I have always said that the world of dance is chock full of amazing alpha women… and Phoenix, a Denver,
Colorado based belly dancer who teaches
workshops and performs nationally, is probably one of the most dynamic chicks I know! A virtual power house,
she’s not only an incredible performer
and instructor- she’s a dance mamma
to legions of dancers in her hometown and directs
a couple of troupes- she’s also
an event producer , a full-time nurse, a terrific cook, and a doting kitty mamma.
I met Phoenix years ago at the Tribal Dreams belly dance event in Nebraska, and
was blown away by her powerful and artistic performance ( her non-stop spins and work with Isis Wings were both off the hook!) as well as her sweet,
fun loving off-stage personality. It was
there that I discovered that she the co-sponsor along with partner Selayma Anan, of the long-running annual “Shimmy 2B Free”, a large-scale belly dance event and theater show in Denver. The proceeds going to various
foundations assisting with
health, financial and socio-economic
issues, and the show and workshops are super well-organized. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching and performing there twice, and the
event, in addition to raising funds for worthy causes, always runs like clockwork.
Phoenix’s unique belly dance style is a pastiche of Egyptian and Turkish cabaret,
spiritual dance, khaligi, and tribal, and she’s also into various types of
fusion, with performances ranging from
progressive and transcendent theatrical and
dark Goth pieces to light-hearted comedy acts. She’s a master at Isis Wings,
often using custom wings two at a time.
In 2008 she released her internationally acclaimed instructional DVD “Isis Wings With Phoenix”.
She's also the
creator and publisher of "Dancing From Within", an innovative deck of
belly dance class cards. This deck , based on her
holistic knowledge and teaching
methods, focuses on physical and emotional development
using the chakras, elements, movement and technique, and is a great tool for
students, teachers or troupes.
Phoenix is always s
always preternaturally calm at shows,
whether she’s organizing , performing or both… maybe it’s the nurse thing- she’s used to dealing with critical situations on an every day basis!
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Walk softly and carry large swords: Phoenix by Artist Edge Photography |
Here, in her own words, are some
of Phoenix’s backstage secrets:
“For me prepping for a great show involves organization and
focus. I am an improvisation dancer most
of the time but this still involves some
preparation regardless if the music is picked in advance or it is a live band.
Organizing myself prior to a show may be the morning of - or
day before if I can swing it. I consider
my audience, music and venue. If I’m not dancing to live music, then I do like to
have my picked prior to that week and listen to it. This helps 'set the stage' for what I am
planning to present. Knowing that
setting helps me decide on what am I planning to present. What I mean by that is - is it emotional,
fun, flirty, dark or what is the energy or story? Knowing this helps me easily pick my costume
and make up. Once I have these items
planned out then the performance often flows with ease.
Practicing for the show means listening and dancing to the
piece of music or the band. When I do
choreograph a piece, I am working on remembering it but ensuring the
choreography is not forced and feels natural.
For most of my performances, I practice dancing to the music to get a
feel for the changes and accents.
Knowing the music for an improvisation piece allows me to relax and interact
with my audience.
The day of the show, I like to have a little down time. It might be
relaxing with my cats or taking time
with the troupe. I try to not pack my
day if at all possible. Sometimes, that’s not avoidable so in those cases I do try to
have some quiet time while I put on my makeup.
The day of the show, I only allow myself to run a routine one or two
times if at all. Practicing too much the
day of the show actually stresses me out.
I often have a much smoother performance if I have a "go with the
flow" attitude.
The hour or two before the show, I have my costume, props
and cover up ready to pack. I prefer to
get ready at home and show up mostly dressed if possible. I try to arrive early as the drive is always the most
stressful time for me. I am always
concerned about surprise traffic and such.
So once I am there then I can take a moment to relax.
The moments before my performance, I do a little warm up
with shimmies, slides and a few pops. I
can use whatever music is there to do this or might listen to mine in an
iPod. This ensures my muscles are awake
and ready to roll. I do try to have a
minute of private focus time by just standing alone and deep breathing to relax
my mind and body. I do often get
backstage 4 to 5 numbers prior to mine to ensure my costume is in place and
ensure I do not distract from other acts.
I can often watch from the side stage while doing a quiet warm up and
focus. It is hard for me to sit still
prior to dancing so I love being earlier in a show rather than later. This way I get to see more of the show also!
I feel working together backstage is really important for
all. The energy we create impacts each
other. I love being a part of shows
where people are excited even if they are nervous. If there is a drama or turmoil, I avoid it to
ensure that I do not absorb negativity.
As any sponsor will tell you, the ritual and plan for shows
where you are the sponsor changes drastically.
The basic ritual is to ensure all are okay and show is starting then be
backstage on time. For these shows, I
pick music and props that do not require a ton of prep and often dance to music
I have used in the past.
Experience has shown me that if I need too much prep time,
something might happen so 'keep it simple' and 'remember what brought you
here'. I feel if you hit the stage with
that attitude and good training - that is what the audience also came to see!”
#
Phoenix
is teaching at The Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive on this coming Sunday, Sept. 13th, 2015 8:30-10:00am. Her “Express Yourself” workshop focuses on
connecting emotionally to the music.
Info:
http://www.bellydanceintensive.com/index.php?pag=cms&id=774&p=the-2015-grand-schedule-of-events.html
Find out more about Phoenix’s classes and
shows in Denver as well as her national events , her cards and DVD here:
Visit the Shimmy 2B Free
website: http://shimmy2bfree.com/about/
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