Wow... I am REALLY bad at updating this. I apologize. With handling dancer business, kids, and my regular work, I just forget!
The beginning of this month was really busy! The second week was filled with 4 shows! I got to entertain at the new Kan Zaman restaurant in Kaimuki, which is just awesome. I absolutely love the new place. The customers were also very awesome as well!
Karim Nagi came to visit us dancers on Oahu that following weekend! I was so excited and it was probably the best time I've had. All the workshops were enjoyable and challenging, which is something I have been looking for recently. I also had the honor to dance in his show with a new costume I created and designed myself. I have to say, I learned so much and I was sad it ended... :( Until next time!
I also got to start the graduation season with a show last week, which was awesome! I also broke out the balancing tray, which I had been wanting to do for some time now. I'm glad everyone had fun!
Recently, I have been taking online courses with Joana Saahirah. She asked this really important question: "Why do you perform?" It's something I haven't asked myself and it really made me think. We can say "I dance because blah blah blah" but why we perform is a totally different question. Everyone's answer will be different. I had to really think about it. A really great question posed to performers.
I won't be sharing my reasons here as I don't want to influence anyone happening by my little blog. Is anyone happening by?? No? That's OK. If you are, maybe share why you perform! Let me know! ...Or keep it to yourself. haha!
Monday, June 19, 2017
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Bring May Flowers!
Wow, April is almost over! It's amazing how time flies. This month was quiet, show-wise. I performed at Freaktastic First Friday earlier this month and then worked on a bellydance challenge at Datura Online!
I think I previously talked about my experience with Datura Online, which is great! Hawaii has a great community but the amount of traveling instructors and dancers is very little. I've gone from workshops and shows every weekend in Tokyo to workshops once or twice a year here.
I do go to classes, especially for folkloric topics but I do supplement with these online courses. It's basically a workshop and even though some are easy for me, it's great to re-visit the basics! There's also a lot on there that really challenge me (especially Sedona Soulfire's drum solos!). I really enjoy it and I can do it at home without finding childcare.
Anyways... Datura Online has their BellyDance Challenge #5. You have to pick one (or more) specified choreography, learn it, and then video tape yourself doing it. If they pick your video, you win a one year subscription to their website! I chose Raqs Assaya by Henna. In good old Ariyana fashion, I just submitted my video one day before the deadline. Haha! I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish in time.
Well, here it is! I would like to apologize for my room as it's incredibly small. I had to move the couch over, put the iPad onto our step ladder, and then put the ladder on top of the coffee table just so you can see my feet and assaya when extended. haha Definitely was an engineering and creative feat.
I want to thank my boys for giving me one hour scream free sessions so I could record and for my dog hanging out on the couch the whole time! She usually likes to lay down in view.
I think I previously talked about my experience with Datura Online, which is great! Hawaii has a great community but the amount of traveling instructors and dancers is very little. I've gone from workshops and shows every weekend in Tokyo to workshops once or twice a year here.
I do go to classes, especially for folkloric topics but I do supplement with these online courses. It's basically a workshop and even though some are easy for me, it's great to re-visit the basics! There's also a lot on there that really challenge me (especially Sedona Soulfire's drum solos!). I really enjoy it and I can do it at home without finding childcare.
Anyways... Datura Online has their BellyDance Challenge #5. You have to pick one (or more) specified choreography, learn it, and then video tape yourself doing it. If they pick your video, you win a one year subscription to their website! I chose Raqs Assaya by Henna. In good old Ariyana fashion, I just submitted my video one day before the deadline. Haha! I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish in time.
Well, here it is! I would like to apologize for my room as it's incredibly small. I had to move the couch over, put the iPad onto our step ladder, and then put the ladder on top of the coffee table just so you can see my feet and assaya when extended. haha Definitely was an engineering and creative feat.
I want to thank my boys for giving me one hour scream free sessions so I could record and for my dog hanging out on the couch the whole time! She usually likes to lay down in view.
