I don't want to go off on my own crazy tangent too far, but…

I've been in a state of flux. I "completed" my learning with the instructor I started with, and ended with a feeling that I've gotten a decent "survey course" in bellydancing, but I don't really know what separates the different styles. What makes this different from that, and so on. I thought I was heading more towards cabaret, because from what I learned in her classes, the more "cabaret" moves are what look best on my body. But I've been drawn to tribal costuming and to fusion music – so I had no idea what to really concentrate on learning. (Some of that was from a misunderstanding of tribal arms. If you do them wrong, they don't look good on anyone.)

I've come away from the weekend with the feeling that I don't need to concentrate in just one area. I SHOULD learn all areas… that way when they combine in my dancing, I can at least say what kind of dance I'm doing. I still need to learn the differences in the styles, and a lot of that is yet to come, but I don't need to pick one.

And just simply seeing the "world" outside of the little local group I was in… awesome, inspiring. I'm just going to come out and say it – in my area, there's not nearly enough minorities participating. Which is sad because it's such a multicultural area. I needed some of THAT flavor in my life as well.

There's more, but these are big things. These are the things that will remain in my mind the longest. (That and just being impressed by EVERYone we met.) There IS a community, and we DO belong. Couldn't be happier with the whole thing.

Being a geek is good! Yay geeks!

Even though the Dancing your Demons was very uncomfortable for me I really felt what she was going for. Now I just gotta get past my stage fright and use those emotions!

Asharah was so nice and personable and talented. I hope to take more workshops with her.