#Indian Dance Lessons

[richa11chandras]

Bharatnatyam

One of the oldest Indian classical dances, Bharatanatyam originated in Tamil Nadu and features precise hand gestures (mudras), intricate footwork, and expressive facial movements, often narrating Hindu mythological stories with devotion and grace.

Contact: +91 9990544993 Email: nritiragahouse@gmail.com

[keoshaarts]

Call : +91 7997101777 | Whatsapp : https://wa.me/917997101777 | Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@KeoshaArts

Believer Song Bharatanatyam dance | gabneshotsav 2024 | Hyderabad Golden temple | Keosha Arts

Watch an incredible Bharatanatyam dance performance by Keosha on the energetic 'Believer' song, presented on the auspicious occasion of Ganeshotsav 2024 at the stunning Golden Temple, Manikonda, Hyderabad. A perfect blend of traditional dance and contemporary music, this performance celebrates devotion, art, and culture. Don't miss this unique tribute to Lord Ganesha in the heart of Hyderabad!

Keosha | Bharatanatyam Dance Music Arts

#Ganeshotsav2024 #Bharatanatyam #BelieverDance #HyderabadEvents #goldentemplemanikonda

#Keosha #KeoshaArts #Bharatanatyam #Arts #Dance #Music

#Baratanathyam #ClassicalDance #IndianDance #IndianMusic #IndianClassic

Arts School Keosha Arts art is life Culture | Creativity | Celebration

[kurj]

South Indian / Tamil Miku dancing Bharatanatyam

My comments under are the cut. My other Mikus (minoan): click and click.

this time I tried to keep the design more accurate when it comes to her original colors (hence more gray) but also had to recreate the cultural outfit properly. Golden stuff kinda ruins the palette but they are a must so I guess it's a lesson for me to plan better in the future. I also skipped the leek: adding it to the "temple jewellery" wouldn't be very respectful I guess. I also kinda forgot lol.

I'm not Indian so I hope I didn't duck this up too much - I did a lot of research.

[weirdly-specific-but-ok]

i explain india but i'm drunk.

Hello maggots of mine you're all such babygirls and bastards just like Aziraphale and Crowley. I'm so proud of you all for existing. Yes i'm a wholesome drunk you now know this about me. The wine tastes like rotten grapes and smells of battery acid and cost 245 rupees INR. Speaking of INR, thanks to a maggot's ask, I'm here to explain India. I've never set foot outside of this country. But I'm also very very shit at general knowledge.

To any non-Indians reading this, this is a totally legit 1000% everything covered all-inclusive summary. To any Indians reading this, I'm so so fucking sorry.

India, explained.

So there's south india and there's north india and there's north east india. north india is very racist about south india and they're both very racist about north east india. Most of these people are also probably racist either to other countries or they have internalised racism. It's a wild trip.

There are. A lot of languages here. And a LOT of scripts. I can read two scripts, understand four Indian languages and speak in two of them (badly), and those two are not my native tongues. I cannot speak in my native tongues. It's basically English at this point. These aren't dialects, those are separate. Picture like, Europe, but more, in terms of how many languages.

Everyone hates each other which is valid for the entire planet honestly.

In south india we have a lot of coconuts. Like a lot. There are so many coconuts you have no fucking idea guys you cannot escape the coconuts. I was nearly killed by a shower of coconuts when I was 5 I escaped by one second.

There are also cows. People will tell you that you are being racist when you say India has cows everywhere. But it's true. Two weeks ago I had the pleasure to be stuck in a traffic jam. Next to the street barrier thing (what divides a street im too drunk for this) I saw a huge bull fucking HUMPING a cow. The vehicles just had to move around them. They were having sex right there.

If you're a middle class Indian kid, your career options are: doctor, engineer, scientist, CA, lawyer, government official or family disappointment.

Needless to say, I was going to be doctor and am now instead family disappointment. I'm babygirling so hard it's insane. The prodigal son.

It's very ace-friendly and heterophobic in the sense that you are not supposed to be exhibiting any sexuality whatever in a respectable household. Just shut up and give virgin birth already. But be married. That's crucial.

Oh yeah gay marriage isn't legal trans people are constantly othered by society and/or given no respect whatsover and we're just all vibing here this is totally not why I'm finishing a small bottle of cheap wine on a thursday past midnight alone in my room.

Foreigners are like a zoo species you see them you're instantly concerned like what are they doing outside the TV screens and then either people are normal (rarely), they run up and take photos or try to slip into conversation (more often than you'd think, even I've been guilty of the conversation thing as a kid) OR they start talking about how 'this western culture is ruining our culture'. Which is fair but honestly both the 'cultures' these people are talking about usually involve incredible amounts of bigotry and are more similar than they think.

I think the lesson here is that humans just suck as a species. Except for you maggots. I love you all and I will defend you with my life.

THE CHAAT. THE CHAAT IS INSANELY AMAZING. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CHAAT. I HAVE NO SPICE TOLERANCE SO I HAVE TO BEG ON MY KNEES FOR THE SPICES TO BE REDUCED BUT STILL. THE CHAAT. THE CHAAT, YOU GUYS. YOU NEED IT.

Sorry yes I'm normal. ALSO THE STREET DOGS. THE INDIES. THEY'RE SO LOVELY AND SWEET AND CHAOTIC AND I KEEP TALKING TO THEM. Once when I was crying I made the dog distress while and like five dogs that I didn't know came running to me and comforted me and licked me.

INDIAN DANCE MUSIC. I FUCKING LOVE IT IT'S INSANE. My family were elitist as fuck so I never got to listen to Bollywood music as a kid but it's AMAZING I'm so glad it exists. Bhangra too.

Beaches very very pretty hills very very pretty honestly the nature is fucking beautiful if you can just quickly pretend humans don't exist, which again is true of this entire planet. Yeah. Okay I'm so fucking drunk.

