the Lake Mills show
It's silly to call it a show in Lake Mills, because it was just us, Banaat Al Jezira dancing at E's neighborhood block party. there were maybe 30 people there...maybe. Sitting in lawn chairs, drinking beer, a tarp over the middle of the street, a very large boat in a driveway. All very Wisconsin and very informal. A strange place for a group of middle eastern dancers in coverups of all types to show up! And we did show up, at 3:45 after a bit of a rain delay. Seven dancers in exotic dress with suitcases behind us.
So it was a show -- Banaat Al Jezira put on 7 pieces, including a live drumming session with improv.
And I did my first solo, in my new costume. So for me it was big. Letting myself just be out there. Feeling my legs shake, missing sections, smiling through it. Keeping my mind on what I was feeling through the music, and trying to show it. My body as the instrument. It was flirtatious, it was sweet, charming, a story about a girl walking in the park, in love with everyone she sees around her.
Technically, it was probably horrible. And the person I portrayed was not me. I assumed a different personal because I can not truly be myself when I dance yet. But damn, I did my first solo. And I'll be able to do it again, and do it better.
I learned some important lessons:
1) I do not sew well or fast. Better to pay someone else to do it. Altering the new costume by myself was not wise. I did not finish until late last night. I could have used that time to ensure that my other two costumes were ready. One wasn't, which I didnt' realise until 3 p.m. However, in the end it was OK that I didn't dance the first troupe piece. Doing my solo was enough.
2) I really need to find a way to center myself before I dance. It was all so hurried, and awkward that I didn't give myself enough time to breath before I walked on stage.
3) Check, double check, and triple check costumes and costume accessories.
4) I have no trouble with extemporaneous speaking, as long as I know what I'm talking about. I provided a seque between dances so others would have time to change. And you know, I could have gone on and on and on. Just as well, from the audiences point of view that I didn't have to! From the influence of hip hop and latin american music on middle eastern dance, to Oum Kalsoume, to Raks Assaya and tahtib.
It was what I've learned from the able dancers and instructors out there, my teachers and friends, that made this possible. So thank you all :)
So it was a show -- Banaat Al Jezira put on 7 pieces, including a live drumming session with improv.
And I did my first solo, in my new costume. So for me it was big. Letting myself just be out there. Feeling my legs shake, missing sections, smiling through it. Keeping my mind on what I was feeling through the music, and trying to show it. My body as the instrument. It was flirtatious, it was sweet, charming, a story about a girl walking in the park, in love with everyone she sees around her.
Technically, it was probably horrible. And the person I portrayed was not me. I assumed a different personal because I can not truly be myself when I dance yet. But damn, I did my first solo. And I'll be able to do it again, and do it better.
I learned some important lessons:
1) I do not sew well or fast. Better to pay someone else to do it. Altering the new costume by myself was not wise. I did not finish until late last night. I could have used that time to ensure that my other two costumes were ready. One wasn't, which I didnt' realise until 3 p.m. However, in the end it was OK that I didn't dance the first troupe piece. Doing my solo was enough.
2) I really need to find a way to center myself before I dance. It was all so hurried, and awkward that I didn't give myself enough time to breath before I walked on stage.
3) Check, double check, and triple check costumes and costume accessories.
4) I have no trouble with extemporaneous speaking, as long as I know what I'm talking about. I provided a seque between dances so others would have time to change. And you know, I could have gone on and on and on. Just as well, from the audiences point of view that I didn't have to! From the influence of hip hop and latin american music on middle eastern dance, to Oum Kalsoume, to Raks Assaya and tahtib.
It was what I've learned from the able dancers and instructors out there, my teachers and friends, that made this possible. So thank you all :)