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Open
House, sample classes ,register June 12 &/or June 19
June 21 - Aug 9, 8 weeks
KIDS, 2 - teens
Mon
- 3 - 4:30 PM Creative Mid East rhythms/veils. ages 7
- 12 $ 84
Tues
10 - 10:30 AM Mommy/ me ( 16 mos -2) $45
Wed
10 - 10 :45 Creative Dance ages 3 - 4 $45
Thu,10
- 10:45 Creative Dance ages 5 - 7 $45,,,,,,.....5 - 6:30 PM Creative Mid East
Rhythms/ veils ages 7 - 12 $84
Fri
10 - 11:30 Creative Dance, movement maps 12 -
15 $84
Sat,
9:30 - 10 :15 Mommy & me ages 7 - 10 $64
10:15 - 12:30 - TEEN Belly Dance
performance class - learn rhythms, routine, costuming, improv , entrances, drum
solos
ADULTS
MON,
TIV. - 5 - 6:30, Dancers Pilates ,$168 2 times a week or $14 drop in
.NEWPORT BELLY DANCE w/ Veils,195 Bdway, Renaissance Fitness, , 7:30 -
9:00 PM , $12 drop in
TUES,
TIVERTON - 5 - 6:30PM, Basic Intro Belly Dance............. 6:45 -
8:00 PM Belly Dance $12 drop in
WED,
TIVERTON , Dancers Pilates 4:30 - 6;00PM..........
Belly Dance 6:15 - 8:00PM $12 drop in
THUR,
TIVERTON, Beginning Belly Dance 5 - 6:30PM..............
6:30 - 8:00PM
FRI,
TIVERTON, NEW !!!!Class 6 - 7:30 PM Belly Dance
Personal training w/ Barb, studio or your home
Sign up for 1.2.3 times a week for
45 min - $15 a session.
Includes, Reminder notes,
practice CD - Learn fu
n mix of 5 rites, ballet legs, belly dance ,pilates,
veils, weights
 
Click on SQUARES to
watch Videos on  8 yr
slide/show story by ..............Anadjinn@cox.net
The Merc, Colo.
The Lafayette,NYC
www.NDW.com
The only Mid East
Oriental Belly Dance Studio in S. RI Sakonnet , Newport Bay
Orange door, Dance temple on
the water, look for flying veils
age 4 UP,Ballet, Modern , Oriental Belly Dance, Interpretive American
Style, Community out reach
Performer, 30 yr dance Educator,
Local, national, international
You TUBE BOXES
.
  
Email
Barb@thedancingspirit.com -
401 338 9905
On
www.ooh.com , 1st RI listing, "Coolest
things to do on the planet"
Yearly
Dancing Spirit SPRING Events - www.
nationaldanceweek.com, www.
worldbellydanceday.com
www.facebook.com - under Barbara Derecktor
Donahue & www.myspace.com
Join my Face Book group " Dream world dance
week - for the love of all dance"
NEW LINK - Learn more about Belly Dance
fast -
http://www.squidoo.com/startbellydancing &
www.shira.net Click to read Articles/Writings
Fall, Winter, Spring , Summer
 