Yeah lots of diversity which is very nice when the humans aren't screaming at each other about it but the rest of the time it's very nice

The garbage and sewer stories? yeah they're all true im sorry

Traffic rules more like traffic suggestions amirite

Well, we still have far better healthcare access than america. so. there is that.

If you speak English well you'll be mocked and isolated. If you speak English poorly you'll be mocked and isolated. Honestly, just be rich. That'll fix it all.

All the conservatives hate each other and don't realise they're the exact same but in like different flavours.

Oh yeah we have auto rickshaws. Look them up. They're so much better than cars I don't get motion sick as easily in them. But the drivers all hate you and never want to take you anywhere.

Eyyyyyyyyyy it's so fucking fun here *drinsk more alcohol* I am so fucking not looking forward to college.

Please someone crowdfund me out of here let's all go chill in Alpha Centauri I've heard it's nice this time of the year.

I will, however, miss the casual live cow pornos. A true highlight.

[I got this peer-reviewed by my friend in India's top law school, just in case, because I'm too drunk and generally dumb. They say I will not be killed. And they've been on Twitter so.]

Irrefutable legal proof y'all. I don't mean to offend anyone except bigots. Fuck you, bigots, if you're not offended then I've disappointed my community.

[pynkhues]

I know you live in a different country but when I read your experience of a yoga studio in a council gym with a clinic and a nurse in it, my first thought was that could never exist in America, that sounds like a very different, much better country

I don't think it could exist in my home state either, honestly, but I feel really lucky to live in Melbourne these days, which is far from perfect as a city (it has some deeply rooted issues, trust me), but it does also have a legacy and a still-active interest in investing in community infrastructure. Getting to live that since moving here has - - yeah, been pretty amazing, and my council gym in particular is really inclusivity-minded - they have an entirely accessible private pool which is exclusively for the use of people with profound disability, run trans-only swimming classes for adults which are specifically tailored to people who might be self-conscious of their bodies as they transition, as well as adult swimming lessons for refugees (extremely important to learn to swim in Australia, coastal people that we are) and an enormous Indian dancing community that delightfully takes over the indoor basketball court once a week.

A lot of it is tied to schools - the council gym / centre I go to is basically the sports facility for every public school in the area too, so you are usually climbing over kids as you try to get to classes, haha. My favourite story about my gym is that - - okay, so they have private, separate change rooms for the school students, and I'd been for a swim and was in line for the public showers, and these two 14-ish-year-old girls came in and one of them said with their full chest: 'Oh, this is the regular old lady bathroom' - I was like, 32 at the time, and the girl behind me was probably 25, and we laughed the duration of our showers, lmao.

I'd hope that it's not a case where it couldn't exist in America, just that it might not exist where you are right now - like I said, it definitely doesn't in my home town here in Australia either - but I do think I'm lucky with Melbourne, and that it's unique as a place, and that my council gym is probably one of my favourite places to be in the world. It makes me feel really connected to community and place. Funnily enough, two of my yoga instructors recently have said it's one of their favourite places to teach for that reason too - you just really feel like you're a part of a community there, and that's a testament to the culture that the council's tried to nurture I think more than anything.

I also will say that there has been an increasing number of Americans at my gym in the last six months too, haha, but I think I have noticed an increasing number of Americans in Melbourne in general in the last six months.

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

Feelings about Bringing Back Moffat For RTD2 + Other Writers I Think Should Get the Chance

Whelp, just found out that Steven Moffat is going to be writing an episode of Fifteen and I'm just like...eh? about the whole prospect. Like, not as terrified as I once might have been but like...hoping he grew as a writer. Because even though I vastly prefer his one-offs to his overarching season ideas...let's not pretend that you couldn't see the warning signs looking back. The focus on either women as mothers (Doctor Dances) women companions as operating in service/deference to the Doctor (Empty Child/Blink) or women as the Time Traveller's Wife (Girl in the Fireplace, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead). Empty Child/Doctor Dances, Blink, and Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead are all fantastic episodes and I think Blink is the strongest one-off (though let's all remember that the ending was suggested by Gatiss, not Moffat) though I will adore Empty Child/Doctor Dances until I die (though let's not forget that Jack Harkness was an RTD invention).

I really hope he learned his lessons through writing latestage Clara and Bill as companions, but I'm honestly just as scared of his racial undertones as am of RTD's. Let's not forget that both of the black companions under Moffat (Bill&Danny) were both dehumanized/turned into Cybermen in order to service Clara and the Doctor/Missy's arcs (though Bill's ending is far better handled in terms of giving Bill her own ending than Danny's, imo), just as RTD really callously handled Martha's treatment, especially in historical episodes. That is not to say that I don't have some hope due to how Bill's race was handled in Thin Ice, but let's just say I'm cautious about getting super excited like some people are.

All of which is to say...I want Toby Whithouse to write a one-off in the RTD2 Era. Or many. I want his examination of the fucked-up and complicated psychological aspects of the Doctor/Companion relationship and even the Doctor themself (I mean he is the one who wrote School Reunion, God Complex, A Town Called Mercy, Under the Lake/Before the Flood, and Vampires of Venice).

ALSO more women and writers of color. I want to see what kind of new voices in sci-fi can be brought to the table and explore more aspects of their experiences, especially as it pertains to historical/future episodes. I'm done with pretending that Demons of the Punjab wasn't one of the best episodes of Doctor Who, and that was specifically because an Indian writer (Vinay Patel) was brought in to write it. (Also, can we see Vinay back as well? He also wrote Fugitive of the Judoon which was another banger. He's also really good at exploring character feelings/implications of time travel/memory.) I also think that Joy Wilkinson, who wrote the Witchfinders, could be a fun choice as well. I really liked the Witchfinders and I'm curious to see how she might tackle a subject matter like that again.

