Welcome to the Late Winter Issue
Volume 2, Issue 1
Okay, I blew it and I admit it. I
was comfortably thinking I had plenty of time to get this issue out, but
I was so wrong. I was thinking of the Spring issue and I had not even
put out the Winter issue!! Sorry folks, I got a little confused.
I will claim old age, since I just turned 53 in March. That
is as good an excuse as any. So that said, let us get right at it.
Rakkasah was my first outing after hibernation. If you have never been it is really something to experience. Although it is a week long event with workshops day & night during the week, the real clincher is the ending weekend where there are tons of dancers, 2 1/2 days worth, and tons of venders selling anything a dancer could want. Actually the venders even sell stuff you didn't know you needed. Many of the top venders/importers of full costumes bring in their new line just in time for Rakkasah.
Chris (the other Old Bag) and I decided to go down a day early and take in the great shopping the Bay Area has to offer. We found several nice fabric stores on the East Bay, but alas nothing we were looking for. Chris was looking for beads and pailettes for her Sparklers. Chris' Sparklers can be ordered through Designs by Janie, check them out on the Hip Sash page. Or from Chris directly at her business site www.cepwebpages.com/tmurr.html . I was looking, as always, for another source for body stocking material and fabric for some of my Custom Costuming Customers. We did try again the next day in the South Bay where Dawn Devine Brown joined us as tour guide. It was a wonderful day of shopping and visiting. Dawn caught us up on all the Bay Area news. Poor Chris didn't find a thing she needed and I only found fabric for Custom Costuming (and then it turned out to be the wrong color). But we did get a chance to check out Adira's store in Menlo Park. It was very interesting. Adira does most of her business on line, but maintains a small store front within a craft Mall. This allows her customers to see everything close up, but she does not have to be there all the time.
Then it was work, work, work for the rest of the weekend. We work in the Scheherezade Imports booth on the main floor. We sell what we wholesale to Scheherezade and only those items, after all it is her booth. So chris sells her sparklers and I sell body stockings (which sold out again this year) and my books. It is always great to get to see all your friends and make money too. We were exhausted as we headed home on Monday, but we had lots of great memories too.
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Rakkasah was my first outing after hibernation. If you have never been it is really something to experience. Although it is a week long event with workshops day & night during the week, the real clincher is the ending weekend where there are tons of dancers, 2 1/2 days worth, and tons of venders selling anything a dancer could want. Actually the venders even sell stuff you didn't know you needed. Many of the top venders/importers of full costumes bring in their new line just in time for Rakkasah.
Chris (the other Old Bag) and I decided to go down a day early and take in the great shopping the Bay Area has to offer. We found several nice fabric stores on the East Bay, but alas nothing we were looking for. Chris was looking for beads and pailettes for her Sparklers. Chris' Sparklers can be ordered through Designs by Janie, check them out on the Hip Sash page. Or from Chris directly at her business site www.cepwebpages.com/tmurr.html . I was looking, as always, for another source for body stocking material and fabric for some of my Custom Costuming Customers. We did try again the next day in the South Bay where Dawn Devine Brown joined us as tour guide. It was a wonderful day of shopping and visiting. Dawn caught us up on all the Bay Area news. Poor Chris didn't find a thing she needed and I only found fabric for Custom Costuming (and then it turned out to be the wrong color). But we did get a chance to check out Adira's store in Menlo Park. It was very interesting. Adira does most of her business on line, but maintains a small store front within a craft Mall. This allows her customers to see everything close up, but she does not have to be there all the time.
Then it was work, work, work for the rest of the weekend. We work in the Scheherezade Imports booth on the main floor. We sell what we wholesale to Scheherezade and only those items, after all it is her booth. So chris sells her sparklers and I sell body stockings (which sold out again this year) and my books. It is always great to get to see all your friends and make money too. We were exhausted as we headed home on Monday, but we had lots of great memories too.
