Crossing Boundaries and Baring it All

Here's the first of what I hope to be many guest blogs on this site. The honor of the first one goes to a newer student of mine, Krysta, who is passionate and joyful and just lots of fun to be around. Enjoy!

I've been dancing on and off since I was about 4 years old – I've dabble in ballet, contemporary, folklorico, ballroom, latin, hustle, hip hop, west African, afro-haitian, capoeira, contact improvisation, tap, jazz, swing…and I love it all. It was only last year that I built the courage to try belly dancing. Like most women, there was just something terrifying and uncomfortable about letting my soft belly be seen by anyone but me…and my doctor one a year. For years I'd admired the belly dancers I had seen who were not only comfortable, but proud of the fleshiness of their midsection. I also couldn't help but be in sheer awe of the Indian women who let their bellies be…let their bellies rest happily and peek through the crevices of the brightly colored fabric that made their saris. "Yes, this is me – here I am."

I decided it was time to cross over from "traditional" forms of dance, into belly dance – and also cross over the boundary my fears had generated, and dance with my tum tum out. In the past year, I've gained another level of kinesthetic awareness which has profoundly informed the other styles of dance that I love, and I think I'm close to being on par with the Indian women I've admired for so long...this is me. Here I am.

Belly dancing has provided me with something I wasn't fully anticipating – confidence as a performer overall…and as a woman just trying to make it in the world. There is no apologizing in belly dance – you mean for your flesh to jiggle, or not jiggle. Your veil was supposed to get tangled. You were supposed to add that extra clack with your zils. And yes, you did nail that leap into a three-step turn. In performance, you must believe that every single hip sway and snake arm has been executed to perfection. You must know that you are the most interesting creature onstage whenever you enter…up until several lifetimes after you've exited. And in life, you must believe that every sashay in your heels, hair flip, and the building of every new Ikea furniture piece has been executed to perfection. You must know that you are the most interesting creature in the conference room and on the street – with or without your hip scarf.


 

My first video blog!

It feels a bit like a confessional, but here is my first video blog on the topic of picking music for your very first solo.  It was quite spur of the moment, so enjoy!

It pays to delegate...or lessons in letting go.

I am a woman of too many ideas, too many inspirations and too much innovation for my own good.  If I had a job that required nothing more of me than to listen to some problem/issue/obstacle and then brainstorm for ideas to solve it/resolve it/or move on...I am your gal.  The downside of all of this can be a lack of momentum, a lack of focus and too many projects to juggle.  I recently met a woman who described herself as "compulsively creative" and that term resonated with me as well.  So here I am Internet; confessing to this compulsion.  "Hi, I'm Najla and I'm a compulsive creative."  

There is a section in The Artist's Way that discusses how you can literally die from boredom because creativity is oxygen for our souls.  Julia Cameron, the author, notes that cutting off our creativity makes us savage and we react like we are being choked.  I have felt that rage, in my work, in my dance relationships and in my personal life as well.  But, recognizing the need to create is just one part of the solution.  The next part is paring down, focusing and really nurturing the creative projects that keep you inspired.

So, this last year has been an exercise in paring down, and cutting back on events (and relationships) that either hold me back, drain me of energy or resources or interfere with my need to create.  On the one hand, setting those boundaries has been tremendously liberating and on the other hand...quite humbling.  Humbling because it has forced me to acknowledge the areas of my life that I cannot possibly manage given other obligations.  For some dancers, their 'day-time' job is a placeholder, a way to help pay rent or get insurance or just maintain a steady flow of income.  For me, my day job is a major career with responsibilities that require a commitment of my time and energy.  And, as much as I love teaching and dancing, this will never be the majority of my livelihood. 

Not that I am less serious about the dancing and teaching, I just simply want to acknowledge the hierarchy of my responsibilities.   I consider myself a professional dancer and teacher, I keep business records, pay taxes and set lesson plans and business goals.  But I cannot do this all myself.  What I can do is take inspiration from Kramer on Seinfield and recruit interns.  And in an ideal world (probably not Kramer's), both the employer and the intern benefit from the relationship.  One person gets their needed assistance and support and the other one has a chance to expand their knowledge base, make new contacts and build their skill set.

I may not be Kramerica Industries, but this year I've expanded my support network. It began by partnering with a local dancer (and friend), Casey, to produce Mother-Daughter belly dance workshops.  She is talented, reliable, down to earth and easy to spend time with.  And, she just began monthly dance shows in North Austin.  So, the workshop serve us both...my need to teach...and her desire to promote and support her shows. 

And then this last week, I officially designated a Marketing Director for my classes, my dancing and my troupe.  Hmmm...and once again with a talented, reliable, down-to-earth, lovely lady, Krysta who happens to be one of my students as well!  Again, I think this is a mutually beneficial relationship.  She loves to work on marketing ideas, is so eager to learn more about the dance, and has such an engaging personality.  And for me, she can keep me on track!

So, maybe some lessons in life take longer to learn, but I am learning...and growing...and still creating.  But, my goal this year is to do it in a meaningful, focused, fashion!