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Baby Boomer Belly Dancer
by Gylon Jackson
From the mind of Karen Barbee Adkisson with help from Gyon Jackson and Kathy Swanson is the new podcast
BABY BOOMER BELLY DANCER
From a lifetime of performing to recorded music to pioneering Project Band, a live music performing experience, Karen discusses the impact belly dance has had on her life over the past 45 plus years.
The stories and experiences that Karen will share are raw, vulnerable, honest and unfiltered ... are you ready?
Episodes released every Saturday.
A VOD|POD MEDIA PRODUCTION
Copyright: 2021 VOD|POD MEDIA
Episodes
Mental Health and Functional Movement | Belly Dance Improvisation
55m · PublishedJoining the conversation is Project Band student Victoria Cruz who has a Master's degree in Dance Movement Therapy.
We talked about introducing new behaviors and removing habitual behaviors using movement, especially in belly dance improvisation.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00Our guest, Victoria Kinsey Cruz
02:15Before it was Project Band...
03:45What exactly is Dance Movement Therapy?
05:52Movement spectrums and how we show up in movement patterns
10:04Use of movement as a therapy tool
11:30Self-regulation and music as an organizing factor
15:17Gaining access to better relationships and cognitive function
17:47Willingness to try new things when you want accolades from the audience
20:05Seeing courage, taking risks, and giving yourself space vs control
27:02Mindset about the audience
29:04Where each person is at and how to encourage small shifts
33:35Navigating life through mirroring belly dance movements
40:49Belly dancing with other Project Banders
47:00 The deep work and how small changes are profound and long-lasting
53:16 Another COVID silver lining
Bottom Line: Project Band is deep self-reflective work... and much cheaper than therapy!
Belly Dance Costumes | How The Right Costume Enhances The Performance
46m · PublishedTwo of Karen's students joined us in the studio to talk about the intriguing world of belly dance costumes.Everyone can agree that when a costume looks good, it allows the dancer to feel free, beautiful, and strong as they step on the stage.
We even talk about some embarrassing costume fails (Karen has like at least 135 of them!)
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00Margret and Shevon's belly dance costume journeys
02:41How important costumes are and looking the part
07:32Matching your costume to different styles of dancing
10:22Technical precision, soulful innovation, and cultural respect
12:25What works for you and your body and the way you feel at that time
13:54Our current "go-to" costumes
17:20Our first costumes
22:10Where we get most of our costumes
24:25Our favorite costumes - ready-made, making now, and custom-made
28:44The most outlandish costumes we have seen over the years
33:57Keeping the costumes interesting (for yourself and others)
35:26Costume mishaps and how to prevent them
42:40Being attracted to belly dance because of the beauty of the costumes
For the most part, it all comes down to having the right bra.
Siblings With No Rivalry | How Karen Started Her Belly Dance Journey
55m · PublishedWe take a walk down memory lane as two of Karen's siblings, Barbara and Herb, discuss Karen's early years and journey as a belly dancer, performer, and business owner.
Explore a truly vulnerable and intimate view of Karen's sibling dynamics and why there is no rivalry amongst her siblings.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00Meet two of Karen's siblings -- Barbara and Herb
01:39We find out when Herb has actually belly danced
04:49Where it all started with Barbara learning hula and belly dancing
10:37When Barbara started teaching and Karen started taking belly dance
13:47When Herb started doing karate
17:40How they all fit into the family and how live music played a part
22:20When Karen stepped out of her comfort zone
25:15It's funny what you remember about what people say
28:26Being the "baby of the family"
31:26The dynamics of two sisters and loving every minute of it
34:13How Mom and Dad felt about Karen's dancing and business
41:36Why Herb was bullied in high school and ended up loving karate classes
46:40"Don't chase the rank, chase the skill" -- what makes a great instructor
49:20Being excellent vs. mediocre -- when people are compromising
51:57Improvisation -- what it takes to prepare for the unexpected
53:35Creating mastery through repetition
When you understand Karen's family history, you truly see how her talent, expertise, and belly dancing philosophies have emerged over the years.
We can't wait to have Mary join in on an upcoming episode to tell her part of the story.
