Tales from the Caravan...
Show: Bellydance Superstars Feb. 19, 2006
I had been looking forward to this event for some
time. Its been awhile since I've been at a belly dance
event that I wasn't performing at. It was nice to not
be stressed about a performance or keeping up with a
costume, I must admit.
Even though the show was not until later in the day
we got an early start in Augusta to be able to go to
the Ansuya workshop prior to
the show. In attendance were Jeannie, Candi, myself,
the Sultan, and Katrina an enthusiastic student of
mine. We met at IHOP for breakfast and then sang
Grease soundtrack songs the whole way into Atlanta. I
know, poor Chris!
We had no problem finding the workshop site and were
there early enough to warm up and stretch. Ansuya's
class was very combo intensive. I generally don't do
combos as part of performance or improv, but it was
fun to pick apart the combos and get new moves out of
them. I loved that the class started with a great yoga
stretch and that the direction that the class was
oriented and where people stood changed throughout the
class. I also enjoyed the Q&A session at the end of
the class and that Ansuya allowed time for pictures
towards the end. I wasn't so thrilled about the small
child that repeatedly ran through the dance area
throughout the workshop.
After the show, we got dolled up in corsets in the
bathroom and went to meet Dance of the Fates
at R Thomas Grill
for dinner. I so wish
taht I would've remembered to get pictures! The food
was awesome and I introduced everyone to my addiction
of edamame. Yummy!
Finally, time for Bellydance Superstars!
There were no
programs, so unfortunately I'm going entirely on my
really sketchy memory here. My general impression of
the show is that it was very good. I thoroughly
enjoyed the drum solos. I love the interaction between
drummer and dancer. I was wowed by the dance where
Jillina stood on top of a doumbek and danced, but at
the same time, I had Christy Frick's glass dance in my
head the whole time. :D
Like many people have already stated on Tribe.net, I
do wish that there were more Tribal performances, but
more importantly for me, I wish that there were more
kinds of tribal performances represented. What about
group improv? ATS? What about fusion? Folkloric?
Theatrical? I also wish that there were more Tribal
solos period. If there were umpteen cabaret solos
presented, was there really only time for one lonely
little Tribal solo? Sharon did a kickass job at her
solo. I am in no way dogging her, there just should've
been another tribal solo. Sharon's leaned over
bellyrolls have been the talk of the area belldyance
world believe me. :D Kami Liddle
is another awesome tribal
soloist though, who only did chorus stuff at this
show. I saw her do an awesome Bangra fusion solo piece
at last year's Spirit and
was very impressed.
The other notable thing about the show for me was
the Hispanic/Salsa/Merengue dance section, cuz' hey
I'm a Boricua. :D I loved the costuming and red colors
used for that section with the exception of the Tribal
dancer's outfits. I though that they looked like
can-can girls from the waist down and Rachel
Brice-esque tribal dancers from the waist up. It just
looked very disjointed. My other issue with it is that
the other dancers incorporated Spanish dance steps
into that section of their dance. To me the Tribal
dancers seemed to do the same thing that they had
danced in other parts of the show, just in a different
costume.
All in all, well worth the ticket price and it was
great to get the chance to socialize with so many area
belly dancers. I can't wait to do it again!
~Mari
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Alchemy: Transforming the ordinary into the sublime
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