Aniseteph
New member
Hello people. I haven't been posting much because I'm feeling so out of the belly dance loop since my teacher quit weekly classes. I know, it happens all the time, but those classes had been my base for a long time. I've been to loads of workshops and other events, but that was my base. It feels like limbo now, but I'm hoping it's more of a crossroads.
So it's been a funny old few months. Once we knew the classes were going in we organised a hafla, which was a big success (falls over in amazement). Looking back it's like the performances were possible directions off the crossroads - keep our own group going in some shape or form? move on to classes with this teacher or that...? There's some umm no I don't think so, but no obvious next step.
We are planning to keep going with monthly classes, which is nice as we'd just started to get a really good group of regulars going. And I'll support that 100%, but now I'm at that crossroads I know it's not enough. I felt like I was treading water, this might well go backwards. Other Egyptian-style teachers? well there are a few, but I'm picky these days, getting to classes is a PITA or impossible, and which classes? I've been in improvers forever and a push is just what I need, but no way am I an aspiring pro. I don't know where I fit anymore. Added to which, HUGE lack of confidence in own ability.
So I've done what any Egyptian-style afficionado would have done in my place, and started classes with an awesome TF teacher. Er... yeah, right. It is doing a big fat nothing for the confidence as I am totally winging the Tribal element and feel like a square peg in a round hole, part of my inner soul is crying for the lack of Egyptian-ness (WTH is Egyptian about something called Basic Egyptian?, and where's my lovely music gone? ), but it is giving my technique a right royal boot up the behind with the drills, loooovely stretches, practising travelling steps down the room, explanations in a way that clicks with me rather than having to find them myself, and more feedback.
I don't want to cross to the TF side, but there's something I can get from these classes. Dunno where I'm going - I think I'm going to have to put on the ol' big girl panties and forge my own path, or end up somewhere I do not want to be. I never felt so connected with the local scene as when we did the hafla, and at the same time I feel I'm off on a lonely trail. (You guy's are still out there though, right? ray
TL DR, sorry. But I feel better.
So it's been a funny old few months. Once we knew the classes were going in we organised a hafla, which was a big success (falls over in amazement). Looking back it's like the performances were possible directions off the crossroads - keep our own group going in some shape or form? move on to classes with this teacher or that...? There's some umm no I don't think so, but no obvious next step.
We are planning to keep going with monthly classes, which is nice as we'd just started to get a really good group of regulars going. And I'll support that 100%, but now I'm at that crossroads I know it's not enough. I felt like I was treading water, this might well go backwards. Other Egyptian-style teachers? well there are a few, but I'm picky these days, getting to classes is a PITA or impossible, and which classes? I've been in improvers forever and a push is just what I need, but no way am I an aspiring pro. I don't know where I fit anymore. Added to which, HUGE lack of confidence in own ability.
So I've done what any Egyptian-style afficionado would have done in my place, and started classes with an awesome TF teacher. Er... yeah, right. It is doing a big fat nothing for the confidence as I am totally winging the Tribal element and feel like a square peg in a round hole, part of my inner soul is crying for the lack of Egyptian-ness (WTH is Egyptian about something called Basic Egyptian?, and where's my lovely music gone? ), but it is giving my technique a right royal boot up the behind with the drills, loooovely stretches, practising travelling steps down the room, explanations in a way that clicks with me rather than having to find them myself, and more feedback.
I don't want to cross to the TF side, but there's something I can get from these classes. Dunno where I'm going - I think I'm going to have to put on the ol' big girl panties and forge my own path, or end up somewhere I do not want to be. I never felt so connected with the local scene as when we did the hafla, and at the same time I feel I'm off on a lonely trail. (You guy's are still out there though, right? ray
TL DR, sorry. But I feel better.