 Updates from stefania
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This tour has been scooper fun. Besides meeting beautiful dancers from all over the US, and sharing the stage with them. I have enjoyed so many fun adventures along the way. As this last week winds down I am thinking back on all the fun times that took place off the stage. The first night we got a little down time was in Pittsburg with the lovely ladies of Safira. That place had great music, delicious food and just enough room for some free style dancing. In Kansas City, MO we got to experience an incredible band Calamity Cube. If you don’t know, then you best get with it because the they blew off the tin roof. Sabrina and I meet one of my favorite friends from High school there Evan. I love it when I pass through Kansas because I know the funnest people in Kansas and I am guaranteed good times. But let’s just say the absolute tip top extra curricular activity was the night we all meet up with Beats Antique and watched their show. Zoe is a lion, beautifully and courageously representing the strength of women a man’s cave. Kami dose a great job backing her up, dancing like a queen and looking good and the whole show was unforgettable. Thanks guys. Then tonight was went out to a very nice joint in Houston called the Flat with Bahai and the girls.
So with dancing six nights a week for a total of six weeks I think we did well for our self. We danced our buts off, traveled more then thirty-five hundred, and had some fun in between. I loved this tour. I will miss you tour…
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A successful tour consist of routine, routine, and routine. Those of you that have intimate knowledge of me know that routine is one of my lessor strengths. I enjoy a heathy amount of chaos to my day. Perhaps this is one of the reasons I love living in Los Angeles. Everyday is full of adventure. Beside the basic; eat, sleep, dance I am always receiving wonderful surprises like new shows, auditions, and bookings. Add to that all the beautiful madness happening over at the Los Angles Bellydance Academy, I keep a full schedule being a renaissance woman. This means that each day there are incredible opportunities surprising me around every corner. I really never know what to expect and where my great adventure will take me next.
The opposite is true while touring with the BDSS. At the beginning of every tour we are given something that could or could not be occasionally refer to as the “book of lies”. The tour book gives us a day by day detailed description of performance city, venue, hotel, workshops and how many miles we will travel. And that it is. For the month or two that is all she wrote. I know what time I will have to eat. I know what time I will have to stretch. I know what time I will have to rehearse… Oh the monotony. So it is during my hair and make up time I like to get creative and us my spontaneous creative self. I have lots of fun thinking how my makeup will look each night. On this particular tour I tried my very best to limit my options of eye colors because in the past I have taken it way pass the LLLLLL limit. So each night I can choose from midnight blue, dark rose ( but that color broke so there just a small piece left ) sea foam green, and grey. Oh, I just remembered that I have brown but I have yet to utilize it. I used sea foam tonight so I will use brown just for fun tomorrow. I only brought one option for the lips RED. This decision turned out to be a lessoned learned. It is very boring to only have one color of lips to choice from night after night. I need a little pink in my life right about now.
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Today we are on our way to Columbus Ohio which brings almost to the halfway point on this very first Club Bellydance tour. Everything is fantastic. Last night the ladies of Zafira in Pittsburg were off the charts. To say I enjoyed the show is an understatement. And bonus… They are totally fun as well. After the show they invited us out to a great place for food, drinks and some dancing. Zafira is the total bellydancing package; loving, talented, outrageous, and creative. Thank you ladies for sharing your awesomeness!
This week we have had the pleasure of two Whole Foods stops. This is the best thing ever. I need seaweed, avocados, rye crackers, sprouted grains of some kind and apple cider vinegar. I have been very active in trying to resolve my conflict with vinegar. It is no secret that this particular food product has been an enemy of mine for a very long time. The smell… Yuck! The taste… double yuck!! But the health benefits…. Magical. If you don’t know, I suggest you do some research. This potion has transformational qualities. Get with it to win it : ) That is free advice and you are welcome.
Okay so I heard from you beautiful people that you want juicy details. You want to know the seedy underbelly to the BDSS, because let us face it, it can’t all be rainbows and unicorns out here on the road. Well right now our bus driver is playing death metal on the speaker system in the BellyBus. Now, I have screamed forward things like; “come on you got to be kidding right?” ” really??? that sh*t is ridiculous” and ” real classy, Billy Bob, real classy”. He does not get my point or better yet is just ignoring me. But I have my headphones so Franky S can drown out that horrific sound pollution. And if my previous statement has ruffled your feathers, mullet and pentagram charm necklace please feel free to tell me all about it. So really it isn’t that bad, but I am just trying to complain a bit, stir the pot if you will. People seem to love drama as much as they love rainbows and unicorns.
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Tired, grumpy, physically exhausted, and geographically confused. Oh, the joys of being on the road. We are keeping a tough schedule on this Club Bellydance tour. In the pass 16 days I have had one international flight, three eight hour rehearsal days, nine hours of teaching, ten performances, while traveling more the two thousands miles across Canada. But not all for nothing I have had the pleasure of meeting so many beautiful dancers along the way. Best memory so far was with with my workshop students from Regina who despite a brief technical glitch ( no stereo system ahhhh ) we really got in there and danced with great passion and theatrics. As a teacher there is no greater joy then knowing you assisted a dancer in the discovery themselves. For me the goal of any dance study is to conceive our true nature and express it not just in performance but throughout our existence. Thank you to all the beautiful people who have shared their dance with me thus far. I am far more complete as an artist because of you. 
