Alay'nya - Founder and Artistic Director of Troupe Seraband
|
 |
Alay'nya, Founder and Chief Instructor
for the Alay'nya Studio and Artistic Director of Troupe Seraband,
performs extensively throughout the NoVA area, as well as New
York and the regional Southeast. She recently premiered "Phoenix,"
a dance with multiple veils, to rave reviews at the Casablanca.
|
| (CLICK
FOR LARGER IMAGE)
|
Alay'nya's performances emphasize the nearly lost arts of zils, veil, and floorwork.
Alay'nya is currently teaching in McLean, VA.
|
<TO TOP>
<TO TOP>
We love to read. And watch movies. Sometimes, what we
like the most isn't always what others say is good for us:
This Month's Most-Recommended Fav Read:
Jackie O did it in the White House! |
|
Who'd have thought it? Jackie O., back when she was Jackie K.,
doing shimmies in the White House! (Could not begin to
imagine Barbara following suit.)
What
Would Jackie Do
Book nominated by
Alay'nya.
|
If you have a fav read, send a copy
to Alay'nya -- or even write a review yourself! (Note though -- I have to read it myself and agree in
order to publish your review here.)
|
-
Miss Kitty has her own collection of "banned books," visit
Miss Kitty
to learn about her fav reads.
-
Our own "banned books" listing
will be coming up soon.
<TO TOP>
Community networking and interaction: Do you have a skill or service
that you want to share?
- List yourself here! - must be a regular and active
member to post a listing
- Or list a friend's service, if you've had personal experience
in working with them - you must also be active to do this.
<TO TOP>
It all started when, once upon a time, Alay'nya simply had too many cats.
Someone in her family suggested that she answer the phone "Alay'nya's
belly dance school and cat house." The idea, regrettably, stuck.
But perhaps not a regret. There is a long-standing association between
belly dancers and cats. Something about their grace, their sensuality,
their self-possession.
Alay'nya with Miss Kitty, Unofficial Mascot of Troupe Seraband
|
 |
There are drug addicts, and there
are Dior addicts. Miss Kitty is a confirmed tuna addict. Her motto
for life is "More." "More NOW."
Actually, we can all learn something from this.
Miss Kitty has the right idea.
More is always better. And she'll be happy to tell you how to
get "more." Think of this as your divine birthright,
and email: misskitty@alaynya.com
|
(CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGES)
|
- "Kitty of the Month," coming soon
- Other regular "kitty" members appearing
soon on a regular basis
- Look for advice from Miss Kitty!
<TO TOP>
E-mail:
- alaynya@alaynya.com
- nancy_alaynyastudio@yahoo.com
Phone:
- Sorry - we're just never home. Please try email.
Mailing Address:
- P.O. Box 943, McLean, VA 22101
Costumes and Customs are on their own page -
we're accepting recommendations from active members - feel free to pass on any
good links, sources, and ideas!
<TO TOP>
<TO TOP>
About the "regulars" - and some of our more interesting people!
Maha Najeeb
|
 |
Maha Najeeb, aka "Miss Wabbit,"
Senior Soloist and Founding Member of Troupe Seraband,
performs extensively throughout the NoVA area. "I'm not really
bad," she says, "I'm just photo'd that way!"
Visit Maha at her
website
to learn more about Maha, her art, her dance, and her rabbit.
|
|
(Photo Credit: Lisa Whalen, used with permission. CLICK
FOR LARGER IMAGE) |
<TO TOP>
With luck, fortune, and the grace of the Goddess, an ongoing series
....
'Tis The Season (Or At Least It's Getting Very Close!) -- A Pre-Planning
"Holiday Survival Guide"
My
Dearest Darling God(dess) Daughter –
If you've been with me, and following the suggestions of the past several Letters, then
by now your life is calmer and more organized, and so are you. Just in time, also. The
"holidays" are nearly upon us!
