Baby Boomer Belly Dancer: Recent Episodes
Gylon Jackson
From the mind of Karen Barbee Adkisson with help from Gyon Jackson and Kathy Swanson is the new podcast
BABY BOOMER BELLY DANCER
From a lifetime of performing to recorded music to pioneering Project Band, a live music performing experience, Karen discusses the impact belly dance has had on her life over the past 45 plus years.
The stories and experiences that Karen will share are raw, vulnerable, honest and unfiltered ... are you ready?
Episodes released every Saturday.
A VOD|POD MEDIA PRODUCTION
Long lost episode. Shades of Time with Laura and Mondo. A last minute decision take a quick trip to South Padre, Tx gave Karen Barbee the opportunity to interview Shades Of Time.
Shades of Time is one of the bands who plays for Karen's Project Band dance curriculum.
Check out more about Karen Barbee and Karavan Studio:
Baby Boomer Belly Dancer vodcast: http://vodcast.karavansa.com/
Damn The Torpedoes blog: https://blog.karavansa.com/
Karavan Studio with online and live belly dance options: http://karavansa.com/
Your free trial of Karavan Online: https://freetrial.karavansa.com/
Get Karen's Top 20 Philosophies eBook: https://signup.karavansa.com
Find out about Karen's Karavan Online Masterclass: https://masterclass.karavansa.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KaravanStudio/
https://twitter.com/karavansa
https://www.youtube.com/karenbarbee
https://www.instagram.com/bellydancem...
=======================================
Host and Producer:
Gylon Jackson | VOD|POD Media | gylon@vodpodmedia.com
A quick trip to South Padre, Texas, yields a great interview with founders of the band... Shades of Time.
This is a long lost episode. Enjoy.
Check out more about Karen Barbee and Karavan Studio:
Baby Boomer Belly Dancer vodcast: http://vodcast.karavansa.com/
Damn The Torpedoes blog: https://blog.karavansa.com/
Karavan Studio with online and live belly dance options: http://karavansa.com/
Your free trial of Karavan Online: https://freetrial.karavansa.com/
Get Karen's Top 20 Philosophies eBook: https://signup.karavansa.com
Find out about Karen's Karavan Online Masterclass: https://masterclass.karavansa.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KaravanStudio/
https://twitter.com/karavansa
https://www.youtube.com/karenbarbee
https://www.instagram.com/bellydancem...
=======================================
Host and Producer:
Gylon Jackson | VOD|POD Media | gylon@vodpodmedia.com
This is the 25h anniversary of GBDAC. Janet Lease has been with Karen for all 25 years of Give Belly Dance A Change. Enjoy the podcast as these two dancers take a shimmy and a figure eight down the memory lane of GBDAC.
With over 40 years in her chosen craft of belly dancing, Karavan Studio owner and professional belly dancer, Karen Barbee Adkisson, has been teaching students the art of belly dance techniques for more than 30 years and is dedicated to keeping live music performances as part of this artful cultural dance.
Join us as Karen's inquisitive mind and unique perspective on a wide array of topics inspire, educate, and even entertain your sensibilities... because everything comes back to belly dance.
.
.
.
Check out more about Karen Barbee and Karavan Studio:
Baby Boomer Belly Dancer vodcast: http://vodcast.karavansa.com/
Damn The Torpedoes blog: https://blog.karavansa.com/
Karavan Studio with online and live belly dance options: http://karavansa.com/
Your free trial of Karavan Online: https://freetrial.karavansa.com/
Get Karen's Top 20 Philosophies eBook: https://signup.karavansa.com
Find out about Karen's Karavan Online Masterclass: https://masterclass.karavansa.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KaravanStudio/
https://twitter.com/karavansa
https://www.youtube.com/karenbarbee
https://www.instagram.com/bellydancem...
