IN THIS ISSUE
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Pomegranate Update
Myra's Trip to Egypt
SEEDs in Texas
Testimonials
Class of 2008
Easy Donate Options
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| Upcoming Events |
Body Inc.
Monday
November 3
$5 suggested donation
7pm
Join us for our Halloween Show!
&
Monday
December 1
$5 suggested donation
7pm
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OUR SPONSORS
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SEEDs Board of Directors:
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Joel Brink
President
Catherine Clemens Vice President
Marisa del Rio
Secretary
Jason Voss
Treasurer
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SEEDs
Fundraising Guild
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Jodi Balsamo
Oakley Blasdel
Bill Peterson
Laura Magi
Grace Weisman
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Pomegranate SEEDs sends our warmest thanks to our generous photographers.
Lloyd Thrap
Morgan Smith
Rich Petronio
Louis Leray
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Pomegranate Updates:
We are staying busy preparing for the transition into the cold season with the beginning preparations for the big show in April. The Studio has transitioned from the slower pace of the summer season into the fast-pace of the cold season with the start of SEEDs, Little SEEDs, and SEEDlings. The SEEDlings (ages 5-10) are so adorable dancing their little hearts away- I love peeking my head into the room and watching them laugh their heads off at Oakley's silly interpretations of Belly Dance movements. Little SEEDs (ages 10-14) is being taught by Grace and Jade who are doing a magnificent job as seen on the smiling faces of their students. The SEEDs program began on the 16th of September, and has 15 amazing young women in the program this year. The young-women in all of our programs have just completed their first student salon which they performed in on October 26th!
Despite the economy, fundraising for the SEEDs program has been successful with the hard work and dedication of the Board of Directors and our Fundraising Guild along with many members of the studio. The big SEEDs annual Fundraiser/Auction held on October 4 at Fusion Restaurant was a result of this hard-work. This year the Fundraiser was attended by over 40 people and all Auction items were sold except two. We have decided to have more fundraising events throughout the year to continue receiving the monetary support needed to keep the SEEDs program alive. We will provide details about these events as they approach. We still have not met our budget for this year so if you are looking to give please contact the studio.
This year I have been lucky enough to have been asked to teach workshops and perform around the United States. I was asked to teach two workshops and perform for Tribal Rendezvous in Idyllwiled, California in the beginning of July. And in August I was off to Orlando, Florida teaching alongside Aziza and Orit Maftsir from Israel. I have also been invited to teach at Spirit of The Tribes-one of the biggest events of the year- in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, May 7-11.
I will keep you updated as the year progresses!
In Deepest Gratitude,
Myra Krien
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"Let's go to Egypt!"
By Myra Krien
All my life I have dreamed of visiting Egypt. All my life I have belly danced and at 45 years of age had never gone. I have studied Egypt's extraordinary ancient civilization; her antiquities, the pyramids, temples, sites, mythologies. Nothing could have prepared me for the awe I so deeply experienced.
Since belly dance is my profession I have often been asked if I had visited Egypt and throughout my career many fabulous dancers, musicians and academicians have offered to take me. Many years ago I met Astryd de Michele at Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp. She had visited Cairo and fallen in love. She was trying to decide how to be there more often and continue her work here in the United States. Soon after Astryd was living six months out of every year in Cairo, as she has done for the last 10 years. So when she called me to let me know she was now leading tours, I was very interested. After hearing the itinerary I knew this trip was the one I had waited all these years to take.
I began asking students and friends that I would like to travel with if they wanted to go. Soon we had a group of 7 from Santa Fe and two more that Astryd added. After settling on the ten day tour of Cairo with Astryd we also opted for two excursions, the first being a cruise from Luxor to Aswan on the Nile to visit temples, the second to Sharm el Sheik on the Red Sea for R&R and the snorkeling. With our itinerary set and our airline tickets bought we were on our way!
It seems on every trip these days there is a lay-over, ours was in Brussels, Belgium. We took the six-hour opportunity to leave the airport and take a direct bus into the heart of the city. Belgium is a classic European architectural treat. The downtown area with its huge facades and tiny brick streets features shops of the old trade specializing in chocolates, lace, beer, and of course, waffles. We had to try them all. It was a lovely way to begin our adventure. Back on the plane!
I should pause a moment here to say that this ten-day trip to Cairo was a jam-packed, sensory loaded experience. Every minute was filled until we needed a break and then Astryd had the perfect antidote. She was a perfect guide by exciting us, resting us and generally anticipating our needs and desires.
