Tuesday memeage

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me" or something of an equally pithy nature.
2. I will respond by asking you 5 questions of a very personal nature. Be warned!
3. You will update your LJ with the answers to the questions, or there will be trouble.
4. You will include this and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them 5 questions.

1. If you had the opportunity to be a full-time jewelry designer, would you? Do you think it would drain your passion for the craft?

I think it would depend. If it was jewelry where I had the opportunity to work with high-end materials, I think it would be an excellent job. And part of why I like doing jewelry-- particularly commissions-- is the challenge of it. That would keep me engaged. Plus there's a real sense of accomplishment when a piece is finished that I don't get, say, after a full day of administration. I wouldn't want to do it full time if I had to output quantity over quality, though. It's all in the details.

2. What goals have you set for yourself dance wise?

In the next year, I want to perform more at student shows and benefit haflas to gain performance experience and to train myself to look up and smile at the audience. I want to take classes to learn how to fuse well-- chief among them cabaret (to help with solo dancing) and hip-hop. I want to take more challenging workshops now that I feel like I have the basics down enough to be able to digest them (and have several lined up for this summer). Next year, probably towards the end, I'd like to prepare for the FCBD General Skills test and start tentatively doing some solo work outside of Verve.

Right now, though? Mastering a walking three-quarter shimmy at full speed. It is the bane of my bellydancing existence.

3. Looking back at yourself from five years ago, how have you changed/grown?

I have much, much better boundaries with other people, and my communication is a lot clearer. I also am more judgmental in a sense, because I no longer see "that's just the way s/he is" as an excuse for poor behavior, and don't tend to tolerate those sorts of people for very long. I've gotten more selective when choosing friends. I also have better self-esteem. I used to rely a lot on validation of my appearance for that sort of thing, and while I still pay attention to my appearance, it's 'cause I want to feel good about myself. Compliments are nice and all, but I don't need them to feel cute. Overall, I'm just more comfortable in my skin.

4. Do you find that most of your friends have similar qualities that draw you to them, or is it variety that you seek?

I like variety in talents and lifestyles-- my friends really cover the spectrum as far as that's concerned, and I find that incredibly inspiring. However, there are a few qualities that are absolutely necessary in a friend, for me: honesty, accountability, intelligence, good communication, low drama quotient, considerate of others, and similar ethics/morals. Y'know, integrity.

5. Would you say you're more of a home-body/sedentary person, or would you like to live in different places? If so, where?

I'm equal parts introvert and extrovert. I'm on the go a lot, but I also need alone time in order to keep that balance. I would like to live elsewhere, but the thing is that I have to have a reason to move to do so. I'm not going to uproot and move with my whole support system/ partner/ livelihood here in Baltimore unless there was a strong argument to leave. But I want to see more of the world... which, in the meantime, is what vacations are for.