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Skin Deep Dance Studio is primarily Belly Dance & Bollywood Dance Studio!
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Where are the former members of FatChanceBellyDance?

Where do the members of FatChanceBellyDance go after they part ways with the troupe?

It is an exciting question to ponder. Especially because many of them go on to create fantastic things.

Let's take a look...

Paulette Rees-Denis, Gypsy Caravan (note: she had an injured arm at this performance)

Rina Rall Orellana, Flamenco Dancer

Jill Parker, Ultra Gypsy, Foxglove Sweethearts

Adriene Rice, Troupe Hipnotica

Kathy Stahlman, Tribal Moon Belly Dance

Colette Todorov, Scarlet Thistle

Where are the others? What are they doing? Please let us know....

Up next, what are the current members of FatChanceBellyDance up to? What are they doing when not performing ATS Belly Dance?

Aicha....

As ATS Belly Dancers, we LOVE the song Aicha! In fact Carolena Nericcio has published that she wished her names was Aicha in the FCBD music catalog. Little did I know, the song goes way beyond Belly Dance. Please enjoy these alternate versions of the songs...

If you know of any other versions, please share with us.

ATS Belly Dance version:

Hip Hop Version:

Salsa Version:

How to enjoy being a student again...

Wow! This past year I have learned a lot about being a student. I have officially been a student of Flamenco for 1 year! Time sure does fly. I have been studying diligently with Maria Gitana and have loved every moment. Plus I learned a lot of things about being a student again.

My motto at Skin Deep Dance Studio in my ATS Belly Dance classes is

 "no negative inner dialogue allowed".

As a Flamenco student, I fail at this concept miserably. Until I became a student of Flamenco I didn't realize how hard it is to keep focused on moving through the dance rather than thinking "I suck", "I can't do this as good as her", "Why can't I get it right", "I'm not good enough", "I'm so stupid" and the list goes on.

I find that the concept of "no negative inner dialogue" is similiar to meditation. Allow the negativity of the mind to fall like dust and bring focus back to the body.

There are a couple of reasons why I started taking Flamenco classes. The primary reason was to learn the dance as it is so I could have a better understanding of how to integrate the steps into creating new ATS Belly Dance steps. After taking a few classes, I realized that this is not possible. Flamenco just can't be done with out shoes on. It takes on a whole different asthetic and actually already has a name called Zambra. I could see where ATS Belly Dance has derived it's posture, arm positioning, floreo's and dance box from Flamenco.

Also in those few classes I fell in love with the dance. I fealt as though I needed it to survive. It is one of the only things that takes me out of this reality. I cannot think about anything besides being in my body and being where my feet are at each moment.

After a while, my teacher invited me to prepare for the Entry Level & Primo Ano certification. Plus perpare for a performance. I was so happy that I had acomplished so much in under a year. What a compliment.

(Please keep in mind that these certifications do not grant teaching ability, only acknowledgement of completing the course. It takes a minimum 5 years+ to gain teaching credentials.)

Anyhow, I found that having these wonderful opportunities available to me also caused me to put pressure on myself. The classes became more serious for me. There was a pass / fail above my head with every step. My teacher did not put this over my head, I put it on myself.

I realized that my original intentions for coming were gone. So, I started to skip classes. I didn't want to have that bad feeling while I was in class. I want to enjoy myself again.

With already being the Artistic Director of two dance companies, Skin Deep Dance & The Bollywood Project, I have a lot on my plate.

So, today I have decided to step back from the performance and certification. I emailed my teacher about my needs and what I want for myself in the class. Today I skipped class fo the last time.

 Next week, I will return to the joy that I once had without any expectations.

As a dance instructor, I know that it's ok. There does not have to be a goal. Fun is the primary objective.

Maria Gitana teaches classes in Seattle and Bellevue. She is an amazing instructor and performer. Please visit her some time. http://flamencogitana.com



She who bleeds but does not die.

If there is anything I love about Oprah is that she LOVES her cycle! I once heard her say that when her cycle comes, she has a celebration. I remember hearing that when I was in my 20's and thinking, YES! I will celebrate my cycle too. Every month I will celebrate my body. It is healthy and clearing away what is no longer needed.

“Women complain about premenstrual syndrome, but I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself.”
― Roseanne Barr

Also in my early 20's I lived in a punk house on Beacon Hill in Seattle. We used to have bands from all over the world play shows in our basement. We had bands like Naked Aggression, D.I.R.T. and many others. Topics on women's health were included in their lyrics. Many of us were angry about women's issues and society's take on it. I was especially angry about menstruation.

