Here’s a few quick tips on how to assemble your own silk fan veils.

I bought the chinese dance fans from Meleea at http://www.beledi.com/products.php . Her main site is http://www.beledi.com

You can also find chinese dance fans if you do a search on ebay, but many of the vendors are overseas so shipping time and price may vary. Meleea has a selection of colors to choose from. If you prefer bamboo staves, she carries those as well.

If you would like pure silk fans, which means the fabric between the staves is silk (you can decorate the silk on your own with fabric markers, try Dharma at http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/5903589-AA.shtml . The main site is http://www.dharmatrading.com .

I make the silk , usually using 5 feet of 5 mm habotai since the light silk has the feathery soft flutter and movement. The standard is 36 inches wide and 60 inches long. Both edges are unhemmed so that the float on the ends is very light.

I dye the silk lengthwise and sometimes let the colors run twice. Almost all of the colors you love on the Silk Colors page at http://www.akaisilks.com/colors.html can be dyed on to fan veils. Fan veils can be dyed to match your costume, or skirt, or other A’Kai items.

ASSEMBLING FANS: this is easy, I am the queen of ‘mickey mousing’ projects..I bought a pair of silk fans from overseas and was not impressed by the quality, they had used glue to stick the fabric to the staves, and the ends of the silk were cut raw and had many dangling strings.

1) Purchase your silk dance fans, the size, choice and colors are your choice I ordered mine from www.beledi.com and received them within a few days. I ordered the large chinese dance fans.

2) Purchase your silk veils for the fans. When silk veils are available they will be listed at http://www.akaisilks.etsy.com or email akaisilksinfo@yahoo.com

3) Go to your local grocery or fabric store and pick up two sided velcro. You want the kind that has the peel back adhesive..there will be a rough piece and a soft piece that sticks together. There is usually a tape on the back to cover the adhesive until you are ready to use. I chose rectangles so I could easily cut them to size. Here’s a photo of what you will need.
I chose a pink fan to go with a Bird of Paradise silk veil set.

4) Here are pictures of the front and back of the fan veils. You will want to turn your fan so that the acrylic staves are up. Make sure the fan is on a level surface and fully opened. If you have trouble opening the fan, you could be trying to open it the wrong way. Try to open it the other way (there are right and left side fans). Again make sure your fan is fully opened.

5) Cut out small squares of velcro and stick them to the acrylic stave base as shown. I started on the outer edges.

6) After adding velcro to the outer edges, add more tabs towards the center of the fan. MAKE SURE YOU CUT THE VELCRO A LITTLE BIT SMALLER THAN THE SPACE ON THE STAVE. You don’t want to have to curl around the velcro to make it fit..smaller is better. Do not apply the velcro to the fan fabric, if you go to remove it you may rip the fabric.

7) Carefully line up the edge of your silk veil on the fan. I laid out the silk above the staves so that I could see where I placed the velcro. You should have a bit of extra fabric on both sides. Again make sure your fan is fully opened and your silk is relaxed but straight. Visually line up where you placed the velcro on the fans and put the OTHER SIDE of the velcro piece (the soft one) on the veil edge, so that when you go to attach the veil to the fan base, they will all fit. I found it was helpful to start in the center and work outwards. I ended up adding four pieces total. This photo will show you the velcro on the staves and the corresponding velcro on the silks.

** I chose to work with velcro because glue is evil. Not only is it messy to work with, but the glue lines tend to show through the silk on lighter colored silk. It looks like a third grade art project. Also, using velcro allows you to buy one fan base and switch out different colors of silk fans to save on costs. Interchangeable fans!

** If you plan to swap out and change the silk frequently, it is recommended to sew a thick ribbon along the hemline of the silk veil and place the velcro on top of the ribbon. The ribbon will have a longer life span than silk.

Carefully line up your velcro tabs and stick the silk to the staves. YOU ARE READY TO DANCE.

This method allows for only the fan stave base to be attached to the hem of the silk, so you can still turn the fan up, let the silk drop and hang from the base, and just dance with the entire fan base showing.

9) By folding the fan back down against the silk again, you can dance with both silk and fan working together. The fan literally waves air into the silk. It’s brilliant.

10) If you wish to make the silk permanently attached to the staves, you can add more velcro on the staves but you have to be very accurate or else the silk veil portion will not line up with the velcro on the stave. You might try a fabric glue instead.

11) This photo shows the fan folded up with silk attached. It should move freely open and closed.

