Volume #6 June 2006

Zen Pant in red jersey knit with Shiva Sweep

Zen Pant in red jersey knit with Shaktie Shortie

Zen Pant in black jersey knit with Shiva Sweep

For the dancing goddess
in all of us!

Zen Pants
Luxurious pants, worn like a skirt, full, stretchy, and flowing, with a turned down waistband to fold over your Shiva Sides, Sweeps, and or Shaktie Shorties.

Small, Medium, and Large/Xlarge in Short, Regular, and Tall lengths

Velvets, cotton blends, jerseys, and shiny lurexes. $75.00

Shiva Sweep
A long skirt like layer, with an open front to show what’s underneath—it spins wonderfully, Stretchy Sparkly, Gauzy, Lace, Cotton, Net…

Small, Medium, Large/Xlarge. $65.00

Shiva Side
A pointed, stretchy hip drape. Layer it over the Zen Pant, the Sweep , or any of your other tribal gear (they even look great over jeans!) layer one or two or three- in Lace, Net, Sheer Gauze, Cotton, Shiny Lurex….

Small, Medium, and Large/Xlarge. $26.00

Shaktie Shorties
How cute are these?  Over the Zen Pant, or with all of the other layers- in Velvets, Nets, Cottons, Shiny, Ribbony, and mixed fabrics…

Small, Medium, and Large/Xlarge. $26.00

Online ordering for all
Missy P clothing
coming soon! Call Caravan Studio at 503-287-1794 if you wish to purchase what we currently have in stock.

In our May enews the Breitenbush photos were provided by Lexi Hiou.

Charleston, South Carolina
June 23-25, 2006
with Paulette and Michele
Contact Mary for details.

Teachers for
the 5th Annual
Tribal Quest NorthWest
 August 2-6, 2006
Portland, Oregon...

Suhaila Salimpour (CA)
Carolena and
FatChance BellyDance (CA)
Megha with Devyani (GA)
Samantha from
Boom Boom Bollywood (AZ)
UNMATA (CA)
Elizabeth Strong (CA)
Tribal Feat (CA)
Shuvani (CA)
Mahaila(CA)
Gypsy Fire (OR)
Gypsy Caravan
Dance Company (OR)
Urban Gypsy (TX)
Janice Solimeno (CA)
Jeff Rees (OR)
Sabine (OR)
Ziad (CA)
Severina (OR)

Paulette at Tribal Cafe in California
August 18-19, 2006

Paulette/ Gypsy Caravan in Fargo, ND
 September 2 and 3, 2006
Contact Cherish

Teachers for
Tribal Quest MidWest
October 27-29, 2006
Columbus, Ohio...

Gypsy Caravan
Zafira Dance Company
Urban Tribal
Judy Piazza
John Compton from Hahbi'Ru
Mizna with Jeff Rees, Doug Shafer, and JD Devros

Online registration will be available June 23 on the Gypsy Caravan website!

Evergreen Colorado
with Paulette and Michele
November 18-19, 2006
Contact MARRAKECH IMPORTS

For more information about these workshops and workshops hosted at
Caravan Studio,
please visit our website.

Tribal Travels with
Paulette Rees-Denis

Since the last e-newsletter, what has happened in Portland? The roses are blooming like crazy here in Rose City, along with the luscious peonies, the magnificent paper-like red poppies, and the multi-hued lettuces, which are ready to pick and eat. Did I say the roses are bursting? Yes, it is garden mecca here, especially at this time of year.

Photo by Bruce Beaton.

In our dance world what has gone on? It seems that the past few months were so action-packed with travels away and others coming to town, that this month it seems like we have been taking some breathing room. Then I think a little bit harder and realize, laughlingly, that both Urban Berbers and Gypsy Caravan have had a ton of local gigs—we just had four shows this weekend. Okay, well…

We are gearing up for Tribal Quest now; it will be here sooner that we think. Jen is hard at work in the office taking care of the registrations and the party preparations—almost all of the workshops are sold out. We will have our Saturday night after party registration ready any moment and have some surprise performances for you that night. Then we are moving onto Tribal Quest MidWest in October, the Tribal Quest UK next year!

At Caravan Studio, Jeff has put some new touches in our souk; nothing like a few changes to rev up the energy. We have a fab new gal, Amy, assisting in the office, along with Marisa. So say hello and introduce yourself when you are here.