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Dressing the Dancer, Part 1
This will be a continuing series of articles
in Janie's Oasis. But it was not my original idea, Chris came up with
both the name and idea. Two years ago Dawn, Chris and I had all gone
to the Double Crown Competition together. We had separate booths, but
shared hotel and travel expenses. Well on the way home we got to discussing
ideas for costuming workshops. This should come as a shock to no one
considering both Dawn and I teach costuming workshops. Well from the
back seat Chris comes up with this great idea!
Rabia (teaches in Reno, NV) and I have played with this as an idea for a workshop for local dancers since then, but have not actually scheduled one. So I came up with the brilliant idea to do a series of articles here on the subject.
First and foremost the one thing newbies need to know is what to wear to class. Loose fitting clothes are not really what you want, because your instructor really needs to see how you are moving your body and your legs. The instructor needs to correct any body misalignment as soon as possible so you don't pick up bad habits. So a leotard and tights or leggings are really the best way to start. Now if you are not comfortable dressed this way at first, then a long T-shirt and leggings would also work. I never suggest long full skirts for beginners, save these for later when you are learning how to use a skirt in your dance. Harem pants are great, but wait until you have some of the basics down. I can not stress enough the importance of getting it right from the beginning .... your body will thank you later.
For those of you to shy to join a class or too far away from a class, instructional videos are a good substitute. I am in no way saying videos replace a living, breathing instructor. I encourage everyone to take real classes. If you can't, then use your videos and take a workshop whenever you can. Most of the really good instructors can teach at all levels at once, when teaching a workshop. You can find videos from really good instructors on my Video & DVD page. These aren't the only videos I recommend, they are just the ones I have in stock right now. As the business grows, I hope to stock even more videos. I will say that I own, use, and recommend every video I have in stock. After all, the company motto is, "We sell only what we believe in."
So as you progress through your first set of classes, you decide you want to LOOK more like the Belly Dancer you are becoming. Well then it must be time to go shopping and Designs by Janie can certainly help you there.
Rabia (teaches in Reno, NV) and I have played with this as an idea for a workshop for local dancers since then, but have not actually scheduled one. So I came up with the brilliant idea to do a series of articles here on the subject.
First and foremost the one thing newbies need to know is what to wear to class. Loose fitting clothes are not really what you want, because your instructor really needs to see how you are moving your body and your legs. The instructor needs to correct any body misalignment as soon as possible so you don't pick up bad habits. So a leotard and tights or leggings are really the best way to start. Now if you are not comfortable dressed this way at first, then a long T-shirt and leggings would also work. I never suggest long full skirts for beginners, save these for later when you are learning how to use a skirt in your dance. Harem pants are great, but wait until you have some of the basics down. I can not stress enough the importance of getting it right from the beginning .... your body will thank you later.
For those of you to shy to join a class or too far away from a class, instructional videos are a good substitute. I am in no way saying videos replace a living, breathing instructor. I encourage everyone to take real classes. If you can't, then use your videos and take a workshop whenever you can. Most of the really good instructors can teach at all levels at once, when teaching a workshop. You can find videos from really good instructors on my Video & DVD page. These aren't the only videos I recommend, they are just the ones I have in stock right now. As the business grows, I hope to stock even more videos. I will say that I own, use, and recommend every video I have in stock. After all, the company motto is, "We sell only what we believe in."
So as you progress through your first set of classes, you decide you want to LOOK more like the Belly Dancer you are becoming. Well then it must be time to go shopping and Designs by Janie can certainly help you there.
Above is just the start. A bare midriff top and a
basic hip sash worn over your tights or harem pants. The top above
was made from a leotard that I cut off and decorated. You can also buy
bare midriff tops at the
Dresses, Tops, Pants, & Skirts
page, listed as Chollis. You will also find Harem Pants there too.
My Chollis sell for $30 each, a basic coin hips sash sells for $30
each, and my harem pants start at $25 each. You can also find some cheaper
pants on the Sale page from time to time. So now you are starting to
look like a Belly Dancer as you learn more and more. A side note
is the above pieces can also be used to start your first costume!
