Lucy's new dancing term begins on 14th Sept. Check the right bhand column for more details- congratulations on your Exercise to Music teaching qualification, Lucy.

Busy, busy

We are dancing regularly in a few different homes now, becoming familiar with some of the residents. There are a few 'characters' who are always willing to get up and put a belt on, take a turn around the floor. It has helped my confidence, enormously, some of the lovely comments, the smiles of welcome. I had found the visits a little daunting as my Dad had been in a home before he died so it just goes to show, our dance visits are supposed to be a kind of therapy for the residents, rather, a bit of healing for me...
Lucy is taking a break from teaching for the summer, and is, I gather, up to her elbows in jewellery making.
I am continuing at Berwick and Alnwick for the time being.
We have been asked, alongside Tribezuza, to appear at Alnwick International Music Festival on Wednesday 4th August and will perform at 12.10pm and 12.40pm.
Whoooeeeee!!!!
Lucy couldn't join me at Wooler (Breeze) Festival, Sunday last, unfortunately. I invited Angela Noble's 'Tribezuza' to join Manashee (namely Ailsa, Eleanor, Liza, Ros and myself, this time). I have to say we put on a great show, dancing 2 x 30 minute sets, each tribe chorused the other. This will probably be the pattern for Alnwick, too.
Saturday, we had a drumming workshop with Martin Neil, very talented musician who still has the ability to teach to any age, any level of confidence. Maybe one day we will be dancing to our own drumbeat...

Lucy and I share the fact that we both have had a parent staying in a residential home for the elderly; My Dad spent the last 3 years of his life in a home in Alnwick; Lucy's mum spent time in homes and hospitals before she passed away.
It was Lucy that suggested we approach some residential homes with a view to performing and encouraging folk to dance with us. So far, we have one regular appointment and several homes have booked us as a one-off.
Every appointment is different, of course, new faces, always a few lively characters; the feeling, the smell of the places is always the same though, no matter how friendly and caring the staff, each place transports me back to visiting my dad. There are the souls who are earthed by physical frailties and those whose realities are different from ours. I struggle to even look sometimes; a thin, thin ankle peeking from a blanket; a bent spine, faraway gaze. I wonder what the perceive; these two brightly-coloured, spinning ladies who bare their bellies and make so much noise.
We have a format and change routines and music, do a little talk and encourage audience participation. This does give us the opportunity to practice and perform together, because making time to do this was often hard to justify, (cue: mother guilt, etc.)
It may not be the most glamorous of engagements for a belly dancer, but the goddess has a crone aspect, after all.
My great challenge is opening up to people who don't appear to act under normal social constraints; folk who have been diagnosed with dementia, who might do or say someting unexpected; I experience fear, want to keep a distance when I'm approached.
Lucy is very good at chatting to the audience- I can do the formal stuff; Lucy remembers names and asks questions, gives her attention freely.
So many of our old folk are shut away. we-they believe they are of no more use and have the least resources spent on them, even though their contribution to the world put us where we are now. There is something to be learned from this- have ambition, have optimism and have hope for old age. I would like choices; fun, love, happiness, more dancing.