Based out of the Seattle area, Manon (pronounced Ma-no) has been dancing for close to four years. She started to take the step from dance student to dance professional about a year ago when she “took ownership of the dance”.
As with many things people try initially but find themselves at a stalling point to go further, Manon found herself "afraid" to perform until an instructor of hers, Sian, asked her “Why are you doing this dance if you are afraid?!”. That was the turning point for Manon. Now she performs locally at various restaurants, Haflas, festivals and even gets gigs out of the state. She also is a dancer that continues to take classes since you can never learn too much.Manon is a dancer that ops not to choreograph her performance…she just goes with the flow of the music and lets what happens come naturally. Watching her, however, you wouldn’t be able to tell. She is beautiful, graceful, oozes personality, sensuality and has a sincere LOVE for the dance. She is a dancer that aspires & succeeds in giving to her audience vs. being the performer who wants their audience to give to THEM…as in after performance compliments, cheers and applause. Manon prefers to dance to LIVE music, too. She cites that there is a bond between band/musician & dancer in which the two entities work together for a one of a kind creative expression.
She giggles when I ask her what her worst or embarrassing dance experience has been and ironically it had happened a week before our interview.
Manon was dancing in a restaurant and the next thing she knew, her skirt had found its way down past her hips. A sister dancer kindly assisted in helping her reposition the skirt and she continued to dance with a smile on her face. She recalls thinking to herself, “I am officially a bellydancer now!”.She also noted that her best performance came earlier this year in January. After her performance in a restaurant/café, two young women came up to her and said ‘We felt like you were dancing for US!”. Mission accomplished. Manon is a dancer that wants more than anything for the audience to take away something with them from her performance.
Her pre-performance ritual is a simple yet powerful one: she affirms mentally and in written form. She affirms to “dance beautifully” for her and the audience. "Claim it!"
And talk about goals! This woman has many. As she reveals one of her goals, her face & eyes light up when she talks about it: she wants to open a studio for Movement Therapy for autistic children, those suffering from MS, victims of car accidents, etc. and of course a place for those who just want to study bellydancing. She is a firm believer that music and movement can help and heal mentally and physically.
Manon the dancer & Manon the person go hand in hand. She is captivating on & off the stage.
Photo credits:
B&W photo taken by Lawrence Mason
Color photos taken by R. O'neil Edwards
