I know I do this like, every five minutes or so. But that’s obviously because something isn’t working. So here’s yet another system I’m trying. THis is what I mapped out for myself today while enjoying a delicious bagel. If you’ve got any input, please, let me have it!!

General goals
-increase movement repertoire
-increase all-over muscle strength
-increase dance endurance
-create 2 new choreographies

Specific targets
-Laybacks
-Layering
-Shimmies

Ideas to help achieve goals
-Self-imposed incentives
-Sticker calendar
-Weekly progress checks and mini goals
-Maintain variety

*Incentives will include things from a fun, carefree night out to a new dance DVD or hip scarf. The incentives may only be used when mini goals are met by their respective deadlines.

*Weekly progress checks will ideally be made Monday nights, after I teach my class. I’ll discuss progress, any goals that have been met, and new goals I’d like to set.

*An idea I had to help maintain vairety while still training skills I need from the DVDs I have is to work on them in small groups. I have somewhere between ten and fifteen DVDs. I’ll first split them up into groups of 3. Then, I choose a first set, and set goals and deadlines for accomplishing the content on these DVDs. Once these are mastered, or I’m stuck on just one, I’ll move on to the next set(adding the one leftover to the next set, if necessary).

I’m not sure how I feel about this system yet. You like?

My two performances were awesome! I danced the same song to both, but that doesn’t take away the magic any I think :)

The first was a little uncomfortable, simply because there were very few performers, and I was the ONLY tribal fusion dancer. I had met the owners of the studio once before and attended performances there before, but I did not personally know anyone at this hafla besides my boyfriend. Most of the audience didn’t really know how to take my style I think, as it was very difficult to connect with them. But it looked great, and the two dancers who own the studio invited me back for a January hafla. So yay :)

The second was much more comfortable for me. It was still a very small show, and an even smaller audience than the first. But the owner of this studio was super welcoming and wanted to hear all about my dance style, where I started, and blah blah blah. Basically, she actually seemed like she gave a shit, which felt nice. There was another tribal fusion dancer there, and the rest were cabaret, but all were beautiful performances, and ALL the dancers were realkly supportive of each other. The owner of this studio invited me back to dance at a weekend long event in May called Shimmyfest where some pretty well known dancers will also be performing. Score! I also bought a new instructional, a drum solos CD and a fancy new skirt :D

Overall, the weekend was a great success. Can’t wait for my next performance on November 13th!

I’ll keep you updated!

:)

• October 12- choose music for Autism Benefit Hafla and begin choreography- I never did this! >.< I may still try to come up with something, but probably not. There just isn’t enough time to practice what I’ve got and start something new without either dropping out of school or quitting my job! So I guess I’ll have to settle for one step at a time.

• October 19- master Alt Glute Locks (i know, i know, i’m behind!)- took a back seat due to time restraints and my performance piece needing practice time

• October 21- master Shoulder Shimmy and Basic Shimmy- took a back seat due to time restraints and my performance piece needing practice time

• October 21- Howlin Halloween Hafla!- TOMORROW!!! :)))

• October 23- Halloween Hafla and Trunk Sale

• Novermber 1- finish choreography for Autism Benefit Hafla

• November 13- Autism Benefit Hafla

I feel really good about my costume, music and choreography for my upcoming shows. I desperately wish I could create another piece for the Autism Benefit, but there just isn’t enough time in the day. Oh well :) It’s still going to be a great time!

I’ll be sure to update you on both haflas this weekend, and post videos if I can get my hands on some!

Anybody know of a good belly dance BLOG? I’m already following a lot of belly dance blogs that pretty much only post pictures and videos, and then reblog each other. And I’m curious to know if anybody out there posts some text blogs? Are you following any cool belly dance blogs?

Warm up- Yoga for Strengthening and Preparation on Serpentine(not the whole thing..i skipped virabadrasana(sp), trikonasana and vimonasana)

Training- Alt Glute Lock(almost there!), Shoulder Shimmy and Basic Shimmy

Practice- Right in the Eyeball choreography(i have almost the whole thing done! and the parts i don’t have done, i sort of want to improv anyway. yayyyyyyy =])

Cool down- Bein a bad kid and substituting my cool down for a little cleaning and a shower!

Wish me luck in the soreness department!!! :)

• October 12- choose music for Autism Benefit Hafla and begin choreography

• October 15- submit music for Halloween Hafla and Trunk Sale

• October 17- submit music for Autism Benefit Hafla and Howlin Halloween Hafla

• October 16- finish choreography for Right in the Eyeball

• October 19- master Alt Glute Locks (i know, i know, i’m behind!)

• October 21- master Shoulder Shimmy and Basic Shimmy

• October 21- Howlin Halloween Hafla!

• October 23- Halloween Hafla and Trunk Sale

• Novermber 1- finish choreography for Autism Benefit Hafla

• November 13- Autism Benefit Hafla

my love.

My performance song for my upcoming haflas! :)

Lately I’ve been thinking about my life. My passions, my education, my career path..overall everything that I want, love and need. I’ve come to discover that most things in my life point to me eventually leading a healthly, holistic lifestyle. The thing is, I’m not ready for that yet!

I know it’s best to start the good habits while you’re young, but every time I find myself setting this goal or that, or trying to break this habit or that, I get bored with it and give up because it’s not really what I want.

I know eventually I will strive to live a clean and holistic lifestyle with a fairly organic diet and lots of healthy habits. But right now, I just don’t feel it. And if my heart’s not in it, then it’s just not going to happen.

Am I wrong for thinking this way? Got any tips on how to motivate and inspire myself?

October 23- confirmed spot in a halloween hafla October 21- waiting on confirmation

I am SO stoked. :)