 
Mid East Dance for Children 2 - adults 72
Grace, articulation, isolations, technique, rhythms, centering,earthy, moving steps, thru space, in place,
phrases, romance, pride,
strength, arm, hand language, beautiful gestures, happy posture, confidence, history,
feminine, princess ,empress, goddess dance w/ hip scarves, veils,
skirts, zills, fans,canes
IF
you have never danced before you will learn something special in
classes about your body, rhythms.
a world dance culture which is growing and
spreading all over our globe
IF
you are a classically trained dancer, don't miss the opportunity to study The
Dance. Add the vocabulary & rhythm knowledge to
enhance your dance expression.
1-1/2 - 2 hr Private lessons
for beg - adv students scheduled at
your convenience - $45.00
Celebration parties 7 to 70 w/ joy of dance -
Birthdays, bachelorette, Hen parties, Bridal showers, Girls
graduations, rites of passage, senior centers,
schools, office parties,
- Dress up in skirts/ make up/ hip scarves
- Barb read's the inspirational dance pic poem " Imagine you are" -
Learn
a dance, improv under the 3 yr veil, dance w/ wings, dance w/ Persian veils, play
the zills, birthday girl wears a flowered crown-
takes home a cd of the dance
and class - ts - you bring
the cake - everything is FUN ,different, unforgettable - plus
photos
Parties, in the studio or at
your location
Learn a dance, CD music copy birthday gift, dancing pics,
special dance poem, Bacholorette, Baby Showers, Bridal Showers, Girls night out
2009
Motto -
Dance for 5 minutes a day
- be happier, healthier ,
friendlier".
Proud
member of www.worldbellydanceday.com
. www.nationaldanceweek.com ,
www.sakonnetarts.org
It's not
about your Belly, It's
about your Dancing Spirit
  
Hurricane Show ," Singing out
against Hunger" at Evelyn's, Sept 2008
Local to International -
http://www.amanionline.com/fanclub/ - See Banner/Scroll down to Latest
Features/Click ARTICLES PAGE
..Connecting
the world
www.bakaratumountainretreat.com Barb in Bali - March 08 / skirt workshop
and choreography
www.amanionline.com
- Barb's writing
www.newsletter@goddesslife.com
- Barb's favorite class music & " Walking Rhythms Article"
www.decotach.com -
New AWESOME designer of American Dance Costumes
Click
HERE to see -
National Dance Week 2008 /Flicker/Photo
Hafla
Show w/Blanca , Carmine & friends
Bali Spirit
& American Style Belly Dance in Tiverton
 
In Bali
Below
 
Sayulita, Mexico - below
=============================================================
La Camelia - Oct 2007 V
Dear Barbara,
I wanted to mention how beautiful your dancing is! I watched the entire video
on your website and was so totally enchanted. Trust me, I rarely watch such
presentations in their entirety! Not because I don't enjoy them but because I
see so many in the course of a week. Yours, however, was compelling because your
own modern and balletic backgrounds and training are so totally evident! I
especially loved the portion where only the drumming was your accompaniment.
Those beautiful hands of yours, the tremendous depth of your "feeling" The
Dance........well, thank youfor the performance, dear lady! If ever we do a
website page where we feature some of the events, I may be returning to ask you
for the use of at least a portion (with links to your site, of course).
Beautiful, mesmerizing, magical.....your students are lucky to be taught by such
a Master!
Patricia A. Goulding, R.D.E., M.Ed. ,Executive Director, National Dance Week
http://www.nationaldanceweek.org
Email:
director@nationaldanceweek.org
 
June
2007 The Dancing Spirit Backyard Studio below
 
Below - National Dance Week Celebration April 2007
 
Read Barb's article in
www.newtimesnaturally.com - pge
25
Dance expresses the inevitable,
fundamental emotions and fully conscious moments of life
Below - The Phillipine Valentine's Banquet,
Venus Demilo, Feb 2007
   
