My Belated 2010 Belly Dance New Year’s Resolutions

Together, Wendy we’ll live with the sadness
I’ll love you with all the madness in my soul
Someday, girl, I don’t know when, we’re gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go and we’ll walk in the sun
But ’til then, tramps like us, baby we were born to run

-Bruce Springsteen

I know, I’m a day late and a dollar short. After all, procrastinating on your New Year’s Resolutions is about as unamerican as, say, not liking Bruce Springsteen. But it was The Boss who got me thinking, Born to Run could be my anthem this year.

Gas prices are going up, consumer confidence is still in the toilet, and at the end of the day, I’m still just a living, breathing unemployment statistic. But things have to get worse before they get better. And though the news itself seems to change every day, there have been a couple of positive benchmarks these past couple of months. As far as I’m concerned, people are still getting married, having parties and entertaining. Last year was a great year for my business, and I expect it to get even better this year. I refuse to take part in my own personal recession. If you can build a compelling brand during a recession, you can make it any time, and anywhere.

Just to recap, 2009 was epic. Losing my high-stress corporate job was the best thing that could have happened for my dancing. I finally had the time, energy, focus and drive to “go public,” and enjoyed some media appearances, a music video shoot, and building the best fan (er, I mean, client) base a girl could possibly ask for. And all that was just the beginning!

Needless to say, I’m gonna keep on hustling. I don’t want to spill all my candy in the candy store, but I’ve got some marketing tricks up my sleeve! But above everything else, this will be the year that I get back to the basics and re-discover my dance self. Why is it that when we’re gigging most actively, our creativity is the first thing that suffers? While I wouldn’t trade my busy schedule for anything in the world, I am ready to branch out, evolve and grow. My style has taken a different path, becoming more confident, sassy and mature. Previously, I had stifled my distinctive swagger in favor of a more “politically correct” Egyptianized style. Now, I’m realizing that it’s time to be me. I am not a “subtle” person. In fact, I am quite the opposite – a diva, a comedienne, a showgirl and an open book. So why should I dance subtly? Why not dance flashy and fabulous? (As an aside, I have to credit the cabaret chameleon Aradia of Las Vegas for helping me discover a little more about my authentic dance self. I was fortunate enough to enjoy several awesome learning experiences with Aradia last year, and her confidence and versatility blew me away each time).

On an unsexy note, I also resolve to practice more. Of course, I believe that passion trumps technique, hands down. But ultimately, technique is the vehicle through which we express all that intangible, charismatic goodness. It’s never too late to revisit the basics. It’s never uncool to acknowledge, own up to, and work to overcome your limitations. And you can never be too good at what you do.

On a further technical note, I’ve decided to learn shamadan (candelablra), refine my drum solos, and throw myself back into Turkish and American cabaret style belly dance like there’s no tomorrow. That’s what I “grew up” with. That’s what looks good on my bod and fits my personality. And that’s how my audiences like me best.

I also resolve to abandon all costumes that don’t fit or flatter me, and acquire more Bellas ;)

What are your Belly Dance New Year’s Resolutions?

Carrara