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. 

Today is my birthday and I'm finally old enough to be President of the United States (35!)! This is a big year of transformation for me, for reasons I don't want to blast all over the internet. I'm going inward, holding my space sacred, and creating space for unlimited possibility (that I can grasp)! 

Something that I've been working on this year is an anthology of symbols that have meanings to me - some would call it collecting totems, creating a grimoire, etc etc. I'm not being that specific or strict on myself, but it is a fun activity to call out the symbols, archetypes, motifs, and guides that have added joy to my life. What are some symbols that have been in yours? Some of mine include the feathered serpent, the number 7, the darkest shade of blue, water dragons, petrichor, leaves spiraling in the wind, and the way my husband looks at cats. Oh, of course the archetype of the joker (or the fool), and dancing forever. 

I'd like to give a special thank you to everyone who joined the Starbelly Dancers at Robobelly Roundup!  It was a fabulous show with a wonderful crowd. I continue to be surprised by the incredibly positive response - to the point where I feel like we didn't get weird enough!  Be sure to keep an eye on my socials - you'll be seeing Moolisa and the animals from Only Farms again at Treefort Music Fest! 

Let the Starbelly Dancers guide you through a unique belly dance show blending AI, cowboys, and space! Explore these frontiers as you enjoy the most hooten tooten dance show on this side of the Andromeda Galaxy.
"Get ready to witness the fusion of futuristic AI, wild west charm, and mesmerizing bellydance in 'Robobelly Roundup' - where technology meets tradition for a dance extravaganza like no other!"- Chat GPT 3.5


Follow us for updates. Limited tickets are available!
https://ceciliabellydance.com/shows
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

WHAT A RIDE!  2023 chewed me up, spit me out, challenged me, renewed me, and gave me the opportunities to GROW.  This little post is honestly an intention to set - I have some incredible things cooking in my personal life that will take me away from this website but NEVER FEAR - I will do SOMETHING in the space and certainly on my socials to keep the algorithm happy! 

My new years resolution is, as always, to drink more water. 

See you sometime in 2024! 

Title says it all, and on top of all of that I am ALSO writing this on a Monday morning. Blessed be the brain dead, for they create carbon dioxide for the trees! 

Also, shout out to Chelsea who reads my blog. Hello! Thank you for being real! 

Before our regularly scheduled tomfoolery, this is an advertisement for some incredible workshops hosted by Starbelly School of Dance. Elsanne Barrows is an incredible artist and human being and I'm so excited to absorb some of her knowledge in a couple of weeks! 

Thank you Valarie Santiago for taking these photos of the production! I can't wait until August when we are taking over TEXAS!

I continue to be grateful and humbled by all of the opportunities afforded to me! Thank you to everyone who has paved the way and supported me through this fabulous year. I feel like I've taken a huge step forward, but that can only be done because I'm surrounded by your fabulous presence and energy. 

Hello internet crickets! There is a reason that this is my "mostly monthly blog" - sometimes life catches up to me and I need to be where I am at!  

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see some of the wonderful events I have had the honor to take part in. From dancing at a coffee shop in rural Idaho, choreographing for a collegiate dance team, to performing on larger stages for hundreds of people - I am so amazed to be a part of the dance I am in. 

I am still absorbing the glory and wonder that was the last Radiant Tarot in Santa Fe. My hope is that photos get released soon so I can share them. I had a wonderful time reconnecting to Myra's work, strengthening and creating friendships, and dancing for Tony and Alexandra, the creators of The Radiant Tarot Deck. I would like to compose something meaningful and beautiful, but I just feel glee. I'm elated. I'm honored. I'm not eloquent (too "Fool-ish" perhaps)! 

Another grouping of photos I'm eager to share are from Raks of Ages, which was a TREMENDOUS success. Thank you so much to everyone that took part in this dream with me and the entire Starbelly Family. Once again - elated, glee, honored, WOW. Thank you Boise, for caring about belly dance! 

One more special thank you to the Boise Department of Arts and History for granting us the funds to make this event possible. Thank you JUMP for donating the facilities and man-power. Thank you to every individual who put their heart, soul, and intent into making the show, attending the workshops, and being a part of the magic. 

Was this a good recap? Not really. It is hard to share all the glitter in my soul through this blog!