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Jeannie, founding member, Co-Director, Choreography Goddess, Costume Diva, and Dance Nazi in Residence. You can just call me Jeannie, though.
Hey there! My name is Jeannie, as you may have guessed by the link you clicked to find my little corner of Alchemy. Cozy, isn't it? I've been dancing since 2003 and have been with Alchemy since the beginning. Ok, here is some more info about little ole me:
Why do you dance?
I simply have no choice. I am unable to NOT dance. I'm one of those people that can't sing, can't read music, and doesn't play any instruments, but my mind, muscles, and spirit are inherently musical. If there is nothing to listen to, my brain will conjure up something on it's own; if I've been given a beat, I will hear the melody behind it; if a song is playing, I am in my height of glory teasing out the nuance and meaning, the laughter and fun. I will dance to just
about anything from Dee-Lite to Philip Glass, classical symphony to Rump Shaka, Solace to Mitwa to These Boots are Made for Walkin'.
Ultimately, I dance for the audience (even when it's only me and the Gods). I want to make them so happy they laugh out loud. I want to move them to cry, grin, sigh, clap, shout, frown. I want to make them never forget my dancing, even if they forget my name and face. I want them to see the joyous energy of dance, the tension and dicotomy, the balance and control.
I want to make them want to dance.
Why do you dance?
I simply have no choice. I am unable to NOT dance. I'm one of those people that can't sing, can't read music, and doesn't play any instruments, but my mind, muscles, and spirit are inherently musical. If there is nothing to listen to, my brain will conjure up something on it's own; if I've been given a beat, I will hear the melody behind it; if a song is playing, I am in my height of glory teasing out the nuance and meaning, the laughter and fun. I will dance to just
about anything from Dee-Lite to Philip Glass, classical symphony to Rump Shaka, Solace to Mitwa to These Boots are Made for Walkin'.
Ultimately, I dance for the audience (even when it's only me and the Gods). I want to make them so happy they laugh out loud. I want to move them to cry, grin, sigh, clap, shout, frown. I want to make them never forget my dancing, even if they forget my name and face. I want them to see the joyous energy of dance, the tension and dicotomy, the balance and control.
I want to make them want to dance.
Besides bellydance, what are your other passions?
My family. It may sound cheesy, but my husband is the love of my life, right after my sons, Xay and Corwin. :) You should meet them, you'd like them. Oh yeah, and anything creative, like beading or baking, or painting, or knitting, or costuming, or.... well, just about anything where I get to let all the ideas in my head out for a few minutes before picking the shiniest one, dusting the rest off and stuffing them back in.
What stresses you out?
People not having the consideration to be prepared, no matter the situation. I absolutely hate being left to pick up the pieces when someone else flakes out, when I would have probably helped or done their part in the beginning if they had just been honest.
What is your favorite dessert?
I prefer savory flavors to sweet in most cases, so I'd usually rather have more dinner and skip dessert, but sometimes I do like something sweet. Chocolate pudding(NO INSTANT!!), cheesecake, brownies, Hostess cupcakes, you know, the usual.
My family. It may sound cheesy, but my husband is the love of my life, right after my sons, Xay and Corwin. :) You should meet them, you'd like them. Oh yeah, and anything creative, like beading or baking, or painting, or knitting, or costuming, or.... well, just about anything where I get to let all the ideas in my head out for a few minutes before picking the shiniest one, dusting the rest off and stuffing them back in.
What stresses you out?
People not having the consideration to be prepared, no matter the situation. I absolutely hate being left to pick up the pieces when someone else flakes out, when I would have probably helped or done their part in the beginning if they had just been honest.
What is your favorite dessert?
I prefer savory flavors to sweet in most cases, so I'd usually rather have more dinner and skip dessert, but sometimes I do like something sweet. Chocolate pudding(NO INSTANT!!), cheesecake, brownies, Hostess cupcakes, you know, the usual.
What is the most embarrassing moment you've had on stage?
That's a really good question. I bet my Tribal Sistas can remember something for me, but I really don't remember that sort of thing. I know I was really nervous something embarassing MIGHT happen onstage at 2006 Spirit of the Tribes when I was sure I was going to have a costume malfunction with my coin bra! lol Good times.
What is your favorite tribal move and why?
