Happy Holidays!

 Happy Holidays friends!

Wherever this message finds you and what ever your beliefs, I hope this holiday season has you surrounded by love.

I'm sending some your way right now!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

The Himba

I really wanted to go see the Himba people. 

I was afraid to rent a car and drive into the unknown, but I did it anyway.

Not only was the drive pretty easy, it was amazingly beautiful and it brought me into contact with this amazing tribe of people.

American Tribal Style® Classic

I'm so honored to announce that my first book, I co-authored it and did the photographs, is almost out.

I got to work with my favorite lady Carolena Nericcio founder of FCBD® and creator of ATS® in making an extremely detailed book breaking down the movements on the Volume one dvd.

It's a perfect companion for dancers of every level, I dare say this is way better than sliced bread!

I am in love with this book and know you will be too.

Lot's of hard work and love went into this beauty so please to enjoy.

You can buy it here.

Dancing Across Borders ~Sharon Mitzy Sheen ~ Israel

My favorite thing to hear is that I have influenced and encouraged people to follow their own dreams. There's really nothing to compare to that high.

I was so excited when Sharon told me about her journey, to learn 51 dances in 15months, and that she wanted to interview me as one of her inspirations.

You can try and read it below, but it's better to go here and see the real deal!

Sharon keep going and keep your dream alive! I can't wait for our paths to cross, and thank you.

now more than ever...

“Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.” 
― Isabelle Eberhardt, The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt

“may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.” 
― E.E. Cummings

ATS® Durban, South Africa ~ with special guests in Lesotho.

Do you like my stories, if so throw a tip in my tip jar, life on the road is fun but expensive.

You'll find my "Donate" button just below.

                                                                 

ATS® Cape Town, South Africa 2013

Do you like my stories, if so throw a tip in my tip jar, life on the road is fun but expensive.

You'll find my "Donate" button just below.

                                                                 

Having my Bones read by a Sangoma

                      “As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.” 

― Martin Luther King Jr.

 I went to see a Sangoma while I was in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

His name is Sylvester and he lives in a township called Alexandra.

Becoming a Sangoma wasn't a choice for him, his ancestors pushed him into it, it was a calling.

We offered my Ancestors tobacco as a gift to summon them.

The Mefloquin Diaries: Day 537~ Mefloquin pill #1 day#4

Some days I wake up in a funk, a heavy grouchiness that meditation and yoga don't take away, perhaps it's the effect of the Mefloquin, perhaps it's just life.

So like the rest of the world I turn to my friends for guidance and support, I don't mind pouring my heart out to them.

One person I always turn to, we'll call him Mr. Hubcap-J to save his identity, I bring him statements like this as I try to bring more honesty into my blog:

"I share with an audience that doesn't really talk back,  it's an intimate act to stand there naked for all to see."

This is the encouragement I get back, read from bottom to top:

Thanks Mr. Hubcap-J, you really know how to comfort a girl when she's down and I love you for it.

Do you like my stories, if so throw a tip in my tip jar, life on the road is fun but expensive.

You'll find my "Donate" button just below.

                                                                 

The Mefloquin Diaries: Day 536~ Mefloquin pill #1 day #3

The Mefloquin Diaries: Day 536~ Mefloquin pill #1 day #3

I think I feel the drugs diluting, I'm in a constant state of dreaming but they aren't quite as detailed as the first night.
Last night I dreamt of giving birth, but I didn't even know I was pregnant.

It was quick, I spent more time being confused than anything else.

Then I was presented with a wrinkled raisin of a person and I had no idea what I was supposed to do.

This was the scariest dream as of yet.

Do you like my stories, if so throw a tip in my tip jar, life on the road is fun but expensive.

You'll find my "Donate" button just below.

                                                                 

The Mefloquin Diaries: Day 535~ Mefloquin pill #1 day #2

The Mefloquin Diaries: Day 535~ Mefloquin pill #1  day #2  

Dream #2

Last night I was showered with spiders of all shapes and sizes, unknown individuals launched them out of the darkness.

As each spider neared me it curled its legs and its momentum slowed as it transformed into a Jelly (aka jellyfish) and drifted elegantly past .

I wasn't afraid.

Do you like my stories, if so throw a tip in my tip jar, life on the road is fun but expensive.

You'll find my "Donate" button just below.

                                                                 

The Mefloquin Diaries: Day 534~ Mefloquin pill #1

Right now I'm sitting in Jo'Burg, South Africa sipping on whisky eating apples with cashew nut butter.

It's been 534 days now,  on the road, living out of a bag, and relying on the good graces of others.
My recent adventures have me traveling through some high risk Malaria country and have to take an anti- Malaria drug called Mefloquine.

Mefloquine is taken once a week and it's the big gun's of anti- Malaria tablets, if you have psychotic tendencies or depression this is NOT the drug for you.

Oh and the other side effect is super crazy, like looney bin dreams.

This is my second experience taking Mefloquine and my dreams are noteworthy.

Think about the most painfully lucid, long lasting dream you've ever had then triple it, those are my nights now.

Dream #1

I am in Kruger Park walking with two male rangers one to either side of me, we are walking in a long snaking gorge made from a deep red dirt and sharp rocks. The land is littered with long iridescent bodies  of snakes, they are discarded ribbons all different shapes and sizes each ending in a smashed head as if stomped in by a boot, marking the ground with bursts of glitter.

At first I'm horrified by the destruction that is clearly wrought by man and I ask the rangers why this is happening.

At some point between the questions and the answers a large brown snake launches itself from some undisclosed location and sinks its fangs into my legs. 

