NeferTem's topics - tribe.net

Nefer Tem at Fantasy Fest Sunday August 3

Leigh Anne — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:47:06 GMT

Nefer Tem will *almost* close the show Sunday night, so stick around! We go on at 7:10 and look forward to seeing all of our dancer friends there!
http://www.tatseena.com/Festival.htm

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

AIDS Walk SF 08 raq'd yet again!

Leigh Anne — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:37:33 GMT

Weather wasn't terribly kind, but the crowds certainly were, and we had a blast! Folkloric met classic rock met modern groove as we entertained the walkers yet again. Next year, we really need to get into a dance-off with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. It just has to happen! Check out the pix tab, and dancers, add whatever ya got.

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

Nefer Tem at SF Pride this Sunday!

Leigh Anne — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:30:41 GMT

Members of Nefer Tem will be joining members of FatChanceBellyDance, Red Lotus, and Saiidi to perform at Montgomery and Market streets just prior to the kickoff of the annual SF Pride Parade! We begin dancing at 9:30, so come on down and groove to the beats of Sooozhyq and friends as we rev up the first parade contingent (as if Dykes on Bikes needs any rev'ing up, but we'll do our best!) See ya Sunday - Yay!

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

Wilbur's 102nd birthday bash!

Leigh Anne — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:59:53 GMT

Look on the photos tab to see pix of Nefer Tem's recent gig for Wilbur Scott. What a great day!

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

Great MFA show, Molly!

Leigh Anne — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:40:12 GMT

WOW! I was really amazed by Molly's MFA show, "Interlaced." For those who weren't able to see it, it featured Ariellah and Predslava of Deshret dance troupe in a silent, very visual description of bellydance. The dancers wore (what to call them...harnesses? But not the S&M kind) that were connected to each other, crisscrossing between the two dancers via eyehooks in the walls. As each dancer moved, tension caused the connecting bands to tighten or loosen in space, or to tighten and loosen on the other dancer. The dancers danced to the same rhythms, but only they could hear them via wireless headsets that they wore. In this way, they remained inside their own private world while the audience saw only the movement.

The overall effect was stunning. Deprived of hearing the music, the audience was free to focus only on the movement and how it transformed the space around the dancers. I found myself following the angled threads back and forth from one dancer, through several eye hooks, and connecting to the other dancer. Occasionally, the dancers syched up in their movements, but then occasionally, they would go off in their own interpretations.

As a dancer, it made me really think about the space around me as I dance and the "shape" that is created BETWEEN dancers. This space between (thanks, Dave Matthews Band) is infinite and is every bit as powerful as the space that the dancers take up. It is the same "negative space" that visual artists contend with. I really had a lot to think about after seeing the piece. It was also fun trying to guess what rhythms the dancers were dancing too - the dancer in me couldn't shut that one off!

Great job, Molly! For an image of the two dancers, go to http://people.tribe.net/5d76d329-ca36-4e92-8e00-ee16adac643b/blog?topicid=8faad0c5-8f3b-4205-92f8-0373242bf051

posted in NeferTem - 2 replies

upper back lift

Leigh Anne — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 05:00:41 GMT

I am really struggling with lifting my upper back. I just can't seem to keep the curve or the "departure" point out of my waist/low back, and I know that I really need to be focusing on getting more lift above my bra/choli line. It really affects my ability to keep my shoulders back and down. Any advice out there?

posted in NeferTem - 6 replies

Your Brain on Improv

PacificaFunkster — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:22:40 GMT

Creativity jazzes your brain

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer

Scientists inspired by the legendary improv of Miles Davis and John
Coltrane are peering inside the brains of today's jazz musicians to
learn where creativity comes from. Think dreaming.

This isn't just a curiosity for jazz fans but a bold experiment in
the neuroscience of music, a field that's booming as researchers
realize that music illuminates how the brain works. How we play and
hear music provides a window into most everyday cognitive functions —
from attention to emotion to memory — that in turn may help find
treatments for brain disorders.

Creativity, though, has long been deemed too elusive to measure.
Saxophonist-turned-hearing specialist Dr. Charles Limb thought jazz
improvisation provided a perfect tool to do so — by comparing what
happens in trained musicians' brains when they play by memory and
when they riff.

"It's one thing to come up with a ditty. It's another thing entirely
to come up with a masterpiece, an hourlong idea after idea,"
explains Limb, a Johns Hopkins University otolaryngologist whose
ultimate goal is to help the deaf not only hear but hear music.

How do you watch a brain on jazz? Inside an MRI scanner that
measures changes in oxygen use by different brain regions as they
perform different tasks.

You can't play trumpet or sax inside the giant magnet that is an MRI
machine. So Limb and Dr. Allen Braun at the National Institutes of
Health hired a company to make a special plastic keyboard that would
fit inside the cramped MRI with no metal to bother the magnet.

