2^nd part of the journey

Wildlife and plants…

I love seeing other countries, cultures, and the tribal dance variations, and I also love seeing the different wildlife and native plants. I was so fortunate to stay at the Banksia Farm in Mt. Barker, when I was teaching the dancers for those few days.

It is a B&B that is known for it’s 11 acres of the native plant, the Banksia, which is an amazingly diverse plant, with wildly exotic blooms and pods. Not only are the grounds are great walking tour to see this plant, but also to see lots of wildlife. The birds themselves were numerous, with loud calls throughout the day, as they flew in flocks around the grounds, the bush, and the pond.

I awoke every morning to the shrills and calls of the white-tailed black parrots, the ducks, the other assorted parrots, the guineas, and other birds I have no idea what they were, but there were lots of them! I saw the Blue Wren, the Honey sucker,  along with the guana lizard ( a monitor), an ibis, several hawks and crows, tons of cows and sheep with the assorted goats, a gorgeous baby donkey, and others.

And of course the variations on the eucalyptus and gum trees were outstanding, the bark alone diverse in its striped and peeling nature was a visual treat, as always.

And Kevin, the banksia expert, gave me the informative lecture on the banksia, which are just so cool!

and now, on to a weekend in Denmark with Becky and a full on two days of dancing and a hafla….

Oh, where have I been? I”ve missed my blogging! and you…

The long lost traveler without her computer! Traveling across the world for the past week, on the road, without much computer access, but I’m still lurking with blog in mind!

I finished off the Tribal Vision book giveaway before I left Oregon, and Hiya was thrilled to be the winner. Such lovely entrees for the new year, may all of you receive your dreams and desires in the dance and beyond.

I have been writing the February enewsletter, which should be out next week. February already? Wow… the new year is cruising and life is good.

After a 30 some hour flight, a too brief visit with a good friend, I jumped yet another plane for another dance adventure. Dancing with the crazily wonderful girls called Tribal Thunder down in southern Australia for a few days has been such a treat. They get the true meaning of tribal dance, and it warms my heart to see such a beautiful, loving community of women who want to dance together to celebrate their friendship, creativity, and passion for life. They share it with their community, and when they do make money from a performance, they save it for their yearly giveaway when they pick a cause to donate it to. How lovely is that?

So we danced and talked dance for several hours every day, and then they treated me to sightseeing their beautiful countryside, their local wineries, and a gonging session!

Yes, I’ve been gonged, as everyone should be. I’ve had many different healing experiences, and tried varieties of methods. But this was a new one for me. This involved a vibrational sound healing using five different very large gongs in a teepee type room, plus adding the scent of sandalwood to help with the meditation. We lay on soft mats in a circle in the dimly lit room while our facilitator gonged around us and over us for almost an hour. The purpose is to relax our muscles and our minds, and it took me almost the full hour to let myself unwind. I figured it was because after teaching dance for four hours and then going into the gonging with the uncertainty of trying something new, my mind didn’t quite want to let me go.

So I went back the next day, now knowing what to expect, and being earlier in the day too. And I enjoyed it so much more. The facilitator was also better, with a healing rhythm to her talk and energy, and I was able to relax better, although that crazy monkey mind chatter kept jumping in throughout the session! Just breathe those thoughts away and let go… ahhh… I love the deep vibrations of the gong, and with the several different sounds and tones, it was a calming experience. Just like the didgeridoo sound healing I have done before, with that deep vibrational wave of sounds that washes over you. And vocal toning is another great method of using sounds as a tool for energetic healing where you are doing the toning instead of having it done to you. If you’ve ever chanted, it is similar, having not only the vocal release, but the vibrational sound within your chest and body.

ok, more tribal travels to come…

So many wonderful entrees. Thank you all for taking the time to write and share you thoughts about your dance and art form, and your desires… You are all possibiltarians!

The lucky dancer whose name got pulled from the turban is….

Hiya!

