Under the Sun Light Dancer for June is:
Name:
Lava (Lana O'Keefe)
Location:
Vancouver, BC Canada
How did you get involved with bellydancing?
For some reason, I had visions of my bellydancing when i was a child, and could see/feel that it was going to be an important aspect of my life, somehow. I didn't question it, I just waited for the right moment to pursue it. Before it happened, I studied and experimented in other aspects of performing, music and film making. Picked up specific skills that i now use in my work as a bellydance artist. After pursuing other forms of dance and performance, and going through a severe change in my life (dark times), I suddenly knew it was time to start the bellydance portion of my life, and found the nearest instructor, and started my learning. As soon as I started, I felt things start to change for me inside and knew this was my moment to change everything in my life, my thinking, my occupation, my image of myself, and start becoming more of the vision of myself that I saw from as early as childhood days. It took alot of courage ad confidence, and unusual sounding changes and sacrifices, but it was worth it, because the moment I made these changes real, my whole life shifted. Even my beginnings into the bellydance world changed quite rapidly, too, I guess to find the right place for me to be. I started in Egyptian styling, and tried to study Tribal style from afar (way up in Canada, trying to learn from Fat Chance in California, or anyone else along the way). I practiced at home by myself, while I taught Egyptian classes, since that was all we had in Vancouver, for the most part. Plus, to get any paying performances, on my own, i had dance in Egyptian styling, for restaurants and parties, even though it didn't feel like the exact right fit for me. After teaching classes for about 4 yrs, I decided to try teaching tribal style, and see if people here would want to learn it from me. Thank god, they did. Now I've been teaching Tribal Style and Tribal Fusion classes, workshops, for about 6 yrs, and everything has grown dramatically from making that change. It's definitely the right style for me.
Why do you love dancing?
I guess I love dancing because I love music. I have dabbled with a few different instruments over the years (even my voice), and have tried to make my own music - still trying, if I can ever find the time for it! - but have always found that as soon as I hear music, I immediately envision how to move to it. It's automatic for me, an instant reaction. Music definitely moves me. A certain need to interpret, or more like accompany the music with movement. I feel the music and have to move. For me, choreography becomes a complete work of art, interpreting the music into movement, through bodies, costumes, lighting, and anything else I can get my hands on. As soon as i hear music that I like, I see choreography/movement. And then it becomes a completed desire to perform that movement and portray whatever i feel the music is trying to say. So far, my body is the one instrument I can work best.
Do you teach?
I teach weekly classes in Vancouver, and workshops throughout the lower mainland area, and do weekend workshops in various cities throughout BC, across Canada, and have taught at Tribal Fest 8 & Tribal Fest 9. I am definitely a performer at heart, but have discovered that I love teaching dance classes. I have been teaching classes and workshops for about 10 yrs, now, and didn't realise i would love it this much, but when you get to experience and meet so many fabulous people (from all over the world), it really deepens the experience, too. I always hope to inspire someone, and I love to watch people transform to a stronger, more confident Self. If i can help in that process, then I feel like I've done something real.
How has bellydancing changed your life?
There is so much I could write for this question, but I'll narrow it down a little. For myself, I have learned that it has been a complete fit for me, in terms of my own personal growth as a human being, and for my own personal lessons. It has allowed me to be self-employed, which is a huge part of who I am and what works best for me. It has allowed me to express myself as an artist, which I just can't seem to live without. And it has allowed me to meet like-minded people to help me feel accepted in a community/group of people. It has also allowed me to make useful contributions to people's lives, in a way that I know how, best. Of course the most heartfelt reason, is because it has allowed me to reclaim my confidence in feeling like a worthy human being, artist, woman. It has helped me connect with myself on all levels, and change my perception, open my mind, have more compassion, and open my heart. It has been such a tough journey, but all the hurdles, BS, and hidden hurt feelings, to become a (working) self-employed artist has been so worth it - to be able to have the fantastic moments performing, meet fantastic people at classes, workshop, shows, events, is what all the hard work is for, and hopefully it has made a positive difference in other people's lives, too.
Your costumes always look amazing, do you have any tips for someone that is putting together their first tribal bellydance costume?
One of the things i love most about tribal styling is, the freedom in your costume-making!!! The tribal aesthetic really appeals to me, and i have always loved designing things, so it gives me great pleasure to make costuming - i just wish i had more time for it! With tribal fusion on the rise, we defintely have that creative door opening really wide, now, in terms of styling for costuming, so my advice to someone making costuming for the first time, is to create costuming that suits your music choices and dance styling (this is my recommendation to really know your dance styles - where they come from and what they borrow from and why), then think about "how" you're going to dance in it - be aware of the type of movement you will do in it, to make sure that your garments/accessories make sense with how you will move (for example - some styles of pants and/or skirts don't work so well with floor work), and then you can really let your imagination take over. If you are stumped for ideas then scour the internet for photos to see what people put together, and get ideas. Check out various (actual) tribal communities to see what they wear - eg. Banjara Tribes, Rajasthani Tribes, Bedouin Tribes, Afghani tribes. anyone wanting a classic ATS costume - definitely check out Fat Chance Belly Dance dvd's, I believe Carolena has a costuming dvd as part of the set! For Fusion costumes, you really need a good sense of the dance styles you are fusing in creating costuming that works well. And no matter what costuming you make ALWAYS PRACTICE IN IT BEFORE YOU PERFORM IN IT!
