My Blog!
Sun 22 Jan
As a dancer, what do you want to learn/explore more in 2012? Please drop me an email if there's a style you'd like me to cover, or a favourite song you'd like to dance a routine to, or even a prop you'd like to experiement more with. I am open to suggestions and would love some feed back so I can tailor your classes to suit you.
I still think a lot of my dancers come for either fitness or for the social aspect so I don't want to take it too seriously or be too 'strict' when learning moves/routines. But I do think sometimes when we focus on learning a dance we can forget about technique and it starts to slip so I may use the first few lessons after we start back to revise some moves and get us all thinking about our technique and posture.
Tues 10 Jan
Happy New Year! Well, a lot has happened in the 2 months since my last 'blog'! I started to develop pre-eclampsia and was transferred to various hospitals -Merseyside, Gloucester, Redditch inbetween and finally Worcester where I had my twin boys on 19 December. It wasn't ideal having them born 2 months premature but I was very poorly in the end and so they had to come out and be here in time for Christmas! I have so much love for them both, they are so small and fragile and 3 weeks on they are still in special care, but each day they grow stronger. The staff at Worcester Royal were so kind and caring, from the midwives, to the doctors, to the nurses who cared for the boys.
I am now home and hopefully in a few weeks the boys will be too - then the fun will begin! Hence I haven't had much time to even think about dancing! Looking at my swollen belly though I still can't imagine shimmying any time soon but I know from last year after my op it is amazing how quickly the body heals. I am looking forward to starting classes back and hopefully seeing lots of old faces and even some new ones to start the new year.
I have booked our summer hafla to give us something to focus on which will raise money for the neo-natal unit and Poject Linus, who knit and donate lots of blankets to hospitals for poorly children. Riley and Joe have both benefited from this charity and I'd love to give something back.
Thanks to everyone for their messages during a really tough few months, I can't wait until we're back dancing, drilling those shimmies and learning new routines!
Tues 15 Nov
Time is ticking by, and I am on countdown to Christmas! I have wrapped all my pressies that I've brought, as I need to be even more organised this year! I have even put together a warm up in class to a classic xmas song by Wizzard to get us in the festive spirit!
I am looking forward to the xmas meals i've booked for my classes, it is a nice opportunity for me to chat to my dancers as I usually don't get time. It seems like a long time then that I'll be 'out of the loop' from teaching and in a way I'm dreading it, as I'm not good at sitting with my feet up! But I know I have to look after the babies and think by then it will be time to slow down and await their arrival! I'll be sat with my ipod planning routines for next year and am even looking into the possibility of organising a "belly v bollywood" show at a local theatre with the help of my friend Allia, a fab bollywood dancer. It will give me something else to organise and plan, as if I havne't got enough to do with 2 babies and a wedding!
Sun 30 Oct
What a great hafla we had last night, everyone was in high spirits but at the same time seemed chilled out. I was so lucky to have a handful of helpers to help set up and clear away, and of course Mike did a great job organising the music. I liked the hall, it was the first time we'd used it and there was just the right amount of people to make it feel like a warm, party atmosphere!
I was very proud of all my dancers, especially those who danced for the first time and those who did solo performances. I'm glad I decided (literally friday night) to do a little dance, it was just for fun but I couldn't sit back and watch ALL night! it was 'bumps' first hafla, and by the time we have another one they'll be here and I'll probably not get a minute to myself to choreograph a dance! I was also really pleased to join my Jewels of the East for their final performance, we have such fun in class I will be sad to see that come to an end but I know the majority will carry on dancing and I'm so pleased.
And finally we managed to raise a nice sum of money for the Poppy Appeal as well as enough money for a new sound system to use at future haflas - I think it was the game of bingo that everyone couldn't resist!!
Some photos from the hafla are on the photo gallery page under '2011' tab so take a look.
Fri 28 Oct
The hafla is tomorrow and my printer has just chosen tonight to run out of ink when I'm printing the line up of performances to hand out! Oh well, I'm sure we'll manage. I have everything else planned, the halloween decorations, the raffle and the music sorted, so I can chill out & enjoy watching the performances! I do love our haflas but it is a lot of planning and organising so I do tend to breath a sigh of relief when it's over. I can then look forward to our pre-wedding party in a few weeks time!
Mon 17 Oct
Good class yesterday, my Sunday ladies enjoyed learning a fun routine over the past 2 weeks - maybe one day they will perform it! I am sad that it is getting closer to my last class with my Tues class.... this was my very first class I started teachign about 5 years ago, and so to give it up will be hard, especially when some of the dancers are still with me since the very first class! I hope they will carry on dancing and try and make if not my classes then another class in the area. I still aim to start a new Sat morning class after the babies are born which will be alternate Saturdays and maybe even a daytime class while I'm on maternity leave so new things will be on the horizon!
