VDP Studios Location & Mailing Address:
4128 Fremont Avenue. North
Seattle, Washington 98103
Local phone: 206 632-2353
Long distance toll free: 1-866-22 BELLY
E-mail info@visionarydance.com
http://www.visionarydance.com
Current Progress:
Winter classes are currently being held.
Official Grand Opening Celebration October 23rd 2004
. . . The magical musical duo known as Sirocco taught and played to a warm and hardy Seattler audiance, Laura Legere of Souring Spirits Light Center blessed the space and performances by Delilah, Laura Rose and Sharron Rose were enjoyed!
So What is VDP Studios all about?
- Video Production Laboratory;
– Photography, video editing and production
– Monthly Internet news and dance lessons
- Dance Studio; weekly classes and workshops
– Belly Dance
– Yoga
– Drum and music classes
– Other: massage, folk dance, music and related arts
- Internet merchandise sales and shipping office;
Sales of:
– Instructional / performance / documentary videos and DVDs;
– Music CDs;
– Belly dance related supplies: weight belts, hip scarves, costumes;
- Visionary Dance Booking’s Agency: performance, tours, & events.
Mission Statement:
Goals
As we move into our new offices at Visionary Dance Productions (VDP) Studios in Seattle, Washington, our intention is to combine into one lovely space three avenues of activity. We offer live classroom instruction in this small, 700-square-foot facility that doubles as a studio for filming, editing and producing new video programing. The sales and shipping headquarters for our growing Internet mail order business are located in adjacent offices. (Sales of physical products is what supports most of our work as artists!)
Belly Dance School and other classes
Lessons will be taught by Delilah, as well as other Seattle-based dancers and out-of-town guest artists from around the world. Our goal is to support belly dance education and enjoyment from all perspectives, in all forms and guises. We want to create and support a healthy community that empowers women. Other related arts may find a home in our new studios as well, such as Israeli Folk Dance, Hand Drums, the Ney, Costume Design, Yoga, Sufi Spirituality, Devotional Dance, Belly Dance for Teenagers, Movement as Therapy, etc. All movement forms must be soft shoe or shoeless.
Teachers
VDP Studios is interested in sponsoring teachers in the studios. Experienced teachers may inquire. We also may schedule a teachers’ training program in the future.
Video Production
Laura Rose is our head program editor at Visionary Dance Productions. In our new facility we will continue to produce instructional and performance videos for purchase through Visionary Dance Productions. Laura Rose will also be available for hire on outside art projects. See Resume.
Photography and Movement Studio, and more
The entire new space measures 1300 square ft. The movement studio space by itself is approximately 700 square ft. (34 .5 ft. by 17 ft.) with 12-foot high ceilings. The facility includes a bathroom and a dressing room, as well as an editing suite. The rest of the space is occupied by Visionary Dance Productions’ mail order shipping and receiving business. One studio wall is mirrored for dance classes, but a curtain will hide the mirrors during film work. A 15- by 16-foot grid with lights hangs from the ceiling to facilitate photography and video shooting.
Internet Classroom
http://www.visionarydance.com
Our goal will be to teach belly dance on-line. We will host a new article and a short, free belly dance video lesson each month. The lesson may be a dance move, a veil wrap, a makeup technique, or a costume trick. We may incorporate more than one video clip, as well as clips from the DVDs we offer for sale.
Internet Sales
We will increase our line of belly dance programs and accessories to meet the needs of all belly dancers. Some items will be offered in limited supply and announced each month when we upload a new belly dance lesson.
About our Visionary Dance Perspective
Liberating and Empowering
Our belief is that belly dance is an empowering outlet of self-expression for women, which is both liberating and fulfilling. We do not see this art form evolving from any “one” exclusive culture, but rather emerging with a common denominator that distinguishes and fuels the dance as a celebration of “WOMEN”. Women’s power and strength, by nature, resides in the hips. It is ancient, indeed, yet it is totally cutting edge in today’s world. Women are discovering their power!
“Today women have belly dance on their mind; tomorrow they have coin hip scarfs on their hips.”
A new identity based on body awareness is blossoming. And the culture of belly dance provides a process for discovering a new feminine language (a body language) that allows women to think and to move autonomously. When you awaken and learn to control every part of your body, you feel more in control of your life. When women feel free to express their innermost longings, they emanate the beauty and grace of a Goddess.
Accessible
Belly dance can be a simple, accessible dance for people of all ages, nationalities and perspectives. There are many approaches to the dance. It can be a highly skilled and competitive technical pursuit, or a relaxed rejuvenating therapy or hobby. Belly dance is not one-dimensional, but rather it possesses many facets. It is an endlessly creative art form, without the limits of any one culture or perspective. We support creativity of movement. We want everyone to enjoy belly dance, whether from the perspective of a participant or from the point of view of the audience.
Positive Image
We strive to preserve a woman's rights to be a viable dance artists at any size, age, and nationality. We support all creative minds and bodies. We support positive and healthy body image. Belly dance builds character and is self-empowering. While dance is often viewed in terms of a memorized choreography in night club and theater presentations, we maintain that dance has much more to offer humanity – personally, psychically, spiritually. The venues for belly dance are in the home, heart and community. The archetype of the belly dancer is the sacred priestess of body wisdom. . . gatekeeper to the mysteries of birth and life. We encourage all women to discover their own power and to use it like never before. One way to express that power in the modern world is to vote! We encourage all women to find their courage and to vote not the opinions of their brothers, fathers, grandfathers and husbands, but to think for themselves, speak their own minds and influence each other. Find your strength to take risks and have a voice in today’s political arenas.
Healing and Growth
Belly dance is a tool for personal growth. As we learn to give voice to every part of our body, we begin to know ourselves better and give ourselves permission to move more freely in our lives.
Men in Belly Dance?
Yes!
This dance has first and foremost been a feminine art form. It celebrates the belly, body, vessel, birth! It has evolved from what is essentially feminine – celebrating the power and grace of a women's body and soul. Yet men are welcome to participate, and more and more men are doing just that. To be in one’s body and know its inner dimensions intimately is to know the gift of the Mother; the gift of life. It takes a special man to understand the spirit of belly dance. The world needs them.
Girls in Belly Dance
We want to introduce girls and young women to the beauty, freedom, and self-discovery that is the art of belly dance. This dance treasures the female body and offers a soulful body language for self-expression. It’s fun, creative, challenging, and a great way to exercise.
Boys in Belly Dance
Sure, why not? While belly dance is predominantly a woman’s thing, for many obvious reasons, we love it when boys are interested. There certainly is a place for them in the art.
Special future community interests
Stay tuned or e-mail us your interests so we can put you on specific lists for notification when special workshops, classes and events are listed.
Interests:
Drum, riq percussion
Ensemble with Middle Eastern instruments or fusion
Ney (reed flute)
Zorna or Mizwiz
Folk Dance
Tribal
Goth
Classic American
Turkish / Sufi
Movement Therapy
Future performance project goals
- Fremont Winter Solstice Feast Dance Installation
- Visionary Drummers and Dancers – Core Ensemble
- Fremont Solstice Parade Ensemble
- Burning Man 2005
In the editing room; Video programs in progress
