And a big thank you to those of you who registered for class! This will be fun. I am feeling extra energized after having summer off from teaching.

Bahar had a great time performing at Medfest and now we’re busy working away for our September 22 Show. It’s coming up fast! This is going to be a real fun one, so don’t miss it! We even have guest artists coming down from Bellingham for this one.

And I’ve decided to start teaching again this Autumn at the Ballard Health Center. We start up Sept. 28.

Join Bahar in “Support Women Artists Now” on May 1, 2010 at the UW Ethnic Cultural Theatre!

When: Saturday, May 1, 2010
7:30 pm – doors open for Visual Art Exhibit
8 pm – Performance

Where: UW Ethnic Cultural Theatre
3940 Brooklyn Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98105

Admission: $12 General, $10 Students/Seniors

Contact: Kathryn Hightower
360-621-9077
kathryn.hightower@gmail.com
www.jahbreeze.com

ISIS: Women Arts Festival is Seattle’s only all-female, arts-centered, community-building event, honoring the international holiday SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now). Sponsored by Steel Grace Dance/Jah Breeze Rhythms and the University of Washington Ethnic Cultural Center, with easels generously donated by the UW School of Art, this year’s event features grassroots female artists from all walks of life. More than twenty women, representing Iran, Mexico, Taiwan, India, Korea, and the USA, will express themselves through such mediums as painting, sculpture, modern dance, original music, Butoh, bellydance, video, spoken word, and even two all-girls steel drum ensembles.

ISIS: Women Arts Festival is about creating networks of female artists who can support, encourage, and empower one another. One of the goals of ISIS is to give opportunities to artists who do not often get a chance to showcase their work, either because their work does not follow the current aesthetic trends, or because they are of a race, ethnicity, or country of origin that intimidates or scares others. With ISIS, we aim to create an environment where each woman feels safe and supported to share her work. We are reaching toward “ISIS:” balance, homeostasis, an even-ing of the art world’s playing field. This even-ing will prove to be not only a unique glimpse into the creative psyche of Seattle’s female artists, but also a chance for you as art-supporters to create lasting networks for change and empowerment.

ISIS features: Nasrin Afrouz (visual), Ines Andrade (dance), Daya Bonnie Astor (visual), Bahar Bellydance, Ameliorator (dance/spoken word/music), Diana Garcia-Snyder with Sean Stephen Hopps (dance/music), Chela Grey and Dancers, Kait Heacock (spoken word), Amaranta Ibarra (visual), Sheeba Jacob (music), Joyce Liao (dance), Dahe Kim (visual), Julie Luke (visual), Garima Naredi (visual), Serrah Russell (visual), South Shore Girls Steel Pan Ensemble and Rainbow Girls Steel Pans (music), Steel Grace Dance (dance/music), Nitya Venkateswaran (dance), and Vanessa Williams (video).

“That’s the problem with goals: they become the thing you talk about, instead of the things you do.“– Cherry Darling, from Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror

Okay, I admit that I’ve been reluctant to write down any New Year’s resolutions this year. Especially ones that all my friends can see. I don’t want EVERYONE to know when I fail. But honestly, the main reason is because I’m tired of making goals and daydreaming about things. (I’m a really good daydreamer.) So I’ve decided that this is the the year for doing, not dreaming or planning. I’m also focusing on doing things that pull me out of my comfort zone.

So here’s my list, as far as dance goes:

• Bahar – start transforming my student bellydance troupe into a semi-pro, regularly performing dance ensemble
• More Performances – my knee is 95% heeled, so I don’t really have an excuse now
• Teaching – teach in more places and increase enrollment
• Go back to Istanbul or go to Morocco
• Take New Classes – Especially ones that pull me out of my comfort zone. I actually did one today!
• Audition & tryout for more shows – this one scares me the most
• Start being active with the Seattle Fandango Project

A few options to consider:
1) Learn-to-Bellydance Party (see booking page for more info)
2) Classes at the Ballard Health Center (see classes page for more info)
3) Private or semi-private lessons (see classes page for more info)

Email jalene@jalenedance.com to place your order or for more information.