil down, you're ready for the Turban Arm Veil. Begin with the Basic Hold, then bring your right hand and arm over your left hand (it helps to bring your left hand and arm forward a little), then place your right hand on the back of your left shoulder. When you're comfortable with doing the Turban Arm Veil to the left, experiment with going to the right (bringing your left hand and arm over your right hand, bringing your right hand and arm forward, and placing your left hand on the back of your right shoulder).
Obviously, you can do the Turban Arm Veil from right-to-left and repeat this movement, creating a sense of a bullfighter's cape. Or, you can intersperse Poses, Turban Veils, and Turban Arm Veils.
My favorite thing to do with Turban Arm Veil, though, is to work the extended arm. If your right hand is on your shoulder, your left arm will be extended...and you can use that left hand to create figure 8s, swooshes, or simply turn in place with your arm extended. (If you turn in the direction of your extended arm, the veil floats in front of your body. If you turn in the opposite direction, the veil floats behind you. Experiment with both directions!) Here's a picture of me turning in the direction of my extended arm, using the Turban Arm Veil:
Now that you have these three basics in your veil dance vocabulary, it's time to put on your favorite Valentine's Day music and get to dancing. :) Enjoy!
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Christmas at College Park!
We had a fantastic time celebrating the season at College Park Rehab last week, as you can see from our picture below. Ladies and gentlemen, we wish you a very merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy new year!
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
NADHC Belly Dance Celebration!
We had a tremendous time dancing for -- and in particular, dancing with! -- our new friends at NADHC today. Wow, you ladies and gents know how to get up and shimmy! Thank you so much for inviting us to celebrate the joy of music and dance with you. We look forward to dancing with you again soon...!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Throwback Thursday!
We're busy gearing up for the Las Vegas Renaissance Faire in October, and we're excited to share that we'll be introducing new music, choreography, props, and costuming. Naturally, that's keeping us busy until October, so today we'd like to call your attention to our recently updated Photo Gallery, where you can enjoy a sampling of the shows we've done since Desert Gypsies hit the road as a professional troupe back in June 2012. We've done holiday shows for Mardi Gras, Halloween, and Christmas; themed shows ranging from Arabic to Spanish to Mediterranean; and we've performed at venues as varied as the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive to the West Charleston Library.
Enjoy! -- and we'll see you soon at Ren Faire 2015!
Enjoy! -- and we'll see you soon at Ren Faire 2015!
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Atria Seville -- Arabian Nights!
We enjoyed a marvelous evening last Thursday, celebrating "Arabian Nights" with our friends at Atria Seville! It's always a pleasure dancing with, and for, our friends there...as you can see from the pictures!
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| Atria Seville "Arabian Nights!" June 2015 |
Thursday, June 25, 2015
West Charleston Library's "An Afternoon of Belly Dancing!"
Hello everyone! Desert Gypsies had a spectacular time performing at the West Charleston Library's "An Afternoon of Belly Dancing" back in May. We also thoroughly enjoyed the other shows, too. If you didn't catch the performances, you missed a terrific opportunity to see a wide and wonderful variety of belly dancers, from cabaret to tribal to Indian. If you made it to the show, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
Speaking of variety, we'll be exploring a variety of musical styles and dances at Ren Faire this year, from flamenco and Gypsy to traditional Arabic to Eastern European. We'll let you know where and when we'll be performing as soon as we know. In the meantime, we're still reveling in the fun we had at the library. Enjoy!
Speaking of variety, we'll be exploring a variety of musical styles and dances at Ren Faire this year, from flamenco and Gypsy to traditional Arabic to Eastern European. We'll let you know where and when we'll be performing as soon as we know. In the meantime, we're still reveling in the fun we had at the library. Enjoy!
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| "An Afternoon of Belly Dance!" West Charleston Library May 16, 2015 |
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Grab Your Calendar...
and put our first Clark County Library performance on it! We're delighted to be one of the "local belly dancers" performing on Saturday, May 11th, at 2 PM at the West Charleston Library. And not to worry...although the flyer below highlights the sisterhood of belly dance, Anthony will be performing, too. The performance is free and open to the public, so grab your calendar right now and put in the date and time. We'll see you there!
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Thursday Throwback! -- Atria Sutton 2013
As the middle of March approaches, I'm thinking green! -- and I found myself thinking about one of our first performances at Atria Sutton. Although this performance was in March, the theme wasn't St. Patrick's Day; it was "Dance Like You've Just Won a Million Dollars!" We had a terrific time, as we always do at Atria Sutton. Enjoy!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Mark Your Calendars!
Desert Gypsies is proud to announce that we're among the "local belly dancers" performing in "An Afternoon of Belly Dancing with Cat Maihen." This event promises to be a visual and aural spectactular, as the various groups and soloists performing will be sharing a wide variety of styles of belly dance. (And yes, although the flyer below highlights the sisterhood of belly dance, Anthony will not only be performing with Desert Gypsies -- he'll be showing off his stuff in a solo!)
