Thread: Which goals of 2007 did you achieve?

The "goals for 2008" thread reminded me that we also talked about goals for 2007 a year ago.
If not here then certainly on Tribe.

So, for those of you who set yourselves goals last year
a) which were they?
b) which did you achieve?
c) which not an why?

I am going do dig out my old goals and give them a check here...

MEISSOUN

The only one I achieved was entering a contest. I was supposed to learn how to do a backbend. I still havent learned yet, so that'll be 2008 spillover. I was supposed to do some gigs, but that didn't quite work out either. Part of that was just getting used to my job.

I think now that I have gotten the hang of things at my job, and know how to "work the system" It should be a lot easier for me to make time for gigs and more regular practice.

I found my new years resolutions in my lj. Here's s hort review:
1. I want to go to Egypt for classes and performances. I already signed the papers, so that one is going to happen in a month or three

I went to Egypt in March and it was great. I feel like I learned a lot about egyptian style and have grown as a dancers because of it.

2. I want to become a better performer. Stage fright makes me underperform and I hate it!!! That combined with self fullfilling prophecies (I think I can't do it so I don't try that hard) is holding me back.

I've improved, though I still have the bad posture/sucky arms thing going on when I'm stressed out.

3. find a live musician to work with. This one is tricky: I love dancing to live music, but good muscicians are hard to find. I'm not sure wether I want to do this while I still have so many other things to work on.

Haven't even tried this one, I was way too busy with creating new choreo, practicing improvisation skills, etc.

4 My website and promo material was good enough for last year, but I want something new! Better! improved!!

I reworked the old lay-out and did a couple of photoshoots so I have several suitable pictures to put on my site/card/flyer/whatever. So I guess this one is halfway done!

Hmmmm, Nisima rummages through dance bag for 2007 goals - aha! Finds, tattered, barely legible list in pencil scribbes, with some checkmarks as follows:

*choreograph and perform three new solos that are completely different in style; one a double veil to "Tamali Maak", an Egyptian nightclub solo to "Ah Ya Leil" and single veil piece to "Ice Queen". Finished and performed two, but "Ice Queen" is a work in progress due to floorwork technical difficulties.

*Buy melaya wrap and dress. Done

*Learn how to use melaya. Done

*Choreograph a solo melaya routine. In progress

*Perform melaya routine. Obviously not done! Will have to carry over to 2008!

*Finish hemming 6 sets of double circle veils. (groan, this carried over from 2006)

*Finish black assuit belt, red assuit bra and belt. (may be possible after Xmas during time off from work)

*Perform more cane solos - yes!!!!!! And, in my Eman Zaki black assuit costume!!!!!!

*Play doumbek with troupe band at performances AND dance. Well, yes but have decided to let go of playing with band - too much time taken away from dancing.

*Attend Little Egypt workshop weekends - yes! Went to both the "Fifi" and the "Ahlan Cairo Nights" which featured Randa and others. Was very inspiring on a lot of levels and also fun.

I didn't really make a list of goals at the start of 2007, but I can say that throughout the year I identified things that I wanted to do, and actually managed to accomplish some of them.

In 2007, I:
Learned the basics of double veil.
Got over the brain freeze that kept me from ever finishing any choreography, and put together a couple of pieces that I was very satisfied with and can reuse for multiple occasions.
Starting going to events outside my immediate circle and dancing for people who don't know me from class or anywhere else.
and --
tekka tekka tekka tekka tekka tekka tekka tekka tekka tekka tekka tekka dum!
I passed my Suhaila level 2 certification!

Bought my Costless costume - both real and not

Danced at Raqs B

Danced in front of a live band again

Fifi workshop

I think that;s about it. I dont' remember what my otehr goals were.

{{{HUGS}}

They werent initially goals, but Im proud that I competed in a competition and performed a group choreo that I did not create.

Take and survive Yousry Sharif's weeklong

Perform a cane solo (actually, have done a few of these)

Have pictures taken and post a web site (I've done both of these but have yet to get the pictures *onto* the web site... maybe by the end of the year though!)

Overall it's been a pretty big year. In January I did my first full restaurant show, from opening piece to drum solo, which was more about being fortunate than about meeting a goal, but still an accomplishment. :) I'm also proud of pulling off my show at the arts center, although that was more of a short term goal for the fall than something I set out as a resolution at the beginning of the year.

I started learning more about different styles of dance in the Belly Dance world so I could discuss them with some sense of intelligence.
I didnt keep the 2007 goal of regular classes but hey, that's what 2008 may be good for!

Learn how to dance with double veils..... still working on this one!

Have photos taken and post a website..... photos were taken, but no website yet!

Win a bellydance contest.... I did that!

Start taking yoga to help with backbends.... slowly getting into this one, I have found a yoga studio, now just have to make it there twice a week!

Go to Rakkasah for the first time and perform there... did it!

Goal one was to perform in front of an actual audience, and I did this twice so I acheived that.

