December newsletter!

Baby, we know it's cold outside...but at the ShoeBox we're keepin it hot!

As the madness of the holidays approach, it's more important than ever for all of us to set aside time to tend to our bodies, minds, and spirits. In just 60-90 minutes, you can rejuvenate, de-stress, and re-enliven yourself by rocking your core, working your shimmy, shakin' your samba, or just cutting loose on the dance floor. ShoeBox classes are going strong during the cold months, so when you're done fighting through the crowds ready to kill for the last tickle-me-elmo, come on in to ShoeBox and get your December groove on!

We've got a big month coming up, including our first Student Showcase, a dance workshop for expecting mamas & partners, a holiday trunk show, and preparations for our New Ye ar Dance-A-Thon! Read on for all the fun....

See you soon,

Cera, Deborah, Omar & ShoeBox Studio


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1) Class Schedule Changes - Please read and stay up to date!

2) Student Showcase - & VOLUNTEERS! December 14th - at The Garage, 975 Howard

3) Dancing Out The Baby Workshop, December 15th & 16th

4) Holiday Trunk Sale, Dec. 22nd: Procrastinators and connoisseurs of local crafts come together for a day of SHOPPING!

5) ShoeBox Gift Cards! Only $90 for 10-class cards purchased during December!

6) Dance-A-Thon: place a vote, take a pledge, dance your butt off for a great cause!

7) Rent the ShoeBox for rehearsals, holiday parties, meetings, or events December 17th-Jan. 4th!

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1) Class Schedule Changes

The Following classes are CANCELLED for the month of December:

Ari ellah's Int/Adv. Bellydance Class, Wednesdays, 8:15-9:45pm (Beginning is still happening, 6:30-8pm)

Yoga Booty Ballet & Afro Caribbean Cardio, M,W,F's, 7:30-8:30AM

All other classes will continue as listed! If you have a coupon for AM or Afternoon dance/fitness classes, they will be honored at *any* class time, except for special workshops.

Sorry for any inconvenience. Please check the website regularly for changes to the schedule.
Look for new classes which will be added to the schedule in January!

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2) Student Showcase! Volunteers?

We are very excited to announce our first ever Student Showcase! On December 14th we will be unveiling the product of our Winter Performance Workshops, and we'd love for you to be there! See your friends performing choreographies by Ariellah, Elizabeth Strong, Cera, Amber Steele, Dandara, Cassandra, and special performances by the ShoeBox Yout h Performing Arts Program.
Tickets are available NOW on the website!

When: Friday, Dec. 14th, 8pm
Where: The Garage, 975 Howard St., between 5th & 6th
Cost: $10

NOTE: There are only 50 seats available. Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. It is HIGHLY recommended that you reserve your tickets online ASAP. Please list your first and last name in the "comments" field when you reserve your tickets online. Thanks!
(If we have an overwhelming response for tickets, we will do our best to add a second show at 9pm. If we need to do this, we will contact everyone with a reservation immediately to let them know.)

ALSO! We need volunteers to help out at this event! If you are available to help set up, strike, usher, sell concessions, or anything else, and you'd like to see the show for free, please let us know asap by responding to this email!

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3) Dancing Out T he Baby - Special Workshop, Dec. 15th & 16th

ShoeBox Studio is thrilled to offer a special weekend of movement workshops for expectant moms and their partners by Portland, OR dance instructor Jerushah Ramos, a doula, dancer, and creator of the labor and birth movement technique Dancing Out the Baby.

Dancing Out the Baby provides pain and energy management during labor and birth using sensual and belly dance-inspired movements, to help laboring moms relax, encourage labor progress, assist dilation, and master the intensity of contractions and birth more effectively.

Jerushah will be a guest instructor at ShoeBox Studio during the weekend of December 15-16, 2007, offering two classes each day: a Mamas-only workshop, and a Mamas & Partners workshop. Each workshop offers unique exercises and perspectives, and expectant parents are encouraged to sign up for both: ShoeBox makes it easy with a discount when you take both classes!

Date: Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 15th - Dec. 16th
Rates: $40 per person for Mamas Only class
$60 per couple for Mamas & Partners
only $80 for both classes! (A $20 savings per family!)