=======================================
Host and Producer:
Gylon Jackson | VOD|POD Media | gylon@vodpodmedia.com
Marketing Automation and Co-Producer:
Kathy Swanson | Integrated Marketing Werx | kathy.swanson@mktgwerx.com
Karen says hello and goodbye to two of her dancers. Shevon and Cameron are leaving the Karavan Studio family for new adventures outside of Texas. Listen to the latest podcast here or you can watch the podcast (VODCAST) on Facebook or Youtube.
https://www.facebook.com/KaravanStudiofs
We recently had Bahaia from Austin join us in the studio. Surprisingly, we found out that before becoming a belly dancer, she was a competitive Scottish Highland dancer and that her love for it waned because there was no room for expression in the dance.
Something that also came up several times was the importance of having a guide; someone with more experience or knowledge who can lead you into a richer belly dance experience.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 How Bahaia got into belly dancing at the age of 15
07:07 First solo belly dance performance in Austin
07:55 When Bahaia came onto Karen's radar
12:45 Great training from early instructors and making connections
15:31 Bringing in a dancer from Greece to Austin and doing events/workshops
20:31 Having enthusiasm and skills from outside of the dance world
21:30 The rise of the Austin Belly Dance Convention
23:24 Karen's CD release of "Mystery and Mastery" at the convention
24:42 Taking a "back seat" to strong, definitive instructors
26:07 Dancing at The Sands in Houston before 9-11
28:40 The "real deal" vs fantasy... friendships and music
31:07 Being a third generation "camper" and fun hosting belly dance camps
36:36 Everyone was coming down to San Antonio to take Karen's classes...
38:07 Belly dancing to live music and "How do I get in on that?" with Project Band
40:58 When the National Arab Orchestra (NAO) Takht Ensemble came to San Antonio
44:10 Having a different mindset and soaking in every bit of the music
49:50 Collaborating to have belly dancers on stage with the NAO for the first time
50:20 Bahaia's new project with belly dancers performing to new original compositions
57:16 Who is Bahaia's "hero' in the belly dance community?
58:59 Greatest pet peeve(s) and greatest benefits of the belly dance industry
Bottom Line: Just do things and get out there; knowing that getting recognition as a dancer and teacher can bring out the snarky in some folks.
We invited Debbie Smith back as our inaugural remote guest to talk with Karen about the nuances of belly dancing to live Arabic music without looking contrived.
A dear friend and Project Band member, Debbie is one of the few American belly dancers who knows Arabic and translates the words from the music as part of her process.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 Inaugural remote guest podcast with Debbie Smith
00:56 GBDAC2021 and what comes first... mastery or mystery?
03:02 Expression and sincerity in a dancer's performance
07:27 The opposite of effort...
09:32 Letting the music tell you what to do
11:35 Ways to increase your improv skills outside of class
14:25 What can look ingenuine
16:28 Looking for depth and reasons to do certain expressions
21:35 The process of taking in the music and putting it out in the form of movement
24:24 Dancers looking to deepen expression
25:56 Using translations to know how to feel about the music
34:02 When Westerners are mouthing the words to a song
36:12 Mapping a song out
Ultimately, context is everything!
Over the last decade, Karen has been making it possible for people to learn and appreciate the art of belly dance wherever they are in the world through the power of technology.
Join us for a behind the scenes conversation with Kathy Swanson (The Marketing Maverick behind the marketing automation, Karavan Online, and everything digital) and videographer Gylon Jackson (The Tech Guru with all the toys and gadgets).
