My First Performance at PlayThink

This weekend was PlayThink Movement Festival and it was amazing.  Fairies, love and movement abounded everywhere.  This was also my first performance.

I want to walk you through it.  My song was New Kids on the Block "Remix."  So I walked onto stage acting all scared, nervous, wall flower, etc.  I was dressed in an ugly outfit.  As the music started and I started my pantomime, I thought, "I'm glad I'm supposed to act all nervous and stuff.  Cause I am!"  My heart was beating like a drum.  I love to speak in public but hooping in front of hoopers....most much better than me...was terrifying.  A random speech is something that isn't abstract.  But art is so much more raw.  Something that people can either connect to or otherwise.  I was scared I'd drop the hoop, no one would understand my story or more.  I "tripped" over the off LED hoop in front of me.  I turned it on and started.  Once the hoop was in my hands, my worries dissipated slowly.   The big part of my performance was transforming into a confident, sexy lady.  Which involved removing the ugly dress and sweater.  Have you ever removed clothes while hooping? It can be hard!

 There was still that nagging in the back of my head but I just tried to feel the music and move.  I hadn't practiced or hooped in weeks due to a new tattoo.  But I had been telling myself just to do my thing.  Nothing super fancy at least.  I dropped the hoop multiple times and parts of my costume fell off in the middle of it (a hair bow I borrowed).  My palm spins weren't as fast as I usually can get them.  I remember the entire time that I was dancing around that I can't step on this girl's hair bow.  Afterwards, I was gulping down water so fast and my heart was racing.  My lungs were burning and I couldn't get my breath fast enough.  I did try to give it my all.

Someone asked me how did it went?  I'm not really sure because I'm my worst critic.  I don't know what the audience thought overall.    And I am hoping someone will post a better version of this soon!  Half of my PlayThink friends missed it!

Although I do have video of my performance, it is very dark.  You can't really see much.  But here it is:

Here was my home test which you can see much better in my very messy living room (I made home tests of every version of performance I was thinking of and showed two people for their input.  These were people that I trusted to give me feedback that this was worthy to perform.  One was a veteran hooper and the other was a baby hooper):

In the next few days, I'll post more about PlayThink.  I honestly can't right now.  In the last week, so much crap has happened to me that I just need more space.

PlayThink is COMING!

PlayThink Movement Festival is coming! Yes, I haven't blogged any. If I could blog via my thoughts, I'd be golden. Either way, I am so beyond excited about PlayThink. There is still time for everyone to get a ticket! So, what might Shannon be taking this year?

Classes I am thinking of:

• Poi Stalls
• Poi 101
• Fans: More than Fanning
• Fan: Dance
• Intro to Contact Staff
• Deciding between intermediate fire eating and intermediate contact staff.  
• Fire Safety
• Intro to fire eating  (I figure the more I can practice doing it, the more comfortable I will be with having flame in my mouth. shudddup)
• Flow Wand
• Whip Crackin'
• Bellydance basics
• Intro to stilts
• Virgin burn for my poi or staff on Saturday
• And maybe others. I haven't decided! 

I am also teaching a class. I am teaching Kids Hoop! Based on my experiences with 4-H and YMCA and all that fun stuff.  Either way, I am getting so amped for Playthink.  I feel like Playthink is my festival home.  It's exactly what I want in a festival for the most part.  I love all the other festivals but there is something magical about Playthink. Maybe it's because I feel like Paige will listen to input from everyone.  It's a magical experience.

So now that I am getting used to the festival thing, what would I pack?  I am forever an overpacker.  If you've never been to a fest, this might give you a few things to help facilitate your packing.

  Here's my list of things:

Clothing-Wise:

• Pants (1-2 pair. It gets cold at night)
• Shorts/capris (enough for most days)
• Underwears/bras/socks/whatever
• PJs and warm winter socks for night/layers again
• ear muffs (my short hair makes my ears get cold at night)
• Maybe a hat to sleep in
• Jacket/rain jacket
• Costume clothes
• Shoes (variety.  I like rainboots for dewy mornings or rain)

Home Away from Home Things:

• Tent
• Sleeping bag is a MUST. I have avoided sleeping bags for years but let me tell you, it makes a difference.
• Extra blanket
• Sunshade thing if you have one.  
• Camping chair
• Camping table
• Foods
• Canteens/water bottles (I really love the gallon jugs from lipton)
• Energy giving stuffs (I like monster rehabs and vitamin waters with electrolytes) 

Other stuffs:

• Sunscreen
• Bugspray
• Trash Bags
• hat/visor
• Camp stove/cooking utensils/eating utensils
• Camp soap/paper towels
• Toilet paper/campers toilet paper
• Shower supplies/toiletries/stuff like that
• portable toilet seat covers
• GoGirl (portable female urination device)
• Glow Sticks
• Pen/paper
• Lighter
• Baby wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Batteries/Camera/Camera card
• Watch
• An extra class schedule/map
• EAR PLUGS
• READY TO FEEL FREE AND LEARN!