Defrost and Improvise | How Belly Dance Helped Us Survive
41m · PublishedIf you haven't heard, San Antonio was gripped with snow and low temperatures not seen in decades, days worth of power outages, as well as neighbors and communities coming together to help each other out all across Texas.
Join Karen and two of her students as they talk about how, when things get tough, you improvise to keep moving forward. Texas had a tough week. Take a moment, sit back, relax and laugh a little as we talk belly dance and how most everyone in Texas had to improvise to stay sane.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00Improvising (aka surviving) this last week with guests Margret and Lisa
01:40Where were you when you realized things were going to get weird?
10:00When did you know this was getting real?
13:27So, we had to improvise!
14:10What the improvisor truly needs
15:00How we survived
16:40Coming back into the studio and "squiggling"
21:30Revving up for the new semester and Project Band
22:30The last of its kind -- our 25th GBDAC anniversary
23:32You never know what life is going to throw at you
25:10Finding something positive that will work in the face of adversity
26:32Headspace and being able to flip focus
30:20Imagination, intuition, and improvisation
32:11Patterns, trends, commonalities, and what happens on the other side
33:40Being more prepared and how Project Band helps us make those tweaks
39:00Life is improve -- since everything is in constant change
Let's just say that belly dancing to live music and learning how to improvise through the Project Band experience helps each of us navigate through the bumps in life.
How do you improvise when things become interesting?
Feedback vs Advice... Which one is more effective?
46m · PublishedThank you Debbie Smith for this week's amazing topic based upon the Harvard Business Review article "Why Asking for Advice Is More Effective Than Asking for Feedback".
Which one do you usually ask for?
Listen to Karen's perspective on the upsides and downsides of both feedback and advice.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:25Karen's focus and why this article was intriguing
01:20"Please ask questions, because I have probably thought about it"
02:30Asking for feedback vs advice
05:15Looking backwards and looking forwards
08:11Intentional focus and getting more of what you are paying attention to
11:13How Project Band and live music fits in when improvising to improvisation
13:40What went well and getting more specific about what was "cool"
15:50Delivering advice and the value of preliminary Project Band meetings
17:40The kinds of advice Karen has received
20:00Considerations for looking for advice, support, and validation
24:29When does an opinion become advice?
27:05When people give too much feedback... what is really going on?
35:40Formal and informal advice... go for the learning
38:06Project Band... as a means for growth
42:10Karen's own growth on taking advice and feedback
Find out what Karen is drinking during this podcast as the weather gets surprisingly cold here in San Antonio.
What feedback or advice would you like to give on what topics we chat about next?
How Many Belly Dance Workshops Are Too Many?
56m · PublishedHow many belly dance workshops are too many? Karen sits down with Cindy and Carmita to discuss the ins and outs of live and virtual workshops.
We are also excited about going to Yaa Halla, Y'all in July and that the National Arab Orchestra is part of our annual "Give Belly Dance a Chance" (GBDAC) performance weekend in October.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00Let's meet Cindy and Carmita
01:16Workshops defined in the belly dance world
02:46How Karen started her workshop journey and then teaching workshops
06:50Cindy, the "Workshop Junkie"
08:39Standard workshop weekend format and how it has changed with the shows
10:49Carmita's first workshop as a new belly dancer
12:03The benefits of one instructor vs a variety of expert styles
13:11When there were now too many workshops, how could they compete?
16:29Navigating the smorgasbord - live and online workshops
22:11Learning with different levels of students - live and virtually
26:58Let's talk about retention, investing in workshops, and focus
31:10Perspectives of instructors vs sponsors
32:21Self-identifying -- years of experience and natural talent
35:40The experience -- assimilation, discipline, and intention
37:45The spectrum of workshop experiences -- what do you take away?
43:11Headspace of a learner and how Project Band propels you
46:29Upcoming live and virtual workshops
49:04The additional benefits of the workshop experience
50:59Finding depth and feeling moved
Guess how many live workshops Carmita has done compared to how many virtual ones throughout the world in the last four years -- it's more than just one ; )
Online vs. In-Person Belly Dance | Learning and Performing
49m · PublishedAll of us had to pivot in 2020 and COVID-19 really screwed up in-person learning for dance studios as well as live music.
Karen and two of her students, Lisa and Suzanne, took some time to discuss the joy and the challenges of online vs. in-person belly dance lessons and performances.