Belly Dance refers to many styles of Middle Eastern Dance. Known also as Oriental, Cabaret, Egyptian,Turkish, Lebanese, Greek, American Tribal Style Belly
Dance & Belly Dance fusion it is a dance shared by many countries and by
people of all ages. There are many different Belly dance Dance styles
which are or can be influenced by Flamenco, Zambra , Indian, Rom / Gypsy, Modern/ Jazz & Ballet. Beginning in the 50's American Dancers developed
a style called American Belly Dance which features beautiful veil techniques.
American Belly Dancers of which I am one,LOVE to dance with the veil. Belly Dance is a much loved
but also still misunderstood dance form quickly evolving all over the U.S. and
the world today.
Learning to Belly Dance is like
learning a new body language. Classes introduce students to the
music and to the colorful culture. One of the first
exercises students learn is walking and feeling the different rhythms. It is
easy, hard and fun all at the same time. If
you can walk to the beat, you can dance to the beat.Many of the movements of
Belly Dance are circular and have to do with controlling subtle muscles in the
torso and hips that are unfamiliar to many people. At first it is a challenge to move in a circular, rhythmical
way but once you loosen up it is lot's of fun! Every student and performer
moves in their own expressive way.Belly Dance has it's roots in folk and
community dance. All ages, body types and levels of experience are welcome.
Beginners learn in a supportive, non
competitive environment. Experienced dancers deepen their practice.
Everyone of all ages and levels can enjoy dance together. Barb's classes are fun, challenging, interesting and educational. She
fuses her lifetime of modern/ ballet/ pilates/ creative movement & Roth Dance with the language of Belly Dance.
The Dancing Spirit Studio 1761 Main Rd
Tiverton RI
Local Belly Dance Report
Students are saying.............
" My posture is
improving"
" I am learning how to
move in ways I never knew I could"
" I am feeling new
muscles I never knew I had"
" I am sitting up
straight at my desk"
I am walking taller"
I am making new friends"
" I look forward to my
class every week"
"I love dancing to the
drum"
Make the exotic familiar - An
invitation to the Art of American Belly Dance in Tiverton with Barbara
Written by student, Nancy Drigg's -
dancer/ lawyer/ writer - 2009
Imagine you are a princess,
swathed from head to toe in brightly colored flowing silks swirling around your
legs with each step, waist or hips wrapped in a scarf sewn with musical dancing
gold and silver beads. Imagine you are a dancer of life, dressed in living
costumes, moving through ages and civilizations. Imagine moving proudly -
head held high, chest open, energy running down through and up your spine, your
very core held with grace, power, undulating with twisting beauty. There is a
treasure in Tiverton where these imaginings happen. I'll bet you, like I,
walked or drove by every day for 3 years - past the tassled red scarves, past
the large, bright, blue and orange flag announcing " The Art of American Belly
Dance, thinking "weird" , or " that is so not me" or " what kind of people do
that?" and " what exactly is that?"If you never take a class
from Barbara, you really are missing Tiverton's best kept secret. In this room
on Main Rd over looking the Sakonnet River,barefoot on an oriental rug, with a
group of neighbors of elementary school teacher, a nusery school
teacher,an attorney, an antique shop owner - we smile as we move, we laugh as we dance
around the room. First we walk freely thru the space to rhythms while catching up. Then we focus on mastering the techniques of the day.In addition to learning
the proud, controlled isolations we also dance with beautiful 3 yr silk
veils or learn the language of skirts or dance the proud dance of the
cane. It's new, it's work, it's fun. I have been a member of many
gyms.I have perspired my way into aerobically fit heart toned muscles and
routines but I never noticed many smiling or happy faces in any of the classes. Barbara Donahue is the
dancing spirit - fun, warm, whimsical, creative and encouraging instructor.
Under Barbara's watchful eye and instruction, I am learning the circular
movements of the ages - feminine, undulating, powerful and vulnerable. I am in
touch with my core. Barbara encourages us all to lift our
chins proudly and to smile while we are learning and dancing. Long after leaving
the studio we all stand taller, neck long, head up.We feel freer, lighter,
stronger and more grounded
Students of the dance
please
send comments to Barb here - Barb@thedancingspirit.com
Life Dance Map
I have been teaching and
performing a dance I first learned 7 years ago from Delilah
www.visionarydance.com .
Over the years the dance
bones
have gotten simpler, more complex and more meaningful. I teach the dance to
students and for the audience to show the basic beginning bones of Belly Dance
vocabulary but it has become a dance/ life map
TRY IT
Moving Right - Dance with the right side of your brain,
to the right side of your life, straight across with confidence and pride
Moving Left - Dance with the left side of your brain, to
the other side of your life, with confidence and pride
Look and feel comfortable with both sides of
yourself,Use every part of yourself as much as possible in every part of your
life
Moving forward - Dance to the front of your life, going
forward to whatever is coming your way, feeling ready to grow and accept with
every experience -
Moving backwards - Don't forget where you come from,
check in with your roots every day and grow your tree from there and then bask
in the magic of it
The Four corners - We all have corners = Some secrets, special gifts, dark times, extra light
times, mysteries, confusions
Face each corner straight ahead to see yourself and to
share your best self with the world - Don't hide in the corners, Go to your corners, explore,
see what is there, embrace each corner and move to the next one
Your turf - Your roots, your family,Your home, your
town,your community, your country,Your pride,,your definite foot stamp ,strong
leg, torso,shoulder, back, neck ,high proud head, open eyes
Survey - Around you go, surveying the whole journey - - Around
and around - Don't miss a second
One foot in place, the other pushing your around to
journey and survey the whole view
Going Forward in Opposition
Life is full of opposition - The one's we create, the
one's we grow from and the one's we over come
If they don't ruin us , they make us stronger
Going Back to the beginning,Riding the waves, We ride
the waves of your life,Over and over
We choose how and then we,ride some more,on the journey
of life
......................................................................
" Singing out Against Hunger weekend" , Evelyn's Restaurant - Sept 2006
   .
  
