by Karien | Jul 1, 2026 | hips and bits, Uncategorized
Hips and Bits #11
with me, Paulette Rees-Denis
and today’s guest dancer
Alica D’Arcy from Australia
Hello Beautiful Souls,
This week on Hips and Bits, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the lovely Alica D’Arcy from Bendigo, Australia.
Alica is a dancer, teacher, community-builder, and the heart behind Solaris Dance Collective and Bendigo Tribal Fest. She has been dancing and teaching belly dance for 25 years, and her Global Caravan journey began at a workshop with Nina Martinez in 2018.
At a time when Alica felt she had lost some of her joy for dance, that first Global Caravan experience opened something back up in her. She shares how the dance helped her reconnect with her body, rediscover her passion, and find a supportive community that continues to inspire her.
In our conversation, we talk about the beauty of gathering dancers together, the importance of allowing the dance to truly settle into the body, and the joy of remaining a student—even when you are also a teacher.
Alica also shares a lovely reminder that when the music is in your body and the movement becomes familiar, dance can become a place of mindfulness and presence.
So enjoy our conversation, watch here on YouTube:
or listen in on SoundCloud or Spotify.
More About Alica!
Alica D’Arcy has been dancing and teaching various styles of belly dance for 25 years in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. She leads weekly classes with her tribe, Solaris Dance Collective, along with monthly workshops, haflas, and community performances.
Since beginning her Global Caravan Dance journey in 2018, Alica has completed Collective Soul Levels 1–5, Teacher Training Levels 1–2, and Tribal Group Teacher Training. This year, she is looking forward to continuing her studies with CS6 in Cairns and TT3 online.
Her vision is to continue growing a vibrant and inclusive Global Caravan community in Central Victoria—one that supports creativity, self-expression, connection, and joy.
I hope you enjoy this heartfelt conversation with Alica as much as I did.
💃 Watch the latest episode of Hips and Bits and let us know:
What brings you back to joy?
~~~~~~~~~~
Lots of new good stuff coming up. Make sure to sign up to keep updated on all the goodness!
www.paulettereesdenis.com
With gratitude…thanks for being here. I love you
Paulette
~~~~~~~~~~~
What’s coming up?
Would you like that free strategy session with me?
Book here:
https://calendly.com/paulettecoach/steppingintoyournextchapterstrategycall
And you can join in Stepping Into Your Next Chapter, my private women’s group where we raise all kinds of energy, talk dance and desire, on FB, right here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintoyournextchapter
by Paulette Rees-Denis | Jul 2, 2024 | Uncategorized
The Power of Movement for Women in Mid-Life: Today on FB Live
Reconnecting with Your Body’s Strength and Vitality
Can you imagine how incredible your body would feel to re-find find those things that used to make your body strong and and nourish your whole being?
Make sure to tune in, join up in our private women’s group on FB,
Dance with Desire,
Today, Tuesday, 1:00 PST/ 4:00 EST, for another
Lively Conversation about Embracing Change in Mid-Life
Today’s topic: Movement
This is our new weekly conversation in our group!
As women, we often find ourselves juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, leaving little time for our own well-being. Time to change that! One aspect of self-care that I talk about ALL the time, and that should never be overlooked is movement.
I see so many women as they get older, getting disconnected from that joyful and invigorating idea of moving their bodies. And even fearful of going out dancing and taking some sort of movement class, saying their are too old, they don’t remember, they haven’t danced since college, etc, etc, etc!
Moving our bodies regularly is essential for both our physical, spiritual, and emotional health, especially as we step into our mid-life experience.
YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO MOVE THAT BODY
The Benefits of Movement for Women in Mid-Life
Let me count the ways…
…countless benefits to continue, or start, moving our bodies, with a fresh start, or adding in something different:
- Improved mood: Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects.
- Reduced risk of chronic diseases: Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.
- Increased energy levels: Regular exercise can help us feel more energized throughout the day.
- Stronger bones and muscles: Exercise helps to build and maintain strong bones and muscles, which can help us stay active and independent as we age.
- Improved sleep: Exercise can help us fall asleep more easily and sleep more soundly.
- Reduced stress: Exercise can be a great way to relieve stress and tension.
There are many different ways to move your body, so find something you enjoy and stick with it. I’ve always been a dancer, and many of my students and clients are dancers, but even with that mode of movement, cross-training, or doing something different is important for our bodies to continue to stay strong, flexible, and feeling great.
STEP OUT OF YOUR BOX!
