" air il'e yeba'atak, ya gazma yibn ig-gazma"

Today was not a good day. The son of a shoe in my title definitely deserves to be stabbed by a dick!

Today was meant to be a red letter day in my dance career. Two workshops and an evening out with Lorna of Cairo.

I've been an avid follower of Lorna's blog, and was really looking forward to actually learning from her. It's always exciting to meet a new dancer in the flesh rather than just on Youtube, and I'd heard nothing but good things about her workshops - I was expecting big things!

And what I saw of her was amazing. She's a charismatic, intuitive teacher, with a way of teaching that encourages learners to experiment with technique and ideas. She corrects gently, with humour, and brings out the best in every person in her class.

I know this, because I got to sit at the back for half an hour and take notes, rather than spend four hours dancing, then go out for dinner and more dancing.

Why? because the afore-mentioned son of a shoe was not content with tailgating my little yellow car for two miles, and decided to round off his display of incompetent driving by ramming me up the arse and shunting me right across a roundabout. The ibn el sharmoota hit me so fucking hard that my seat was ripped off its runners, the spare wheel was shoved through the numberplate, and the radio was fired out of the dashboard, over the gear stick and ended up on the back seat!

I limped my poor little yellow peril as far as the venue, but it was clearly terminally unwell, and by then various aches and pains were making themselves known over the adrenaline, so I just sat at the back until the recovery truck made an appearance and then shuffled off again, no doubt to the utter confusion of the other dancers.

To say I'm gutted is an understatement. I have been looking forward to today for months, and to have missed out on it all just sucks so hard. I mean, I got four pages of notes just from what I did see. Imagine how much I would have learnt if I'd been there for the whole thing?

On the plus side. I'm all right, although I expect I am in for a bit of whiplash and bruising. The car did what it was meant to and took most of the impact. My insurers have all the details of the other guy, who was also unhurt, if apoplectic with rage (why yes, ibn kelb, it's totally my fault because I didn't pull out into the path of another car so your stuck up arse could catch the ferry to your holiday home in France five minutes quicker than planned. Elif air ab tizak), so I intend to nail his balls to the wall. And as you can tell, I used my time on hold to my insurers well, and learnt a whole host of new Arabic phrases that seemed apposite to the situation!

Ooops take 2

It appears I haven't actually posted anything on here since October last year. And even then it was to apologicse for not posting much.

Bad, bad belly dancer.

Sooo, what's been happening in the world of Lilith?

Well, I got my solo fusion piece polished and ready for November, and even finished the costume in time, though I was still sewing on bead strands an hour before I was due on stage.

I was very happy with the costume, less so with the performance. I was under-rehearsed and it showed. I also realised thatI want to move towards more traditional Oriental and folklore in my solo work. I love fusion, but I feel to be a good fusion dancer I need to first be a better Cab dancer. And as I also love sparkles and Arabic music, this is not a hardship for me. I'm now having thoughts about something slightly shaabi, maybe Ahmed ya Omar (which also has the bonus of being nice and short!

Over Christmas I got to hang out with Black Sheep Tribal dancers, and even had a little go at the real thing at one of the Christmas haflas. My teacher Dawn is now qualified as a Black Sheep teacher, and I'm hoping she will start some classes this year, as I am itching to get back into the tribal stuff. I love the idea of dancing on both sides - ATS used to give me such aches and pains in my left hip!

How are you all out in the blogosphere? Is 2013 treating you kindly so far?

Injuries and rehabilitation

So in my last post I talked about picking up an injury at the shaabi class I did. Sadly, it's still lingering, and it now seems I may have actually torn the oblique, so it's taking much longer to heal and needs a lot of babying.

We're really lucky in our dance community to have a lot of very experienced dancers with a really solid understanding of anatomy and physical therapies. I have picked the brains of all our local ladies, and have benefited from heaps of advice and support.

The last two intensive workshops I've done with my own teacher Dawn have been very focused on therapeutic work, treating existing injuries and working on strength and flexibility to help prevent future damage.

We've played with all sorts of props and toys, including pilates rollers, spiky massage balls and the Rumble Roller, which I hate, but must concede works absolute wonders on knotted up and tight muscles, even if using it on ones glutes and thighs is an exercise in masochism of the worst kind.

The most frustrating part of being injured is not being able to dance for long. I made the mistake the other week of planning a troupe rehearsal right before class, and ended up sitting out almost the entire hour of class because I'd 'used up' my allocation of pain-free hip work for the day. Not great when your class is learning Soheir Zaki style chonks and you're dying to get up and drill.