Enjoy! I know I did!
Friday, April 14, 2017
April Showers
Today is rather rainy and humid here in Hawaii. It's the season to shop for items that will prevent make-up from melting off my face in 10 minutes.
April showers brought me to Freaktastic Friday at Ong King last week. Ong King Art Center is a really amazing space for dancing. I always love dancing there. They also had a small room with local artists selling jewelry and art.
April showers brought me to Freaktastic Friday at Ong King last week. Ong King Art Center is a really amazing space for dancing. I always love dancing there. They also had a small room with local artists selling jewelry and art.
I had to do overhaul re-construction on this costume. It's a gorgeous and comfortable costume but the hems rolled outwards, showing the hem underneath. I had some transparent fabric I bought in Japan and it matched pretty well! So I put a modest panel in to hold the hems in place.
I'm also pretty happy with my weight loss at 8 months postpartum.
May is going to be very busy! I have two shows the first week and at the end of May. I'll be dancing at the amazing Kan Zaman on May 3rd and also at the Kapiolani BandStand on May 6th. See you there!
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Love my Sparkly Belly
Sparkly Belly: Shorts Tutorial
Recently, I have been really getting into making my own costumes. Being 7 months postpartum has some of my costumes not fitting me properly anymore, especially the bra area... I'm really sad about that but I thought, "Why not make my OWN costumes?" That way I'm not spending $400-$800 on a new costume.
I stumbled upon SparklyBelly, owned by Mao Murakami. It's an amazing website full of inspiring ideas and tutorials! The one I posted above is for making stretchy shorts for under costumes.
When I received feedback from the judges at Tokyo International Bellydance Competition in 2014, one comment came out at me: wear a garment that matches the color of your costume. My costume had a nude insert but when dancing, it can look like I have nothing there! I had a purple costume that I was re-working, so I made shorts out of it and I still use them today!
Are you not handy with a sewing machine? A suggestion I could give is swimsuit bottoms. They always come in a variety of sizes and are relatively inexpensive. You can also visit google and search for "dance shorts". These are also lighter and thinner than bikini bottoms and still inexpensive.
I'm a firm believer in wearing the proper undergarments for dance! Also, make sure it's not leaving a line on your costume, as that is not aesthetically pleasing either... HOWEVER, it's important that when an audience member accidently gets a view of your underskirt, they are not thinking "OMG! I saw underwear!" or worse yet "OMG I saw.... nothing....."
Recently, I have been really getting into making my own costumes. Being 7 months postpartum has some of my costumes not fitting me properly anymore, especially the bra area... I'm really sad about that but I thought, "Why not make my OWN costumes?" That way I'm not spending $400-$800 on a new costume.
I stumbled upon SparklyBelly, owned by Mao Murakami. It's an amazing website full of inspiring ideas and tutorials! The one I posted above is for making stretchy shorts for under costumes.
When I received feedback from the judges at Tokyo International Bellydance Competition in 2014, one comment came out at me: wear a garment that matches the color of your costume. My costume had a nude insert but when dancing, it can look like I have nothing there! I had a purple costume that I was re-working, so I made shorts out of it and I still use them today!
Are you not handy with a sewing machine? A suggestion I could give is swimsuit bottoms. They always come in a variety of sizes and are relatively inexpensive. You can also visit google and search for "dance shorts". These are also lighter and thinner than bikini bottoms and still inexpensive.
I'm a firm believer in wearing the proper undergarments for dance! Also, make sure it's not leaving a line on your costume, as that is not aesthetically pleasing either... HOWEVER, it's important that when an audience member accidently gets a view of your underskirt, they are not thinking "OMG! I saw underwear!" or worse yet "OMG I saw.... nothing....."
Thursday, March 2, 2017
March Shows
Aloha everyone! I'm here to announce my March shows.
