For the Balinese Hindu, death is one of the most important parts of life, especially the fashion in which you travel from one world to the next.  Without a proper cremation ceremony, the souls of the dead cannot rise with the smoke of fire and be reincarnated into their next life, or reach eternity.  If a family hasn’t the money to offer a proper ceremony, the body is buried and saved until a group cremation can take place.  Some bodies are stored for years, exhumed just as bones, before they are finally released into the next life by the flames of the pyre.

The Ocean Queen of the South Seas, who lives in the waters just to the south of the monarchic city of Yogyakarta, on the Indonesian Island of Java, is a resentful spirit who punishes those who dare challenge her power.  Her favorite colors is said to be green and anyone who ignorantly sets foot into her waters wearing the color willfully tests her power.  This poor swimmer, in his green shorts, had laughed at the legend on the drive down to the beach.  When he was pulled out by the riptide, we thought no less then 3 times that the 20 foot waves, which had thrown him into rocks and cliff faces, were the end.  It was the strangest feeling of helplessness, really.  He spent 20 minutes in the Queen’s grip, a quarter mile out to sea, with no hope of rescue.  Ultimately, he was spared and was dragged, battered and broken and bleeding, back to safety after landing in a nestle of jagged rocks which protected him from being pulled out again, which most certainly would have meant his death.

Obey local fiction, cultural tourists.  They have lessons to teach.

(hold onto that feeling)

Well, it’s come and it’s gone yet again.  Here’s some highlights from Tribal Fest 11! – the biggest tribal bellydance show in the world. Three days of performances, somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 total hours of dancing representing more than 15 countries!  Unbelievable.  This show is always  a challenge for me: the dancers bring all their hard work and I’m constantly kept on my toes trying to capture it all.  Below is a little taste of the show and through the dance links above is a full showing of the gallery of performances.

DANCERS : You can find your full gallery via the DANCE menu at the top of the page, Multi-photo package discounts are available through the menu also. Or, start HERE

Tribal Fest 2011!

See some previews below – see all the photos here – Get some discounts here

Last year Gigi and I conceived of a fusion event that would be a next chapter in the dance performance event.  With the help of Kim and Riley Carsey and their generous provision of a beautiful venue in Malibu, we produced our first INFUSION, a living theatre dance event aimed at bringing the audience into active involvement with the experience.  More than just your “pay-the-door-fee”, “now-watch-the-performers-and-go-home” event, INFUSION is a full experience dance event with ethnic food and drink provided as part of the show.  The first installment was a shining success and marks a new kind of event, which we will be surely re-producing in the future.

This one took some time to set up, but the work is always enjoyable, worth the sweat, and the negotiations with gravity as I arm-stretch a superclamp to a chandelier……

Gigi and Tari, Acroyoga

Working with acroyogi’s of late.  Great new way to get the stress out.