You can drink tea, but no dancing with the devil...

Tonight I learned much. Polynesian dance. Trio rehearsal. I held a tiny red corn snake named Ruby. Gwazi shimmies.
And lots and lots of zill practice.

In learning zills, one must be careful to not strain your muscles.
Puppydog hands are OK.
You are also allowed to drink tea (stick out your pinkie)...but not dance with the devil (make the horns).

Jazz hands are right out... >:)

Strut your stuff on the floor

Tonight I learn basic floorwork and knee work at my tribal class. I have my new kneepads. I have my harem pants. And my hipscarf. And my sword.

Squeee.

All good things must come to an end...

Last night was my last tribal class until the fall (sniff). We were encouraged to dress up tribal style, so I dug out an old 10 yard swirly hippy skirt and matching crop choli top and wrapped a bit of a scarf/turban around my head. I found a sparkly red bindi and wore my sparkly red belly jewellery that is shaped like a sun that rings the belly button...cool. I seldom get to wear it (J found it hilarious, that with all this I wore my yellow rubber boots out to the car...) Our teacher even had face makeup and painted our eyes and cheeks up with tribal markings. Not everyone dressed up but I LOVE costumery of ANY kind so I was right in there. It reminded me of a grown up costume/slumber party :)

It was a 2 hour dance party...lots of fun. Our teacher taught us the basics of zills and moving with zills (she brought enough for everyone to try), a bit of stomach undulations and then we had some tasty snacking while her troupe prepped a bit. Yum. After that, those of us that wanted to be involved could be in the chorus for some group dancing, with trios and pairs going forward to do some moves...I joined, as I thought it would be fun. I got paired up with my teacher which was fun...I just had to follow her moves, and she stuck to stuff she knew I knew...it was all low pressure just for fun, so it didn't matter if we got it "right" or not - it was just for the joy of dancing. After that (while we snacked some more...ahem) our teacher and two of the pro dancers from her troupe put on a bit of a short show...even did some sword dancing.

So.
Cool.
After there was a bit of a group dance and then we even got to try balancing a sword on our head to try it out (yup I was right in there). I wish I'd brought our camera...oh well. People say they'll send me some photos. We shall see. Our teacher gave all of us who danced last night a flower to wear when we dance (it's tradition for tribal dancers to wrap their head up in a turban and wear flowers and pins...now I have my first flower :) ) My instructor invited me to take classes with the beginner performance troupe in the fall - I'm quite excited. The performance classes are through a dance studio sot hey cost more, but they are 1 1/2 hours long so you really get to focus in on things...and do more zills and trio work. I can't wait for fall :)

Right now I'm trying to concentrate on work and figuring out what is going on this weekend. I forgot it was easter so we made plans saturday night...plus both our families have made plans sunday, involving us and giving us stuff to do without asking first. *sigh* So tonight I must talk to everyone and figure out just what the heck is going on this weekend. If we can't do our initial plans it will be interesting enough here...I hope we can though. Our good friends are bringing in a bunch of DJs on saturday night and we'd like to be there, but unless we confirm the details it's a no go...the annoying thing about email and cell phones is you think it would be easier to get a hold of people...not so much. Hopefully it all works out. We shall see. I'm in such a good mood at the moment I won't mind either way in the end...

Off to the lab for some shinanegans. Cheerio my good peeps.

Just call me Lemonball

Well, it's all over and done. Hooray!

The recital went well. It was, quite possibly, the longest recital in history (there were some audio problems and costume delays making it about an hour longer than it was supposed to be) but all the pieces went well. I had a shiny costume and bindi and had a fun time. All the group numbers were done properly and my solo went off very well. I am pleased. A few of my family members were there to cheer me on and J was taping it for us so we can have a DVD for a keepsake. The batteries on the mic feed are only supposed to last for about 3/4 of the length of the recital, so the end audio may be a bit crackly, but you don't plan on things being an hour longer than they are scheduled to be, so he can't be faulted for that. Luckily he popped in a spare tape (just in case) so he had enough to record it all :)

On Sunday I got to visit with some old friends I haven't seen in ages...that was nice. Hi Cindi. Hi Kristi :) I even got to go for a long walk in the rapidly melting paths in my yellow rubber boots and watch the world start to melt into spring. I made experimental jalapeno cornbread biscuits...they were yummers.

It was all a very nice weekend.
Tonight is my last tribal belly dance class. We're combining with the intermediate class and having a bit of a dance party/lesson/snack time. It'll be nice. I'll miss the slow down of belly dancing now that classes are done for the summer. My one class is being extended for a month as there is enough of us around who would like to keep coming, but my crazy schedule for the recital prep is over. I'm glad - it was getting to be a bit much to tell the truth. Luckily I have some DVDs I can keep training with until the fall when classes startup again... and I'm sure I'll find enough to do to fill in the time...

Have a great day everyone :)

I like to sew

Whew!
The top is sewn. And, done well I might add. It doesn't have any of the fringy bits on it yet (I wanted an hour or two of sleep...call me crazy) but I did all the finishing stitching and the arms are trimmed with proper satin seam tape and there are three pretty beady bits dangling from the center, right between where my bosomy bits sit for a bit of mvement. I don't know if I'll keep thatt or go for a fringy trim or add other trim to it yet...that's for later. I just couldn't wear it completely plain tonight (vain? me? no...) but I was tired enough that I didn't trust myself to screw up complicated trimming with all the nice trim bits I've got for it so I left it at what I did. I did the sewing a bit close to the zipper so it's a bit sticky to unzip, but hey - it looks great, so I am happy. It definitely won't come off and I won't fall out of it or anything...that's the main thing. The fabric is gorgeous enough on it's own. It's a sleeveless fitted cropped choli top out of black flat satin that is embroidered silvery grey bits on it. S'nice.

I did managed to whip up a simple front and back V belt with a bit of fringe on it. I couldn't get the grommets to go in tho - so I may just have to pin it together for tonight and figure out that part later. Grommets and I are not friends. The idea is the two halves of the belt will lace up with some leather tie and grey ribbon thru gommets on each hip. Should look cool...well, except for the current lack of grommet part. Ah, I'll figure it out. I have a whole grand idea for chiffony drapy bits about the hips coming down from behind the belt in grey and black chiffon, to layer over the skirt and swoosh when I dance, but I have to serge all those bits and I want to plan it out carefully as the fabric was $$, so I left for later too. I know those won't be a problem so I'll do them next week...or the week after that. I want time to drape and fiddle and do it proper. And yes...pictures when it's done I promise.

Now I just have to practice my solo with my iPod all day in my head and try to stay awake :)

Tonight I am sleeping.
I can't wait...that and seeing Caroline in 3D are my only weekend plans. This week has been insane.

You know, having a dress form is nice...Finally I could sew, adjust, and pin to make sure it fit me before I put the zipper in the back - and as a result the top fits me very well! Plus - now it's a display stand for the top and the belt to keep the cats from sitting/scratching/playing with/puking on it until I can do more.
It's like my Dad always said "when you've got all the right tools, you can do the job right".
Smart man my Dad :)

Achy arms and sore stomach

Did you know that when you bellydance for 2 hours you use your arms a lot?
Yes.
It's true.
Today, my arms ache, after practicing last night. I was practicing my 3 routines.
I was enjoying my practicing and suddenly I realised I couldn't do themoves properly anymore as my muscles were completely fatigued...I stretched everything...except my arms.
Ow.
I woke up at 3AM with aching arms and shoulders and had a great deal of trouble getting back to sleep. No matter how I layed my arms ached.
There's a lot of different muscle groups in your arms. Did you know that?
I do. I can feel them every one of them...