Goal two was to attend Spirit of the Tribes, and I did that to.

Goal three was losing weight, which I have and am still working on.

I remember two of my goals, the ones I did achieve. I'll have to review tribe (which is down) for the rest.

Become a regular performer at the Middle East restaurant - check.
Perform with a cane at a hafli - check.

Ha! I found my goals!

For the full version, read here: My Blog - tribe.net

So what did I do:

Raqs Sharqi/Oriental dance
- I would like my concept of "how to analyze step combinations" to get more exposure: Well, I taught workshops about it in Zurich and Honolulu. But I guess I will make a DVD for it sooner or later...

- I would like to teach/perform more Raqs Sharqi again: Yes, done that. Loads of shimmy-workshops and even zills. Plus I finally found some people in Switzerland who are interested in learning Lebanese style.
Also got to perform several times at parties and shows, but it still could be more.

- I want to take lessons with ASENA when I go to Istanbul in May: No, didn't do that. But I interviewed her...

- I want to bellydance around the Hawai'ian islands in September: I taught some classes in Honolulu. Maui didn't work out, but that's fine. More time for shopping!

Bharata Natyam
- I want to do my Salangi Puja in June/July. (It's the moment when my teacher will officially give the ankle bells to me and therefore a step towards being a "grown up" dancer): Did it in July!

Bollywood Dance
- I want to finally do a Helen number!!!!: Yes, I choreographed Yeh Mera Dil! Also taught it but haven't performed it yet.

- I want to produce vol. 2 of my instructional DVDs: It's almost finished, but very slowly. We filmed in April and it's still not ready.....

Tango
- I just want to be a decent social dancer: I am ..g.:
- I want two new pairs of HIGH heel Tango shoes! Got them in Istanbul!

So, that's pretty good as far as achieving goals goes. Now let me think about things for 2008...

MEISSOUN

2007: I wanted to find out what to work on then do it ..g.:

For that I enrolled in 2 contests, the first one (april 2007) really kicked my butt .w.: and got me some specific things to work on!

After the contest I started taking ballet classes to improve my posture and balance, and I have been doing yoga regularly to become flexible enough to stand up straight Will be working a lot on traveling steps, turns and balance in 2008.

For the rest I went back to practicing the basics of belly dance and looking at lots of videos of the dancers I admire for inspiration..

In November I competed in a second contest, this one went much better ..l;, so I know I'm on the right track now...

In 2008 I want to improve my teaching skills (teaching advanced classes and workshops then next to the regular classes) and work on my choreos/new material. I still have a lot of stuff to practice from the workshops I took in 2007...

I also wanted to learn sword dancing in 2007. So far I euhm.. bought a sword.
I plan to actually use it for dancing somewhere in 2008.

And I'm going to practice for the splits, just for the hell of it ..l;,

I'm not really a goals oriented person, at least not in the usual sense. Still, I've made considerable improvement in my dance technique and stage presence this year (if I say so myself ..c:: ); and I danced with Isis wings for the first time this year (which I've been wanting to do *forever*) after taking a workshop on same from Ma*Shuqa.

Next year? Who knows? I'm already soloing to live music in a show in March it looks like <GULP!>...

achieved in 2007:

- teaching/performing internationally (and building up contacts for more stuff in that direction)

- starting a pro troupe doing paid gigs

- get matching costumes with dance partner Aurea

- surviving several big gigs (heizel stadion, busworld)

- finding extra studio hours to be able to hold more classes

- hosting and taking a professional make up workshop

- teaching a teacher training workhop

not achieved:

- finding more time to practice new material myself and with aurea

- pro fotoshoot for myself and troupe

- setting up a hire a bellydancer agency

- setting up more teacher training stuff (waving at beatrice)

goals 2008:

- registering as self employed
- sponsor my first workshop with "big names" (bozenka in february)
- performing to live music
- producing a show (fall 2008)
- finding new hafla venue and have regular hafla's
- really fitting in the time (2h a week) practice time just for myself/ not teaching oriented
- more international work
- get organised in my contacts with media (press releases etc)
- photoshoot
- get new businesscards

and (gulp) preparing going possibly fulltime in 2009

Dance related goals of 2007:

- successfully set up my own classes in one city - actually achieved this for two cities, plus two other ones starting January.

- perform more - definitely achieved, although maybe not as much as I'd have wanted to.

- expand costume collection - achieved, no further comments ..g.:


Achievements/changes that weren't quite planned: moved to Brussels area, got (learner's) driver's license, bought a car, became self-employed full-time dancer, re-built my entire website on my own, created two flyer designs for my classes which I'm horribly proud of.

For 2008, planning to take more classes and workshops again, practice more, perform more. Ideally, do some restaurant work, but don't know if that'll happen.
Basically, try to maintain it all and make a living!

The only goals I can remember were to improve my arms and my posture. I've come a long way (though I still have a ways to go).

