Lorraine Bier
After a quarter-century of working in computing, Lorraine (aka Lori) is developing her artistic skills. She is a member of a belly dance troupe and runs a crafts business painting silk scarves. Additionally, she volunteers with the Financial Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, teaching good money management habits to anyone interested.
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- Contributor since
- 1/20/2009
Education/Experience
San Francisco State University, BA Math, BS Computer Science, PMP certifiedInterests
arts, dance, food, travel, crafts, engineering, volunteer work, public speaking, gardeningMotto
If you can read, you can do anything.Affiliations
Toastmasters International, Financial Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, Austin Bellydance AssociationFavorites
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Displaying Results 1 - 73 (of 73) for All Content
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Can You Really Dance Without Musical Context?We dance to music, and lyrics are part of music. If you want to be a good belly dancer, you need to learn something about the lyrics of the you've chosen.
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Two Cute Costume Tricks for Barely-Seamstress Belly DancersHunting for ways to expand your dance wardrobe cheaply without too much complexity? Love bargain hunting at thrift stores? Here are two ideas for to get dance skirts and pants from thrift store finds. -
Ten Clever Moves when Dancing with FanveilsFanveils, fans with long silk tails, are gaining popularity in belly dance circles. What can you do with them besides wave them around? Here are ten cute tricks to add spice to your next dance. -
Using YouTube as a Belly Dance Instruction SourceOnce upon a time everyone bought instructional videos to learn styles not offered by local teachers or to learn the techniques of famous dancers. These days most everything is on YouTube- how is this changing the bellydance community?
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Are the Prettiest Belly Dancer Upper Arms Naked or Covered?Belly dancing uses arm movements extensively, but what if you're self conscious about your upper arms? There are two schools of thought on what to do.... -
How to Improve Your Belly Dance ArmsWhile focusing on the hips and belly, it's easy to overlook arms. Do you have this common bad dance habit? Replace it by doing these things!
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The Best Thing in Life May Be a Squeeky ToyEvery body needs somebody sometimes. My cat has found true companionship with her chicken toy. -
How to Get More Coverage on Your Belly Dance Costume BraIf your belly dance costume fits well but feels bare, you can add extensions to increase coverage without ruining the appearance of the outfit. -
I Walked into the Hospital Healthy but Walked Out Contaminated!We grow up thinking that the hospital and its doctors and nurses want to make us well, but sometimes they make things worse. I found out the hard way that even a brief visit is not without its dangers to your well being.
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What You'll Need to Make Your Own Belly Dance Costume Bra and BeltReady to make your own belly dance costume pieces? Then here's some basic information about what materials you need for the bra and belt. These principles apply for either a classic glitzy cabaret costume or an ethnic-inspired tribal one. -
How to Make Quick and Easy Gauntlets for Belly Dance CostumingAdd sultry interest and variety to your belly dance costumes with this quick method to make guantlets. Works for both cabaret and tribal style outfits! -
Foot Care for Travelers- Don't Let Sore Feet Stop Your Vacation in Its Tracks!When planning for a great vacation, don't overlook this disaster that can turn your trip into a test of endurance: feet too sore to walk on. Take these tips to make sure you stay on your feet comfortably.
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How to Make Dangley Arm Decorations for Your Belly Dance CostumeEnhance your costume by making coordinating arm bands with wing-like scarf danglies. It's fast, inexpensive and fairly easy to do. -
Caring for Belly Dance CostumesThey're beautiful, but belly dance costumes are actually work uniforms, and they do need cleaning. What should you do when it's time to wash one?
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Thinking About Making a Belly Dance Cabaret CostumeThe prices of most belly dance cabaret bra and belt sets make you want to try sewing one yourself. But before you commit to making one, there are some things to consider about spending the time and money. -
Tips and Thoughts for Competing in Belly Dance ContestsBelly dance competitions are growing more common. Here are some reasons to compete and hints for when you do. -
Growing in Skill as a Belly Dance PerformerLearning dance performce skills and tricks is a continuous process. My journey towards improving my presence on stage keeps giving me new insights on what to do. -
First Flight - My Initial Performance Using Fan-veilsIncorporating a new prop into a dance routine can be challenging. Here's my experience with my first use of fan-veils while belly dancing. -
How to Shorten Belly Dance Cabaret Bras or BeltsHave a belly dance costume where there's too much overlap on the back strap or belt, making it so bulky you look like you're wearing someone else's clothes? Here's what to do to shorten it to fit you appropriately. -
How to Deal with a Belly Dance Spandex Skirt Problem: Muffin TopSpandex is a wonderful fabric that permits free movement while maintaining a sleek fit, so it's perfect for belly dance costumes. But the elastic waistband can cause an unsightly spare tire to pop out above the band- what to do about it?
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Understanding Belly Dance Caberet Costume AlterationsFinding a dance costume that fits perfectly is a rare occurence- you'll probably have to make some adjustments. But some changes are more difficult than others; know what is required BEFORE you buy the outfit! -
What's Shaking in Austin- the Local Belly Dance SceneAs you might expect from a popular university town, Austin has a vibrant belly dance community. Here's an overview of the reoccurring dance shows held in the Live Music Capitol of the World!