So pull out your calendar right now, and be sure to be at the West Charleston Library before 2 PM on Saturday, May 16th! You'll want to snag a good seat in the library's comfortable theater so you can enjoy the show. We'll see you there!
So pull out your calendar right now, and be sure to be at the West Charleston Library before 2 PM on Saturday, May 16th! You'll want to snag a good seat in the library's comfortable theater so you can enjoy the show. We'll see you there!
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Veil It Up for Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Day is just a week away! Would you like to dazzle your sultan with a few sultry veil moves? Here's a brief primer on veil basics, and a few easy-but-effective veil moves. Even if you've never danced with a veil before, you can pick up these moves in just a week!
First, you'll need a veil. Veils can range in size, shape, and material. The moves we'll be discussing are best with either a chiffon or silk veil that's roughly 36" wide x 48" long. (The exact size that's right for you will depend on your height, but to get started, these measurements work for most women. If you have any questions about what's right for you, leave me a message.)
Once you've got your veil at hand, here's how to do the Basic Hold: Pinch the top edge (the long edge) with your first finger and thumb, with the veil in front of your body. Leave about as much space on each side past your hands. For most veil movements, the veil should be draped a little between your hands, as though your veil is giving you a little smile.
Got it? Great! You're ready to start dancing with your veil! Let's take a look at three basic movements, and some ways to vary each one:
Poses: This is the easiest of veil movements, but it packs a powerful visual punch. All you do is bring your hands together over your head! With the veil behind you, it creates a sensual background for any movement. If you drape the veil in front of you, it creates a mysterious curtain. To vary this movement, make a V-shape with your arms, instead of bringing your hands together. This variation is particularly effective with moving or traveling steps, as the veil will float up and out as you move or travel.
Turban Veil: I've heard this movement referred to by many names, but I call it this because essentially, you're wrapping your hands around your head, as if you were putting on a turban. To do the Turban Veil, begin with the Basic Hold. Bring your right hand around in front, then up and over your left ear. As your right hand passes behind your head, follow your right hand with your left hand, passing your left hand behind your head and over your right ear. Once you've got the hang of it going from right-to-left, be sure to experiment with reversing direction (bringing your veil from your left hand over your head, past your right ear, then bringing your right hand behind your head and past your left ear).
Here's a picture of me bringing my left hand behind my head, to my right ear:
The Turban Veil is incredibly simple, but effective, and you can vary it up in a number of ways. Try alternating directions; experiment with hesitating just a moment before switching directions (this creates a little whirlpool shape in the veil); or add in a level change by going up on tiptoe, then bending your knees. Try experimenting with a Turban Veil in each direction, then pausing in a Pose.
Turban Arm Veil: Once you've got the Turban Veil down, you're ready for the Turban Arm Veil. Begin with the Basic Hold, then bring your right hand and arm over your left hand (it helps to bring your left hand and arm forward a little), then place your right hand on the back of your left shoulder. When you're comfortable with doing the Turban Arm Veil to the left, experiment with going to the right (bringing your left hand and arm over your right hand, bringing your right hand and arm forward, and placing your left hand on the back of your right shoulder).
Obviously, you can do the Turban Arm Veil from right-to-left and repeat this movement, creating a sense of a bullfighter's cape. Or, you can intersperse Poses, Turban Veils, and Turban Arm Veils.
My favorite thing to do with Turban Arm Veil, though, is to work the extended arm. If your right hand is on your shoulder, your left arm will be extended...and you can use that left hand to create figure 8s, swooshes, or simply turn in place with your arm extended. (If you turn in the direction of your extended arm, the veil floats in front of your body. If you turn in the opposite direction, the veil floats behind you. Experiment with both directions!) Here's a picture of me turning in the direction of my extended arm, using the Turban Arm Veil:
Now that you have these three basics in your veil dance vocabulary, it's time to put on your favorite Valentine's Day music and get to dancing. :) Enjoy!
First, you'll need a veil. Veils can range in size, shape, and material. The moves we'll be discussing are best with either a chiffon or silk veil that's roughly 36" wide x 48" long. (The exact size that's right for you will depend on your height, but to get started, these measurements work for most women. If you have any questions about what's right for you, leave me a message.)
Once you've got your veil at hand, here's how to do the Basic Hold: Pinch the top edge (the long edge) with your first finger and thumb, with the veil in front of your body. Leave about as much space on each side past your hands. For most veil movements, the veil should be draped a little between your hands, as though your veil is giving you a little smile.
Got it? Great! You're ready to start dancing with your veil! Let's take a look at three basic movements, and some ways to vary each one:
Poses: This is the easiest of veil movements, but it packs a powerful visual punch. All you do is bring your hands together over your head! With the veil behind you, it creates a sensual background for any movement. If you drape the veil in front of you, it creates a mysterious curtain. To vary this movement, make a V-shape with your arms, instead of bringing your hands together. This variation is particularly effective with moving or traveling steps, as the veil will float up and out as you move or travel.