We explore Karen's journey, how she "didn't feel a thing" in her business when the pandemic hit the dance studio industry, and how dancing to live music (even remotely) has evolved with Project Band.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 Wow! Kathy and Gylon are on this side of the studio
00:25 The evolution of the technology of Karavan Studio over more than a decade
01:34 How Gylon came on board with "Belly Dance Fun" and the video equipment
04:33 How Kathy met Karen -- with more than "pretty spreadsheets" ; )
06:38 How many times the website design and platform have been redesigned
08:03 Evolving the belly dance journey with someone who loves the live music experience
09:31 Realizing the possibility that anyone on (or off) planet can access learning how to belly dance on any level with Karen because of the technology
10:33 Sharing Karen's love of improvisation and live music
11:03 The evolution of content and creating a foundation -- beyond "YouTube learning"
12:51 Learning from a guide versus idolizing instructors as a dabbler
16:18 Moving forward, keeping up, and always changing with industry and technology
16:37 Kathy's "why-to" book and the value of focus in the face of choices
18:30 Guest instructors are students of Karen Barbee -- even with different styles
19:50 Karen's favorite part of the technology
21:37 Why when everything tanked last year with COVID, Karen didn't feel a thing
23:02 Choosing to dance to live music for a live streamed event during a pandemic
23:48 When we almost got arrested because of murky City of San Antonio ordinances
25:31 In the face of adversity comes innovation -- and the dancers loved it
27:37 Making it easy for dancers to schedule and show up for private lessons
28:07 Having things already online and not having to educate the dancers
28:50 GBDAC2020 -- figuring out what were we going to do, Project Band dancers, and live music
30:11 Pulling off GBDAC202020 remotely and live across the country
38:20 Now dancing remotely to live music is not a big deal and we do it regularly
40:14 Now Project Band is open to people wherever they are on the planet
40:49 Changing expectations during a pandemic -- clear plexiglass is not the same
42:32 GBDAC2021 is looking good for October 1-3 in San Antonio and how we will do it
44:22 The Road to GBDAC2021 and creating content for our audience before and during the event
47:51 The tools for online marketing now are amazing, integrated, and more affordable
48:40 Letting technology and automation help you be more creative and do the (im)possible
51:15 A belly dancer with her own music on cassette and CD... and now on Spotify and iTunes
52:53 Self-publishing a coloring book of Sara's drawings and Karen's philosophy topics
53:45 The things Gylon and Kathy wish Karen would do
56:48 Ranting on belly dancing... the birth of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer video podcast
58:17 A great idea for YouTube -- do you think Karen should do it?
1:03:42 Being ahead of our time and the amazing tech at the UTSA Buena Vista Theater for GBDAC
Kathy thinks Karen should have a Patreon channel.What do you think?
In the meantime, on Amazon you can get a copy of Karen's coloring book "Kolor Your Perspective" illustrated by Sarah Jouett Martinez.
You can also get Kathy's why-to book "Automation Works" on Amazon.
You can also contact Gylon at VOD|POD Media gylon@vodpodmedia.com.
How did we get Michael Ibrahim and the National Arab Orchestra (NAO) into Texas?
Michael recently joined us from Detroit along with Karen's cousin, Julie Scott, Former Executive Director of The Youth Orchestra of San Antonio, to talk about this incredible story.
Rest assured, we are looking at even bigger ways to instruct dancers on how to work with live music and giving them the opportunity to do it.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 The incredible story begins with Project Band and adding instruments
02:35 Finding a nay player on YouTube -- Michael Ibrahim, NAO Founder and Conductor
04:48 Connecting through Naser Musa and flying dancers to Minneapolis to see Michael
05:44 Going to Detroit to see the NAO Takht Ensemble
06:10 Tying in to San Antonio's Dream Week with the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio
10:24 Planning the concert at Incarnate Word and pulling in the Lebanese community
11:46 Creating a sold out concert and an excitement for more
13:40 Live Arab music -- Texas singers and musicians are coming out of the woodwork
14:54 In less than a year, having the full orchestra at Trinity University
15:11 Attracting support from Houston and playing there to another sold out crowd
18:21 Using concerts as a catalyst to bring communities together
19:45 Why Michael founded the National Arab Orchestra -- a purpose of culture
23:16 The NAO's Building Bridges through Music program and "starting with ourselves"
24:50 The pandemic afforded the NAO the opportunity to build a virtual community
26:06 How excited Karen was when she joined the NAO Board
27:55 Collaboration, education, and kids learning the music to pass along tradition
30:00 Keeping the inspiring energy of live music at the forefront -- makes us human
32:02 Having dancers on stage with the Takht Ensemble in January of 2020
33:03 Folding dance into the music and elevating the tone of the cultural conversation
35:50 Cultural dissemination vs cultural appropriation
43:31 Belly dance is a huge window opportunity to curiosity and conversations
46:59 The arts as a window into culture and why people do what they do
47:40 Teaching dancers how to listen to the music and improvisation
55:01 The NAO Takht Ensemble and Karavan Studio's weekend showcase in October 2021
"When you want to get to know someone, you invite them over for dinner; that's how life works." - Michael Ibrahim
While we had some technical difficulties, they didn't hold us back from this great conversation with Michael and Julie.
