Tales from the Caravan...
Show: 4th of july Celebration Augusta, GA Downtown at the Augusta Commons, July 4th, 2005
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This first thing I have to say about this performance is that it was hot. I
mean, REALLY hot. We donned our multilayered tribal finery and sweated
through a great show. This was another show done in conjunction with
Savannah Winds Middle Eastern Dance Troupe. We started off the show with
Hasta Amenti again. Yes, that means we wore caftan cover-ups OVER all the
tribal finery. I performed a cane duet with Tasma. My beginner's performed
one of my choreographies to Walk Like an Egyptian. Alchemy's drummers had
their first large debut. They drummed multiple rhythms while we group
improved. It was something we all worked hard at and I was very pleased with
how well it turned out. I think the audience was ready for a break in the
recorded music as well. Theres just something about the energy of live
drummers. Candi did a Mahmoud Rheda choreography we lovingly refer to as
"the chicken dance." Towards the end, we were a bit rushed for time, but I
did a finale number with Tasma and Diniah Sarah using trays, sword, and
canes. All in all I think the audience enjoyed the show. We were a great
draw despite the heat and we appreciate every one of the audience members.
We even had some of the girls from Saidi Bells who came down from Columbia,
SC to see the show. They were complimentary afterwards and were excited
about asking when our next hafla was. :D
~Mari
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What can I say about this performance? What I remember
most is how incredibly HOT it was!! Just before
Alchemy went on to perform our big number, I felt as
if I were going to faint. It's my own fault, though. I
was the one who suggested we wear our finest
ultra-tribal finery. And, boy, did we wear it all:
harem pants, colorful skirt, black skirt, panel skirt,
coin scarf, mirror/tassel belt, choli, tribal bra,
Turkish Vest, and all the jewelry and make-up we can
handle. Oy! What was I thinking? Next year, we are
wearing a loin cloth and a paper towel!
Even though I lost five pounds of water, I still had a
good time dancing and we looked great against the
backgroud of all the cabaret and tribalret dancers in
the show. Our drummers were with us again, and they
really impressed with an improv drumming system that
compliments our dancing wonderfully. Recorded music is
great. I love it and dance to it alot, but there is
just something so organic and comfortable about
dancing to live drummers. The sound carries so well,
and it makes people just stop and take notice. You
cannot recreate the reverberation of a drum right in
front of you. As a dancer, it forces me to be in the
moment with the music and not fall into the auto-pilot
I can sometimes slip into with recorded music. Very
Zen, that.
Fun fun fun with my sisters and the drummer-boys.
What's not to love?
~Jeannie
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Alchemy: Transforming the ordinary into the sublime
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