Thrilled to have two articles featured in the Belly Dance Chronicles!  One is a spotlight on The Radiant Tarot and the other is a journalistic style essay about The Sahlala Dancers! Grateful for everyone to involve me in their programs!

I have been trying to carve out time to be thoughtful and poised about 2022 - it was an incredible year for me in many ways. I've been meaning to compile some highlights, reflect on the lowlights, and set some good intentions... but I am still digesting the enormity of this year in many ways. Also, I want to keep some things close to my heart as they bud and grow! 

I will share my words for 2023: opportunity and abundance. 

I want to seize the opportunities that have already been presented and open myself up to more possibilities in 2023. I am ready for aggressive growth- my favorite modality to grow. For the last few years, I have practiced healing and gentleness, which was more difficult than my usual tactics, including humor and funny dances to shield myself from big feelings. The comedy and funny dances will stay, but they too will be a part of my aggressive growth - it's time to fertilize the laurels I have been resting on. I'm taking you with me... because there is enough room for all of us in 2023 to THRIVE! 

I have two significant stimuli for this 2023 intention. The first stimulus is the other side of my life, my nonprofit/activist career, that I want to balance with my artistic practice. The next stimulus is the HUGE project I've mentioned several times on my socials and in this blog, which is... â€‹The Radiant Tarot

Myra Krien presented this idea to Starbelly many moons ago, and we've been FULL THROTTLE since creating this year's iteration of Invaders of the Heart (Myra's annual theatrical show in Santa Fe, New Mexico). Myra is teaming up with artists all across history, time, geography, and space to create The Radiant Tarot, which is slated to be a masterpiece. This highly ambitious show will tour the US and Mexico, and I couldn't be more honored to be a part of it. â€‹

Most of the cast will portray several characters from the Tarot throughout the show, but I will be playing only one: The Fool. In many ways, this is the leading role for this show, and I am BEYOND honored to embody this archetype. I have always seen myself in card number zero, traversing endings/beginnings and not quite having a place but still exuding wonder at the process. The process is the key to this role - I see myself as the embodiment of the audience's eye, the vehicle which translates the arcane knowledge within the tarot deck. That said, there is only one easy way to prepare besides general practice, practice, practice. 

...and so I am! To prepare for this role, I've doubled down on my raks sharki practice (I've done SO MANY private lessons, guys), I try to take drop-in Ballet classes through Ballet Idaho, I've started a course of qi gong, redoubled my practice of meditation and mindfulness, and I'M TAKING A PANTOMIME INTENSIVE (this has been a dream of mine for over a decade, and I'm finally doing it)! I'm extending my practice of floorwork to improve my strength, and I'm exercising in a meaningful way... which tells you everything you need to know about how seriously I am training for this role. 

With a few exceptions, I will be able to prepare for my part once the curtain opens. Yes, there will be some dances I learn and practice, but for the most part, I just have to be present... and for a few hours. If you've ever practiced presence, you know how difficult this is to maintain - I hope my training will be enough! 

With that being said, here is some ACTUAL information about this show. I got the honor of being the cover girl for the poster, where I embodied the Hierophant Card, beautifully painted by Alexandra. 

NOTE: The link below is for the Boise showing of The Radiant Tarot - I'll post more links soon!

Doors open at 7 pm
$25 in advance - $30 at the door
21+ VALID ID REQUIRED
get tix at https://radianttarot.eventbrite.com
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For the 13th annual Big Bad-Ass Belly Dance Show, Starbelly has the honor of hosting the premier of the multimedia internationally touring dance experience The Radiant Tarot.
The magic of tarot cards is not within the cards themselves, but in the stories they reveal about our lives. Invaders of the Heart 2023: The Radiant Tarot is your life brought to life through lush imagery and powerful, theatrical dance. Directed and produced by internationally renowned dance artist Myra Krien, this performance is a dance interpretation of the tarot deck The Radiant Tarot: Pathway to Creativity, illustrated by Alexandria Eldridge and authored by Tony Barnstone.
Follow the Fool in an opulent journey from innocence to experience through the rich landscape of The Radiant Tarot, featuring Mosaic Dance Company, Cecilia Rinn and the Starbelly Dancers (Chad Rinn, Tori King, Bayla Night, Cassandra Joan, & Alyssa Kimm), and Drake Von Trapp. Do not miss this opportunity to witness the beautiful and mystical stories that give life meaning.
Invaders of the Heart 2023: The Radiant Tarot has two showings: Friday night February 24th at 9-11pm (doors open at 7pm) and Saturday February 25th at 9-11pm at the Visual Arts Collective in Garden City. $25 in advance & $30 at the door. 21+.
Doors open at 7pm, with an opportunity to get 15 min tarot readings, from local readers, and Q & A session with director Myra Krien, author Tony Barnstone, and artist Alexandra Eldgridge, who will also have original paintings and tarot decks available for purchase.
For additional information, please go https://ceciliabellydance.com or contact Cecilia at (208) 891-6609
FAQs
What's the refund policy?
Tickets refund requests must be received 24 hours before doors open.
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
21+ VALID ID REQUIRED
* This show is a general admission seated show

I had a FABULOUS time dancing with the Sahlala Dancers on New Years' Eve - Jill was a tremendous host, and I missed all of my beautiful dancing BABES!  I would love to see these gigs manifest in Boise - and I think they will!  I know that all of yolove dance, so let's make a point to dance even more this year! 

One gig that I continue to LOVE is dancing every first Saturday at Taj Mahal of Boise! Be sure to stop by - the food, dance, and friends make it magical EVERY TIME! 

Finally, Starbelly is still working on it's own initiaves and one of the things I'm looking forward to is our Rak of Ages show this summer, which is supported through a grant by The City of Boise Department of Arts and History! More to come as this gig manifests! In the meanwhile, keep following me on Instagram for more timely updates on what is happening!  Post below of some highlights from Taj Mahal last Saturday!  

​Thank you for being my friends, and Happy New Year! Drink more water!