SIGN UP NOW: Register here: http://www.shoeboxsf.com/register.html
under special workshops. Make sure you pick the correct date.

Please feel free to forward this to any expecting moms you know!

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4) Holiday Trunk Show - Procrastinators Anonymous

ShoeBox is pleased to announce its first Holiday Trunk Show! There are SO MANY talented and diverse artists that come through our classes each week - jewelry designers, clothing designers, screen printers, book makers, and more, that we were inspired to set up a shop where ShoeBoxers could share their wares with one another!
Support your classmates and friends, and get one-of-a-kind gifts for yourself and anyone else lucky enough to get a present!
Join us for snacks, wine, schmoozing, and gorgeous artisan goods!

WHEN: December 22nd
TIME: 12-5pm

Vendors will be listed on our website under "events"

If you would like to vend at the show, please email us and we'll get back to you ASAP.

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5) ShoeBox Gift Cards!

For the month of December, all 10-class cards will be reduced to $90!
You can purchase 10-class card gift certificates on our website, or at the Studio.

All holiday gift cards will be honored beginning January 3rd, 2008



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6) DANCE-A-THON! January 12th, 2008

Kick off the new year by dancing, sweating, and shaking it for a great cause!
ShoeBox Studio is hosting its first ever Dance-A-Thon! On January 12th, from 10am-8pm, every ShoeBox class will be offered in a 30-45 minute sample format. Classes wil l run back to back as a "marathon."

Get all of the info on how our dance marathon will work on the Events page of our website--where you can also vote on the charity our marathon will benefit!

All interested dancers can sign up now by emailing us with the subject "dance-a-thon", and we will send you a pledge sheet, or you can pick up a pledge sheet here at the studio.
Start collecting pledges immediately!

We will announce and post the top 3 Dance-A-Thoners' times, and how much we've raised and donated as a group, in February!

If you would like to come dance, but you do not want to collect pledges, you can simply pay a $12-20 sliding scale donation at the door, and stay for as many sample classes as you'd like.

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7) Rent the ShoeBox for your December event or rehearsal!

The ShoeBox will not be having regular classes from December 15-Jan 2. During this time, we will be available for r entals!
The ShoeBox is a great place for holiday events, small parties, meetings, rehearsals, and gatherings.
Most rentals are $15/hr, or $11/hr with purchase of a 10-class card (also valid for regular students who already have one!)

Some rental costs may be subject to change based upon the nature of the event.

To rent the studio for your event, or for information on availability, email shoeboxstudio@gmail.com , or call (415) 861-5976


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Happy Holidays, and we'll see you soon!

Old dog? New Tricks? What does it take to get an adult to take up a new hobby?

So, this is something i've been thinking about a lot, as an artist and a teacher.
I frequently hear people say "oh, I could never"... fill in the blank - do yoga, pilates, take up a martial art, knit, whatever.
And yet, I frequently meet people in my classes that are new to dance or pilates, and excited about taking up a new skill. Some of them stick with it; Some of them disappear after one class when they realize that you're frequently...not a master on your first day trying out a new thing.

Is that the thing that holds people back from trying something new? We dont like anything we're not good at?

I frequently think that it's a REALLY good thing I was forced to learn how to ski as a child (my dad's an upstate New Yorker). Had I not, I would NEVER have endured the cold, discomfort, and falling down that learning how to ski entails, as an adult.
But I dont live entirely within my comfort zone - I frequently take up new artistic hobbies or physical disciplines - I'll try any kind of physical class, or cooking class, or just some random junior college class that looks interesting - Am I just a class taking kind of person?
Is it a personality type? A stick-to-itiveness personality type or a quest-for-new -skills personality type? An inherently geeky personality type that just wants to know little bits about everything - or master as many seemingly impossible things as we can?

Are we paralyzed in the outdated notion that grownups just know everything - which means we cant show up to learn something as a beginner, because it would require admission of not-knowing?

Do we just stop prioritizing learning as we age?

This is an open ended question I dont really have an answer to, just something I've been thinking a lot about.

