Rising Tide

FINALLY! I have been waiting on the video from my performance at "Taste of Los Angeles Belly Dance" presented by LA MECDA. It took almost forever. But its here!

Taste of Los Angeles Belly Dance

The Los Angeles Chapter of the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association had its first inaguaral event at the Alexandria Hotel in Downtown LA in the Mark Blankenship Ballroom. First, that ballroom is beautiful. The hotel was built in 1906 so it has that old opulent silent movie feel to it. I absolutely loved. Several of the other rooms are being rennovated but I would have another event there.

There weren't as many vendors as there are at other events, but some of my favorite ones were present. Ivorie Franks of Diva Dreads was there and I finally got a pair. Kerrie Kordowski of Opal Moon Designs was there and I finally got one of those cool belts with all the pockets. I got silk fan veils from Turquoise International. Jagged Thorns, Geisha Moth and Henna Crone were there, but I didn't have money to buy anything after I spent it on the other stuff.

There were three FREE 15-minute workshops, but I missed them. By the time my friend and I arrived, Princess Farhana was starting her workshop. Hers was $30 on the use of arm movements. Khani Jo Zulu did a workshop following hers on turning and drills. The show started about 3:15pm and there was back to back dancing. So many dancers in the So Cal area. Wow! Tribal, Cabaret, Tribal Fusion, ATS, Modern Belly Dance Fusion, Gothic Tribal Fusion, Arabic Folkloric. It was so many belly dance styles under one roof. Swords, Veils, Fan Veils, Finger Cymbals, Canes. So many props.

I loved Merryl Jensen's Tribal Fusion solo to Dubstep. One of my absolute faves. I loved Roxanne Goon's solo. Kaotar Dee's solo was fantastic too. She did hers to Mission by Beats Antique which is one of my favorite songs.

I performed too. I finally did it. I finally performed a solo and it wasn't at school. It wasn't in a restaurant where no one knows belly dance culture. It was in front of at least 150 people, most of whom are belly dancers in the LA area. Devilla, Princess Farhana, Khani Jo Zulu and the ladies of Medianoche Dance Company, Karin Jensen of Mandala DanceWorks, Aubre Hill, the ladies of Kamala Tribal, Sooz, Jenn and Merryl of Bella Luna and so many more.

It was to "Rising Tide" by Beats Antique. I managed to do the splits with a sword on my head. Woohoo. I was sooo nervous. Thank you to Michelle of Kamala Tribal and Mardhavi Sunkatala. I thought I might pass out before I went on stage. Belly dance is really a sisterhood. The women in the tribe really do look out for you and give their all with their whole heart.

It was great. I can't wait to do it again. And I hope they have it at the Alexandria next year too.

November Activities - Zulu Lounge

So....my friend Luz and I went to Zulu Lounge at Boardner's in Hollywood.She had never been to a belly dance event, let alone heard of some the fanatastic performers that graced the two performance spaces.

Let's see, there was Roxanne, who I finally got to meet (pictured with me), Monica Dangerpants who played with fire (I saw her perform live with Mutaytor @ Knotts Scary Farm a long time ago) and of course Mandala DanceWorks. Of course there was Sooz, Jen, Edenia, Michaella and Aubre Hill, Khani Zulu, Entropy Arts playing with Fire and Medianoche. There was this really great guy in the show, Joshua, who was so epic was ridiculus along with an all male dance group, Sher Foundation. The latter is a Bhangra Dance Team and they were sexy.Heather Shoopman and Sherri Wheatley were fantastic and of course so were Kami Liddle and Zoe Jakes. I think I saw Jillina in the audience as well. I got to meet Medina Maitreya, the designer of pretty things.

I think I have a new favorite DJ. Two were at Zulu Lounge: DJ Psychotropic and DJ Imagika Om. The latter is my favorite. Her spins were full of awesome and coolness. If I were having a party, she would be my first call.

Belly dance in 2012

Belly dance in the year 2012 for me will be a journey. The events I desire to attend, listed in chronological order:

Aug 2012: Raqs LA - Glendale, CA

May 16-20, 2012: Tribal Fest 12 - Sebestapol, CA

Jun 1-3, 2012: Cairo Caravan '12 - Long Beach, CA

Sep 6-9, 2012 Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive 2012 - Las Vegas, NV

Dec 2012 Tribal Fusion Faire - San Luis Obispo, CA

Raqs LA is organized by Miles Copeland and the Belly Dance Super Stars. As with all belly dance festivals, there are workshops (taught by the Belly Dance Super Stars), vendors from all over and performances all day. There is usually a large Belly Dance Super Star performance on that Saturday night. I've never been to the performance. But I have been to a workshop taught by Valentina (Unity). The Sook (or Marketplace) wasn't that cool. But, alas, that was several years ago. If they have it this year and they have instructors I want to learn from, I will go since it is in the LA area.

I never been to Tribal Fest, but I have always wanted to go. Alas, not having money, nor a car has hindered me from going. I am determined this year, if it is my budget, to go all the way to Sonoma County, by myself. I will dance, learn and shop til my heart's content, or rather, till my pocketbook tells me to stop. They are having it the weekend of my graduation and I have family coming down to support me. With the hotels close to the location filling up quickly and my lack of driving skills, as much as I want to go, I think I'm gonna have to pass this year.

Cairo Caravan is organized by the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association (MECDA). It is held now at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. This is obviously much, much closer to my home. I have already gotten my performance date (Friday, June 1 at 6:45pm) and booked my reservation for my stay. I check on June 1 at 4pm. Check out time is Noon on Sunday, June 3. I hope they have a Bell Desk.

Every year that I have heard about the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive I have not been able to attend because of school. Same with the Tribal Fusion Faire. Next year, there will be no school, but there will be lack of funds. I have already committed to Cairo Caravan. If I don't do anything for my birthday, then I will try to commit to one more.

OR....

I could go to San Francisco for spring break and take classes with Fat Chance Belly Dance, Suhaila and other fantastic dancers who call San Francisco home.

Decisions, Decisions...