Discordia Arts Fire Dance Promo Video

Lots of Dancing!!

The last two weekends have been my favorite kind: chock full of Bellydance! And, it doesn't show signs of stopping.

First, on Friday evening, Feb 22, Discordia Arts and our dear friend Teejei, joined Wasted Wine on stage at the Handlebar in Greenville, SC. We had a fantastic evening full of beautiful, unique music, and we debuted a brand new theatrical fusion bellydance piece as living music boxes! I didn't get any pictures of the event, since I was a bit busy, but the photograph below was posted on Facebook by Fete Greenville

 

Jaidra Performs to Fall Upon Me with Wasted Wine at the Handlebar

Saturday night brought even more beautiful dancing, as I took to the stage along with a variety of Greenville's finest bellydancers and students at an informal hafla hosted by Nadira. Community events are always a ton of fun. It is exciting to get to see the range of styles and talents that Greenville boasts.

Following last weekend, we had a week full of practices, dress rehearsal, and planning to get ready for last night's show. Discordia Arts presented our Spring Student Showcase and Hafla. My students, Brandy's students, and many of our friends showed up and danced their hearts out. We were blessed to be joined by talented musicians from as far away as Columbia, Atlanta, and Asheville in addition to local drummer, Marcus, and the incomparable Robert Gowan.
Hopefully, I will have photos to share soon. Last night was amazing. The last few weeks of dancing, music, fellowship, hard training, and community has really reminded me why I dance. Love and Shimmies!

Bellydance Show with Jaidra

Join me for an evening of Belly dance at Grapeleaf Mediterranean Restaurant. 816 S Main St in Downtown Greenville on Tuesday, Jan 29th. I will dance mini sets from 6:30 - 7:30 in a variety of styles. Bring the whole family to try some great food and enjoy some dance!

New Bellydance Classes for 2013 - Greenville, SC

Equilibrium Zen Gym is moving to a new location, 207 E Antrim Dr, Greenville SC, with more spaces for classes, and I am celebrating with them by offering 2 new classes. Classes are still on Wednesday evening and will begin on Jan 16th.

Bellydance Basics - Wed 6:30-7:30pm 

Description:

Bellydance is an expressive art form based on ancient women’s dances from North Africa, and the Middle East. What we know of as Bellydance today takes on a variety of styles and goes by a variety of names, but the basis of Bellydance is rooted in body isolation and movements centered in the torso of the body. In this class we will focus on technique, alignment, and posture as we breakdown the basics forms, movements, and travelling steps that form the foundation for many different styles of bellydance. Each class will begin with a warm up that will include stretch and strengthen exercises designed with the bellydancer in mind, followed by a breakdown of several basic isolations and usually a travelling step which will be put together into a simple dance combination. Class will close with short cool down stretch series. 

Intermediate Bellydance - Wed 7:30-8:30pm

 Description:

This intermediate class will be presented in 8 week sessions that will have different focuses. Each 8 week class will build on skills learned in bellydance basics. 

The first session will start Jan 16 and ending the second week of March.

This 8 week session will focus on learning a skirt dance. The piece we will learn is an original choreography by Jaidra that combines basic bellydance isolations and travelling moves with an emphasis on spins, turns and flourish with a 25 yard skirt.

There will be a performance opportunity in March for members of this class that wish to perform, but performance is not required. Students who wish to perform must be willing to purchase or borrow specific costume items such as a black choli and a 25 yard skirt. 

Permission of the instructor or 16 weeks of bellydance basics are required before joining this class.

I am so excited to start classes in this new space! As always, your first class with me is free. After that, 10$ each for a 6,8, or 10 class card or 15$ per class drop-in. 

 

Upcoming Shows Oct, Nov 2012

Jaidra will be performing as part of Discordia Arts with Wasted Wine at the Velo Fellow on Oct 31. Be on the lookout for something different!

Next, look out for Wasted Wine and Discordia Arts with Los Meesfits at Little Kings Shuffle Club in Athens, GA on Nov 3. Discordia Arts are breaking out the theatrical dance spectacular for your viewing pleasure.

A short break will be followed by an appearance at the Handlebar as part of Outsider Arts' Holiday Market on Nov 17.

