Journey to the Underworld
A special 3 hour workshop experience with Tempest

When was the last time you broke down your own facades and explored the truth of what lays bare underneath? Are you brave enough to look and become stronger as a dancer for it? Being a part of the bellydance community for any length of time affects us in so many ways, many below the surface that can influence how we look and feel about ourselves and others. In this dynamic and unusual workshop, we will explore through exercises and movement combinations the mythic concept of the Descent and Encounter in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian cultures. This is a safe and supportive opportunity to challenge yourself mentally and physically, while discovering who you are or wish to be as a dancer. Warning: This is not a "woo-woo" or "new-agey" class, but it will ask you to push your boundaries.

When: Saturday, October 31st, 2009, from 11-2pm (actual workshop time)
Why is it on Halloween? For many traditions and cultures around the world, at this time of the year, they believe the veils between this world and the next are thin or lifted. Hence why we see many references to the dead, spirits, and the macabre, ancestor recognition and revelry, etc. It is also considered to be the end of the Wheel of the Year, so a good time to finish things up and start anew.
Where: Middle of Nowhere Studio, Coventry, RI (address will be sent to registrants) (off of exit 6)
How Much: $45 for the 3 hour workshop by 10/18, $55 afterwards plus there will be an optional outdoor ritual working afterwards. The workshop is limited to 10 students ONLY.
What To Wear/Bring: Comfy dance attire, water, snack. Allergy meds if you're allergic to cats.
Coming from out of town? There are two hotels (Super 8 and a Bester Western) a few minutes from the studio location, and right off the freeway at exit 6 (Nooseneck Hill Road). Folks who may be making a week/weekend out of their New England trip may want to consider hotels in downtown Providence as well.
Additional activities: There are Halloween festivities that evening in Coventry that workshop students (and their partners/friends) are welcome to participate in, and we'll be taking a trip up to Salem, Mass on Sunday, and y'all are welcome to join the caravan up and enjoy the day with us.
About Tempest:
Tempest pulls from her visual arts background (BFA from RISD), literary tendencies, and global inspirations to create dance that crosses the boundaries of time and culture. Tempest began her journey into dance in 2000, and has traveled the country to study traditional, folkloric, and fusion forms of bellydance. She is the premiere instructor of Gothic Bellydance in North America, and her extensive work in the genre has helped to define and develop the movement across the world. Her compelling performances exemplify her distinctively theatrical and expressive style, and are rooted in oriental dance technique with a transcendent approach. Her costume designs have revolutionized the look of modern bellydance, and continue to inspire new and old generations of dancers alike.

In addition to her dance background, Tempest is an ordained minister in the Modern Tradition of Witchcraft, and has been a community leader, teacher, and guide in the New England and Bay Area Pagan communities for well over a dozen years. She is passionate about creating positive community by addressing the needs and concerns (physical, mental, emotional, metaphysical) of the individual.

Register online at www.darklydramatic.com/1031.html