The Durga Tour's topics - tribe.net

Durga Tour Shirts - just a few left!

2009-06-23T21:45:19Z

All along the tour, folks have been asking me if there would be any shirts left and if I was printing more?

The good news is that I do have a small handful of shirts left - bad news is the edition is sold out and I'm not printing any more - so this is it!

There are NO spaghetti tanks left!

But I do have ladies fitted tee's in S, M, L, and XL (only one of each of L and XL, 2-3 each of the S and M)

and I have men's shirts in M and L. And that's it!

Front of shirts look like: http://www.meddevi.com/durga/merch.html - and on the back is the complete listing of stops :)

Shirts are $20 + $5 s/h (shipped priority mail) in the US :)

Msg me with your size, style, and paypal addy, and I will send you an invoice!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Birthdays and words that begin with B :)

2009-06-11T23:45:27Z

Both are things that are on the horizon ;) We've been on the road now since May 1st, and the end of the Durga Tour draws near! It's been a fantastic journey, and I am so thrilled about the great experiences we've had, meeting folks, connecting with friends, and sharing the art! And we have 3 stops left!

June 13th - Saturday is Buffalo, NY - which is our ONLY NY stop - and features 3 workshops with myself, Asharah, and Tim Rayborn, and a salon show in the evening! Planning some special surprises in the evening, including a taste of Motif to foster community and good vibes, and it's somebody's birthday too. Come celebrate with us!

June 15th - Monday is Boston, NY - with workshops with myself and Asharah, hosted by Badriya! (more B's!) The first time Boston gets to meet Asharah - and my 3rd workshop in B-town!

Then Tuesday is our last stop, with Motif in Pawtucket, RI - Motif has really made an impact across the country, with rave reviews, and we're so thrilled to make our last stop a Motif-only stop. And the B-word for this stop is Beginnings, as Rhode Island is our new home!

All event details can be found at http://www.meddevi.com/durga/stops.html

See you there!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Buffalo - June 13th - our only NY stop!

2009-06-04T20:57:01Z

3 workshops and a show - and Woodstock has been canceled, so this is your only chance to get the Durga Tour for Western PA and NY!

Details at http://www.thebellydanceacademy.com/

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Ann Arbor, MI - June 10th!

2009-06-04T15:29:35Z

Two workshops with Tempest and Asharah - details at http://www.unveiledbellydance.com/annarbor/workshops/index.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

Bloomington, IN - June 7th/8th

2009-06-02T16:40:13Z

Workshops, Motif, and Private Lessons, details at http://www.ddbd.org/durga/index.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

Kansas City, MO

2009-06-01T21:01:40Z

2 workshops with Tempest - details at http://belliphat.com/workshops.html#durga

posted in The Durga Tour - 3 replies

Lincoln, NE - TONIGHT!

2009-06-01T14:55:18Z

Two workshops with Tempest and Tim Rayborn - contact http://dancersoasis.net/ for info!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Iowa - June 3rd!

2009-06-01T14:53:42Z

Workshops and Motif! http://www.tribalattitude.org/workshops.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Minneapolis, MN - June 4th

2009-06-01T14:53:07Z

a fabulous show! Blood & Steam! http://www.mourningdollplayhouse.com/?p=35

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Kenosha, WI - June 5th

2009-06-01T14:52:19Z

A special intensive workshop and show! details at http://www.twomoonsdance.com/ld/DurgaTour.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Chicago, IL - June 6th!

2009-06-01T14:51:38Z

3 Workshops and a show! Details at http://www.arabesquechicago.com/tempest.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Cincinnati, OH - June 9th

2009-06-01T14:50:21Z

Workshops and a show! details at http://www.zaharastangledweb.com/

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Boston, MA - June 15th!

2009-06-01T14:47:15Z

Two workshops with Tempest and Asharah! Details at http://users.rcn.com/badriya/durgaboston.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Rhode Island - June 16th!

2009-06-01T14:46:42Z

Motif! Our last stop! details at http://www.loladance.com/

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Ashland, OR, Tri-Cities, & Seattle

2009-05-22T16:06:07Z

Next up!

Saturday: two workshops with Tim Rayborn and Tempest in Ashland, OR - details here: http://www.meddevi.com/durga/ashland.html

Sunday: Portland, OR is postponed - NO PORTLAND STOP THIS TOUR - please head to Ashland, Tri-Cities, or Seattle instead!

Monday: workshops & show in Tri-Cities, WA sponsored by Troupe du Soleil - email durga52509@gmail.com

Tuesday: workshop and show in Seattle at Skin Deep - info here: http://skindeepdance.com/tempest.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Bloomington IN stop info available

2009-05-21T20:19:04Z

http://www.ddbd.org/durga/index.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

Sacramento!

2009-05-21T18:20:31Z

Tonight are the workshops at Hot Pot Studios (Unmata) from 6-9:30pm, just $15 each - and the show is tomorrow night (Friday)!

Details at http://www.unmata.com/unshows.html

Register at the door!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

May 7th Nashville stop

2009-05-06T20:46:01Z

Will there be a performance that evening or will it just be the workshop? Hubby and I are thinking of coming and I might do the workshop too, have to watch the money though, heh...

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

Chicago workshops spots still available

2009-05-05T17:32:43Z

They're going fast but we still have a few spots open for TeMpEsT and Tim's workshops on 6/6. All workshops will be held at the Arabesque Dance Studio, 3703 N. Elston Avenue, Chicago IL.

Hurry and sign up now via PayPal by going to the studio store link at: www.arabesquechicago.com/tempest.html; pay in person or call Sonya with your credit card information at 773-742-5250.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Durga Tour Merch!

2009-04-25T16:14:33Z

Pre-orders for Merch is UP!! http://meddevi.com/durga/merch.html

We HIGHLY RECOMMEND pre-ordering your size and style NOW to insure to get what you desire! Pre-orders close on 4/26 - and we will be carrying a VERY limited amount of back-stock. Your order will be ready for you to pick up at your indicated stop!

Thanks!!

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

Last few stops needed:

2009-04-21T20:51:24Z

Still looking to coordinate Durga Tour events at a few more spots:

Southern Oregon or Extreme NorCal on May 24th
Spokane, WA on May 27th
Eastern Colorado on May 31st
June 11th - Western PA or Cleveland, OH area.

All of these are pretty much en route, so if you're worried about budget, msg me for details as we have some easy options to help make a stop possible!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Chicago 6/6 registration is open!

2009-04-18T15:36:55Z

12-2pm Nouveau Noir OR Dance for the Music, Music for the Dance with Tim Rayborn;
3-5pm Adventures in SteamPunk!
8pm Big show at The Vittum Theater.....

...see the workshops page of our site for more details, & even register via paypal using our shop online link:
www.arabesquechicago.com/workshops,shtml

~~S~~
Sonya

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Portland, Oregon

2009-04-15T01:57:04Z

Ok folks, have a new space we're looking at Portland, OR, for the afternoon of Sunday, May 24th. Gotta do at least 4 hours, so I need to know from y'all, what do you want? Workshops? a show? a little of both? Looking at mid/late afternoon, like from 2 or 3pm on, but it won't end too late, even though it's Memorial Day the next time. I need your input to help plan this, as we don't have an official sponsor/organizer for this stop. (If anyone would like to help out, please LMK! - special perks :))

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Durga Tour in Moab!

2009-04-10T15:26:39Z

Registration for the Durga Tour is open for Moab..May 30th. www.desertveils.org
This is a very fun place to dance and party!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Almost there! Updates!

2009-04-08T14:32:33Z

We have secured more locations!

These are the last remaining stops where we still need sponsors:

-May 4th - Richmond, VA (have a good amount of people eager to attend this event, need someone to organize it!)
-May 23rd - Southeast Oregon
-May 24th - Northeast Oregon
-May 27th - Spokane, WA area
-May 31st - Eastern Colorado
-June 11th - Pittsburgh, PA or nearby.

posted in The Durga Tour - 3 replies

Pre-Durga Tour workshops in Washington, DC THIS WEEKEND!

2009-04-07T15:33:10Z

MeaHuna Productions is bringing Tempest to Washington, DC, on April 11th!
She’ll be teaching two workshops on finding your inner voice and developing a strong stage presence.

Workshops will be followed by a ritual dance dedication by Tempest celebrating friend, dancer, and artist Kaihea at the Palace of Wonders.

Registration and workshop information at http://meahunaproductions.com/?page_id=12

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Tempest in Columbia, SC

2009-04-06T15:41:50Z

Wednesday, May 6th--Tempest

Columbia is proud to be a stop on Tempest's Durga Tour! This workshop will take place in the place of our normal basics class at 711 E. Main St. in Lexington, in the CDE studios in the basement of the old mill. Cash or check at the door, or pay ahead of time via paypal to natalie_c_brown at yahoo dot com.