Close friends and a common love for belly dance.
Debbie Smith and Karen Barbee discuss culture, dance, and the transformative effects of falling in love with both the art and science of belly dance.
We are so pleased Debbie came in from Arkansas to San Antonio for this "performahearsal weekend" with her fellow Project Band members and our musicians.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 This could take a while... how long Debbie has been studying belly dance
02:30 When Debbie and Karen met at Mirage
04:02 Hearing the music and following the breadcrumbs to experience the culture
09:48 Meeting her first musician in Austin and developing cultural habits
13:34 Realizing that the main thing she loved about dancing was the music
16:27 The energy of the whole band, how people react to it, and feeling it
19:47 When Judy invited Debbie to come to Karen's classes in San Antonio
20:49 How Debbie decided to get her degree in Middle Eastern Studies
24:35 Meeting Georges Lammam for the first time
27:02 When Karen and Debbie took classes together at UT Austin
29:05 Moving to San Francisco and meeting Amina who produced live music events
30:56 Performing in local showcases and going to workshops
33:12 Sincerity and dancing -- freely following and going deep into what you love
35:30 Learning how to speak Arabic and Persian at UC Berkeley extension classes
37:34 Starting to go to Egypt because of VHS tapes
43:32 Becoming an Arts Administrator for a non-profit dance studio
46:03 Joining a Palestinian Debke troupe... from MIT
47:50 Producing her first annual Arab Cultural Festival to elevate Arab artists
49:53 Working at the Dance Mission Theater and the Arab Cultural Center
52:04 Panel of musicians at the Arab American National Museum in Detroit
54:04 Decision to move to Egypt and advocating artists and musicians
55:22 Being taken seriously and not having dance and professional life intersect
57:07 Finding the perfect job in Egypt and how her Arabic got even better
1:04:48 Debbie is not a former dancer... since Project Band is infinitely fungible for any level
Debbie's thesis was about the aesthetic values of Arabic music, including improvisation and the sacred repetition of shapes, and how oriental dance movements were perfectly suited to express the subtleties of the music. You can see why Karen and Debbie get along so well!
Virtuoso violinist, Georges Lammam from San Francisco, first met Karen in the late 80's.
Coming to San Antonio for a "performahearsal weekend", both Georges and Project Band member Debbie Smith from Arkansas joined us as we talk about knowing each other for all these years.
We also explored how belly dancers helped bring Middle Eastern music to the western ear.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 What is a "performahearsal weekend"?
01:19 Georges' journey before meeting Karen in Houston
08:37 We met at Cleopatra's ... and 11 years later...
10:08 Oh, and the first International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance in 1997
12:44 And we haven't lost Georges since
13:40 Live music and belly dance improvisation re-emergance in 2012
14:17 Meeting cool musicians through Georges
17:36 Working with dancers - workshops and the resonating improv experience
18:30 Appreciating Middle Eastern music and touching the heart
22:34 Hitting the wall with recorded music and expanding with live music
23:01 Young musicians interested in this music... especially through the pandemic
24:25 Performing in the room and the exchange of energy vs. plexiglass
25:43 Looking for tiny nuances of the dancer on Zoom
26:30 Being hungry to perform to live music in San Francisco - hidden gems
30:45 Highlights of touring in the U.S.
