Interview with Rachel Brice

I had the absolute thrill of talking with Rachel Brice and got to ask her a whole lot of questions about her recently released video, Serpentine, a 2 DVD set, her life, and more. Though we were able to talk for only a while, I found Rachel fantastically warm, open and friendly and just the type of person you could chat with all day – if only she weren’t so busy. In fact, I have to say I was more tempted to chat and forget all about the interview. But I didn’t…

What made you want to work on another video? That too, a set of two DVDs?
Well, you know, I felt it was time to work on a DVD and I also saw the fantastic work others were doing with World Dance New York and I was really excited! Jenna’s wonderful videos, for example, are absolutely amazing. Also Sera’s East Coast Tribal videos. The quality of these and many others from WDNY is fantastic. So the two things just came together – timing, and World Dance. Just luck, I guess. I called them and they said yes, and there we were!

There you were…with two discs, not one. Was it a very big project for you?
It was a big project, but so much fun. I didn’t really set out to make two discs, but I had so much material, that it had to be at least two. I actually cut out a third choreography, you know!

Oh no… no no no…
Yes, this was a medium-paced choreograp hy, because we had a fast-paced one and another that was slow? There was just no room for it! Ah, another time.

Another time? Do you mean you have more DVD ideas in your head waiting to get out?
My god yes, there are so many ways this material can be presented and there are so many ideas. It’s so exciting. So, definitely, yes.

And are you overall happy with the way these two discs have turned out?
I’m very happy with the DVDs, though I see many things I’d like to change in the way I do things. I have to say that Neon is incredible to work with. She has brilliant ideas on how to present things and she coached me on how to create this program to really work. A lot of this is Neon’s expertise.

Tell me, where did you get your obvious love of yoga?
Oh, when I was a little kid, I saw a book on yoga in school and was captivated with a picture of someone doing the sarvangasana, the shoulder stand. I was a tiny girl, but I started practicing this. Later, when I was 16, I began studying yoga formally. So really, I’ve been interested in yoga my whole life.

Do you practice yoga everyday?
Yes. But I don’t necessarily do the asanas everyday. I do the pranayamas and other aspects of yoga.

Do you do any other form of exercise? And do you combine yoga with any special diet to help you stay in shape for dancing?
I do yoga and belly dancing – no other form of exercise. About 5 times a week for a couple of hours each day. Diet? I tried to. I even tried Ayurvedic for a while, but it didn’t work. I just make sure I eat fruits, vegetables and grains and a little bit of meat. But I love pasta and cheese and stuff like that, so every now and then, give in to it.

You worry about putting on weight?
Not really. I’ve always been skinny and in fact the worry is that I could maybe look as if I’m not well if I get thinner. (Interviewer sighs).

Why did you leave out sun salutation sequences from your yoga program on the two new discs?
I don’t do sun salutations. You’ll have seen them on my previous DVDs because at that time I was doing a different form of yoga, a sort of power flow. But in time, I’ve come to appreciate a gentler form of yoga based on sequencing. It’s also rather nice as I get older, to use this more sustainable form of yoga.

In the backbends yoga segment, I see that you’ve left out many asanas that other dancers seem to focus on. What was the basis of your selection of asanas?
I think that our lower backs are flexible enough. That’s not where the work is needed. It’s the upper back we need to focus on. So I’ve chosen asanas that heighten flexibility in the upper back. Many commonly used asanas can actually be adapted to contribute to safe backbends.

Why did you dedicate such a large portion of this DVD set to yoga? There was plenty of yoga on the previous videos as well, and there has been some criticism of that because you can get yoga anywhere, but you can’t get Rachel Brice’s style anywhere. Why not just have focused 100 percent on that?
It always cracks me up when people think that yoga is an afterthought to dance… I’ve done more yoga than dance practice and believe that it’s physically and mentally part of the dance. I also have my own style and selection of yoga, so that’s another reason to include it in the program. To me yoga, is not just about the body but about the breath and the heart – and there’s more to yoga than just the asanas. Most dancers do a warm up and cool down. My preferred way of doing that is yoga. Also, I’m aware that there are many people who have to save up to buy my DVDs. They shouldn’t have to buy separate yoga instruction if they don’t have the money to invest in both disciplines. And of course, if they don’t like the yoga, they just don’t have to do it. There’s enough on the DVDs to keep anyone busy.  This is a simpler, gentler yoga and it’s more accessible to people of different ages, sizes and so on.

Do you see yourself as the leading definer tribal fusion?
No! Not at all. I think I only fused two existing styles – Suhaila’s and my teacher, Carolena Nericcio’s. Otherwise, I was only really doing what everyone else was. I’m not really a great one for ideas – and I think that’s fine too. And I was shocked to see that people really thought so highly of my work.

Well, you’re pretty much synonymous with Tribal Fusion as far as the world is concerned! Whom do you admire as a great performer?
Oh that’s easy.. Jamila and Suhaila, who started this style. I’m inspired by Fat Chance Belly Dance, Mardi Love, Zoey Jakes, Unmata… they endlessly inspire me and fill me with admiration. I love seeing others perform!

How do you see Tribal Fusion evolving today? You know, at Tribal Fest, I saw that creativity is at an all time high. Everyone is doing such amazing and original work! Tribal Fusion is splitting up into many directions: hip hop, vaudeville, jazz, avante guard.. it’s very exciting and I’m blown away by the sheer creativity I see.

What makes you so tranquil and calm? Yoga?
I’m very different from how I come across on videos. I’m not very calm at all. But yes, yoga keeps me sane. It’s important to me. And to my backbends!.

What do you do when you’re not terribly busy traveling and dancing? I’m learning natural building! It’s very absorbing and satisfying.