12) And here I’ve shown another example with a gold fan base..the gold fan base can be used with color designs such as Sunrise Merkaba and Gold Merkaba. Get a green base pair and use with Temple Peacock and Temptation. A red base pair will go great with Prozac or Fire, etc.

OTHER HELPFUL HINTS:

If you plan to remove your silk and change it out often, you may consider sewing a thick ribbon on the outer edge of the veil, and placing the velcro tabs on the ribbon edge instead of on the silk. That way there is less wear and tear on the silk.

Using more velcro tabs helps to stabilize the silk more. Experiment to see what works best for you.

Pick up how to dance with fan veil tutorials here:

1) Mahsati Janan offers two beautiful dvd’s on dancing with fans. On her page you will also notice a link to another silk fan vendor who carries beautiful fan veils,

http://www.mahsati-janan.com/dvds.html

Faye’s fans http://www.faye4u.com
2) Meleea offers a dvd that not only teaches you fan veil dance but shows you another method of attaching the silk to the staves

http://www.beledi.com/proddetail.php?prod=superfan

Also, google silk fan veils on YOUTUBE for more examples.

- Jesennia

—————————————————————————————————-

postnote from Amy – you can find Jesennia’s blog here: http://akaisilks.blogspot.com/

Enjoy, all you fan dancers!

-Amy, owner The Gypsy Kiss

by supergiball

Recently I posted this question on Facebook – and I got some surprising – and hilarious – answers. Now, I’m just going to qualify this by saying that I am not saying these answers are ‘right’ – this is a post more for entertainment. But there are a few gems in there. And also quite a few that are totally tongue in cheek. I think that the moral of the story is that the answer to overcoming stage fright is different for everyone. Take from this post what you can, but at least have a good laugh! Oh – and I didn’t do much editing. So please keep the grammar and spelling police at bay!

My status message: Amy Danielson wants to know – what things do you guys do to overcome stage fright?

1. rescue remedy and a group meditation.
2. breathe in and out really deeply while someone is shaking my arms. do it a few times, it gets the jitters out!
3. just keep dancing..but it never goes away:)
4. Treat the whole world as your stage. €:•)>
5. not take myself or the situation too seriously
   remember that I perform for fun.
6. Perform a lot so I get used to it. Probably doesn’t help.
7. things that force me to focus, like standing in first position and going slowly to releve and or go into a plie, do some balancing poses, breathing, also offering the dance to “something” bigger helps me a lot
8. Wow I would give anything for rescue remedy and a group (female) meditation…can you mail that to me, lol. Sorry I am angst–I used to deep breathe and put myself in ‘acting stance’ so I became a character who was very confident, but I was also an actress as well as dancer/performer, and the acting came first, so not sure how to describe that other than stepping into the role of myself as someone who isn’t nervous.
9. Practice
10. hug the other girls, because together we face everything…
11. I friend of mine sometimes eats some rumglobes (sorry, don´t know if this is the right english word) befor dancing…. she say´s it helps
12. Picture everyone naked!! I don’t think it would help your sight but it will help the stage fright! I get scared dancing in front of the mirror! Lmao!!
13. picture them as little kids, bunny breath (3 quick sniffs in and one long exhale through the mouth) do your routine mentally and overgesture beforehand.
14. Depends on what you have to do….If I have to speak in public I go to bed very late; it works because I am too tired to care and don’t get too nervous:) Just remember the nervousness only lasts a few seconds! AND PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE-Being prepared totally helps~
15. The first couple of times I performed without my glasses so basically the audience was a blur for me.
16. A shot of whiskey. really. and knowing that if “those people” could do any better than me, THEY would be on stage and I would be out there watching them.
17. just do it! and level the playing field. you are there for them and they are there for you. its a symbiotic relationship.
18. I drink a LOT.
19. Do a shot of ouzo and do a little bit of the butt dance to make someone else laugh…;)
20. Share a bottle or couple of bottles of wine with the everyone, giggle like mad and then head for the stage.
21. I find that really loving the music I’m performing to and focusing on that helps me.
22. I throw up right before I get on stage..that helps. Probably not the answer you were looking for. I’ve had severe stage fright all my life. Ironically enough, I grew up on the stage. Acting and dancing since the age of 7.
23. Aren’t stage jitters part of the excitement of going out to perform ) Oh, as the excitement builds … butterflies are dancing with you.
24. Rehearse! I’m only ever nervous if I’m not well practiced enough. If I know I’m going to own it… I own it! Rehearsing is the only way for me, heh..
25. Other than that, I just know the first couple of minutes will suck, the lead up will suck the most.. and I’ll have a blast while I’m doing it, then after I’ll be like, “that went by too quickly!”
26. I dance for close friends and family, well mostly my kids, before I have a stage performance.
27. If it is a group dance I always say ‘If I do anything different from the others-that means I’m the lead dancer.’ LOL
    If it is a solo I just picture everyone as a different color fart! Then you are smiling too!!