As we get older, do we become less open to the public humilation inherently involved in learning new skills? Do we grow in to a fear of being wrong/not knowing? Shouldn't we become more fearless as we get older, instead of less, in the face of all the things we've survived to become grown-ups?

-Cera

Beginning Blues? Intermediate Slump? What holds you back?

I had a teacher once tell me that the difference between an Intermediate dancer & an advanced dancer was simply the anticipation of what came next - "advanced is all in the transitions", was her theory. She said there was rarely a huge difference in movement skill between intermediate and advanced: all of the difference lay in the seamless quality one begins to develop as an advanced dancer. "unfortunately," she said, "it's the most difficult thing to acquire - it's mostly psychic, and can only be encouraged; it cant really be taught."

i was in a Rachel Brice workshop once and as the class opened she asked "who in here considers themselves a beginning dancer?" almost all hands went up. "intermediate?" four or five hands went up. "advanced?" one, meek, slow, shoulder-height hand went up. we all looked around at each other.

for some reason this is what i woke up thinking about this morning. What holds people back from owning their skill level? from claiming themselves advanced? Is it like the "expert" thing - you're an expert when someone else says you are, but you cant call yourself one? is it modesty? ego? too many times being told you shouldn't brag? fear? and what holds people back from advancing to the next level?

maybe people feel like until they're "declared" intermediate/advanced by someone else, they have no business setting foot in an intermediate/advanced level class - like by attending, they're claiming themselves to be something they're not (and everyone will know, and they'll be embarrassed, etc.) Like if they say "i'm advanced" they'll be challenged?
BUT - if you stay in beginning level for ever, while your understanding of beginning material will deepen and you may become a very advanced beginner, you'll never become intermediate - you have to push yourself in to intermediate material! In fact, I think you have to continually put yourself in situations where the material is just over your head in order to advance. (what i call "fake it till you make it!")

Advancing is very uncomfortable. All of the hot-faced, sweaty palmed, jumblystomached nervousness of being a brand new dancer on your first day of class must be repeated again and again - every time you master one set of skills, it's time to plunge yourself in to another. it requires ditching your pride at the door and being willing to make a complete ass of yourself in public. you have to be available to yourself, you have to be willing to strip yourself down, be wrong, fuck up, not be strong enough/fast enough/coordinated enough. and frankly...that sucks! BUT! that's why the thrill of accomplishment becomes so gratifying! i tell my teen students that being a dancer equals being a little crazy. you have to be addicted to public humiliation. it's a very unsafe life =)

i think of it like a language. Learning a new language requires challenge and immersion. Frequently you can stay in a beginning language class, or listen to language tapes that break down grammar and pronunciation forEVER. and you can recite that language tape backward and forward, you know the order of all the prepositions - but good luck trying to order food or ask for a subway ticket. conversational language is strange, fast, full of colloquialism's and slang and corner-cutting. The only way to really develop fluency is to speak with people in that language, no matter how much you stumble, no matter how red your cheeks get over your clumsy pronunciation and slow tongue. But after every conversation you find new ways to apply what you do know, and see where the basics you've acquired can really take you in communication.

Is humility the secret to advancing technique in anything? Does that explain why some of the most incredible dancers and performers out there are the most genuine, cool, humble down to earth people?
Is ego the thing that holds us back from the things we desire most?
Isn't it odd to think that what we want most is to master something, but fear of looking like we dont know stuff is what keeps us from challenging ourselves to become a master?

i dont think i'm going anywhere with all this (i'm posting before coffee again, i keep saying i'm going to stop that!), but i'd love to hear your thoughts!

CANCELLATIONS & IMPORTANT INFO!

This is a note:

There is NO STREET JAZZ this Friday, Nov. 8th. Street Jazz will resume (and join the performance workshop series) on Nov. 16th, at $67 for 5 weeks, or $15 drop in.


ALSO:
Information about Thanksgiving week/end coming soon!

Thanks all! We'll see you in class,
Cera & ShoeBox Studio

Opening party - WOW! & Thank you!