I remember one day coming out of my room in a rage. My friends Melissa and Bryant lived in the room next to mine. I was complaining about how unfair it is that women are forced to buy man made products every month when we mentruate. I was really pissed off! I'm so glad I spoke that day, because Bryant suggested to me that I stop buying those products and use a wool sock instead.

Since that day I have saved myself thousands of dollars on feminine products. However, I did not stick with the wool sock method forever. In the mid-90's, I was later introduced to homemade cloth pads that snap in from my friend Amber Gayle who I lived with at the Apex Belltown Co-op. She made her own out of flannel and I found those to be much more comfortable.

Then finally GladRags emerged. They make the best alternative pad I have ever experienced. I have tried all the cute homemade ones that you can find on Etsy. But the GladRags are far superior.

“..by honouring the demands of our bleeding, our blood gives us something in return. The crazed bitch from irritation hell recedes. In her place arises a side of ourselves with whom we may not-at first- be comfortable. She is a vulnerable, highly perceptive genius who can ponder a given issue and take her world by storm. When we're quiet and bleeding, we stumble upon solutions to dilemmas that've been bugging us all month. Inspiration hits and moments of epiphany rumba 'cross de tundra of our senses. In this mode of existence one does not feel antipathy towards a bodily ritual that so profoundly and reinforces our cuntpower. ”
― Inga Muscio, Cunt: A Declaration of Independence

Not one but two drummers have joined us!

It was quite the class on Tuesday August 9th, 2011. It was 6:55pm and we were undulating and zaghareeting Sarah O'brien's (Tales From the Hip) baby into the world at Skin Deep Dance Studio. Little did we know, at that same moment, she was visualizing an undulation just before her drummer Finn entered the world.

Arriving in second place on August 17, 2011 is Markus, the drummer of Caryn Vaino (Skin Deep Dance).

We are so pleased to have 2 drummers join our family here at Skin Deep Dance! lelelelelelelelelele!!!!

CRITICISM: Is it necessary for growth?

I just read this great article in Dance Spirit Magazine. It was about dealing with criticism in dance. When I first started reading it, I thought that is was going to make criticism out to be a negative thing. However, I was wrong, it did not. This is the quote that lead me to believe that...

"Sometimes a steady stream of corrections can leave you feeling overwhelmed, leading you to lose sight of your love for the art form."

Remember that you go to dance class to get better. "Try not to take criticism personally, especially when it relates directly to your technique. Getting negative feedback does not mean that you are not talented." Linda Hamilton (dance psychologist) points out, "to improve in anything, we need feedback to know what is working and what isn't."

How to handle criticism? "Handling criticism with maturity and positivity requires inner strength. You have to try to love yourself as you are and forgive yourself when something isn't progressing as fast as you'd hoped." There is not end to learning.

At the first class of each Phase 1 Series at Skin Deep Dance Studio we talk about one of the most important rules of the studio. NO BAD INNER DIALOG ALLOWED. It's easy to grasp onto negative thoughts about one self. However, it takes the same energy to approve of yourself as well.

If your teacher is not providing you with criticism in your class, she may be doing you a disservice. Muscle memory can set in and makes it difficult to correct bad habits later. However, in a group setting, there is not time for wholistic feedback / criticism. It is a good idea to check in with your instructor from time to time for a private lesson to fine tune your steps.

So always remember that you are perfect in your body just the way that you are.

xo Katrina McCoy

*Quotes are from "Dealing with Criticism" by Kathryn Holmes in http://www.dancespirit.com/ May/June 2011

CRISTICISM: Is it necessary for growth?

I just read this great article in Dance Spirit Magazine. It was about dealing with criticism in dance. When I first started reading it, I thought that is was going to make criticism out to be a negative thing. However, I was wrong, it did not. This is the quote that lead me to believe that...

"Sometimes a steady stream of corrections can leave you feeling overwhelmed, leading you to lose sight of your love for the art form."

Remember that you go to dance class to get better. "Try not to take criticism personally, especially when it relates directly to your technique. Getting negative feedback does not mean that you are not talented." Linda Hamilton (dance psychologist) points out, "to improve in anything, we need feedback to know what is working and what isn't."

How to handle criticism? "Handling criticism with maturity and positivity requires inner strength. You have to try to love yourself as you are and forgive yourself when something isn't progressing as fast as you'd hoped." There is not end to learning.