I think the last one is my personal fave. Have a great day and post some comments! Oh – and check out my website! Your purchases are what power this blog! Plus, previous customers are in on the exclusive first week of The Gypsy Kiss trunk shows. Yum, if I do say so myself. Here’s the linky: http://www.thegypsykiss.com/index.html

Tags: avoid, belly, bellydance, bellydancer, dance, dancer, fright, funny, how to, overcome, raqs, sharqi, stage, stagefright

And here’s what you all want desperately to know. What the heck is a Steampunk hairdo? Well, I can give some resources and ideas, but I’ll be the first to tell you that you need to look at the word “Steampunk” to figure out the whole costuming thing. ‘Steam’ indicates the era where steam powered machines were the norm – hence, the Victorian era. But ‘Punk’ – well, that means ANYTHING goes. Dreads, pink hair, pixie cut, spiked hair, all are welcome in this generous and creative genre.

Don’t forget to sprinkle that with lots of clock parts, velvet, buttons, vintage rhinestones, feathers galore, little hats and gaudy flowers. The Victorians may have been a stuffy bunch, but they took their repressed frustrations out on their hair and their hats. The heights – literally – that some ladies achieved were incredible!

So here are some resources for you to enjoy, some with very detailed and helpful instructions. Don’t burn yourself on your marcel wave curling iron, and don’t swear too much the 4th time you’ve tried a new and complicated style and it hasn’t worked. This is art, remember? Have fun with it.

But before we get into that, I’ll give you a very obvious link to a place that sells not only kick arse Steampunk feather and flower hair ornaments made with vintage buttons and antique jewelry, but also wrist cuffs with vintage fringe and lace dated between 1910-1930, belts with medallions created from vintage metal presses, and more. Enter the Emporium:

The Gypsy Kiss Hair Ornaments

And here are some examples of past lovelies that The Gypsy Kiss (that’s my business!) has sold:

VICTORIAN HAIR RESOURCES:

• Demodecouture.com has amazing links to hairstyles and other costumes of the Victorian period. They look like a lot of work, but I think it’d be fun. Some are hilarious, like this page: http://www.shootingstarhistory.com/hairstyles.html
• This is an EXCELLENT source for beautiful Victorian style hair – and you’ll come away knowing a little more about hair history: hairarchives.com – I LOVE the information and photos of hair jewelry. Not ornaments for your hair, but actual jewelry made from hair. Crazy. I remember being twelve and reading about this, and then trying to make a ring of my braided hair. It was not easy, folks.
• This site, Victoriana.com, is just wonderful – but it’s not in color, so you need to read the captions. I particularly love the styles with the velvet plaits! Velvet anything is dreamy… *sigh*

FLAPPER HAIR RESOURCES:

For some of you, the Victorian updos are not an option -  because your hair is too short! And so, I give you *drum roll*  the flapper.

~Note: The Marcel wave usually can’t be done well on long hair that’s worn down – but if you have long hair that tapers up toward your face, and therefore the “bangs” area of your hair is around chin length, you can certainly give it a shot! Or some ladies do the marcels and then an updo, so the weight of their hair doesn’t pull the waves out. I believe that’s what Rachel Brice does…

~’Nother note: An easy way to fix the problem of wanting to use amazingly complex hair ornaments in short hair is to use a highly decorated headband (which I just so happen to sell quite often – check the link above or click any of the photos of my goodies to see the selection). Also great for any hair length, because you just put it on. No hairdo, no nothing. Just stick it on and go out and dance – and you know how important that is when you have more than one piece to perform, and the pieces require different costumes… and thirdly, it gets your sweaty hair out of your face when you’re dancing somewhere warm (or just are super vigorous!) The headbands with elastic beneath them that run all the way around your hair work perfectly for slightly  more vigorous dances – the regular headbands (U shaped) are good for more sedate, slower dances.

• Hairarchives also has an excellent page on the 1920s. Ah, the bob, women’s lib, the Marcel wave! This will be a really helpful page for you girls with short hair.
• Wikihow has a great page on flapperizing youself: How to be a Flapper Girl
• 1920-30.com has a very detailed page which explains just how to achieve the marcel wave with a bob.