Imagine that great feeling of moving with more ease and joy in that beautiful divine bod!
What cha’ gonna do?
- Walking: Walking is a great way to get some low-impact exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes of walking most days of the week. This is my non-negotiable every day. So important for my well-being and my mood, and how to start the day.
- Running: Running is a great way to get your heart rate up and burn calories. If you’re new to running, start slowly and gradually increase your distance and speed over time. You might be surprised how running can get your juju moving!
- Dancing: Dancing is a fun and social way to get some exercise. Find a dance class you enjoy or put on your favorite music and dance around your living room or go out rock n’rolling. Always! I’ve been dancing since I was 7, and for those of you who aren’t familiar, I run a global bellydance company and enjoy the group styling of this dance, plus the sensual, exotic, feminine energy this evokes. (Global Caravan Tribal Bellydance). But I love all kinds of dancing including country line dancing, and meditative movement.
- Yoga: Yoga is a great way to improve flexibility, strength, and balance. There are many different types of yoga classes, so find one that’s right for you.
- Pilates: Pilates is a low-impact exercise that focuses on core strength, flexibility, and balance. Pilates can be done on a mat or with specialized equipment. Gotta keep that core strength as that is were we move from, our own power and creative center.
- Gym workouts: with machines and weight training and cardio… I just love going to the gym. I love being in my body
Listen to Your Body
A little at a time, One step at a time…just take the first step.
Don’t forget…it’s important to listen to your body when you’re exercising. If you’re feeling pain, stop and rest. Don’t push yourself too hard, especially if you’re new to exercise. Start slowly and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts over time.
Moving your body is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health and well-being. So find something you enjoy and make it a regular part of your life. Your body will thank you for it!
And you’ll step into your mid-life and even your cronedom with way more ease, joy, and a body that moves with you…
AND
Make sure to tune in today, join up in our private women’s group on FB,
Dance with Desire,
Tuesday, 1:00 PST/ 4:00 EST, for another
Lively Conversation about
Embracing Change in Mid-Life
and let’s talk about moving your body…
Thanks for being here, dearheart…
Paulette
by Paulette Rees-Denis | Apr 10, 2023 | Uncategorized
Happy Motivational Monday, lovey,
Music moves my soul. Music makes me move my body and it is in almost all that I do and am in my life. Having started dancing and playing music at age 7, it has carried me through all my years, as I continue to dance, many styles, and to play guitar, keyboards, ukelele, and even the washboard.
As I wrote about in my book, Tribal Vision: A Celebration of Life Through Tribal Belly Dance…this is excerpted from Chapter 7, a chapter about our Gypsy Caravan music and our tribal bellydance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Music can rip my heart out. It can make my soul bleed, my heart sing, my voice cry, and my hips shimmy and shake. From the time I was young, I had to have music in my life. I played the organ first, starting at age seven; in my early teens, I taught myself guitar. As I time travel back, I remember sitting for hours on the floor with albums, yes, albums, spread all around me, singing along with my rock heroes while I read the poetry of their words, and sometimes complete nonsense.
What is it about music that touches one’s heart or soul or body? For every person it can be different. The sound of the voice, whether it be male or female, or the melody line, be it melancholy or zippy, can reach in deep to touch your soul, or leave you cold. The rhythm might be played in a slow, rolling pattern that takes you walking with a syncopated step. Or it may be big and bold and heavy and loud, making you want to jump out of your skin and shake it up.
For me, it all begins with the rhythm. If we have nothing else, we have rhythm, our heart beat. In the beginning of time, our life force started with the heart beat.
For the full chapter and history about the Gypsy Caravan’s music, go to dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6pz2tpzn1ilejlvjsyutt/Chapter-7.-copy-Music-doc.doc?dl=0&rlkey=f9xd4a52bfr2nu4dzy91ig5w5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And seriously, we have to move our bodies. They are made for moving, for dancing, for grooving. For so many reasons. Movement brings me so much joy, from the feel-good freedom of self-expression, to structured dance forms such as bellydance, or flamenco, or salsa, to workouts such as yoga, pilates, even at the gym with free weights and the machines, I love it all. So does my overall health, my emotional well-being, my spirit, and the fitness of my body through the years. And especially as I get older. I feel great, and have remained strong and flexible, continuing almost daily workouts, whether it be my morning walk, run, and cardio, to teaching yoga and bellydance weekly, and going to the gym and working with a trainer.
