Getting in solid movement in the most depressing time of year (season AND time change? ack!) is more of a challenge than I'd anticipated... luckily I keep these gigs for deadlines/motivation to keep it up.  Tonight I perform fusion bellydance with Cloud City Circus at their monthly variety show.  I haven't performed with them since...July?  Wow!  Come on out!  

I've been having such a hard time motivating myself to move lately!  Luckily I had a bellydance/burlesque show last night to rehearse for, but otherwise, bleh!  So instead, I plugged in some BIG speakers in the basement, and created this mix during a mellow rainy afternoon dance party with some friends.  Enjoy!

It's a good thing I chose to start this movement challenge at the beginning of the time change.  The early darkness really throws me for a loop every year, sucking up all of my creative and physical energy. It's been really difficult to motivate myself to do, well, anything, but I feel a responsibility to push forward and make sure some movement happens.  Yesterday the best I could muster was running through my sets for Sunday's show a few times and doing a few basic conditioning exercises.  But you know what?  I did it.  Nothing worth video recording, but I made it happen. I forced myself to move.... and I'm glad I did!

I survived my first halloween/housewarming/birthday houseparty at my home on Friday night.  More importantly, so did the house, my roommates, and our relationship with our next-door-neighbor landlords.  We had a dance party in the basement all night.  There were so many people there that it was hard to get through each room.  I can't wait to do it again..... next year.

But instead of focusing on the success of our amazing party, I went and played and danced at yet another amazing event: HOWL!  Another fabulous year of go-go dancing for the 3rd ave outside stage... except this year, I was also the opening DJ.  I recorded my set, here you go!

This also marks the beginning of this month's MOVEMENT CHALLENGE!

"Beginning November 1, 2015 for 30 days we will spend at least 30 minutes a day in a movement art practice - this can include dance class, yoga class, going out dancing, dancing at home (as long as it is a continuous 30 minutes!), aerial, acrobatics, flow arts (spinning props), be creative! Try new movement styles! Become more focused in your practice!

Each day, we will also create a 30 second video clip of our movement. This can easily be shot with a "smart phone" - nothing high tech needed!"

Yesterday was technically Day 1, however, I was up dancing until about 3am the night before and managed to step on a thumb tack whilst cleaning up at home.  So, tonight I'll be doing an hour of rehearsal and some conditioning, sans-foot.  Can't wait to hear what y'all are doing too!