Tempest started her exploration of dance in early 2000 on the East Coast. She quickly found belly dance to be incredibly rewarding not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally, as well as a source of inspiration for her visual art.

Although she enjoys what tradition has to offer, Tempest loves exploring the dance through unusual music and creative costuming, pulling on her visual arts background to "paint a picture" with the dance. By working (playing) outside of the box, Tempest engages the audience through dramatic embodied storytelling , passionate expression, and sensuous, mezmerizing movement. She particularly enjoys performing Raks Gothique, also known as Gothic Belly Dance, and sacred-fusion forms of belly dance.

Strange Presence – 7:30-9:30 PM, $30

It’s all about bleeding your soul out to audience, serving it to them on a platter, and then eating THEM for lunch instead. A truly successful performance does more than show how well you can do the moves—it should really speak to your audience and exude expression. You CAN learn how to have a stronger personality on stage and channel that energy for a more dynamic performance. Discover the key aspects of capturing your audience with your stage presence and develop your own onstage drama! We’ll particularly focus on improvisational technique, character development, and learning to be more “in the moment.” This class is especially for any dancer who is ready to perform or is considering it.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Private Lessons with Tempest

2009-04-04T23:18:28Z

While I am in the Bay Area, post TF9, on May 18th-19th, I will have some availability to teach private lessons (based out of Hayward).

Some folks have also asked about private lesson availability on other spots on the tour. It will depend on how much time we have available, and what the space is (whether studio space is available, or room at the hotel), but please do email or msg me if you're interested so we can sort things out ahead of time and see if it's possible.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Pittsburgh, PA or Northeast Ohio?

2009-04-02T20:46:06Z

Keeping my fingers crossed, as I'm contact with folks over the last few missing stops, except Pittsburgh, PA. The date would be Thursday, June 11th, and onboard instructors would be myself, Asharah, and Tim Rayborn. We could do just an evening show, or some 90 minute workshops, or Motif, or a combo of workshops and mini-show. We'd be heading from the middle of Michigan (6/10) towards Buffalo, NY (6/12-13), so I'm looking for a location about 3-5 hours between both.

Have suggestions/interested in wanting to know how to make this last stop happen for us? Drop me a message with your email!

posted in The Durga Tour - 3 replies

Richmond is now Charlottesville!

2009-04-01T23:11:22Z

We have confirmed Charlottesville, VA instead of Richmond, VA - for Monday, May 4th. Hosted by Fire In The Belly, and will either be 2 90 min workshops or a 2-3 hour intensive. More details to be announced shortly!

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Northwest!!

2009-03-31T15:13:54Z

Alright folks, I have a bunch of students wanting to sign up for Northwest workshops, and nobody able to sponsor them. Due to folks being very upset that the first Durga Tour didn't reach the Northwest, we took some time to hit some big spots in this schedule, but while the rest of the tour (25+ other stops) is pretty much confirmed and getting a great response, the NW ain't coming together.

We had tentatively had:
5/24 - Ashland/Medford, OR
5/25 - Portland, OR
5/26 - Seattle, WA
5/27 - Spokane, WA

Now I just heard there's a competition on the 24th in the Ashland area, but I can't find any information on it online - could anyone help me out? We would also be open to any other Oregon locations for recommendations.

For Portland, we're working with Jane Archer's beautiful Euphoria Studios as the homebase for the workshops, but we need a sponsor to help organize things.

Seattle is back on the board for needing a sponsor, but I'm also open for suggestions on smaller towns/different communities, perhaps Olympia?

Spokane, awaiting feedback from potential sponsor.

Come on folks, let's make this a reality!

posted in The Durga Tour - 4 replies

Lincoln?

2009-03-21T08:16:45Z

Any news about the stop in Lincoln? I'm thinking about driving up for it....is a day thing? or a night thing? I wanted to do the KC one, but Tuesday nights are just no good!

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

Guest Instructor/Performer: Asharah

2009-03-17T18:56:30Z

We're very pleased to announce that dance artist and instructor Asharah will be joining us for part of the Durga Tour! She will be on the tour from Bloomington, IN to Rhode Island (the end!). You may have seen Asharah on the very first Gothic Bellydance DVD: "The Darker Side of Fusion", or far more recently on her own instructional, "Modern Tribal Bellydance". She is not only an amazing performer, but a top-notch instructor - and a lot of fun too! :)

For more info on the hotness that is Asharah, check out the performer/instructor part of the website, http://www.meddevi.com/durga

posted in The Durga Tour - 4 replies

Kansas City, MO

2009-03-16T15:40:21Z

Bellatrix is taking numbers - if you'd like to attend the KC, MO Durga Tour stop, please check out her post at the bottom of this thread: http://kansasraks.tribe.net/thread/9cf9f06a-7705-4f7c-af7e-0c3ab66010cc

and put your numbers in!

posted in The Durga Tour - 3 replies

What is Motif?

2009-03-13T14:07:48Z

"“Motif” – – a 2 hour event for dancers, musicians, & more. Motif is an experimental gathering, merging music, dance, and ritual. This is NOT a formal performance - it is a communal interaction and lead experience. The event will have a formal beginning to awaken our space, and will be guided throughout the evening by the lead dancers and musicians, and have a formal conclusion. Participants are welcome to bring rugs, pillows, etc. Musicians are welcome to bring their instruments, and dancers should come prepared to dance! "

Basically, it's part performance/part workshop/part ritual. We set the mood, create the "sacred space", explain to folks what we're going to do - exploring music, dance, trance, and community. There will be demonstration followed by active participation for both dancers and musicians. Then we reach the ritual climax, ground everyone, and open up the space. It's not a "come and go as you please", it's a once you're there, you're there sort of thing.

Motif is available where Tempest & Tim Rayborn are both on the tour, so from May 22nd onward.

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Sponsors NEEDED for these locations!

2009-03-03T02:47:40Z

We need hosts/sponsors for these locations (or near them!): - for more info, email me at tempest(at)meddevi.com please.

May 7th - Knoxville or Nashville, TN
May 8th - Little Rock, AR
May 12th - Northern AZ
May 24th - Medford or Ashland, OR
May 25th - Portland, OR
May 26th - Seattle, WA
May 27th - Spokane, WA
May 28th - Idaho
May 29th - SLC, UT
May 30th/May 31st - can extend Utah and/or hit Cheyenne, Wyoming, etc. (no Denver stop)
June 1st - Lincoln, NE
June 2nd - Kansas City, MO
June 3rd - Iowa (Des Moines?)
June 5th - Wisconsin (Madison?)
June 8th - Kentucky (Louisville or Lexington?)
June 10th - Detroit, MI
June 11th - Pittsburgh, PA
June 12th - Buffalo, NY (or the 13th)
June 14th - Albany, NY

posted in The Durga Tour - 16 replies

News!

2009-02-10T03:36:14Z

We'll be doing Moab, Utah on May 30th!

Still looking for a Friday night (May 29th) stop in SLC area, and we'll be heading through Colorado to get to Nebraska, so it would be great to offer a "Motif" event in the Eastern part of the state.

Also, Richmond, VA is back to "need a sponsor" - it doesn't have to be Richmond, VA, but in that area give or take an hour or so would work :) That's May 4th.

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

we can haz nouveau logo!

2009-02-02T14:55:51Z

Ok, so sometimes it's a blessing when the internet is down, because I actually use my hands for something other than typing...like creating the new Durga Tour logo...Durga's a tad Steampunkish :)

posted in The Durga Tour - 6 replies

Guest Instructor/Performer: Tim Rayborn

2009-01-27T21:59:08Z

In case you haven't been reading closely, our first confirmed guest instructor and performer for the 2009 Durga Tour is Tim Rayborn!

Tim Rayborn is an amazing musician - not only an incredibly talented performer (is there any instrument this man doesn't play?), but an accomplished teacher, and we're thrilled that he'll be an integral part of the tour!

Tim will be joining us from Sacramento, CA until the end of the tour in Rhode Island. He will be offering workshops for musicians and dancers, private instruction for select instruments, live music performances, as well as teaming up with me to lead "Motif" where requested.

For more info on Tim, please visit the performers/instructors part of the website.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Website Home!

2009-01-25T16:03:56Z

Finally had some time to work on the website - a nice rundown of everything is here:

http://www.meddevi.com/durga/

And I hope to be announcing our additional guest instructors next week, as we're working on schedules!