Then they put six professional jazz pianists inside to measure brain
activity while they played straight and when they improvised. They
played, right-handed, both a simple C scale and a blues tune that
Limb wrote, appropriately titled "Magnetism." Through earphones,
they listened to a prerecorded jazz quartet accompaniment, to
simulate a real gig.

Getting creative uses the same brain circuitry that Braun has
measured during dreaming: First, inhibition switched off. The
scientists watched a brain region responsible for that self-
monitoring, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, shut down.

Then self-expression switched on. A smaller area called the medial
prefrontal cortex fired up, a key finding as Braun's earlier
research on how language forms linked that region to
autobiographical storytelling. And jazz improvisation produces such
individual styles that it's often described as telling your own
musical story.

More intriguing, the musicians also showed heightened sensory
awareness. Regions involved with touch, hearing and sight revved up
during improv even though no one touched or saw anything different,
and the only new sounds were the ones they created.

That doesn't necessarily mean this is the center of creativity. The
brains of highly trained musicians might work differently than an
amateur pianist's, or a painter's, or a writer's, something Limb and
Braun hope to test next.

"We're all creative every day. Are our brains doing the same
things?" asks Braun, who studies the relationship of language and
music at NIH's National Institute on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders.

The study's biggest significance isn't what it found but that it
could be performed at all, opening new avenues of brain research.

"Improvisation always has a sort of magical quality associated with
it. People think when you're improvising you have some sort of
inspiration that's not measurable," says Dr. Robert Zatorre of the
Montreal Neurological Institute, a pioneer in the neuroscience of
music and himself a classical organist. "They went forward where
everyone else feared to tread."

Neuroscientists call the brain plastic, meaning it has remarkable
flexibility to rewire itself. Unraveling how those circuits get
modified in turn helps researchers hunt treatments for brain
disorders — and the same circuits that process music show strong
relationships with other key brain regions. Studies show that
patients learning to speak again after a stroke may improve faster
if they sing rather than recite, for example. Zatorre's team is
finding parallels between tone-deafness and the reading disability
dyslexia.

"What we're doing is not necessarily trying to say, 'Well, if we use
music it will help Parkinson's patients walk.' It might, yes, and
there is some evidence it does so," says Zatorre, whose institute
this summer hosts an international conference on music and the brain.

Instead, the quest is to "understand the rules by which the brain
changes its organization. That's what we need to know," he adds.

Creativity comes in because its root is the spontaneity that defines
everyday life. Consider conversation: Hopkins' Limb wants to image
the brains of jazz musicians "trading fours," where one improvises
four bars and the next answers back with four new bars — a musical
conversation he believes comparable to the talking kind.

And no, Limb doesn't think he's diminishing the magic of music by
finding its cerebral underpinnings.

"It's like knowing how an airplane flies. It's still pretty
magical."

EDITOR's NOTE — Lauran Neergaard covers health and medical issues
for The Associated Press in Washington.

posted in NeferTem - 2 replies

NeferTem @ 12 Galaxies Saturday 12/15

PacificaFunkster — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:47:13 GMT

Please join us for a great evening of live music from Zilla and dancing with NeferTem!

Saturday 12/15
12 Galaxies, 2565 Mission
$15 advance, $18 door
Doors 8:00, Show 9:00
www.zillamusic.com
www.12galaxies.com

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

outing suggestion

PacificaFunkster — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:31:20 GMT

One of my top 3 favorite local bands Aphrodesia is playing the
Independent on Friday 12/21. Aphrodesia is an 11-piece
lesbian-fronted afrobeat band with great songwriting, a tight horn
section, surprisingly good vocals & dancing, and a solid rhythm
section. ALWAYS a booty-shakin dance party, these guys have been
rocking local venues like the Elbo Room, the Indy, and Moe's Alley in
Santa Cruz for years. The polyrhythmic nature of afrobeat is great
for working on your taxeem isolations!

The openers will be Brass Menazeri, a local Balkan brass band (which I
haven't seen before but you can stream samples online), and will
feature a BD performance by The Indigo.

Tickets are only $12adv & $14 at the door. If anyone's interested
I'll be at their box office next Thursday and would be happy to pick
some tickets up for you. Please let me know.

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

2007-08-23 rehearsal - Beats Antique: Tribal Derivations

PacificaFunkster — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:02:26 GMT

Hi ladies! For rehearsal NEXT Thursday 8/23, I’ll be introducing us to some tracks from Tribal Derivations, a recent record from Beats Antique.

