2014 Year in Review

So many wonderful things happened in 2014!  I got to watch my students grow as dancers, dance with many beautiful and wonderful ladies, learn new skills, buy a beautiful new costume, and take workshops and attend intensives with some of my favorite people. Here are some of the highlights.

Teaching and Student Achievements
* Taught classes on Vintage Oriental routines, Egyptian Saidi, Sword Dance, Modern Egyptian, and more
* Co-taught a workshop on Dancing with Live Drummers with Amanda Turk at the Raq On Shimmyathon
* Coached Penny and Naomi on their first solo pieces and Nancy and Jamie on their first duet
* Hosted Navel Academy workshops
* Avienn presented her first group choreography at the Goddess Lounge
* Emily joined the Crescent Dancers
* Melissa and Lisa had their classes present pieces at the Dancing into the Dark and Dancing into the Light showcases

Performance
* Participated in super fun Vaudeville and Halloween themed shows at the Goddess Lounge
* Continued working with Kenna and all of the wonderful ladies of the Goddess Lounge
* Danced at a variety of private events including birthdays, weddings, Vashti banquets, NYE celebrations
* Co-hosted spectacular Dancing into the Dark and Dancing into the Light student showcases with Chaya Leia
* Performed my first fire dance show as a member of the Illuminata Dance Company at Cultural Chaos

Studying
* Returned to Ansuya's wonderful classes when visiting Florida
* Attended the Viva La Difference intensive with Artemis Mourat and Yasmin Henkesh
* Attended the Art of the Belly conference and had the chance to study with Mira Betz, Artemis Mourat, Belladonna, and Amina on 9/8 drum solos, scimitar dance, zills, layering and more
* Attended the Raq On Shimmyathon
* Took a variety of classes and workshops with Aszmara, Basimah, Fahra, Chaya Leia and more
* Took part in the Raq On Versatility Challenge
* Cross trained in waltz and swing
* Attended the Southern Vermont Dance Festival and took workshops in Charelston, Ballet, Waltz, Swing, Flamenco, and Broadway Jazz

Other
* Hosted the fourth annual Secret Habibi gift exchange
* Attended the Arabic Music Retreat concert
* Purchased my first brand new (not used or self made) costume from Raya Tretyakova
* Made a fun new Vaudeville costume out of lace and glass pearls and some cute little hats

I'm looking forward to more fun dance adventures in 2015!