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Right now I am on the bellybus trekking through the beautiful Canadian countryside. Tall evergreens jut out from the earth, the sunlight dancing on their fingertips. They remind me to be strong and delicate, to send my roots deep, stay grounded and keep my head held high. As the bus struggles to climb the steep inclines I can help to appreciate these moments as magical. They bring me closer to myself, a time for the artist to reflect. Wow, our planet is such a gift. This is one of the many blessing of working for the Bellydance Superstars, we really get to see the world.
Last night was our first show in Vancouver BC. The theatre was absolutely new, with our performance being the very first. I think this is very appropriate coincidence and just another way the BDSS is making history. The mood back stage was very mellow and for me this was very good. I truly enjoyed this first time out. The audience was great and the lovely dancers of Vancouver were superb. After the show we went out for a meet and greet. I met a man named Mike who brought his wife. He ask me to say hello to Issam. It was because of the BDSS show that he became interested in the middle eastern music and Issam inspired him to take up the drum. Now he was seven drums and can’t wait to get more. I love my job. It is so important to inspire people to believe in their art. I love my life. I love my job. 
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Stefanya
10:05 am on September 15, 2011 |
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Tonight I take to the sky. Flying from LAX to Vancouver with our tour manager Stevo Glendinging. It was so sad to arrive today to a familiar place missing all the familiar faces. I love my Bellydance Superstar family and the energy and excitement that we feed to each other. And that being said I am so excited to see how this new intimate group will come together.
Arriving at the airport the airline has you check yourself in through a not so user friendly kiosk. I am glad that I arrive two hours early, time enough to go to battle with the machines and make it to the gate. Does anyone else worry about self check-ins or out? I think we should hire people not robots. Maybe that is a concept for Miles “Bellydance Futurestars” where he replaces us old fashion live action humans with bellydancing androids. I am sure there would be plenty of benefits including less back talk.
It was hard saying good by this time around. This last year has been brought so much beauty into my life. My partner Katya Malaya and I have a thriving dance studio called the Los Angeles Bellydance Academy. I will be missing my students, the dance company, and my beautiful dance partner. This year I has also brought a wonderful and handsome man into my life. I am sad that he does not come in travel size. But I guess I can be grateful for Skype.
So this Club Bellydance is official and the beautiful ladies and myself will be hitting it hard in rehearsals for the next few days, ending on Saturday with workshops. I am excited to teach a new new new Baladi choreography here to all the beautiful persons in Vancouver BC. I am grateful to be apart of this show and honored to be dancing with such talented dancers. 
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This week I am sharing with you a wonderful correspondence that I had with one of my students. I think that we all come from the same heart at times so I hope that the question resonates with you and you enjoy the perspective. My response is in purple.
Hi Stefanya
This is Sarah from your ballet class. I felt the need to email you because I could really use your support and advice. I think you’re one of the most beautiful dancers I’ve seen and I want to become a professional dancer like you… My problem is that I feel like I’m not good enough and that there isn’t room for me in the bellydance world. I have definitely noticed that I sabotage myself sometimes and hold myself back… And not to mention, it’s so hard keeping up with everything because I work full time, I start my graduate school program next month for spiritual psychology, I’m part of one dance troupe Alf leyla Wa Leyla, and I’m looking to be involved in more troupes… I just feel so overwhelmed, I wish I didn’t have this need to control everything and this need to know everything that’s going to happen. Do you have any words of wisdom? Any advice? How was it like for you when you were first starting to join this world and perform? If you had these emotions how did you deal with them?
I’m sorry to bother you with my questions I definitely really appreciate your time and I’m going to miss your class.
xoxo
Hey girlie
Thanks for writing to me. I am glad that you are so smart to ask questions.
I think that life is all about what we make of it. If you want to be a professional dancer it is because you are drawn to the dance and can’t imagine not dancing. Of course we want to get paid and have jobs but I think if you get down to it you realize it is really for the love of dancing. So focus on that my dear. Money will come when you focus on the love that you have for dancing. Once you do that your dance will transform so beautifully you will just be offered money you won’t have to ask for it. A lot of self sabotage happens when we think that other people make a difference when we dance. What will so and so think, what will they say. In class 99% of any dancer holding back is because we are afraid of what other people might think.
Me personally I left this at the door. In class I am always first in line. In the front line. Practicing when others are standing around. And dancing my heart out. But is what is best for my dance so it is best for me. This doesn’t make me the most popular girl in school.. but who cares.
I am very tough but very generous. I keep my ears open listen and be aware of everything and I focus on my self.
I think that all dancers who are good have to have lots of emotions both good and bad. So cherish it all, because it is all there to serve you my dear. Patience, Focus and Persistence is key.
