DtkT - DtkT - Dtk, Dtk, DtkT!

Finger cymbal sound drill.

After much cursing and frowning, I still struggle a bit with my non-dominate hand, which throws off my timing a bit, but it is definitely coming along.

~N

Iraqi Style

"The Ukrainian Star Yana Tsehotskaya is The Winner of the 2013 Dance Competition With Her Group Best Iraqi dance Performance."

One of the gals in my Tuesday night class likes any excuse to throw in a hair toss to add a little personality to the dance. This idea got me on the kick of watching Iraqi Kawliya videos. I found this fantastic "hair dance" performance.

Nadia Nikishenko - Khaleegy

Found this great Khaleegy performance by Russian dancer Nadia Nikishenko floating around between my Facebook friends. Love!

Wooden Zills!

Find them at magus-obeiro.com.

Dance Crush of the Week: Tamar Bar-Gil

I was tipped off by DBQ to the fantastic Israeli dancer Tamar Bar-Gil. I am totally digging her juicy technique and very deliberate ab work.


~N

Shoe Fall Maintenance

I have been in desperate need of some new ballet slippers for practice since last December. They were riddled with holes and smelled pretty bad. I prefer canvas to leather because my feet sweat a lot. I ordered a new pair from DiscountDanceSupply.com in late summer that are both canvas and moisture wicking. Win! Unfortunately they were on back order for over a month. I finally received them in early October and was able to put the old pair to rest.

Only having enough money to replace my ballet slippers I went online to see if my hermes sandals were at all salvageable. My hermes are so old I don't know how they don't have holes too. Instead they have a thick layer of crud consisting of dirt, food, and germs so thick that the soles have become hard and slick. You are supposed to maintain suede sole dance shoes with a special suede brush but alas, I have not. I have never cleaned my hermes soles, ever! Turns out not only are suede brushes cheap you can also use heavy grit sandpaper as a quick fix. I watched a few how to videos but was still a little skeptical. My hermes seemed too far neglected for anything to help but I figured why not, can't make them worse.

I found some 80 grit sandpaper and to my surprise it worked really really well. The soles aren't perfect but definitely salvageable. Once I get a suede brush I should be able to extend the life of my shoes for many more years. If your shoes are super gross like mine I highly recommend cleaning the shoes outside or inside of box that you can fit your arms into. The brushing/sanding kicks up a fine dust of dirt and debris that gets everywhere. I used a flat cardboard tray that a case of ramen comes in.You may even want to wear gloves or a mask. (My shoes were sooooo nasty.)

New vs Old. I wore the new pair of ballet slippers around the house for an hour in triumph before throwing the old pair away.

Before and after. I feel itchy just looking at this picture.

Once I get a suede brush they will be like new. Thank you internet.

Suede sole shoe maintenance how to with brush and sandpaper. 

~N

DanceTastic: Rick Owens 2014 Spring Summer Fashion show

UPDATE 4/23/14: I found an interview of one of the step dancers from the performance. She talks about her experience and tells us that the dancers were from 4 teams - Soul Steps and Momentum from New York and the Washington Divas and the Zetas who hail from the D.C. area.

Rick Owens 2014 Spring Summer fashion show was a mash-up of fashion and dance. I can imagine these amazing glamazons in a futuristic temple bringing down the moon. All of the moons. From the whole solar system. Unfortunately, I cannot find info on the dancers. Everything I find on the show is about body image, racial and gender stereotypes, etc. No info about the women themselves. Here is a short article About the show.


Here is the show from another view.

~N

PS Their dance sneakers are pimpin.

Sa'dia's Wet Set Curls

Fellow dancer Sa'dia with Alchemy, A Salon, shows us how to do a wet set updo for curling your hair. She has used this technique for years and it works really well for those workshop weekends. Updo during the day. Full head of curls for the evening show. ~N

This Week's Dance Crush: Amanda Rose

It's been a long educational weekend with Ruby Beh staying in my home. I am tired and inspired. The week before Ruby arrived I was at the studio listening to Amanda Rose's Embellish Your Dance instructional DVD and now I'm hooked. Check out this super cute Melaya Leff performance.
~N

DanceTastic: In a Year

Inspiration for folks out there who are needing a push in the right direction.

"This isn't a story about dancing, though. It's about having a dream and not knowing how to get there — but starting anyway. Maybe you're a musician dreaming of writing an original song. You're an entrepreneur dying to start your first venture. You're an athlete but you just haven't left the chair yet." - www.DanceInAYear.com

Galloway Station Farewell

Guest dancer, Naia and Naima's duet for the last set.

A few quick pics from Galloway Station's 10yr Anniversay, Greek Night, Farewell weekend April 27, 2013. Galloway Station is now up and running at their new location on 1281 E. Republic Rd, Springfield MO 65804. Next Greek Night is scheduled for Aug. 24th.



Naima-vision - Best crowd ever!

Dancing on dollars and rose petals.

Naima gives a heartfelt goodbye to the original location with the last bellydance performance of the night - Gianni Mou To Mantili Sou

Gianni Mou To Mantili Sou

My Yianni, why is your handkerchief so stained?
My dear Yianni, my brave young man?
It is stained from laboring in foreign lands,
In those cursed, forlorn places.
I washed it five times and fouled five rivers forever with its stain.