STEAMPUNKESQUE TUTORIAL AND INSPIRATIONAL VIDEOS:

It just wouldn’t be complete without some visual help for how to do some of those styles. I’ll add new ones to this playlist as I find them, so check back once in a while. The lady at the end does very complicated styles – which is why I put it at the end – in several parts. But they are INCREDIBLE hair art. Enjoy, everyone!

Tags: '20s, antique, art, belly, bellydance, bellydancer, belt, belts, bob, clockwork, costume, cuff, cuffs, dance, dancer, Edwardian, emporium, fascinators, feathers, flapper, fusion, gears, Gibson girl, goth, gothic, hair, hair do, hairdo, hat, hats, headdress, Marcel, nineteen, noir, ornament, ornaments, peacock, roaring, roaring '20s, roaring twenties, Steam, Steampunk, steamy, style, styles, tribal, twenties, Victorian, vintage

One aim I have for the Kiss and Tell Blog is to help you learn about the newest trends in belly dance. One such trend is to use something called ‘veil fans’ during performance. Veil fans actually originate in China, and were first used for combat – they’re called Mulan fans.

Enjoy these videos, and you might either be inspired to pick up a pair of fans, or if you’ve already got (at least) a pair, you might pick up a few new tricks!

Tags: belly, bellyance, bellydancer, clips, dance, fans, flutter fans, Mulan fans, veil, veil fans, video, videos

Hipnotic is a dynamic duo that epitomize all the amazing aspects of Tribal Fusion, the friendships, the precision, and the unconventional creativity that bloom out of tribal fusion dance. The two talented women of Hipnotic, Jatare & Neta, have perfected their ever-evolving style – including some show stopping moves that are extremely rare, such as the double Turkish drop. Here’s a glimpse into their hip-hop, belly-fusion world:

______________________________________________________________________

1. What do you feel sets you apart from other troupes? What do you do that’s different – your trademark?

Our approach to tribal is unconventional to tribal belly dance improv format. Our style, attitude and vocabulary is primarily improv that incorporates sudden stops, drops, and stillness, which is more common in choreography. We do not limit our creative influences to just the belly dance genre, nor do we follow trends and fads. We tend to prefer to be different even if it’s not popular. Our trademark is our creativity and the double Turkish drop.

2. What inspires your dance style, and how would you define it?

Music inspires our dance style. Our dance style is fairly eclectic with bits and pieces from everywhere and everything.

3. Tell us a little about each of you – background, hobbies, values, interests?

Neta: I’m from Montana and moved to Chicago to pursue an Engineering job. I spent 8 years in the military rebuilding engines. My hobbies include sewing, Tomiki Aikido and many more.

Jatare: I’m born and raised in Chicago, and travel internationally for work. I like reading, writing, listening to music, singing in the shower and in the car, poetry, and sewing belly dance items.

4. Why do you dance?

Neta: It allows me to explore my alter-ego—explore my creativity. It’s fun and extremely enjoyable.

Jatare: It allows me to have a visual creative outlet. It gives me license to express any of life’s frustrations, anxieties, uncertainties, happiness and joy.

5. What do you try to accomplish through your dance?

A performance, dammit.

6. What are some of your goals for the future of Hipnotic?

Aside from world domination… continue to dance, not suck, and expansion (to more dancers that don’t suck).

We plan to perform in Tribal Fest 9. Ms. Zuza wants to have us in the Minnesota neighborhood to teach a few workshops this year. Midwest Tribal Mafia – Getting’ Away with Murder in October of 2009 and of course, World Domination (20 step plan).

7. What projects and events (MTM, etc.) have you been a part of? What’s one of your favorite memories from one of these?

We were featured on “What’s Your Story” a thirty minute program in Evanston, IL aired every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in For the month of March.

We taught workshops in Bloomington, IN (sponsored by Dark Side Tribal), Pava Maroon has invited us for two years straight to be in her annual. Pat Kellar has also invited us to perform in her show the last two years (2007 and 2008). We were a part of Tribal Fest 8 and were special guests last year at Tribal Revolution.

We have donated a free class to a local fundraising raffle, CureIT. And, last year was our debut of the Midwest Tribal Mafia.

Neta: it’s so hard to pick a favorite moment. Jatare and I tend to make little moments out of every event we do, including practice.