Come and dance in my dance company. We have big things going on and we Rehearse on Wednesday and Sundays. Are you avail.
Peace and love. Please respond I will enjoy your thoughts : )
Thank you so much Stefanya. This email really helped and made me feel so much better and has helped motivate me. I should start looking at dance energy the way that you described instead of looking to others for my self worth in dance. I’m going to really take to heart everything that you said here. I’d love to try Adam’s company and be a part of something wonderful and great. I think maybe ill try next week.
You’re the best,
Thank you again
Xoxo
Asking questions is one of the most valuable tools we can use as dancer. Most teachers, especially me love to talk and give instruction in what ever capacity. So today’s advice is don’t ever be afraid to ask. The only stupid question is the unasked one.
I love you all and I am looking forward to dancing with you soon.
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Hello beautiful people. I woke up this morning in the beautiful city of Beverly Hills and the air smells so fresh and the sky is a vibrant blue. Inhale….. exhale….. ahhhhhhh : )
One thing, among many other things that I truly love about my job with the Bellydance Superstars is the traveling. I was born and raised in the capital city of Kansas (oh, there a trivia question, do you know the name of the city with out looking it up on google) and it was at the age of 19 that I moved to LA to pursue a career in the entertainment business. I have done well for myself, booking a few national commercials, working on stage, TV and music videos, but these things are icing on the cake to having this wonderful spot working with Miles Copeland dancing with the Superstars. We are well received all over the world, people want to talk to us and get our autographs, and it is true we are good role models for women. This really is the BEST job in the world.
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With less then one month before Club Bellydance makes its’ debut I am thinking this week about packing for the month and a half sojourn. I thought that I would share some do’s and don’ts for the road.
Traveling on the the US/Canada tours can be a bit predicable because of the legendary “Belly Bus”. It is a state of the art luxury transportation vehicle fully equipped with a kitchen, bathroom and massage pallor. (ha ha not really) But this tour has potential for being a bit more relaxing due the number of travelers. Six beds in the back and Six rows of seats. That means that I will
get my very own bed and possibly a whole row to myself. I am telling you that it will be like sailing on a yacht the amount of space and freedom. I may be able to turnaround.
Okay so here are my touring essentials.
1. Tempurpedic pillow pillow – I sit on it to save my tailbone on long bumpy Belly Bus rides. Then each night as we travel from hotel to hotel there is a bit of familiarity to sweep me off dream land.
2. Purple bathrobe – Purple being the most important part, a bathrobe saves your body from cold drafty theaters. It can always double as a towel, blanket or pillow and will be helpful in emergency bathroom situations.
3. iPad – I have an obsession with a certain entertainer that is so bad I can not miss even one show, in fact I rewatch each program a few times (shhh don’t tell my boyfriend) If you can guess who it is I will send you a kiss. But this addition to entertainment is an important vice to feed. While zipping around from city to city in a blur of hotels, public restroom and catering it is very important for me to periodically participate in small mental vacations. The iPad is a great device for this. I can chat with friends, check in on my studio and dance company at home and watch my programs. Beside the previous mentioned show I love to listen to stand up comedians. I am trying to tether my iPhone’s Internet to the iPad but not completely for sure how. Let me now if you are in on that technology.
4. Last but not least on my tour essional list is a camera. I love to create art practically every moment of the day. Photography for me is a great release of my creative engery. I don’t care if it is film or digital. Just as long as I can capture the feelings and energy of passionate moments.
Here is a quick list of things that sounds like a good idea but could lead to disasters. Not all of these were my mishap but the at the BDSS we learn from each other; olive oil in a suitcase, aerosol hairspray sans lid, pears, razor blades in a backpack, spurlina powder.
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Pick me up, spin me around and and ask me my name and I bet you that I might now know. This week has been a whirlwind of excitment. The biggest project of the week was that my bff Katya Malaya and myself gave our Los Angeles dance studio a serious face lift that probably took about twenty eight hours in total. The process was challenging but extremely successful… YEAH!!!! So we topped it off with an exciting housewarming celebration …check it out . I also auditioned for and worked on a music video for an awesome female guitar duo. I am now a little sunburned after a six hour outdoor shoot by the ocean but it was a nice day with nice artist. I sold a car, and went to downtown LA for fabric shopping with designer Vilma. I had to buy the costume fabric in white and now I must try to die it the correct color. I will send you a kiss if you can guess what color. I will give you a hint, I will be dyeing the frabic and environmentally sound way.
Now with the totally intense week behind me I am looking forward to touching base with all the beautiful people of the BDSS and seeing what kind of new developments that we have.
Ahhhh…There is so much to do.
1. pre for workshops
2. costume count
3. music slection… (which I have made for my solo but keeping it a secret for now shhhh 
4. chreography
5. packing and the list goes on and on. Maybe I should get to work and Focus Fish.
Happy dancing ~stefanya
| “I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.” |
 Mikhail Baryshnikov |
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