Beats Antique is:
-David Satori (Aphrodesia) banjo, violin, mandobanjo, percussion, programming
-Sidecar Tommy (Yard Dogs Road Show): drums, piano, percussion, programming
-Zoe: vibe, production, & zills

I think the best songs to work with are Battle, The Lantern, Tabla Toy, Rabat, and Intertwine. Your homework :-) is to stream Battle and The Lantern here: http://www.myspace.com/beatsantique (There are also 2 other tracks you can stream if you're interested.) We’ll focus on Battle and The Lantern since we can preview these before rehearsal… I’d also like to play Intertwine for you – it’s a lovely piece that would be challenging with lots of opportunity to alternate between slow & fast - I'll love to hear what you think.

I don’t have any specific choreography suggestions worked out, other taking advantage of the breaks, so this session will also have a shut-up-and-dance feel, too.

My notes on the entire album are below if it’s interesting to you while you stream. Looking forward to next Thursday! Ellen

TRIBAL DERIVATIONS

1. Battle 4:30
Additional musician - Seth Ford Young: double bass

I’m undecided whether this is best for Slow song or a maximally slow Fast song?

Breaks:
4-count @ 1:24
8-count @ 2:11
4-count @ 3:35
--------------------------

2. The Lantern 3:57
Additional musicians - Tobias Roberson: percussion; Evan Fraser (Hamsa Lila): quarkaba

A lovely slow piece. Tempo is very regular and I find LOTS of texture here: Dreamy sequences to open & close, percussively-mixed sound effects, the melody ascends an octave, great percussion & Moroccan zills…
--------------------------

3. Tabla Toy 5:06
Additional musicians – Tobias Roberson: percussion; Seth Ford Young: double bass; Eenor: yayli tambur

Another lovely slow piece. Steady rhythm, great viola and bassline.
--------------------------

4. Rabat 4:16
Additional musicians – Tobias Roberson: percussion; Evan Fraser (Hamsa Lila): quarkaba; Vir McCoy (Hamsa Lila): sintir; Rena Jones: violin

This is in ¾ or 6/8 so it would have to be a feisty slow piece. I always love sintir, which is a Gnawan goat- or camel-skin bass with 2 or 3 strings.
--------------------------

5. Slow 4:20

Additional musicians - Tobias Roberson: percussion; Seth Ford Young: double bass; Eenor: yayli tambur

Duh, slow! Spooky & gothic - digital effects warp the live bass & percussion.
--------------------------

6. Derivation 3:32

Additional musicians - Seth Ford Young: double bass

A little on the boring side. Less texture, more “dead air” pauses to work with. Mainly just bass, percussion, and light piano.
--------------------------

7. Trinkit 3:47

Additional musicians - Seth Ford Young: double bass; Eric “EO” Oberthaler: trumpet

Could be a slow-ish fast piece with slow breaks. But not very melodic – a little blah.

--------------------------

8. Break Me 5:06

Additional musicians – Tobias Roberson: percussion

A slow piece with an ambient start. Piano melodies lead into electronica-oriented percussion.
--------------------------

9. Nau-ashta 4:07

Additional musicians - Seth Ford Young: double bass

Slow. Cool mizmar-like intro. Ambient zagareet & choral samples.
--------------------------

10. Intertwine 3:30

Additional musicians - Evan Fraser (Hamsa Lila): quarkaba

Another slow ambient beginning with feisty fast segments. Would be a fun piece to alternate slow/fast a lot. Short but would require lots of attention & knowing the breaks.

Ambient (slow): 0:00 – 1:15
Fast: 1:15 – 1:44
Slow: 1:44 – 1:59 7x 4 counts
Slow or Fast: 1:59 – 2:16
Fast: 2:16 – 2:50
Slow break: 2:50 – 2:56 3x 4 counts
Fast: 2:56 – 3:31
--------------------------

11. Relic 3:14

Additional musicians - Tobias Roberson: percussion; Seth Ford Young: double bass; Eenor: yayli tambur

Slow. Nice breaks interspersed. More melodic & less ambient than some others here.
--------------------------

12. Discovered 3:09

Additional musicians – As Is Brass Band

Brass band is not a funk band – think sideshow/circus. Slow. Cute horns, but it’s a one trick pony.
--------------------------

13. Tremendously awful hidden track

Dead air 0:00 – 5:57
Track 5:57 – 7:49

Barnyard sound effects & bad drum tracks.

posted in NeferTem - 4 replies

This weekend

PacificaFunkster — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:21:40 GMT

I think there are no level III classes on Saturday due to a couple FCBD performances.

Anyone besides me going to the Love Parade on Saturday afternoon? I know Sandi & Wendy are performing in the civic center but it's VIP access only. I'll be there for the UNIMOG & a few other floats. I also hear Bellyqueen is performing around 5.

Anyone interested in Balkan Beat Box Saturday night @ the Great American for $15? Hadley's rehearsal was fun!

I'm sending this out by email too.