Jatare: I don’t have one favorite memory – I have tons. It’s too hard to pick just one.

_____________________________________________________________________

Amy: I can believe it!

Tags: belly, dance, double, fusion, Hipnotic, Mafia, Midwest Tribal Mafia, TC Fusion Fest, tribal, Tribal Fest, Tribal Fest 9, Tribal Revolution, Turkish drop

photo by envisionartstudio.com

If you want to wear your hair down instead of in a bun or updo, but you still want a flower clip to stay in there, you do these steps:

1. Decide where you want the flower to ’sit’
2. Grab a section of hair right there, leaving some remaining underneath hanging down
3. Make that little tiny section (the underneath-hanging-down one) into a little pony tail with a small, ouchless ponytail holder
4. Let the section of hair you were holding up fall over and hide the ponytail
5. Take your flower/feather alligator style clip and open it up – stick the bottom half of the clip part (as opposed to the top half which is glued to the feathers and flowers) THROUGH the ponytail holder
6. Give it gentle little tugs to arrange it how you like it.

It won’t hold up to zars (head swinging), but it will absolutely be fine with all the shimmies, spins, and backbends you can dish out. Here’s a video (by moi) explaining this for all you visual and audio learners out there:

And the place to get beautiful hand crafted hair ornaments? Where else?

The Gypsy Kiss

Our next post will be either an interview of two amazing ladies from the chicago area, or the final chapter of our “How to Keep an Audience Awake” series. I haven’t decided yet. You know – just to keep you on your toes.

Tags: belly, bellydance, bellydancer, burlesque, clip, dance, dancer, feathers, flower, fusion, hair, how to, malfunction, ornament, ornaments, pin up, raqs, stay in, The Gypsy Kiss, tribal, tutorial, video

Here’s the second, and final (for now), post in the voi series. I promised you voi resources, so here you go!

Learning poi/voi:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUloxA41Qt8 – This is a trailer for a really clear intro to spinning poi. It’s a good place to start, especially if you don’t have a creative community in your area with anyone interested in and experienced with poi already.
• http://www.homeofpoi.com/shop/select_a_poi.php/start This is also a great place to start. Loads and loads of information about spinning, and lots of spin toys to buy! Wheee…
• Fireless Spinning DVD - This actually looks super useful. Obviously, spinning voi encompasses different elements than spinning poi with no veils. The breath of the air through the silk – whether you go for half circle veils attached to your poi, or streamers. It’s a good idea to progress from a basic poi tutorial to one specifically for voi.

Making or purchasing voi:

veils by A'Kai Silks, photo by www.ellenwoodphotography.com

Of course, I’d recommend A’kai Silks – Jesennia is such an amazing artist. Generally, you buy half circle veils for voi. I’ve heard that the “little wings” size is easier to do tricks in – the bigger half circles can sometimes make more than barrel rolls and spins difficult.

• Belly Dance Fans has some beauties to purchase.
• Farmhouse Boutique has a really good selection of silks to attach to your poi.
• I found a post here about one way to put the veils on the poi – but I’m just saying that this is the only how-to I could find, and neither the lady who posted this tip nor I are responsible if it doesn’t work for you Agreed? So here goes: Hook the end of your half circle veils to your poi using a hair band, adding in a heavy zill to add weight and help pull the silk around.Then tie a tiny knot a ways up the flat end to the loop in your poi that attaches the string to the handles (without this extra knot, the veils stay pretty flat. With the knot they take their shape like wings).

Good luck everyone! If youhave additional tips concerning how to attach veils to poi, places that you like to purchase poi or voi, or how to spin poi, please feel welcome to post them!

Tags: belly, bellydance, bellydancer, clips, dance, dancer, fusion, Gypsy Kiss, Kiss and Tell, performance, performances, poi, raqs, silk, tribal, veil, veil poi, video, videos, vids, voi

photos by www.ellenwoodphotography.com

Well, the previous blog post was all about voi – and I thought, how better to continue that theme than get  an interview for you with one of the belly dance industry’s leading hand dyed silk artists, Jesennia of A’kai Silks.  She turned out to be more than I expected – earthy, warm, intelligent, and at times hilarious!

How long have you been making silk veils?

For pleasure, or for business? I have always enjoyed working with colors but
specifically started dyeing veils in 2000.  I made silk veils for my
own use, in dance class, but they received enough attention so I started dyeing
them for local dancers in Colorado (where I lived at the time).  After
establishing an account on ebay, I did mostly ebay sales, email inquiry sales,
and wholesale.  Now A’Kai Silks is on etsy at www.akaisilks.etsy.com and I also sell to
clothing wholesalers.