2008 Quotes from
recent performances
" Hi Barbara,
I was so glad that
you were able to come and dance. Everyone had a great time! it was so good to
see even my mother
( 81) and mother
in law( 84) up , dancing , having fun. It really made the party special. What a
wonderful example for
Katie ( the
graduate) to see mature women really enjoying themselves ( some brave men too)
celebrating with dance
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" Barb is a joy to
behold when she is dancing. She exudes pure joy, dancing her lyrical modern style fused
with
her passion for Middle Eastern Dance. Weather she is teaching, performing or
showing her latest choreographic
ideas she is joy in motion,
infectious and radiant. Her smile sends sparkles of joy in every direction.
Watching her dance
everyone feels moved to smile and walks away feeling lighter,
more alive and blessed to
have shared her deep, dancing soulful energy .........................
From East Booth
Bay, Maine
A note about this dance
form.
Unlike formalized
classroom and performance dance such as ballet, modern , jazz , tap etc this
dance form is different
because it's roots are
in Middle Eastern family celebrations where everyone dances together. In the
Middle East
musicians play a tabla or dumbek drum and most people are familiar with the
rhythms. When there
is a wedding,
engagements, births,
graduations in the Middle East there is music and dancing. The
movements shared by
everyone are the
basic movements of this dance form. The dance has evolved over time into many
different styles. Today
Belly Dance is being
enjoyed , learned and shared all over the world thanks to the many dancers and
teachers who fell in love
with Middle Eastern
Dance. I am one of them. Come join the
American Belly Dance club with me!!!!!!
Right photo is The St
James Convent in Tiverton on The Sakonnet River
ABOVE - Roger Williams University Global Festival - Nov. 2005
World History of the
Dance
Raqs Sharqi , Middle Eastern or Oriental Dance also known
as Belly Dance is a joyous dance
expression of emotions which interpret musical
rhythms. It is the most well known dance of the
Middle East. Danced by women , men, children and grandparents, from
North Africa to Northern Turkey,
from Greece to Saudi Arabia. Raqs Sharqi is
versatile, elastic - a living art, continually evolving
incorporating elements of other dance forms with
ease.
This dance predates both Islam and Christianity. Some
of the dance movements have been
connected with 5,000 yr old birth rituals. No one
knows exactly where it started or what its origins
are though most scholars believe it originated in
Egypt. The steps are mostly unnamed, yet the
dance has persisted and flourished through overwhelming
odds.
When introduced to America at the World's Fair in 1893,
Raqs Sharqi was marketed as
" belly dance" the most salacious possible of the
French " danse du ventre" or dance of the
stomach. This was the Victorian Era when women wore corsets
and exposed ankles were
risque. Imagine the uproar exposed midriffs. The show
was enclosed in a tent advertised as
too shocking for women, only appropriate for men's
viewing. The show was a success but the
dance's reputation was slandered.
Fortunately this undeserved image is finally but still
slowly changing thanks to dancers, scholars
and audiences world wide who cherish this beautiful and
challenging dance art.
The dance is composed of isolations and articulations including circles,
undulations,
figure 8's & snake like motions using hands, arms,
shoulders, torso - back/ front, abdomen ,
hips and feet.Also incorporated are shimmies of the shoulders and hips.
Accents to the music are magnified
with various body parts throughout the dance. It is a dance
of the people, of expression and feeling
from" the inside out" rather than of high leg
extensions or of high leaps across a stage. However