Sat 8 Oct
I'm sat chilling with a night of TV, strictly followed by the X factor & I've heard a song tonight which I just love and think would be fab to end class with tomorrow, so I've been straight on itunes to download it! Let's hope my ladies agree!
I was really pleased with my tribal ladies Weds too - i was planning to dance with them at the hafla but am finding some of the tribal moves too twisty plus the routine is a bit frantic! SO we had to re-jig it and Alli bless her stepped in to take my place leading the improv section and I loved the end result!
Mon 3 Oct
Can't believe it's October as it feels like summer all over again! It's nice to have a bit of sunshine it really lifts everyones mood. Such a shame that the sparkle sale on Sat was so poorly attended, only 6 of my dancers turned up! I really felt for all those who had set stalls up and of course we had to cover room hire, and I'd brought cakes and refreshments, so I wasn't too happy! Maybe the weather was a factor & people went out to the seaside for the day instead. It does make me think I won't bother in future which is a shame.
Wed 28 Sept
The weeks are flying by, and I find myself wishing them away as I'm not enjoying my pregnancy much so far... I seem to be suffering with one thing after another, and under-estimated how carrying two little babies would drain me so much. I think I am so used to doing 101 things and never sitting still for more than 5 minutes that I'm finding it hard to adjust as my body is telling me I need to rest. So for now classes aren't running, and I am missing all of my dancers lots. But hopefully we'll be back dancing soon, or rather they will and I'll be trying not to do much. I want to keep exercising to keep the weight gain to a minimum and to also keep my fitness levels up but I am so tired! Lets hope by 20 weeks I'll suddenly 'bloom' and enjoy the rest of the pregnancy! Enough of me moaning...there's still the Halloween hafla to look forward to, and I'll be proud of all my dancers as always when I see them perform. I think by then I'll be as round as a pumpkin so no guesses what I can dress up as! It will be nice to have an informal party and hopefully get to sit back and enjoy the night and chat with my dancers a bit more. It will then be count down to xmas, and I hope to teach my 2 classes up to December but since feeling ill these past few weeks I'll make that decision a bit closer to the time!
Mon 5 Sept
I have felt really tired this week and a bit emotional (pregnancy hormones!) However, I didn't let that stop me working my Sunday ladies hard yesterday with practising their routines and then jumping around with some bhangra moves! I am still trying to dance as much as possible to keep my fitness levels up and am planning a little solo for the halloween hafla as long as I feel up to it.
Today I had my midwife appointment and heard my little babies heart beats, it was so surreal. At the moment I still don't feel them move, so it doesn't feel real, but to see them on a scan or hear their hearts beating is a really special thing.
I am sad to say I announced last week that I would be giving up teaching my tribal class and Charles Hastings class after the hafla. I need to slow down a bit as my pregnancy progresses and once the babies arrive I need to compromise with how many nights I'm out teaching. I do plan to start my new Pulse8 classes in the new year so I'll keep you posted!
Hafla tickets are now available, get them in class. Also all the stalls have been taken for the sparkle sale on Sat 1st Oct so please come & join us! Finally, one of my dancers has opened a shop selling wool and other sewing supplies in Redditch and is having an open evening on Friday. visit www.nealesneedles.co.uk for more info. She'd love to see lots of you there for support!
Sat 27 Aug
Not much dance news to report, but a reminder no class bank holiday Monday. Also, Bamba are having a late summer hafla on Friday visit their website or facebook page for details. It is frustrating hearing of dance events and knowing that I'll be out of action for a bit and that my priorities will change in terms of nipping off for a weekend dance festival, or a day of workshops somewhere. But I've wanted to be a mom for a long time so this is a great time in my life and I want to enjoy it as much as I can - despite the nausea that's still lurking!
We've already got a nice line up for our mini halloween hafla, I'm glad some of my dancers are doing solos and smaller group dances I always love to see their ideas and inspiration. I'm happy with how the class routines have turned out - just the veil one to finish now although it seems to have taken forever to get through that one! It's one of those that already the music is annoying me, having had to listen to it 3x more than the class due to choreographing it, and it's never a good sign when I'm already fed up with the song! Don't think I'll be repeating this one! I would love to go over some old class routines though, see how much dancers can remember! We might do that in the run up to xmas.
Right, off food shopping now then lunch with Alli in a bit, a nice chilled out Saturday!
Sun 21 Aug
It's been a few weeks since my last post and life has been a frenzy of activity since finding out I'm carrying twins! What a shock but also such great news - we are both over the moon! That explains my bump then which is growing at a fast rate!