This is not to get "Scroogey" about the holidays, but we know that they take time, they take
energy. (And they take money.) And they all take these things right at the time of year when we
would most like to just curl up with a good book or movie, sit in front of the fire with our favorite
cat or dog, cuddle our warm animal's warm fur, drink something warm, spicey, and alcoholic, and simply
doze through the season until springtime beckons.
And yet, our cultural evolution (or devolution, if you prefer) of "how to deal with the winter blues"
has put us all into a great state of distress. It is not that we object to gethering with others, when
the alternative is to be cold and lonely by ourselves. And it is not that we object to presents and
cards, and anything that could cheer us up, just as we come to the darkest time of the year. And it
is not, certainly, that we object to yummy, delicious foods -- who really wants a raw celery stick
when the temperatures drop below freezing? (And in some places, they are dropping below freezing this month,
and winter times are much more severe.)
We don't object to any of these things in principle -- but what we pragmatically find is that
we are being culturally called to a peak level of activity, just as nature and our entire
psyche dictates that it is time to slow down and turn inwards.
What is a woman to do?
There are really only three choices. The first is to simply do what most of us have done, which
is to deal with the season when it comes up. Then we are cross, irritable, and all to often, exhausted.
What should be a "merry" becomes a "mopey." We get so that we can't stand the thought of one more
present, one more trip, one more anything. But this is not fun. This is not a joyous experience.
And if our goal, our intention, is to have a "delicious life," then undue stress, hassle, and
hardship have no place in it.
So there is another choice -- one that I've admittedly done for years.
And each time, it was with good excuse. This choice has been to simply
"opt out" of the holiday season. "No gifts this year," we say.
"No travel." And often, we can come up with an excuse or reason. I've
had - and used - them all; from ongoing work crises to recovering from
surgery. One recent Christmas, I had a family member who was in need
of a "cash infusion." I gave him all my Christmas money -- every last
cent. It solved his problem, and mine also -- I didn't have the money
to go shopping, so I was "off the hook," with a perfectly rationalizable
and socially justifiable excuse.
But this is not a joyous, delicious, delightful way of being.
Yes, it is reduced-stress, it is more harmonious with nature and our
internal rhythms, but it is not truly joyous. Skipping the
holiday season entirely does not cause us to "greet each day with joy,"
nor does it make our spirits soar.
So there has to be another solution, my dear one. And there
is.
The various armed services have a name for it -- "7 P's" -- or "Pro-active Proper Planning
Prevents Piss-Poor Performance." And the essence, as you guessed, is to focus on planning
and preparation.
Over the next few days, I'll be suggesting some ways and means by which you can create a
wonderful, warm, delicious holiday season -- a truly jolly time for both yourself and those
you love -- and keep your calm, your sanity, and your sleep schedule in the process. But
stay tuned -- and prepare to ACT NOW, because right now, THIS MONTH, is the time when
you can create much joy for yourself later!
Live joyfully, my darling!
– Alay'nya
P.S. -- What to do now -- while you and I are getting our thoughts and lists in order -- is to
get our thoughts and lists in order! Make a list of all the people to whom you'd like to send
Christmas cards. Those to whom you want to give a small "token" gift. Those who will receive a
somewhat larger gift -- although you could "batch" them, and the gifts need to be thoughtful, but
not terribly personal. And then those for whom nothing but the best -- something truly thoughtful
and personal will do.
Get your database in order. Whatever your means are - specialized contact management software, or
your MS Outlook contact cards, or an Excel Spreadsheet, or even just a good old-fashioned address book.
Get it, and go over your names and addresses. Start doing the updates, and making the phone calls and
emails needed to get the updates. For many of us, this is a multi-week or multi-weekend project,
so start now!
First Year ("Level 1") Studies
-
March
- "The Season of the Diva"
-
April
- "Deep Cleaning Our Lives"
-
May
- "Good Orderly Direction"
-
June
- "Diva Consciousness"
-
July
- "Creating Personal Style"
-
September
- "Fantasy Requires Determination"
-
November
- "Gathering In"
-
December
- "Contraction is as Important as Expansion"
Second Year ("Level 2") Studies
-
January
- "Coming Through Our Dark Side"
-
June
- "Journal of a Fast"
-
July
- "He's Doing the Best He Can"
-
December
- "Transitioning to Level Three"
Level 3 Studies
A Little Bit About These "Levels" ...