DanceTastic: Christopher (Puppeteer)

I told myself that I should stop posting so many videos but these dance numbers puppeted by Christopher are absolutely brilliant. I can't decide which group I like the best. Each has their merit not just from the optical illusion but also from the creativity in the choice of group, dance, and costume. Not to mention the athleticism and coordination it must take to dance with puppets. The last video is an interesting look into how Christopher has used trial and error and audience feedback to keep improving on his art. Love it!

 

Woman's Body - A Bellydance Perspective

A lovely video featuring a short discourse on Bellydance and body perspective by Ruby Jazayre, Professor of Middle Eastern Dance, Indiana University South Bend.

Middle-East Flavored Karma Police

Tribal Fusion Gold: Radiohead's Karma Police with Middle-Eastern instruments and vocal styling.

Tel Aviv-based musicians Rotem Shefy (vocalist) and Leat Sabbah (cellist/arranger) collaborated to realize an arrangement of Karma Police, a major hit from the alternative rock band Radiohead, third album OK Computer (1997). What seemed at first a satirical cover, it transformed into a full-blown middle-eastern version, recorded with oud player Yaniv Taichmann and percussionist Ori Dekel. Video made possible thanks to the donations we received through a successful Kickstarter campaign! Vocals: Rotem Shefy (https://www.facebook.com/RotemShefy?f...) Cello: Leat Sabbah (https://www.facebook.com/leatsabbahcello) Oud: Yaniv Taichman Percussion: Ori Dekel Produced: Rotem Shefy & Leat Sabbah Recorded, Mixed & Mastered: Avi Ein Zur

Dance Crush of the Week: Hatem Hamdi

My dancer crush of the week, Hatem Hamdi. He is an Egyptian dancer and instructor with the Nile Group. The first video is cheeky and fun (I actually have the first song in my collection.) The second video is a classic piece. Both performances are explosive, theatrical, and of course his costuming is amazing.

Veils and Needles

Where did I put that needle?

As promised, the rest of a post I deleted back in January.

Before I get to the x-ray picture at top I need to back up the late summer of 2011. Naia tried selling me a turquoise costume at a local bazaar which I turned down for money reasons. I did on the other hand talk her into letting me alter her purple costume and out of selling it.

Jump to some time at the end of 2012. I never have liked veil much, not having the personality for those classic, sometimes cheese-tastic, veil tricks and ALWAYS feeling like I was wrestling the veil more so than dancing with it. So I had made an agreement with Naia that she should choreography and teach me a veil number that I would have to learn and perform. I in turn would choreograph and teach her a drum solo which she would learn and perform. Both of us exchanging knowledge in our strong points for a chance to work on our not-so-strong points. A deal was struck and we began to casually hunt music for our new project.

Come December we were invited to perform in the opening show for the Bellydance Superstar Tour coming to town at the end of January 2013. Our veil/drum project suddenly became a one month crunch to create a duet in time for the show. The time crunch also made costuming a minor issue. Not having the time or money for new matching costuming Naia traded me the turquoise costume for classes, alterations, and other dance related services. I would wear the turquoise costume and she would wear her black (with blue) costume.

Bellydancer "headband" and strap extensions shown matched with beaded gauntlet. Old worn out plastic O-ring removed.

I brought the costume home about two weeks before the show for fitting. The skirt and top were connected by a plastic O-ring that I seam-ripped out and replaced with a metal one. I also added a snap so the skirt would detach from the O-ring and make it easier to get in and out of. I then found an old "Bellydancer" tank that I never wear and cut it up to make matching strap extension turning the original halter into a cross-back. Naia couldn't find the costume's headband so I used the rhinestone-lettered strip from the tank top to make a new one. I fixed loose beads and adjusted the elastic. Last but not least, hemming.

Fitted costume. Can you spot the troublemaker hiding in this photo?

The night of the show I did one more fitting and added some extra elastic to the skirt to keep it from sliding around. Satisfied with the fit I went on to do my hair and make-up. Ten minutes before I intended to walk out the door I heard my husband yell my name with a tone of voice I've never heard him use in the 13 years we've known each other. Fear.

I dropped the hairspray in hand and ran to the dining room to find him sitting in the floor pinning our gray cat, Augustus, on his back holding his mouth open with his fingers. "He swallowed a needle!" I peered in to see a sewing needle part way into his throat and part way still in his mouth. The cat was kicking too much to stick my fingers in to pull it out so I ran for a pair of tweezers.

I failed try after try to pull the needle out while the cat kicked and the Husband Person had a mini panic attack (literally shaking and close to hyper-ventilating.) I couldn't get the needle to slide out so with one last college try I grasped it and gave it a good yank. It pulled loose. The cat failed wildly. The needle fell back into his mouth and disappeared. Augustus swallowed, licked his lips, and acted as though nothing happened.

