Origin

DMTNT 2010 – Dia De Los Muertos!

Michele Gila — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:29:22 +0000

Dead Men Tell No Tales 2 : Dia de los Muertos.

That’s right, we’re bringing it again.

This year featuring acts by Axe Dide, Bhrigha Gypsikelt, Bianca, Elise, Fran, Fredrick, Negara & Origin.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Alberta Rose Theater 3000 NE Alberta Street

Tix are $15.00 at the door. Doors 7pm, showtime 8pm

Minors OK if accompanied by an adult.

So dress up or come as you are. This year’s show should be spectacular with this professional stage and bonus!, there will be a full bar for purchasing your spirits.

Peace Corps Benefit Oct. 16, 2010 at Oregon Historical Society

Michele Gila — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 22:43:38 +0000

Please join the Oregon Historical Society, Saturday, Oct. 16 in celebration of Peace Corps 50th Anniversary. Origin will be dancing to the LIVE magical music of Negara at 6:15p.m. We are very excited to be a part of the celebration and hope that you can join us! Tickets can be purchased through Paypal via the CRPCA. Please click on the CRPCA link for additional details regarding the event.

Dance Progress and Life

Michele Gila — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:57:15 +0000

Dear Dancing Women,

Well change is inevitable, right? Knowing this it will not come as a surprise that I am once again changing direction. I take my cues from the River and her course is a great mystery.

In an effort to simplify my life we have decided to sell the building where Roots Realty has called home for 3 years and move it back to the Mothership. After careful consideration, we decided that the space The Nest occupied makes a fabulous office. I needed to listen to my partner Mark, consider his needs, our business needs and my own needs. We’ve met our first client here and it feels really great. We’re still moving and the office on Belmont goes on the market next week.

As a result, I decided to use my personal room on the main floor of our home as my new dance studio. Renovations are near complete and I absolutely LOVE how it’s coming together. If all goes well, the ballet barre will be installed this weekend. Somehow it’s actually more mirror space too, a real bonus. With this change I have also decided that for now I would like to continue offering private classes for singles or up to 3 dancers at a time. As my beautiful sister Karen Harte put it: Oh, you’re a dance coach! It’s been great having the different layers of students here working together but I need to change that up a bit for my own reasons and hope you can embrace that.

The cost for the Private classes are $30 per hour. So you can do the math from there. It is by appointment only and because my schedule is not set in stone, I’m able to accommodate those needing to dance in the day hours. I’ve already booked 3 different configurations and it’s really exciting to work from this angle with you to achieve YOUR dance goals, not necessarily mine. It is clear, tribal has taken a turn and no matter what, I think dancers could benefit from basic skills and sound critiques. Not to mention some focused fun.

So if you are interested in booking some time with me let me know. Feel free to contact the other gals from previous classes (I’m happy to put you in touch) or bring your dance sisters from your other circles. More details on all that upon request.

As always, you have my deep respect and gratitude.

Peace Through Music,
Michele

Origin and Negara Take Oregon Country Fair by Storm!

Michele Gila — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:33:32 +0000

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This year we made it. Last year we were rained out. What a mighty fine time we had!

Rock Star Stella Benefit

Michele Gila — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:26:04 +0000

Come on out this Saturday June 5th for an extraordinary event for an extraordinary young girl.

Noon – 4pm is the All Ages segment and Origin teams up with Negara once again to entertain you and to raise money for Stella’s battle against Leukemia. Then from 6pm – Midnght it shifts to 21+ and features acts Oracle, Stolen Sweets and Dr. Theopolis.

@Large Film Studios, View Larger Map" target="_blank">807 NE Couch Street is where the magic happens. Tickets available online at rockstarstellabenefit.com. Afternoon admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Evening show is $20. All proceeds go to Stella’s Medical Expense Contribution Fund. This is truly what community is about!

Terroir!

Michele Gila — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:55:27 +0000

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than with a bottle of wine and belly dancers?

Come out Saturday April 24th to SE Portland’s hottie wine shop & lounge, Vino Vixens, and get Uncorked!

7:30pm | 2929 SE Powell Boulevard, Portland | No Cover!

LIVE MUSIC by Treacle Foot Stomp- a mash of gutsy vocals, pick-a lick banjo, foot stompin’ beats, soul stirrin’ trumpet and sassy accordion.

Enchanting Entertainment By:

Tribal Fusion bellydance from Endymienne ;Elise’s unique brand of burlesque fusion ; A blend of theatrics and dance by Angel; The stylings of Good Time Girl and dancer-about-town Julia Sansarian; Tribal fusion bellydance from the talented and luscious Lorraine; Recently back from Japan, Henna, performing Cabaret ; And of course Yours Truly, Origin!

Registration Underway for the Next Session of Classes

Michele Gila — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:13:22 +0000

Come dance with us! I’m taking names for the next 8 week session of classes at The Nest. Please contact me if you would like to sign up or if you want more information. This session we’ll be continuing our rhythms in And A One and for And A Two and And A Three we’ll be spending time with Props, including baskets and a special Fan workshop with the fantastically talented Ms. Jen Samson. Session runs Monday April 26th through Wednesday June 9th.