Where can we see you perform?
In Vancouver, so far, we have no venue to go and see tribal bellydance regularly. Here we rely on dance events (put on by bellydancers) to create opportunities to see tribal bellydance performances. Which is one of the reasons why i started my "Sisters of Alchemy's Tribal Soiree"(s). This is an event i put on a few times a year as an opportunity for my students to perform/practice their ATS bellydance, as the real thing / outside the dance studio. These are evenings where everyone gets dressed in their favorite tribal gear and comes out to dance. I have a few spots of class performances and guest performances, but the majority of the evening is my "Everyone Dance" sections where anyone attending the event can join in the huge ATS chorus and soloing groups on the dance floors and dance all night! So this is meant as a student night, but also a "Tribal Mixer" - a somewhat social event for the tribal community to get together, dance together, and see what everyone is up to. It's also my night to play as dj, as well as some perfoming! And I'm also working on my 2010 version of my "Dark Arts and Parlour Tricks" show, for my troupe (Sisters of Alchemy), to show in Vancouver and hopefully other cities, too. Plus I've been travelling to Tribal Fest for the past few years to perform and teach there, and a few other festivals throughout the US and Canada. I'll be teaching and performing at Tribally Yours festival 2010, in March this year, in Montreal Que. area, and Tribal Fest 10, too.
Any exciting projects that you're working on?
My show "Dark Arts & Parlour Tricks". This is a full length show that i've been working on for a few years, and re-creating different versions each year, for my troupe Sisters of Alchemy. It's a show that I create, produce, choreograph, and teach to everyone in it. It's a mix of many different stylings that I have always loved, as well as different genres of art/performance. Right now, my show consists of stylings including tribal/fusion bellydance, that mixes elements of gypsy, vaudeville music hall, middle eastern dance, Odissi inspirations, and my favorite - the Can Can! As an artist who has dabbled in many forms over the years, I've picked up a few different things that i like to work with, and so my show is designed around these things. I have a larger group of dancers in Sisters of Alchemy, now, and that allows me to fulfill more of my vision for group choreographies. It's also the main show for my Improv Combos that I've been developing for the last few years, my "Sideshow Improv" - each combo is created from different styles of dance that i have loved learning, practicing and performing, and can keep a little of that with me as i've blended them with my styling of tribal bellydance, for some super-fun combos done in a group improv format. Plus, I produce my "Sisters of Alchemy's - Tribal Soiree's" (my student dance nights and tribal community mixer). I absolutely love making these nights happen. To see everyone get so jazzed up for the evening and dance all night, makes me very happy. It's part social and part personal achievement for everyone, and i love that! PLus, i get to pretend i'm a dj the evening.
What inspires you / what music makes you dance?
I'd say I am most inspired by music, and that always leads me to start visualizing what I would want to do to each piece of music. Whether it is choreographing/creating a dance or a film/video, a costume/clothing, or a photoshoot, I am always inspired by music. I am particular about what i choose to use, but have learned to appreciate so many different styles. Most choreographies/dances and projects start from a piece of music. It's a language that hits home immediately and can illicit a reaction inside you instantly. Ya gotta love that. I'll always love really great drum pcs, and want/need to dance to them, but i definitely am attracted to other main categories - anything that hits me the right way in a dark haunting tone (maybe even scare me a little - that's always good!) and upbeat fun music that ROCKS (and possibly could some that scare me a little - again). In terms of styles/genres of music it all depends, i cycle through styles like most people do, as you change your own style and again, it's usually music that makes all of that happen for me. I'm also, still trying to find some time to work on some of my own music. I love creating music and wish i had way more time to devote to that, but hopefully one of these days i can finish some of the pieces i've started.... and my other love is film-making. This is strictly a simple hobby, in creating short films, videos, very small projects (low-budget - simple versions) that i love to work with, and wish i had more time to increase my skills and update equipment, but still fulfills my movie-making desire that i've had since learning in school. so for now, I make videos based on dance and what teeny-tiny acting skills i can muster up within myself!
What do you feel is one of the most helpful dance tips you could give someone?
Stay grounded and focused on who you are. Let your dance be connected to your heart.
To contact Lava or Sisters of Alchemy:
Websites:
www.lavastudio.ca
www.sistersofalchemy.com
email to: lavastudio@live.ca
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