12/13/2003: The first Aaminah School of Dance Holiday Hafla at the 
Union Street Brick Church in Bangor was a great success! The night 
was bitter cold, but those brave enough to venture out got to see some wonderful dancing by groups and solo dancers from Vermont, Waterville, Portland, Orono, and Bangor. It was inspiring to watch so many different styles! The flea market tables were also quite a hit, and after the performances everyone got a chance to swing their hips.

We did film the show (many thanks to Sylvia Ferrell, who ran the 
camera), and since many dancers have requested it, we will be offering copies of the tape for sale for $10 (plus $2 for shipping if necessary). It came out great, but please bear in mind that this is not a professional 
video. If you are interested in buying a copy, send an email to Lorien's 
email address The proceeds will help support future Aaminah School of Dance events.

Thanks to all who drove so far and who helped so cheerfully to make 
this a night to remember!

11/15/2003: We had an incredible 2003 Aaminah Photo Shoot. The 
day was spent prepping, primping, posing, and taking thousands of pictures! We were able to fill an entire calendar (plus t-shirts, posters, journals, etc.) with gorgeous images of dancers from all over the region. 
If you would like to own one, here is the link to our online gift shop:
                         www.cafeshops.com/aaminah. 
Proceeds from these items help support Aaminah School of Dance functions! Here's a sneak peek at a few of the photos:

           
                                                         All images copyright 2003 by Julie Eason

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  January 24, 2004: Advanced Level Workshop with Mira
Saturday from 11 -

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Making Your Own Sequin and Bead Appliques  - By Julie Eason

Materials:     
*  Sturdy woven cotton as a base fabric (muslin or broadcloth)
*  Embroidery hoop large enough to go around your whole design
*  Beading needles, thread
*  Felt
*  Paintbrush
*  White glue
*  Beads, sequins
*  French curve (optional)

!) Make a design. You can copy patterns from the internet or from books, 
or make your own using a french curve.  

2) Cut a piece of fabric large enough so that the hoop will fit over it with some hanging out all the way around.  

3) Trace your design in the center of the fabric.  

4) Trace and cut out a copy of the outline of your design in the felt (you don’t have to trace the details).  

5) Place the fabric in the hoop and pull it taut.  

6) Tack the felt version on the back side of the fabric design with a few simple stitches around the outside edge. These will be covered and won’t show later, so you don’t have to be neat.  

7)  Start sewing the beads on. I work from the outside edges and go in.  
I begin by “lining” the edge with small pearls or beads and then use the small sequins to fill in the empty spots. One note:  If you use bugle 
beads, they look best if you put several rows together. One line of bugles won’t look good - two is better, three or more is best. Also, if you’re 
sewing sequins, it is sometimes a good idea to turn them upside down 
so they don’t snag on veils.  

8) When the whole applique is covered with beads, cover the back side 
(the felt piece) with glue. I thin the glue a little with water and use a paint brush to apply it. Make sure every thread is covered and the felt should 
be fairly well saturated.

 9) When the glue dries, just cut out the design. If you missed a few 
spots, or the top fabric wants to fray around the edges, just apply more 
glue to the edge.

  For Miraya (Audrey Swanton):

What have been your greatest influences in the dance?

What music moves you right now?

It should be no surprise that right now I am impassioned  by the Spanish/Arabic fusion.  My trips to Spain and exposure to Flamenco, whether it be in rustic gypsy caves in Granada or on the fancy stages of  Madrid, move me in a very deep way.  The combination of passion and intense feeling that this type of music evokes is so powerful. Also, my recent experience in Mexico, with the plaintive voices of the Mariachis, which are often women by the way, and the exposure to their varied forms of folk dance has added another piece to the puzzle.  Flamenco, Middle Eastern dance, Mexican folk dance; they are all sisters in the dance world, and I love living and dancing in the middle of all three of them!

Describe one of your happiest dance moments.

My happiest dance moment is one that I have told often, but I will tell it again.  It is when I performed a birth dance when I was six months pregnant with my first son, who is now 18.  Completely swathed in black and gold, with only face, feet, and hands exposed, I danced deeply in to the slowness of a beautiful chiftitelli, and when I came up off the floor, I rose, holding "my child" in my arms, and gently rocked him as I danced around the perimeter of the audience, showing off my newly born baby.  I practiced this routine for months, and continued to dance it right up to his birth.  I even used that music with a headset during labor to help with my meditative breathing.  Months later, when my son was only 8 months old, I found my dance tape for that number and popped it in the tape player.  As the music came on, my toddler, who was seated on the floor playing with his toys, immediately stopped what he was doing, and stood up.  He turned and looked at me, with the most magical look of wonder on his face, held his arms out, and toddled his way over to me, never taking his eyes away from mine.  I picked him up and he laid his head on my chest, over my heart, as I held him and danced through the entire song.  He had recognized this  special music from his time within the womb, and knew that it meant he should be gently and dreamily moving along with it.  It was the best performance of my life, and one I will never forget.  Mothers to be - give your children the gift of dance before they are even born!  

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 MEDiM.org Message Board 

where you can post messages about carpooling to a class or event or about an item you would like to buy or sell. Or just email the information to MEDiM.org