This year, my story is called The Legend of the Pretty One.

Not “pretty” like polite or perfect or petite.
Pretty like powerful.
Pretty like hot pink lightning over bathwater chaos.
Pretty like a feathered serpent who also moonlights as a snack-fetcher and baby-bouncer.

They said I might disappear into motherhood.
But I didn’t disappear—I just traded eyeliner for dragon fire and learned to breastfeed with one hand while answering emails with the other.

This year, I shed layers like a serpent in spring.
I burned through expectations like a dragon who’s over it.
I flowed like water, even when I felt like I was actually just crying in the shower.
I honored the sacred number seven—rest, mystery, alignment, and the daily miracle of getting through 7 PM with our collective sanity.

I nourished a child and my creative fire.
I danced between diaper duty and divine downloads.
My choreography included lullabies, leaky bras, and moments of sparkling clarity between naps.

And when I doubted—when I felt dim or crumb-covered—I looked up.

Because I’m stunned to stars.
They remind me that beauty isn’t something to “bounce back” into.
It’s what you become when you show up radiant and ridiculous, sacred and sleep-deprived.

This is the year I reclaimed the legend.
I let “pretty” mean present, powerful, a little bit puffy, and totally magic.
I let my fire be weird. My softness be strong. My story be written in glittery sharpie and crescent moon tears.

So if you’re reading this and wondering if you’ve lost yourself in the swirl of becoming…

You haven’t. You’ve just gone mythic.

You are The Pretty One—feathered, fiery, fabulous, and occasionally feral.

Thanks for being another amazing part of the legend.

The holidays are coming to a close and I am shaking off the dust and soil that has accumulated on me from my deep rest. This year I have gained the greatest treasure of my life, but also laid forth a huge sacrifice of my body, time, and self.

WORTH IT - Beyond a doubt, the greatest, most meaningful, and most love filled days of my life started this year.

I am making my way towards finding a new balance (not the sneaker). Balance is my top core value and something I contemplate everyday. Regardless of my fumblings, it would not have been possible to have ANY sort of balancing act without the support of every single one of YOU. Your energy, time, love, and advice has been crucial for me and I don't know how I can ever repay the good fortune in my life.

As I look back on this year, I like to use the wisdom I've gained to set goals for the near future. I found that my far future goals are fun to think about, but not as helpful as near future goals. Hopefully that will change someday, but for now I'm going to do what I do best and encapsulate a lot of nuanced and gigantic concepts into tidbits that are easy for me to understand. Maybe my rumination will help someone... OR it will show everyone how far I have to go towards becoming a fully functioning human!

I decided to think of this year as a year of three "re"s.

Reinvigorate
Reinforce
Reflect

As I reinvigorate my physical dance practice, I'm also heightening my awareness towards my perceptions. I want to add energy to the places that I have been neglecting, but also to notice the parts of me that often get overlooked. I want to breathe love and light into these dusty corners of myself. As far as dancing goes, you can support me immediately by going to one of my New Year's Eve gigs or by being first in line to The Big Bad-Ass Belly Dance Show: My Silly Um...!! Graphics below with details!

I am a strength-based person, and I believe that starting from strength is a way to move forward with confidence and kindness. I don't necessarily want to become even stronger, but I want to show gratitude for that which I take for granted and continue to be supportive of myself in the form of self-care and self-knowing. I also want to be supportive of the strengths of my friends, family, and community and take steps towards reinforcing everything we have worked so hard to achieve!

As I said above, I have been the recipient of incredible energy, good will, and so many gifts! They come from you, they come from the divine, they come from everything in between - and I want to say thank you and reflect everything back upon those who have shown me themselves in tangible ways. I want to be a mirror, not just for myself but for those who share their energy with me and others. I want to make sure that I can actively be a part of making my personal community whole and being a vehicle for everyone to see themselves as they truly are... Infinite.

My "re"s build upon the foundation of what I have already created in my life. While I want to continue to learn, grow, and experience new adventures, my focus this year is to gather myself, my community, and my passions, apply my "re"s and see what emerges. I have a feeling it'll be REdiculously good. (I know that it's spelled "ridiculously," but let me have this PLEASE - I am so sleep deprived!)

I'm curious how you are framing your new year! If you would like to examine your up and coming year with me and perhaps set some goals, I am opening myself up to speak with small groups or individuals in a workshop or mentoring format. I'm not actively seeking these gigs out as they take a ton of energy and care, but if I can be helpful to you then let me know! I would love to be of service. Click here to send me an email!

I secretly have one more "re" - rejoice! Thank you thank you thank you and you know why!!!

Join us for the 15th Annual Big Bad-Ass Belly Dance Show! My Silly Um...
Tickets: $25 online + fees and sales tax ~ $35 at the door.
Doors at 7 pm - Show at 8 pm
21+ VALID ID REQUIRED
get tix at https://link.dice.fm/U5773cd6cc1e
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This year, we’re opening the doors of perception with a psychedelic-fueled dance frenzy! On February 28th and March 1st, let us take you on an ecstatic journey into the depths of the human experience.
Under the creative direction of Cecilia Rinn and artistic direction of Tori King, the Starbelly Dancers—featuring Cecilia Rinn, Tori King, Chad Rinn, Cassandra Slone, Bayla Night, and Alyssa Kimm—will mesmerize you with their electrifying performances.
Adding to the magic are:
Matthew Voorhees, weaving musical wonders
The incredible digital artistry of Studio Haskin
The hilarious and awe-inspiring puppetry of Glip-GLab
And the fabulous Starbelly Student Troupe!
We encourage you to wear your grooviest attire and get ready to boogie—all night, in your dreams, and beyond your wildest imagination!
Don’t miss the psychedelic ride of the year!
https://ceciliabellydance.com/my-silly-um

In honor of my hiatus I am going to be taking a break from this blog, but fear not brave reader, for I still have that good content. The next few months I will be sharing my favorite quotes of all time... with no context (though the grouping of these are filled with meaning for me). Enjoy!

