Gold mining out west!

GOLDMINING OUT WEST!!!

Back in the day, explorers in the United States, heading out west to search and pan for gold, embraced a life changing adventure!  Last year, Homecoming became just that, not only for me but for my family as well.  Tacking a family vacation onto my eventual destination of the very first ATS® Homecoming, was the adventure of a lifetime for our family!  Typically keeping close to home, busy with family life and activities, this opportunity to intertwine my Darshana dance travel with a family vacation gave us a chance to experience *most* of the California coast.  Every moment was amazing and it lead me to the most incredible goldmines… First, cherished memories of Lego Land, San Diego Zoo (including panning for gold), swimming on the coast, hanging with sea lions, spending a day at Hearst Castle, driving the ‘back way’ (um, freaky actually) to the infamous Hollywood sign siting, as well as a few days checking out as much of San Fran as possible, ending family vacation with a celebration of my daughter’s 9^th birthday at Alcatraz.  It was bitter sweet to send my family off… especially given it was so bitter cold that specific day back home in Wisconsin.

Dana with her family in San Francisco

While I was not actually feeling well for most of this trip, Wednesday I took respite to prepare for what I anticipated to be one of the most incredible of dance events I have experienced (along side GS in Michigan and TT/BT in Toronto).  The moment Darshana had been working toward was right around the corner.  Through the collaboration of many, the incredible access to a gold mine of ATS® instructors for a whole weekend, was a vision I had been dreaming of since it had been announced.  I am a visual/kinesthetic learner, getting the chance to learn from multiple sources, most times original FatChanceBellyDance® instructors, is like osmosis to me… pure gold!

And so this adventure into the ATS® goldmine began Thursday evening…volunteers (myself included) gathered to rally around the amazing feat ahead of us, greetings began with distant dance sisters, and new connections were made to explore how everyone’s dance journeys relate to each other through time and space.  THE GOLD IS HERE! I was thoroughly amazed every turn, getting the chance to spread out my ability to learn from as many instructors as possible and STILL not have a chance to learn from them all...which is why I am so incredibly thrilled to be back this year!!! 

 Darshana Tribal at ATS® Homecoming

The talent, both instructors and students, leaves an ever-lasting shiny memory in your heart.  Homecoming, the goldmine of ATS®, a welcome embrace to all who attend, a beautiful expression of the language of love, depth in both individual and group dedication, expansive brother/sisterhood, and pure bliss!  As you could see the inspiration in Carolena’s most perfect wrap up of the weekend, “ATS® is Love”.  What better goldmine to have found…

Dana

Interview with Anita Lalwani

Patti Chiarini, Darshana member, had a conversation with Anita about Homecoming.  Enjoy!

Anita teaching at Roots and Wings in MN last month

Patti:  When did you start belly dancing and why?
Anita:  It seems like so long ago, and it seems like only yesterday. Gosh, I think it was around 20 years ago, shortly after I moved to San Francisco, in the mid 90s. I was a huge 'party dancer', going out to clubs and DJ dance parties with friends 3-4 times a week. I always enjoyed world beats, and at that time the legendary DJ Cheb I Sabbah was spinning regularly in San Francisco, and his world beats connected me to my South Indian heritage in a way that I could totally relate to. Of course, FatChance would be performing at some of these events and so it was only a matter of time before I found myself in a belly dance class. My first teacher was Rina Rall, a FatChance troupe member from back in the day!

Patti: What drew you to ATS over other styles?
Anita:  ATS was the first style I ever tried, and I fell in love with it from the start.

Patti: What was it that made you want to pursue being a professional dancer and FCBD teacher?
Anita: I couldn't get enough of dancing and taking dance classes. Going to dance class became more important than anything else. I would move appointments around, make excuses to get out of work, bow out of social engagements, all because I was dancing! I was obsessed! Eventually I gave in to my desire and started to look at what dancers do to make money. Namely, teach pilates, work at the gym, teach yoga. I had always studied yoga, so getting my certification to teach was an obvious next step. Then I did my personal training certificate, and that finally gave me enough monetary freedom to pursue dancing as part of my professional career. And what a joy it's been!