And A One – Wednesdays 6:30-7:30. Learn the basics of bellydance. Hearing the down-beat; basic foot work; strengthening exercises; beginning isolations; dancing together. Great to take in conjunction with And a Two or And a Three, with referral from instructor. 8 week course. One hour. $80 per session. If you miss one class you can make it up at any And a Two OR Drills class during the 8 week session, with advance notice (due to size of classes).

And A Two – Mondays 6:30-7:30. Dancing with community. Take what you know and dance with your friends. Some drills, some strengthening exercises; but mostly dancing together for enjoyment and purpose. Must show a mastery of And a One prior to taking this class, so we have a common language. All other levels welcome. 8 week course, but on-going. One hour. $80 per session. If you miss one class you can make it up at any And a One, And a Two or Drills class during the 8 week session with advance notice (due to size of classes).

And A Three – Mondays 7:45-8:45. By Referral Only. This is for the Advanced student who wants to focus on strength and isolations and dynamic interplay between dancers and musicians. Suitable for anyone who is either already performing or who anticipates doing so eventually. Must show mastery of technique from And A Two. 8 week course, but on-going. One and a half hours. $80 per session If you miss one class you can make it up at any class during the 8 week session with advance notice (due to size of classes).

Drills Only! – Tuesdays 6-7. All levels. This is an exciting workout class designed to improve and enhance your bellydance skills, no matter what style of dance you choose. Great to take in conjunction with any of the other classes. $80 per session. Discount available if you sign up for any of the other classes.

Spring 2010 Registration Underway!

Michele Gila — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:13:57 +0000

Greetings Dance Community!

The latest news for classes at The Nest! This next 8 week session we will be adding some guest instructors, to strengthen your knowledge and skills, giving you a well-rounded belly dance education. Please read the following carefully and let me know for which you want to enroll. Also, you are welcome to circulate this link to anyone you think might be interested. This is the kick-off to what could become an exciting long-term possibility at our sweet little studio. I hope you can support the vision!

MONDAYS: Cheryl is going to teach Monday nights, which will now be And A Two from 6-7 and And A Three from 7:15-8:45. Both of these classes remain ‘experience required’. So if you are interested in either of these classes, please check with me first if it’s not the class you usually take. I’m excited to have Cheryl take the reigns for 8 weeks to fine-tune your skills and expose you to other avenues of building solid dance technique. Each class is offered at $80 per session. Drop-Ins with permission only at $10 per class.

TUESDAYS: I will continue to teach Drills Only on Tuesdays from 6-7pm. This is one hour of drills and exercises to strengthen dancers of any style and experience, but it is certainly geared to tribal bellydance. Whole session $80 or Drop-Ins are $10 per class. If you are enrolled in any of the other classes for a whole session, your class fee is reduced to $8 per class.

WEDNESDAYS: Wednesday nights will be filled with opportunity for all levels of dance experience, but certainly with a focus on Beginning level or those who have not studied at The Nest previously. This is a one hour class from 6:30-7:30 and we will have a rotating teacher schedule for this session as follows:

March 3, 17, 31 and April 14th Zen will be teaching. She will focus on belly dance basics, with emphasis on ritual and coming together as a tribal circle as well as adornment for sheer pleasure.

Bruce will be joining me March 24th & April 7th to bring his extensive knowledge of Middle Eastern Rhythms to the classroom. It is vital to understand the music we dance to, so you can learn to express it with your body. No drum necessary but if you want to bring a doumbek you are certainly welcome.The remainder of the classes I will be there to focus on technique and answer any and all questions you might have. This class is $80 for the whole session. Any student also enrolled in any of the other classes for a whole session can drop in for any of these focus classes for an $8 fee, otherwise Drop-In Fee is $10.

See you on the dance floor!

~Michele

A Tribute To Lhasa

Michele Gila — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:08:21 +0000

Our Level Three class recently made a set of videos in honor of Lhasa de Sela. She’s been a favorite artist in the bellydance community in Portland for several years, and I (Jen Samson) recently discovered that I have a personal connection to her. Sadly, along with that connection we also learned that she has breast cancer.

I downloaded some of her music after learning this and thought that it would be a lovely gift for her and her family to make a video with us dancing to her music. We decided to make it part of our last class of the session, and in one night we put together a set of magical performances. We wore red to complement Lhasa’s red dress in her “Con Todo Palabra” video. These performances are dedicated to Lhasa and her sister Samantha.

Sam – you’re an amazing woman of strength and grace. Lhasa – we’ll miss you more than we can say. May your light shine in heaven as it did here on earth.

Love Came Here – Dancers: Michele, Karen, Traci, Pamela

Pa Llegar a Tu Lado – Dancers: Karen & Jen with fans. Pamela, Karen & Elise with veils

Con Todo Palabra – Dancers: Elise & Endi joined by Jen, Traci, Karen, Pamela, Karen

Winter Session 2010! Registration Underway!

Michele Gila — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:04:54 +0000

We’re wrapping up our instructional series for ’09 and taking names for 2010. Winter Session 2010 begins January 4th. Each session is for 8 weeks. Here’s the broad strokes:

And A One – Mondays 6-7pm

And A Two – Wednesdays 6:45 – 7:45pm

And A Three – Mondays 7:15-8:45

Drills Only! – Tuesdays 6-7pm

Let us know if you are interested in signing up by contacting Michele at The Nest.