I'm aiming to be recovered enough to perform at the next 'big' hafla in the area, which is in mid November. And to help speed my recovery, I'm working on a new costume for it...

Oops

Oh my, has it really been over a month since I last posted?

Work has been crazy recently, and although I've had time to dance, I haven't had time to write about dancing.

Soooo, where were we?

Well, the shaabi workshop was fantastic. Very high energy and very technical- Shafeek threw us right in at the deep end, and did a lot of work with us trying to capture the right attitude for the dance. It must be a thankless task trying to get twenty odd English women to show some emotion, especially the sort of sassy, come get a slice of this attitude of the piece we were learning, but I think most of us got there in the end.

The one downside was that I got injured. Shafeek had us doing a move where we dropped our hip then bounced round 180 degrees and dropped again. It was done at warp speed and we were making such a meal of it that eventually he changed the move to something simpler. I didn't realise at the time, but I wrenched my right oblique trying to make the turn in time, and this was exacerbated by the fact we didn't do any cool-down or stretching when the class ended.

I'm still dealing with pain and stiffness in my right hip, so I guess this has taught me a stern lesson. No matter what you're doing or what the teacher is doing, you ALWAYS cool down and stretch after a class!

Costume-wise I am still plugging along very slowly with the silver bedlah, and thinking how much easier and cheaper costuming must be for ladies who can use a B cup bra as more than just a pastie.

A few hundred sequins in. A few hundred thousand to go.

This week I also picked up a pretty sari off a fellow dancer, so was able to start on a project I've been craving for a while- a khaleegi thobe. It's a truly global garment this- Indian sari, made in Japan (or so the label says), turned into an Arabian dress, using a pattern from New Zealand.

Next comes the fun bit- decorating. I've just learnt how to do chain stitch (I know, I know, most people learn that in kindergarten) so I feel the need for some glitzy crochet thread.

Tribal AND Oriental? Never!

Ugh, the internets have been particularly ...internetty recently. I am so sick of the tribal vs oriental, bellydance vs oriental dance, real dance vs fusion bullshit, and even sicker of those who seem to spend their entire days hunched over the keyboard just looking for an opportunity to start another wankfest.

As regular readers will know, I have my size 5s firmly plunked either side of the fence, but with regular cabaret classes on hold for the holidays, it has been all about the tribal fusion for the last month or two.

I ventured out a couple of weeks ago for a punishing Drills and Thrills workshop with guest teacher Bex. I then spent the next four days practically crippled. Even holding a pen hurt. I don't know quite what the queen of spooky did to my pectoral muscles (hell, until I started these workshops I didn't even know I had pecs!) but suffice to say it was effective!

As ever, our usual teacher Dawn filmed us practising what we'd been taught, so there are loads of videos of us on Facebook drilling travelling undulations, oblique undulations and grapevine step. And as ever, I am the one at the back with the bright red face, half a beat behind and going the wrong way :D

Yes, that would be me. Artwork by the incredibly awesome Rozey

This weekend sees the afore-mentioned Bex hosting Carpe Somnium in Wolverhampton. I wasn't initially able to go, but it now looks like I may be able to squeak in for the evening performance. Particularly exciting as the compère is none other than my troupe mate and partner in crime Charlotte. Looking forward to it!

Then on Sunday Charlotte and I are off to a Shaabi workshop with Shafeek. We've been interested in trying Shaabi for a while, so when this one came up we were on it right away. I'm pretty sure that the purists out there will need a few years to readjust their worldview to allow for the horror of fusion dancers actually studying and enjoying oriental dance, but fuck 'em. We'll be having fun!

Gothla 2012

This is a well over-due review of the weekend, but then, I think one needs a week (or three) to recover before any real insight can be achieved! 


I had a relatively quiet Gothla this year as I was too skint to book any workshops, but everything I have heard suggests that they were well worth the money, and I missed out on any number of terpsichorean treats.

Black Veil Tribe - photo* by Jan Clark

Gothla as a whole is a fabulous, crazy weekend, but the Showcase on a Friday night is the place to see the absolute crème de la crème of gothic and fusion dance, and also identify the up and coming trends for the next year or two. This year was no exception, and we had a real mixed bag.

Insomnia: an insanely talented duo from Spain - photo by Jan Clark

Probably the most obvious trend was for shamanic themes, which mainly manifested themselves through lots of skulls and feathers. Dud Muurmand was by far the most successful performer- her piece was literally invocative, and there were a lot of prickling necks in the auditorium as we got the sense that what was on stage was by no means all human.