Stunned is not quite the right word but the Husband Person and I sat blankly, unmoving, mouths gaping, in silence for a comedically long time staring at the cat in disbelief. I've never felt so confoundedly frozen to the spot. Apparently, the needle had stabbed into the roof of the mouth just enough to keep it from being swallowed. When I yanked it free the cat kicked because it ripped the needle out causing pain. The Husband Person called the Emergency Animal clinic while I ran for the cat carrier and my purse and off we drove with cat and needle.

We sat in an examination room while the vet did x-rays. Me in plain clothes with full dance hair and make-up. The Husband Person hands shaking. I sent a text to the show host and told her I would miss the pre-show lighting rehearsal but would make it by show time. As you can see from the x-ray above the needle had safely made it to the stomach. We were instructed to allow Augustus no food, water, or heavy activity. We were to take him to the animal hospital first thing in the morning where they could endoscopy the needle out without it passing through the body.

I drove the Husband Person and Augustus home and made it at the venue in time to change and perform the opening number.

Smiling with veil in hand - a first for Naima. With Naia Abla.

My favorite kind of picture - mouth open, belly out. Mid-tabla stomach pop, with Naia Abal.

A sleepy picture taken right after the show. Please ignore the boobs and notice the newly replaced metal ring and detachable top.

The next morning the Husband Person took Augustus to the animal hospital to an awaiting team of vet and students excited to observe an endoscopy procedure. But alas, after new x-rays it was discovered the needle had passed into the intestines overnight and all they could do was wait. A few hours of observation and one kitty enema later the needle along with a pretty serious hairball were produced. Apparently, the hairball helped to encase the needle making it pass without incident. Whereas the needle helped push the hairball through before becoming another emergency vet visit in itself.

Back from the vet the Husband Person presented me with a small cup containing the needle. I took a quick peek inside and sure enough the thread attached was the same blue of my costume. Augustus had been chewing on the thread, swallowed it and pulled the needle along for the ride. To this day, Augustus has no idea why he was "punished" by stabs to the roof of his mouth, being denied food and water, pokes, prods, and enemas.

The ironic thing is I had just been thinking about doing a post for pet and child safety around costuming supplies. Needless to say, never leave the room without putting all needles, pins, and other pointy objects away in a box or drawer even for just a bathroom break. Learn from my mistake. Think of the new costumes I could have bought with what I spent on vet bills.

The Bellydance Superstars were awesome by the way. And I made it through a veil number with some grace and elegance for once.

~N

Used needle with blue thread and other sundry items $429

All of the Props are Belong to Camelia

Camelia with stick and veil.

Aside from Camelia being a master with her props all of her costumes are seriously intricate including little matching biker shorts and crazy straps. I can barely believe the costumes survive such energetic performances.

~N

Camelia with veil


Just Camelia

All of the Props are Belong to Us

Camelia of Egypt dancing with Shamadan, Finger Cymbals, and Stick.

JKH Revisit

Where's Naima in the sea of dressing room mirrors.

I had this really nice long post typed up about the past 2 months of dance and then I deleted it by accident. I have no clue how I did it and I was so upset at loosing all of my work that I haven't worked on the blog in weeks. I've decided to split the post in two in case I delete it again. That way I'll only loose half the work. Also, I am recovering from the plague. Anything could happen.

Anyway, I had the opportunity to dance at the Multicultural Festival with the Malaika Dancers back in January. It is hosted at Jaunita K Hammons Hall of Performing Arts every year on Martin Luther King Day. I had danced there as a baby dancer with Troupe Sarrab around 2001-ish. I thought it would be nice, after a decade, to revisit the largest stage I've ever danced on. This is also the stage I first saw Gita perform.

Malaika was given 2 sets, 1 on the "balcony stage" and 1 on the main stage. The balcony stage is intended for musical performances, not so much dance. It is crammed in the corner of the main atrium above the first floor but below the auditorium balconies. Only the patrons above us could see the performance and even then it was far and detached. I will say it was an interesting feeling to look up at the audience throughout the entire performance. It was also vibrantly sunny in our little corner and got quite warm dancing.

Despite the less than desirable stage placement, we chalked the balcony performance up as a practice run for the performance on the big stage. The main stage is seems huge in comparison and easily makes you feel quite tiny in its vastness. The professional lighting also means you cannot see the audience very well and makes emoting into the blinding light feel a little silly. The super cool thing about the day was the HUGE dressing room we were treated to. It had long rows of mirrors, lounge chairs, and even a private bathroom with a shower. The audio from the stage was also piped in through speakers so we could hear the performances live. All it needed was 4 dozen pink and yellow roses and a bowl of green M&M's.

~N

Video from the closest "audience" location. Looks like I'm dancing for team America with that big flag displayed in front of me.

Dancer's view off the Balcony Stage at JKH.

Malaika Dancers on the Balcony Stage at JKH.

Malaika Dancers on the JKH stage that made me break my rule of never dance without sandals.

Baby Bellydancer Naima in a borrowed palette dress on JKH stage 2001.

This is what happens when you take video instead of a picture. Doh. (I bought that dress for $7 at a garage sale!)

It Was in the 20's

I didn't realize my friend L. was filming during Saturday's Greek Night. Chiffon isn't much of an insulator.