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Possible Route Reconfiguration

2009-01-17T00:48:05Z

if I we can secure SLC, this is the route I'm looking at right now:

5/21-5/23 - Sacramento area,
5/24 - Ashland/Medford, OR
5/25 - Portland, OR
5/26 - Seattle, WA
5/27 - Spokane, WA
5/28 - Missoula, Montana
5/29 - Idaho (on the way to)
5/30 - SLC, UT
5/31 - Cheyenne, WY
6/1 - Lincoln, NE
6/2 - Kansas City, MO
6/3 - Iowa
6/4 - Minneapolis, MN
6/5 - Wisconsin
6/6 - Chicago, IL
6/7 - Bloomington, IN - the crew
6/8 - one more day in Bloomington, cause it's just that cool
6/9 - Cincinnati, OH
6/10 - Michigan
6/11 - Pittsburgh, PA
6/12-6/13 - Lilydale and Buffalo, NY
6/14 - Albany, NY
6/15 - Boston, MA
6/16 - End in Rhode Island

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Some Clarification About Durga Tour Stops

2009-01-13T15:24:45Z

Since some folks have been asking me similar questions, I wanted to make some points.

The Size of It All?
While the Durga Tour in itself is a HUGE undertaking (coordinating so many stops over so many days, schedules, mapping, etc), it is essentially made up of small-scale stops all along the way. Of course, sponsors are welcome to make the event as big or as small as they wish, it is definitely not the same as holding a large or even medium festival. In most instances, a Durga Tour stop involves one or two evening workshops and maybe a hafla-style show. Or it could just be one workshop, or just a show. We're not looking for classes of 40-80 people, we're looking to have an intimate experience with your local community that's affordable for everyone and schedule-friendly.

Isn't that all Tribal stuff?
NO! While we may have Tribally-inclined guest instructors, the format of the Durga Tour is multi-style. Tempest's workshops are accessible to both cabaret and tribal styles, with a variety of levels and techniques appropriate for a diverse population of students. Tim's music classes are accessible as well to all styles of bellydance and beyond.

Is it expensive to host a stop?
The Durga Tour is set up to make hosting an event as easy and cost-effective as possible. Because the Tour travels cross-country by van, the travel cost is a great deal less than flying in an instructor - which generally costs a minimum of $300 roundtrip for just one person. Tour costs are a third of that, and are often bringing 2-3 instructors to a stop, making the relative cost of the tour stop 1/10th of your average travel costs for an event. The event fees (workshop, performance, etc) are set on a very reasonable flat rate or percentage *after expenses*, meaning sponsors have a realistic number to consider to estimate what they need to price the tuition/admission at - and a very high percentage of sponsors from the 2006 tour not only covered their costs, but made a significant profit on their events. As for venues/location, many sponsors made use of their weekly class night space or studio, which cut costs even further.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Confirmed/Confirming locations

2009-01-11T16:39:38Z

The following is a list of stops that are either A. confirmed or B. under discussion for confirmation (meaning I've been contacted by someone who is considered it):

*May 1st-May 3rd - Spring Caravan, Somerset, NJ
*May 4th - Richmond, VA
*May 5th - Carrboro, NC
*May 6th - Columbia, SC
*May 9th - OK City or Tulsa, OK
*May 10th - Amarillo, TX
*May 11th - Albuquerque. NM
*May 13th - Possible SoCal Stop
*May 14th - May 17th - Tribal Fest 9
*May 18th - May 20th - Bay Area
*May 21st - May 23rd - Sacramento, CA
*June 4th - Minneapolis, MN
*June 6th - Chicago, IL
*June 7th - Bloomington, IN
*June 9th - Cincinnati, OH
*June 15th - Boston, MA
*June 16th - End of the Rhode.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Alrighty Then! Projected Tour Dates for 2009!

2009-01-11T03:05:37Z

After a great deal of effort, I've managed to create the projected schedule for the Durga Tour in 2009. Please note that many of these are not confirmed dates, but are rather the combined result of ideal mapping, time placement and regulation, sponsor suggestion, past sponsor location, proposed sponsor locations, giant balls of twine, and other mathematical calculations (like the weight of unladden swallows). Some dates may change, as I have tried to set aside several days for us in the Bay Area post TF9 (private lessons are possible), then a few days in Sacramento for both workshops and visiting Keith's Mum. From there, it will pan out according to sponsors and opportunities. In most cases, locations are 3-5 hours apart.

We are very pleased that the immensely talented Tim Rayborn will be on the tour from CA onward to New England - offering both music workshops and live music accompaniment/shows. We are looking at several other surprise guests along the tour, both heading West and East for several stops at a time.

If you are interested in sponsoring one of these locations (or near them), have a recommendation for a sponsor, please contact me at tempest(at)meddevi.com ASAP!

May 1st-May 3rd - Spring Caravan, Somerset, NJ
May 4th - Richmond, VA
May 5th - Carrboro, NC
May 6th - Columbia or Greenville, SC
May 7th - Knoxville or Nashville, TN
May 8th - Little Rock, AR
May 9th - OK City or Tulsa, OK
May 10th - Amarillo, TX
May 11th - Albuquerque. NM
May 12th - Northern AZ
May 13th - Possible SoCal Stop
May 14th - May 17th - Tribal Fest 9
May 18th - May 20th - Bay Area
May 21st - May 23rd - Sacramento, CA
May 24th - Medford or Ashland, OR
May 25th - Portland, OR
May 26th - Seattle, WA
May 27th - Spokane, WA
May 28th - Idaho
May 29th - SLC, UT
May 30th/May 31st - Denver, CO
June 1st - Lincoln, NE
June 2nd - Kansas City, MO
June 3rd - Iowa (Des Moines?)
June 4th - Minneapolis, MN
June 5th - Wisconsin (Madison?)
June 6th - Chicago, IL
June 7th - Bloomington, IN
June 8th - Kentucky (Louisville or Lexington?)
June 9th - Cincinnati, OH
June 10th - Detroit, MI
June 11th - Pittsburgh, PA
June 12th - Buffalo, NY
June 13th - Tempest's B-day, maybe a trip to Lilydale, NY?
June 14th - Albany, NY
June 15th - Maybe a stop in MA
June 16th - End of the Rhode.

posted in The Durga Tour - 10 replies

Attn: Previous Tour Sponsors and Newly Interested Sponsors

2008-12-27T16:45:31Z

All sponsors/hosts who were involved in the 2006 Tour, as well as folks who sent me their emails to receive info on hosting for 2009, should have received the newsletter on the 24th (from "Tempest - Durga Tour Headquarters", subject "Proposed Durga Tour Dates for 2009").

If you were a sponsor/interested in being a sponsor and did NOT receive this email, please contact me via msg or email ASAP. Especially if you hosted a location on the tour that is on the schedule again - we need to know whether you're on board for this year OR NOT, so that we can let other interested people know, or begin the search for a new sponsor.

THANK YOU!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Durga Tour Icon

2008-12-25T17:39:12Z

Is there going to be a new icon for the Durga Tour? I'm adding event info to my website today and I would like to load up an image with a link. What's the best image and where shall my link go?

Thankees,
~*Spoontacular*~

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

letters out!

2008-09-10T16:09:11Z

Info letters for sponsors/event coordinators/hosts have gone out! If you haven't received one and was interesting in hosting a stop on the tour - reply to this thread with your email or message me with your email!!!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

FYI - getting there

2008-08-25T17:20:32Z

Been busy getting everything in line, so I haven't had a chance to send the info letters out...I expect to this week.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Back from Europe....

2008-08-05T17:15:05Z

Had an awesome time in Europe (UK, Germany, Czech Republic), and am so grateful for our wonderful hosts and the new friends we met along the way!

But now that I'm hope, I need to hit the ground running with The Durga Tour 2009 preparations. Within the next week, I will be sending out letters to previous sponsors and newly interested folks. Ideally I would like to get the majority of the schedule fleshed out by mid-September, so we all have plenty of time to prepare, get the word out, etc :) I'll post a note when the letters have gone out, and if you didn't receive one, but wanted to, LMK :)

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Take Two: Durga, Durga, Durga (wait, that's three Durgas..)

2008-07-18T08:50:16Z

Due to a collision of opportunities, we've decided that May-June 2009 will bring about another Durga Tour - it's been over 2 years since the incredible success of the initial tour, and folks keep asking when we're coming back!

This tour will start and end on the East Coast, and has two fixed points - starting off with Spring Caravan in Somerset, NJ - May 1-3rd, and Tribal Fest 9 (May 13-17th) - these two fixed points have allowed us a general sense of where we can hit heading West, and we're open to a whole host of opportunities heading back East, since we have a more flexible time frame (we expect to end the tour in mid-June). Currently plotting special guests and more..

