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Who we are…
When The Goddess Dancing™ started, we
were not a group of performers or even teachers. We began to meet in order to
dance with each other, to learn from each other and to share our lives with each
other. We did not train with a teacher or follow a formal style and our closest
influences were each other. We did a lot of searching and growing together in
the early years. We pooled our talents, interests and skills. We asked
questions, did research and tried to understand how we became so connected with
Belly Dance. Every woman who was ever a member of or apprenticed with The
Goddess Dancing™ has added to who and what The Goddess Dancing™ is today.
Click here to read about TGD alumni. We are
the pioneers of Goddess Dance and remain on the front lines dancing with Her.
A little history…
It was not long after we formed in 1989
that the word began to spread about this troupe of “Goddesses”. By 1990, we
were performing our decidedly innovative and edgy kind of belly dance, which we
called Goddess Dance. We collaborated with artists of all kinds and began our
longstanding involvement in many Boston area art communities. Our
collaborations were (and still are) as diverse as the artists with whom we
performed:
Jeri Levitt, local batik artist;
Louise Cloutier,
of the famed Goddess Gospel; Jack Paradis, director of the rock and roll, multi-media
show, Carlos Fest; Gail Morrison and the infamous Blood Mystery Dinners; Pam
Loring, local poet;
Faith Lucozzi, of Emerson College; Susan Wornick, director
of Women’s Fest;
Deb Lempke, owner
of Wood and Strings; Deborah Rose, researcher
of the Black Madonna; Jill Soloman, sculptress;
Sam Laundon, photographer;
Monica Veneziano of Yoga East;
Kristen Porter of Dyke Night Productions; all the
women of
BRA (Burlesque Revival Association); and many, many others!
Our resume of performances, interviews,
teaching credentials, workshops, productions, student showcases and retreats is
indeed very long. Yet, we do have our favorites, which have a special place in
our hearts…
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Our first Dance Camp in 1996
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Workshops with Earth Drum Council
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Between the Worlds – Radio
Interview
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Our Tenth Anniversary Show in 2001
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Filming our first video
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Our
annual Showcases
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Teaching
at The Glastonbury Goddess Conference
We are teachers…
Everywhere we go we spread the word about
the power of this dance. We remain the bridge, breaking down the doors of
patriarchy and dancing madly into the thick of it. We declare that women are
beautiful to behold with all of their curves, lumps, bumps and flesh and we
declare that the body is a great place to be. We have bravely trudged with our
hip scarves into Hanscom Air Force Base, held the only Boston area belly dance
class for men, were Master teachers for
Boston University, the
FleetBoston
Celebrity Series and
the American
College Dance Festival, and remain the only
beginner class offered in Boston continuously since 1991…
But what kind of dance do we teach? It
is not Raks Sharqi, not American Tribal, not Egyptian, not folkloric, not
Oriental and not Cabaret. It is Goddess Dance. We teach you to unlock your
own organic belly dance movements with the help of our well crafted, time
tested, student approved curriculum. We help you move and enjoy your body once
again without any burden of being like someone else, or having to “measure up”.
Because we believe that that is how this dance has survived for thousands of
years, joyously spread from woman to woman without fear, shame or prejudice. We
want our students to joyfully dance for the rest of their lives!
Click here to learn more about our classes.
What can we offer the Middle Eastern
dancer? The Tribal Dancer? The Cabaret Dancer? We know that our posture and
basic technique will support and strengthen your dance. But more than that, we
encourage you to dance like you, not like one of your teachers. We believe that
your story as a woman is undeniably glorious and we can show you how to share
it.
What can we offer teachers? We have
over a decade of experience teaching all kinds of people to belly dance. We
designed our curriculum to support a lifetime of dancing without injury. We
have studied and integrated a spiritual understanding of this dance, which will
only enhance your teaching and ultimately your performing. Overall, we can
provide you with a perspective of The Goddess as she manifests in the movements
of belly dance.
Click here to learn more about our Teacher Training program.
Read Barbara Brandt's article,
Belly
Dancing and Women's Spirituality: A Journey of Discovery, for more
about the history of The Goddess Dancing™.
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