Prop fun!

• Hoops
• LED hoop
• Charger or extra batteries
• Fire Hoop
• Fire hoop tools (quick wicks)
• Day hoop
• Minis
• Maybe other hoops?
• Poi
• Fire Poi
• Day poi/sock poi
• LED poi (I LOVE SpinBalls. SO soft and so cheap)
• Fans
• Flow wand
• Long string flow wand
• Short string fire flow wand
• Short string LED flow wand
• Charger
• Belly dance belt/veils
• Flags
• Contact staff
• Practice staff
• Fire contact staff
• Yoga mat/blanket and whatever yogis need

Are those all the props I have?  I always forget something (it seems to alway be my contact juggling ball).  Either way, these are a few of the things that I pack.  What about you?

A Daily Dance reminder

If you follow FYEAHHOOPING, you would have seen this picture this weekend:
That is my latest set of ink to celebrate my 2 year anniversary and some other personal milestones. This was done in Lexington, KY at Bleed Blue tattoo. Jamie did the tattoo and she was fantastic. It took her about 20-30 minutes to draw/set it up and about an hour or so to tattoo it. Hooping changed my life. Even if I stopped hooping tomorrow, it would never change the fact that everything changed when I found the hoop. It's sore in a few spots but other than that I feel like it's healing fantastically. I really want the bulk of the healing to be done like now. (you hear that body, HEAL!) I only shared this on tumblr and it was featured on FYEAHHOOPING. It's also gotten about 45 notes/reblogs/likes.

RaqsTV ATS

I've really tried to go over the online ATS class through RaqsTV a few times over the week and I just can't do it. I'd have to say I just gave up on it. This was taped with a regular video camera. Which means it's hard to see small movements because of the quality. I'm sure other RaqsTv selections that are from DVDs are much better. Other than that, the clothing choices make it so hard to see hip/knees, and feet. I think the second week was much better due to the fact that she was wearing capris. Even then, it's harder since everything she wears is dark! Not ideal camera quality + black clothes + long flowy skirts = hard to see movements. I feel like after the second week, I'm guessing they are using cues to review stuff. Except I missed the cues, I guess, and I can't hardly see the cues (if I could remember them) to go over the next moves. When I took the tribal class at Mecca, even if we would be going over the choreography with cues, she'd still repeat "cue." There are many times that I have issues hearing over the music. How come people have such a hard time balancing music with instruction? She'd be running from the screen to her computer fixing that issue. At least with my current live classes, they have a clicker to fix the volume without changing where she is in the classroom. Speaking of hearing issues, there is another instructor in the class/students. If they say something, especially something important, you can't hear them. Of course, all these issues I can add to hooping/flow videos, even on Hooping University. Video quality, clothing issues, and volume issues is a major thing. I know that even my videos have those issues. When I feel like in review, it's harder to hear, I try to add subtitles. Now, if you are taking a improv tribal/ATS class in person or would like a review, I'd think these videos may be great review. Although there will be some differences which I've learned by talking to my friend Anna who was taking an ATS class in person from another sister studio. When I was able to get the FatChance Bellydance Volume 1 for basics, I also realized I wasn't chasing against time. If I were to do another RaqsTV selection, I'd probably choose the Blacksheep bellydance improv tribal for a month ($9.99). This is from a DVD which makes me think that it would be much clearer. I might wait till after shimmy mob to go back to more of a tribal section. Now, are all online bellydance like this? I've seen a few different options from other people. I've looked into Datura Online which is from the great mind of Rachel Brice. From the previews, it looks like the quality in camera work is to die for. There is also a la carte options for individual videos. The ATS class 1 is about $6.99 or $35 a month for the whole video library. Although I'm not sure if the price would even it out in the end. I can't see myself doing class 1 enough for my monies worth. Maybe 2-3 time a week but after that I know I'd get bored. I think the monthly price would be the best option in that regard. Now, a warm up that you could use every day, that would be enough use for money for an a la carte option for a month. Datura online also has Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, and more. They have tribal classes, yoga/cross training, and more. I've seen reviews of Datura Online from people who actually have a subscription. So I'd google for reviews on blogs for a throughout review of that.

