Interview With Paloma
by Cary
How did you first get interested in belly dancing?
In the summer or 02 I went to a Ren Faire and saw Hahbi Ru which was a folkloric troupe. I saw they were different from the sparely hoochie coochie stuff most people associate with belly dance and thought the aesthetic was kind of dark so I liked it. The following summer I was taking math classes and my grandmother thought I was becoming a blob so she suggested I took some dance classes. Luckily the local community center had some belly dance lessons. So that's how I first dove in.
Do you come from a background of training in the arts?
I got kicked out of my ballet school when I was little because all I wanted to do was spin and do my own choreographies. My mom thought maybe I should be a musician so she got me started on the violin at age four. I wasn't really interested so I quit when I was about 12 or so. I was much more interested in singing, so eventually I started taking lessons in classical and opera and in high school I joined a girls choir. We had a really good chemistry and eventually went on tour in Europe which was amazing.
Where is your favorite place to perform?
My favorite place to perform would probably be the Regent Theater in Arlington, MA. One of my first BIG performances was there and my teacher and primary inspiration were performing (it was one of their tour stops) and it was just so exhilarating and memorable. Every year since there has been a performance there (although we now perform in the downstairs theater) so it houses a lot of good memories.
I also have to give a shout out to DC. Their dance scene is phenomenal and truly inspiring.
Has anything crazy ever happened at a show?
Not really...although one time at a studio some guy I went on a few dates with appeared in the audience after I had stopped answering all of his messages. I was weirded out and snuck out the back door and left right after my number.
What are your favorite types of outfits to model in?
Gothy clothes. I love black and finery and usually goth wears are dripping in opulent accessories. Dance clothes too... although the shoots are really intense because you can be holding some awkward poses I love dance related stuff.
What are your least favorites?
I don't usually complain but I'd have to say unflattering ones (obviously) and traditionally slutty outfits kind of irritate me.
Are there any other creative mediums you work in?
I do Chinese style painting and make clothing and accessories.
What kind of music do you like?
I love classical, specifically Baroque. I'm also quite a fan of synthpop. Lately I've been listening to Maduro though. I find his song "Poppies" really inspiring now.
What do you like to do for fun?
Aside from dance... I love to look at contemplate visual art. I'm working on my degree in Art History so I like to read about art and art theory. I also like to learn foreign languages, I've studied quite a few but have really only reached a adequate level of fluency in Japanese and German.
See more of Paloma at:
www.myspace.com/hieristdunkel
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