Arrived at the Mothership

Last year I said to Husband, I want to go to Berkeley for the summer. I want to train at The Mothership, Suhaila Salimpour's home studio. Of course he smiled at me, nodded and said ok...let's go. He talked to his work and they gave him the go ahead to work remotely for the summer.

Sunday morning I hit the road. I drove two very long days and arrived in Berkeley Monday evening. As I drove by the studio, in my car, with costumes, sewing machines, Little O's toys and two bikes on the back I had tears in my eyes. I didn't expect to feel so emotional. I was leaving my regular routine, my friends, part of my family and a Denver summer to come here. To sweat, to train and get one step closer to being the Bad Ass Belly dancer I am striving to be.

Yesterday I moved into my house for the next 6 weeks. There are so many bags, boxes and a variety of shoes laying around that it is sometimes hard to walk through the house. I was so tired from unloading the car, retrieving my items from storage and trying to make decisions that I just wanted to stay home last night and veg. But I didn't. I got myself together as much as I could and went to L1 & L2 class. I was so sweaty. (It was so humid!) I walk in and Andrea and Lori where both excited to see me and Andrea sold me my very first Suhaila Salimpour School of Belly Dance Class Card. Ashara was doing the warm up and Zoe Jakes was front and center in class. What an inspiration being in a room of people who are motivated to learn and work hard. All egos are checked at the door and everyone is working on their stuff. It is really an amazing place to be, and work.

Last night we were working on squares and somehow something really gelled for me. It was like my body decided to cooperate..of course it only came together sometimes..but it is those gems that push me forward..if I did it once I can do it again.

Today I have a phone coaching, I am going to join a gym, work on the Algerian and Raks El Zagat Choreography, and sew some more costumes. What a perfect day ahead of me...and the sun just came out from behind the clouds!

Hi ho

I was at Suhaila's Level 2 weeklong a few weeks ago and we were suppose to already know the Level 2 finger cymbal drum solo when we arrived. I have to say I knew it pretty well, but not solid, and my finger cymbals are still messy. One of the things Suhaila said was if we are serious about being there (which at this level and the price we are paying for the workshop, and the work we have already put in...we should be serious) then we should think of the training as our job, and we should have known the choreography. I agree with her.

I am thinking of this as my job. (yes I have a job, but I am lucky to not have to go into an office, I get to go to my own costume shop). Today I have been working on a training plan. I am pairing my training plan with weight lose and overcoming my emotional eating. I am also starting a pain journal. I have found an outline of a body, front, side and back that I can mark where my pain is for the day and the intensity. I will also have room to record my workouts and my emotional thoughts about my body for each day.

Here is the schedule I am working out right now.

Sunday~
1 hr emotional work
30 min biking (for endurance building)
15 min of finger cymbal drills (right now that is all my over worked hands can handle
1.5 hour Suhaila L2 online class

Monday~
1 hr emotional work
1 hr personal training session
30 min biking
30 min pool work (to include working on my plié, relevé, and squats)
1.5 hour of learning and working choreography

Tuesday~
1 hr emotional work
rest the body day

Wednesday~
1 hr emotional work
1 hr personal training session
30 min biking
30 min pool work (to include working on my plié, relevé, and squats)
30 min Drill Breaks/Twitter Drills
1 hr Folkloric fusion online class
15 min Finger Cymbals

Thursday~
1 hour emotional work
30 min biking
1.5 hour Suhaila L2 online class

Friday~
1 hr emotional work
1 hr personal training session
30 min biking
30 min pool work (to include working on my plié, relevé, and squats)
1 hr dance movement class
2 hour of Suhaila studies (learning drum rhythms, watching required videos, reading and taking notes, reviewing nomenclature)

Saturday~
1 hr emotional work
30 min biking
1 hour of learning and working choreography
1.5 hour Suhaila L2 online class

Hi ho..hi ho..it is off to work I go!

Feeling It

Today I bought some weights that wrap around my wrist and has a thumb hole to help hold it in place. I am planning on using these with my training. So when I am moving around the room with my arms in 5th position my arms and shoulders will get more of a workout. When I take them off I am hoping that my arms will feel light as feathers.

I have been working on learning the level 2 choreography. I was hoping to test for Level 2 in July, but I am not sure that I will have this down with zills by then. It seems like a world away, but I know it will sneak up on me.