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

request for rehearsal dates

Carolena — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:59:56 GMT

Please be sure to give your studio rehearsal dates to me. If I knew about the 27 Sep date, I didn't have it written down.
Send me an email at the beginning of each month with your dates, don't trust me to find it here.
Thanks,
Carolena

posted in NeferTem - 2 replies

Mary Ellen Donald on zills - wow!

Leigh Anne — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:34:53 GMT

This completely blew my mind. I have no mind left....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DLVgPNId7Vo

I wish I could have seen this show.

posted in NeferTem - 2 replies

9/13 rehearsal sub

Leigh Anne — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:04:53 GMT

Hey folks, Ursula got highjacked by her mean ol' boss to work late on the 13th, but she's new there, so she has to play along. I'll run this one - hmmmmmm....what shall I choose for my lovelies? I do believe we're gonna do some serious Face To Face dancin', waiting for each other, watching each other, bringing out the best in each other. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!! Be there or be square on Thursday the 13th!!

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

anyone know the Carey brothers (band)?

Leigh Anne — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 02:23:04 GMT

I was just listening to them and got inspired to do some slow...it was nice. Anyone know them?

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

Cheb i Sabbah returns to Tuesday nights @ Nickies

PacificaFunkster — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:34:24 GMT

Hi ladies - I'll be at Nickie's for his return this Tuesday 8/28! Yay it's been too long :-)

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

rehearsal news

Leigh Anne — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 22:44:19 GMT

Thanks to Ellen for introducing us to the fabulous Beats Antique! That was really fun.

Check the events tab to see about upcoming rehearsals. Liora will not be hosting her feedback workshop on the 13th of Sept, as it conflicts with a holiday. She'll get back to us as to when that will be rescheduled. I'm happy to host the 13th unless someone wants to do it. If I host it, we'll work more on matching speed/movements and building stage presence.

Martha will be leading the rehearsal on the 27th.

posted in NeferTem - 3 replies

NT, RL, and FCBD at the SF Tattoo Convention

Leigh Anne — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:54:41 GMT

Members of Nefer Tem will be performing with Red Lotus and FatChanceBellyDance at the Tattoo Convention at the Cow Palace this weekend (August 25th) at 5PM on the main stage. Come check out new tattoo artists and watch us dance!

There were some pretty amazing tattoos to look at last year as well as the "man I should never get ink when drunk ones"

posted in NeferTem - 2 replies

funny dream!

Leigh Anne — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:36:07 GMT

OK, so I am a raging insomniac...I have been known to go for days without proper sleep. So last night, writhing in pseudo-lucid non-sleep, it came to me...Nefer Tem makes a workout video! Hah! So, if you were to be asked to do a workout video, what stretch or exercise would you include on it? Go ahead - no one minds if you share!

posted in NeferTem - 5 replies

Great rehearsal! Thanks, Hadley!

Leigh Anne — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:34:31 GMT

What fun we had dancing together! I'm glad you're still with us, Hadley - you really got us started off in a good direction.

The next rehearsal will be led by Ellen and it will be held on August 23rd. She'll introduce some songs, and from what I hear, she may have "homework" to give us!

The following rehearsal will be a workshop led by Liora on Sept 13th. She'll talk about good feedback techniques.

Who can lead on Sept 27th? I may have to fly out of town that day.

posted in NeferTem - 2 replies

Balkan Beat Box @ GAMH Sat 9/29 $15

PacificaFunkster — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:26:01 GMT

Hey ladies -

This would be a fun outing! I had been thinking of getting tickets, but wanted to wait a little bit to see what Love Fest events it competed with... I guess that's silly since the LF parties I'd be into are latenight-oriented and I could hit the Great American first... I thought their CD was fairly fun & interesting. Not every song did it for me but there were some goodies, like the one we danced to last night.

Their press clip: "Balkan Beat Box is steeped with an intense lifetime of research into their own non-Western roots as well as other cultures. A quasi-circus event, BBB performs with a core of 6 musicians, collaborating with artists from Bulgaria, Morocco, Spain, Israel, and Turkey who draw on a variety of styles from around the world. Every event keeps the audience guessing what the next surprise will be.

BBB makes connections that politics often keep separate. Jewish, Gypsy, Arabic, and American are united by hip hop beats and dancehall toasts. BBB’s musical hitch-hiking continues as they mix things up with dub and electronics, juxtaposed with ancient Moroccan and Mediterranean melodies. The band’s uncategorizable sound gives equal weight to soulful acoustic timbres and digital rhythms creating a uniquely organic sound with electronic elements.

“Gypsy is the definition of a soul, not a color or place. It’s a take on life.” – Tamir Muskat in SPIN, Jan. 2007

“A magnificent mash-up melding music from every conceivable corner of the globe and its history." – Chicago Sun Times

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

Hip N Bass @ Underground SF Thurs 8/30 9-2 $5

PacificaFunkster — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:33:41 GMT

This is Amar's (Electric Vardo) new monthly. He's spinning along with Jimmy Love (Nickel Bag of Funk, Nonstop Bhangra).