[gxbtx]

Peter Cat Recording Co. at The Echo Lounge

Dallas, Tx, September 22nd

   This past weekend I was honored to be able to experience the Peter Cat Recording Co in the flesh, with their performance of songs from their newest album, Beta. This album was released a hefty 5 years after their last studio album, Bismillah. After the new-found success during COVID-19, the Dahli based band went on to perform for their new-found fanbase on the Good Luck Beta Tour 24. They are in the process of traveling to perform a total of 77 shows across three continents, selling out a majority of these venues to varied crowds. 

Peter Cat Recording Co. performing at The Echo Lounge in Dallas for a crowd of about 200 people 

I can best describe Peter Cat Recording Co. (PCRC) as an Indian psychedelic jazz band, taking elements of sounds transcontinental to create a movie like experience with their studio albums. Having about a decade of tenure as a band, they come to offer an evolved sense of introspection, utilizing so many different instruments to create soundtracks to the life of struggle and other complex sentiments alike. Such as seen in A Portrait of a Time: 2010-2016, they metaphorically paint pictures of a time period in their lives in which they conceptualize their feelings in regards to aspects of the human experience by making fun of their own turmoil.

PCRC displays typical traits of a band, such as guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards, but then adds flairs of color with less common instruments such as the clarinet, accordion, saxophone, and even a banana shaker! 

The show started on the song “Flowers R Blooming”, starting off the show on the foundational lessons they center their themes around; through lyrics of “For Changing Is Living/And Living is Love”, they share a valuable insight into a perspective of living far more fulfilling and redeeming in this game we call life. This song broke tears out of me, fostering an emotional connection to the band that seems rare for me to encounter. This song gave me an outlet of emotions to express that recognition in who I am is the best thing I can do to spread love to myself and others. 

 In maturing comes sacrifice, and ultimately growth in our ability to cope and humor our sensitivities in our emotions; PCRC audiolizes (I just created a new word!) these lessons such as in the leading single “People Never Change” where they renounce the power of others to impact our moods and confidence. He reverses this happier tune with a melancholy song “Heera” from their previous studio album reflecting a low point in the singer’s life, standing at a crossroads of whether it’s too late to “live a lovely life”. The hollow guitar riff being repeated with the dissonant tones of keyboard make it out to have a ghoulish feeling from this time period. As expanded upon within his band, growing up is demonstrated in coming to terms with your emotions and wearing them on full display, becoming sensible in the process, which is what Lifafa demonstrates when he lets loose and dances along to his pain in the guitar riff.

The combination of lights tastefully adds to the psychedelic feelings filling up the room, keeping the audience invested in the growth of the artistic messages

I appreciate the diversified sounds this band created, as the lead singer Lifafa has described the instrumentation to be specially tailored to the idea of what the song’s goal is.  The creative process of starting with the idea of the song, leads the band to switch around instruments to what feels right. While members progressively came and went towards the inception of the band, the 5 members we see have become comfortable together for 6 years. The versatility reeks of the experience this band has come to acquire, providing quite an alluring experience to the dedicated audience. The Echo Lounge in Dallas venue notably accommodated PCRC elegantly, having a sophisticated theater-like quality that felt appropriate to the presentation of family established in the heartfelt odes.

Guitar player Kartik Pillai went up to play “Foolmuse,” the third leading single for Beta

On my ever-prolonged journey of learning what it takes to be a man and to be the best me I can be, this band shares valuable perspectives that come from a long pipeline of experience and wisdom cross-culturally.  In Beta, their new project released earlier last month, they further their documented maturation in life coming to share feelings associated with love and connection, as well as overcoming anxious thoughts that keep us from seeing the absolute beautiful world we see around us. Although the music can sometimes seem long and heavy, I believe PCRC displays an excellent feat of music in connecting time into thoughtful reflections of their humanity - and in a way that connects us to our own. 

To read my RadioUTD finalized version, go to https://radioutd.com/blog/2024/10/peter-cat-recording-co-at-the-echo-lounge-in-dallas/

[aakaashh]

The Grand Heritage Resort Pune – Kid-Friendly Activities & Facilities

Planning a family vacation in Maharashtra? The Grand Heritage Resort stands out as the perfect Pune resort for families with children, offering an extensive range of activities, amenities, and services designed specifically for young guests. This family-friendly destination ensures parents can relax while children enjoy safe, engaging, and memorable experiences.

1. Dedicated Children's Play Areas

• Indoor Play Zone: Climate-controlled play area with soft play equipment, slides, and interactive games perfect for toddlers and young children visiting this Pune resort for families with children.

• Outdoor Adventure Playground: Spacious outdoor area featuring swings, climbing frames, see-saws, and sandbox activities for active kids.

• Age-Appropriate Sections: Separate play zones designed for different age groups ensuring safety and appropriate entertainment for all children.

• Supervised Activities: Trained staff members provide supervision and organize group activities during peak hours at the Pune resort for families with children.

• Safety Features: All play equipment meets international safety standards with soft flooring, rounded edges, and secure installations.

2. Swimming Pool Facilities for Children

• Kids' Swimming Pool: Shallow, dedicated children's pool with colorful designs and fun water features specifically for young swimmers.

• Pool Safety Measures: Professional lifeguards on duty, safety barriers, and non-slip surfaces ensure secure swimming experiences at this Pune resort for families with children.

• Swimming Lessons: Qualified instructors offer basic swimming lessons and water safety classes for children of all skill levels.

• Pool Games and Activities: Organized water games, pool parties, and fun activities keep children entertained throughout their stay.

• Family Pool Time: Designated family swimming hours allowing parents and children to enjoy pool time together.

3. Kids' Club and Activity Programs

• Daily Activity Schedule: Structured programs including arts and crafts, storytelling, dance classes, and educational activities at the Pune resort for families with children.