Tell us about the first time you became interested in
the process of dying the silk yourself…

Honestly, it was out of pure boredom   I needed something to do to keep me occupied
while my older son was in kindergarten during the day.  I had worked as a
registered nurse in Colorado but was involved with bellydance on the
side.  I guess a part of me wanted to make the items that I would
later dance with …but performing and dyeing veils sort of merged at the same
time.  I was heavily influenced by anything veil dance related.
For the first couple of years, I was only dyeing rectangle veils but later had
a pair of half circle veils sewn for me.  After dyeing them, I was hooked
for life and double silk veil dance remains my favorite.  The large half
circle silk veils are my best sellers.  Here’s a useful link:

Half Circle Silk Veils

What do you use for inspiration when you’re creating silks -
what helps you to get into the ‘zone’?

I don’t really seek inspiration – it falls in front of me and stirs something.  I have had ideas about projects while out in the water on my surfboard..there is something very still and perfect about being out in the water and it clears your mind.  Playing music while creating is helpful.  And warm fresh Hawaiian sunshine is a godsend.

What is your absolute favorite type of silk project?

It varies on which day  you ask me.  I’m still having a lot of fun
painting the silk crepe ruanas.  I get to run a bit crazy on
them.  Each one is totally different. I’ve created some that may never
leave my closet Here’s a photo of one that I kept, called Macabre.

I also enjoy making coordinating silk clothing sets, like sarongs and tops.

Tell us a little about A’Kai Silks – where can we get them,
do you do custom orders, and how much does a pair of voi cost?

I’m based in Hawaii,  but you can find veils through  a number of vendors
worldwide,  and through my website store at www.akaisilks.etsy.com .  Custom order
availability varies widely depending on how many other projects I’m
doing.

Your silks are some of the most sought after in the belly
dance sphere. What do you feel makes your silks different from other suppliers?

That’s a tough question because I really enjoy the work of so many other dye
artists… Shibori Borealis amazes me, L. Rose has colorful perfection, Audra
Evans has been creating some beautiful pieces.  We all use similar silk and
we each express ourselves differently with dyes … just like forms of
dance.

I’d say my involvement with the dance for about 10 years now, and my extreme love for veil
dance specifically helps a lot.  It’s true that if you love what you
do, money or business follows.  I have on and off days, and get into
funks, but overall, bellydance and veil dance feels a part of my core.  I
just love it.

What other hobbies do you have?

Surfing, although I have only been on a fiber board once since getting my boobs installed last June (wheeeee boobies!).  I suck at surfing but the physics and
thrill of it keep me coming back for more body abuse   My husband and I
love body surfing in Waikiki together.   I body surfed while
pregnant as well, up until the day before having the baby.

Tell us about the new baby!

Yes, King of the Island, Zachary Jia Chen Makahiwa Tan,  is almost 18
months.  I thought pregnancy was going to do me in.  I bitched
nonstop (and still do).  My first baby, my older boy Morgan, now 13, was
an easy baby.  That’s a nice way of saying that Zack is my
firecracker.  Sometimes I want another baby but after watching my
best friend who is struggling at five months and I keep my legs
closed.  Who knows … it would be nice to have a girl to shake things up in
the house.

Describe yourself in a nutshell – what are a few of your personality
traits?

Restless to a fault.  I can’t stand monotony yet I love
security.  I’m a true gypsy and love to move
around.    I have ‘the grass is always greener’ syndrome
which drives some people crazy. Luckily my husband likes to wander
too.

Other than being restless, I’m enthusiastic about creative projects and can be competitive
and push myself to achieve (usually self imposed standards).

I’m always trying to find balance … surf and dance, work and more work, time with baby,
etc.

What goes through your mind when you see dancers using your
silks?

“Holy shit that looks pretty, lol “   When I’m dead , my silks
will continue to dance with the inhale and exhale, and movement of each
dancer.  Is that sorta cryptic?

Tags: A'Kai, belly, bellydance, bellydancer, dance, dancer, gypsy, half circle, Hawaii, interview, silk, Silks, The Gypsy Kiss, veil, veils, voi

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Tags: belly, bellydance, bellydancer, clips, dance, dancer, fusion, Gypsy Kiss, Kiss and Tell, performance, performances, poi, raqs, silk, tribal, veil, veil poi, video, videos, vids, voi