Hello, finally decided to start a blog. I will be using this blog to talk about my adventures in Belly dance and to connect with other dancers around the globe, to promote events and workshops, music, costume and other resources.
So, who the hell am i anyway? well, I am Beatrice Flowers, I am a Belly dance teacher and performer based in Nottingham, UK. I am director of Nottingham Tribal Belly Dance, we are a Fat Chance Belly Dance sister studio and specialise in FCBD ATS instruction. NTB began in early 2009 after I completed my FCBD general skills and teacher training in San Francisco.
I also teach and perform fusion dance, my style is heavily influenced by classical and contemporary dance which I trained in for many years beginning in my early childhood. Unfortunately I had to give up dancing for a long time after developing a neurological disorder, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy at the age of 12 after five years of severe unmedicated excessive daytime sleepiness, paralysis, hallucinations and various other nasty things that affected me through every hour of every day.
Although I studied dance and choreography and college, I never really felt I could fit in, so during my teens I pursued a career in music, keeping dance closely at my side, but never really able to have dance in my life the way it had been previously. It wasn't until I was in my early twenties that I was able to really dance again, this was mainly because one of my symptoms caused my muscles to go in to paralysis and a dancer that at any given moment can turn into to a blob of Jelly on the floor isn't really ideal, not to mention a dancer who is constantly falling asleep even on her feet!
It was the decision to try a medication to treat this particular symptom that allowed me to remain standing without turning into a jelly. So, the new jelly free me began taking bellydance classes, soon discovered Tribal Belly dance, became obsessed and the rest is history.
I never imagined I would be a teacher, but doors kept opening and I just go wherever the wind takes me, and It brought me here, so I want to share all these amazing experiences and my knowledge with everyone I meet along the way.
The crappy void in my life that came from having to give up dance all those years before, has been filled ten fold by Belly dance. I like to call Tribal Belly dance 'Ballet without the bullshit' It has the poise and posture and grace of Ballet without the damaging effects on ones body image and in Belly dance, we can truly be who we really are, no matter who we are, what we look like, and most importantly for me, even if I am perpetually tired. No one is telling me I am too short or that I cannot be a professional dancer with my illness. I am able to be the best I can because the belly dance community encourages me and gives me the support I need to be confident enough to just go out there and do what i love most.
anyway, I don't want to talk about my condition for this entire post.
I want to talk about what exciting things I have planned for the end of this year and for 2011.
So, firstly, Our upcoming podcast...
BDUK.TV, is a Belly Dance production company that I co-run with my partner chauffeur extraordinaire Doug. We specialise in showreels, videography, photography and promotion for performers, our sister company is Unit24 productions which is a small independent music production company, we are not for profit and everything we do is to support fellow performers and musicians. BDUK.TV will be doing a brand new Belly Dance podcast which will feature interviews, event announcments, costume tips, music reviews and much more.
I don't yet have a launch date for the podcast but I will announce it here as soon as It is ready for lift off.
I will sign off here.... the old sleepy thing is beginning to creep in and cause my typing to make no sense!
So for now, take care, I look forward to sharing the shimmies and spilling the beans... the tribal beans of course.
Love and undulations, Bea
So, who the hell am i anyway? well, I am Beatrice Flowers, I am a Belly dance teacher and performer based in Nottingham, UK. I am director of Nottingham Tribal Belly Dance, we are a Fat Chance Belly Dance sister studio and specialise in FCBD ATS instruction. NTB began in early 2009 after I completed my FCBD general skills and teacher training in San Francisco.
I also teach and perform fusion dance, my style is heavily influenced by classical and contemporary dance which I trained in for many years beginning in my early childhood. Unfortunately I had to give up dancing for a long time after developing a neurological disorder, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy at the age of 12 after five years of severe unmedicated excessive daytime sleepiness, paralysis, hallucinations and various other nasty things that affected me through every hour of every day.
Although I studied dance and choreography and college, I never really felt I could fit in, so during my teens I pursued a career in music, keeping dance closely at my side, but never really able to have dance in my life the way it had been previously. It wasn't until I was in my early twenties that I was able to really dance again, this was mainly because one of my symptoms caused my muscles to go in to paralysis and a dancer that at any given moment can turn into to a blob of Jelly on the floor isn't really ideal, not to mention a dancer who is constantly falling asleep even on her feet!
It was the decision to try a medication to treat this particular symptom that allowed me to remain standing without turning into a jelly. So, the new jelly free me began taking bellydance classes, soon discovered Tribal Belly dance, became obsessed and the rest is history.
I never imagined I would be a teacher, but doors kept opening and I just go wherever the wind takes me, and It brought me here, so I want to share all these amazing experiences and my knowledge with everyone I meet along the way.
The crappy void in my life that came from having to give up dance all those years before, has been filled ten fold by Belly dance. I like to call Tribal Belly dance 'Ballet without the bullshit' It has the poise and posture and grace of Ballet without the damaging effects on ones body image and in Belly dance, we can truly be who we really are, no matter who we are, what we look like, and most importantly for me, even if I am perpetually tired. No one is telling me I am too short or that I cannot be a professional dancer with my illness. I am able to be the best I can because the belly dance community encourages me and gives me the support I need to be confident enough to just go out there and do what i love most.
anyway, I don't want to talk about my condition for this entire post.
I want to talk about what exciting things I have planned for the end of this year and for 2011.
So, firstly, Our upcoming podcast...
BDUK.TV, is a Belly Dance production company that I co-run with my partner chauffeur extraordinaire Doug. We specialise in showreels, videography, photography and promotion for performers, our sister company is Unit24 productions which is a small independent music production company, we are not for profit and everything we do is to support fellow performers and musicians. BDUK.TV will be doing a brand new Belly Dance podcast which will feature interviews, event announcments, costume tips, music reviews and much more.
I don't yet have a launch date for the podcast but I will announce it here as soon as It is ready for lift off.
I will sign off here.... the old sleepy thing is beginning to creep in and cause my typing to make no sense!
So for now, take care, I look forward to sharing the shimmies and spilling the beans... the tribal beans of course.
Love and undulations, Bea
Hi,
ReplyDelete"Ballet without the bullshit" made me laugh, this is very true. I would like to join your idea...
Greets Shaddai (Germany)