JULIAN
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Caryl Poppe, a mother of four, has lived in Julian for 35 years. For more than 20 of those, she has worked as a massage therapist in the tight-knit community.
In her spare time, she likes to dance. Belly dance, that is.
Poppe, who is nicknamed “Poppy,” is one of the founders of the Mountain Tribal Gypsy Dance Troupe, an 11-member belly-dance group with three drummers. Formed three years ago, the group is the subject of Joyce Axelrod's latest documentary, “Beyond the Belly Dance.”
The group started locally, dancing at community art shows and parades. They also teach women their style of dance.
After hearing about the troupe from a local woman, Axelrod was intrigued by the unusual and creative dance form. After watching them dance for the first time, her interest grew.
“The first time I saw them perform, I was charmed on sight by their dancing, costumes and skill,” Axelrod said. “It takes strength, agility and a wonderful sense of rhythm.”
She met with the three founders over coffee, and the idea for her documentary took shape. Axelrod wanted to emphasize the personal stories of the individual women.
She interviewed each member of the troupe extensively while attending multiple performances. She said she faced two challenges during the filming process.
“One was earning the trust and confidence of the women so that they would be comfortable in being interviewed on camera and exposing their vulnerabilities,” Axelrod said. “The other challenge was trying to arrange interviews because each of them had jobs, family and many cared for farm animals.”
Last year's wildfires also interfered with the process.
“One of the dancers lost her home and all her belongings in the October fire, and this situation made it sensitive for me as the filmmaker and an outsider,” Axelrod said. “It wasn't until months later that she was able to share with me on camera her emotions relating to the loss.”
After eight months of filming and editing, Axelrod's film debuted in May to Julian residents.
“I think she did an excellent job,” Poppe said. “She spent hundreds and hundreds of hours on it. It is very professional, artistic and thoughtful. It captures the essence of why we got into belly dance.”
The film, which is about 29 minutes long, combines clips of the women dancing and individual interviews. It captures the camaraderie and sisterhood of the dance troupe, said Poppe, 58. Although the dancers' ages span several decades, they have created a strong community, she said.
Axelrod, 70, who lives in Mission Hills and has a cabin in Julian, said she hopes the documentary will encourage women to accept their bodies and find joy in dance.
She doesn't know what her next project will be, but said she is constantly looking and listening for a subject that will capture her interest.
A trailer for the documentary can be found on YouTube by searching for “Beyond the Belly Dance.”
Corazon Riley is a Union-Tribune intern.