Here is the tentative layout for where we could hit heading out to California:

May 1-3 - Spring Caravan, Somerset, NJ
May 4th - Richmond or Roanoke, VA
May 5th - Greensboro or Asheville, NC
May 6th - Knoxville or Nashville, TN
May 7th - Little Rock, AR
May 8th - OK City, OK
May 9th - Amarillo, TX
May 10th - Albq, NM
May 11th - Phoenix/Tempe, AZ
May 12th - San Diego or LA, CA
May 13th - head north to Tribal Fest (Bay Area rest stop)
(essentially want to arrive at TF9 by Thursday evening).
Post Tribal Fest - Folsom-Placerville (visit with Keith's mom and area folks)

From there, no specific plans, but we have more time to play around with. Possibly head up to Northern California, Oregon, Washington, down through Idaho to Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, etc...could hit KY, WV, Western NY, and maybe upper New England....you get the picture.

posted in The Durga Tour - 22 replies

really, there's more! and future planning.

2007-04-04T17:07:29Z

Ok, I'm staying put for a little while, so I can finally finish up the Chronicles...watch for 'em over the next few weeks.

Also, Keith and I will be doing the move by driving across the country (of course), which means we can stop in a few locations along the way. We're still working on finalizing the dates of our move (I'm leaning towards the end of May and the first week of June, because I'm going to the UK for the 3rd weekend of June....so we can get somewhat settled, and I can cut out about 12-15 additional flying hours off my schedule if I'm departing from Philly.) If you're interesting in hosting an evening workshop, drop me a note so I can look at the map and the calendar. We obviously have several choices in routes, and I'm going to be leaning toward the most direct and stress-free for the time we're looking at...so no zigzagging this time around.

BUT, I do promise we'll be doing more regional tours in the near future!

posted in The Durga Tour - 5 replies

Movin' Th' Mischief Tour

2007-04-02T00:18:54Z

at least that's what I'm calling it at the moment...

Basically, here's the deal. After Tribal Fest 7, Keith, myself, and Mischief are packing up the rest of our belongings and goodies (shipping out most of it ahead of time...like our evergrowing pile of books...must have books!! screw furniture!). And we simply just can't cross the country via van without making good use of it and meeting folks along the way! So I'm looking to book some evening workshops along our route (similar to the Durga Tour, but you get two solid hours or more of me, which is more fun than going to hell in a handbasket.)

So, if we leave the Friday after Tribal Fest, we could do something like the following:
Saturday, 5/26: Los Angeles area
Sunday, 5/27: San Diego
Monday, 5/28: Phoenix, AZ
Tuesday, 5/29: somewhere, NM
Wednesday, 5/30: Amarillo, TX
Thursday, 5/31: Oklahoma
and from here we can go up through Missouri, or across through Arkansas
The Southernly Route:
Friday, 6/1: Hot Springs or Little Rock AR
Saturday: 6/2: Tennesee (Memphis or Nashville?)
Sunday: 6/3: North Carolina (Asheville, Winston-Salem, etc)
Monday: 6/4: Virginia/DC
and then arrival in Philadelphia!

The Northern Route could be
St. Louis on 6/1
6/2 perhaps Louisville, Kentucky
6/3: Ohio
6/4: Western PA

Details:
Contracting for the workshops would be very similar to the Durga Tour layout: a gas stipend deposit, pet-friendly hotel accomodations for the evening, and either an hourly rate or 70/30 after expenses (whichever is greater). Almost consistently across the country, weeknight workshops were just as packed as the weekend ones, with full classrooms (averaging 20-40 students depending on room size). Weeknight workshops would need to be scheduled for no earlier than 7pm to allow for traffic snafus. A performance instead of a workshop is also possible, but unless it's a weekend day that we have enough time to get there for, I'm going to say just one or the other this time around.

Yes, this means that plans for a Northwest Durga Tour are on hold for now. BUT if you'd like to schedule a weekend event somewhere I'm not traveling to along the way, it's very easy to put that together, as long as my schedule permits it! (I'm not afraid of planes, really!)

If you're interested in hosting, or have any other related questions, drop me a message with your email (and please note where you are at in the subject line!), or email me :)

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Chronicles! and DT updates

2007-01-09T19:50:03Z

I know we've been on hold since halfway through MN....I promise more soon....again, I encourage y'all to share your favorite DT experiences!

and btw, the DT shirts are completely sold-out, that's it, no more. Nada. Zip.

B/c of our projected moved to the East Coast and the impending trip to the UK in June, planning for a NW Durga Tour is on hold for the moment while logistics are figured out---however, if you're in the NW and want a weekend of Gothic Belly Dance, let me know....we can always arrange a weekend event we can fly in for in the meantime----and this year is filling up rapidly!

Other good news is that b/c of our new East Coast location (Philly), we can plot out area tours in the future---such as just New England, The South, the Upper Midwest, etc. If you're interested, drop me a note :)

posted in The Durga Tour - 3 replies

Durga Tour sayings

2006-12-23T03:05:37Z

last night, I found a page in the van's notebook, where I apparently had started to write down sayings and phrases we came up with on the tour. I have no idea when/where these 2 came from anymore, but I have a feeling Sashi was involved.

"strap on a pronoun"

"eat your pasties"

(i have a feeling that pasties referred to edible little tarts or something)

posted in The Durga Tour - 7 replies

Photos from the DC stop of the Durga Tour

2006-12-13T03:27:45Z

These are a little late - but here are the photos from the DC leg of the Durga Tour - 10.01.06. You can view them all here: http://thehillsidedeafener.phanfare.com/

Enjoy!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

The Goddess Durga is real!

2006-12-12T00:08:30Z

I don't know whether she rides a camel, and I hope this does not get deleted as unrelated to the tour, but the Goddess is real. That's all I want to say.

posted in The Durga Tour - 29 replies

Very Last Durga Tour shirts!

2006-11-30T20:07:43Z

Ok, everyone who placed an order for a shirt, it's on it's way to you! (unless you're picking it up front me)...and this is what I have left (and there will be no more!!):

Spaghetti Style Tank Tops
1 small
1 large
2 x-large

Ribbed Style Tank Tops (thick strap)
1 medium
2 x-large

Baby Doll T-Shirts
1 small
1 medium
2 x-large
1 xx-large

shirts are $24 with shipping. msg me with your email address and size/style and I'll send you a PayPal invoice.

Thanks!

posted in The Durga Tour - 7 replies

The Durga Chronicles: Chapter 5:Ah, so THAT’s what’s in Wyoming!

2006-11-30T14:44:17Z

So, we’re on our way to WY, where we will stop for the night, before we hit our next official stop in Nebraska. Did I mention that Corrie has the best hot chocolate? If not, I should note that now, because I thought of it often for weeks afterward. (Yeah, I love tea, but I’m really a hot chocolate kinda gal…no coffee for me..)

Wyoming, for the most part, is visually stunning and unspoiled. I spot antelopes on the side of the road (live ones that is), and can’t believe it. Really, that song does mean antelope roaming with deer! Dude, really! Apparently, they like to just sit there in groups of two’s and three’s. The other really interesting thing about WY is the radio stations. They’re pretty much all rock, classic rock, and other related rock music. Pure testosterone, and that’s not a bad thing for driving music.

I don’t remember exactly where we stopped for the night (Cheyenne maybe?), but I do remember it being FREAKING COLD. The hotel was actually a very nice Comfort Inn, and we tested out the first cloaking Mischief experiment most successfully. You see, Mischief has been traveling on the tour in high style, in her own rolling carriage. It’s made for pets, but to the unsuspecting eye, looks just like a baby carriage. Toss a blanket over it (hey, it’s cold out, and little Missy is sleeping!) and you have instant human offspring. Because it’s so cold out, we order pizza from what looks to be an interesting local chain…and well, that didn’t work out too well. But we got in some sleep, got some ‘net, and headed on our way.

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

The Durga Chronicles: Chapter 7: NPR in Iowa, Lake Wobegone, and Tempest gets Cracklebarrel

2006-11-30T07:38:57Z

September 18th: NPR in Iowa, Lake Wobegone, and Tempest gets Cracklebarrel
So, from Lincoln, we head northeast towards our next stop, which will be Minneapolis, Minnesota. Guess what? There’s NPR in Iowa! And not just one station near the university, but one that picks up towards MN as well. We’re so starved for NPR we listen to the same “All Things Considered” program twice when the two stations overlap.

Did you know that Iowa has fabulous, beautiful rest stops? Seriously. The further we get away from California, the better the rest stops. In fact, the ones in Iowa make the ones along I-5 look like they’re from a third world country. They also offer wireless internet. The first one we saw that offered that, turned out to be 6 miles away from the highway, so we figured it had to be a trap. Somewhere near the border between IA and MN, we stop at a gas station (have I mentioned that gas just kept getting insanely cheap since we left NV?) which also happens to be a little craftstore/consignment shop, and I pick up a couple of vintage building stars, and Keith gets a clingy gator for his cane. We call him Irwin.