Now you see the basic class or beginner costume taken up
a notch. The triangle sash has rows of crocheted beads and coins. Naturally
this sash will cost more, $65 to be exact. A fancier hip sash does
not mean you are a better dancer. It simply means you fell in love
with the sash and you were willing to pay a little more. If you stick
with Belly Dance you will find yourself owning quite a few of the sashes
shown in both sets of photos and more. Most of us own several in different
styles and colors. Believe me there is a sash out there for everyone,
no matter what your taste.
Okay that just about covers Part 1. I wanted to also add that dance shoes, socks, or even bare feet are better for learning this dance. Tennis shoes or sneakers are really to big and bulky and they don't allow you to really put your feet in the proper position. If you must wear corrective shoes, then you are stuck with them and you will learn to work around them.
Part 2 will be in the next issue or so. Really it will be when I can get a model for the photos, a dress form just doesn't work as we start to build your Belly Dance wardrobe. I just want to say THANKS CHRIS for this great idea, I think we are going to have a lot of fun with this one.
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Okay that just about covers Part 1. I wanted to also add that dance shoes, socks, or even bare feet are better for learning this dance. Tennis shoes or sneakers are really to big and bulky and they don't allow you to really put your feet in the proper position. If you must wear corrective shoes, then you are stuck with them and you will learn to work around them.
Part 2 will be in the next issue or so. Really it will be when I can get a model for the photos, a dress form just doesn't work as we start to build your Belly Dance wardrobe. I just want to say THANKS CHRIS for this great idea, I think we are going to have a lot of fun with this one.
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Wiggle Hips Magazine is Retiring
I am sad and excited over this news.
Sad because, as one of the Two Old Bags, the magazine has been a part
of my life for 10 years (or at least it will be 10 full years of publication
when it ends). Excited because, it gives the Two Old Bags the opportunity
to concentrate all their efforts on their two premiere events, High Desert
Hip Fest and Wiggles of the West Contest. And also excited, because
it will give me more time to write my books. I have several more books
I want to write, especially the one I have been trying to finish for the
last year or so.
When we started Wiggle Hips there was not a lot of magazines out there. Regional newsletters yes (I was working on one), but only a few magazines. So Chris and I plunged in head first and learned the publishing industry. On The Job training to the max. Through the use of publishing software, I certainly learned a lot more about my computer. So much so that a lot of people believe I know a lot more about computers than I do. Boy, have I got them fooled. Chris has learned a whole lot about how crazy and crazed writers can be, namely me. We have done our part to publicize our dance form and the people who make up this fabulous Belly Dance community. Now it is time to pass the torch to the newer publications (and the older ones too) and let them do their part.
We decided to recommend two publications to our readers: The Chronicles and Jareeda . We feel they represent the direction our dance form is taking. Please support these and other publications. They do us a great service. I have been asked by many publications to write for them. I'm thrilled to have a place to park and article now and then.
Rest assured the Two Old Bags are not retiring! We will continue to sponsor our events here in Reno. Only Wiggle Hips magazine is retiring.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
For more articles written by me you can find several at Gilded Serpent the on-line Belly Dance magazine at www.gildedserpent.com
When we started Wiggle Hips there was not a lot of magazines out there. Regional newsletters yes (I was working on one), but only a few magazines. So Chris and I plunged in head first and learned the publishing industry. On The Job training to the max. Through the use of publishing software, I certainly learned a lot more about my computer. So much so that a lot of people believe I know a lot more about computers than I do. Boy, have I got them fooled. Chris has learned a whole lot about how crazy and crazed writers can be, namely me. We have done our part to publicize our dance form and the people who make up this fabulous Belly Dance community. Now it is time to pass the torch to the newer publications (and the older ones too) and let them do their part.
We decided to recommend two publications to our readers: The Chronicles and Jareeda . We feel they represent the direction our dance form is taking. Please support these and other publications. They do us a great service. I have been asked by many publications to write for them. I'm thrilled to have a place to park and article now and then.
Rest assured the Two Old Bags are not retiring! We will continue to sponsor our events here in Reno. Only Wiggle Hips magazine is retiring.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
For more articles written by me you can find several at Gilded Serpent the on-line Belly Dance magazine at www.gildedserpent.com