Generally this is the point you wake up, not me, not with these dreams, instead I keep my calm (actually I'm not afraid) and pry the mouth apart, pulling fangs from flesh just to have it clamp down somewhere else.

This happens several times.

Then the ranger grabs the snake and breaks its head open with his heel and glitter explodes like a NYE popper all over the ground.

Something happens here I can't remember what and we walk on for some time.

This time a bigger scarier albino snake latches onto my body.

Each time the fangs sink in I see them and I have to grab the snake near the head peeling back the lips, the jaw, extracting the fangs slowly from my flesh. Each time I'm free it somehow gets its grips on me again.

I don't remember how but that one ends in a glitter bomb too and then I wake up.

I don't remember feeling afraid at all, more interested in the fact that I knew I was experiencing a dream.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the next 77days has in store for me, I'll keep you posted.

Do you like my stories, if so throw a tip in my tip jar, life on the road is fun but expensive.

You'll find my "Donate" button just below.

                                                                 

What goes into my bag

I get that question all the time, not only what goes into my bag, but how the hell do I fit it all in there?

With a little bit of elbow grease and a soundtrack, that's how I get it to fit.

Please to enjoy.

Do you like my stories, if so throw a tip in my tip jar, life on the road is fun but expensive.

You'll find my "Donate" button just below.

                                                                 

ATS® Jo'Burg, South Africa.

Do you like my stories, if so throw a tip in my tip jar, life on the road is fun but expensive.

You'll find my "Donate" button just below.

                                                                 

ATS® Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Do you like my stories, if so throw a tip in my tip jar, life on the road is fun but expensive.

You'll find my "Donate" button just below.

                                                                 

I went home...

I went home, it's true.

After over a year my shoes were looking like this:

And I wanted to get all gussied up like this:

So I could take BART and drink Phil's coffee just like in the old days.
It's true I'm human and I miss these things.

But mostly I wanted to see faces like this:

And if you had an invite to this don't lie and tell me you wouldn't have gone, I know you, you wouldn't have missed it for the world and neither would I.

I'm on my way

ATS® Sao Paulo, 2013

The Amazon is AMAZING!

I spent some time in the Amazon and here are a few of my favorite shots

Amen and hallelujah

“This is the true joy in life — being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one… being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake.

Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it over to future generations.” 

~ George Bernard Shaw

ATS® Uruguay

Filming on the streets of Montevideo with La Casa Tribal Uruguay run by Monika Hakma and her troupe Compañia de Danza Yacumenza Tribal, the audience was very thankful.

Happy Birthday FromtheBellyofaTraveler

Hi friends, I find myself in Manaus, Brazil, in a hotel room with the fan on and the wifi chugging away.
The first year feels as if it's flown by.
I have meet so many amazing dancers and wonderful new friends they keep my heart full and my spirits high as I wander this wide world.
This first year was more amazing than I could have anticipated or planned, and it couldn't have happened without the beautiful ATS® community.
This community is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced it is so full and strong and growing day by day.

I feel very blessed to be there, doing what I'm doing and meeting as many of you as I can.

Thank you for everything, you guys mean the world to me, so in celebration of a successful first year this is my gift to you:

It's not perfect, and I know the music is gone at one point, but it's mine and I love it and now it's yours, I hope you love it.

~k

past~present~future

past

present

future 

ATS® Argentina

I once read that you should never start a blog with an apology.

So I won’t apologize, I’ll just say life has been way to awesome to sit down and write about.

I reached the End of the World, aka  fin del mundo, a definite notch on the bucket list, but more than that, a milestone in my sojourn. 

I had really made it as far south as possible.

I sat on that high, surrounded by the mountains, breathed it in, and I danced.

Well I tried, here's my first attempt: 

The second time I got it right:

ATS® is crazy global, you can even find it in Ushuaia, Argentina, literally the southern most city in the world. Here I am with Debora Contreras Arroyo, the only ATS® dancer and teacher in Ushuaia.

The Navimag, a boat I took in Chile took twice as long as I had planned at left a week later than I thought, so that meant precious time in Argentina was gone, I was sad that I had to take a plane to Buenos Aires, so many roads left unknown. The shock of going from the end of the world to what felt like the center of the world was intense. One moment I'm in a quiet winter wonderland dogsledding, the next I'm in the heart of a hotblooded culture.
People from Buenos Aires are in a class of their own, I mean this in a good way, part Italian, part Latin and all insane. I learned more slang and hand gestures here than in my entire travel combined. I was swept up in the loudest  most engaging community and I couldn’t keep my head on straight.

Here's what was waiting for me on my first night.

I once read some rules to writing a travel blog.

Rule #1, never open up with an apology for not writing sooner.

~I'd like to take this moment to say my life has been so stupidly awesome for the past bit, and blame the ATS® dancers of Chile & Argentina, otherwise I would have written sooner.

I ran out of south

“I am an excitable person who only understands life lyrically, musically, in whom feelings are much stronger as reason. I am so thirsty for the marvelous that only the marvelous has power over me. Anything I can not transform into something marvelous, I let go. Reality doesn't impress me. I only believe in intoxication, in ecstasy, and when ordinary life shackles me, I escape, one way or another. No more walls.” 
― Anaïs Nin

Fin del mundo

I made it.

I'm tired but I feel quite proud of myself right now. 

The long road south ~ ATS® in Chile

The ATS® scene in Chile is amazingly strong and wide spread.
It is brought to us by Victoria Vasquez, long time dancer that discovered ATS® and FCBD® about eight years ago on a VHS tape.

Ever since then she's been pursuing the art form and doing a damn fine job.

Victoria and I improvising at her show in Santiago, Chile.

The ladies of troupe Banjara Santiago, Chile.