KAN ZAMAN
http://kanzamanhawaii.com/
March 29th, 2017
7:30pm - 8:00pm
Dancer: Ariyana
Reservations recommended so visit the website for details!
You can also reserve through Open Table for Kan Zaman.
I hope to see you there for The Beauty of Belly Dance!
KAN ZAMAN
http://kanzamanhawaii.com/
March 29th, 2017
7:30pm - 8:00pm
Dancer: Ariyana
Reservations recommended so visit the website for details!
You can also reserve through Open Table for Kan Zaman.
I hope to see you there for The Beauty of Belly Dance!
Friday, February 17, 2017
Datura Online Review
I apologize for the long silence. Taking care of babies is tough business. Tougher than dance!
In Hawaii, there's a small community of bellydancers. There's not the weekly event or workshop by master teachers and dancers like on the mainland or Japan. So, I've finally turned to online lessons from teachers I admire to keep up with my studies.
I recently subscribe to Datura Online. I have a dancer friend, Henna of Portland, who is a teacher on the website. This was my first time trying online instruction. I've done private one-on-one lessons with other teachers but nothing like this. I'll go through several points that I found especially helpful for this review.
1. The price is pretty amazing. You do get one free video with signing up. If you like the video, you can choose to pay per video you rent, pay $25 a month for unlimited access to instructional videos or pay for a whole year for $260. Right now, I'm trying the one month. I've competed my first month and I'm making numerous playlists of what I would like to learn or practice.
2. You can learn anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. Be it a computer, iPad, or even an iPhone! I definitely used a few videos while I recently traveled.
3. The variety! There's Egyptian, ATS, yoga, pilates, American Cabaret, and more. You can dabble in ATS if you're strictly an Egyptian-style dancer or American Cabaret if you are tribal. They also have guest teachers like Tamalyn Dallal, Sadie, and more. It's definitely a cheaper alternative to trying that style you're just not sure about.
I've already extended my membership because I haven't tried all the videos I was interested in. I'm definitely learning a lot more than I expected to. So, definitely check it out if you can!
Happy Dancing!
In Hawaii, there's a small community of bellydancers. There's not the weekly event or workshop by master teachers and dancers like on the mainland or Japan. So, I've finally turned to online lessons from teachers I admire to keep up with my studies.
I recently subscribe to Datura Online. I have a dancer friend, Henna of Portland, who is a teacher on the website. This was my first time trying online instruction. I've done private one-on-one lessons with other teachers but nothing like this. I'll go through several points that I found especially helpful for this review.
1. The price is pretty amazing. You do get one free video with signing up. If you like the video, you can choose to pay per video you rent, pay $25 a month for unlimited access to instructional videos or pay for a whole year for $260. Right now, I'm trying the one month. I've competed my first month and I'm making numerous playlists of what I would like to learn or practice.
2. You can learn anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. Be it a computer, iPad, or even an iPhone! I definitely used a few videos while I recently traveled.
3. The variety! There's Egyptian, ATS, yoga, pilates, American Cabaret, and more. You can dabble in ATS if you're strictly an Egyptian-style dancer or American Cabaret if you are tribal. They also have guest teachers like Tamalyn Dallal, Sadie, and more. It's definitely a cheaper alternative to trying that style you're just not sure about.
I've already extended my membership because I haven't tried all the videos I was interested in. I'm definitely learning a lot more than I expected to. So, definitely check it out if you can!
Happy Dancing!
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Postpartum Bellydance
I can't believe it's already been two and a half months since my bambinos came into my world! They are so cute!
However my postpartum body hasn't returned to a few degrees away from normal. I know it's only been two months but I want to shrink my tummy now! However, that's what is great about Bellydance. No matter you body type, you can dance.
I'm looking forward to getting back out to dancing and sharing my love of this art form. I am working on a short maternity choreography that will be free to the public! If my two bosses sleep lob enough for me to film it, I hope to share it with you soon!
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