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Some Rules for Conquering Toastmaster Speech Contests when You Really Wanna Win!There are many articles that summarize what is needed to win a speech contest. Here are a few more extremely specific rules that you should consider when you REALLY want to win, complete with hints on how to succeed in meeting them.
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Belly Dance Choreography Specifics- Matching Moves to MusicAnyone who has mastered some belly dance moves wants to dance them. But what moves to use when? Here are some suggestions to get you started.
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How to Win a Toastmaster's Evaluation ContestToastmasters improve their speeches by receiving evaluations of their speaking assignments from other toastmasters, who give feedback on how they met the assignment goals. But what if a speech doesn't come with an evaluation form, such as in a contest?
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Eight 'F's: A Checklist of Good and Bad Dance HabitsWhat is good dancing? What is bad dancing? Here's a handy summary of 4 good and 4 bad dance characteristics. What's your grade?
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Adding Arm Accessories to a Dance OutfitA beautiful belly dance costume provides an overall impression along with the right amount of coverage to break up long expanses of skin. You can add accessory pieces to your basic outfit to enrich the overall appearance and provide elements of coverage. -
Fan-veils: New Movements for Belly DanceFan-veils are a relatively new prop on the belly dance scene, and consequently very few classes or videos are available to learn about it. Here is a summary of movements to try for yourself.
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Tips for Dealing with a Relative's Health ProblemsA relative's health problems can give you a crash course in how to deal with doctors and health maintenance. There is information you can track to make your role easier and get better care for your family member.
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How to Develop Belly Dance ChoreographyIt's wonderful to have a dance piece that's all your own work and reflects your tastes, but putting choreography together can be a daunting task. Here's a practical approach that will get you there.
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The Seven Deadly Sins of Belly Dance CostumingSparkly, exotic, sexy- belly dance costumes are a big part of the fun of the dance. However, there are some basic DONTs for costumes- avoid them!
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Repairing a Fan-Veil that Has Lost Its SilkFan-veils, folding fans with long tails of silk used in belly dancing, are beautiful props, but they will come apart if the glue holding the silk gets wet. Here's how to reassemble one.
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Changing the Handedness on a Fan-VeilFans come in right and left handed orientation. When open in your hand, you want an end-blade to be directly under the thumb (no intervening blades). Here's how to switch how the fan opens.
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Eight Techniques to Improve Your Belly Dance PerformanceFaithfully attending class isn't the only way to become a better belly dancer. Here's a list of methods that can help you overcome problems and improve your performance.
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An Introduction to Raks Al Nasha'ar, or Khaleegy Style Belly Dance, or 'The Hair Dance'Some information on a style of dance done in the Persian Gulf/Arabian peninsula area that's lots of fun and impressive to watch.
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Ideas for Special Gifts that Mean a Million but Cost a LittleFor a wedding or other significant event, everyone wants to give a gift that will be treasured through the years. Here are three ideas for truly memorable personalized gifts that don't cost much at all.
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My Eighteen Steps to Better HealthMany join gyms, impressed by the equipment. But have you noticed the exercise equipment already in many houses- the staircase? I've started using mine- and my oven- for exercising.
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Embarrassingly Easy Wonderful BeansSome times I want something rock bottom reliable that I don't have to spend any time making. This bean side dish can't get any easier, and it's surprisingly tasty.
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Ten Things I'm Grateful for This Thanksgiving and AlwaysStopping to smell the roses is good, but stopping to give thanks for things that make life worth living is even better. Here's my declaration of gratitude.
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One Wrong Step and the Dream Vacation Becomes a NightmareAccidents do happen, but it's worse to be away from home in a country where you don't speak the language.
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Games that Entertain Both Children and AdultsAny adult who has spent time playing kid-targeted board games knows that games that thrill children can be tiresome for adults. However, there are games that all ages can enjoy playing together. Here are several you should consider playing.
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Dancing with Fan-Veils is Gaining Fans in BellydanceA new prop is on the belly dance scene; a fan with a length of silk attached that flutters like a veil. Here are some tips and information about using them.
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No One is Bored at a Board Game Party!Everyone remembers playing board games as a kid. They're just as much fun when you're grown up. Here are some pointers and ideas for holding a board game party.
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Specific Tips for Winning a Toastmasters Speech ContestIt's easy to find wonderful general advice for winning a toastmaster's speech contest. Here are some very specific tips to consider and actions to do.
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A Dinner "Con La Famiglia" in San Mauro Forte, ItalyAn Italian family reunion dinner in the old country made an unforgettable night.
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Vacation Planning Principles Worth Taking HomeA few key ideas to keep in mind that will help you with the rest of the decisions.