32:38 Loving the music enough to enjoy even a little Latin dance club
33:44 Playing for Syrian refugees on an island in Greece
35:11 Original compositions -- "Dancing Bear" will be on stage in October
37:20 And we listen to Georges improvise a quick violin piece
Once again, Georges will be amongst the incredible musicians performing at Karavan's 25th annual "Give Belly Dance A Chance" weekend... the last of its kind.
Joining the conversation is Project Band student Victoria Cruz who has a Master's degree in Dance Movement Therapy.
We talked about introducing new behaviors and removing habitual behaviors using movement, especially in belly dance improvisation.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 Our guest, Victoria Kinsey Cruz
02:15 Before it was Project Band...
03:45 What exactly is Dance Movement Therapy?
05:52 Movement spectrums and how we show up in movement patterns
10:04 Use of movement as a therapy tool
11:30 Self-regulation and music as an organizing factor
15:17 Gaining access to better relationships and cognitive function
17:47 Willingness to try new things when you want accolades from the audience
20:05 Seeing courage, taking risks, and giving yourself space vs control
27:02 Mindset about the audience
29:04 Where each person is at and how to encourage small shifts
33:35 Navigating life through mirroring belly dance movements
40:49 Belly dancing with other Project Banders
47:00 The deep work and how small changes are profound and long-lasting
53:16 Another COVID silver lining
Bottom Line: Project Band is deep self-reflective work... and much cheaper than therapy!
Two of Karen's students joined us in the studio to talk about the intriguing world of belly dance costumes. Everyone can agree that when a costume looks good, it allows the dancer to feel free, beautiful, and strong as they step on the stage.
We even talk about some embarrassing costume fails (Karen has like at least 135 of them!)
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 Margret and Shevon's belly dance costume journeys
02:41 How important costumes are and looking the part
07:32 Matching your costume to different styles of dancing
10:22 Technical precision, soulful innovation, and cultural respect
12:25 What works for you and your body and the way you feel at that time
13:54 Our current "go-to" costumes
17:20 Our first costumes
22:10 Where we get most of our costumes
24:25 Our favorite costumes - ready-made, making now, and custom-made
28:44 The most outlandish costumes we have seen over the years
33:57 Keeping the costumes interesting (for yourself and others)
35:26 Costume mishaps and how to prevent them
42:40 Being attracted to belly dance because of the beauty of the costumes
For the most part, it all comes down to having the right bra.
We take a walk down memory lane as two of Karen's siblings, Barbara and Herb, discuss Karen's early years and journey as a belly dancer, performer, and business owner.
Explore a truly vulnerable and intimate view of Karen's sibling dynamics and why there is no rivalry amongst her siblings.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 Meet two of Karen's siblings -- Barbara and Herb
01:39 We find out when Herb has actually belly danced
04:49 Where it all started with Barbara learning hula and belly dancing
10:37 When Barbara started teaching and Karen started taking belly dance
13:47 When Herb started doing karate
17:40 How they all fit into the family and how live music played a part
22:20 When Karen stepped out of her comfort zone
25:15 It's funny what you remember about what people say
28:26 Being the "baby of the family"
31:26 The dynamics of two sisters and loving every minute of it
34:13 How Mom and Dad felt about Karen's dancing and business
41:36 Why Herb was bullied in high school and ended up loving karate classes
46:40 "Don't chase the rank, chase the skill" -- what makes a great instructor
49:20 Being excellent vs. mediocre -- when people are compromising
51:57 Improvisation -- what it takes to prepare for the unexpected
53:35 Creating mastery through repetition
When you understand Karen's family history, you truly see how her talent, expertise, and belly dancing philosophies have emerged over the years.
We can't wait to have Mary join in on an upcoming episode to tell her part of the story.
If you haven't heard, San Antonio was gripped with snow and low temperatures not seen in decades, days worth of power outages, as well as neighbors and communities coming together to help each other out all across Texas.