Soon, we hit the Minnesota border, and the first physical building we see---I kid you not—was a Lutheran church! I laughed my arse off. Now, if you don’t know why I found that so funny, you obviously don’t listen to “A Prairie Home Companion.” I could almost hear Garrison narrating one of his Lake Wobegone stories as we headed to Minneapolis.

We arrive at the hotel without incident and in good time, and shortly after we meet Lee and Keith Spears, our awesome MN hosts, who have arrived to help us get settled in. Once we get up to the room, we discover they had been there earlier, and set us up with all sorts of goodies of the delectable kind, and even had great toys for the Mischief! (Mischief was most impressed). After schlepping up all of the stuff, Lee and Keith took me and Keith out for dinner, and since it was my choice, we got to go to Cracklebarrel!

Now, you have to understand why I’m so enthused. When I was a teen living in South Carolina, my parents and I went to Cracklebarrel often. Shortly after I relocated to Rhode Island, and married Keith, a Cracklebarrel opened up in Coventry---I think a crowd of us even journeyed there for one of my birthdays. Upon moving out to California, we stopped at a Cracklebarrel in Arizona, and little did I know that would be the last one I’d visit for SIX YEARS!!! Because there are none in California. It’s just awesome, real food. I’m particularly fond of their breakfasts (and the hot chocolate, though not quite as good as Corrie’s.)

Anyway, we had a wonderful dinner with Lee and Keith, great company, though I’m sure our road-weary selves weren’t on top of our conversational game. Time to get some sleep and get ready for the workshops and performance the next day.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

The Durga Chronicles: Chapter 6: Corn Anyone?

2006-11-30T07:11:27Z

I believe there was an Animaniacs song about Nebraska and corn. If I could apply a soundtrack to each day, that would be the song.

The rugged landscape of Wyoming gave way to the rolling hills of corn of Nebraska, and another timezone change—but the first to cause a bit of trouble. You see, mapquest doesn’t mention these little things like losing an hour in the directions. Regardless we make excellent time to Lincoln, with about 2 hours to spare…all we have to do is get off the highway and check into the hotel. Simple right?

We follow our directions and spot our Holiday Inn Express a little ways off the exit. However, something’s very weird---none of the street names are right. I call the hotel to confirm, and I get confusing info from the desk guy who tells me “head through the city”---city, what city??, but the shocker was that there wasn’t just one, but THREE Holiday Inn Expresses in Lincoln, and that they changed the exit numbers, so the one in front of us, was NOT ours. This was to be the pattern for the evening.

Somehow, after managing to end up back the wrong hotel at least once, if not twice more, we get to the right hotel. It’s almost 6pm, and the workshop starts at 6:30…ok, do-able. Turns out the front desk guy just started working at this particular hotel 3 days prior, so he can be forgiven for the confusing directions. He helps confirm my directions for the workshop location by calling the community center. One problem…I discover that folks around here insist on saying “go north, then south, etc) versus, go left, go right. When he says, OK, go south, I ask him, you mean this way, he nods. Well, “this way” was the wrong way, and we discover where the city is. Our host isn’t very familiar with the city either, so we spend more time downtown trying to get the heck out of there, but keep getting caught up in construction. Somehow, we find our way back to the hotel at least, where our sponsor meets us…Keith has had enough, so he heads back to the room to hang with the Mischief, and I follow Hallie to the center.

At the center, we have half a dozen very patient, enthusiastic students---and guess what? There’s Goths in Nebraska! I’ve seen ‘em! And because of a tournament taking place there, there’s no problem adjusting the schedule so we get the full class in, and have a lot of fun. This was the smallest class of the tour (mainly for a troupe), but they were definitely dedicated and we got a lot of personal time in with everyone.

Afterwards, Hallie, her sister, and myself enjoy the hot tub at the Holiday Inn Express (aaahhh), and Keith and I manage to get some Chinese food ordered just in time. Yes, Chinese food in Nebraska sucks.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

The Durga Chronicles: Chapter 4: Mormons? Where?

2006-11-22T02:28:13Z

September 16th – Salt Lake City, Utah

We awoke to snow on the surrounding mountains, and flakes drifting down from the sky directly on us. It is at this point on the Tour we decide that no one shall make definitive statements about the weather. I follow Corrie’s directions to the studio, and arrive with little difficulty, greated by dozens of happy dancers. I get some help hauling schtuff up the stairs, and a feeding frenzy begins to take place over the plethora of gothy items for sale. Shortly after that, we get started, and the class is huge—and again, very enthusiastic—and we get down and gothy for a good three hours. More shopping goodness, and then it’s back to Corrie’s to chill for a bit and get ready for the evening show—in which I’m performing two shorter pieces to display variations in Gothic Belly Dance.

Meanwhile, Keith has been suffering from elevation sickness, so this is the first time he makes it out for the day, in honor of the gothla. The gothla is a sold-out affair, and the manager somehow manages to pull together enough tables/food for another 20 more folks than expected (and I don’t know how many folks who didn’t buy their tix in advance had to get turned away---so let that be a valuable lesson to you---if you want to go to an event, BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE! It not only assures your place at the event, but helps the event producer be prepared and calculate what will work best for the event.) I need to locate the program for the exact numbers (and what a snazzy program it was!), but I believe there was at least 20 different acts, split into two. Tribal and cabaret-influenced, seasoned pro’s and first-time soloists all made this evening a wonderful experience with a great amount of variety on the “dark” theme. I performed my industrial-flavored set first, in the boots and pants combo (as seen on the cover of BDBF) and finished off the evening in “the white costume”---more specifically the creamy assuit costume from the GBD DVD. The response to the whole event was fantastic, and Corrie is a wonderful and considerate sponsor, and has a great team in Kashmir Dance Co. We definitely look forward to coming back to SLC!

Keith kept asking me about where the Mormons where, and the Tabernacle...as we were driving back to Corrie's house that evening, he insisted the big stadium looking-thing with all the lights HAD to be it. My boss is from SLC and I remember seeing pictures, so I wasn't convinced...in the daylight, I remembered the Olympics had been held in SLC not too long ago, and that's what it was! However, we DID catch a peek of the Tabernacle on our way out of town, heading toward Wyoming the next morning.

posted in The Durga Tour - 3 replies

The Durga Chronicles: Chapter 2: In Which We Nearly Burn Down Hangtown

2006-11-21T00:07:05Z

September 13th – Placerville, CA

September 13th is our 10 year wedding anniversary---yes, back in 1996, Keith and I got married on a Friday the 13th---and we haven’t killed each other yet. Due to the mum-vet stuff, and needing to get to Placerville, we didn’t have much time to celebrate, and we’re still hoping too in fact. Late celebrations are our specialty apparently, as we had our honeymoon two years after the fact,

After running some errands, we arrive in Placerville to meet up with Carol – proprioteress of Empress and The Barefoot Contessa, and our accommodations for the evening. We decide to head over to her house first to get Mischief situated, then we could head back to the Cosmic Café for the workshop and show. This was running pretty smoothly until the van was viciously attacked by a submerged boulder. Luckily, it attacked the driver’s side of the van, along the middle---instead of the other side where the main door is. We figure, if this is the worse the van endures on the Tour, we’ll be doing pretty good. We get the Mischief set up, and jet back over to the workshop locale, where I meet up with Fajera, her team (Badi’a Fusion) and gathering students. There’s a class already in the studio, so we have to wait a bit, which gives me a little time to unload goodies and have a breather. (Breathing is good).

The class is small (though to be expected for Placerville, especially on a weeknight), but very enthusiastic and a lot of fun. We have a bit too much fun, because then we all have to hurry to get ready for the evening show, happening in the same space. Up for the event is Shahlah (of beautiful shell adornments), Azar (Mystic Sun Studios and my official “dance mama”), our good friend Tim Rayborn up from the Bay Area to see us off, and other dancers and friends from around the Sacramento area. The turnout for the evening show is even better, and the line-up varied and fanciful. It was during this workshop that the term “oudgasm” was birthed, and then later exampled in the evening show. Also, the list of “things Tempest said” was also created.

Afterwards, we all headed out in search of nourishment, and it was at this point we noticed the fire engines…and the fire. Just down the street from the Cosmic Café was a raging fire that could be clearly seen above the houses and trees. (Luckily it wasn’t as severe as it looked and no one was hurt, we discovered in the morning). The only place open on a late Wednesday night in Placerville is of course, Denny’s, so that’s where our motley crew ended up. Back at Carol’s house, Tim, Carol, Keith, and I enjoy some champagne to celebrate the start of the Tour, and I crawl up to bed shortly afterward, joined by the Mischief, while the merriment continues on for some time downstairs.