• Age-Specific Groups: Programs tailored for different age ranges from toddlers to teenagers ensuring appropriate content and engagement levels.

• Creative Workshops: Hands-on activities like pottery making, painting, jewelry crafting, and science experiments to stimulate creativity.

• Cultural Activities: Traditional Indian games, folk dance lessons, and cultural storytelling sessions introducing children to local heritage.

• Professional Childcare Staff: Qualified and experienced staff members trained in child development and safety protocols.

4. Child-Friendly Dining Options

• Special Kids' Menu: Nutritious and appealing meals designed specifically for children's tastes and dietary requirements at this Pune resort for families with children.

• Interactive Dining Experiences: Live cooking demonstrations, pizza-making workshops, and ice cream sundae stations that engage young diners.

• Healthy Food Choices: Balanced meal options including fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein sources prepared in child-friendly presentations.

• Allergy-Friendly Options: Special arrangements for children with food allergies, intolerances, or specific dietary restrictions.

• High Chairs and Booster Seats: Appropriate seating arrangements and child-safe utensils available in all dining venues.

5. Entertainment and Shows

• Magic Shows: Regular magic performances and puppet shows designed to captivate and entertain young audiences.

• Movie Nights: Family-friendly film screenings in comfortable outdoor or indoor settings with popcorn and refreshments.

• Live Performances: Cultural dancers, musicians, and storytellers providing educational and entertaining performances for children at the Pune resort for families with children.

• Interactive Game Shows: Participation-based entertainment where children can join competitions and win prizes.

• Themed Celebrations: Special events during festivals, holidays, and weekends featuring costumes, decorations, and themed activities.

6. Sports and Physical Activities

• Mini Sports Courts: Child-sized basketball hoops, tennis practice walls, and badminton courts designed for young athletes.

• Cycling and Tricycle Area: Safe paths for children to ride bicycles and tricycles with rental equipment available on-site.

• Lawn Games: Organized activities like treasure hunts, relay races, and traditional outdoor games on spacious green areas.

• Yoga and Meditation: Age-appropriate yoga sessions and mindfulness activities promoting physical and mental well-being at this Pune resort for families with children.

• Adventure Activities: Supervised activities like nature walks, scavenger hunts, and outdoor exploration programs.

7. Educational and Learning Opportunities

• Nature Discovery Programs: Guided tours of resort gardens, bird watching, and environmental awareness activities for curious young minds.

• Library and Reading Corner: Well-stocked children's library with books, comics, and educational materials in multiple languages.

• Computer and Technology Classes: Basic computer skills, educational games, and age-appropriate technology learning sessions.

• Language Learning Activities: Fun English and regional language learning programs through games, songs, and interactive methods.

• Science and Discovery Workshops: Simple experiments, nature studies, and hands-on learning experiences designed for children.

8. Accommodation Features for Families

• Family-Friendly Room Configurations: Spacious family suites with separate sleeping areas for children and parents at this Pune resort for families with children.

• Child Safety Features: Electrical outlet covers, corner guards, balcony safety measures, and childproof locks on cabinets and drawers.

• Baby Equipment Rentals: Cribs, high chairs, baby baths, strollers, and other essential items available upon request.

• Connecting Rooms: Adjacent room options allowing families privacy while keeping children close and secure.

• In-Room Entertainment: Child-friendly TV channels, gaming consoles, and age-appropriate movies and shows available.

9. Health and Safety Measures

• First Aid Facilities: Trained medical staff and fully equipped first aid stations throughout the resort premises.

• Child-Safe Environment: All areas designed with child safety in mind including secure railings, non-toxic materials, and accident prevention measures.

• Emergency Protocols: Clear evacuation procedures and emergency contact systems ensuring child safety at this Pune resort for families with children.

• Health Monitoring: Temperature checks, sanitization stations, and health screening procedures for all guests and staff.

• Medical Support: On-call pediatric consultation and immediate medical assistance available 24/7.

10. Seasonal Activities and Special Programs

• Summer Camps: Extended day programs during school holidays featuring multiple activities, learning opportunities, and supervised fun.

• Festival Celebrations: Special programs during Indian festivals including Diwali, Holi, and Dussehra with child-friendly activities and cultural learning.

• Birthday Party Packages: Complete celebration arrangements including decorations, cake, entertainment, and party favors for children's birthdays.

• Holiday Themed Events: Christmas celebrations, New Year activities, and other holiday-specific programs throughout the year at the Pune resort for families with children.

• Seasonal Sports: Monsoon indoor activities, winter outdoor sports, and summer water games adapted to weather conditions.

11. Teen-Friendly Amenities

• Gaming Zone: Video games, arcade machines, pool tables, and electronic entertainment for older children and teenagers.

• Teen Lounge: Dedicated space for teenagers with comfortable seating, music, and age-appropriate social activities.

• Adventure Sports: Rock climbing walls, zip-lining, and other supervised adventure activities for older children seeking excitement.

• Photography Workshops: Digital photography classes and photo walks teaching creative skills to teenage guests.

• Music and Dance Programs: Instrument lessons, band practice sessions, and dance classes for musically inclined teenagers.

12. Parent Support Services

• Babysitting Services: Professional, trained babysitters available for parents wanting adult time while staying at this Pune resort for families with children.

• Laundry Services: Quick cleaning and pressing services for children's clothes and family laundry needs.

• Shopping Assistance: Help with purchasing children's necessities, toys, and supplies from nearby markets or resort shops.

• Transportation Support: Car seats, child-friendly transportation arrangements, and assistance with local sightseeing with children.

• Parenting Resources: Information about local pediatricians, child-friendly attractions, and family services in Pune.

Conclusion

The Grand Heritage Resort truly excels as a Pune resort for families with children, offering comprehensive facilities and services that cater to every aspect of a family vacation. From safe play areas and educational activities to child-friendly dining and entertainment options, every detail is designed to ensure children have memorable experiences while parents enjoy peace of mind.