Our opening party was SUCH an incredible blast!
Many, many thanks to all of you who came out to support our new studio, and a HUGE thank you to:

Photon
The Lemon Lime Lights
Dan Cantrell
Rockabelly
Sara Templeton
Claire
the ShoeBox Teens!
Mina of Dalloua Dance Co.
Freyja
Cassandra Hazen
Gibson Pearl, Charlotte Nehm, & Dominique Nigro

Restaurant Oola, The Chieftan, and behind the scenes: Amar, Kristen Wilson, Brad Dosland, Deborah Brock, and Omar Contreras, and all of the friends, family, and students who helped make the night such an outrageous success!

We were humbled, honored, and stoked to have you all here. Look for photos coming soon!

November Digest

NOVEMBER DIGEST
in this issue...

1) Grand Opening Party!
2) New Classes
3) Performance Workshops
4) November Workshop: Yoga for Bellydancers w/ Debra Rubin Returns!
5) Continual improvements on the Website

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1) Grand Opening Party!
We're so excited about this event! Please join us on Friday, Nov. 2, 8-11pm for our Grand Opening performance/celebration.

Featuring music by:
The Lemon Lime Lights
Photon
Dan Cantrell

and dance performances by:
ShoeBox Teens! Performing Arts Program
Rockabelly (Rockin' Bellydance Fusion)
Cassandra Hazen (Hip Hop)
Freyja (Bellydance)
Kathleen Blake (Tango)
Mina of Dalloua Dance Co. (Bellydance)
Sara Templeton (Contemporary)
Gibson Pearl (Bellydance)
and Damage Control Dance Theater (Modern Fusion Bellydance)

With food from Oola SF & The Cheiftan & Delicious Homemade Sangria
Raffle prizes including free classes, private pilates sessions, Katherine Summer gloves, Brainwash Bucks, and more!

And of course, a Day of the Dead Costume Contest!

Only $5+ Donation at the door.
See you there!

Friday, Nov. 2, 8-11pm
855 Folsom St. #112
btwn 4th & 5th

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2) New Classes!
We are offering a LARGE selection of Dance, Pilates, and Fitness classes in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Pilates, Bootcamp, Dance Workouts, Contemporary, Bellydance, and more! Please visit our website for our complete schedule!
www.shoeboxsf.com

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3) Performance Workshops!

Our performance workshops are filling up FAST! November begins our first ever Student Showcase preparations! Workshops include Dark Fusion Bellydance w/ Ariellah, Turkish Roman "Gypsy" Dance w/ Liz Strong, Afro-Samba w/ Dandara, Hip Hop Fusion w/ Cassandra, Street Jazz w/ Amber Steele, and Funk Fusion Bellydance w/ Cera.

Classes will work for 6 weeks to develop an original choreography which will be performed on Dec. 14th in a professional theater!
(Performing is not mandatory for participation...but why not show off what you've learned!?)

Registration is limited to 15 people, so sign up now to reserve your spot!
You reserve your spot online free of charge at www.shoeboxsf.com/register.html

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4) Special Workshop: Yoga For Bellydancers w/ Debra Rubin

Back by popular demand! This sell-out workshop with Debra Rubin is going to rock your core and refine your technique, while enlivening your spirit & deepening your practice!

Core Integration/Yoga for Bellydancers---2 workshops in one!
Guaranteed to rock your core, and take your dancing to the next level!

12-2pm: Core Integration/Yoga for Dancers
2-4pm: Now Let's Dance it!

pre-register:
$40 for first workshop. ($45 at door)
$65 for both. ($70 at door)

DESCRIPTION:
12-2pm: Core Integration, Yoga for dancers:
Drawing from yoga, feldenkrais, pilates, and Deb's personal 'stash', this workshop will focus on core integration, spinal articulation, and building the foundational strength and flexibility to directly support your dancing technique and prevent injuries. Focus will be on increasing pelvic, hip, spine, and shoulder flexibility, deepening core awareness, and gaining isolated control of all the muscles necessary for bellydance.
A necessary foundation for any level dancer.

2-4pm: Let's dance it!
Applying the techniques we focused on it the first workshop, it's now time to integrate it into our dancing. Focus at this workshop will be on deepening our slow, ooey gooey moves to achieve that slinky, sexy, intoxicating look and feel; drilling sharp, pronounced isolations, with new yogic, integrated awareness that will change your dancing at the core!
Also learn healthy habits for laybacks and backbending to save your low back, layering techniques, and 'floating' upper body, and posture for stage.