I have to pick ONE?!?! I love anything involving my big, luscious hips, so shimmies, Basic Egyptians, drops, lifts, pops all make my top moves list. Although, I've got to admit, I took a workshop with Natalie of Delirium Dance Company, and the undulation, or Basic Arabic, is a big fave of mine too, now, in ALL it's gorgeous incarnations!
What is your favorite Alchemy moment/story?
Pulling off our first Hafla with no experience, no guidance, and no clue. And making it look FABULOUS!
That's a really good question. I bet my Tribal Sistas can remember something for me, but I really don't remember that sort of thing. I know I was really nervous something embarassing MIGHT happen onstage at 2006 Spirit of the Tribes when I was sure I was going to have a costume malfunction with my coin bra! lol Good times.
What is your favorite tribal move and why?
I have to pick ONE?!?! I love anything involving my big, luscious hips, so shimmies, Basic Egyptians, drops, lifts, pops all make my top moves list. Although, I've got to admit, I took a workshop with Natalie of Delirium Dance Company, and the undulation, or Basic Arabic, is a big fave of mine too, now, in ALL it's gorgeous incarnations!
What is your favorite Alchemy moment/story?
Pulling off our first Hafla with no experience, no guidance, and no clue. And making it look FABULOUS!
What is your favorite Alchemy choreography and why?
Wow, this is a really hard one. We Will Rock You is right up there for sheer kick-assedness, and Run Faye Run is one of the most dynamic in terms of how we move on the stage, These Boots are Made for Walkin' is theatrics personified... But, I also like the re-choreo'd The Huntress alot, too. I guess you could say my favorite is whichever we are dancing at the moment. Have you seen our version of Ramalama Bang Bang? Dang, it's HAWT! But, just wait to see what's coming next, that's always my true favorite.
Describe your favorite bellydance outfit and why?
I adore what we call Ultra Tribal, which is like old skool ATS: flooding harem pants, colorful skirt topped by a voluminous black skirt, panel skirt, coin scarf, Mamma-Jamma tassel belt, choli, coin bra, flowers, falls and feathers in the hair and more kuchi than a Texas bordello. I love the layers and layers of visual interest, the weight, the silouhette, the movement and flashes of color, the way it makes me feel like a kick-ass girl to not only take part in the ritual of getting dressed in all those not-stereotypically-beautiful clothes but also getting up and DANCING my booty off in enough fabric to collapse the average woman. It's empowering and uplifting.
I really like our pared-down looks, too. We Will Rock You/white is a favorite of mine: gently flaring white pants, sparkling, vibrant colored fringed shorty panel skirt, white cropped top with bell sleeves, matching colored sports bra underneath, and a little color in the hair and jewelry. It's slick, almost futuristic, and alluring. But, again, wait until you see the next vision we make real; it's my favorite and I'm sure it'll be yours, too
Wow, this is a really hard one. We Will Rock You is right up there for sheer kick-assedness, and Run Faye Run is one of the most dynamic in terms of how we move on the stage, These Boots are Made for Walkin' is theatrics personified... But, I also like the re-choreo'd The Huntress alot, too. I guess you could say my favorite is whichever we are dancing at the moment. Have you seen our version of Ramalama Bang Bang? Dang, it's HAWT! But, just wait to see what's coming next, that's always my true favorite.
Describe your favorite bellydance outfit and why?
I adore what we call Ultra Tribal, which is like old skool ATS: flooding harem pants, colorful skirt topped by a voluminous black skirt, panel skirt, coin scarf, Mamma-Jamma tassel belt, choli, coin bra, flowers, falls and feathers in the hair and more kuchi than a Texas bordello. I love the layers and layers of visual interest, the weight, the silouhette, the movement and flashes of color, the way it makes me feel like a kick-ass girl to not only take part in the ritual of getting dressed in all those not-stereotypically-beautiful clothes but also getting up and DANCING my booty off in enough fabric to collapse the average woman. It's empowering and uplifting.
I really like our pared-down looks, too. We Will Rock You/white is a favorite of mine: gently flaring white pants, sparkling, vibrant colored fringed shorty panel skirt, white cropped top with bell sleeves, matching colored sports bra underneath, and a little color in the hair and jewelry. It's slick, almost futuristic, and alluring. But, again, wait until you see the next vision we make real; it's my favorite and I'm sure it'll be yours, too