Entering a contest this year pushed me a bit, though. I finally made myself learn double cane, which is something I love to watch and wanted to be able to do. Also made me practice.

If I had any other dance goals, I don't remember them. We should archive those threads so we can reference them at the end of the year!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

We should archive those threads so we can reference them at the end of the year!

Oldfashioned me writes them on a piece of paper, I stick it in a pretty little silver envelope and keep it in my dayplanner all year ,r:;

LOL, my bad...I just started another thread on this same topic!

~~Kimahri

that was my business goals, now, the dance dance goals

achieved: improve arms/hands (not quite there yet but much happier than last year), work on veil work (basically coming up with my own crescendo's and transitions, instead of just copying aziza), master the float in combo with hip/arm stuff, 16dancers troupe choreo, and yet more troupe choreo

to work on in 2008: more arms and hands, facial expressions/smile, new classical choreo for myself and one for students, new material from the duisburg workshops, two fusion pieces to non-strictly bd music, reach new level in troupe choreo.

and finally get a camcorder

I guess the big one was quitting my day job to dance and teach full time. Another big one was to go to a multi-instructor workshop/festival event, which I achived by attending the IBDC in August.

I kinda remember posting about wanting to improve my arms and zilling. I've gotten better at both for sure, so I'll consider that one achieved. Still a long way to go, though.

I attained a few goals that I didn't have at the beginning of 2007, but came up with and completed later in the year - built my home studio, entered a competition, and started a student troupe.

Even without knowing it, in 2007 I made true a dream I had for years.

Opened my own Oriental and Theatre Studio, and I'm just sooo happy about it !
Beside that:
Performed at London
Went 6 times to Cairo (3 for NileGroup, the others for privite lessons)
Went 1 time to Istanbul (lessons with Nesrin Topkapi, Ahmed Ozgun and having fun !)
Produced 3 BIG theatre shows, sold out all, with total of 50 different oriental dance dancers.
Danced almost 70% with live arab band at weddings, embassies events etc
Dont know how, but bought more costumes that I thought I would lol (dont tell my husband lol)


Maria Aya

I reached my financial goals for the Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive, but I fell just short of my attendance goals. A lot of that had to do with the IBDC happening just 6 weeks before my event and there just wasn't anything I could do about that one.

But that's ok...we are definitely on target for 2008 and I've very excited about that!! I might even sell-out the event...although if I get close to doing that I'll try to get more space at Palace Station. Very exciting stuff!!!

Well as I had been very ill during 2005/6 my 2007 was about getting back on form health and dancewise.It took a determined effort but I'm proud to say I think I've achieved that.I'm back teaching lots of workshops and performing again.I've lost most of the weight I gained through wrong medication though to loose another stone would be nice. I've worked a lot at my dancing this year and i certainly feel a whole lot more positive about my dancing and life in general than I did this time last year.Heres to a great 2008.

In 2007, I achieved my goal of teaching more workshops.

I taught musical zills for dancers for the 2nd time at Ahlan wa Sahlan Festival in Cairo and twice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I taught a cane workshop in San Anselmo (north of S.F.) for the local chapter of MECDA.

I now have plans for teaching the zills workshop again in March in Sunnyvale and teaching another workshop later in 2008 on Arabic vocabulary heard in songs and which Arabic gestures and facial expressions can go along with them.

Originally Posted by leylalanty

...teaching another workshop later in 2008 on Arabic vocabulary heard in songs and which Arabic gestures and facial expressions can go along with them.

I would go to that in a heartbeat! I love it in classes and workshops when instructors touch on this, but to have a whole workshop dedicated to the topic sounds like heaven!

Originally Posted by leylalanty

Iand teaching another workshop later in 2008 on Arabic vocabulary heard in songs and which Arabic gestures and facial expressions can go along with them.

I would RUN to a workshop like this if it were available anywhere near me! Perhaps you could be persuaded to put this material on a dvd sometime? You know, after the zills one?

Originally Posted by Taj

I would RUN to a workshop like this if it were available anywhere near me! Perhaps you could be persuaded to put this material on a dvd sometime? You know, after the zills one?

Yah, after the zills one! I'll be meeting with the videographer in the next week or two to see if the zills one would be feasible. Let's stop hijacking this thread for now. If I do anything like that, I'll be sure to start a new thread or two. ..g.:

Start my own belly dance publication - Done - goes to press Jan 08
Shimmy This Quarterly is up and running! Yeah
Belly Dance by Amaryllis Salome' Carter | Shimmy This Belly Dance Company Raks Las Vegas!
Go back to teaching - had to take an almost 6 month hiatus due to serious health concerns/issues. - Start my classes again Jan 08
Become more active in my community (bellydance) - Done...big time!
Begin a non-profit organization - Done - M.E.D.A.S.N. is up and running!

2007 was pretty good - except for that whole really sick thing.
2008 is going to be insanely good - no - it's gonna be GREAT!!!!