This is my village. ♥ They are all gone now, but each had their influence on my path, values, and ambitions.
Blog - autobiography
Introduction
Welcome to my new blog page. I am in the process of moving my blog to this site, so there is not much to read in the moment! :) I will be adding photos and stories as time permits as I have other projects ongoing (doesn't everyone?). LOL
For the curious, the blog is here: http://www.bauchtanz.com
Oh, and if anyone is wondering about the opulence of using 'the legend' in my work, there is a story behind the title. I will include it (soon), for context. Also, when I stopped performing, I opened an atelier and boutique in Istanbul. The costume line was known as the Marta the Legend Luxuryline. The domain was used for marketing the costumes and that is why I still have it.
22 April 2026 - Sorting through old HDD data
I finally decided to sort through the old hard drives I have been carting around with me for the past 15 years. Altogether I have 14 from machines dating back to 1997. Some of them even had names on them like Beate. I recall we installed the Beate in the Internet Cafe we (Hans and I) ran with classes in 2000. I don't recall why the name Beate, but I like it. Then there is the Boutique. That is from Istanbul, circa 2006 with photos and sales data from the boutique we ran inside the three-story carpet shop just outside of the Kapalıçarşı (Grand Bazaar). Optitex, named for the software for clothes design. Versand, named for shipping of goods during the 8 years we were on eBay.
From the 14, there are two that are giving me a headache. The ones from 1997. They both have SCSI adapters and the converter I am using to get the data downloaded does not have a SCSI port. So I am looking for an adapter online and having a very hard time. I went to Staples yesterday to get the external Seagate open and they don't even have IDE cables ( needed to download the data). The clerk was amazed when I told him, no worries I have IDE cables at home. LOL So here are photos of my current dilemma:
11 June 2023 - Remembering Bill Kerr
31 August 2023 - Designer Marta, project updates
9 October 2022 - Elton John concert, San Jose, Levi's Stadium
We started off on Friday driving to San Jose to the Levi's stadium to see Elton John. Terrific musicians. I was delighted that besides the famous songs we all love, they also played some jazzy pieces and were able to show off how talented they truly are. The concert was really spectacular.
The German years
At the end of the 1970's, the New York Hustle and the Latin Hustle were all the rage in New York. My friend, Bill Kerr, and I taught classes in Wiesbaden, Germany in a place called the American Arms. We even did a performance at a German dance school (I need to find the name, I have it somewhere) on TotenSonntag.
Sommerfest des Bundeskanzlers
1982 Bonn, Germany
In 1982 I danced at the summer festival of Bundeskanzler Helmut Schmidt. As you can see in the photo, his wife, Loki Schmidt, participated in a few moves with me for the press. This photo is from the Associated Press.
