Spotlight on Michelle Guthrie:                                                                                  

As I prepare for this interview, I am reminded of my first time meeting Michelle.  I was subbing Shai’s bellydance class at the Marshall Family Y, when Shai was expecting Aalyric, and she was one of my students.  I want to say that it was her first class there as well.  I’m pretty sure she had said that she had taken some classes with Donna at the other Y previously but this was her first time at the Marshall Y and her first with me.  How fortuitous, I had thought at the time.  J

So now I sit in Panera Bread, another cup of tea in hand, green tea this time, waiting on my next interesting conversation.  I look forward to it.  So, I look up and I see Michelle, looking uber-chic in a brown beret, long sleeved grey tunic and tribal-style pants, walk past me scanning the restaurant looking for me.  She doesn’t see me camped out near the window.  I chuckle as I get up to let her know where I am.  I sit back down and see she choose green tea too.  After a bit of small talk, we get down to business…

Let’s learn a little about “Michelle”.  Where did you grow up?  Where were you and your family stationed before coming here to Augusta?   Let’s see, Ohio, Chicago, Arizona, and New Mexico – my father is in the ministry so I grew up with lots of traveling.  Before coming to Augusta, we were at DLI in Monterey, CA.  We were there for about 2 years, including the time I stayed there while Brian was in Texas.  But I consider my home to be New Mexico.

Tell me a bit about your family.   I’ve been married to Brian 11 years, our daughter is named Sierra and she is 6.  We gave her a western name to remind us of the West. 
 

What do you do in the “muggle” world?    I’m a stay-at-home mom, however, I used to be a teacher but that took so much of my time, I didn’t feel I could do as much at home.  I had taught 5^th & 7^th grade at a private school but usually ended up teaching about 10 subjects.

What first peaked your interest in Bellydancing and when?  You know all those things you always meant to do but you never got around to doing.  Either too busy, didn’t have the money, or the time, etc.  I’d been interested for at least 5 years, but I never thought I would perform, just wanted it for exercise, for my health.  When Sierra finally got old enough to be in the day care, I got a membership at the Y.   I needed to get out, get some exercise, etc.  So I went through and circled all the classes that I wanted to take.  Took my first Middle Eastern Dance class with Donna and never went to the others, except yoga.  From then on, I was there every class, and that wasn’t enough.  So I checked out the Marshall Y & that’s where you (Karen) were subbing.  That was about 2 years ago.

Who was your first instructor/where?   Donna at the Wilson Y was my first and you (Karen) were my second. 

How long have you been dancing/bellydancing?    About 2 years.  Dancing has been something I wanted to do my whole life.  But I always thought it was for someone else.  I just thought you were either born with it or you weren’t and I just never thought I was born with it.  I never asked my parents for classes or tried anything.  I was a sensitive child so I didn’t think I could have handled the constructive criticism then like I could now.   I think I came into it at the right time. 

Now that’s you’ve had a taste of Bellydancing, how did you feel during your first performance or when you were first able to make sense of the dance?  I was nervous, of course, but my overwhelming thought was that I was wanted to do it right.  Really if there are any videos of my first few performances I’m smiling but I think it’s probably really obvious how much concentration I was putting into it because I figured if I was going to do it, I was going to do it to the best of my ability.  Now that became a challenge and it still is a challenge for me, because I have to find the balance between doing it right and expressing myself.  For a while, when I started out, I didn’t feel like I was really expressing myself.   I was so worried about doing it right.  Which I guess is probably pretty normal. (As for making sense of the dance) I’m really hyper-critical so I think it took a while before I started feeling like I was getting the movements. Probably really more recently before I really started feeling like that. Just playing around -  like when I put on some music at home and I’m just playing around in front of the mirror and you realize Hey I can have fun with this and it still looks like the real thing.  That’s been more recent for me.

Where do you get your costumes?  Do you make any?  I adapt a lot.  As much as I love to do it, my sewing skill isn’t very high yet.  So I will pull pieces from thrift stores or my closet, I will adapt things and make them as necessary.  But when there’s no way to make or adapt things then I will buy them.  (As for where I buy things)  My 25 yard skirt came from DragonCon! 

Let’s talk “Music”, since it drives our dance.  What music inspires you?  Honestly, it’s not the usual.  I mean, when I hear a piece and I would love to choreograph something to it, it’s usually show tunes or something Vintage.  I didn’t even know the genre of Vintage Bellydance existed until recently.  When I found out about it, I thought that, given enough time, that might be my style.  In fact, that Vaudeville piece we did recently was probably the piece I’ve enjoyed the most.  And then my daughter and I decided when we visited family at Christmas, we would dance as a gift for everyone.  She does ballet so she taught me a few moves, and I taught her some bellydance moves, then we YouTubed for some Vaudeville, and we put it all together into an improv.  The Vaudeville-inspired moves were so much fun.   I've always loved old variety shows as well so deep down, that's probably it. 