Dance performances by
FREDERIQUE
FREYJA
JENNIFER FAUST
MITARA

SOOOZHYQ (doumbec)

There's no rehearsal that Thursday - how about class, budget dinner at Papalote or Herbivore, then hit the lower Haight? I can take 4 riders. :-)

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

Raquy & the Cavemen Sat 8/11 @ Elbo

PacificaFunkster — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:19:21 GMT

I'll be at the Elbo on Saturday night!

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

am i the only one...

pokiedot — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 23:58:46 GMT

... going to burning man? i was hoping to dance with some of you out there!

alas.

i'll be at tonight's rehearsal and next week's thursday class, but i'll be in the desert from 8/20 to 9/6. that's one rehearsal (8/23) and a WHOLE LOTTA classes i'll miss. boo hoo!

but i'll be dancing with whoever i can out on the playa!

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

Jewish Home Sep. 25

Hadley — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:46:44 GMT

Can anyone do this? So far there are just two of us, one to do music and one to be points person. We'd love to have a big group, this is a fun, paying gig that Carolena has been organizing for them for years.
Tues. Sep. 25 6:30pm.

posted in NeferTem - 6 replies

thoughts on dancing as a group

Leigh Anne — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:07:22 GMT

Hi folks,
I just came across a very thoughtful and well-written missive on the Pedralta dance site (http://www.pedralta.com/tribal/pellica.htm) on the nature of improvisation, and it really got me thinking. I've been struck by how, when I'm dancing with my troupe sisters, there are little moments of connection, but that I can never seem to summon them or make them work for me when I want them to. I tend to just be happy when they come along and frustrated when they do not. Here are the words that struck me:

Improvisation is about going deeper into who you are and what you want to invest in and what you value in your short life, and it requires paying lots of loving attention - and that takes bringing the mind and body back to this moment again, and again, and back to "how am I relating to this group right now?”

Then, the writer lists some questions that a dancer can ask herself (some should probably be yes, and others should probably be no):
For leaders:

* Can I be counted on to change the movement on the 'one' (beat)?
* Can I give clear cues in enough time for the followers to catch?
* Am I staying true to the technique that we all learned and committed to?
* Do I try to stand out?
* 'When I lead do I try to show I am a better dancer or technician than the others?
* Do I hog the lead?
* Can I be counted on to put moves together in a complimentary way?
* Can I be counted on to make my pod mates look fabulous and feel comfortable?
* Do they trust me?
* Do I inspire confidence as a leader?
* Do I know the repertory?

For followers:

* Do I pay attention and am I ready to respond to minute changes?
* Do I attempt to match the mood and tempo of the pod leader?
* Do I try to stand out?
* How do I respond if the leader loses the count or loses the one?
* Do I take turns and share the lead?
* Can I be trusted to follow meticulously and cooperatively?
* Do I pay attention, do I pay attention, do I pay attention?
* Do I know the repertory, thus have the skills to follow?
* Do I try to sabotage the unification of the pod or can I be counted on to act for the group 100%?

She describes improv as being the antithesis of competition, but that our culture is so competition-oriented that we often bring it into our dance unwittingly. I think these questions are powerful and could serve as guides for us when we dance together. Anyway, I thought I'd share that and see if anyone has any comments on it.

posted in NeferTem - 3 replies

Study/Practice Group

Batia — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:43:41 GMT

I am wondering if there are any students of FCBD who might be interested in forming an
informal study/practice group to meet every couple of weeks. Perhaps 4 or 5 in the group, to work on what we have learned in Level II class. If this might interest you, please PM me.
Thanks,
Jennifer

P.S. A response will be considered an inquiry, not a commitment!

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

CORRECTED first rehearsal time: August 9 6:15-7:15

Leigh Anne — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 23:49:49 GMT

Hi folks,
Due to Fantasy Fest and everyone's wacky summer schedules, the FF dancers are feeling like they could use some extra time. They would be most appreciative to use our slot on the 26th, and I'm sure everyone can feel for them and support that.

Our first rehearsal will be two weeks hence: August 9th. Thanks for your flexibility!

posted in NeferTem - 2 replies

Cheb i Sabbah wednesdays @ Underground SF

PacificaFunkster — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:22:02 GMT

Hi ladies -

I try to dance @ Underground SF (lower Haight @ Fillmore) on Wednesdays where Cheb i Sabbah has his weekly residency. 10-2, usually heated up by 11pm.

For those who don't know, Chebiji spins all types of ethnic dance music, ranging from arabic hip hop to bhangra to asian massive. There's a regular and loyal following which makes for a good dance floor. Lots of desi kids and BD types. With a couple of us there we could *easily* improv intermittently.