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My Outfit's Bad First Impression Didn't Prevent a Second DateHow should you dress for a blind date? High fashion and ritzy? You may look like a snob and be off-putting. Sexy and hot? You may be sending an invitation you don't want to honor.
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Belly Dance Veils, UnveiledA little history and some useful information about selecting and using a veil for belly dancing.
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All Entranced Together: Group Hypnosis for Performance ImprovementHypnosis can be expensive, but group sessions make it cost effective. Can it really help you achieve a goal? At group rates, it's worth the experiment; I believe I benefitted from it.
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Surprising Sicily!Think you know what to expect of Sicily from the "Godfather" movie series, or "Cinema Paradiso", and can skip it as a vacation destination? Take a second look- Sicily has surprises and something for everyone.
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Fusion Belly Dance- What Does This Term Really Mean?Many dance presentations are labeled 'fusion', but choreographers should be thoughtful and clear about what is being fused and be skillful in their execution of the contributing styles.
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How to Shorten a Spandex Belly Dance Skirt with a Beaded HemHere's a way to shorten a spandex belly dance skirt without rebeading the beaded edge by hand.
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Life's Too Short Not to Drive an Art CarSeeing art cars around town is fun, but what's even more fun is driving one. Here's how I transformed my Saturn SL2 into an art car.
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Belly Dance Costume Alterations to Keep a "G" RatingIf you've found a beautiful dance costume that basically fits but shows more skin than you'd like, there are a range of alterations that can fix the problem.
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Replacing the Head on a Ceramic Drum YourselfCeramic drums (doumbeks, tablas) with synthetic heads may not be adjustable, but if you damage your drum head, you CAN replace it yourself with a skin head.
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Are Finger Cymbals Required for Belly Dancing?There are reasons for both using and not using finger cymbals (zills or sagat) while belly dancing. Here are some pros and cons to consider when choosing to zill or not.
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Nice Restaurants with Nice Prices Around Austin, TexasLooking for some Austin restaurants that have pleasant atmosphere, good food, and won't break the bank? These gems, with a wide variety of cuisines, might be just what you're looking for.
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Spun Dizzy from Living on Discworld: Some of Terry Pratchett's Quirky Minor CharactersTerry Pratchett's extensive Discworld universe is home to some amazing characters. His lavish attention and brilliant imagination make even the passing minor characters a delight to spend time with.
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Hot Tips for a Successful Belly Dance PerformanceIf you're about to belly dance in public and are worried about your success, review these tips so that you give the best performance that you can give and the best performance ever!
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Lost in Fantasies: Anthony's Xanth and Pratchett's DiscworldTwo very prolific English authors spin delightfully humorous stories- a great find for readers who love to become immersed in fantasy worlds.
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Snoozing CatA typical morning in the life of my cat.
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Ten Amazing Songs by Al StewartSinger/songwriter Al Stewart has been writing surprising and beautiful songs for 40 years. Known for his historical references, Stewart puts wonderful poetry to beautiful melodies. Here are ten of his best.
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An Introduction to Three Middle-Eastern Dances: The Hagalla, Melaya Leff, and Baba KaramWhen you see folk dances presented in a belly dance show, knowing something about them makes watching interesting. Here are descriptions for three middle-eastern folkloric dances, plus what I've gathered about their origins and meanings.
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Get the Most from Your Dance ClassJust attending class is the absolute minimum for learning a dance form. There are many other things you can do to speed your learning and get the most from your dance class.
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Belly Dancing with a Sword- What's the Point?Is belly dancing with a sword authentic or a Xena western fantasy? What do we know about the symbolism of this dance? An exploration of Raqs al Saïf, or Middle eastern sword dancing.
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Home Sweet? HomeA reflection on the current state of the American Dream of homeownership
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The Hunt for Red-Hot Belly Dance Performance MusicFinding good, danceable belly dance performance numbers that are appropriate for your style can be a problem. Here are four ways for hunting for good bellydance performance music.
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Barenaked Ladies Pull Off a Great StuntThe Barenaked Ladies' album Stunt was released in 1998 and reached #3, a ranking it deserves. With several singles hitting the charts and a nice variety of song styles, this album is vintage 90's and belongs in everyone's collection!
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Gold to GrayA reflection on Michael Phelps' career.
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Belly Dance Lessons: Many Benefits and Some SurprisesMy search for sustainable exercise led me to belly dance, which gave me much more than fitness.
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It's About Stagecraft: Learning Public Speaking Can Help Your Dance PerformanceDance and speechcraft have much in common. If you're trying to improve your dancing stagework, consider a program in public speaking, such as Toastmasters.
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What to Watch for when Watching a Belly DancerBelly dancers are fun to watch! But understanding the aspects of the dance can increase appreciation. Here are four performance evaluation criteria. Use them when selecting dancers, improving performances, or just becoming a more knowledgeable viewer.
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Going into a Dance Trance: Using Hypnosis for Performance ImprovementSure, you can improve your dance abilities through 'practice, practice, practice', but is that the only way? My experience with hypnosis leads me to believe that there's another way.