This is a big month for me - a month where miracles happen and the impossible manifests into reality. Feats of this magnitude are only capable because of the continued support I have received from many many many people. 

I am exercising my softness, my surrender, and my ability to sacrifice. Through this labor will emerge a world of wonder. I can only be this ooey gooey because of the support I have received from many many many people.

I want the beautiful words above for everyone. Let's be our sweetest, gentlest, and kindest selves together in community. It feels really good. 

Thank you so much to the Idaho Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts for supporting my International Choreography Project!  Keep your eyes on this space for more information about how to view these dances in the Boise Community (for no cost) and of course more information about how this project came to be!  

In these troubled times, keeping the spirit of the arts alive is more important than ever. Self expression is part of being a human being, and it is thanks to organizations like the Idaho Arts Commission that this important aspect of the human experience can be kept in tact. 

Hello to my fabulous friends, fans and family! Where have I been the last few weeks? Well, home! I am currently eyeballs deep in dance research to make new and exciting choreographies for The Starbelly Dancers and I have been writing some grants to help make that happen. Please send loving vibes my way! 

Along the way I completed what will probably be the last mini-tour of 2024 in Santa Fe!  Myra invited me to portray the "Mother Goddess" in her incredible production Invaders of the Heart 2024: The Return. For those of you who have been on my Instagram and can put 2 and 2 together, you probably can guess what an incredible role this was for me (and type casting by Myra). When I think of the Maiden/Mother/Crone triad, I typically associate more with the Crone then the Maiden, so exploring the Mother, particularly the Earth Mother, was an interesting and loving experience for me. My concept of "Mother" is complicated - from my personal experiences to how I interpret the classic symbols of Motherhood. In many ways this character was more challenging than The Fool was in The Radiant Tarot (another incredible feat of typecasting by Myra). However, I think I did a good job. I'm still chewing on this experience and perhaps I'll write an entire post on my experience in this role. Needless to say, I am incredibly thankful to Myra, her assistant Yeva, her partner Roblair, and the entire Mosaic Dance company for welcoming me and the entire Starbelly Dancer Family to their home turf and allowing us to participate in this important and meaningful show! 

Keep your eyes on this space for more information about a tour of this show! I may not be a part of the touring production, but I highly encourage you to see this show (which may tour as early as this fall)~ 
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Another Fall event which I want to encourage everyone who is able to attend will be hosted by the fabulous Jill Collins and her Sahlala Dancers in LA this October! Workshops, performance, and friendship - this is going to be a high class and caliber event that is NOT to be missed by lovers of middle eastern dance and American Belly Dance Historians! 

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By now you MUST be asking, "But when can we see you next, Tori? And when can we see all these dang dances you've been working on? And also how are you so gorgeous?" 

Fear not friends - I have answers to these questions! 

I will be performing next at Goddess Fest 2024 with the Starbelly Dancers and premiering at least TWO group choreographies at this festival - one discussing the Divine Feminine and the other exploring the Divine Masculine!  Check out more information by clicking here! 

And these dang dances? If possible, I will premier them at another free festival that is beloved by Boiseans, but first I need to get into it!  More coming soon! 

Finally, I'm so gorgeous because I surround myself with people who are gorgous inside and out... just like you. 
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Sending you love, care, and a bunch of other stuff that you like. I know what you like. Muah.

Hello gorgeous blog readers!  
I have (finally) updated my public performances on my homepage and I'm sure you've noticed that there is nothing in April! Yes - while there is certainly a lot of dancing this month, most of it will not be for the public, however, May is a different story! 
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UPCOMING PUBLIC EVENTS 
May 3rd - Variety Night with Boise Music Week at 7pm
May 5th - Spring Fete - more information coming soon
May 11th - Hempfest Boise - more information coming soon
May 16th - Starbelly Student Showcase at the Lounge at the End of the Universe at 7pm (tickets coming soon)
May 24th ant 25th - Invaders of the Heart: The Return in Santa Fe, NM (click here for more!) 
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This month I have been comissioned by The Starbelly Dancers to create several new choreographies (on my own and in collaboration) - so come may you'll be able to see my take on Iranian dance, a skirt fusion featuring concepts from folklorico dance, and an awesome new fan veil piece that is being created in collaboration with the fabulous Starbelly Dancers and the incredible custom fan veils by Starbelly Creations. Additionally, we will be reworking some of my favorite past choreographies and other styles featured this festival season will be Kpop, Iraqi, Bollywood and OF COURSE SAIDI! 

I'm very proud of the fact that I've been able to learn from so many incredible teachers and eventually have the knowledge to create loving homages to these cultures and dance styles. Over the pandemic I doubled down on my studies (culminating in my MFA in Choreography) so that I can faithfully bring vibrant dance art to my community AND express all of the love in my heart to each and every one of you. I'm especially grateful for all of the resources I've been given so that I get to do the "fun part" and make talented people do what I say. Yes, it does go directly to my head. 
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So while I may not see you during the "April Shower" I'll definately be showing off some vibrant colors during the "May Flowers" part of this year!  Wishing you the best and I hope we can all survive Idaho's blustery spring.