Patti: What are you working on now in your dance career?
Anita:  Mostly trying to stay healthy and keep it fun and fresh and light. I practice ATS® a week with some dancer friends and we have a blast. The rest of the time, I work at a gym so I do a lot of cross training-- myofascial release (foam rolling), yoga, HIIT (high intensity interval training) and resistance training -- to stay in shape for the demands of the dance. I started working with a trainer a couple of years ago, and it's been an amazing experience. I wish I had started working with a trainer long ago!

Darshana members from L to R- Patti, Terri, Krista and Cindy; with Lisa on front left

Patti: What can we expect from you in the future? (Things you want to do or work on)
Anita: I am so excited to be working on a DVD with Carolena, Megha Gavin and DeAnna Freeman-- breaking down Megha's Temple Pose meditation as well as yoga postures that can enhance and prepare you for strong and sustainable ATS® dancing. I've also just started teaching a Strength and Conditioning class for Sunflower Wellness, an organization that provides exercise options for folks undergoing cancer treatment.

Patti: What's on your practice playlist?
Anita: I like to stay familiar with the FCBD® music as much as possible but I'll practice to anything that's on-- progressive house, devotional and kirtan music that I use for yoga classes, and even folk music by my favorite singer Sean Hayes. (Hey, anything goes when I'm practicing in my living room!).

Patti: What's your go to performance music?
Anita: Anything and everything in the FCBD® catalog, since it supports ATS® dancing so well and I've made a lot of effort to learn it. I love long songs with a lot of texture, but I'm always surprised at the process of re-discovery when I go through my playlists and listen to an oldie-but-goodie that I haven't heard for a long time. You can never listen to a song enough, especially if you are trying to do what Carolena calls 'touch the music'. Nowadays there is so much music out there, but to really learn the music you have to steep yourself in it, the more listens the better!

Patti: Do you see differences in dancers and interpretations of ATS between the regions of the country? Say East vs West, Midwest vs South. Are there different nuances on the way dancers move in these regions?
Anita:  There are definitely differences in dancers wherever you go. Dancers are the best copycats, so I find that they dance a lot like the teachers they study with most. If I did a critique of teachers in a particular region, that same critique would apply to most of the dancers that attend workshops in the area.

Darshana member Amber with Anita and Kae after Roots and Wings

Patti: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Anita: Sitting on a beach, looking out over the horizon, enjoying the surf! 

Patti: Who is your favorite dancer? Who do you aspire to be like?
Anita:  Hands down, my favorite dancer is my partner-in-crime Jim Murdoch. He embodies style and grace in every move he makes. ;) 

Interview with Homecoming Producer, Terri Allred

Krista:   Hello, Terri! Thank you so much for taking the time to share some of your thoughts, insight, and input regarding the creation of ATS®Homecoming. I’m sure most people will be familiar with you to some degree, but would you mind sharing with us a little about yourself? What is your dance background? How did you “find” American Tribal Style®? What does this dance style represent for you personally? Also, what is your role in the FatChanceBellyDance® organization?

Terri:      I began dancing about 12 years ago after a head injury left me unable to work.  My physical therapist recommended a dance class to help with my vestibular difficulties.  I could only drive a couple of miles at that point so I looked at the catalogue for our local arts center.  They had a belly dance class and the journey began.  My first style of belly dance was Egyptian but I quickly began taking classes in as many styles as I could.  In my North Carolina community at the time, I was able to receive instruction in multiple styles of dance from a variety of wonderful instructors every week.  Ultimately, I landed in American Tribal Style® because of its emphasis on community.

                 

                  I love the way that ATS® brings women and men from such a wide variety of backgrounds together to share in creating art.  I love watching the transformation in my students as they become more comfortable in their bodies and with expressing themselves.  I really love being able to dance with people from all over the world. 

