In the post below I’ll share my tips for dancing with Wings of Isis, one of my favourite bellydance fantasy props. I was introduced to wings by my first teachers, Myriam and Yamila, about 15 years ago. When I saw in a show how magnificent they could look on a stage, I decided to purchase… Read More Working with Wings
I adore this book. I first stumbled upon it in the library of a Tibetan tea house in the heart of the Belgian(!) Ardennes. I decided to find a copy as soon as I got home. The life of Milarepa It tells the story of a troubled youth, who with the help of generous mentors found… Read More Life of Milarepa
Flexibility update! The past 5 days I’ve been working with the extensions (leg lifts)-focused videos from Stacey Nemour’s online flexibility course package for dancers. I’m very happy with the results! The week itself was a bit of a struggle – Resistance, the topic of this week’s book recommendation, keeps popping up whenever I encounter a… Read More August Flexibility 2
This gorgeous old black cottonwood/poplar can be found in Pley, near the end of the Wurm valley A1 walking trail. It’s estimated to be about 220 years of age, and it’s been placed under heritage protection. Worth a visit if you’re near! Bonus geekery: The chapel in the background is dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua,… Read More Pley Poplar
I used to prefer learning things that came easy to me. Now, not so much. Somehow I’m finding myself practicing pointes. At 39. I’ve noticed that during the past few years a shift has happened. I’m learning to do things – bit by bit – that have interested me for decades, but somehow always seemed… Read More Taking it On
Today’s flexibility practise. Results of working with Stacey Nemour’s fantastic online stretching course package for dancers. What I’ve noticed in the past few days, is that my hamstring stretches are becoming ‘twinge-free’ (a great feeling!) and that ballet movements in classe are starting to look (and feel) more like what in my mind is ‘actual ballet’.… Read More August Flexibility 1
Millions of years old, development in stages, excellent navigational skills, flight that defies physics, extraordinary senses. And they eat the same food, more or less. Fascinating beings. Read all about them here and here. Bonus geekery Did you know: Butterflies can smell with their antennae, and taste with their feet? Butterflies and bumblebees can ‘see’… Read More Butterflies and Bumblebees
Self-doubt can be an ally. This is because it serves as an indicator of aspiration. It reflects love, love of something we dream of doing, and desire, desire to do it. I enjoyed this read more than I anticipated. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Flexibility practice update! Now that I’ve had the chance to work a bit more consistently with Stacey Nemour’s fantastic online stretching course for dancers (I will link to the exact ones below), a few interesting things are happening: 1. From the pictures it looks like I’ve hit a bit of a plateau, as seen in… Read More July Flexibility 2
This month‘s first strength/conditioning session – with bonus core exercises! Warmup Joint Rotations Qi-gong Arm Swings Rope skipping 300 regular jumps (2 x 150 jumps – with a breathing break in between) 150 one-legged jumps (75 LR) 50 high jumps (knees up) Upper Body Exercises for opening up the shoulders and strenghtening the upper back, taken… Read More July Workout
