| Many years ago when I was just starting out in belly | | | | discover. What does a certification do for you? Does it |
| dance, I can remember certain dancers telling me to | | | | make you feel more accomplished? I know there are |
| get out of belly dance because I wasn't any good. You | | | | dance teachers in our field that are amazing who give |
| have to wonder why dancers who themselves have | | | | certification classes but does this mean that you are |
| goals and aspirations would want to diminish mine. But | | | | certified in their type of belly dance style? Everybody |
| the reality of our dance world can be shocking to a | | | | has their favorite teachers so say if you have three |
| novice and a cautious endeavor to a veteran. | | | | teachers that you really like than would you need |
| Unfortunately this is our world but only a small part of it. | | | | certification from all three? Does this really make you |
| As time went on I kept on practicing and training with | | | | feel better about yourself? |
| dancers who I felt were exceptional. And 24 years | | | | Well, if you are my student you won't get a |
| later I'm still belly dancing and creating a path along the | | | | certification from me instead you will get a dance |
| way that other dancers can join along if they so | | | | coach who will make sure that you find your style of |
| choose. I remember one time a reporter asked me | | | | belly dance. I will make sure that you understand |
| how I would define myself as a dancer and the only | | | | where your dance comes from which is inside of you. |
| thing that came to my mind was the word "lone wolf". | | | | We will go over what makes you tick and what |
| Ok, yes I am romantically infatuated with wolves but in | | | | makes you passionate about your dance. |
| my heart this felt like the best description. Since than I | | | | I don't want to teach you my way of dance, I want to |
| tell people that I am a lone wolf in this field because I | | | | help you find your way in dance. And this is why I don't |
| am unconventional in my way of dancing. Dancing for | | | | agree with the certifications. But there are students out |
| me is a creative expression that cannot be contained | | | | there who want and need to know that they |
| in a box. How would you define the Universe if so | | | | succeeded in class and I totally understand this. I would |
| asked? This would be hard to do because there is so | | | | just rather my students feel the success within |
| much of the Universe we haven't seen. And I believe | | | | themselves and for them to know that their creativity |
| that there is so much of dance to be discovered. So | | | | isn't certifiable. Because there is no end to self |
| than I ask you a question, why would you want to be | | | | discovery and there is no end to the opportunities that |
| certified in an art form that has to do with the creative | | | | come our way once we understand that our dance |
| mind which is vast and full of new and boundless | | | | represents how we live life. So for me I would rather |
| discoveries? Oh I'm sure there are those dancers who | | | | see life performed on stage that is artwork in |
| would say that if you are learning a cultural dance than | | | | progress. Is any artist truly satisfied or are we always |
| you should learn to dance it correctly. I'm one of them | | | | looking for the perfect dance. I haven't found my |
| and I totally agree. Ok so I'm going to play devils | | | | perfect dance yet but to tell you the truth I'm having so |
| advocate here; with so many dance teachers out | | | | much fun looking and creating that I don't really care if |
| there how do you know you are learning the correct | | | | she ever appears. The day she does appear will |
| way? | | | | mean my journey is over and I've come to realize that |
| Here's my thought on this, a certification usually comes | | | | the journey is what makes the goal that much more |
| to people as a completion of something. Our dance is | | | | sweeter. In some ways when we are on stage we |
| a life time study and there is so much to learn and | | | | dance the journey which is life. |