[santanalonyada]

full name: santana diabla alejandra lopez

nicknames: san, s, auntie snixx

gender: ciswoman

pronouns: she/her

sexuality: lesbian

age: 21

date of birth: august 27

zodiac sign: virgo sun, scorpio moon (because of course), cancer rising

hometown: the bronx, new york

major/grade: musical theater / junior at nyada (she transferred mid-freshman year from the university of kentucky)

appearance:

faceclaim: lauren jauregui

voice claim: lauren jauregui (smoky mezzo / powerhouse belt)

height: 5'4"

eyes: green

hair: black, long, often styled to perfection

piercings: ears (multiple), cartilage

tattoos: n/a (maybe one small one she won’t tell you about?)

other distinguishing features: the stare. you know the one.

style: sharp, polished, femme with edge. leather jackets, bodycon dresses, bold red lipstick, designer shoes when she can swing them.

personality:

traits: sharp-tongued, loyal, ambitious, deeply protective, emotionally complex, competitive, secretly insecure, generous to her inner circle, bit of a show-off

labels / tropes: the comeback queen, the femme fatale, the misunderstood villain, the siren

mental health:…complicated. actively trying to stop defining herself by the sharp edges alone.

physical health: excellent — dance background, gym rat, takes pride in keeping her body hot stage-ready

likes: performing, winning, late-night diner runs with her people, really good eyeliner, musicals, sharp choreography, vintage records, cabernet sauvignon

dislikes: weakness (in herself), being underestimated, fake friends, being second best, losing control

fears: failure, not living up to her own hype, vulnerability being used against her, losing the people she loves

hobbies: dance, vocal arranging, watching old musicals with a glass of wine, “people watching” (aka silent judgment), occasional karaoke (don’t tell anyone)

family:

mother: maribel lopez (teacher)

father: carlos lopez (dermatologist)

siblings: none

birth order: only child

faves:

ice cream flavor: dulce de leche

time of the day / night: 1 am — city lights and empty streets

weather: crisp autumn night, leather jacket weather

breakfast food: a cafecito, the tears of people less talented than her

dinner food: traditional cuban food, she loves indian food, she has a soft spot for the olive garden

colours: red, black, deep jewel tones

song: you oughta know by alanis morisette

musings

religious cw, homophobia cw

santana is pretty similar to the santana we know and love in canon (i hope) but she's slightly tweaked for this universe.

she grew up in the boogie down bronx and would spend time with her abuela watching classic movie musicals-- west side story, damn yankees, mame, etc. santana grew up with a love of jazz, r&b, and latin music.

in school, santana joined chorus and immediately was the best singer out of the gate. she naturally had a voice that was very different from her peers and that made her stand out. she liked that.

santana was drawn to dance as a kid, too, and it's one of her favorite ways to express herself.

she never thought she needed acting lessons because she's so naturally dramatic and hilarious.

in terms of her sexuality, it's been a long road. she dated several of her male friends in middle and high school, but never felt super comfortable with them. santana fell in love with a girl in her dance class and they secretly dated for almost a year. santana was outed in school by a fellow classmate.

santana's abuela stopped speaking to her after that, believing that santana was going to hell. santana adopted the middle name diabla after that, reminding everyone she's the devil.

santana went to the university of kentucky for a while to get out of dodge, so to speak. her freshman year was pretty fucking awful. she pledged a sorority and joined their dance team but she missed home, so she flunked out of all her classes and auditioned for nyada.

she is more talented than you, her voice is more unique than yours, and she looks like that. be fucking scared.

[chessamade]

Seven of Pentacles

This piece is all the way back from July 2020. This card depicts the Iroquois legend of The Lazy Boys Who Became the Pleiades, a constellation that bears great importance in many cultures around the world. In particular I am using the version passed down by Jesse Cornplanter of the Senecan people, the variation differing only in that the last boy who glances back down to Earth falls, becoming the first pine.

The Seven of Pentacles is a card about harvesting the long term projects and goals you've set into motion. I chose the Iroquois legend because it's a story I grew up with, and which stuck to me because of its haunting imagery. The boys spend all their time dancing instead of assisting the elders in the hunt, so when they come in for food, they are denied, as a means of teaching them a lesson. Rather than move them to change their ways, this merely motivates them to dance more. Eventually they become so light-headed with hunger that their feet begin to lift from the ground, their bodies becoming so light. To the rest of the tribe's horror, the seven boys drift off into the skies. One boy, upon hearing a woman of the village call after him, turns back and falls to the Earth, becoming the first pine.

What is the lesson to be learned, here? I like to think it's a lesson that everyone in the community has a different purpose, and that not everyone is made to hunt. Some are artists and engage in dance, yet they are just as valuable as those who physically place food upon the table, and should be allowed to eat. Otherwise you lose a very essential part of your society. Then again, being an artist, I am incredibly biased towards this way of thinking.

I chose sketches of Smoke Dancing, as it is a competitive dance meant to impress with flair. It is a modern dance, really only made popular in the 1990s, though its origin is hard to place. Likewise the events of this legend take place "a long time ago," and cannot be exactly placed either. Mixing in this modern dance is a way of making the tale timeless, as again I chose the dance for its joy of the dance itself and its performative competition, as I imagine the boys caught up in their dances that worldly needs such as hunger are easy to ignore.

Insofar as how this legend fits in the card's meaning, the harvest of the village in abandoning the boys is to lose them, and the harvest of the boys' dancing is to do so eternally in the skies.

I suppose in general I wish society placed a greater value on art, and that is why this tale has stuck with me. Art, in many ways, offers immortality and a guiding light.

This is one of my charity pieces in my shop where 100% of the proceeds goes to a specific charity. This one goes to AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) which is a program my friend used to get into NASA. Being that this card is both Native and celestial, AISES seemed like an appropriate choice.