I am already feeling tired a lot more quickly and am finding some twisty dance moves a bit uncomfortable. It has made me re-think how much dancing I should be doing as the pregnancy progresses, and where I should cut back. It is difficult as I have worked hard to build up my classes and I never like giving a class up. However, sometimes my priorities need to change and I have to be sensible and look after my little babies growing inside me! I just hope that whatever decisions I make, my dancers will understand my reasons. I'll also be needing to take a few months break when the birth date is looming and immediately afterwards and I hope my dancers can be patient and will be willing to wait and return after a few months break fully refreshed and raring to go!
I am looking forward to our informal halloween hafla at the end of Oct, despite all the jokes that I can go as a pumpkin due to my shape/size! I will aim to do a short solo and dance where possible, but I'll also enjoy sitting back and feeling proud of watching my dancers perform and enjoy the night.
Weds 3 Aug
Well I am now almost 11 weeks pregnant and can't wait until my scan next week to check everything is okay. I've had a rough few weeks and hate having to cancel dancing due to sickness but sometimes it can't be helped. I'm hoping I'll soon be over the worst & can enjoy being pregnant!
We went to Barefoot festival on the weekend although I didn't feel too well there either so didn't do any workshops, just sat & watched! It is a lovely event for families and there's something for everyone, from flamenco, to hula dancing, to poi, to zumba... a great line up of workshops! I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who fancies a weekend of 'hippy living' cosying up around a camp fire and people spontaneously singing or juggling or walking around dressed as fairies!
I haven't even looked at class choreographies this week or last as my head has been spinning but I hope to get back on track and get them finished! I always find the endings the hardest as you want the dance to end on a high & not just fade out. Best get cracking!
Sun 24 July
Well now I have told all of my friends & dancers I can chat on my 'blog' about being pregnant! It was a lovely surprise, and despite the horrible nausea I've had and the total exhaustion I know it is all for a good reason and so I will try not to complain too much! I am taking it easy in class for about another month, until I've had my scan and I know all is ok. It is difficult as I'm used to having a mad shimmy at the end of class, but I need to be sensible and look after my body and the little 'bean' growing inside me! I'm also not used to looking down & seeing a pot belly instead of a flat stomach but I know it will grow a lot bigger yet! I may need to work on a new costume for the Halloween hafla!
I was looking forward to starting to teach my Pulse8 classes in September but things need to change a bit now. I may still run the Water element as it is really good for pregnancy with gentle yoga style moves. Then come next year I can shed the baby weight with the Fire and Earth elements!!
Sat 2 July
Almost a month since I last 'blogged' - time flies! I've been on a lovely holiday and then have been working hard on class choreographies. Last week our small troupe Eastern Promise danced at the Green Fair day and I was so proud of the girls performing in that heat it was sweltering! They also danced today at Inkberrow school fete while I danced at an indian dance event organised by Aliia, a bollywood dancer. It was a lovely family event and the sun shone! I wasn't feeling 100% so only did 2 dances instead of 3 but I think they went down ok and I wore a new costume and did a new dance! Tomorrow I'm off to London to do my Pulse8 training which I'm looking forward to, hopefully I'll come back with lots of inspiration! The next event I'm dancing at is Bamba so I'm busy working on a new choreography!
I think our next hafla will be Say 29 Oct, I just need to confirm with the venue.And then it will be countdown to Christmas and our wedding so I'll be kept busy!
Mon 6 June
I now have the hip scarves & tops for sale in class so have a look if you're interested! My plans for later in the year look exciting, I will soon be completing my training to teach a new concept of belly dance - 3 classes based around the 3 elements earth, fire & water. The classes are branded as 'Pulse8' and you can find more info on www.pulse8fitness.com "Earth" will be based around Egyptian, Folkloric style, very grounded & earthy, "Fire" is a fusion of Latin & belly dance with salsa & merengue thrown into the mix! And "Water" is a more relaxed, energising class based around yoga, stretching, & soft, sensual moves. Due to limitations of my free time (!) I may run these classes back to back on a Saturday morning, maybe every other week. Each class is 45 minutes and therefore all 3 will offer a good workout of over 2 hours of belly dance! More details will follow when I finalise my plans. Currently only 5 teachers offer Pulse8 classes in the UK so I am excited to be training in this style and offering a new take on belly dance to keep things fresh!
Thurs 2 June
I have enjoyed having a week off but am now itching to get back to dancing! I started on the Sunday class choreograhy yesterday, so hope to do some more on that today, & try and work out my own dances too! Thanks to those who have left a review on the free index website which helps to promote my classes, it all helps! If you're interested visit www.freeindex.co.uk and search 'belly dance' Redditch and you'll find me!
Still toying with the idea of a Halloween hafla, although it will be very close to our pre-wedding party which will take some organising plus our wedding in December and I don't want to over load myself! Maybe we can have a mini hafla just for my dancers...I'll have a think!
Well the sun is shining and I'd love to go out for the day, but my house is a complete mess with piles everywhere and I have dances to sort out, so looks like a busy day ahead...