Dud Muurmand - photo by Jan Clark

Legendary Gothla regular Morgana of Excalibur Dance gave what was probably the final word on doll-themed performances. This is a horse that has pretty much been beaten to death by fusion dancers, so I was a bit disappointed when it was announced. I should have known better, as Morgana's athletic skills made for a believably loose-limbed ragdoll. 


Other star names for this year were the charming Mavi, and Belladonna, who rocked a light-up bedlah that had many of the more cyber goths drooling into their New Rocks with envy. And, of course, the fabulous Ozgen, who is frankly about as Goth as a packet of Smarties, but had us all speechless with envy as he showed off his flawless body undulations and shimmies.

Belladonna lights up the stage - photo by Jan Clark

Home-grown talent included West Midlands favourites Alexis Southall, Bex, Dawn O'Brien (whose self-cannibalising zombie was both clever and quease-making), Fulya's gorgeous take on Mata Hari and Gwen Booth as an adorable abinsthe fairy, but probably the most exciting piece for me was the opening act, which was by Tribe of the Honeybadgers, and featured not only Dawn, Alexis and the marvellously mental Gothla co-organiser Akasha, but also my troupemate Ruth.


They performed a cool, cheeky piece inspired by the Moto GP, and clearly had a lot of fun doing it (they also had a lot of fun making the costumes the previous Thursday, although Dawn almost glued herself to Ruth's bum at one point). Clearly, I am very biased, but don't they look awesome?

Honeybadgers heading into the first corner - photo by Dark Soul Photography

*photos by kind permission of fellow dancer and infinitely superior photographer Jan Clark, and one from the talented James at Dark Soul Photography

Choreo woes and cake

I had an amazing idea for a fusion choreography the other day, and have been playing with it on and off, trying to do justice to the music and the visions in my head.

There's a point in every choreography, I find, where it suddenly stops being fun and exciting, and suddenly all the moves seem helplessly clunky and awkward, and the transitions are strained and slapped together rather than flowing and seamless.

Suffice to say that I've reached the point with this choreography!

So the choreography is shelved for a few days until I get my enthusiasm back, and instead I've been doing some drilling.

It's hotter than Satan's conservatory here at the moment, and seeing as I'm already a hot sweaty mess, I might as well make the most of it and get in some energetic shimmy drill.

My choo shimmies and loose, juicy shimmies are already looking better, so next will be tightening up the loose shimmy and playing with vibrations. I was super impressed by Ozgens precision shimmies, and while I don't aspire to that level of perfection, more control would be good. And I can certainly manage flicking sweat around with every hip accent (it was apparently very hot on stage at Gothla!)

And finally, Shira.net has just turned 15, so I went looking for an appropriate cake picture. I'd love to know who made this!

Whoops!

The gold bedlah is now officially retired, pending a full strip down and rebuild.


Why? Well, for starters it's pissing gold beads everywhere, and no one likes a carpet-bomber. It's also got no lining, so it hurts to wear, the bra fringe is hopelessly tangled, and some of the accent beads are hanging off.

Look at it, the trashed, tit-flashing traitor

But the main reason it's in disgrace is because it no longer wishes to stay put. This evening, while dancing in front of about 100 people at a local Charity Hafla, it decided it wanted to part company from my left boob, and cosy up with my chin instead. Not to the extent of flashing a nipple, but there's a time and a place for underboob, and in front of half the local dance scene plus OZGEN is emphatically not it. 


Irritatingly, were it not for the costume malfunction it would have ranked as one of my favourite performances yet. I felt really confident, managed to blend the improv with the choreographed sections without ending up repeating myself ad infinitum, and earned gatrifiying applause and compliments at the end. I even got complimented on my lovely (traitorousm untrustworthy) costume!


Impromptu striptease aside, it was a cracking evening, and I felt really privileged to be on the same bill as the other acts. All the troupes, student and otherwise, were well rehearsed, smiling and clearly happy to be there. Such a refreshing change from some others I've seen! It's difficult to pick out highlights as all the acts were engaging and enjoyable.


Tahira's troupe 'Dhalal Banat' were lovely - there were about 16 of them performing a very clever choreography that saw them split into four corners and work every side of the stage (great when there are audience members on three sides).


Fulya and her sister Julie did a duet - this was the first time I've seen Julie dancing as she is usually stall sitting while Fulya solos. Lovely to watch and would like to see more of the other Ms Chapman please!