It should also be noted that apparently in the room we first put Mischief in, there was a hamster loose. Whether or not the Mischief ever encountered it, we shall never know. Also of note is the wonderful cauldron Badi’a Fusion put together for us, with dessert wine, spider glasses, chai, lotion, black rose, and other goodies. The cauldron especially came in handy for later workshops ;)

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

The Durga Chronicles: Chapter 1: In The Beginning...and the Departure

2006-11-17T02:07:43Z

In the Beginning –

People ask, what started the Durga Tour? What inspired you to do it? Well, it all started with one woman, a very special chick by the name of Natalie to be specific, and she decided she wanted to get married. However, she lived 3000 miles away from us in our former residence of Rhode Island, and my husband Keith won’t get on a plane. So we sat down and figured that we could drive cross-country to be there for the wedding. Then I thought, what if we had workshops and performance stops along the way and back – that way we could help finance the trip, and make it doubly worthwhile at the same time. Some friends of mine also liked the idea, and asked to be a part of it, whether it was being a guest instructor, or helping to host an event. I put the word out on the internet, poured over maps, played with calendars, made some contacts and inquiries, and all of a sudden (within a few months), we had a full schedule---even the stops that didn’t seem like they’d pan out, managed to do so before we left!

The Departure –

We chose to leave on September 12th, in order to spend some time with Keith’s mum in Folsom. This of course had to be the hottest day we’ve had almost all summer, and we sweated hardcore trying to load up the van and clean up the apartment before we left. I think Keith and I went through at least two changes of clothes. We left later than planned, and managed to hit a fair amount of traffic all the way up past Sacramento. We were also supposed to help Keith’s mum take her cats to the vet, and this appointment had to be rescheduled for the next day….unfortunately the only time she could get was 9am on the 13th, which required me getting up early, driving from our hotel in Rancho Cordova to her place in Folsom, wrangle up two huge cranky cats and the mum, and get them all to the vet’s and back, then head back to the hotel, and get one Keith and one Mischief out of the hotel, packed, and on our way to Placerville. Did I mention this was the second hottest day in months?

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

Durga Tour Shirts - last chance!

2006-11-17T00:37:50Z

Due to the universe having a sense of humor, I ran out of bigger sizes first, re-ordered with that in mind, and the final batch came in with mainly larger sizes--but I had by then sold out completely of everything...and timewise, got the order a week later than we had hoped, so several stops didn't even have access to shirts. Also, they forgot the men's shirts that I ordered, so they're going need to print those, and I can have a few more done while they're at it. So, if you wanted the official Durga Tour shirt, here's what I have currently in stock:

Ribbed Tanks: XL (3)
Spaghetti Tanks: S (1), XL (3)
Baby Doll Tee's: L (1), XL (2), XXL (1)

if you contact me by Tuesday evening (October 24th), I can also accomodate orders for men's t-shirts, or any other size in the above styles not available, until I reach the limit for the order (which is only about 5-6 more pieces). Shirts are $20 plus $4 s/h for what I have in stock. If you need XXL in any special order, add $2. Email me at shoppe@meddevi.com to secure your size and place an order. I accept PayPal, but I won't be doing a button b/c I have such limited stock on hand, so I'll confirm your size if I have it, or can print it, and send you an invoice for it.

Thank you!

posted in The Durga Tour - 15 replies

The Durga Chronicles: Chapter 3: The Road To Mordor---err, Utah

2006-11-16T05:08:43Z

September 14th-15th – En Route to Utah

Thursday brought us a thankfully cool and refreshing morning, and I took this opportunity to repack the entire van. None of us can figure out how Carol’s shower works (and she was already off to work), so we all indulged in baths. Shortly after, we make the observation that the van is riding very very low in the back. Apparently it took a little more than cosmetic damage when it was brutally attacked by the boulder, and something has knocked loose the air shocks tubing. Luckily, we find a local mechanic who locates the problem immediately, and fixes it in less than 20 minutes. For free. Overjoyed by the quick fix and the price, we tip him generously with beer money and a GBD DVD, which elicited a goofy smile and much thanks from the mechanic. This gives us enough time to still meet up with Tim for lunch and say goodbye to Carol before we head out on 50.

It’s a stunningly beautiful day on 50 towards Tahoe---fresh cool wind, warm sun, and lots of gorgeous nature to take in. I’d never been to Tahoe, so I was looking forward to seeing it as we drive by. I have to admit, I wasn’t greatly impressed, and even Keith said it wasn’t how he remembered it…so we trekked on to Reno and up to 80. The last few days start to weigh in on myself and Keith, so we decide to stop for the night in Lovelock, NV. This in itself was an experience, as we chose to stay at the AAA recommended Sturgeon’s Casino Hotel, and discovered the world’s smallest Safeway, luckily 10 minutes before it closed. There was no microwave in the hotel room, so I spent another 15 minutes at the frontdesk instructing the girl how to heat our meal (no less than 3 dishes). Their internet access was a single hook-up in the lobby, so that’s how I checked things in the morning, while trying to receive phone calls. Meanwhile, outside, a dust storm is kicking about, and the temperature is dropping.

We get on the road as soon as possible, and haul arse for Salt Lake City, UT, where Madame Corrie Walker is awaiting our arrival at her home.

Along the way, we see some of the strangest fog and weather signs on the road, and the weather continues to worsen, complete with frigid wind and rain. At a summit, we pause at a rest stop, which looks remarkably similar to the restrooms at the beaches along Route 1. I say to Keith, they can’t possible just be holes in the ground like at the beach? He says, nah, can’t be. Well, yes they were, complete with blustery wind aiming right for your behind. Quickest pee I ever took.

Finally, we arrive in Utah, which looks suspiciously like Mordor, a la Lord of the Rings. Gloomy, glarey marshy flats: check. Angry dark mountains in distance: check. Firey eyeball in the sky: check. Towers: check. Teeming hoards of orcs/mormons: check. Apparently they really didn’t need to go all the way to New Zealand to film LoTR…they could have done it in Northwest Utah. We safely make it to Corrie’s, who has cooked for our culinary delight, the most wonderful pork roast stew…mmmmm. Upon discussing the cold weather, Corrie declares it never snows this early---even snowing at Halloween is freakish. After cuddling with her adorable Siamese kitten, Bootstrap Bill, we head off to bed. Poor Bill doesn’t understand how anyone couldn’t possible like him, and is confronted with a viciously angry Mischief on the other side of the door. So we stuff towels under the door and get some sleep (minus the occasional growl from our cat, who refuses to take a chill pill.)

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

workshop reviews/feedback for site

2006-11-05T19:33:19Z

hey folks,

During the tour I received a lot of tribe correspondence regarding feedback/reviews from the tour workshops, and unfortunately, a lot of them came via friend invites, which don't get saved in tribe messages...others were in blogs and so forth---I'd love to compile them for the website, even if it's just a sentence or two---so if you had something to say, could you please msg or email me with your review/comments? Or if you haven't written anything, but have something to share as well, please take a moment and drop me a note---it's all greatly appreciated! Thank you!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Putting up my(Rak Spooki)Durga Tour pics

2006-10-31T14:27:44Z

They will be up for all to see, in just a few minutes. Do enjoy!

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Tempest--How does one travel with a cat?

2006-10-31T13:52:13Z

I was thinking today about your stop here and booking you a hotel room that allowed pets. And I was thinking how I had never traveled with my cat or known anyone who did. Most people take the dog and leave the cat behind. So that got me wondering. Do you keep Mischief in a crate? Do you have a portable litter box or did you leash train? All that stuff.

posted in The Durga Tour - 8 replies

it's coming!

2006-10-30T04:33:55Z

I'm working my way through the Durga Tour Chronicles, and will be posting sections at a time shortly...in the meantime, if you have photos to share, or something from any of the stops you want to share/discuss/talk about/ask questions...go for it!

Durga Tour NW plans will be kicking into gear mid-November.

posted in The Durga Tour - 3 replies

Amarillo Stop

2006-10-23T16:57:23Z

Tempest and Ariellah absolutely were AMAZING!!! We had more fun this evening than...well...EVER!!!

Thank you, ladies, for a wonderful show!

posted in The Durga Tour - 4 replies

Welcome Back!

2006-10-22T17:13:58Z

Am I mistaken? Am I right? BUT! If I am not mistaken Hips of Fury was yesterday and the Durga Tour 2006 is finally over =)

Kudos for the Tour and sucess in every stop you made and after a well deserved rest start planning the '07 Tour?

(Consider Puerto Rico!) =)

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

OKC Workshop!!!

2006-10-18T23:51:59Z

Thank you soooo much, Tempest and Ariellah, for the wonderful workshop!!! I learned a lot, I just hope I can remember it all! :-} Again, thank you!!!!!

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Richmond show

2006-10-13T14:23:14Z

Tempest and Ariellah totally rocked Richmond VA last night... A huge thank you to them and all who contributed to making it a successful workshop and show....

It was sooo much fun..... in a dark way of course!!!