                  I serve as a Business Consultant to FatChanceBellyDance®, Tribal Pura International and The ATS® Magazine.  I am also the Event Producer for ATS® Homecoming. I work remotely since I live in Minnesota.  Most people are surprised to know that I don’t live in San Francisco because I am so heavily involved.

K:              What is your earliest memory of the idea of ATS® Homecoming? When and how were the seeds planted, so to speak? Did any one person think of it first, or was it a collaborative effort?

T:              Carolena and I were talking about her wish that people could come to San Francisco to study with her.  She had recently gotten married and was thinking about staying home more.  That night, I had a dream about Homecoming.  The name and the event came to me. I called Carolena the next day but she was skeptical we could find a location in San Fran.  In my dream, we were in a hotel by the airport, so that is where I began looking.  The rest is history!

K:              How much preparation was required to bring forth the first ATS® Homecoming? Were there any unexpected hiccups or welcome surprises?

T:              The welcome surprises were too numerous to count and had a lot to do with the unexpected hiccups.  By now most people know that we had a lot of problems with the hotel, particularly before we got there.  The funniest hiccup/surprise came when I realized that the ceiling in the main room where the shows were supposed to be was really, really short.  I had them put the stage up for Carolena to teach on for the General Skills prior to Homecoming.  Her arms almost hit the ceiling and she is not a tall woman!  Various dancers from all over stood on the stage and we had a good laugh about the types of contortions folks would have to get into in order to perform in that space.  I was pretty stressed out.  Rachel Brice was in the room so I went to talk to her.  I didn’t know her very well previously, but she helped me talk through what to do with the staging.  Rachel and the other dancers helped me to laugh at the situation.

K:              If you had to summarize the purpose or goal of ATS® Homecoming in one phrase or sentence, what would it be? Do you think the first ATS® Homecoming achieved this goal?

T:              To bring the ATS® community together.  Yes, it was incredible how people from all over the world bonded, laughed and danced together. 

Lacy Sanchez clowning around with workshop participants

K:              When I think of my experience at the first ATS® Homecoming, the most deeply moving aspect of the whole event was the incredible sense of community. Did you have a similar experience? Were you surprised by the power of the event?

T:              I was really surprised by the power of the event.  I was deeply moved many times by the love and support that dancers shared.  If there was a dancer alone, she was welcomed by several groups and invited to sit and visit.  You almost had to stay in your room if you wanted any “me time!”

Hospitality Volunteers meeting before the event

K:              In addition to the personal connections made at the event, the exemplary workshop offerings are a huge draw for attendees. How do you decide upon which workshops will be offered?

T:              For the first Homecoming, we wanted to offer the tried and true regular topics and in-demand FCBD® instructors, but we also wanted to highlight some of what was happening in the broader community.

K:              Looking forward to ATS® Homecoming 2016, do you sense the same excitement surrounding the event? Perhaps more? What are you most looking forward to?

T:              This year, we asked all of the instructors to offer their “dream workshops.”  I think we are going to find a lot of passion and excitement in the workshops this year.  There is a lot of excitement this year as well.  We have some folks who are returning and some who are excited to be attending for the first time.

K:              You’ve added an informational poster session to ATS® Homecoming 2016. How do you think this will fill a need in the ATS® community?

T:              There are only a few lucky instructors who get to teach workshops, but so very many people who have something to offer.  That is why I decided to include the poster session. It was Janet Taylor’s idea, actually.  She had recently been to a professional conference where they had one.  I hadn’t even thought of it even though I met my husband at a professional conference where I was presenting a poster session!

K:              What other new events or features can we look forward to at ATS® Homecoming 2016?

T:              The same night as the Poster Session, we are having a reception and hafla.  Many people requested an open dance last year, so we are pleased to be able to offer it this year!

K:              Thanks again, Terri, for taking the time to share this with us. I know I can’t wait for ATS® Homecoming 2016, and I know I’m not alone – there is a whole excited community anxiously anticipating the awesomeness about to be had!

Celebrating another wonderful show- notice the very, very low ceiling!