2015 has come to an end and I’ve learned some stuff this year that I am choosing to work with as I move forward in my businesses and personal adventures.
Catch phrases that apply:

• I’m not as young as I used to be…
• Work smarter not harder…
• If your own cup is empty, you’ll have nothing to share with those who around you…

I’m not as young as I used to be…

This is a simple fact.  Not a self-deprecation, just a fact. I have arrived in a place where I have been pushing myself, mostly quite joyfully, sometimes stressfully, for years and lately I have felt the repercussions of perhaps doing a bit more than my body and sanity should have allowed.
Certainly, I have been choosing convenience eating and have the resulting physical manifestations of that occurring. I have benefited from therapy over the past year for anxiety issues, and have begun to process the changes I want to make in my routine that will contribute to me being healthier, both in body and mind.  One step at a time, and one day at a time, with some accountability worked in, but not too much pressure.

Work smarter not harder…

Self-employment has always been part of my income stream, and I have always tried to keep a logical head about outside work. For the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of a somewhat regular paycheque and the chance to work with some crazy fun ladies through bouts of high pressure and creative moments. Lots of challenges, and lots of rewards and LOTS of learning.  
Awareness dawned that working outside my studio space, even “part time”, involves a big commitment, and the rewards are worth it, so I’ll be looking at some “stepping back” from my dance related activities during my high sewing season, even more than I have in the past.
I will continue to offer classes through the Winter 2016 session, both sewing and dance classes. In the spring, I will step back from teaching Saturday sewing classes.  I need that time for clients, both my own and the shop’s.
I also have realized that with my work in the bridal world being full time busy from April through the summer, I cannot organize a June Ottawa Community Class Party.

There will be NO Halyma’s OCCP in June.

I hope to offer a community showcase dance recital again December 2016 – depending on interest, classes, etc., of course. Keep posted in the fall for that.
What this might mean for May/June is that other teachers/studio owners/ community members, either as a collective or on their own can take the opportunity to show off their event-organizing skills and hopefully extend the invitations to me and other teachers, continuing that community feeling I have worked to create for years. Or not.  We shall see.

If your own cup is empty, you’ll have nothing to share with those who around you…

And finally, this concept: I am finally ok with the idea that I must take some time for me. I’ve already begun trying new skills, exploring other creative paths, revisiting past creative paths, and some days, just being.
And as I find cool things that inspire me, challenge me in a healthy way, or excite me < yeah, if you know me, you understand the hyperbole of that phrase, but hopefully will allow for some degree of “excitement”- at least in my writing about it>, I’ll be sharing those adventures here or in my other social media places!

Happy seasonal greeting.
It was that time of year again last night as we came together dance, laugh, get all sparkly and party.
This is my Thanks to all post, and I’m pretty tired – it’s 5 a.m. the next day. So it will be brief.
General thanks and kudos goes out to all of the students who performed  – it’s never easy to bare yourself to the public < but it’s not that kind of show…>, so I hope you all were as comfortable as possible at our little shindig.
Thanks to the host teachers who accept my invitation to bring their classes and sometimes themselves out to share their skills as choreographers, improvisors, and guides for those who study with them.  And for the work you do to help with the show – dealign with tickets, herding the cats, getting them all prettied up and encouraging them to hit the stage, or just come out to watch their classmates.
The rogues are also most appreciated !  You soloists and duets who are either in between the ranges – you are an advanced student working on your own thing, you are a teacher looking to get creative beyond the expectations of your regular curriculum, or you are guest teachers who are able to come out and shine for us – thanks you all too.
I was contemplating how much I delegate/ should delegate/ find it hard to delegate. And I realized that for years, a core group of amazing OCCP crew have already been quietly undermining my sense of ” I must control everything”.  These ladies take charge of the tasks they have chosen to do at the OCCP and have made the night one where I can actually host.  I run around, checking on superfluous things and chat.  So thank you to Linda, Erika, Catharine, Laura, Michele, Safiya and Annie.
Without you offering very specific things that you can take on, I would not find it an easy thing to ask people. So thanks for figuring out that way to help that makes it easy on me!
And the folks who are stepping up to offer, but are never sure what might need to be done, thank you as well! Even if I did not constantly keep you busy, it really helps knowing that folks are ready to step up as needed and make the operation run smoothly! Tina, Cat, Cassandra, Tracy, andI am sure there were more of you asking if you could be of assistance – thank you!
Rogue photographers – thank for joining us for our colourful evening – we cannot wait to see the shots you get!  The flickr group  is set up https://www.flickr.com/groups/occp36/  so we can share them privately! Linda, Ivy, Tom and Robert your shots will preserve our memories of this fun time! And if anyone else got amazing shots of the evening your photos will be welcome too.
Tom – thanks for being my rock at home, listening to my rants and helping keep me on track. And of course for providing a video record of the evening .
NOTE: If you forgot to order your dvd, message Info@darnermedia.ca with what group you were in…
There are some lost and found things – I’ll add those later – but if you lost something, let  me know. If  I don’t have it, you’ll want to contact the university directly to see if the tech guys found it after we left.
And thanks to the tech guys! – Denis and JP – were awesome as always.
And I may edit this later to add on the folks I forgot – but thanks everyone!