I haven't been in a while as I've been trying to get an extra workout in on Thursday mornings, but I'd like to renew my regular attendance, as it's my favorite dance party in SF. He'll be switching the residency back to Nickies (2 doors down) on Tuesday nights when they reopen after renovations - I'll keep you posted.

Please let me know if you're ever interested in going!

posted in NeferTem - 3 replies

this song...

pokiedot — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:23:04 GMT

...is so fun to dance to. at home, i really try to practice to stuff we use, but i always end up throwing this one in on the end, just 'cause it's so over the top and dramatic. i'd love to play it for you all in class some time.

http://www.putumayo.com/en/catalog_item.php?album_id=92
it's number 4, Vlatko Stefovski's "Gipsy Song"

the sound quality's kinda bad, but hopefully you can get the idea. try a corkscrew turn right at the chorus. it's so perfect. great for turns in general.

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

Ideas for rehearsal sessions

Leigh Anne — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:17:09 GMT

Here are some ideas I have for rehearsal sessions to come. NOTE: if you add ideas, please suggest whether you would be willing to lead/direct the session.

1. View Rakassah video and critique it.
2. Take video of 15 minutes of group improv, then view it and critique it.
3. Invite a drummer (maybe my friend Ed, or Sooz, who both drummed with us at Pride) and have them drum with us to get used to live music. I know Ed would appreciate the time to work with our rhythms.

I'd be happy to lead any of these.

posted in NeferTem - 7 replies

fotos part deux

Mallory — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 01:13:02 GMT

i've finally posted aids walk pictures. enjoy (i hope).

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

tribal fest 7 photos

Mallory — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:23:04 GMT

i just downloaded/uploaded(?) some of the pictures that scott schappell has so generously provided us. i haven't put them on a cd yet for sharing, but when i do, it's very important that we give scott proper credit for every shot we use!

i think we look pretty good, despite my (sometimes) weak elbows...hee

i'll get aids walk pictures up soon. this one took me over two hours, and no one will be home all weekend to help me...

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

GREAT funk band - Fri 7/20

PacificaFunkster — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:11:53 GMT

Hi ladies -

I tend do BD isolations to all different kinds of live music (some of my best practices are unstructured this way), and I thought I'd invite you to see a really great funk band on Friday. They're an 11-piece orchestra with a SOLID rhythm section, fabulous vocals (3-4 strong singer swingers), and a really solid horn section. Great dance party - they consistently fill their venues with hard core boogiers. I'm ticketed & will be in the first 10 rows with my beau...

Stymie & the Pimp Jones Luv Orchestra
with special guest Radioactive (Spearhead) & DJ Motion Potion
Fri 7/20
$8adv/$10
Elbo Room

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

AIDS Walk photos

Molly — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:33:04 GMT

Hey ladies,

I was searching through flickr and came across some pics of us snapped by some of the crowd.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10173310@N06/page7/

Thanks for including me - I had a great time dancing with everybody!

Molly

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

2007-07-27 Friday: Asian Massive @ 12Galaxies $12

PacificaFunkster — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:08:36 GMT

I'll be there if my 10:30pm arrival @ SFO is reasonably on time...

http://12galaxies.inticketing.com/evinfo.php?eventid=17647

Cheb i Sabbah presents:

Cheb i Sabbah (Six Degrees Records)
Gaurav Raina (Midival Punditz, India)
Janaka Selekta (Dhamaal/Worldly)
Zakhm (Kollektiv - Dialect, NYC)

Super Dancers: Atini Bauseh & 3M Naach

Dhol Player: Preetam Mayall

posted in NeferTem - 0 replies

2007-07-22 Sunday: Stern Grove

PacificaFunkster — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:05:15 GMT

Hi ladies - Stern Grove may not necessarily be the best place for dancing (there tends to be a lot of "down in front" from the wine & cheesers), but the Indian music events tend to be more lively... I'm going to try to make this one, guerilla-style (sneak in the back at 2:00 with backpack, no blanket).

Breathing Underwater (Anouska Shankar, Karsh Kale), Non-Stop Bhangra opens @ Stern Grove $0 2:00

Experience "Breathing Under Water," a unique melding of South Asian music traditions with modern grooves. Anoushka Shankar, Karsh Kale, and other special guests take the stage for an unforgettable afternoon.

Grammy-nominated sitar sensation Anoushka Shankar is the daughter of legendary Ravi Shankar. Best known for his tabla and percussion skills, Karsh Kale's highly original style fuses electronica with traditional South Asian music.

Presenting Punjabi music in an inventive way, San Francisco-based Non-Stop Bhangra Collective fuses traditional and modern tracks with live tabla and dhol drums, scratching, and the Bhangra dancers of Dholrhythms Dance Troupe.