Favorite Nature Photos

I hike as often as work, gigs, and life allow me to, and I love to take pictures of what I see. Here are a few recent favorites.

A Nature Silk

This one has a home already (I painted it for my Father)

 I started with this beautiful garden spider on a background of white oak leaves.

 Then I added a ruby throated hummingbird. I took some liberties with the vine: kind of a cross between bignonia and jessamine, but I think it's beautiful.

 The far left side finished up with a dragonfly on a background of sycamore leaves and water oak leaves as a final framing piece, since I wasn't going to paint the full size of the silk. I used water and jaquard green label silk dye directly on the fabric with water to move the dye.

Finished nature silk painting

I finished with a mottled background in 4 washed of dark blue. The pictures don't do the silk justice, but I think that it turned out lovely. I am always in love with and inspired by nature.

Abstract silk paintings for Feb 2012

Winter showed up late, but it showed, and I've been cold and filled with dark emotions.

I mixed washes of grey and black with my colors to develop gradients, and I used water and salt to add texture.

I think that these abstract paintings are evocative of what I'm feeling these days. More of this style will be coming.

Multi-month update brought to you by the letter J

The letter "J" for Jaidra and for Job: as in, Jaidra's full time Job takes up all of the time that was once spent on taking and editing photos, updating websites, networking, etc.

I am still making art and dancing! It just occurs at odd times, and is in no way consistent. So, for brevity, here's the bullet point update.

• Uniq by Jaidra silk art is available at Artizan Gallery in Columbia, SC. They have been fabulous to me, so if you're in the area, go by and check them out!

• Uniq by Jaidra silk art and jewelry is available at Raspberry Moon Skin Care studio in Greenville, SC. Nicole is amazing and will help make your skin Fabulous, so definitely check her out!

• The Uniq by Jaidra Etsy store is closed temporarily. It just takes too much time to maintain. But, I still take custom orders and I always have pieces for sale. Just contact me at jaidra_art@yahoo.com

• I am a featured artist at Dharma Trading company this month! I get all of my silk painting supplies through Dharma, and LOVE them! 

• I am available for private henna body art appointments. Due to time constraints, I am limiting in house and travel appointments to a minimum of 50$ (a pretty large or detailed piece). Longer and larger appointments still run 75$ per hour. I do have a two hour minimum for parties, corporate events, and weddings.

• Dance classes continue. I always wish that I could dance more, but there's only so much time in a week. Stay tuned. I will try to be more consistent with the updates!

Joy, art, shimmies!
Jaidra

Some Pics from the Past Few Months

Uniq by Jaidra: Art Fair Booth

Uniq by Jaidra: Art Fair Booth

Uniq by Jaidra: Art Fair Booth

Custom Belly Henna

Turkish Fusion Performance

Irises Silk Painting

Taking a life break: Hiking is my relaxation

I just love this picture: Mushrooms above a mountain stream.

My Students Rock So Very Much

Bellydance Fitness and Fun Class Performance

Equilibrium Zen Gym Bellydance Class

Last night, Equilibrium Zen Gym, the home of my "Bellydance Fitness and Fun" class had their annual Christmas party. A few weeks ago, the owner, George, asked me if I would perform as part of the class demonstrations for the party.

Jaidra

I had been teaching my students some simple combos in a circle format, and I made the executive decision that I was going to choreograph a simple dance and have my students dance with me for the party. With less than a month to go, I let them know that they could perform with me. I made it clear that they didn't have to, but to my surprise, all 6 members of the class decided that they wanted to!

Jaidra Dancing with Bellydance Fitness and Fun Students

These women all started dancing four months ago, and have progressed at varying speeds, but are all amazingly beautiful, talented, kind and hard working. I have been so impressed by the work that they were willing to put in in order to join me for the Christmas party. They even surprised me by purchasing matching skirts for the performance!

In the end, I had a phenomenal time, and my students did a wonderful job. I am very proud of them, and hopeful that they have inspired others to come and join us. Bellydance is not just a beautiful art form and great exercise, but can be a truly communal experience that brings joy to the dancers and the audience, and my students prove it!