 

See ya in September…

So what happens now?

I’m going to be offline for most of August – only occasionally popping on the make sure the universe has not exploded – but really, I’ll be relaxing and not too concerned.

For you:
Check out the Dancers’ News – there are only a few events listed at the moment, but – it’s got info about other teachers, restaurants with performers and more.
My classes start September 15th: I’ll be teaching evenings this September through the City of Ottawa at the Routhier CC and Sandy Hill CC, as well as running my Private Playtime Adventures for more experienced students.  Registration starts for the Ottawa.ca classes August 12 at 9 p.m. online, and for my private classes – you can contact me and let me know you are interested – we’ll connect in September.
In the meantime – have a lovely August!
Halyma

Just looked at this week’s forecast – it’s gonna be a bit warm.
I’ll be working steadily on a variety of client pieces, both in my home studio as well as at my part time job. And the A/C will be running < sorry environment>…
Later today I’ll be out at Kites4Cancer with dancers from my two fave dance groups – Bollywood For Fun and Bellydancing For Fun/ BellywoodRaks


And I just realized that although my lovely dance colleagues at Bollywood For Fun will be participating in the Festival of India on August 8, teaching a workshop, as well as performing in the South Asian Festival on August 15th as part of  the cultural presentations, I will be off on holidays, taking some time to relax and recharge before September.
And September is coming – barring any Armageddon activities – and I’ll be back to teaching classes, still sewing up a bridal storm and performing again with the great ladies I dance and play with.
So, if you happen to be in Orleans today – come on out at around 3 p.m. and help stave off any rain by thinking dry thoughts!

… has been BUSY!
First – super belated thanks to everyone who participated in the June 9th #OCCP35.  We had a blast as always and I appreciate you all.
I received some lovely personal notes afterwards that reminded me of why I spend the hours and days preparing a safe place for our community to show off what they have learned, and I continue to be amazed at the phenomenal artistic adventures we are taken on by all of the teachers at every OCCP.
Housekeeping notes: there were some lost items that will have photos posted soon on both the flick group and the Facebook page – Cat/Suhani as well as Mia have these items.. If you lost something that evening, drop me a line and I’ll connect you with the ladies.
Also unclaimed door prizes:
DOOR PRIZES:
If you had the ticket number listed, You have a prize awaiting you!
#132 – EcoTav Haversack
#219 – Duniya Studio Free Drop in
#100 50% off Duniya Studio Registration

If you have your ticket still, message me to claim your prize! Or if you tell me you had that number….
and the links:
Facebook – where you can find RSVPhotography photos < scroll through the comments>:https://www.facebook.com/events/339196276274158/
Flickrgroup: https://www.flickr.com/groups/occp35/ Remember to use any of these photos you should be asking permission of the photographer first and giving credit to them.
Ok. that’s what I got for ya re the OCCP.
Next day, I was back at Luxe working on wedding gowns and then rushing home to work on prom dresses for my TAV clients.  so life has not really stopped.
I’ve also been having fun with Bollywood For Fun – and even today we will be out at Community Cup – hoping the rain takes a break for a while this afternoon!
We did manage a weekend with our families on Father’s Day weekend – with a lot of driving and some lovely socializing, it was very nice to shift focus away from work for a couple of days.
and every morning that I have time, I try to get in a walk so that I can see sights like this:

and otherwise I’m seeing this:

So, I will be continuing to dance and sew and look forward to when this will be my view – hope you are having a great summer so far as well!