Sadly as a coach, and movement instructor, I find some of my older friends ( and even younger ones), afraid to move, afraid to go back and try some dance or workouts, or even get on the dance floor at a club. They think they are too old. They have forgotten. They might get hurt. They can’t find the time to take a class, or won’t commit to their own bodies, even though they do remember the joy of the dance they knew in their younger days, and the freedom that a child experiences listening to music. As their bodies age, they are feeling the anxiety of having an older changing body, perhaps taking that body for granted and allowing themselves to get a bit sedentary. Sometimes the less you move, the more you hurt. Know what I mean? Time to work the creaks out.
I know when I don’t move, somehow, every day, I feel stuck, stagnant in my body, in my breath, and that changes how my day goes and how I feel. I’ve been getting out almost every morning for the past 8 years for a walk/run, sometimes just around the block, or maybe a 2 mile sprint. I”m not running a marathon. Just enjoying moving my body, getting outside, and it often becomes a moving meditation. Either enjoying the quiet, or listening to some tunes on my earbuds to keep me moving.
How many of you signed up for a dance or a yoga class, then felt too tired or too busy to go that day or night? But when you do go, you come away feeling high, exhilarated, and loving that you have participated in keeping yourself vibrant, strong, and enjoying your body, and perhaps the people in that class. Because you are shifting your energy, practicing movement, doing good things for your body, your breath, and your well-being. That’s the feeling, to feel great!
Music gets me motivated, inspired. Sometimes I use it to raise my energy, sometimes to relax. Instrumentals can be great to dance with or chill to. Lyrics can be emotional, exciting, inspiring too. Listening to music and allowing yourself to dance, whatever kind of movement, can just feed the soul. The music you choose can be empowering for who you are, what you stand for, and help you get moving. Certain songs can set you on fire, and others can reduce anxiety.
So, my friend, think about what tunes inspire you, for whatever mood, and allow yourself to move, to dance, whether that be in the kitchen as you cook dinner, or in a dance class, or in a club, or at the gym, or wherever.
Here you go! This is a playlist of softer, some more trancey, and some more upbeat that I have been using in my dance class, enjoy!
Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7Ia8O3oQeUbDqKdgngWvyL
What are you listening to these days? What gets your groove on? Make a playlist and enjoy…
Have a blessed week and get your groove on,
Paulette
~~~~~~~~~~~~
How fun are all the things???
In Person Classes in the Desert
:an exploration of the chakras with
a journey of self-discovery,
starting Monday, April 17th, 6-7:30 pm in Palm Springs!
Starting April 17th we will, each week, have group discussions about our 7 main chakras, wearing colors for each week to match the chakras, and add in meditations, journaling, movement, and sound baths! Yummy!
For the first week, wear something red, if you desire!
Here’s a little weekly update:
- Week 1. Root Chakra- the color: Red- about Grounding and Earth Connection
- 2. Sacral Chakra- Orange-Creativity, Fertility, Sensuality
- 3. Solar Plexus Chakra- Yellow- Community, Power, Strength
- 4. Heart Chakra- Green-Love, Compassion
- 5. Throat Chakra- Blue- Sound, Voice
- 6. Third Eye- Indigo- Inner Guidance, Intuition, Listening, Self- Connection and
- 7. Crown Chakra- Purple- Connection with Spirit, Guides (also on week 6)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND ANOTHER NEW OFFERING!
a Women’s Monthly New Moon Gathering
with Leslie Gerber and Paulette Rees-Denis
Join our monthly circle for a circle of connection, healing, support, and fun with bellydance and movement, sound healing, and journaling!
Honoring our feminine divine within and moving your body for joy, connecting with the goddess, and setting new moon intentions for each month. A celebration of YOU!
Sundays April 23, 6-7:30 pm
Lavender Soul Studio in Palm Desert!
74-277 Highway 111, behind the front building, parking on the street…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tribal Bellydance in Palm Desert! First Class FREE!
We start a new session April 18th!
Tuesdays, 5:45pm
Bring a friend so they can try the first class for FREE- I love to offer that to new folks who aren’t sure about attending the class, or are even a little nervous, to see how much fun we have!
All levels of dance experience welcome, all ages, all sizes, all everything!
We love building our creative circle with dance, making magic with our bodies, feeling great in our skin, while we also strengthen and deepen our personal bodies and connections
$15.00 dropins or $66 for the 6 week session
please pre-register
https://globalcaravandance.com/product/tribal-bellydance-classes/
Lavender Soul Studio, 74-277 Highway 111
~~~~~~~~
VIRTUAL… Join me online…
Let’s talk about it…
Join me Mondays, at 2:00 pm PST for another Lively Conversation!
on FB- https://www.facebook.com/paulettecoach
and also on Insta at
https://www.instagram.com/paulettereesdenis/
a little chat, a poetry reading, oracle card pulling,
See you then
~~~~~~~~~~
Are you ready to take your journaling to the next level?