SHIMMY MOB!

Obviously, I've been on a bellydance kick lately.  Recently I joined the Shimmy Mob.

"Our primary objective is to raise donations and awareness. Funds raised via Shimmy Mob will be donated to Abused Women and Children shelters throughout the world.

Our secondary objective is to produce a flash mob type event formed by dancers and non dancers with the objective of performing a choreographed medley of bellydance styles."

  It has been a lot of fun so far!  I went to the first rehearsal this week and it was a hoot.  Of course, actually working on choreography was hard.  I can have a move down pat when I'm drilling but walking, stop, do that movenownownow! is really hard for me.  You don't have to be an experienced bellydancer to participate.  There are beginner and intermediate variations of moves.  There are multiple cities holding a Shimmy Mob.  Check the website to see if you have one near you!  

I'm hoping to be able to take another six week class after the one I'm participating in is over.  It looks great.  Drilling one move during a whole class!

And did I tell you?  I'M GOING TO KINETIC FIRE! Weeeeeeeeee!

RaqsTV Ongoing Review-Week 1

Hey there.  So recently I've been interested in taking bellydance classes.  I've been doing so much with hooping yet the thing I've always wanted to do (bellydance).  Unfortunately with my work schedule, it can be really hard for me to attend classes.  I figure once or twice a month, I will go to a class and study with DVDs in the meanwhile. I know it's not the best plan on Earth but unless someone wants to give me free classes and time on my hands, it's all I got.  I found out about this website calle RaqsTV which is where you can rent a video for a selected amount of time.  I like the idea because instead of buying, you can rent it and find out if you like it.  I also figure having only so much time will encourage me to use it.  I ordered: ATS Class from Skin Deep Dance.  My original plan was to follow each class once a day for a week.  Since it's a sister studio of FatChance Bellydance, These classes should be similar to the one my friend, Anna started taking this very week.

My first thoughts of all the content that I have seen on RaqsTV is the same comment I have on most youtube videos for hooping and Hooping University: the quality is subpar.  I cannot hear as well or see some of the movements super well.  This is the same thing for RaqsTV.  I can barely hear the instructor most of the time. But any comments from anyone else, forget about it (which from the first week there is a few from a co-instructor, I guess).

The first part of the class is a warm up, then an explanation of what ATS is (which I cannot hear), then an introduction to the taxeem.  Then, there is an introduction to the arm positions covering: positioning, undulations, and hand floreos.  Next, they combine the floreos/arm positions with the taxeem. I feel like this class covers taxeems forrreeeeever.  Then they start mixing in choreography.  At one point there is a circle turn but I'm not sure if she just turning around, doing a taxeem in a circle (is that possible?) or doing a real circle turn?  After that, she goes over shimmies.  Which I'm not sure if it's a good introduction for it either.  There is no "let me show you and this is how you do it."  You just start doing it.  Then adding faster moves.  Is it that easy or what?  Next, they go back to the mirror and now it's time to blast through the fast moves.  No literally, they blast through most the fast moves.  I am like wtf?  I don't feel safe just gunslinging into moves like that.  I can't even make it through the next section.  The last 10 minutes might be going over another move but I don't know.  I'm so frustrated and tired by then that I am ugh.  Especially the arabic being on the toes and my knees, I didn't want to do it without knowing how to do it.  I youtubed it.

I've asked my friend what her first ATS class was like and according to her, there was no barreling through movements.  I just don't feel safe moving through movements like that.  I'm already worried as is about assuming correct dance posture!  I've taken one tribal bellydance class this month, too.  We covered hip drops, floreos, some chest shimmy, single choo-choos, propeller turns, and another turn which I will call a backwards turn.

Today (due to puppy issues) I only got through a quarter of week 1.  On the good hand, I found my Art of Bellydance DVD which is a FCBD dvd.  I also ordered tribal basics 1 which, according to amazon, might be the same.  I want to get the entire BlackSheep bellydance dvds, too. I need to be rich! I'm planning on reviewing all these DVDs/videos for this blog.  I have quite a few DVDs and I would love to add to them!

What Do I Do With My Arms? Hoop Tutorial