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

clip from Buffalo

2006-10-10T20:49:46Z

funny thing, I was looking at another vid clip this morning and came across one of me! A short clip from the Buffalo performance...I know Miss Sashi will be uploading clips soon herself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySmqA5BWI4w

posted in The Durga Tour - 3 replies

DC Durga Tour success

2006-10-04T05:50:16Z

Tempest/Sashi - was so good seeing you two again..but in DC this time - The Durga Show was great!

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

It's always sunny in Philadelphia

2006-10-03T23:02:34Z

Actually, I don't like that TV show, but it's a beautiful sunny day in Philly. Keith and I marveled at how quiet the neighborhood is...seriously...I think it's much quieter than our space back in Sunnyvale, CA. Amazing.

But anyway, here we are, after finishing I believe stop #12, in DC, courtesy of the fabulous folks of DC Tribal. That means I owe y'all at least a dozen entries on all of the stops, which I'm hoping to do over the next few days, as we have real, honest-to-goodness downtime here in Philly.

In the meantime, please feel free to continue post pix and personal accounts of our 1-12 encounters.

BTW, the Philly workshop series has been postponed, but if folks are interested in doing private lessons, or a semi-private group, contact me, or Christiane of Ak Ana...this would be tomorrow (Wednesday) evening most likely...and we'll be heading to Nocturne for the evening (though Keith and I won't be out too late...still trying to catch up on sleep, and we need to head to NYC/RI the next day).

Next up, Boston, this Sunday! Badriya, if there's any news you want to post about workshop spaces (if there's any left), or show tickets, have at it girl!

posted in The Durga Tour - 7 replies

Boston Durga Press Release

2006-10-03T20:22:13Z

Raks Spooki

A Haunting Evening of Performances by New England’s
Gothic Belly Dancers, October 8

Just in time for Halloween, join New England's pioneers of Gothic belly dance in a showcase at the Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Street, Arlington, MA at 7pm on Sunday, October 8, 2006. If the 90-year-old historic vaudeville theatre wasn’t haunted before Raks Spooki, it will certainly be after by the beauty and passion of darkly dramatic dancers from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island. In Arabic, belly dance is referred to as “raks sharki,” or “dance of the east”; we will be performing “raks spooki,” or dance of the spirits. Tickets are $16.50 and are available through the Regent Theatre box office (781-646-4849 or http://www.regenttheatre.com/ ).

Gothic Belly Dance, or “Raks Gothique,” merges the styling of the Gothic or “Goth” subculture of the last few decades with the beautiful expression of Middle Eastern Dance. Many of the major founders in the Gothic music scene and its subgenres have long fused Western music with the sounds of India and the Middle East, and so the subsequent fusion of Gothic music and belly dance movement has been a natural progression. Guest artists Tempest and Ariellah of California will be the featured performers for the evening, along with Medusa Maidens, Lotus Moon, Zingari East, Phoenix Avathar, Sabrina, Tribal Storm, Aepril Schaile, the Cumaen Sybil, Desideria, Karina Khan, Paloma, Shroud, Morgana, Lizz Judge, Neylan, Sephina, Nepenthe, Lilymoonstorm and Badriya. Vendors of gothic and belly dance accoutrements will be selling clothing, costuming and jewelry for the aspiring gothic belly dancer. This event is the first of its kind in New England, and is held in conjunction with Gothic belly dance workshops taught by Tempest and Ariellah from noon to 5pm on October 8. For details and registration information, visit http://users.rcn.com/badriya/raksspooki.html.

Guest artist Tempest is an artist, designer, dancer, and writer currently based in the Bay Area of California. She is most well-known for her Gothic Belly Dance performances and instruction, and along with Ariellah is featured on the DVD “Gothic Bellydance: The Darker Side of Fusion” and is set to release “Bellydance for Beautiful Freaks,” an instructional DVD, this fall. She is currently touring the US teaching and performing. With ancestral roots in Morocco, Ariellah’s style reflects her personal interpretation of tribal fusion belly dance, which blends the darker side of Middle Eastern, American Tribal Style and cabaret belly dance with Indian and Flamenco influences, while embracing a modern San Francisco flavor. Badriya, the event organizer, has been performing both traditional Arabic belly dance and less traditional Gothic belly dance in the Boston area since 2001.

(Tempest, some of that stuff about the music will definitely sound familiar to you--figured it would be ok to lift some of the Resource site for the press release :-)

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

12th stop: Washington DC!

2006-10-01T13:42:28Z

Because politics and belly dance go together smashingly ;)

October 1st brings us to DC, courtesy of DCTribal. There will be 4hours of workshop instruction with Tempest, and performances by Sashi and Tempest in the evening show. Watch http://tribaldc.tribe.net/ for details!

posted in The Durga Tour - 7 replies

10th stop: Buffbuff!

2006-09-30T00:19:02Z

Hehe, I can't help myself...I believe Kadri or Nedra called Buffalo, "buffbuff" in a correspondence, and it stuck...so The Durga Tour Does BUFFBUFF September 27th-28th, with tantilizing Tempest and saucy Sashi!

(I'm so getting my ass kicked by somebody for that one...)

On the 27th, we have a fabulous club venue performance, from 9-10pm at Club Diablo, and then join us at Heartbeat studio on the 28th for two 90 minute workshops!

Complete details here: http://newyorkstate.tribe.net/event/Tempests-Durga-Tour-comes-to-Buffalo/new-york-us/48e432ef-e579-4442-be73-2acc932918dc

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Pix from Indiana Show

2006-09-29T05:45:03Z

Lovely lovely photos from the indiana show are here:

http://www.twice-cooked.com/

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Philly Durga stop!

2006-09-28T15:42:44Z

Registration for the Tuesday, Oct. 3 Durga tour workshops in the Philly area is coming up fast!

Direct PayPal link is on our site, http://www.ak-ana.com.

Tuesday October 3, 2006 Ak’Ana Proudly Welcomes:
TEMPEST presenting 2 workshop offerings

6:00 pm * ~ Dramatic Body Language ~ *
At the heart of Gothic Belly Dance
is the ability to express deep emotions through the dance in a dramatic style.
While in theory, this makes sense, understanding how to make this happen
physically is another matter. How does one go about transferring matters
of the heart, mind, and spirit into a corporeal expression? In this
workshop, we learn to take regular belly dance movements and add Gothic
accents to them, focusing on expressing emotion, intent, and power
through our steps and presence. From facial expression to fingertips,
we’ll be dissecting the accents that give Gothic Belly Dance extra
substance, drama, and excitement. You’ll take home movement
embellishments and flourishes to incorporate into your own style. This
class is especially for any dancer who is ready to perform or is
considering it.

8:00 * ~ Dancing on the Right Side of the Brain ~ *
Artists, writers, and other creative folk are said to be “right-brained”
They think in pictures, images, and random patterns. Engineers, accountants, and other
number/fact people are said to be “left-brained” … meaning they think more
mathematically, linearly, orderly. Learn to unleash your creative side
and truly be "in the moment" with your dancing. Often, a dancer can get
too focused on choreography, counting of steps, beats, and therefore
become “left-brained” in their dancing –meaning they’re being technical,
and not dancing creatively, spontaneously, from the heart! In this
unusual workshop, we’re going to do some mental and physical exercises that will help you engage your right brain in your dancing!

Location:
Khalsa Healing Arts and Yoga Center
301 Oxford Valley Road Suite 1504
Yardley, Pa. 19067
215-321-0305

Registration:
Spaces are EXTREMELY LIMITED for these unique workshops
and must be completed by Saturday September 30th 2006
Registration for a SINGLE workshop will be $30
Registratoin for BOTH workshops will be $55
To Register for - Tempest Workshop " Dancing on the Right Side of the Brain" To Register for - Tempest Workshop "Dramatic Body Language" To Register for - BOTH Tempest Workshops

Checks and Money Orders may be sent to
Jennifer Sarni
8759 Jackson Street
Philadelphia, PA 19136
215-280-8302

Tempest is featured in this article in the Asleep by Dawn Webzine:

asleepbydawn.com/feature1.htm

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

Richmond VA Durga

2006-09-28T14:00:59Z

It's so exciting to hear the news from everywhere else - sounds like the tour is a huuuuuge hit! Keep the updates coming. :)

We're looking forward to having gothic bellydance hit wee little Richmond on October 10 - and there's still space available in the workshop for anyone who wants to join us!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Chicago Durga Stop!