NonStop Bhangra Collective will feature NSB residents Dholrhythms Dance Troupe and DJ Jimmy Love joined by special guests and friends Tarun Nayar on tabla(Beats Without Borders, Vancouver, BC) and Dave Sharma on dhol (Basement Bhangra, NYC) plus ragamuffin voice of MC Collage (Seattle)

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Nefer Tem rehearsals

Leigh Anne — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:37:51 GMT

Beginning on July 26th 2007, Nefer Tem will be rehearsing at the FCBD studio every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 6:15-7:15. Big thanks to Carolena for making the studio available! This tribe will become the information center for all things related to Nefer Tem rehearsals, performances, events, and other activities, and all rehearsal members should check this space regularly for information.

Rehearsal members who have been part of the email thread and meeting should prepare to bring dues on the first meeting or set it up with Ellen at any time. The rehearsals are open to current and past members of Nefer Tem - please email one of us to learn about the new structure as we're devising it.

Looking forward to dancing with you ladies!!!

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Photos from Tribal Fest 7

Hadley — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:30:05 GMT

Lots of images at
http://claudermilk.smugmug.com/gallery/2905935#157344089
and on the Fat Chance and and Black Sheep Belly Dance tribes, there are images of all of us and members of Fat Chance past and present!

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any AIDS walk photos?

Leigh Anne — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 20:33:52 GMT

I just saw one AIDS walk photo on one of the other tribes (ATS or FCBD). Are there any more? I regret not taking pictures that day.

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TF06 Photos

s-a-n-d-i — Sat, 27 May 2006 18:51:44 GMT

Hi ladies,

I just posted some pics from Tribal Fest. They're not the best - my camera is not the greatest, but its something! The bow pic turned out the best, but I think I may have cut a few people off. Sorry!

Enjoy!

*;}

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Photos of Nefertem on Official Rakkasah Photo website

Lucie — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 04:45:10 GMT

There are two pictures on the official Rakkasah website of Nefer Tem.

http://www.saqra.net/rakkasah/w06/satcab.html

Might need to do a Ctrl-F search for the titles:)

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

Rakassah

kathleenCrowley — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 01:25:20 GMT

From what I could see when you were performing,( I got waylayed by a friend) You all looked very lovely - wish I could have seen you better - but the crowd looked very happy!

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New Photos

Hadley — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 06:44:17 GMT

Hello,
New photos from the NeferTem gig at the Green Tortoise Hostel in North Beach on Tuesday. It was so much fun and I think that comes across in these pictures!
Hadley

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salon2005

kristineadams — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:10:49 GMT

i just wanted to say that everyone did suh an amazing job yesterday! it looked great!

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New photos in the album from AIDS Walk

Lucie — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 00:04:01 GMT

It was a great, fun, marathon gig.:)
Can't wait to do it again next year!!

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

how was aidswalk05?

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 03:35:35 GMT

i'm sad i missed it this year and can't wait to see the photos! hope you ladies avoided the nasty sunburns we all got last year ;)

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Photos from SF Pride 2005

Lucie — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 03:24:32 GMT

Hi, I've posted some photos from SF Pride 2005.
Sorry if most of them look quite similar, Angie kept getting knocked around by people with huge cameras!

It was a great show, and so much fun!
Maybe we should get a float next year? :P

posted in NeferTem - 4 replies

tf

Tue, 17 May 2005 20:54:10 GMT

hi girls,
i just wanted to say that everyone* looked fantastic at tribal fest. kristine and i were just talking about how great everyone danced so i thought i'd post :)
special kudos to dori who made it to tf dressed even when in a lot of physical pain! (that's dedication!) and to mallory and misato who danced superbly on dori's behalf. :)

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car pools

Sat, 07 May 2005 18:47:14 GMT

mallory sent out an email regarding car pools. i thought it might be good to continue the thread here?

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tf wear...what's your group matching thing? revisited

Mallory — Fri, 06 May 2005 17:58:14 GMT

hi all, what is everyone wearing to tf?

misato, dori and i are wearing double banded spinning skirts, coin bras, tassle belts (maybe fringe scarf), and head wraps...we can't decide if we're wearing black cholis, or colored ones. is everyone doing black to keep with the classic look?

posted in NeferTem - 4 replies

rachel brice workshop

Mallory — Tue, 03 May 2005 08:40:57 GMT

hi ladies,
i have two spaces for rachel's thursday 10:30 - 12:30 tribal fusion workshop, that i need to sell. i would have to call kajira in maui before the 7th, to put the buyer's name on the list.

anyone interested?