as the dance slowly transitioned from living room and
dance hall to the theatre
stage it adopted techniques from other dance forms , flashy
costumes, more traveling steps
and larger, grand movements than are typically found in the
home version where it began.
The dance is
classically an abstract visual representation of
the music, which includes its emotional timbre.
Improvisation and " feeling" for the music are highly
valued. The dancer represents the musical ornaments and
extended improvisations of the musicians
with his or her interpretation and personal expression. As
the dancer listens to the musicians, the musicians
in turn watch and play to the movements of the
dancer - reinterpreting and embellishing the dancers
movement. The result is a high level collaboration
between the auditory, the visual and the emotional.
CLICK HERE for party pictures
click here For Narrows 2005 Show &
Photos
More Topaz Tribe Photos
by Omar Bradley
click
here to see 19 PURE
dancers who came to RI
www. PUREDANCE.org
- May 14th, 2005 were here
Belly Dance
Benefits
Like anything else
in life - you get out of it what you put into it. Belly dancing is a
good stress reducer,
energy increaser, strength improver, muscle toner and helps
with coordination if practiced regularly.
It has been said that it heals, strengthens
and balances the body, mind and spirit all at
once. Belly dancing can also burn as
many calories as walking or riding a bike and like those
activities you will be in better
shape if you practice 2 or 3 times a week.
Belly dance is a
low impact aerobic exercise - plus it's fun , sensual and you
get to work out in skirts and
hip scarves
................................................................................................................
What they say about her dancing &
teaching
....
"Dear Barb, your dancing
touches my heart and soul. It is a gift from your heart to everyone
who has the privilege to see you perform. It is a gift to the universe....."
Jane Sanford,
Belfast, Maine
"Barb, You are an inspiration.To watch you dance makes a person realize they should pursue
their passions.Thanks for being part of " Singing out against hunger", Evelyn's
and being in our life". Jane Bitto,Portsmouth, RI
"
Dear Barbara, Just a note to reiterate a good time had by all. Your performance was very well
done. You give belly dancing a respectful and artful form.The audience now
understands the time
and discipline it takes to perform this dance. "
Margerate Turpeck, Little
Compton, RI
"Barbara,
You're extraordinary and have always touched me deeply with your dance.I get
teary when I see you shimmy". Brenda
Brock, Portsmouth RI.
"
Barb, This art form you have explored with such passion has expanded your heart and soul in
such an incredible way. You are an incredible spirit who casts love and grace over everyone you
touch." Lee forbes, Tiverton RI
" I love that you are in my life barb! I felt similarly at your estival in July. It was
amazing!"Lara, Soul sister Dancer from Boston
Click
here to see more
photos
2003
By coming to visit my website - you have begun
an adventure to a new and beautiful world of Belly Dance Never in my
wildest day dreams could I have envisioned my dance life now. Never did I imagine being the exotic and
magical dancing woman of the next event. Never did I imagine sharing pictures of
myself dancing everywhere on a
huge website like this one. And never did I imagine
that I would be dancing, teaching and performing now more than ever
. Belly dancers dance forever! One of my
favorite students, Norma, is 68. She is amazing! She has followed me from class
to class, location to location and
she looks and moves better than ever
I've
stumbled into a dance world that I really never knew existed until 7 years ago
and in this new dance world
all the rules are completely different except for one - you have to work
hard to be really good. My dance devotion was always