This is a one day only workshop, and the last one filled up FAST! Dont miss your chance!

Date: Sunday, Nov. 18th, 12-4pm
Rates: $40 for first Workshop
$65 for both
(+$5 at the door)

SIGN UP NOW: email shoeboxstudio@gmail.com with your name & which workshop(s) you're signing up for.

About Deb:
Debra Rubin (MA, CMT, RYT) is a holistic health counsellor, integrative bodyworker, and yoga teacher, with a private practice in Oakland, CA. Trained in both Eastern and Western healing arts, as well as integrative medicine, and various somatic therapies, she has facilitated at healing conferences all over the world, and regularly teaches in the Bay area. A core member, and choreographer of UltraGypsy Dance Theater and regular sub for Jill Parker's classes, she fuses 10 years experience in holistic health with 25+ years of performance experience to create a core-integrated class geared specifically for dancers.

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5) Our AWESOME website!
We are continually improving our website for ease of use. Check out our community blog on the News page, easier registration and payment pages, and newly updated class schedules.
Our fantastic webdesigner at www.Hipgnostica.com is working really hard to continually refine our website for us, and all his work really shows! Thanks Omar!
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the website, let us know.

ShoeBox News Blog!

wh00t! the SB news page is now a blog, so ya'll can comment on going's on! Hooray for interactivity.

Hope you all are just itchin' to get to our grand opening party - and start your performance workshops!
We're working hard to get ready, and we cant wait to dance with you!

-Cera & The ShoeBox Crew

Oct 15th, 2007 - Moving, Performance Workshops, Teen Program, Produce!

1) We're MOVING!
The ShoeBox is thrilled to announce that we are relocating to an AWESOME storefront space at 855 Folsom St. #112, between 4th & 5th. Update your address books!

This is our dream! We are building this space from the brand new sprung-floor on up! Storefront windows, a great neighborhood (just a few blocks from Powell St. BART, and only a block from the Metreon, the 'Zeum, the Carousel, and, of course, SF Dancewear...) This space will allow us to expand on the great classes and programs currently offered by the ShoeBox, and introduce some new ones!

"That's crazy! You must need help," you may be thinking. And you'd be right. If you got skills, or stuff, or time you'd like to donate, contact us! We're sure we need them, and we will repay your generosity with free classes, putting your name on stuff, and giving you lots of hugs. And if you don't have skills, supplies, or time to donate but you still want to help - come to classes and workshops! That always helps a lot!

2) Join us for our Opening Celebration on Friday, November 2nd!
We can't open a new space without a huge party! Come see your favorite ShoeBox Instructors (along with local talents in Burlesque, BeatBoxing, Dance, Drumming, and More!) perform! We will be having a raffle, prizes, a Dia De Los Muertos costume contest, and more! Check back for more details, or join our mailing list.

3) Performance Workshops
From November 5th-December 16th, most of our evening classes will be Winter Performance Workshops! These classes will focus on developing a group choreography, which will be performed at a Student Showcase on December 14th! Visit our Workshops Page, or Sign up today, only $80 for all 6 weeks.

4) Pay for classes & 10-class cards online!
We are now offering Google Checkout and PayPal as payment options for ShoeBoxers If you are registering for a performance workshop, want a 10 class card for yourself or your favorite dance/pilates junkie, or want to pay for an individual class, you can do so with your credit card a via Google Checkout, or from your PayPal account by sending a payment to shoeboxstudio at gmail dot com.

5) ShoeBox Teens!
ShoeBox is very excited to introduce our first Teen Performance Workshop! Click here for details:

6) Join our group discount on Organic Produce Delivery!
We are still accepting members for Eating With The Seasons.
You only have 1 hour a week that you can care for your body, and you always have to choose between taking your class, or going to the farmers market or swanky grocery store? No more! Pick up your customized box of Organic, Local, Farm fresh produce (as well as organic meats and eggs, coffee, tea, and what ever else you choose) direct from the ShoeBox!

If you would like to sign up to receive your weekly box of yummy local-farm-supporting produce directly after your favorite dance class, email us today!