I would love you to have a copy (and read of course!) my book, Tribal Vision, A Celebration of Life Through Tribal Belly Dance! This October you can win one!

Here is what you do:

Write here, comment on this blog, what you have learned about your self this last month of September, as a dancer or artist. Due by October 8th!

Your thoughtful comments will go into the turban of life, and I will pick one out on October 10th. Woo hoo…

Please make sure to include your email address so I can let you know you have won and get your mailing address…

I can’t wait to read your thoughts. And then I will share mine too. Enjoy your writing time!

Last week we talked about volunteering your time to help out. I know how it feels to be overloaded and not have a lot of time to give, but when you do it, it is so rewarding, and it really is a lovely way of helping out, but giving that little piece of yourself to take care of someone, help feed someone, drive your elderly neighbor to the store, or volunteer on a larger scale with a big organization.  Remember, every little bit really does count.

If you can’t find that extra time right now, no reason to feel guilty. How about donating some cash to an organization, or join a supporting group?  Again, there are so many, so find one that really fits with your ethics and esthetics. Join PETA, adopt a gorilla, send money to a cancer research fund. I belong to the Arbor Day Foundation, which helps plant and replant trees. Since I can’t do that work, I can send my support, for not very much money, and get our necessary-for-life trees planted. Simple and rewarding.

Do a little research online, find the cause that suits you, and go…

From Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots organization: Knowledge leads to compassion, which inspires action!

Your turn….

I am excited to tell you about our new Wednesday night tribal classes!
They will be at the sweet and funky Om Studio, 14 NE 10th, just off Burnside (in Portland). We will have two classes, a Beginning Tribal at 5:45 and an Intermediate Tribal Focus at 6:45!
So many of you have asked for another weeknight class, so I’m glad I can accomodate you, and that we got these great time slots at Om!

We will be canceling the Saturday morning classes after this session (ending on October 14th). But the Tuesday night classes are rocking and we will keep on at Soma Space.

Paulette and the Caravan
teach Tribal Belly Dance classes starting every six weeks
now Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Portland
Mondays in Longview, WA and also Wednesdays in Clatskanie, OR!

Tuesdays at SOMA Space,
next session starts October 20th…
6 PM -Beginning Tribal, with Paulette – a good workout, great for new dancers! Start learning our tribal basic steps, strength building, using zils, and have lots of fun!
7 PM -Advanced, with Paulette, by recommendation please.
SOMA Space 4050 NE Broadway, Portland

NEW DAY Wednesdays at Om Studio
next session starts October 21st…
*5:45 pm – Beginning, with Karen – This is great for new dancers and good for reviewing as we learn tribal basic steps and transitions, work on strength building, begin using zils (finger cymbals),
and have lots of fun!
*6:45 – Intermediate–Tribal Focus, with Carol–Adding more steps, playing zils and learning rhythms, monthly themes of tribal styling or dancing with props, and using our tribal improvisational language to dance with our partners in our circle!
OM Studio, 14 NE 10th Ave, just off Burnside
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Clatskanie, OR with Paulette
Wednesdays, NEXT session October 21st, Beginning Tribal, 6-7 pm, 6 weeks
at the Goldenspire, 147 N. Nehalem
**and a new Yoga Class–refresh and renew your spirit and your body…
Join Paulette on Thursday mornings starting on September 10th, 9:30-10:30 am, at the Goldenspire
Six class session $60.00 or $12 drop-in
specific dates: Sept. 10th. Sept. 24th, Oct. 1, Oct 8th, Oct. 29th, Nov. 5th,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Longview, Washington with Paulette
Mondays, 5:30-6:30
next 6 week session starts October 19th, Beginning Tribal!
at Body Balance Pilates Studio, 1329 Broadway, Suite 209
*to register, email dance@gypsycaravan.us

see Classes page for more info
http://www.gypsycaravan.us/classes.php

Cool… a new review of “Tribal Vision: A Celebration of Tribal Belly Dance,” my book! in the UK magazine, Mosaic, Issue #49!

“Sumptuous…Extremely well edited and laid out…a beautiful pictorial biography…”

I am honored. Thank you…

Not only did the dancers perform at Pirate Festival on Sunday last weekend, but they also danced at the Alberta Street Fair. Here they are with a bit of sass and sword action!

and this weekend we have two shows also, with Raquy and the Cavemen! McMenamin’s Grand Lodge and Edgefield…

join us… f

or info go to www.gypsycaravan.us

The Portland Pirate Festival was a great success this last weekend, with sunny skies and a huge crowd. Of  course, the CDC dancers took over the festival Sunday, starting their performance at 10:15 in the morning, parading and dancing through the crowds all day, and ended with a big she-bang at 2:00 in the afternoon!

Check out the Flickr photos to the right, Some of  lovely photos courtesy of Frank Lavelle…

Greetings, after a sunny few days in Sarasota Florida! What a glorious beach, hot sun, and some down time, along with a beautiful beach wedding and pool parties!

but, I continue to think about our One More Thing–OMT.

Have any of you done any volunteer work? What a precious way to give back to the community, by giving just  a little bit of your time to help, whether it be people, animals, the land. Think about how rewarding that can be, even if you are strapped for extra time, even if just a few hours a month.
Someone or something needs a bit of care. And you can give it.