For choreographies that you have created, where do you find your inspiration?  The two that were really mine, either the idea came from me or I choreographed most of it, one was the one I did for the Star Trek pageant at DragonCon.  The inspiration was the character.  The style wound up being more popping & locking and dub step, but the inspiration was the vintage character.  She was Queen Arachnia, so I wanted to make it as spider-like as possible.  I get really into it.  So I found myself trying to think and act like that character.  And then the Vaudeville one, the inspiration came from the music.  We were really looking for Steampunk, but the music I found fit more with Vaudeville.  It started with the music.  It was The Dancing Sandwich by March Corps.  They're a band that does marching band style things and I think maybe that excited me because back in high school I was in flag corps.  It brought back good memories for me.

What do you absolutely HATE about the dance world?  Hmm. Well, I read Zondra's & I second the drama, but for me, it's more personal.  It's not what's going on outside, but what's going on inside.  I value any kind of feedback or criticism I get but inside I'm still that sensitive child so it takes me a while to deal with it - to come around and work with it.  The hardest thing for me is internal and recognizing that I need to hear it and I need to get over it and I need to incorporate it.  I push myself a lot so it's hard for me, any signs that I perceive of lapse.

Well, on the opposite of that, what do you absolutely LOVE about the dance world?  There's a lot.  It fills so many needs that I have as a woman.  Needs that, a lot of times, Stay-At-Home Moms have trouble filling.  The social aspect, the times you get together with other women and talk about an interest that doesn't have to do with our kids.  I love my daughter, I love talking about her, but I need my time too.  So the social aspect is HUGE.  Then the creativity in choosing the music, choosing the routine, but also in the costumes, pulling it together.  I'm a very creative person but sometimes you have to have that spark, that reason to do it and dance is all the reason you need.  Then we started having sewing parties so we're mixing them together - having social time and creative time together.  And, I'm not the type of person to get on a treadmill, if it's repetitive and boring, I won't do it.  So dancing is something I can really enjoy.  I love the variety.  When we get together at a hafla, I have no idea what I'm going to see.  Everyone brings something new every time.  They're always trying something new.  I love that.

Are you a soloist or do you dance with others or a troupe?  And which troupes have you danced with previously?  I prefer dancing with a troupe.  The only solos I've performed so far have been for the Star Trek pageant because I didn't have any other choice.  If I had a choice, I'd have had my girls with me.  I dance with Saharan Silhouettes, which came out of Donna's class.  We needed more practice for Arts in the Heart 2 years ago so we started practicing and it grew out of that.  And then there's Dancing Through the Skirt with Vany.  I was so thrilled when she asked me to be a part of it because at the very first hafla I went to, I still remember a lot of the performances, but the one I went home thinking 'I want to learn how to do that' was Vany's.  The reason why, was because she pulled in so many different influences and it struck me as a very world-inspired performance.  It was something I related to.  I loved her costume, I loved what she was doing, I loved her music.  And I thought, I'd love to learn that, but I didn't really think I'd get the chance to.  So when she asked me to, I said, "Yes!"  Now I don't think that will be MY style, because I don't have the history to bring to it that she does but I love getting to work with it. 

I know you don't teach now, but would you ever consider it?  Yes.  If I'm not able to find a class when I go to Germany, I will probably try to start one.  But that is not my first choice because I still see myself as a student.  I'd still rather spend more time learning before I devote to teaching.  Teaching is good, because it can stretch you and help you to relearn the basics and everything but all you are bringing into it is what you already have inside you and I still want to be learning from other people.

Other than bellydancing, what types of dance do you like?  There's a lot I like.  We used to watch "So You Think You Can Dance".  I loved the character pieces they did.  They did that with so many different styles.  I enjoy a lot so I can't pick. 

What “style” of bellydance do you most associate yourself with – Cabaret, Tribal, Folkloric, Fusion, Orientale, etc?  Fusion, Tribal-Fusion.  Although, I try to make sure I pick up ATS workshops when I can, because I think that's important to have.  I see myself experimenting with different styles of fusion but I'm mainly Tribal-Fusion.

Given the opportunity, if time, money, and distance were not an issue, who would be your “dream” instructor?  With whom would you LOVE to study bellydance?  I don't know, I'm not that familiar with that many yet.  I only know those I've taken workshops with so of those I would say Silvia Salamanca. I loved her workshop what she brought to the floor was outstanding.  (What about her style of dance or her style of teaching drew you to her?)  It's a combination, I mean, in the workshop, she was very comfortable to work with.  I didn't feel like I was under a critical eye.  I felt like she was really enjoying herself and working with us.  But then, when she danced on her own, the professionalism she brought to the floor, you could tell that she had extremely high standards for herself.  So I really liked that about her.  The fact that she could make us feel comfortable in the class and then also bring the professionalism to the stage later.

We are always faced with challenges in life.  If you were suddenly unable to dance, would you continue in the dance world, somehow, or would you just walk away?  It's hard to know.  If I had the opportunity I could see myself helping out with beginners with their costuming.  I would still try to be a part of it.  Unfortunately, I don't have a sense of rhythm or I'd try to drum!