UPDATE: Sadly, due to low enrolment, these classes will not be running this April.  I may try to offer a summer 1-day workshop, so keep an eye out!

 Halyma

My Awaken your inner Goddess classes are set to being on April 23rd  and running for 6 weeks.
In these classes, I will be venturing away from technique and into the ethereal – playtime- guided movement mediations, relaxation and still exploring how to connect with your body through gentle dance moves.
If you are interested in taking your own personal journey into dance, come play with us!

—

Here’s my article from last year’s Tone Magazine:
Awaken Your Inner Goddess through Dance
Accurate dance moves matter, the physical form is important, and finding those perfect combinations of dance elements to make a beautiful performance are always extremely relevant to the growth of any dancer.
But what fuels that fire? What drives us, as dancers, to perfect those movements? What helps push us to dance even when we could easily be distracted by 100 other important day-to-day things?
Dancing has been part of human celebration for a very long time. It’s been part of our worship, part of our joy, a way to express our feelings and stories without words, and it’s universal appeal helps bring us together.
The dancer who performs for an audience has a big role in society, whether society realizes it or not.  She {or he} is a bridge connecting the etherial realm to the physical, connecting with powerful energy, transforming it into a physical representation.  Her movements can express the deepest of emotions with a single gesture, a pause, an extension, while allowing those witnessing this journey to travel with her.
The dancer who dances for herself also has a big role in society.  She is journeying to a place where she can explore all of those extremes of emotion we are asked to suppress in our daily lives and interactions.  Through dance, she can release the built up excesses, shaking it all off, being in that moment and then letting it go, come back to her daily life with a renewed sense of self.
Embracing that power and seeing the moments of connecting with something deep inside, that’s fundamental to taking dance to a deeper, stronger level.
To what do we need to be open, so that our dance touches ourselves and others from more than just a technical perspective?
Once upon a time, gods and goddesses personified our passions in a way external to our daily lives, so that we could get on with taking care of our basic needs.  These deities took care of the etherial for us, and were worshipped for it. Each had his or her own realm of responsibility, be it the  creative, hands-on arts, the harvest, the dark places, birth, death, war, tranquility, pretty much everything.
For many people, this still applies today.  And the elements these deities personify are reflections of what can find within ourselves in a sense of divine connection.
And touching that, through dance, to benefit ourselves and our dance, exploring the light and dark, the fear and the joy, what possibilities can emerge from this? There no limit!
Do you have to believe in goddesses to dance?
No, you do need to believe in you, or be willing to start.
—
Tracey “Halyma” Vibert will explore this with dancers of all levels – beginners through pros. By looking at the many archetypes of female aspects personified in various goddesses worshipped around the world in the 6 week course, Halyma will be helping others bring their joy, their power, fear, anger, sensuality, creativity, all of it, into their dance.
With over the 16 years teaching belly dance, through weekly classes, private classes at women’s events, demos and lessons at cultural events as well as having co-facilitated a “movement mediation” workshop called Dancing With The Elements, Halyma has always been blessed by the participants as much as she hopes to have gifted them. You can find her classes and more online at Halyma.com and bellydancingforfun.com.

Bellywood Raks will be one of the featured performance groups participating in the upcoming fundraiser that is the FiNALE Event for Letsunlockchange, a fundraising month of events that Algonquin College’s Public Relations students are organizing in support of the John Howard Society.
Come on out and enjoy an evening of a circus atmosphere!  Get your Advance tickets today !  See you April 11!

Hmm – something to examine with my students for sure… Thanks for this piece!