You can purchase a print here.

[readfirst-mentalhealthunfiltered]

I LOVE TO DANCE

Moms said I been dancin all my life, naturally gravitated to it, one of the very few things i can thank my father but anyway, she put me in all different dance lessons, until I gravitated to one....West Indian Folk Dancing, would be my entrance into the dance world. I'm so thankful for a mother that nurtured my passions and creativity.

What passions and creativity do you enjoy?

If im feeling happy i'm listening to house or something latin for sure, if i'm sad i will put on a sad song to dance to NOT SIT AND MOPE to or put on a happy song if i'm able and dance that little bit of blues away and BAAABAY when i'm feeling ug-lay i put on a seeexy song or two and give it all to my imaginary boo, LOL.

When you cant enjoy things that normally make you happy, do a. systems check. Are you genuinely no longer interested or are you emotions starting to groove to the wrong tune.

[keoshaarts]

Call : +91 7997101777 | Whatsapp : https://wa.me/917997101777 | Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@KeoshaArts

Believer Song Bharatanatyam Group Perfroamance at Hyderbad | Vinayaka Chavithi 2024 | Keosha | Bharatanatyam Dance Music Arts

Experience the vibrant energy of Bharatanatyam in this stunning group performance by young girls at Harivillu Apartments, Manikonda, Hyderabad, for Vinayaka Chavithi 2024. Set to the powerful beats of the popular song "Believer," the performance showcases their talent, dedication, and cultural pride. Join us in celebrating tradition with a modern twist in this unforgettable event! Don't miss out on the mesmerizing moves and captivating expressions of these young artists.

Keosha | Bharatanatyam Dance Music Arts

#Bharatanatyam #BelieverDance #VinayakaChavithi2024 #ManikondaEvents #culturalfusion

#Keosha #KeoshaArts #Bharatanatyam #Arts #Dance #Music

#Baratanathyam #ClassicalDance #IndianDance #IndianMusic #IndianClassic

Arts School Keosha Arts art is life Culture | Creativity | Celebration

[robinpronto]

Being Métis

The past few months have had me reflecting on what it is to be Métis, to me...

Most of my life I only knew it meant I was half Cree Indian and half French. And I had no idea what it was to be Cree or French. Adopted as an infant, it wasn't until I found my biological mother on facebook that I had any real desire to learn about my cultural heritage, nevermind practice. Any of it. Cree. French. Métis. Scandinavian (although this was unknown until recently - I only knew my father was caucasian with blonde hair and blue eyes, which I didn't at all identify with, looking in the mirror).

Growing up in suburban southern Alberta through the 80s and 90s, the attitudes towards 'indians' and francophones weren't so positive, which of course didn't encourage me and quite likely contributed to some self-loathing. I never experienced any racism directly, that I know of... however I often was privy to racist remarks and jokes about others of Indigenous and French heritage, and why would I want to identify with that? ...even though, subconsciously, I did.

As a young adult in the late 90s and early 2000s I held membership with the Métis Nation of Alberta, and even attended a youth entrepreneurship conference... however that changed with the new National Definition of Métis for Citizenship in 2003 and new MNA membership card in 2006... Without any information on family history, I could no longer 'officially' claim to be Métis. Labels like "non-status indian" and "pretendian" were among those that remained... and so I continued to ignore my heritage until facebook connected me with my mother.

Over the last five years, in addition to my mother, sisters, and nephews, I have met all my living aunties and uncles, many cousins, and my moshum, who has since passed. I have also reclaimed 'official' membership with the Métis Nation of Alberta as of 2021 and in 2023 attended both Métis Fest and Connecting Through Culture Métis Family Retreat at Métis Crossing with my children, and a number of other gatherings and events since. Further, I've learned that a number of my ancestors played important roles in Canada's history - like Cuthbert Grant (1793 ~ 1894) and Pierre Parenteau (1817 ~ 1893), among others. I have also learned that I have a significant amount of Scottish Métis ancestry on my mother's side, and that my father's ancestry allegedly connects us as descendants of Leif Erikson and Erik the Red, but the latter is a topic for another time.

So what is it to be Métis? Speaking Michif? Wearing a sash? Playing a fiddle? Canoeing? Hunting and trapping? Dancing the jig? There certainly was a time when these were all a regular part of daily life for generations of my ancestors, however I do not believe it was these things that defined who they were (and we are now), but rather it is the core Métis values:

Community, Networking, and Kinship - respect for elders, regular family gatherings, music and dance, sharing (especially food); wâkôhtowin - kinship, particularly one's relationship with, and responsibilities within, the communities and networks of which one is a part.

Traditional Storytelling - history and moral lessons were communicated through stories, rooted in spirituality and traditional indigenous cosmologies.

Mobility and Adaptability - traditionally semi-nomadic, following the reproductive and ripening cycles of flora and fauna (seasonal gardens, bison hunting, berry picking, trapping, fishing), and well-known for their adaptability, producing almost everything they needed to survive.

Resilience - the Métis people have repeatedly resisted colonial expansion and fought for their rights as a nation for over two hundred years. And that fight continues; otipemisiwâk - the people who own themselves.

The Métis were (and still are) people who lived in the spaces between what was and what is; we are from two very different worlds and often facilitated trade and connections between first nations and settlers. We belong to both groups and neither. We are a new nation of people, born of colonization. From both the old world and the new, yet belonging to neither.

From an evolutionary perspective, we are the product of human genetics that evolved separately for a very long time, bringing expanded variations and possibilities to human expression, not seen or even possible before... and from this perspective there are many new nations in the world today. I have truly been blessed with bougie heirloom DNA drawn from at least four separate cultures aged separately, resulting in an interesting blend of... me. 😂 And with all the personal archaeology I've done of late, I have some first-hand experience around the nature-nurture debate - a significant part of who I am as a person is literally in my bones (and they're both important).