Join Karen and two of her students as they talk about how, when things get tough, you improvise to keep moving forward. Texas had a tough week. Take a moment, sit back, relax and laugh a little as we talk belly dance and how most everyone in Texas had to improvise to stay sane.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 Improvising (aka surviving) this last week with guests Margret and Lisa
01:40 Where were you when you realized things were going to get weird?
10:00 When did you know this was getting real?
13:27 So, we had to improvise!
14:10 What the improvisor truly needs
15:00 How we survived
16:40 Coming back into the studio and "squiggling"
21:30 Revving up for the new semester and Project Band
22:30 The last of its kind -- our 25th GBDAC anniversary
23:32 You never know what life is going to throw at you
25:10 Finding something positive that will work in the face of adversity
26:32 Headspace and being able to flip focus
30:20 Imagination, intuition, and improvisation
32:11 Patterns, trends, commonalities, and what happens on the other side
33:40 Being more prepared and how Project Band helps us make those tweaks
39:00 Life is improve -- since everything is in constant change
Let's just say that belly dancing to live music and learning how to improvise through the Project Band experience helps each of us navigate through the bumps in life.
How do you improvise when things become interesting?
Thank you Debbie Smith for this week's amazing topic based upon the Harvard Business Review article "Why Asking for Advice Is More Effective Than Asking for Feedback".
Which one do you usually ask for?
Listen to Karen's perspective on the upsides and downsides of both feedback and advice.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:25 Karen's focus and why this article was intriguing
01:20 "Please ask questions, because I have probably thought about it"
02:30 Asking for feedback vs advice
05:15 Looking backwards and looking forwards
08:11 Intentional focus and getting more of what you are paying attention to
11:13 How Project Band and live music fits in when improvising to improvisation
13:40 What went well and getting more specific about what was "cool"
15:50 Delivering advice and the value of preliminary Project Band meetings
17:40 The kinds of advice Karen has received
20:00 Considerations for looking for advice, support, and validation
24:29 When does an opinion become advice?
27:05 When people give too much feedback... what is really going on?
35:40 Formal and informal advice... go for the learning
38:06 Project Band... as a means for growth
42:10 Karen's own growth on taking advice and feedback
Find out what Karen is drinking during this podcast as the weather gets surprisingly cold here in San Antonio.
What feedback or advice would you like to give on what topics we chat about next?
How many belly dance workshops are too many? Karen sits down with Cindy and Carmita to discuss the ins and outs of live and virtual workshops.
We are also excited about going to Yaa Halla, Y'all in July and that the National Arab Orchestra is part of our annual "Give Belly Dance a Chance" (GBDAC) performance weekend in October.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 Let's meet Cindy and Carmita
01:16 Workshops defined in the belly dance world
02:46 How Karen started her workshop journey and then teaching workshops
06:50 Cindy, the "Workshop Junkie"
08:39 Standard workshop weekend format and how it has changed with the shows
10:49 Carmita's first workshop as a new belly dancer
12:03 The benefits of one instructor vs a variety of expert styles
13:11 When there were now too many workshops, how could they compete?
16:29 Navigating the smorgasbord - live and online workshops
22:11 Learning with different levels of students - live and virtually
26:58 Let's talk about retention, investing in workshops, and focus
31:10 Perspectives of instructors vs sponsors
32:21 Self-identifying -- years of experience and natural talent
35:40 The experience -- assimilation, discipline, and intention
37:45 The spectrum of workshop experiences -- what do you take away?
43:11 Headspace of a learner and how Project Band propels you
46:29 Upcoming live and virtual workshops
49:04 The additional benefits of the workshop experience
50:59 Finding depth and feeling moved
Guess how many live workshops Carmita has done compared to how many virtual ones throughout the world in the last four years -- it's more than just one ; )
All of us had to pivot in 2020 and COVID-19 really screwed up in-person learning for dance studios as well as live music.
Karen and two of her students, Lisa and Suzanne, took some time to discuss the joy and the challenges of online vs. in-person belly dance lessons and performances.