Last week at Tribal Lounge Gypsy performed with Raquy and the Cavemen. What a blast! And what great drumming. They were so tight and full of drive; the dance floor was rocking. This is one of those bands that you have to see live to appreciate the energy. I felt that way about the Gypsy Caravan musicians too. I love their CDs, but to see them live was just a powerhouse of energy and joy and fun. Raquy is like that. In person, she seems very quiet, and put a drum in her hands, and she is wailing. All her musicians kicked too. Hopefully we can bring them back here for more, but check them out if they tour near you.

Last week Jen, Karen, and I headed off to the Northern Migration festival in Buffalo, New York, to teach and perform. Kim did it right, up there in Niagara Falls with a great lineup of teachers and action packed workshops. It was a blast to go back and visit with the gals I met last time I was there and see lots of new faces. I'll tell you more about it next month. Also about Michele's and my trip to Charleston, South Carolina for another very full weekend of more dancing next week.

Tiffany, from Suhaila’s, was at the studio for another butt-crunching long day of sweat and laughter. And Judy Piazza will be joining us again this December at Breitenbush Hot Springs, another annual weekend for women that we host. Bring you frame drums and be ready for a weekend of chanting, magical moments, and of course trancing and tribal dancing! If you haven’t had that opportunity to meet and study with Judy, she is an amazing musician—it’s as if she is a channel when you watch her play and sing, the spirit just flows through and out of her. And a beautiful teacher too. (She will be at Tribal Quest MidWest too.)

Oh yes, the two new DVDs will be out in two weeks (I know they are a little late), so we are happy about that, and you will be able to meet our two newest dancers in Gypsy on #7. Jeff is still in the recording studio working on that CD with Mizna. And teacher training is coming up right before TQNW.

 In between the traveling, grad school, and work at the studio, I am trying to throw in some camping time with Jeff and our pup, Rika, in our little T@B trailer, around these gorgeous local stomping grounds here in the outstanding Pacific Northwest. Remember last month I talked about balance and taking time for oneself. How are you all doing with that? I’m doing pretty good—it’s amazing the clarity and groundedness one can feel when a little extra time is taken to stop, taking sometimes even moments to just breath and look around, and sometimes (and preferably) more than just moments. Bliss, ah…

Zen Pants in purple and red velvet with Shiva Side

But the BIG news here in the homefront is my new costuming line, Missy P Dancewear, has been introduced! Here I am, like a proud mama again. It is fantastic. My seamstress and artist extraordinaire who brought my vision to life—Annie Eschaia—has done a miraculous job, along with the lovely sewing women—Anna and Uma—and I am thrilled. (Check out the photos on the side bar.) With all the fabulous fusion in tribal costuming, I’ve been thinking for some time that I never want to lose the skirt. The skirt is so feminine and can lend itself to so many variations—short or long, multi-colored or solid, even different styles and ethnicities, plus it is so ultimately part of the tribal look.  I also love the pant craze that has wildly taken over. So with the Missy P pants we have combined the best of both worlds, and it can look so funky and yet so elegant. The line consists of Zen Pants, those fabulous skirt meets pants dance piece that is a must—of slinkily soft jerseys, smooth velvets, or with extras of super sparkly flowing fabrics. Let’s talk about layering—first you start with a Shiva Sweep, a long skirt like layer that sweeps around you, giving off the subtle hint of the pants underneath. Add a Shiva Side or three of various fabrics—lace, velvet, net, and cotton—and over that or by itself a Shakti Shortie—a cute little panel skirt in any of the fun fabrics. Top that with some Turkish tassels, a metal and fabric belt, or layers of coins, and wow. And whatever you want on top—velvet cholis, Indian-print tops, sheer wrap tops, tunics, coin bras. Go ethnic, gothic, funky. Make it your own. And comfortable, oh my, the dancers are wearing them for everything. Michele says she never wants to take hers off—now that’s a walking endorsement. And the name, Missy P, that is what my godchild used to call me, so there you have it. Let me know what you think.

By the way, Tribal Quest NorthWest was nominated for “Favorite Event” by the readers of Zaghareet magazine—thank you everyone! If you want to vote on that or the other categories—there are so many great people nominated it would be hard to choose, the deadline is August 15th. You can go to http://www.zaghareet.com/ and check it out.

May you always dance with passion and joy, and enjoy the beginning of summer! See you soon.        

You can write Paulette at paulette@gypsycaravan.us

©2006