What is something fascinating about you that no one, or very few, knows?  I guess, people who know me here, in my present incarnation, may not know that in my high school & college years, I did a lot of world traveling and mission trips.  Actually, at one point I thought I was going to end up working in a orphanage somewhere.  That's why I went into teaching so I could have a trade I could use there.  Then I graduated, and student loans brought me back to reality.  We channeled that and we are sponsoring three girls overseas right now.  One is in Uganda, which is where I had traveled, and one is in Nepal, and we have one in Lebanon.  We just finished sponsoring another from Nepal.  I've been going through my pictures and have seen all that I've done.  Like, I've stood on the Aztec pyramid in Mexico City, I've seen the source of the Nile, I've helped build schools in Guinea, West Africa, I spent one night in Morocco but did not get to see much and I spent 9 hours in London.  I've been in the oldest apartment in the US in the southwest and been in Westminster Abbey.  I guess that's why I'm so excited about going to Germany.  I want to see the world.  It's on to the next adventure!  

What is your biggest fear either in life or in dance? Or Both?  What is something that holds you back?  Biggest fear in life?  I'm a mom, so you can take a wild guess - anything happening to my daughter.  As long as your children are with you, your will to live is as strong as it can possibly be.  She's not just my will to live, physically, she's my will to live in other ways.  I didn't mention this before but part of the reason I started dance was that I knew that if I wanted her to achieve her own dreams, she had to see me achieving mine.  In dance, one of my biggest fears? My biggest fear is getting up there and looking like I have no idea what I'm doing.  You hear people talking about just because you put on the costume, doesn't mean you're a dancer, and I'm always afraid that's me.  I'm always afraid I'm going to be the one dressed up but not really doing the real thing.  What holds me back?  I have ADHD.  I have a lot of great ideas and a lot of enthusiasm, but seeing it through beginning to end is difficult for me.  And also my fear of failure.

What are your dreams for the future – where do you see yourself in dance in 3, 5, 10, 20 years?  I don't care as long as I'm still dancing.  And it doesn't even have to be bellydance.  As long as I am still dancing at that point, to me, that is a goal achieved.  My goal is 10 years from now to say I've been dancing the whole time.

If you were to do something completely shocking or out of character with absolutely no consequences, what would it be?  No idea.  I'm not a person with a whole lot of secrets.  If it's something I really want to do and I have the means of doing it, I'll do it.  (Well, let's do this then.  If you could do something you had previously feared, and you suddenly had no fear of it, what would you do?)  Oh my gosh!  OK, well, there are actually some things I'm afraid of like skydiving or scuba diving.  I'm afraid of deep ocean.  I love to be on the beach but the water scares me.  I have this feeling like we don't belong out there, like out there, we're just food.  So if I wasn't afraid of it, then there are some adventures that I would take. 

If you were stranded on a desert island, whom would you like to be with and what one thing?    My family, and I think being a military family, you end up being more of a unit, because they are the only constant you have.  And then, I'm one of those fortunate people who married my best friend and I'm growing another best friend.  The one thing?  That's easy, Sunblock.  (Well, say there's a bunch of shade?)  So, if shade is not an issue?  Well, I guess I'm going to have to go practical, again, and say a pocket knife so I can make what I need.

What is in your dancers’ bag?  What has to be in there?  I just had to clean it out to visit family, but normally, a coin scarf & knee pads - a necessity.  And there's my makeup bag, the eyeliner for the tribal stuff, and the false lashes - something I never thought I'd own and never knew how to use before dancing.  All my bindis need to be found or are in need of repair so, unfortunately, they're not in there right now.  Also, it depends on where I'm heading to.  Also, it doesn't fit in my bag, but thrown over my arm is my big skirt, my 25 yard skirt.  A lot of what I do uses that.  My hair pieces are stored separately.  That's another thing I'd never thought I'd have is a hair bin.  Bins full of hair and hair pieces, wigs and stuff.  I love having it but if you would have asked me 5 years ago....  LOL.


(Our discussion then turns to Cosplay.  My, how the tangents grow.  It's fantastic!  My favorite quote, "I want to be a Geek Bellydancer.")

  

So, as I draw my time with Michelle to a close, I am amazed at how this interview process is unfolding.  It is going even better than I could have hoped.  I am learning so much about her that I would never have guessed!  At her young age, Michelle has done, and seen, so much – much more than most people twice her age.   Each person has their own story; a series of events that led us to where we are today, pathways and choices that shaped our being.  I look forward to finding out more!

As I put my laptop away, I notice that the server who has been hanging around us during the entire interview, wiping off the same table over and over again, who I’m sure was also eavesdropping on our conversation (why does this happen with every interview?), has finally left us. Lol.  I smile.  Michelle and I speak briefly about the upcoming Farewell Hafla in her honor, which we are both looking forward to attending.  We say our goodbyes and I grab a soup-to-go. 

So, who will The Spotlight shine on next?   Are YOU game?