provide travel costs for 1 vendor and
1 instructor each year. This provides
more opportunity for them and us!
I enjoyed having the opportunity to
perform this year and hope to be able
to again. It was a wonderful experience
to share the stage with so much beauty
and talent, and I am glad to have put
forth the extra effort to make it happen
for myself and my dance mates.
Although this was not my first time
performing at the ABDC, it was my
first time to do so as a full-time staff
Volunteer. It’s not that I feel I could
not have performed previous years if
I had pursued it, but I think that now
that I have gotten to know my routine,
as well as all the folks I am working
with a bit better, and with mental pre-
planning, I had more confidence to try.
The Convention is all about learning
and, as I said before, ABDC
volunteers are compensated well for
their time. I wasn’t going to pass up
the generosity, so this year I managed
to also fit in two fabulous workshops,
with Vanessa Raqs of Cairo covering
folkloric elements in a belly dance
cocktail, and with Michelle Sorenson,
learning some of her new and always
fascinating fusion combos.
Amara
Photo by Joe Spitler
Then, like each year before, we all say our goodbyes, take
group photos, do some last-minute shopping and pack it all
up till next time.
So, to finally answer the question, “Why do I volunteer?” I
volunteer because it gives me opportunity, education, and
friendship that I look forward to each year at the ABDC,
and also because it is important. Maybe you would like to
try it...
See you at The Austin Bellydance Convention,
June 26-28, 2020!!
62
The Belly Dance Chronicles
January 2020
RACHEL MORRIS
Rachel “Roulette” Morris is a dancer,
instructor, and choreographer in Corpus
Christi, Texas. Dancing her entire life,
Rachel discovered Bellydance originally
when her mother took up “Cabaret”
lessons while her family was stationed in
Butzbach, Germany, around 1977. Rediscovery of “Tribal Style”, 10 years
later, at a Wisconsin Renaissance fair. It took another 20 years before she
took her first class at age 36. Now 10 years into her beloved hobby she has
produced shows, workshops, and directed a performance troupe. Rachel
embraces all this dance form has to offer and cannot wait to see what the
future has in store.