I was surrounded by people in the Hilton Hotel by LAX. People everywhere were wearing yoga pants, detailed tribal clothing, saris, gowns and flowing skirts. I was at the LA Consciousness Event. I just discovered this world. I felt like a had found a parallel universe. I had been doing yoga consistently for a few months. I found myself drifting away from old negative patterns and moving into a new stage in my life. I had just turned 20.
I was spending most of my time at the stage where people were giving talks and performing. I was there to see Theresa Ibis give a presentation on the effects of healing practices on dna. Before her talk a kundalini yoga teacher led a yoga session. We did a move called ocean's breath that made me start loosening up and being more present. Then Adore came on the stage. She was in a gold exotic belly dance outfit. She started to give a mini belly dancing class. Loosened up from yoga I was feeling brave. I stood in front of everyone with only a few other girls and took her class. I found myself watching more then dancing though. I had never seen a more beautiful dance. I was memorized by the movements. I tried to do them on my own and found my muscles responded with a resounding, "You want me to do what???"
The next day I called Adore to book private belly dance lessons, unwilling to go through the same humiliation I did in front of the large convention. It took quite a few classes before my muscles started to remember the movements. I had to work through the frustration and emotional pain. I kept smiling and forced myself to finish each class. I kept going back determined to learn belly dancing. I was so inspired by the movement of belly dance. With time put into it and drilling the moves on my own at home, I was starting to make progress. I kept working hard at creating a routine. This lead to my first belly dance performance at the White Lotus in LA. I danced there monthly for some time. This was my journey and entry into my life's passion. It was frustrating at first but then it smoothed out over time. There are moments when I dance now when I forget everything else in the world. All that matters is the music, the elated feeling I get when I'm dancing, and the smiles of those around me participating in the moment.
PS: My first dance teacher Adore:
xoxox Raine