Organiser Emma Wheate duetted with a fellow dancer to do an Isis Wings piece. I hate Isis wings with a passion, but this actually made me wish I owned a pair. Very cleverly done, and lots of actual dancing rather than just stick waving.


Belly Fusion performed a raucous, Victorian flavoured circus act that went down a storm. I know I've seen them before, and loved them- this was no exception. The characterisation was spot-on, the tribal style moves were perfectly synched, I just loved it.


The night finished off with the afore-mentioned Ozgen. I saw him perform at Gothla last week, and was pretty impressed then (despite the fact that he is about as Goth as a daisy) by his skills, but smaller, more intimate shows are where he clearly comes into his own. His performance was like a whirlwind tour through bellydance, from arrogant Roma struts to incredibly technical belly isolations, audience teasing and pleasing, and even a spot of Zar when the music demanded it. So, so impressed, and what a fabulous way to end a good night.


Despite the booby.

Breaking through the barriers

There are certain moves that are real 'blockers' for me, even after five years of having them taught over and over again. A decent undulation, a nice juicy standard shimmy, a downwards belly roll... there are probably more, but I'd like to maintain the illusion that I'm a half decent dancer.


I don't know whether other dancers get this as well, but good Gods is it frustrating. I see progress in every other area of my dancing, but then the same old bugbears crop up. We're learning a drum choreography in class at the mo, and if I say so myself, I'm not too shabby at some of the more technical stuff, but it takes the shine right off my choo shimmy when it's followed up by a lurching zombie (on a more proficient dancer, you'd call it a camel).


Breaking through one of these barriers, then, is big news, and today I smashed not one but two of them! The setting- Drills and Thrills, a monthly 3 hour workshop run by my awesome teacher.


First down was the undulation. We've been working a lot with Intuflow (caution, autostart music and a lot of woo- youtube is a better bet), gently expanding our range of movement and trying to use every joint to its full range. My main problem with my 'camel' undulation is that my ribs and shoulders act as one big unit, so I spent a lot of time drilling an intuflow move that helps free up the ribcage articulation, and at the end of it, I could do a (very little) undulation with no interfering shoulders!


Next up the juicy shimmy. For years I've suffered from shrinking shimmies, that get tighter and tighter until there's just a little vibration and a whole lot of cramp. I have no idea what has changed since, but today Dawn asked us to do a big old bum wobbling, flab jiggling (my words not hers) shimmy, and for once my body obliged. So much so, in fact, that the dancer next to me turned to watch! 


We finished the session with the now traditional dip in the sport's centre's brine pool. This usually involves a lot of handstands, swimming under water racing, handstands, mermaid imitations and me in a silly hat. However, I can;t underrate the value of it after a hardcore workout. Since we moved to this new venue, I've been much less sore and stiff the day after classes. Plus, you know, mermaids!

The Silver Lining

It's been pouring down for about three weeks now, and the local dancers are all thoroughly sick of the rain. This is the boom time of year for dancers, with fètes, workshops, haflas and showcases pretty much every weekend.


Tomorrow I'll be performing at a fète north of Birmingham, which is a staple booking for my teacher and her students. According to one of the old hands, it has rained solidly on this event every June for the last ten years. I suspect that tomorrow will not see a change in this tradition.


We're booked in for a full half hour set, with all dancers remaining 'on stage' (actually an open air arena) for the full course of the show. I am frantically searching through my costumes to find something that is warm and waterproof, or at least won't show up the stain when my hairdye starts to run!


With galeforce misery outside, it's tempting to stay indoors rather than brave the elements, especially as I am well launched into a new project.


I think a silver bedlah is like the 'LBD' of belly dance costumes, goes with anything, can be dressed up or down, and never goes out of style. Unfortunately, they're not as findable in my size (and budget) as their streetwear equivalent, so a silver bra and belt has become my new project.

I'm aiming for a vintage, slightly Turkish feel, with very heavy embellishment and hardly any visible fabric. I therefore felt justified in buying some seriously cheap and nasty satin to cover the bra and belt, and instead splurged on some super tough buckram with which to reinforce everything. I may have overdone the reinforcing, in fact, as sewing on the large acrylic crystals involved a thimble and a pair of pliers!

The rhinestones will be outlined in seed beads and sequins, as seen on Shushanna's site, with rope beading along the top edge of the bra. I'll add rope beading along the edge of the bra, clumps of coin fringe on each boob, and non-coined fringe between the cups. I'm undecided how to decorate the rest of the bra- I have a big batch of silver paillettes in the post, or I could buy more rhinestone fringe and extend the pattern along the bra straps.


Or I could combine the two- the more bling the better!