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Tribal Corner- Q&A with Zoe Jakes
By Holly Luky
Shimmy: Zoe, thanks for taking time to chat with us! Tell what your latest project is?
Zoe: My latest project is part of the band that I’m in, Beats Antique. It’s been a wild ride! We’re inviting friends into the group with us and so I’ve choreographed a few pieces with some dancers and it’s been an amazing process. I now have a desire to keep doing this, although we’re in the early stages of it right now. I get to tap into my contemporary dance background and use aspects of non-bellydance moves, which lends itself to unique reactions from the audience, which I love. My imagination is able to explode.
S: So what exactly is your role with Beats Antique?
Z: I am a producer with the behind-the-scenes aspects of it, which a lot people don’t know, although I really have my hands in all aspects of it at this point. (I play a little live drumming and live mixing too.)
Boris, aka Videoliscious is also working with us to bring in incredible images with our work so I’ve been working with him lately too, so I guess I’m more of a Producer/Visual/Dancer. Tommy & David are both amazing people to work with- it’s a very supportive group. A lot of people have asked me what’s “my thing.” I’ve discovered that I’ve become a musician over the years and this deeper connection to the music makes a dancer much stronger. This is how you go to the next level. If you want to go there, become a musician in some way that isn’t just about moving your body.
I also recently danced in a movie with Val Kilmer & 50 Cent, which may go directly to DVD but it’s a huge first for the tribal bellydance scene. I get to represent our art form to a very mainstream audience.
S: Savory or Sweet?
Z: Definitely savory (I would choose olives & walnuts over a piece of cake.)
S: We know that you attended the Tribal Massive recently, what was your favorite part of that?
Z: The caliber of instruction was incredible! I was a paid student and this was an invaluable experience for me. The teachers are my friends and I really found a new respect for them on so many levels through being a part of this event.
S: Aside from unicorns (as we saw on her website www.zoebellydance.com) what other realms interest you?
Z: I think when you find something that completely pulls you away from everything and disconnects you from time or reality, those are experiences that transcend anything else. I’m always searching for that and open to wherever that takes me. Bellydance is just a tool of self-expression that I’m good at, but it’s never been about the medium for me, it’s more about the visceral experience.
S: What non-bellydance music do you listen to?
Z: Unfortunately when you listen to music so much as part of a band, you stop listening to it. But I’d have to say Fever Ray- it doesn’t compel me to dance but it compels me to listen to it. It’s the only one.
Zoe: My latest project is part of the band that I’m in, Beats Antique. It’s been a wild ride! We’re inviting friends into the group with us and so I’ve choreographed a few pieces with some dancers and it’s been an amazing process. I now have a desire to keep doing this, although we’re in the early stages of it right now. I get to tap into my contemporary dance background and use aspects of non-bellydance moves, which lends itself to unique reactions from the audience, which I love. My imagination is able to explode.
S: So what exactly is your role with Beats Antique?
Z: I am a producer with the behind-the-scenes aspects of it, which a lot people don’t know, although I really have my hands in all aspects of it at this point. (I play a little live drumming and live mixing too.)
Boris, aka Videoliscious is also working with us to bring in incredible images with our work so I’ve been working with him lately too, so I guess I’m more of a Producer/Visual/Dancer. Tommy & David are both amazing people to work with- it’s a very supportive group. A lot of people have asked me what’s “my thing.” I’ve discovered that I’ve become a musician over the years and this deeper connection to the music makes a dancer much stronger. This is how you go to the next level. If you want to go there, become a musician in some way that isn’t just about moving your body.
I also recently danced in a movie with Val Kilmer & 50 Cent, which may go directly to DVD but it’s a huge first for the tribal bellydance scene. I get to represent our art form to a very mainstream audience.
S: Savory or Sweet?
Z: Definitely savory (I would choose olives & walnuts over a piece of cake.)
S: We know that you attended the Tribal Massive recently, what was your favorite part of that?
Z: The caliber of instruction was incredible! I was a paid student and this was an invaluable experience for me. The teachers are my friends and I really found a new respect for them on so many levels through being a part of this event.
S: Aside from unicorns (as we saw on her website www.zoebellydance.com) what other realms interest you?
Z: I think when you find something that completely pulls you away from everything and disconnects you from time or reality, those are experiences that transcend anything else. I’m always searching for that and open to wherever that takes me. Bellydance is just a tool of self-expression that I’m good at, but it’s never been about the medium for me, it’s more about the visceral experience.
S: What non-bellydance music do you listen to?
Z: Unfortunately when you listen to music so much as part of a band, you stop listening to it. But I’d have to say Fever Ray- it doesn’t compel me to dance but it compels me to listen to it. It’s the only one.