To me, being Métis is all of this. It is to be here on the frontier of human existence. It is to inherit all that came before, and to utilize it in ways that work for who we are now and where we're going, while still honouring and respecting the wisdom in the knowledge entrusted to us... It is to boldly claim one's place in the world and to honour the relationships and responsibilities that go with it. And it is knowing that we are, truly, all related. ♾️

[therecordchanger62279]

THE 10 BEST BASEBALL FILMS

     At one time, baseball was America’s National Pastime. It was mine, too. Now I find the game unwatchable. I haven’t watched a game since the Cleveland Indians became the Cleveland Guardians. I don’t like the pitch clock or bigger bases, or making shifts illegal, or ghost runners at second base to shorten extra inning games. The current commissioner has driven the final nail in the coffin of what was, at one time, the only perfect sport in America.

     Fortunately, when I need a baseball fix, it’s Hollywood to the rescue with several films that depict the magic and beauty of the game I grew up watching. Here are my choices for the 10 best baseball films with a few honorable mentions at the end. Play ball!

  1. Bull Durham

      What makes Bull Durham special, and what sets it apart from most other baseball films is that it’s set in the minor leagues – specifically Durham, North Carolina. And that captures the purity and the essence of what was once the greatest game of all. The film is also populated with the most colorful cast of characters imaginable. It has signature, career-defining roles for both Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon. It has drama, comedy, philosophy, wisdom, successes and failures, and if I could choose to live my life inside one film, it would be this one.

  2. Field of Dreams

     If you’ve seen Field of Dreams, and did not shed even a single tear, you’re either made of stone or you grew up in Europe. This is pure magic from start to finish, and James Earl Jones, Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, and Ray Liotta are all brilliant.

  3. The Natural

     A mythmaking masterpiece. They were smart enough to change the ending from what it was in Bernard Malamud’s book so that audiences would embrace the film, a happy ending insuring its classic status. But it’s that rare work where both film and book – with entirely different endings, and messages – remain completely relevant and true to what was, and what is now Major League Baseball.

  4. Trouble with The Curve

     This might well be viewed, in years to come, as the last great film ever made about baseball. First, because it is a truly great film, and second, because it’s hard to imagine a Hollywood studio ever greenlighting a film about baseball ever again. Clint Eastwood had the clout to get this one made under the wire, and it’s a real gem. The relationship between Eastwood’s aging scout, and the organization becomes secondary to the one between Eastwood’s character, and that of his daughter played by Amy Adams in a performance that is Oscar worthy. Even Justin Timberlake shines in this one.

  5. Damn Yankees

     I am not now, and never have been a fan of musicals. There are fewer than a dozen in the history of Hollywood that I can watch anytime. Damn Yankees is one of them. You get the ancient tale of the Devil himself convincing a man to sell his soul for a prize he can have no other way, only to see him double-crossed. Gwen Verdon as the temptress Lola, and Ray Walston as Satan steal the picture. The cast is singing and dancing throughout, but somehow it all works. A classic, for sure.

  6. Moneyball

     A modern baseball film in the sense that it tells the true story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt) using sabermetrics, and a different approach to scouting players to help his small market team compete with the richer, big market teams. It worked briefly even if the team was unable to sustain its success. And that should’ve been a lesson to Baseball GMs about sabermetrics and its shortcomings. But it wasn’t. The film, however, is very well done, and both Pitt, and Jonah Hill in the right-hand man role are excellent.

  7. Major League

     Great fun to watch, and a sentimental favorite for someone who grew up following the hapless Cleveland Indians, and dreaming of the day they would again win a World Series. That never happened, of course, and now it never will because the Cleveland Indians no longer exist – victims of Woke culture, and spineless ownership. At least the film survives.

  8. The Bad News Bears

     A must see if for no other reason than the performance of then 12-year-old Tatum O’Neal as the little league team’s ace pitcher. Walter Matthau is perfect as the gruff manager of a bunch of underachieving kids who manage to turn their fortunes around.

  9. For Love of the Game

     The third, and least noticed of the Kevin Costner baseball movies. The premise is that Billy Chappell (Costner) is pitching what may be the final game of his career – or not, depending on what happens with the team’s decision to trade him elsewhere. The hook is that he is throwing a perfect game, and inning-to-inning the audience sees his career path and relationship failures in flashbacks. The late Kelly Preston raises the film to a higher level with a pitch perfect performance as his tolerant, but damaged girlfriend. If you buy the premise, it’s a good watch, and you get the bonus of the late, great Vin Scully doing the play-by-play voiceovers during the game sequences.

10. A League of Their Own

     The true story of a women’s baseball league which came into being during the early 1940s when so many of the men were off fighting World War II. Garry Marshall and David Strathairn play the masterminds behind it, Tom Hanks is the team’s manager, and Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, Lori Petty, and Madonna head-up the cast of players. Penny Marshall directs. It all works because the story is a good one, and the cast is just right.

Honorable mentions:

     Angels in the Outfield. This is the 1951 original starring William Bendix as the manager of a terrible baseball team who gets some timely advice, and some on-field assistance from a team of heavenly angels who answered a prayer offered up by an 8-year-old orphaned girl who wanted to see the team succeed. It’s fluff, and corny, and irresistible because of it.

     Bang the Drum Slowly. The story of a pitcher (Michael Moriarty), and a catcher (Robert DiNiro) who bond when Moriarty’s character discovers that his catcher has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, and doesn’t have long to live. He rallies the team around him to keep the catcher from being sent down to the minors so he can finish his career and his life among friends in the Majors. It’s a tear-jerker to be sure, but the performances make it a must see.

     Ken Burn’s Baseball.

   A ten-part documentary on the game’s history beginning with its origins in the mid-1800s. It has its flaws, but it’s essential viewing for fans – especially now as it documents the sport as it no longer exists.