My friend and I are working on level 1 online classes on Friday mornings. We have decided to move up our sessions to 7 am so we can have more time during the day. Plus little O will be done with school on Friday so I won't be running around in the morning getting her ready.

My body is really feeling the Suhaila I am giving it. Currently I am doing 2 level 2 a week, one level 1 and a dance movement class. Plus working on the choreography. I finally got Serpent of the Nile. That book is hard to get a hold of. I will need to read that and another book, plus watch some videos. A have seen 3 of them but I know I need to bone up on them. I wonder how much is on the test.

Between this training and working on pulling weeds in the new lawn and working on the garden my body is sore. I wish I had a hot tub.

I will get my dance shoe fixed this week and get more of the choreography in my little head.

Wow..it has been awhile.

So I have been working on a choreography that Suhaila taught at the January Multi level this year. I was getting a little frustrated because I could not remember what the written choreography meant. So of course I was just making something up. I did have a video of some of the other workshop participants running through it before we left..but I still couldn't quite get what the moves were..

Then..I come to find out there is a recording of that choreography that SSSBD posted on youtube! It is Suhaila and Isabella performing at Spring Caravan. I could not believe my luck! I started to play it an my almost 3 year old daughters says..Mommy they are doing a dance to your favorite song! It has been a great help and it is so much fun to watch Suhaila perform the piece.

This will be my first Suhaila choreography that I will perform. I have been talking about her format to any dancer that will listen. I have continued to perform as I work toward my level 2 certification. I feel a little like I am in a half way point. I can't yet use the format to perform, but as part of a troupe and wanting to continue to part of the belly dance community I find myself still saying yes to performing.

I remember in the multi level I last attended that someone asked about choreography, something about advice on choreography. It did not seem as if Suhaila had any advice for how to be a better choreographer..as she just sees it in her head..it just comes to her. She said that other dancers have choreographers..why not belly dancers? Why feel the pressure to learn the art of the dance..and then also try to choreography so quickly. The gal asking the question then said something about how it is looked down upon, in her dance community, to use someone else's choreography. I don't know if it is really that way here..or if I just feel it is that way here. But, I have decided to start using Suhaila's choreography to perform. I do find that I am constantly learning when I work on her choreography. I don't want to just dance the "steps" I know anymore. I want to push myself with each choreography I learn and perform. I want to get better! I always thought I wanted to wow the audience and other dancers..but honestly I want to wow myself. I want to know I am using Suhaila's format to dance.

I feel so lucky to have made this decision and know this format will take me further in my dance that I thought possible.

Suhaila Workshop Austin, TX

Wow...I am still exhausted.

Suhaila was amazing..and worked us out very hard.

Part way through Saturday I realized that I was not isolating my lower abs enough and could feel all the low ab work in my upper abs. I find it frustrating that it is such a small movement on me. I am going to have to strengthen that!

Raqs Nova performance was acceptable. I felt like I was screwing up right and left. The biggest heroes in my life were in the audience and it really rattled me. Jim Glavan, came to see us perform. I was so happy that he was there for my Austin performance. But, when ever I looked at him the choreography just escaped my brain.

One thing Suhaila said over the weekend was about performing. You should know a piece so well that you can mark it while having a full on phone conversation. I am going to keep that in mind and use that as a test.

It was so nice to see some of the gals I had met at belly dance camp! It was nice to know that some of those women remembered me.

Julianna's Suhaila Studies

I have decided to write about my studies with Suhaila Salimpour, belly dancer and teacher.

I went to a workshop at the mothership last year and became hooked. I call myself a Suhailaette...I have no idea how to spell that. I honestly feel that her technique is going to help me be the belly dancer that I want to be.

January of this year I tested and passed my level 1 test. So I am leve 1 certified in her format. I am working toward level 2 now and am feeling a bit overwhelmed, but know that a little every day goes a long way.

I have purchased almost all her DVDs, and purchased a year of online classes. My dance floor is ready and I am trying to find the time of day I can devote to my Suhaila studies. As of now I have at least one friend who is going to join me for a Wednesday evening online class, and for the first time in my life I am seriously thinking of taking ballet classes.

My sprained ankle is better and I am starting to walk around the house in releve. I don't get very far yet. But, by the next time I go to the Mothership I plan to be much stronger.

If you want to know more about her vision, technique and revolution in the belly dance world go to www.therealsuhaila.com.