Soo…our resident raissa saw this energetic beautiful dancer and we had to know more about her.  So, we had her interviewed…the sensational Stephanie Colletti. They talk about Chakras, Bellydance and being bold.

Stephanie, you’re such a dynamic dancer, please tell me about your start in the art ?  

I started dancing when I was three years old.  In fact, I still have my pink tutu from my first recital.  As I grew older I dabbled with jazz and ballet performing in yearly for friends and family.  I gave tap a try once and hated the shoes so as you can imagine that experiment didn’t go very far.  Eventually, I followed my heart and focused my studies solely on jazz, cultivating my love of the art for the next fifteen years.

Those are the genres many new dancers and mega stars from the 90s brought with them to bellydance. When did you start raqs sharqi/bellydance?

I began studying bellydance six years ago.  I wanted to be more active and I was never one for the gym or sports…I’m a dancer, that’s what I do.  Truly there is no such thing as a coincidence in life.  One day at work I had expressed an interest in learning bellydance to a co-worker.  After all, I had a great deal of love and respect for Middle Eastern culture and thought it would be fun to try.  As fate would have it, my co-worker told me that she was enrolled in bellydance classes and that a new series was beginning.  She invited me to come along and I was hooked.  After the first six week course completed, I took one after the other and met some wonderful teachers and women in the process.  What’s not to love?  A few months into my studies I was asked to audition for a local dance troupe and was accepted.  We performed in studio shows, at local venues and charity events.  I danced with the troupe for two years until I decided that it was time to move on.  I learned a great deal dancing in the troupe and made friendships that will last a lifetime so I am forever grateful for the experience.

What stands out to me about what you said is your love and respect for Middle Eastern culture. You seem to have a grasp of ethnic dance, do you have friends from other countries and cultures that you consult or do you spend time in various nations abroad?

Yes, I do have friends from other countries and cultures.  In fact, I like to say that my friends are a beautiful rainbow of ethnicities.  I’ve travelled abroad and valued the experience which made me love our dance that much more but honestly I’ve never consulted anyone…it’s just something that comes from inside.

Really? Never consulted. I’d say it is just natural then. I say that because you recently did a performance at Pera for the Legends of Dance with Les Raissat and that was very dynamic, what was the background on that performance?

I had been going through a personal transformation for quite some time prior to the performance.  It required a lot of serious soul searching.  The only way I could do that was to get grounded or “reconnect” to the earth, my true self and Spirit.  In no way is what I’m saying about religion.  I think we can all agree in a Higher Power and reconnecting with that part of myself that I had lost was crucial.  My performance was inspired by this journey and the desire to tell my story, celebrate life and express my authentic self for the first time in public.  It was me speaking my truth unapologetically and it felt good.

Wow, that’s not something most poeple can “teach.” So, it makes me even more curious to understand your approach to instruction. Most important, you have some new classes, what are they and what inspired you to do more than you already were?

Yes, I LOVE my new classes and there are more to come!  My inspiration came from my work as a Reiki Practitioner (energy healer).  Reiki aligns the seven major chakras or energy systems within the body to promote holistic health and well-being.  One day it occurred to me that the bellydance movements that we use actually coincide with each chakras.  It was definitely an “a ha” moment for me and so I decided to combine my passions together to create Chakra Belly Dance.  Currently, I teach a class in Roswell and I have several workshops coming up in April.  I’m also going through Facilitator Training with Chakradance™ out of Australia.  They have a rather large following in Australia and England.  I found them while researching and fell in love with their concept.  Once I complete my training, I’ll be the third facilitator in the United States.

I know a few who practice various art forms and incorporate a style of energy focus. That is a great element to incorporate into the art. So, what do you tell your students in regards to learning about raqs sharqi?

This is a topic that I take very seriously not only because of the ties I had to the Arab culture but also because I’ve seen how easily this beautiful dance can be exploited when placed in the wrong hands.  I tell my students that raqs sharqi an art from the Middle East with its roots in ancient fertility dances and that the moves that we use in our dance are actually mimicking that of childbirth.  I dismiss perverted and ignorance myths by educating them and giving them the truth.  I inform them that this is a not a dance of seduction nor is it about T&A as our Western culture would have them believe and perpetuate.  It is a sacred dance that needs to be respected and protected because it is a part of their lineage as women.

We’ll have to revisit that sometime…so much to say. But first name one of the best things that has happened to you in the realm of dance.  Also specifically in the world of raqs sharqi? 

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have had opportunities to learn not only about the art of dance but to learn about life itself through dance.  Dance is really about thinking, creating and “being” beyond your identity, beyond your circumstances and beyond skin and bone.  It has always been there for me through the good and the bad…it’s a part of who I am.  The best thing that happened specifically in the world of raqs sharqi was performing at Pera for the Legends of Dance with Les Raissat.  I will never forget that experience for as long as I live.  Was it my best performance?  Probably not, I have many more in my future but you know what?  That was the first time I performed a piece that was all mine, body and soul.  It was four minutes of the most amazing freedom I had ever felt in my life.  I still get goose bumps.

Incredible. Yes, that performance stood out. We felt that… and you can’t repeat that. It’s one of those plate breaking moments… it’s was certainly a symbol of freedom. We need more of that in our lives…I mean you know, dancers today can nearly kill themselves with their day-to-day life and dance world. You seem very balanced and happy. Still, it is just too much work for one body, what is your advice for those trying to balance both?

Balance is key to a happy life.  It’s important to offset the day-to-day obligations with a creative outlet such as dance.  I think that many dancers can unknowingly sabotage themselves personally and professionally (as dancers) out of their love of the dance.  For instance, overcommitting to classes, workshops and performances can easily become an issue for many dancers.  It’s important to remember that dance is for many of us our work and our passion but it’s also supposed to be organic and fun.  If fun is missing, then it’s time to take a step back and re-evaluate both long-term and short-term goals. If it’s time to shift priorities do not fear, dance is a loyal friend and will be there to greet you with open arms when you return.

Thank you Stephanie…this has been what I would say, “real.” We need that…we must put our “true self” in our presentations. You embody that to the hilt! Shukran for sharing.

Our resident raissa speaks to Patrice Isis, one of the leads, founders and principal dancers with the aforementioned Les Raissat soon. Continuing on the theme of being real, representing ethnic dance and what it is like to carry that responsibility. Watch this space…you won’t want to miss that!