Knowing that you might want to, how do you find the right venue for your beliefs and your time? I”ve wanted to do something to help, and then think of soooo many ways to share my time. I love to work with animals, so the SPCA or Humane Society is a natural. I love to dance, and have been asked by my local retirement home to come and share some movement with the local residents. That sounds great to me, a no-brainer. And what fun too.

How about you? Do you already volunteer? Where at? Got some good suggestions? I’d love  to hear them…

Here are just a few ideas for you to get started…

AARP lists volunteer ideas too. http://www.aarp.org/

The National Park Service is gearing up for its centennial in 2016, and over the next year or so, they’ll really start lining up volunteers for seasonal positions.
To find volunteer opportunities near you, visit http://www.nps.gov and click on “Find a Park.”

Donating Your Time
Going beyond one personal duties to help others in need. Read & Share.

http://www.ResponsibilityProject.com

Volunteer Abroad :  Volunteer 1 to 12 weeks, worldwide. Year-round. Make a real difference!

http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/

ASPCA: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Visit the ASPCA website to learn how to fight animal cruelty, read expert pet care advice, and view dogs and cats available for adoption.

www.aspca.org/

Thanks for all you do, and remember, be remarkable!

September Souk Sales from Paulette and Gypsy Caravan!

New Tribal bellydancers, this SALE is for you!

Take Paulette and the dancers home with you

September Souk Special #1

Buy Tribal Vision, the book, for $25.00 Find out what Tribal bellydance is all about! and get either Tribal Technique DVD #1 (regular price $25.00) or DVD#2 ($28.00) for $20.00 plus S&H, a savings of five-seven bucks!

a total of $45.00 plus S&H…

please specify which DVD when you order! What a deal!

September Souk Special #2

Buy both Paulette’s Tribal Technique DVD #1 and DVD#2 now you can practice with Paulette at home! for only $46.00 plus S&H, a savings of seven bucks!

Click below to shop!

http://www.gypsycaravan.us/shopping/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=75

A bit more inspiration…

How fantastic—I got to indulge in music all weekend. Friday night brought me into our rehearsal, as Jeff (horns), Brett( doumbek and djembe), and myself (frame drum, riqq, doumbek, percussion) were playing for three hours Saturday at a wedding. Although it was in the 90’s outside, we played in a park in the shade of a few magnificent redwoods. We started by playing a slow and graceful ayoob to process the bridal party in. The ceremony was short and sweet, and to raise the energy we played an upbeat beledi to process everyone back out and to the feast!

Then we played for a few hours, with time to get into an improvisational groove, middle eastern turns trancey shifting into the blues with a jazzy beat. I was in heaven to be able to play for so long, it does become a meditation, wether slow or fast, like the dance, when you can get into it without a stop and start time frame. You just get deeper into it, listening to all the nuances, watching your partners, trading solos, switching instruments, butnot letting a beat slip, improvising as the tune continues. Jeff played some deep didgeridoo wails, settling into the melodic airy swirl of the ney (flute). Brett plays a steady drum, trading back and forth from the djembe, to the doumbek, or both at once, with a few cymbal crashes, then into the haunting chime of the tibetan bow. As Brett held the rhythm, I was able to switch from frame drum to the riqq (my favorites) to the zils, the caracas, and then the doumbek. First time I really kicked on a drum solo. What a blast!

Sunday Jeff and I went to the Scottish Highland Games to see the Wicked Tinkers play. Heard of them? Check them out on Facebook. They tore it up with a blend of bagpipes, bohdran, snare, davul, and didgeridoo. Beautiful men in kilts. Yeh! And they were great musicians and entertainers! Some jigs were happening around us as they kicked it up. In between songs they were good jokesters too.

To top it off, one of the vendors was selling refurbished mandolins, violins, and guitars for REALLY inexpensive. I have been borrowing my brother’s guitar over the last couple of years as I sold mine a long time ago. I grew up playing the organ and guitar, and have been wanting one for a long time. Waiting for the right moment, you know? Here was this gorgeous red guitar calling my name. And with the right price tag. Jeff said merry christmas and away we went, home together with a red guitar. Now to just harden up my fingertips again…

So some great inspiration from the weekend for a couple of new recording ideas and a new CD-in-the-making dreams.

Music makes the world go around….

and the hips shake, don’t you know?

Good Monday to you, and yes, it’s time for One More Thing, with your hostess, Paulette!

And I”ve got three items for you on this fine day

(feeling  a little like a game show hostess at the moment…)

Behind door number One…

1. an e-newsletter for you to check out, on healthy and green living…

http://www.care2.com

Behind door number Two…

2. a few weeks back I mentioned using baking soda with white vinegar and hot water to clean and unclog your drains,  go here to read some baking soda beauty tips…

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/13-baking-soda-beauty-tips.html

Behind door number Three…

3. A lovely dancer friend of mine volunteers every January and goes to Hawaii to work with the whales and dolphins and bring awareness to people about their different living and dying situations.  She told me about this film, The Cove, about the horrendous situation that happens every year to the dolphins and in the ocean, which is actually the conversation that started my One More Thing idea. I was devastated and thought that I can try to do something too.

Read this article, then go see the film. Get active…

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/go-see-the-cove.html

*Bonus:

On another note…Here’s a youtube clip a reader sent me. What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxwG8RxQ5Zc

and you win them all! What do I win? Bring it on….