Interview with Alison

August 18, 2009 05:21 PM

Name: Alison

What is your role within the Sahara Dance community? Raqs Caravan East Company Member

Childhood ambition: When I was about seven, I thought, perhaps hoped, that adults had a different job each day of the week. On Mondays, I’d be a doctor; Tuesdays a teacher; Wednesdays a veterinarian; Thursdays an actress; and Fridays a dancer. As it turns out aspects of each profession are part of my life today.

First job: My first job was as a volunteer nursery aide at my church when I was 8 years old. When I was twelve, I had my first paid babysitting job. I continued to babysit, earning spending cash and savings, through middle and high school and into college.

What’s playing on your iPod or CD player? Journey’s Greatest Hits is in the CD player in my car. I finally put some songs on my iPod shuffle this spring. They are mostly upbeat songs - designed as a running mix - Lady GaGa, The Killers, Katy Perry, Pink, Scandal, Buju Banton, Queen, Kanye West, Timbaland, etc. and finally, some belly dance music Ehab Tawfik and Shereen.

Indulgence: Naps, chocolate, flowers, dessert, berries, apricots, cherries, basically fruit and some veggies in general, massages, pedicures, tv, movies, dancing, travel, crafts, chatting with friends, etc.

What’s your favorite belly dance moment or experience? I’d have to say my most influential belly dance moment, one that put me on a different trajectory, was my first solo. My solo married my comfort zone of hip hop/club dancing with something unexpected and initially frightening, improvisation.

Current inspirations: I’m always inspired by nature, art, culture, languages, and people.

What is your dance background? I started with tap and ballet at four years old and picked up jazz at eight. I stopped taking dance at 12 to pursue sports in middle and high school. Although I didn’t take formal dance during those years I enjoyed impromptu dancing at parties, clubs, and in my bedroom.

More recently, in addition to belly dance, I’ve taken tap, hip hop, and flamenco.

How did you get interested in belly dance? During college, after seeing some friends perform solos with hand-made costumes, I took a short eight-week course. I loved the dance - the costumes, the facial expressions, the emotions, the solo graceful female aspect, the hip-work, etc. When I moved back to the DC-area I decided to return to my tap roots and try something new, flamenco, at Joy of Motion. It was there, in between my tap class and flamenco class that I watched one of Rachel’s belly dance classes. I signed up for Rachel’s Beginner I class shortly thereafter and then followed Rachel and Elysa to Sahara Dance.

Finally, what do you love most about Sahara Dance (other than Hip Talk, of course!)? It can’t be said enough - it’s the people - the members of the Sahara Dance community. I’ve been energized, encouraged, and supported through the years by my classmates and friends, both in the studio and beyond.

Permalink →