Saturday, February 11, 2006

Sword Practice and Other Dance Doings



Will I be able to dance with a sword on my head by June? Yes.

Will I be able to do it by March? Ummmmm, I'm going to say no.

"Awwwww", somebody at the bellydance meeting last night said, "I was looking forward to seeing that". I'm going to leave the sword dancing in March up to my friend Linda who you can see in this photo in the harem pants and floaty sleeves. She does a wicked sword dance.

I'm the one practicing in my living room. I can now walk with it, shimmy in place with it, and do level changes with it (meaning I can move from a standing position to kneeling and then lie down on the floor and stand up again without the sword falling off). I like this sword much better than the one I sold.

So, besides the June dance show at the Abbey with Bronwyn's dancers, it now seems that I'm going to be in a small performance at a seniors complex in March with Linda's dancers. We're the themed after-dinner entertainment. :)

A couple of years ago I danced at the same place for a lady's 102nd birthday party. I hope I get bellydancers at my party when I get to be that age. Better yet, if I got up and danced with them.

The oldest bellydancer I ever met was a lady in her late seventies. She wore long beledi dresses instead of midriff-revealing costumes, but she was a still an artistic and graceful dancer. She was a professional gymnast in her younger days. Maybe that paid off.

Anyway, this week at the dance meetings for Linda's group, we concentrated on organizing our music and costuming. I'll be dancing four times:

* a freestyle entrance piece to introduce the six dancers as a group before we spin out from our line and venture among the tables

* then later I will dance solo to my old favourite, Baila Me, by the Gipsy Kings

* later I have a duet to a gypsy/fusion piece with a dancer named Kelly who is teaching me a very fun and saucy choreography

* and then a finale piece with the whole group to swirling Kurdish music

Okay, we have two and a half weeks to pull it together!

13 comments:

Philanthropist said...

I have never carried a sword, but if I ever do, I'd hope I could at least balance it on top of my head like you, much less dance with it overhead.

kimber said...

That's a fantastic-looking sword! We may be in town in June -- tell me where and when you'll be dancing, and I'd love to be there!

Laura said...

sounds like you have your hands, er... head full! I'm fortunate to get one foot in front of the other most days, without a sword on my head. :)

Good luck getting your programmes in order, it sounds like so much hard work and fun.

Mad Ethel said...

How do you get it to balance like that with the blade straight up and down?

Mz.Elle said...

And I have no doubts that you'll pull it off beautifully!

nicki said...

thats awesome!! i wish i lived closer so i could come see the dancing!!! in the summertime here..there was a festival downtown and there was belly dancers..its so great to watch!

Tim Rice said...

Sounds like you have a fantastic schedule ahead of you. I don't think I would dare to dance with a sword on my head.

blackcrag said...

I want to see the fun/saucy routine! And I want to see you with a sword on your head. Looks like I'll have to plan a trip home by then, I guess.

You look great by the way, dangerous and graceful at the same time.

Josh said...

Ah you can do it…..

I’m supper impressed already. If I could have even balanced it on my head, which I couldn’t, the camera flash would have caused me to drop it and lose a toe.

Bravo Spider!

Fahd Mirza said...

Atta girl and atta sword.

Thanks for dropping by to my blog, its an honour.

JM said...

Keep us posted about your sword dancing!

blackcrag said...

Are you going to take up Highland sword dancing next? Though I believe it is a little unadventourous. The swords lie on the ground and you cli your toenails dancing around the blades to the sound of the whirlin' skirlin' pipes!

CameraDawktor said...

Aren't you the tricky girl?!!?