Here, again, are her words, about desires for 2010…

Last year, my new year’s resolution was to be better at leading – more comfortable, more smooth, more confident.  I didn’t quite make it.  We are a VERY small troupe (2-3 of us) and mostly it’s been our teacher, Petra, leading.  This year, we are hoping to expand a little, opening up to new students and possibly new troupe members – and I really want to make sure that I know my moves, the cues, and when to use them.  I love the beautiful, non-verbal interaction between leaders and dancers, and when the flow happens from one to another it is magical.  I want to create more of that magic!

This dance is magic, and life is magic. We create it and participate in it, and it takes us all to be a part of the supporting community. How blessed are we all to be able to dance with each other is some way.

I will send her my book, Tribal Vision: a Celebration of Life Through Tribal Belly Dance…

and I hope you all have a chance to read it!

Watch for the next giveway next month…

Thanks again.

Hey dancers,

I have had two spots come open for our

17th annual Breitenbush women’s tribal bellydance retreat! April 23-25, 2010

This has been sold out since September, but unfortunate circumstances have had two women need to give up their much coveted spots. do come and join us!

Info in the link below…

http://www.gypsycaravan.us/workshops.php

**with Paulette Rees Denis and Gypsy Caravan, innovators of Tribal Belly Dance!
With very special guest instructors –
**Samantha Riggs from Boom Boom Bollywood!
teaching Temple Bollywood and Bhangra
and
**Lynea Gillen, back again with her fabulous African Tribal and Yoga for Bellydancers!
Be ready to sweat and groove, dance and laugh.

Honor yourself with the power of your dance and the power of your words. In our vibrant circle of women, you will dance own dance within the communal and improvisational structure of Tribal Bellydance and the fusion beyond.
All levels are welcome for the weekend although some experience of belly dance is necessary.
The weekend will include Paulette’s invigorating tribal style belly dance instruction, workout, and journaling sessions;
along with Lynea’s Yoga for bellydancers and her hot blend of African Tribal dance.
This year we are thrilled to have Samantha Riggs joining us-get ready for high energy Bhangra, and meditative Temple Bollywood.
This is a fabulous blend for our weekend of dance and writing–add luscious outdoor hot tubbing, steamy saunas, great vegetarian meals, some down time, and the peacefulness of the mountains, and our circle of dancing women just gets stronger and more remarkable every year! This is for dancers please, some experience necessary.

Dancing Divas Delicious Dreams
For February D-Quad, thinking about goals, dreams, ideas….

What about what I said, or what she said? How does other peoples’ words or actions inspire or affect you? How do we affect each other’s goals and dreams?

Can you take those ideas and comments further and write about them for us? Whatever that means to you, send it in, poem, story, photo, list, and include your bio and a photo if you have one! For publication in Caravan Trails, February 2010, and next year’s Tribal Dancer’s Anthology…
Due by January 28th, 600 words or so.

Send to dance@gypsycaravan.us

Thank you so much for sharing…

and make sure to check out the Anthology from the past year, buying info below:
Click on the link for more info and to buy, only $6.00…
http://www.gypsycaravan.us/shopping/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=67&products_id=334>

and

Tribal Vision Book Giveaway

Reminder:

Let’s get this year off to a good start. I wanted to offer you a gift, a free copy of

Tribal Vision: A Celebration of Life Through Tribal Belly Dance,

Here is what I would like you to do… write comment back here on my blog—

What do you want out of your dance in 2010? It could be a simple request or could be a long waited for desire.

We’ve gotten many fabulous comments so far, see the previous post for this giveaway. Would love to have you join us…Let us know so we can all support you in your dreams! And I will pick your name out of a turban and send one luck winner my book to get you started on your dancing dreams! Deadline January 20th (right before I embark on my Australian dance tour), coming right up…

Peace…

I had to share this, because it hurts. who made humans god?
please do what you can…

http://www.predatordefense.org/urgent.htm

Predator’s Defense

Urgent Action Alert! Coyote Killing Derby This Weekend, Jan. 16-17, in Southeast Oregon

Coyotes were greatly revered by Navajo
herders, who called them “God’s dog.”