Cairo airport was crowded, but we were met by Astryd and effortlessly whisked away by her driver to the heart of Zamalek. The first thing I noticed was the way people drive. It is like being in the ocean with many schools of fish. Rarely do people obey the traffic signals, horns are the main form of communication, rarely is there an accident, but no one talks on their cell phones because it takes their undivided and constant attention to drive. We stayed our ten days at an inexpensive and lovely hotel with plenty of charm in the heart of what was clearly an older part of Cairo. Beautiful, grand trees and parks, old houses and neighborhood shops gave a warm feeling to what is otherwise one of the largest and dirtiest cities in the world. The pollution is bad, but perhaps my excitement overwhelmed the assault upon my senses. I could only see this trip as a grand adventure and nothing could spoil my good time. It was a very special part of our trip to stay in Zamalek because we experienced Cairo as it is every day, its culture, its people. I shopped at the neighborhood shops and local grocery, used the Internet café, ate at nearby restaurants, etc., and was able to comfortably meet my everyday needs.
From there we ventured out to site see, dine, take class, shop at costume designer ateliers, see the shows and visit nightclubs. Of course, we did many of the usual places; the Pyramids at Giza, complete with camel ride, the Cairo Museum, a Papyrus factory and a Carpet school, Mosques. These were very educational and fascinating. Our guide, Nasser, was warm and funny in addition to being very informative. He actually reads hieroglyphs and was able to interpret for us. The most colorful of all these experiences was the Khan Khaligi Bazaar. This overwhelming, psychedelic kaleidasope of color, sound, taste and smell was simply dazzling. We visited two significant shops for belly dance costumes and could have spent the entire day there, but there was so much to see!
Stay tuned for the next installment of "Let's Go to Egypt"!
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Wildflower SEEDs
by: Bonnie Cowley
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During my adolescence, my father was an officer in the Air Force. We had the privilege of traveling the world, living in Greece for several years. It was through these travels that I witnessed first hand the influence dance has in other cultures outside of the US, and the role it plays within the community, in restaurants, at family gatherings, etc. While attending Southwest Texas State University in 1973, I enrolled in my first bellydance class. The Renaissance Faires may have been a common occurrence in Berkley, California, during this time, however, in the small town of San Marcos, Texas, I was unaware that the dance form I had seen performed in Egypt and Lebanon, as a child, had become part of the counterculture of the 60's. The class took place in an old school gym, with a handful of young women in attendance. The movements seemed so natural to me, and I remember feeling as if had become part of some underground movement and to my delight felt very bohemian.
It wasn't until many years later, living in Atlanta, and working for IBM that I sought out a bellydance instructor. Bellydance had made an impact on me from the first class. I had been an art major in college, and had grown up around artist and musicians, so expressing myself in a creative way, was a necessary way of life for me. I was not looking for a "workout". I had faithfully attended local gyms, and even competed in body building competitions. I was, however, seeking a vehicle of self expression and meditation. I was lucky enough to find a dancer, who happened to be from Great Britain. She was perfect for me at the time. We meditated and danced together with great joy. After each class, I would look at her and say - "If I could dance like you, I would dance all day!"
After living in Amarillo for several years, I again sought out a dance instructor. It was through my teacher here, I learned about American Tribal Style. I realized there was an entire community of dancers that were known as troupes. My previous instruction had been in orientale style, and I was immediately drawn to the colorful costuming and earthy movements of ATS. I was stirred by the way these women danced together, using specific movements and cues, and the way they supported one another.
January 2007, after 15 years of service, I made a very difficult personal choice to leave IBM Corporation as Learning Consultant. I had no immediate plans for my life other than to actually have a life again. I had moved to Amarillo, Texas in 2001, from Atlanta, to marry my husband, leaving my family and friends behind to start a new life here. It was quite a culture shock and one that was challenging. I missed the opportunities living in a big city offers, especially Whole Foods Markets, Trader Joe's, and choices of restaurants. To escape, my husband and I would make several trips a year to Santa Fe or Taos to stock up at the local markets, and enjoy the diversity and culture of New Mexico. It was during one of these trips, that I found Pomegranate Studios, and Myra Krien.