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Art on Fire

Tiana — Mon, 02 May 2005 19:58:13 GMT

Hello all! I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed seeing you all the other day. You looked beautiful! I uploaded a few pictures into the album, I hope they came through. Sorry, I am not a very good photographer... Anyway, just wanted to say "Hi" and I look forward to seeing you all dance again soon.
Selam ve sevgiler,
Tiana

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classic look

kristineadams — Sun, 01 May 2005 15:20:24 GMT

so if we really want to go for the classic FCBD look the perfect place to view images is at the website. Go there and then go to scrapbook and there are tons of images. so very good research site. -k

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Restructuring

cawebber — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 23:32:14 GMT

Okay, I'm in group C. I guess I'd hoped for B, but the reality is that I'm not making progress taking only the one (Thurs) class each week.

Unfortunately, I don't see how I can fit more classes into my life as things currently stand. I will probably start taking a few Tues night Level 2 classes, but I'll have to alternate that with Thursday classes. Maybe I just have to be one of those people who is happy in level C.

I'm feeling a bit discouraged.

Carrie

posted in NeferTem - 3 replies

Critique

Hadley — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 17:52:19 GMT

Hi, it seems like it's always me posting topics on here, but I knew that title would get your attention!
I'm interested in continuing the discussion we had at the last "Third Tribe" meeting about sharing critiques with other students. It seemed we had the full range of responses, from people who would feel offended to those who would welcome any feedback from others. In my case, I think I do best when I keep the focus on my own dancing and I look to the instructors for answers. Maybe because I'm sensitive - did you know I'm sensitive?
I think if I brought this up in the ATS group it would start a wildfire so I just wanted to chat with my girls for now :) I'd love to hear what you think because many of you might have more experience than I in this area especially when it comes up around performing.
Sorry can't do Tribal Fest or even attend, I love Tribal Fest.
Lotsa love,
Hadley

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How to sign up for Tribal Fest?

Lucie — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 23:07:01 GMT

Carolena said that Tribal Fest is coming up soon and we need to sign up soon.

So...sign up with whom? At the studio?

Also, I thought Monika is going to be the coordinator and planner for Tribal Fest. Has this changed?

posted in NeferTem - 4 replies

Rakkasah

Hadley — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 02:56:43 GMT

Hey ladies!
It was so great to see you all (and FatChance, got there just in time) at the festival on Friday. You looked beautiful and danced beautifully. I loved it from the start, Felicia looking so serene, Mallory's smile lit up the stage, and then there were everyone's cool different arrangements in the space, and Soy and Kristine's finish which was adorable. So glad I went!

posted in NeferTem - 3 replies

ride to rakkasah?

Thu, 17 Mar 2005 21:19:02 GMT

any chance i can get a ride with one of you fiiiine ladies to rakkasah?

(i think i win the award for the biggest car mooch)
i promise i'll get one of my very own soon, very soon! :)

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply

rakkasah wear - what's your group matching thing?

Fri, 04 Mar 2005 21:07:56 GMT

i think that kristine and i are doing the black spotted skirts with the poofy skirts underneath, split shoulder cholis, and ghawazee sleeves!

posted in NeferTem - 7 replies

ROLL CALL FOR THURS NIGHT 3/3

velvetcowgirl — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 02:40:13 GMT

Hey ladies,

Got the keys to the studio for Thursday night...

This means rehearsal for Rakkassah!

I sent out an email from AOL..with the details. Hope you all can make it!

M

posted in NeferTem - 5 replies

Winter Salon Photos

Hadley — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 21:09:02 GMT

Hi, I know you all want to see photos from the November & December FCBD student salons. . . they're on the links page of Sean's website, www.bluefortyseven.com. I don't know if he'll put them on a disk or upload them to ofoto, but you'll get a chance for prints when he gets back.
Hadley

posted in NeferTem - 3 replies

Deshret

Hadley — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 18:17:08 GMT

Isn't this Thurs. the last Deshret w/ Ultra Gypsy at El Rio? Is anybody going after class/rehearsal? I've never been and might like to check it out. It would be lovely to see you Nefertem women there.
Also tonight some good bands are playing at the Hemlock (if you like bluesy gothy noise).
Let me know if you're going to either - thanks!

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not really a topic...

Mallory — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 21:50:14 GMT

tiana found a picture of the two us at the Labyrinth of Jareth masquerade ball last june '04 in hollywood. if you wanna see it, it's at LabyrinthMasquerade.com. we're halfway down the page on the left; does that make us famous?
m

posted in NeferTem - 6 replies

last nights gig

kristineadams — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 23:44:59 GMT

Thank you soooo much amy, monika, soy, and nizhoni! you ladies made last night a blast. here are a few bad pictures my boy took befor the camera went down. when i snag some from my friend lori i'll post more. they're no the best but enjoy!-k

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The gangs all here...

velvetcowgirl — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 19:22:21 GMT

OK, so actually I am curious to what made you all choose FCBD to study with over somewhere else?

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belly dance superstars

Hadley — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 06:04:34 GMT

Who's going to the show at the Herbst? Anyone want to book together and or meet up there?

posted in NeferTem - 1 reply