Nurturing Creativity

As artists, we sometimes go through spells of fear and disappointment. We fear that what we've put our energy and heart into may be rejected. We may be disappointed with the result of what we've created. There is also the pressure of continuing to create something new and inspiring.

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love", gives a 20-minute, funny, and heart-warming talk about creativity. We hope you find her talk as inspiring as we did.

Keep showing up,
Lily

A Dancer's Perspective by Rania

It's May and I turn 39 next week. I bet you didn't know I was 39. I firmly believe that bellydance has kept me looking and feeling young.


I attended my first bellydance class when I was 30. Yes, 30! Most women would never dream of taking up a dance form at that age because they think it's too late. It's never too late with bellydance and I'm so happy I attended that class. It was one of the best decisions I ever made and changed my life forever.


From my first dance class, I fell in love with this art form and I don't plan on retiring any time soon. Most of the belllydance legends that I love to watch are nearing 60 and still dance and teach to this day. One of these dancers is Aida Nour from Egypt. In 2006, I and my other bellydance sisters from Sabaya visited Egypt and had the great honor to take classes from her. I watched this 60 year old woman dance and wished I could move like her. What an inspiration!!


Bellydance is one of those art forms that easily spans generations and can be shared from grandmother to mother to daughter. This is most obviously seen with the Salimpour legacy of dance in which Jamila Salimpour taught her daughter Suhaila and both of them are teaching Isabella, Suhaila's daughter. Isabella is eleven years old and has performed to a live audience with her mother countless times.


With practice and dedication, bellydancing can be the ultimate expression of a woman's internal and external beauty, regardless of shape, size or age.