Bottom line, Karen's focus, dedication, and passion remains all about the live music component of belly dance.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00What is a "baby boomer" - with Karen, Suzanne, and Lisa
00:31Comparing online vs live in the class and performance
00:46This is the future... and now Karavan Online is over 10 years old
02:43The "struggle" to learn online and camera angles
04:23Suzanne's and Lisa's experience with online workshops
08:01Practicing versus performing -- the power of anonymity
10:36Let's talk virtual performing - where are the nuances?
13:43Cutting edge - dancing to live music in Houston with Project Band
16:17Participating remotely online from around the U.S. (and world)
17:05No substitute for performing in front of a live audience
18:00Seeing things from a different perspective
21:50Preparing for a production and your headspace
24:23The energy and expectation - no strength without resistance
27:00Instantaneous, immediate, and back and forth audience feedback
29:11Where is the "on switch"?
30:23Love of live music - imperfection is part of the fun - so go for it
34:57Coming out of being locked down and being a COVID hermit
36:58We were having fun; we weren't even "Breaking the Law"
39:33How it all worked out in Houston with the virtual performances
41:01How it all changed Project Band forever and now the world is watching
42:44What's changed and what will remain the same
46:20Sincere presentation of improv vs playing the script
As for dancing in the face of a pandemic.... well, people were having f****** fun!
We are still working out the kinks and may need a better way for Gylon to throw a comment or two out from the booth.
Longevity | It's all about the depth and width of belly dance
54m · PublishedPeople talk about how I am so "lucky" to have started out at such an early age as the key to what has made me a successful belly dancer and studio owner.
Yet there are so many things that have been key to my longevity.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
1:38How this is cathartic like musically relevant interpretation
3:55The High School reunion effect
6:10The other side of "lucky"
7:39The subconscious reinforcement of the audience
9:56Becoming aware and deliberately replacing habits
11:12What "eats my brain"
15:12Emulating a deeper understanding of the music
16:41Key to staying interested - going deeper into the culture, music, and dance
18:48The object of Project Band games like "improvised torso syllablization"
21:30Belly dancing to rock 'n roll music
24:18Compliments, competitiveness, and another chance
30:17The parallel tracks of being a nightclub performer and a studio owner
31:56Letting go and changing while you are in it
34:17Winning with Project Band and the opportunity to perform to live music
38:27The lost art of dancing to live music
39:40The art, science, and philosophy of belly dance
41:11Extrapolating improvisation
46:05Depth and finding musicians that help you go wider
48:14Living the dream
51:31Thinking about the future of this podcast and improvisation
Yes, I did drop the "B" word and there are still some hiccups in the production; but we are working through it.
Belly Dance Is My Life | I'm Karen Barbee Adkisson, The Baby Boomer Belly Dancer
31m · PublishedI'm Karen Barbee Adkisson, The Baby Boomer Belly Dancer.
I've been in a dance studio since five years of age; and once upon a time, I worked in the corporate world in information systems for 12 years then finally quit to belly dance full time in 1996.
Welcome to my journey!During this episode you can find out:
00:00I'm Karen Barbee, The Baby Boomer Belly Dancer
01:19When I quit the corporate world
03:00My first belly dance job at 16
03:57First started teaching belly dance at 18... thanks to my sister
05:19The bumpy birth of Karavan Studio and being a studio owner
10:22Success is being invited to the workshop circuit... even overseas
10:54Public speaking, improvisation to live music, and growth spurts
15:15How to become a better artist?Dig into the culture and community
17:30When the National Arab Orchestra came to San Antonio
19:17Bringing live music and belly dancing together every year
21:57Bringing fluency to your dance form and appreciation of live music
26:06The secret to what keeps all of us interested after all these years
29:37Being a drilling maniac and how it helps your brain
Yep I said that and that oh yeah and THAT.There are moments that I sound like I'm talking to myself 🤪... ask Gylon why his mic was not on (thought he was a tech guru).
With that said, excuse the dust, we are working out the kinks. Enjoy.
Baby Boomer Belly Dancer has 19 episodes in total of non- explicit content. Total playtime is 15:17:36. The language of the podcast is English. This podcast has been added on July 29th 2022. It might contain more episodes than the ones shown here. It was last updated on February 23rd, 2024 14:47.