Ariellah Highlights

pic: Ariellah and the coolest mask ever.

(This post was written almost two weeks ago. I finally am on the same computer as the pics so I can upload them.)

Now watching: V for Vendetta
Mood: homemade yeast rolls hot out of the oven with melted butter

Friday night’s Snake Charmer Soiree had a bit of a late start but had a lovely turn out. There was a shimmy contest, costume contest, and tons of dancing. Most people stayed until after 11pm. Quite a few of my dance friends came to GX for the first time that night. I myself didn’t get out of the club and in bed until 4am. Five hours of sleep later I was up and dressed heading to the Ariellah workshop. It was in a nice clean carpeted room at the Baymont near the airport. I made it a point to try and stay far from the vending so I wouldn’t be temped by things I couldn’t afford. Ariellah started us off with some core strengthening yoga and drills.

AAHHH! Hold on….just dumped frappuccino down my shirt…looking for napkin…Ok, anyway…

You wanna know what sucks? Tribal arms. You know, with your elbows “up”. Holy cow, I suck at them. Well, I mean, they look good, but only for the first 30 seconds or so until the intense fatigue sets in. Aside from that, I feel I have pretty good form considering I’m pretty out of shape for such a muscular based BD style.

We broke for lunch and when I went to the bathroom I noticed the front of my right thigh was numb and tingling as if it were asleep. It initially freaked me out because I hadn’t noticed it at all until the motion of pulling my pants down over it gave it that weird prickling that happens when your foot falls asleep. I must have pinched a nerve during the morning exercises. I decided to sit out for the second half of the workshop and just take notes and within five minutes of sitting there I started to doze off. So I snuck out the back and went home for a nap before the show that night.

The show was much better than the one last year. And, I was able to get more workshop time the next morning when Ariellah taught another choreography. I sat it out though because my leg was still numb. Actually, it is still kind of numb today but not nearly as bad. (editors note: numbness lasted about a week. It is gone now.) As usual, my pics are crummy. If any of you want to buy me a camera with more than 4.2 pixels I promise to take better ones. I prefer Sony, btw.


Saturday, after the show, some of the ladies came back out to GX and had a grand time. I am posting a few pics but will leave off the names, LOL! It did feel kind of weird just to stand back and watch everyone have a good time, but in reality, I was working. I was there to clean tables, keep an eye on the trash, make sure no one walks out the door with an open container, help out the bartender, wash dishes, etc. Not so much to hang out and party.

(Wow, I guess I didn't finish writing this post. It just kinda stops, huh? Oh well.)

~N

Sashi at Ground Xero

(click pic for bigger flyer)


Now playing: bass that makes my bowels jiggly
mood: apple juice

Sashi of Ascend Tribal Dance will be performing at Ground Xero on Friday, Nov. 16th for Blotmonath IV. Cover is $7, 21+ only.

Sorry, for not getting the Ariellah workshop post up. Every time I am online (like now) I am not on the same computer that my pics are on. Maybe tomorrow...

~N

ps. I think my Frappr map is wonky. hmmm...maybe it will pass.

Happy Fall

Now: working
mood: Chicken Vino Bianco from Olive Garden. (We were there today with the in-laws and they replaced my favorite dish with some chicken apricot wanna-be-gourmet dish. I was put off enough that I passed up the pumpkin cheesecake...whatever.)

I changed the colors, whoo! Exciting!

I have a post coming as soon as I upload pics. Stay tuned.

~N

Workshop Brief

Pic: Ariellah, Oct 13th, 2007

I'm sore.
I'm tingly numb.
I had a good time.

More soon...

~N

Now watching: CSI Miami (don't like it, original CSI all the way!)
mood: beer chili

Light the Night 2007

Now playing: the Cure – Disintegration
Mood: sweet and spicy BBQ ribs with chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone for dessert

Ok, you know you’re a dork when you take a picture of bellydancers in cover-ups talking to a young girl and it immediately reminds you of Ring Wraiths surrounding a hobbit.

Light the Night went well. I was able to video Racherche’ before the sun went down. I got to see some of the ladies I haven’t seen in forever and even walked the mile with them before heading to work at the club. The performance had a nice even mix of modern, folkloric, group, and solo pieces, just enough of each to keep the audience’s attention. Everyone looked really nice, good costuming and good choreography.

(costume: in progress)

I managed to get some orange thread and ribbon. I think I am ready to tackle the yellow costume again now that I have my complimentary color pieces.

REMEMBER! This weekend is the Ariellah workshop! Hope to see some friends there.

~N

Blast from the past IX

Sassafrass Festival, Missouri, mid/late 2000-ish
back row: Zahava, Gita, Alia, Jemina
kneeling: Naima, Audrey, Laleh
front: Yasmine

Boring Stuffs

| View Show | Create Your Own

Now watching: Pink Floyd – the Wall
Mood: fried eggs and bacon with salt and pepper, glass of OJ, buttered toast with grape jelly, and a glass of milk as a chaser.

I’ve been waiting for October since, well last October, and now that it is here I feel it has come upon me too fast. “Crap! It’s October!” Next it will be, “Crap! It’s Christmas!” Followed with a, “Crap! What happened?”

I am going to go to Light the Night to video, which I may have already mentioned (can’t remember). I was checking my camera’s batteries and discovered a partial video of the old Beledi girls we made at the old studio, a birthday party or some such. Sa’dia, Zahava, Asieh, Samira, Crystal, Harika, Aicha, and myself just sitting around after class just laughing. (I seemed to be the only one eating the whole time, go figure). Anyway, brought back both happy and sad memories.

Sa’dia asked again if I wanted to dance at LtN but I turned her down. Just not feeling it right now. I believe you should perform how you feel inside, but if I did that right now, I may frighten people off, LOL. My mind is too involved with other things to put any joy into dancing.

But never fear! I have a BEAUTIFUL rendition of Alf Leyla Wa Leyla that I throw in the CD player and it really makes me feel better. It seems to re-center my focus. That and some Justin Timberlake - Love Stoned, helps me channel my inner diva. hahaha

~N

ps, trying to find orange thread in the fall is a pain in the rear.

Local Update

Now playing: the Cure – Japanese Whispers
Mood: baklava cheesecake <- Yes, this really exists! So, I have decided not to perform at the Hips Noir show in 2 weeks. I am somewhat disappointed but truth be told, I’m just not prepared. Normally, I would just pick a song and ad lib, but this is a fusion show and I am not well versed in fusion enough to just wing it. I have done zero work on the choreography I picked out and zero sewing for the costume. I think it best I sit this one out even though I have been looking forward to it for the past 6months or so. Greek night was bumped to Nov. 3rd which I previously mentioned. It looks like I should be able to make this one. We do really need another warm body ready incase one of us can’t make a GN so Dani will be dancing with us in group numbers instead of throwing her to the wolves like originally planned. I am going to try to sneak some time for Light the Night. The walk is the 6th in Springfield, MO. I am going to take my camcorder to film some of my dance friends performing for the pre-party and then, time permitting, walk the short mile with them. This will be the 4th year bellydancers have walked since Jasara passed away.