Bottom line, Karen's focus, dedication, and passion remains all about the live music component of belly dance.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 What is a "baby boomer" - with Karen, Suzanne, and Lisa
00:31 Comparing online vs live in the class and performance
00:46 This is the future... and now Karavan Online is over 10 years old
02:43 The "struggle" to learn online and camera angles
04:23 Suzanne's and Lisa's experience with online workshops
08:01 Practicing versus performing -- the power of anonymity
10:36 Let's talk virtual performing - where are the nuances?
13:43 Cutting edge - dancing to live music in Houston with Project Band
16:17 Participating remotely online from around the U.S. (and world)
17:05 No substitute for performing in front of a live audience
18:00 Seeing things from a different perspective
21:50 Preparing for a production and your headspace
24:23 The energy and expectation - no strength without resistance
27:00 Instantaneous, immediate, and back and forth audience feedback
29:11 Where is the "on switch"?
30:23 Love of live music - imperfection is part of the fun - so go for it
34:57 Coming out of being locked down and being a COVID hermit
36:58 We were having fun; we weren't even "Breaking the Law"
39:33 How it all worked out in Houston with the virtual performances
41:01 How it all changed Project Band forever and now the world is watching
42:44 What's changed and what will remain the same
46:20 Sincere presentation of improv vs playing the script
As for dancing in the face of a pandemic.... well, people were having f** fun!
We are still working out the kinks and may need a better way for Gylon to throw a comment or two out from the booth.
People talk about how I am so "lucky" to have started out at such an early age as the key to what has made me a successful belly dancer and studio owner.
Yet there are so many things that have been key to my longevity.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
1:38 How this is cathartic like musically relevant interpretation
3:55 The High School reunion effect
6:10 The other side of "lucky"
7:39 The subconscious reinforcement of the audience
9:56 Becoming aware and deliberately replacing habits
11:12 What "eats my brain"
15:12 Emulating a deeper understanding of the music
16:41 Key to staying interested - going deeper into the culture, music, and dance
18:48 The object of Project Band games like "improvised torso syllablization"
21:30 Belly dancing to rock 'n roll music
24:18 Compliments, competitiveness, and another chance
30:17 The parallel tracks of being a nightclub performer and a studio owner
31:56 Letting go and changing while you are in it
34:17 Winning with Project Band and the opportunity to perform to live music
38:27 The lost art of dancing to live music
39:40 The art, science, and philosophy of belly dance
41:11 Extrapolating improvisation
46:05 Depth and finding musicians that help you go wider
48:14 Living the dream
51:31 Thinking about the future of this podcast and improvisation
Yes, I did drop the "B" word and there are still some hiccups in the production; but we are working through it.
I'm Karen Barbee Adkisson, The Baby Boomer Belly Dancer.
I've been in a dance studio since five years of age; and once upon a time, I worked in the corporate world in information systems for 12 years then finally quit to belly dance full time in 1996.
Welcome to my journey! During this episode you can find out:
00:00 I'm Karen Barbee, The Baby Boomer Belly Dancer
01:19 When I quit the corporate world
03:00 My first belly dance job at 16
03:57 First started teaching belly dance at 18... thanks to my sister
05:19 The bumpy birth of Karavan Studio and being a studio owner
10:22 Success is being invited to the workshop circuit... even overseas
10:54 Public speaking, improvisation to live music, and growth spurts
15:15 How to become a better artist? Dig into the culture and community
17:30 When the National Arab Orchestra came to San Antonio
19:17 Bringing live music and belly dancing together every year
21:57 Bringing fluency to your dance form and appreciation of live music
26:06 The secret to what keeps all of us interested after all these years
29:37 Being a drilling maniac and how it helps your brain
Yep I said that and that oh yeah and THAT. There are moments that I sound like I'm talking to myself 🤪... ask Gylon why his mic was not on (thought he was a tech guru).
With that said, excuse the dust, we are working out the kinks. Enjoy.