Dance Hack Day is a global celebration of technology and the choreographic arts. Participating in this year’s Amsterdam sister site event with an evolution of my light-up motion-responsive Arduino costume was a joy and a privilege. My biggest learning from the weekend is that with the right kind of supportive and open environment, even someone … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Belly Dance
New Books in Anthropology Network podcast interview
New Books in Anthropology Network podcast interview Astrid Countee of the New Books in Anthropology Network recently interviewed me about Belly Dance Around the World: New Communities, Performance and Identity. We had a great conversation so please go check it out on the New Books in Anthropology Network. Continue reading
Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can’t See: a Guest Post for Quite Irregular
My friend and colleague Jem Bloomfield has once again allowed me to insinuate myself into his Quite Irregular blog, this time with some thoughts on blindfolded musicians. I wrote this after the image of a blindfolded pianist glimpsed during the National Theatre’s current production of Edward II put me in mind of blindfolded musicians in … Continue reading
Book Signing at Hayaam Belly Dance Showcase
I am so excited to share with you that I will be holding a book signing for Belly Dance Around the World: New Communities, Performance and Identity at Hayaam Bellydance Showcase on Sunday 1 September! It will be in the lush surrounds of the Jewel Piccadilly, W1B 5DQ and the doors open at 6:30 for a … Continue reading
Publication of “Belly Dance Around the World”
I am so pleased and proud to announce that the volume I have been co-editing, Belly Dance Around the World: New Communities, Performance and Identity, has just been published by McFarland press! My parents forwarded this photo of my author copies–they arrived at their house in the US a few days ago, along with a … Continue reading
Global Moves Shirts
You might remember that I created a couple of word clouds based on the frequency of terms found in my book Global Moves. Well, I grew so attached to them that I thought I should put them on some shirts. And I am pleased to say you can now have your very own Global Moves … Continue reading
Global Moves Word Cloud
These are word clouds based on my book Global Moves! Designed with Wordle, they’re not just keywords arranged in a pretty pattern: they also provide a visual representation of the frequency of terms in the text. I wasn’t really surprised by the results but some things came out much more clearly than I expected–and other … Continue reading
Fitzrovia Radio Hour Turns 5
Last Saturday I had the great good fortune to see another installment of Fitzrovia Radio Hour, the rip-roaringly good fun show upon which, dear reader, I have written several times before. It was their 5th birthday celebration and I wish them all due longevity and continued good fortune. (The cast all stuck about after the … Continue reading
Doing the Robot: Dancing with Xbox
So last night I went around to my friends’ house and we all played this game I’m pretty sure is called ‘Xbox Dance Like That Uncle at the Wedding’. Now, I always score really low at XDLTUW, which usually elicits extra laughter because I have a PhD in that sort of thing. And I might … Continue reading
Shake It Up
In the past few days I’ve been noticing more and more stories about the sudden emergence of the ‘Harlem Shake’ as a protest movement (in the most literal sense) across the Middle East. The Verge has a particularly good analytical piece on its development. Much commentary focuses on the bizarre or trivial nature of choosing … Continue reading
In a Merry Hour: Caitlin E McDonald 