2006-09-28T00:43:37Z

The Chicago workshop was SO amazing! Tempest took one of the things that can be so hard to get in dance and made it so much more understandable that by the end, I think evenyone in our workshop felt enpowered to do it. We took the "Dancing from the right side of the brain" workshop, and I'm not gonna be a spoiler, but I was so happy to have taken this with most of my troupe. I feel it will really help in our choregraphy. And everyone in the workshop was dancing so amazingly!
The gothla was so great, I enjoyed it so much. Just wonderful, inventive and lovely dances by beautiful goth belly dancers. The DJ was so on the mark and fun that intermission was fabulous, too, and my teenage troupe mates danced the whole time! And then Tempest finished the show with a gorgeous dance that I HAVE to get the tape of the show if only to see it again - I know I missed some of the subtleties because I was so wowed.
We have such a great time, and Tempest was so wonderful on and off stage. And you girls in Chicago are so warm and welcoming; if we could we'd all relocate! :)

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

Just wanted to say...

2006-09-27T20:05:29Z

We haven't even had our workshops and show yet here in Boston, but already the Durga Tour is doing a wonderful thing for gothic belly dance--we dancers are finding each other and creating a community and getting excited about showing our audience what gothic belly dance is all about. As the event promoter, I've been experiencing people who I had no idea were at all interested in GBD coming up to me to say how excited they are to see the show and take the workshops. This might not be a strange thing for those of you out on the West Coast but here on the East Coast we can be a little behind the curve on trends in belly dance ;-) and so it's truly wonderful to hear so much support from the general BD community. So thanks, Tempest (and Sashi and Ariellah), for what you have started here--and if a Boston kind of experience is going on all over the country, then it's going to be clear everywhere that gothic belly dance has *arrived*!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Wow... Halfway

2006-09-26T17:34:48Z

Come this weekend, we should all raise a glass in toast for Tempest, da hubby and Mischeif as they are rounding the halfway point of the tour!

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

7th stop! Bloomington, Indiana...

2006-09-25T18:52:58Z

Or as I like to call it, the Berkeley of the Midwest...

Perhaps the most heavy-hitting event on the Tour line-up...4 workshops and a big evening show, over two days!, hosted by Jeana J!

September 23-24th, 4 Workshops ("Dancing Darkly", "Dramatic Body Language", "Between the Veils", and "Strange Presence") & Gothla Show, complete details, registration, and more available here: http://www.margaretsworld.com/dd/durga/

posted in The Durga Tour - 5 replies

8th Stop: Louisville, KY

2006-09-25T01:46:07Z

Number 8 brings us to the blue grass state, and the arrival of our first guest instructor, Sashi! On 9/25, we're being hosted by the lovely Taletha and TL2 Productions for a tag-team style workshop on Gothic Belly Dance, followed by a gothla!

All the good stuff is here:http://www.tl2productions.com/Events.htm

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

tempest the busiest woman in showbiz

2006-09-23T14:38:21Z

even though she is on the ROAD i still got my custom order corset on time !! it's gorgeous too. whoohooo. habibi

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Tempest is an awesome eye glass repair lady

2006-09-23T04:45:14Z

Thanks for a wonderful time at the Gothla, Tempest. It's really amazing how you dance on your toes in platform combat boots! And thanks again for fixing my glasses for me. :-)
Come back soon!!!

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Minneapolis Weighs In

2006-09-22T13:55:57Z

Dark and delightful denizens of The Durga Tour, you are in for a treat! Our stop (#4) on the tour has come and gone and it was absolutely terrific. The Twin Cities had its first gothla EVER - "Gothla Prima" - and we think we may have started a dance revolution up here! Mwahahahaha!

We are grateful for the experience that came our way - and jealous of the fun that's coming to YOU! (Take good care of them; the tour is exhausting.)

*shimmy on*

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

SASHI'S ASCEND TRIBAL DANCE BABYDOLL TEES ARE IN!

2006-09-19T04:55:07Z

They're sooooo cute and very flattering to the figure! I posted some pix in the photo section...check it out! I'll have them on the Durga Tour, in class and at upcoming dance events etc....

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

we interupt the count-up for this important news..

2006-09-19T04:09:15Z

1. It's official, we're on the road.

2. We just added a stop in Amarillo, TX for October 17th--it will be a performance with myself and Ariellah, and a little mini-workshop/discussion to start off the evening...details to come..

3. so yes, I'm still checking my email, when I can!

4. and now, bed!

posted in The Durga Tour - 14 replies

Salt Lake City!

2006-09-17T17:02:27Z

What a fantastic workshop - The show was incredible!

More details when I can think straight!
They are loading the van now!
Mischief is safe and snuggled....

Tempest and Keith!
THANKS so much for stopping by (heh heh heh)!
We really enjoyed having you and hope to see you soon!
Travel safely..

Corrie

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Durga Tour workshop/show in DC UPDATE!

2006-09-16T18:45:02Z

Sunday, October 1st

Workshops with Tempest
(times subject to minor changes)
11:00am - 11:30am: Registration
11:30am - 1:30pm: Dancing Darkly - Introduction to Gothic Belly Dance
1:30pm - 3:30pm: Strange Presence

Gothic Belly Dance Show
Join DCTribal on October 1st for an evening of Gothic belly dance featuring Tempest and Sashi along with amazing Tribal Dancers from the D.C. metro region, including Asharah, Mavi, Ya Meena, Hilary of Shakra and more!

Get your tickets here:
www.dctribal.com/tempest2006.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Tempest said

2006-09-14T18:06:13Z

Tempest Review!

A lot of things.

Spoons is a favorite!
All GBDer's should wear Spoons to remind us of eating out hearts with spoons.. teehee

I think, this would be a good place to put reviews.

So..... Stop number 1. Placerville, California- Hosted by Badi'a Fusion.

The building where the event took place, has a strange energy... It's old, historic and I'm sure could tell some interesting tales, if one listened to the walls talk. This building has an energy, like most of the buildings in this town, this odd energy in the building leads to very somber crowds..

In fact, if it weren't for the "Old Skool Goth" game that we played in the workshop.. I think I would have run off the stage in tears!

Okay really, let me tell you about the workshop.
It was a blast, there was soo much to learn, and so much that can and should be applied to ALL areas of Dance... not just Belly Dance.
I won't give away much here, because I know similar things are in store for the rest of you.... and well, I hate spoilers, so I won't be one!

Coming away from this myself, I have a new understanding of being present in my dance and not just listening to the music while my head goes 'this move and then this and Oh crap... don't forget this'.

There was a surprise appearance by Tim Rayborn, which added to the evening!

Onto the performances... For starters... I have NO harsh words for anyone!

I won't single anyone out... but, I will say that everyone did awesomely well, and really, really made the evening conclude well.
But of course, seeing the Grande Dame of Goth, just blew my socks off. To see her apply everything she had just finished teaching us.. Affirmed that she really does believe what she teaches!

In all seriousness.... If you coupled curiousity with this workshop... Someone who doesn't "get it" might very well begin to 'get it' by the end of the event.

**Note to self ** BRING TEMPEST BACK FOR MORE!

(this has been cross posted to Badi'a Fusion and to Gothic Belly Dance)

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

along the way...

2006-09-14T15:42:06Z

Will we see photos?

:o)

posted in The Durga Tour - 1 reply

Lucky #13

2006-09-10T16:23:13Z

I swear, I didn't plan this out intentionally, just because Philly is the birthplace of me...

Back in DC, we say goodbye to Sashi, and journey onward to the city of brotherly love...

On October 3rd, Ak Ana presents an evening of workshops, two 90 minute classes covering "Dramatic Body Language" and "Dancing on the Right Side of the Brain." There are plans for a goth club venture the following evening...

Details/registration: http://ak-ana.com/akanahome.htm

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

11th Stop: Pittsburgh!

2006-09-10T13:16:05Z

Kourtesy of Khafif, the Durga Tour next descends upon the unsuspecting city of Pittsburgh...muhahahaha!

These ladies have an awesome weekend planned, startint with an anti-social....(sorry, goth tendencies..), I mean, there's a fun meet and greet hafla, with music, and more on the 29th, to get us all ready for the 30th: FOUR hours of workshops, followed by (are you ready for this?) CIRQUE GOTHIQUE!

fab-u-licious!

Get your details here: http://www.khafif.com/khafif/durgatour.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 2 replies

9th stop: Columbus, OH

2006-09-07T06:11:11Z

September 26th, Tempest and Sashi will be tag-teaming it again in Columbus, Ohio, courtesy of Aneaj and Hipdrop! A 2 hour tag-team workshop, followed by a fun, informal gothla.

Complete details/registration available here:http://www.hipdrop.com/Livetour.html

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies

Sponsors---need a flyer?

2006-09-05T06:29:07Z

I've got layouts for events with just me, events with me and the Sashi-miester, and events with me and Ariellalalah's (yes, it's late)...

so if you want a kick-ass professional flyer for your stop, msg me with your need-to-knows (pricing, registration, location, and other important details I can't provide myself), and give me an email addy to send it to.

posted in The Durga Tour - 0 replies