Turban Veil: I've heard this movement referred to by many names, but I call it this because essentially, you're wrapping your hands around your head, as if you were putting on a turban. To do the Turban Veil, begin with the Basic Hold. Bring your right hand around in front, then up and over your left ear. As your right hand passes behind your head, follow your right hand with your left hand, passing your left hand behind your head and over your right ear. Once you've got the hang of it going from right-to-left, be sure to experiment with reversing direction (bringing your veil from your left hand over your head, past your right ear, then bringing your right hand behind your head and past your left ear).
Here's a picture of me bringing my left hand behind my head, to my right ear:
The Turban Veil is incredibly simple, but effective, and you can vary it up in a number of ways. Try alternating directions; experiment with hesitating just a moment before switching directions (this creates a little whirlpool shape in the veil); or add in a level change by going up on tiptoe, then bending your knees. Try experimenting with a Turban Veil in each direction, then pausing in a Pose.
Turban Arm Veil: Once you've got the Turban Veil down, you're ready for the Turban Arm Veil. Begin with the Basic Hold, then bring your right hand and arm over your left hand (it helps to bring your left hand and arm forward a little), then place your right hand on the back of your left shoulder. When you're comfortable with doing the Turban Arm Veil to the left, experiment with going to the right (bringing your left hand and arm over your right hand, bringing your right hand and arm forward, and placing your left hand on the back of your right shoulder).
Obviously, you can do the Turban Arm Veil from right-to-left and repeat this movement, creating a sense of a bullfighter's cape. Or, you can intersperse Poses, Turban Veils, and Turban Arm Veils.
My favorite thing to do with Turban Arm Veil, though, is to work the extended arm. If your right hand is on your shoulder, your left arm will be extended...and you can use that left hand to create figure 8s, swooshes, or simply turn in place with your arm extended. (If you turn in the direction of your extended arm, the veil floats in front of your body. If you turn in the opposite direction, the veil floats behind you. Experiment with both directions!) Here's a picture of me turning in the direction of my extended arm, using the Turban Arm Veil:
Now that you have these three basics in your veil dance vocabulary, it's time to put on your favorite Valentine's Day music and get to dancing. :) Enjoy!
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Throwback Thursday: Flamenco-Gypsy Fusion!
We're already hard at work on new choreography for the new year, and right now, our focus is on enhancing our Spanish shows. We're developing some exciting new choreo that includes more flamenco footwork, more Spanish gypsy skirt, and more stick work! For now, we're keeping what we're working on under wraps. :) In the meantime, here's a throwback to one of our earliest performances as Desert Gypsies, back in August 2011.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Happy New Year 2015!
We're delighted to ring in a new year! -- but not because Desert Gypsies didn't enjoy 2014. We had the opportunity to share the magic of music and dance with old friends, and make some new friends, too.
We had the exceedingly good fortune to celebrate several holidays -- Mardi Gras, Father's Day, Halloween, and Christmas -- with our friends at Destinations Oakey, Atria Seville, and North Las Vegas Care Center. We also had the privilege of performing many themed shows this year, ranging from gypsy-flamenco to Egyptian to Greek.
In the meantime, Desert Gypsies wants to extend to all our friends our deepest thanks. We have enjoyed every moment of sharing the magic of music and dance with you this year! -- and we look forward to new adventures with you in 2015.
A special shout-out to our friend Shane Fairburn, who took the picture of Alexa and Angela at the Las Vegas Renaissance Faire (in the purple skirts on the outdoor stage). We think you'll agree he's an amazing photographer!
We had the exceedingly good fortune to celebrate several holidays -- Mardi Gras, Father's Day, Halloween, and Christmas -- with our friends at Destinations Oakey, Atria Seville, and North Las Vegas Care Center. We also had the privilege of performing many themed shows this year, ranging from gypsy-flamenco to Egyptian to Greek.
In the meantime, Desert Gypsies wants to extend to all our friends our deepest thanks. We have enjoyed every moment of sharing the magic of music and dance with you this year! -- and we look forward to new adventures with you in 2015.
A special shout-out to our friend Shane Fairburn, who took the picture of Alexa and Angela at the Las Vegas Renaissance Faire (in the purple skirts on the outdoor stage). We think you'll agree he's an amazing photographer!
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| Desert Gypsies 2014 |
Thursday, December 25, 2014
North Las Vegas Care Center: Celebrating the Season!
Merry Christmas! We celebrated the season in style with our friends at North Las Vegas Care Center this past Friday! We not only had a wonderful time performing, but we had a terrific time dancing with everyone afterward. Thank you! -- and we're looking forward to seeing you again soon!
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"Christmas Celebration!" North Las Vegas Care Center December 2014 |
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