Virginia Workshop 2014

Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure in taking Virginia's lessons!  She is always such a wonderful teacher and dancer!  In 2011, Japan had the huge earthquake and a large amount of overseas dancers cancelled their workshops...  

But not Virginia!  She was one of the very first workshops I took in my beginning path as a dancer.  I love her because she is the same height as I but she's powerful, strong, and has great presence.  I thought yesterday that I would like to be that kind of person more, on stage and off.

I'm really glad I got to take her lessons before I leave Tokyo.  

Yes!

That's right.  I'm leaving Japan.  I've been here 7 years, started dancing here and feel in love with it.  Never thought I would have my chance to perform on stage at big events, win 2nd at a competition, and meet so many wonderful dancers from Japan AND overseas.  

It's time to take the journey to new places and I'm excited to see where my dance goes from here!

So much after so long!

Oops...  Looks like I haven't written here in a long time!

Last time I wrote, I had some shows in spring.  After my last show at Saray in Ginza, I left the studio to make it on my own.

I got an offer from a friend, who was pregnant, to dance at an Indian restaurant.  I thought it was a one time thing but the restaurant owner liked me so much that he requested I come back! I did a complete two stage show by myself for the first time.  I think it went really well.

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I then entered last minute in the Tokyo Belly Dance Competition.  I ended up being a finalist!  

In February, my teacher, Hadia, just happened to use the song I decided on if I were to enter a competition.  Luckily, I already had an idea of what I wanted but I did end up using a small portion of it (with her permission of course).  I tried to incorporate things I liked about all the people I have learned from...  My first teacher's arabesques, Aziza's arms, and Hadia's feeling.  I didn't really have anyone check my choreography and I had to research tips and tricks for what you should consider in a competition.  

I was a bit nervous and the music was hard to hear when it started.  I had a feeling I would be late entering.  All in all, I had A LOT of fun and enjoyed talking to the other competitors!  I ended up taking second place!

I did cry...  Haha  It was just such an emotional point!  I was never so nervous! I was more nervous waiting to see what place I got, if any, than I was actually performing.  I felt like throwing up and fainting!  With going in last minute and giving myself only a month to get all the choreography together, I'd said the outcome was pretty good.  Although, I don't think competitions really judge who is a good dancer or not, I'm glad I did it once to say I did do it.  It was definitely a wonderful experience!

After the competition, I had a solo show at a turkish restaurant.  Sold out seats and even a tip!  It was really fun and they asked me back again.  However, due to a misunderstanding with the date (not on my part) and me not being available suddenly, I think they moved on...  Sad but it's probably for the best.

I haven't done a show for a month until last month!  Since I'm moving from Tokyo, I asked my friend Monica to dance with me at the Indian Restaurant again.  She is moving to Ishikawa-ken so it would be a great memory for both of us!

I had fun but I felt I could have done better.  Sometimes I feel "I have to do this...?", but I LOVE dancing and I have been lacking my passion for it.  At this show, I really should have practiced a bit more to get out of my funk.  With moving at the end of the year, I guess I've been preoccupied....  

Now we are in November!  I have another show at Samrat with a different set of dancers!  I'm looking forward to it!

Ariyana

Luxor show March and April

I totally forgot to update about these!  I had two shows at the same place, Luxor in shinjuku.  It's a very nice Egyptian-themed bar and restaurant with shisha.  Shows for the studio are usually on Mondays so it's really hit or miss with a full house.

On March 17th, I danced with Shigi!  The last time we danced together was in July 2012 for the Dina show.  She's really really sweet so it was nice to dance together again!  I danced Virginia's Asaya and Hadia's talakik choreography.  Asaya was almost a disaster when the asaya decided to waver a bit too much on top of my head...  Here are some pictures!

The other day, I danced again at Luxor with Luli.  It was her first time to dance a solo but she did really well.  We had a much larger audience this time.  I danced asaya again which went better, and also arabawy by Tito.  I got a compliment on my back chub.  Haha!  So now I don't want to lose too much weight!  The compliment came from a beautiful woman named Katherine.  

After a very rough start to my bellydance year, my friend Natsuka gave me a very wonderful compliment.  She told me that my dancing style has gotten so good and felt so happy by seeing that.  That made me so happy. Now, I feel much better about dancing.  I should need verification from others but it's really really appreciated and nice to hear.  A wonderful push to keep you going and trying harder.  :)

Show time!

It's spring time in Japan!  Finally!!  Today has been the most beautiful so far this month.  

Wednesday I was planning to go into the studio but I ended up getting a cold... Fever, coughing, sore throat...yuck!  Anyways I was supposed to go to the studio but I couldn't because I was so sick...  I rented the studio for three hours.  I was upset that I couldn't go practice...  I have a show this Monday on March 17 but I've only practiced for two days for the show.  I am worried about one choreography but, it's pretty easy so maybe I can improvise if I forget.  :)

I've decided some things about my belly dance career recently.  After Hadia's teachers training I decided that I will explore different things about Bellydance and different teachers.  I'm really excited about exploring other things because of a lot of people supporting me.  I feel excited when I think about doing new things, studying with new teachers, and meeting new people!  

Last week I went to a class that teaches you how to dance with a live drummer.  It was really fun to hear the live music and I wished that where I am now had opportunities like that.   I feel at this point, it's up to me to teach myself and make what I want happen.  

Here's to my bellydance adventure!!

This week in the life of Ariyana

Hello All!  Who reads this journal??

This week I got my butt kicked my the stomach flu...  It only lasted one day, but I was down for about 3 days.  I'm feeling much better now but I had to miss my bellydance practice and formation check lesson on Tuesday... 

It seems that every beginning of the year I get hit with a BIG sickness...  How is this possible??  Last year, I got pneumonia and this year it's the stomach flu.  It wasn't that bad but it's always before something big happening.  Last year it was moving, and this year it's Hadia Teacher Training at the end of the month. 

So I have that to look forward to!  I'm so excited to see Hadia and lots of other of my favorite Japanese dancers on stage again this year!  Plus I'm looking forward to the teacher training!  Four days of Hadia!

Can you tell I'm excited??

Anyways, I have my first show of the year next Tuesday!  I'll be dancing with one of my favorite partners Yuyu and main dancer Yurie!  Plus, it's at my favorite curry restaurant Mumbai!

My Dance Life

So this year is not off to a good start...  I found out from my co-worker, who is into astrology, told me that one month before a birthday, it usually is craptastic.  I had my birthday on Saturday the 25th so things before that were really ugly and yucky in all areas of my life.

The things that happened before that really made me see what I want in my life and what I need to be doing.  I'm still young but I'm not getting younger!  So, I have to start really working towards my goal.

Starting at the end of February, I'll be taking Hadia's teacher's training and workshops!  I love her so much.  She's my favorite teacher!  Then, it will be Gamal and Khaled's intensive workshops during Golden Week!

I just have to keep my chin up and keep working hard towards my goal.