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