Bob and I were on our way out of town and we had stopped at Santa Fe Baking company for breakfast (our favorite breakfast spot). I mentioned to him that I knew of a bellydance studio in the area, and asked if he would mind stopping by. I had no idea of the location. This very kind gentlemen, with a laptop, overheard our conversation, and looked up Pomegranate Studio, gave us directions, and off we went. We walked into the studio and Myra was teaching a hip hop class. I had picked up a brochure describing an upcoming SEEDs Teacher Training Workshop. I remember thinking to myself that this would be something I would really like to do. I wasn't sure if my previous dance experience would be adequate enough to even consider attending. I did, however, know that I had the will and desire to work with young women and many experiences to share. I introduced myself to Myra and took the information home, where my motivation to become a SEEDs instructor grew. I attended the first SEEDs National Teacher Training Workshop in June 2007. It was a life changing experience for me. I returned home to Amarillo convinced everyone would be as excited as I was to bring such a wonderful program to our community. My expectations were that everyone would "get it" as I had - that doors would open gratefully to welcome in SEEDs. I knew if I created beautiful brochures, spoke to all of the club meetings, made the phone calls, contacted schools, and churches, etc. that young women would flock to attend. I was in for a rude awakening. I knew going in, that Amarillo was a conservative community, and did not have the comfort level with diversity and culture that are more prevalent in other cities. It was then I knew I needed to take a step back, and educate the community first. That just because I understood the mission, and felt the passion, most people I spoke to had no idea what I was talking about. I found that I could not advertise in the public high schools unless I was a 5013C (non-profit), and only those non-profits who's mission is in line with the public school system are allowed in. I was told by one High School Migrant Director, that as long as the participants did not show their mid-section, they would bring the request to their board members. Needless to say, this has been a great learning experience and I continue to be steadfast in my mission to bring SEEDs to our community. I have two workshops scheduled with the Girl Scouts, end of this year, and have the backing of Planned Parenthood, Worth the Wait, Amarillo Women's Network Group (which will be my mentoring pool), and several other non-profit organizations. The SEEDs program has been the focus of two TV spots on our local news stations, and BEST OF ALL... Jade McLellan, Emma Crane, Angelique Roybal, and Ally, former SEEDs graduates, performed and provided testimonials at Westgate Mall on August 23rd and were featured on the 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. news. This performance drew the largest crowd ever in the history of the mall, and people were awestruck at the beauty and professionalism they brought. I saw several younger girls in the audience performing snake arms. After each set, Jade, Emma, Angelique and Ally would answer questions about SEEDs and speak about their  own personal experiences. I am happy to announce, that because of the generous giving of time, from these 4 women, I will be conducting my first SEEDs program, starting on September 27th for 3-5 young ladies from Pampa, Texas. They will be driving an hour each way to attend. It may only be 3 girls, however, I know with perseverance and dedication to this work, SEEDs will continue to grow here.
Starting a program, such as SEEDs, in the Texas panhandle, has been a challenging one. I appreciate the kind words and good karma that the SEEDs graduates have sent my way. Myra, I can not thank you enough for what you have given to me personally, and the continued support and advice that you offer to me daily. I love you all.
Bonnie Cowley
Director/Windflower SEEDs
('Aneome' is the botanical name for the Windflower)
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Testimonials from past SEEDs Graduates:
Having the opportunity to participate in teh SEEDs program has meant so much to me. Over the past yearit has been a place of refuge and fun, If I had a bad day, I could just go to dance class and dance my troubles away for a while knowing that I was surrounded by supportive people who wanted to see me do well.
Jade Walters
SEEDs has taught me countless things about myself, my peers, and the world around me. The impact it has had on my life has been more than I ever expected when I started the program. It has been my light at the end of a long tunnel of school, stress, and other things in my life. It always makes me smile inside to think that no matter how bad my day is, later that day or week, I will be going to SEEDs class where I can escape into an atmosphere of caring with the people and a dance form that I love.
Arianna Sullivan
SEEDs has brought so much more to my life than just a new dance form; it has helped me to achieve my goal and to learn some of the skills that I will need as an adult. More than that it has inspired me because now I see what an impact this program can make on people like me, and the girls I dance with.
Grace Reininga |
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Helping us raise money for SEEDs is so easy. Here are two options that require no financial committment on your part:
The Pink House (consignment shop, Santa Fe)
We now have an account at the fabulous and funky Pink House (Cerrillos and Guadalupe/Don Diego). Bring your gently used women's clothing to Pam England and use our account #425. This is a fabulous way to raise money with no out of pocket expense from you. Seeds will recieve 50% of the sale price of your items!
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GOODSEARCH (Internet search engine)
Go to www.goodsearch.com,
choose Pomegranate Seeds as your recipient, and money from Yahoo
advertisers will go to the Seeds program without you spending a dime!
GoodSearch.com
is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising
revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users
designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality
search results from Yahoo, and help the SEEDs program with every click.
GoodShop.com
is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each
purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you˘ll be supporting the Seeds program.
Just go to www.goodsearch.com
and be sure to enter Pomegranate Seeds as the charity you want to
support. Please tell your friends and family as well so we can get
everyone involved! Thanks!! |
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