From the Body to the Page
You can join my weekly class, Tuesdays, 3:00 pm PST on Zoom and write with us for an hour of inspired prompts and profound sharing! truly a magical hour you can have every week…
just click here to join us…
http://paulettereesdenis.com/product/from-the-body-to-the-page/
~~~~~~~~~~
Are you ready for some coaching time with me?
Are you wanting to create some new changes?
Let’s step into this new moon time with some magic,
self-care, and your desires!
and get YOU on your calendar…
Curious about how that would look for you, your time, and your investment?
I want to talk with you to see if this could be the right next step for you to take new action!
Please schedule that free consultation now with me so we can talk about what you are wanting. Click here…
Hope to see you on the road somewhere, my friend! Again, thanks for being here…
Paulette
~~~~~~~~~~~~
How fun are all the things happening for spring???
In Person Classes in the Desert
:an exploration of the chakras with
a journey of self-discovery,
starting Monday, April 17th, 6-7:30 pm in Palm Springs!
Starting April 17th we will, each week, have group discussions about our 7 main chakras, wearing colors for each week to match the chakras, and add in meditations, journaling, movement, and sound baths! Yummy!
For the first week, wear something red, if you desire!
Here’s a little weekly update:
- Week 1. Root Chakra- the color: Red- about Grounding and Earth Connection
- 2. Sacral Chakra- Orange-Creativity, Fertility, Sensuality
- 3. Solar Plexus Chakra- Yellow- Community, Power, Strength
- 4. Heart Chakra- Green-Love, Compassion
- 5. Throat Chakra- Blue- Sound, Voice
- 6. Third Eye- Indigo- Inner Guidance, Intuition, Listening, Self- Connection and
- 7. Crown Chakra- Purple- Connection with Spirit, Guides (also on week 6)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND ANOTHER NEW OFFERING!
a Women’s Monthly New Moon Gathering
with Leslie Gerber and Paulette Rees-Denis
Join our monthly circle for a circle of connection, healing, support, and fun with bellydance and movement, sound healing, and journaling!
Honoring our feminine divine within and moving your body for joy, connecting with the goddess, and setting new moon intentions for each month. A celebration of YOU!
Sundays April 23, 6-7:30 pm
Lavender Soul Studio in Palm Desert!
74-277 Highway 111, behind the front building, parking on the street…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tribal Bellydance in Palm Desert! First Class FREE!
We start a new session April 18th!
Tuesdays, 5:45pm
Bring a friend so they can try the first class for FREE- I love to offer that to new folks who aren’t sure about attending the class, or are even a little nervous, to see how much fun we have!
All levels of dance experience welcome, all ages, all sizes, all everything!
We love building our creative circle with dance, making magic with our bodies, feeling great in our skin, while we also strengthen and deepen our personal bodies and connections
$15.00 dropins or $66 for the 6 week session
please pre-register
https://globalcaravandance.com/product/tribal-bellydance-classes/
Lavender Soul Studio, 74-277 Highway 111
~~~~~~~~
VIRTUAL… Join me online…
Let’s talk about it…
Join me Mondays, at 2:00 pm PST for another Lively Conversation!
on FB- https://www.facebook.com/paulettecoach
and also on Insta at
https://www.instagram.com/paulettereesdenis/
a little chat, a poetry reading, oracle card pulling,
See you then
~~~~~~~~~~
Are you ready to take your journaling to the next level?
From the Body to the Page
You can join my weekly class, Tuesdays, 3:00 pm PST on Zoom and write with us for an hour of inspired prompts and profound sharing! truly a magical hour you can have every week…
just click here to join us…
http://paulettereesdenis.com/product/from-the-body-to-the-page/
~~~~~~~~~~
Are you ready for some coaching time with me?
Are you wanting to create some new changes?
Let’s step into this new moon time with some magic,
self-care, and your desires!
and get YOU on your calendar…
Curious about how that would look for you, your time, and your investment?
I want to talk with you to see if this could be the right next step for you to take new action!
Please schedule that free consultation now with me so we can talk about what you are wanting. Click here…
Hope to see you on the road somewhere, my friend! Again, thanks for being here…
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