Levels give us clarity about our use of dance as a personal path,
as part of our inner evolution. The understanding of these Levels
draws from our esoteric Western tradition. Because this approach is a
combined body/energy/psyche pathway, the practices supporting our evolution
from one Level to another draw from Chinese Taoist energy practices
and yoga, as well as traditional women's multicultural dance.
At each Level, we deal with a different aspect of energy work, forming
the foundation for our "esoteric dance practice."
Level 1
- "Grounding"
Level 2
- "Releasing Resistance"
Level 3
- "Building, Circulating, and Directing Internal Energy (Ching)"
Level 4
- "Cosmic Dancing: Creating through Intention"
<TO TOP>
People, places, things ... and sometimes, just friends ... (and Studio
members - feel free to recommend your favs!)
Educational Links
-
Shira
has a wonderful site full of all sorts of
factual, educational, and cultural articles that
she has written. I recommend taking the time to peruse this site often;
there is more than is easy to read at virst visit. Well worth your time!
-
A beautiful site with lots of links on
Egyptian Belly Dance
- worth the visit, for artistic quality and more!
Fashionistas
-
Check out
Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring Fashions
to see his skirts modeled on both
Turkish gypsy ("Rom") as well as
classic belly dance skirts.
Those of us who've loved these looks for years are style setters this spring!
Friends
-
If you're visiting New York soon,
Stella
has a wonderful site all about
belly dance in New York City that
she keeps up-to-date. It includes links to the NYC teachers, belly dance events,
good shopping sources, and even to page for belly dancers and their cats!
- Shell has a long running webstore with a variety of items at The Craft Witch.
<TO TOP>
Fun Things to Do - Around and About the Metro DC Area
-
Hot in the City: "DCist"
the best DC blog
has tidbits of political and cultural events around the town.
-
The Best of DC: "The
Washingtonian"
publishes a select guide to the best
theater, music, dance, art, and special events
that the city has to offer.
-
The "Town and Country" approach to DC: "Washington
Life"
for DC "high society."
You'll need to sign up for access to their site.
-
The "dinner party" way to meet new people: "DC
Dinner in the City"
carefully arranges "dinners out"
(and other lovely events) carefully orchestrated
to help you mix and mingle.
-
For more: Washington DC
Mettro Area Resources
contains links to all sorts of cultural,
artistic, and just plain fun opportunities right
here in town.
<TO TOP>
-
Elena Lentini
- a wonderful and inspiring dancer -
based in New York City. A former student
describes classes with Elena.
-
Anahid Sofian
- one of the greatest teachers of our time -
based in New York City. A former student
interviews Anahid.
-
Joe Williams
- one of the greatest living proponents of the esteemed Delsarte Method
for dance expression.
Joe teaches regular workshops with us; please check our
calendar
to see when the next one will be held, and also send an email to Nancy at nharris2004 at yahoo dot com to be informed of the next
Joe workshop!
<TO TOP>
"I always have a book [in progress]," says Karl Pribram, Professor
Emeritus at Stanford University and currently with the Georgetown University.
So do we - but we're not as prolific, nor as dutiful in getting them published.
Here - as there is time to do the posting - will be some excerpts from
the one[s] in progress.
<TO TOP>
... for some of the more outrageous goings-on. And those who are likely
to be involved.
<TO TOP>
Tiraz Dance Network
is a Northern Virginia Mid-Eastern Dance affiliation group
sponsoring and supporting educational and community events; good listing of area workshops and events!
"WAMEDA"
is a labor of love from leading area dancers and dance aficionados;
best guide to DC-area Mediterranean, Mid-Eastern, North African, and Central European dance events --
sponsors events, workshops, and maintains a good area events calendar and teacher's directory!
<TO TOP>
|
