Mira and Mexico

Jalene — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 07:26:46 +0000

Getting ready to head off to Mexico for my birthday! What’s better than getting the hell out of wet, cold Seattle for the week? How about combining it with an intensive study with one of my all time favorite dancers and costume designers– Mira Betz! I took some sessions with her at Kosmos a few years ago and I have been trying to get back to studying with her ever since. I was finally able to save up enough $$$. And as an EXTRA bonus the intensive is in Mexico. I’m looking forward to some warm days and some hard work (that doesn’t involve a computer). Here’s some youtube love:

Current Bellydance Video Obsession

Jalene — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 22:58:26 +0000

I can’t stop watching this video of Elena Lentini and Scott Wilson and his band from 1981. I LOVE IT. I even dreamt about it last night! I really, really hope I have a chance to study with her in NY.

Une Soirée de Danse Photos and Video posted

Jalene — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 03:53:29 +0000

Check out Bahar’s Facebook page to see photos and a couple of video clips from our most recent show. Thanks to David Cisneros for taking the pics!

New York – Round 2

Jalene — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:26:09 +0000

Ever since July I’ve been fantasizing about going back to New York. I feel like our time together was just too short and there are still so many things that I didn’t get a chance to do or see. I’m hoping to be able to make a 1-3 month stay and turn it into a Northeast Coast Dance Tour : ) I think things are starting to fall into place and my hopes are high that this is gonna work out. Hopefully this blog post doesn’t jinx it!

I loved taking dancehall fusion with Hanna Herbertson, and am definitely going back for more. She’s my main inspiration for going back.

I’m also thinking that while I’m all the way over there I should try and make it to DC and get a Turkish fix from Artemis Mourat. It’s been a few years since I last studied with her.

As far as new teachers I’m thinking of checking out:
• Dalia Carella
• Elena Lentini
• Jessaiah Zure (if she’s still in NY, I’m not sure)
• and probably checking out Fazil’s Dance Studio

AND HERE’S WHERE I’D LIKE YOUR HELP…

Does anyone have any other dance recommendations? I’d prefer Turkish Oriental, Turkish Folk, Turkish Roman, Greek, Vintage Bellydance (60-70s style), Modern/Global Fusion Bellydance.

Or if you know of any Turkish clarinet players that are willing to give lessons, that might be something cool to do. Currently my Turkish G-Clarinet is buried in a pile of costumes and dust in the corner. It would be good to break it out.

I’d also love any Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Greek, Turkish, North African club and restaurant recommendations for live music and/or bellydance. Not for me to perform in, but just for me to go out : ) Well, maybe I could perform if it was something casual/fun or with LIVE musicians. I love live music and wouldn’t pass up that opportunity.

Thanks, everyone. You can send your info and recommendations to my email. I look forward to hearing from you!

Autumn is bringing it…

Jalene — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:50:22 +0000

OUR SHOW WAS A SUCCESS! First of all, thanks to everyone who came out to Une Soirée de Danse on Wednesday. I think it was one of the best times I’ve had performing! A great group of performers. And the audience was so full of energy. Also, thanks to everyone who helped make it this show possible. You can find some video clips on Bahar’s Facebook page.

FALL CLASSES start next week, another thank you to everyone for helping me fill up the class! I’m excited to start teaching again after taking the summer off.

I’M GOING TO BE A BACKUP DANCER for Nalini & The Blue Lotus Dance Co. on Thursday. I’m pretty excited to be able to do this. I’ve always wanted to be a backup dancer and I love how it looks when a bunch of people are doing the same movements. I have less than a week to learn the choreography, which is something I’m not used to doing. It will be a fun lil’ challenge.

TURKISH TIME Ruby is coming to Seattle October 16 to teach a Turkish Bellydance workshop at Visionary Dance. Ruby is an awesome teacher and I loved her last workshop I took in Tacoma. I’m really looking forward to this one.

GOING TO MEXICO… with all the show planning madness I haven’t really had time to think about my upcoming trip to Mexico to study with the amazing Mira Betz. It just hit me this week! Wow! I am beyond excited! She is one of my favorite dancers, performers, costumers. I had a chance to take a couple of classes with her in CA and since then I’ve been craving more lessons with her but just haven’t been able to swing it. Did I mention that I’m super excited!

Autumn Bellydance Class in Ballard is FULL

Jalene — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 03:16:29 +0000

Just a heads up that my next class session at the Ballard Health Center is full. No drop-ins will be accepted for this 5-week series. I am still available for private and semi-private lessons, contact jalene@jalenedance.com if you are interested in setting something up.

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.

Une Soirée de Danse is SOLD OUT!

Jalene — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 06:05:33 +0000

Thanks everyone for helping us sell out this show. We are all super excited for Wednesday.

Une Soirée de Danse • September 22

Jalene — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:25:37 +0000

Preparations for our next show are in full swing. Just a week and a half away. I’m trying not to bite my nails.

This is going to be a fun one. We have Dirty Bird Cabaret coming down from Bellingham and 3 Seattle guest artists too! We originally thought the show date would be closer to Halloween, so we have some crazy acts in this one. It does land on the Autumn Equinox so it will be a good way to kick off the Fall season. This will be our last big show of the year, our next one will probably be in Spring, so be sure to come check out what we’ve been working on. We have all new pieces for ya.

Tickets and details are available at Brown Paper Tickets. At this point we are over half way sold out!

A Wild Ride

Jalene — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:01:10 +0000

Wow, this summer has been dance crazy. NYC, Latin Alternative Music Conference and my dancehall lessons were above and beyond excellent. Strictly Seattle was just the challenge and inspirational jolt I was looking for – 60 hours of Modern and Ballet over 3 weeks, culminating in 3 performances. My body feels the best and strongest it has been in years and I’m steadily working on increasing strength, balance and flexibility. I think it feels extra wonderful because I’ve been dealing with so much pain and injury for the past 2 years, I definitely appreciate each small movement I can execute.

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.

Summer Plans – July

Jalene — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:55:22 +0000

So, I was trying to go to Marrakesh for a festival/dance/music tour in July, but I just couldn’t pull the funds together. I was super bummed, but now I’ve made a bunch of new plans that I’m excited about. I’ve decided to take a break from teaching bellydance classes so I could take some classes and focus on myself and my dance troupe, Bahar.

FIRST UP: NYC
I’ll admit it, I’ve NEVER been to New York. Cleveland is the farthest East I’ve been (in the U.S). My man, a DJ at KEXP (and their sister station in New York), has been planning a trip to the Latin Alternative Music Conference at the beginning of July. And since my trip to Marrakesh fell threw, I’m going to go with him. We just booked our place at the Pod Hotel yesterday!

My friend, Trisha, suggested that I take some dance classes while I was there. She sent me Lotus Music and Dance Studio‘s site to check out. I was impressed with all the different classes they offer, but then my jaw dropped when I saw that they have a Dancehall Fusion Class. What?! I LOVE DANCEHALL, there’s a dance class for this?! I love NYC already. So my new mission is to hook up some private lessons or take a class with Hannah Herbertson. Check out one of her videos:

NEXT UP: STRICTLY SEATTLE
Once I get back from a music and sweat indulgence in NYC. I’m going to be diving into Velocity Dance Center’s Strictly Seattle dance intensive. 3 weeks of dance technique and choreography from 6-9pm, Mon-Fri. With a show the last weekend of July. I’ve always wanted to do this, but I’ve never had 3 weeks of week nights open. I’m kinda nervous, and super excited. I think I’m going to learn a lot and hopefully get back into shape and strengthen my knee up some more.