Shoshanna
What is your favorite art medium to work in, and why?
I'm an improvisational dancer, who most loves to delve into Egyptian Raqs Sharqi and the "artsy side" of American Cabaret Style Belly Dance. I studied art, graphic design and art history at HSU and have loved and studied dance since I was a little girl. First Ballet, then as a teen I found Belly Dance at a local studio. It's carried me on many journeys over the last 25 years and is a wonderful, personally expressive form that develops as you do as a person, artist, and creator. I can't imagine not dancing!
When did you first figure out that art was important to you?
Probably since I first found a love for twirling about as a little girl. I've always liked following my own rhythms and finding my own path through life, and dance, music and art have always been there offering all sorts of ways to inspire me. My parents have always been supportive of me exploring and following my passions, and it's delightful helping my daughters have the same amount of freedom to have the arts be important from day one. :-)
Who is your art mentor?
I think I have three teachers and artists that really inspire me. One is Elena Lentini, a very experimental, expressionist, abstract dancer in New York who has a magical freedom and depth to her movement and approach to dance and life. Another is Dalia Carella, who is an incredible dancer, teacher and fusion artist whose approach has been my biggest inspiration since I first saw her in 1995... she never stops studying, fusing forms together, researching, delving into the roots and essences of many dance forms.... I love her passion for the process of creating. And she's an awesome dancer! Finally, there is a musician that I've learned SO much about Arabic music through, and the importance and value of branching out of the elements of your own culture that you have grown up in, so that you might taste the amazing offerings of other cultures and experience the dazzling power of new forms and expressions that happen when talented people of many genres collaborate openly and enthusiastically. That's San Francisco based violinist Georges Lammam. In visual art, Kandinsky is my hero.
Finish this sentence: My art is my...
LIFE. Sometimes I get so over-extended and over-committed to a million super valuable amazing endeavors that I get paralyzed and want to run away from it all, but when it comes down to it, if I make the choices that just let me DANCE then it's all good!
What advice would you offer someone just beginning their exploration of their own artistic self?
For dancers in my field, I recommend for them to know the MUSIC... immersing themselves in rhythms, melodies, and structures that make the music special and exciting to connect to. For anyone, I'd say find those things that are FOOD for your form... soak up live art, music, seeing great works of art in person, take workshops... live, breathe and love all facets of your chosen medium. Be passionate. Be excited about what you love and be brave and open to share it with the world. If you're planning on quitting your day job....... Take a business class in case you are successful and never sell yourself short. Know how to talk about money. :-)
Do you have a website or blog you would like us to link to?