We are a community of women in Santa Cruz California exploring the gifts of the ancient dances derived from sacred birth practiced as Tribal Belly Dance. Infusing traditional and folkloric dance elements from N.AFrica, the Mid East, India and the Roma people with meditative and innovative styles of movement, we create a dance practice to enlighten and heal body, mind and spirit. Our emphasis is on creating an empowering sense of body image, sensuality, gender identity and self; living integrously on all levels, social, material, and spiritual. Using the body as metaphor we practice, surrender, tolerance, humility, accepting change, and being attentive to the present moment. Compassion, mindfulness, service, care for the environment, community and simple living are regularly visited themes in our dance meditations.
We aim to heal the negative connotations of belly dance associated with the often seen gratuitous display of sexual titillation, by focusing on the power, strength and creativity inherant in birth movements and dance meditations which celebrate the diverse female body, diverse sexual preference, and which seek to honor unity among women rather than exacerbate competion among us. Our dance focuses on the unity of the group rather than the specialization of individuals and we feel strongly that cultivating the interest of the group is a cultural value that is embarassingly absent in our individual rights obsessed culture. We honor the communal and ritual dances of ordinary women in the nomadic and often devalued land based communities of India, Africa and the Middle East and the rich symbolic jewelry, textiles and clothing which are such an integral part of their daily lives. Their contributions to the dances we create keep us grateful, humble and aware of our unity as women even as we recognize our privelege.
Heavy Hips Tribal Belly Dance is currently Artistic Director Palika Benton, Debra Lopes, Ellice Apostolos, Cheryl Graham, and Jaden Espinosa as well as all of the wonderful women who create the Heavy Hips dance class community. I'm grateful to all of you for sharing your gifts and spirits with me. I hope you feel inspired by the images and meditations on our gift products to live your life with the material, social and spiritual integrity that is the birthright of all of us. Please visit our website Heavy Hips Tribal Belly Dance to explore more fully Heavy Hips Tribal Belly Dance community.
The 2006 Heavy Hips Tribal Belly Dance Calender is finished and beautiful! Also new are the many different postcard and greeting card selections, two tree saving canvas tote choices and two journal choices!
All of the items display images and meditations that help us remember what is important, I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. Many blessings to you and yours in this new year of going inwards, warm soups, hot baths, cozy books, candle light meditations and sharing meals!