Ballet and Modern dance
and branches developed from those two dance forms. Ballet and modern dance are
both about
extensions out from the body, control, lightness, traveling
through space and in
general having not much direct contact or interaction with the audience.
In
belly dance the performer can be in avery small area of space, the dance is very internal ,following closely the
curves and circles of the body and
audience contact is warm , dramatic at times, friendly and very direct. Belly dance is a folk dance
of the people - for the people - with
the people. As I write these words this dance form is evolving
very quickly
." Middle Eastern Dance" known
as " Belly Dance" in this country is quickly becoming a new household word .Women
are looking for
a new way to feel about their bodies and want a new way to express themselves.
This dance is ,healthy, sensual, colorful, transformational and
educational . The benefits
physically ( waking up your internal
muscles) ,spiritually( belly dance is fun
, makes you think & smile) and
intellectually ( the reading & learning is amazing) are too many to count. The reading and research about this dance
alone is
incredible. There is much to be learned
about the world through the discovery and study of Belly dance
GGGgGGreat Performers
and Teachers who have been my teachers & inspirations
Katherine Carbone of Newport
Katia of Boston www.katiaofboston.com , a great lady of the dance
Delilah and Sirocco of Seattle
www.visionarydance.com - a wild, fiery spirit
Zahara of Warwick
www.anatoliimports.com - knows everyone and everything about RI Belly dance
Maja of Florida www.girlofthenile.com
- a great tribal force
Samara
www.samaradance.com - a beautiful teacher, dancer, spirit of this dance
Elena Lantini,
www.elenalantini.com - a force
Anahid Sofian,
www.anahidsofian.com
- a force
Amira
Mor, www.amiramor.com - a rule breaker and
huge dance spirit
Shamira,
www.shamiradance.com
- great performer/ teacher
Morroco,
www.morocco.com - known as Aunt Rocky, says
it all
Dalia Carella
www.daliacarellea.com
- a beautiful, passionate fusion dancer
Lorraine Lafatta of Boston
www.lorrainelafatta.com - a visionary
Dunya of Cape Cod www.dunya.com - a
modern, spiritual Belly dancer
Kaeshi of
PURE www.pure.org - A Belly Dance Super Star of
Belly Queen
Aida Nor
www.Aidanor.com - Egyptian dancer/ teacher
Hadia
www.hadia.com of Canada
Eva
Cernick www.evacernick.com
Mohammed
www.mohammed.com
Tito
www.tito.com
Jehan
www.jehan.com
Aradia
www.Aradia.com
Angelik
www.angelikanemeth.com
Shareen
www.shareenalsafy.com
Mesmera
www.mesmera.com
Angela
www.decotach.com ....Great costume
designer
Aurel
www.ancientartstudios.com
Meg/Anajim
- RI Dance Soul Sister
www.shira.net
- World Belly Dance INFO
Amani of
Lebanon www.amanionline.com
Blanca
www.blancadance.com
Carmine
www.carmine.com
. Movie Or
Windows
Media
Mac or Windows........CLICK TO
WATCH
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click BOXes below
for more info
More
Pictures
Past Events
Newspaper Articles
Live Performance Videos
Family websites
Robert
E Derecktor ,Dad -
A real character who I loved very much,world renown boat builder, sailor,
designer, creative guy, told good stories, had a twinkle - Encyclopedia of Yacht Designers,
Legacy of " What are you going to do, be a nothing?, like them?, is that all
you did?, how can we make it better? different?
Jane Sanford , Mom -
Inspirational Leader of HandMade signs on Street Corner for the most
important Causes Inc, Cabin Dreams Builder/ designer, teacher of "
live lightly on the earth"
E Paul Derecktor -
www.derecktor.com
Thomas E Derecktor -
www.tracrac.com, www.blusource.com
Deborah Derecktor - Exquisite
chocolatier www.powerchocolates.com
Lizzy Derecktor - Innana, wow
drumming band
www.iannana.com &
beautiful
www.spiritwear.ws
Entry, Nov 28th 2005
------Istanbul Turkey
Story 2005
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