[bleachbleachbleach]

Reading Update

Not Bleach-related, but since this is where I've been putting my writing updates, in my mind it's also where my reading ones should go. I basically only get to read things May-August, so I've been on a tear. But I keep reading things I don't end up liking? Which, HELP. WHY.

It makes me feel like such a hater, or someone who's too closed-off to things outside of my expectations that I automatically, anti-intellectually hate it, but then I'm like, okay, but I have not picked up a single fanfic this year that I did not think was brilliant. I have seen three movies this year I thought were brilliant (Fancy Dance, Evil Does Not Exist, and the Haikyuu movie, the last of which is definitely 100% like the other two)! I have read a lot of really fantastic article-length creative nonfiction that I also found brilliant!

MAYBE I JUST DON'T LIKE BOOKS.

Books I Really Liked

The Souvenir Museum - Elizabeth McCracken

Flux - Jinwoo Chong

Run Me To Earth - Paul Yoon

Shadow Life - Hiromi Goto

I know I just said "not Bleach-related," I actually think some Bleach folks would be into a lot of these, depending on where your specific interests within Bleach lie.

The Souvenir Museum had fabulous character work, and I love what I'm beginning to feel is something signature about McCracken, in that most of these stories were realist New England fiction and then out of the blue she slid one in there that was sorta-supernatural and also about cannibalism. Love that for her! Love that for me.

Flux is a speculative time travel thriller, but where it stands out is how much trust it places in its audience to follow along and hop in medias res with all these characters and premises. There's no extraneous exposition or explainers; it just drops you in the deep end and it's so much fun. There's also a lot in this book that is about TV and fandom and while I usually find it hard to buy into depictions of these things this book gets it so, so right for me. And the dialogue is fantastically tight and snappy and so full of life--I loved Part 1 in particular, and the book is worth it just for that!

Run Me To Earth is beautiful. Trenchant, haunting. Each character feels like a small poem, living and breathing and doing their best to avoid unexploded ordinances while riding a motorbike. And bonus Inuzuri vibes for me

(And Shadow Life I already talked about here. That's the one where a lady traps Death inside of her vacuum cleaner.)

Books I Am Actively Annoyed By

All That’s Left Unsaid - Tracey Lien

Your Driver is Waiting - Priya Guns

The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu - Tom Lin

AKA "maybe I just don't like genre fiction." These were a mystery, lesbian thriller, and western, respectively, and the whole time I was basically like, "we're really just doing this, huh?" In each of these, the character work wasn't strong enough to make the story, and I guess from each I expected more critical engagement with the genre? And not "we're going to un-self-consciously depict and then slaughter a bunch of bloodthirsty Indians because THAT'S WHAT WESTERNS DO." These were all books that sounded theoretically interesting to me but in practice were very not.

Nonfiction That I Wish Had Been Better

Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals - Alexis Pauline Gumbs

Dear Elia - Mimi Khuc

What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape - Sohaila Abdulali

Mott Street - Ava Chin

How to Read Now, Elaine Castillo

Eating Wildly - Ava Chin [DNF]

I think I'm just a pop nonfiction hater, because my issue with all of these is that they often felt like too-superficial treatments of their subject or seemed extremely (sometimes intentionally) undercited. Multiple of these kept making assertions about having developed an original thesis/practice or never having seen X in the world, when that's simply not true. These just make me think about all of the stylistically brilliant, incredibly thoughtful creative nonfiction being published online/in magazines, and how pale these book-length treatments feel in comparison.

(Almost) Everything Else

River East, River West - Aub Rey Lescure (this is the Naruto hentai book)

Our Missing Hearts - Celeste Ng

I Would Meet You Anywhere - Susan Ito

Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties - Kevin Gascoyne

Bowlaway - Elizabeth McCracken

Book I Could Not Physically Read Because I Hated it So Much I Couldn't Stand It

The Leftover Woman, Jean Kwok

Future Reads

Four Treasures of the Sky - Jenny Zhang

Pnin - Vladimir Nabokov

Miko Kings, LeAnne Howe

A Bestiary - Lily Hoang

[twinsarekeepers]

Desi Joey Potter

Headcanons:

Hyderabadi

Full name is Joshina Potter. Wanted to be called Jo after reading Little Woman for the first time and as is the way of an Indian mother’s endearments, Lily added a little “ey” sound at the end.

used to take dance lessons in the city when she was younger, but had to stop when her mom got sick and money became tight. Started practicing at home by herself at her mom’s behest. That’s her special talent at the beauty contest.

loves making her own henna from the plant that her mother used to take care of and uses it in her art sometimes as well. They have store bought cones at home from Boston, but she and Bessie like to save those for special occasions.

oils her hair every Friday with Bessie. Hers is straight like their dad’s and Bessie’s is curly like their mom’s.

pairs kurtis with jeans all the time. Likes the ones with minimal embroidery, mostly around the neckline. Preferred length is slightly above the knee.

helps Bessie run the only Indian restaurant in Cape Cod. It’s super busy most of the time because people from neighboring towns come in often.

stereotypes about South Asians conflict with the reality of her family’s situation which makes the scrutiny from the rest of the town even more difficult to deal with and the cause of her judgments and hang ups about sex.

found her mom’s old bangles in the attic while renovations for the B&B were going on and wore them to the anti-prom.

always wears a simple gharara, sharara, or lehenga to formal dances and likes to wear traditional jewelry as well, which is why she’s uncomfortable when Dawson gives her his mother’s earrings.

wants to visit India instead of France to connect with her ancestral roots, but wants to get out of Capeside regardless. Counselor still offers trip to Paris and she still declines because of Dawson.

when her and Pacey go on their summer sail boat adventure, they stop in New York and visit Jackson Heights on their way back. He buys her a painting of the Laad Bazaar from a vendor.