Thread: Hi from the Windy City (sorry - a book!)

Hello to all! It's wonderful to have this great resource and have the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people!

I can't figure out how to fix the profile page so here's me. I gotta chop this into chapters:)

Oriental dance has been a huge part of my since the early 1970's when I started performing professionally. I started ballet when I was five and modern dance as a teenager but oriental dance is where I found my home. I worked as an oriental dancer until 1989 when I temporarily retired, now I'm teaching and dancing again albeit in somewhat altered form...l;,

I'm also a painter, I do illustration and mostly I am a lifetime student of dance, music, art, history. The more I learn the more I don't know, life has truly been an exciting and humbling journey for me.

My degree is in Art History. This has been a huge help throughout the years because I have a passion for Middle Eastern and Central Asian textiles as well as dance and music.

I've written about Oriental textiles and lectured at the International Conference on Oriental Carpets in Washington. I've also written about dance - I've had several articles published and a lot of drawings, mostly in small arts magazines that have long since gone down the tubes. I interviewed Ruth Page, met Irene Dunham and, after I performed an oriental dance at the Cultural Center I was asked to create a dance tribute to Ruth St. Denis.

Well, that was a disaster! She was a modern dancer influenced by Oriental dancers and I was an oriental dancer trying to impersonate a modern dancer - it is to laugh! But, it was An Experience! And, it was a good example of how Oriental dance and Western dance flow together even though my particular creation was really awful...g.:

Ruth Page intimidated me - I've struggled my whole career to understand the art of choreography for groups since even in the early 1980s when I first created a troupe people seemed to want to dance together - and I was hoping to learn from her - especially since I knew she also loved flamenco - which has heavily impacted my own dance - but alas - ! when I asked her the secret of choreography she looked at me like I was nuts.

So there I was in Ruth Page's gorgeous apartment on Lake Shore Drive, me with my one good dress, brassy hair that was supposedly “highlighted,” looking for The Key to Choreography, and getting this bemused stare. So I left and went back to the street feeling humble and lonesome and rejected and called my article “The Princess and The Gypsy” because that’s how it felt!

But that night the musicians played their hearts out and it was ok again, because life isn't a thing is it, or an answer, or a book or answers or a key. Life is a dance.

Welcome Elbelinde! I liked your book..g.:

I, too, liked your "book"--I think you're absolutely delightfully FASCINATING! ...And you're here in my hometown :) Perhaps we can get together for a cup of coffee sometime? Are you ever in the northern 'burbs?

Originally Posted by shenudance

Welcome Elbelinde! I liked your book..g.:

Thank you! I'll post more chapters 'bye and 'bye, I actually wrote a lot more but I figured I'd quit before I crashed the site...l;,

Originally Posted by Lesgemini_Zafirah

I, too, liked your "book"--I think you're absolutely delightfully FASCINATING! ...And you're here in my hometown :) Perhaps we can get together for a cup of coffee sometime? Are you ever in the northern 'burbs?

I would love to meet you!!!

I went to school in the northern suburbs (Lake Forest) but I haven't been up in awhile. It is so gorgeous especially in the fall! and I do miss it; I could catch the train!

Welcome!

Originally Posted by gypsydanse

Welcome!

Hi gypsydanse, I am also owned by a cat. Well actually "enslaved" would be a better term...l;,

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

!
But that night the musicians played their hearts out and it was ok again, because life isn't a thing is it, or an answer, or a book or answers or a key. Life is a dance.

Love that. Welcome! I'm close-ish to the Windy City, well, Rockford, but I'm in Chicago at least once a week.

Enyjoyed reading your post. Welcome to bhuz! I'll bet you've got more wonderful dance stories to tell. Can't wait to hear them.

Originally Posted by 1shadylady

Love that. Welcome! I'm close-ish to the Windy City, well, Rockford, but I'm in Chicago at least once a week.

Oh I love your tango quote. It's amazing - poetic and true!

Well if you get into the city maybe we can meet!

Originally Posted by Bahtya

Enyjoyed reading your post. Welcome to bhuz! I'll bet you've got more wonderful dance stories to tell. Can't wait to hear them.

Oh have I got stories...l;,

Welcome from NE NY state! Your "book" sounds a lot like mine! :-) There are a bunch of us from way back when here on bhuz, which is very cool, and Belly Dance enthusiasts from all eras and styles, which is also very cool. I learn a lot on bhuz, and you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Originally Posted by LiesaB.

Welcome from NE NY state! Your "book" sounds a lot like mine! :-) There are a bunch of us from way back when here on bhuz, which is very cool, and Belly Dance enthusiasts from all eras and styles, which is also very cool. I learn a lot on bhuz, and you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Maybe we should all get together and write a real book! 'Course we might have to leave out some parts...l;,..l;,..l;,

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

Maybe we should all get together and write a real book! 'Course we might have to leave out some parts...l;,..l;,..l;,

Now's where's the fun in that!? ..l;,

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

Oh I love your tango quote. It's amazing - poetic and true!

Well if you get into the city maybe we can meet!

Awww...thanks! I can't take credit for it, but I fell in love with the quote. I'll be in the city every Tuesday for school starting in 2 weeks! And hopefully in neighboring Naperville once a month for salsa on Saturdays.