Saturday, June 17, 2006

The Swords Stayed Firmly On Our Heads



The show is over! I'm so happy! I feel this enormous buoyant sensation of relief today.

It went really well. Much better than I anticipated.

Everybody showed up. Our costumes were beautiful. We didn't forget the choreography.

And above all, nobody's sword fell off their head. Repeat, the swords stayed firmly on our heads.

Even when we did drops with them. Even when we spun like dervishes while balancing them---a late addition to the choreography, but it looked so cool, so physics-defying!

And the second dance, the tribal drum solo, the one so many of us (including me) were nervous about, seemed to fall into place. Despite the mixed emotions. Despite the missing dancers at the practices. It wasn't perfect, it simply couldn't be with only a few days to learn the finished dance, but it still felt good. I was surprised at how confident I felt when the time for my solo actually came. After all, I had been still deciding exactly what I planned to do with my forty seconds of solo glory that very afternoon practicing in my living-room.

One of my fellow dancers said to me afterwards, "When I saw how much fun you looked like you were having during your solo, I immediately felt more relaxed!" Bless her for sayin' it.

It certainly helped that my good friend Emily was in the front row. I couldn't help smiling right at her.

Yes, I was allowed to smile in the second number.

In the sword dance, we all had to maintain intense expressions which is hard for me to do when I dance because I often relieve nervousness by grinning my fool head off.

My friend Sherry said that she'd never seen me look so fierce. Ah, mission accomplished.

We wore tons of dramatic eye make-up for this performance. The opening bars of the sword dance we posed with our eyes closed and on a certain beat, we all opened our eyes wide in unison. Ooh, hopefully we all looked exotic and mysterious under those hot stage lights.

It was seven intense minutes out of my life. It's amazing how much mental and physical effort (not to mention sewing) can be squeezed into a time that passed so quickly.

Aterwards, we ran upstairs to the dressing room and quaffed champagne and strawberries, giddy with adrenaline and relief.

You know, it did wonders for our confidence when we took photographs before the show and we all looked so good. We oogled ourselves quite a bit in the mirrors at Sandra's house in the hours right before the performance.

That's me (well, okay, my torso) dancing in the photo above. :)

Recognize the little chain belt you gave me, Pol?

22 comments:

kimber said...

You look FANTASTIC! I'm so glad to hear it was a success!

Tai said...

OOh, I do wish I was there...but there will be more, yes!?!

Anonymous said...

Well done. That sounded like real fun.

x said...

congratulations on the show and on the torso :)

Lori Stewart Weidert said...

Great picture!

You did a very nice time of describing the experience, I could see it all in my mind...though it did make me wish I were there also. More pix? Video? More, more!

Anonymous said...

Excellent! And I heard a rumour that there will be a DVD put together... so I'm hoping!

(My cane dance went well; next to nothing of my "blurb" was used in the program, but 'oh, well'... I heard cheering and clapping during my bit!)

Did Ramona perform on Friday? I loved her "tribal" piece that she closed with; she says she's done that one for a year now, so it's time for a new one!

Pol* said...

I spotted that! Well I can honestly say I have NEVER seen such a beautiful belly-dancing spider-torso in my entire life! I am so HAPPY it all worked out after all that work!

Tim Rice said...

Man! more power to you in this. ;) But it sure sounded like you enjoyed it.

Mika said...

That photo is lovely! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. What a great experience! Would you want to be part of a bellydance group blog I just started? I would be happy to have you join. Visit and let me know if you are interested. :)

blackcrag said...

Yay! It happenned, and it all went well!

The costume (or what i can tell of it in black and white) looks great, as do you. Wonderful tummy definition.

I'm with Tai--widh I could have been there to see it and offer a little support.

Momo said...

I'm so glad everything went well. What a beautiful picture - I'm sure you all were just lovely!

Dagoth said...

Hi Spider

As I collect swords I would rally have loved to have seen that dance...

I knew that it would all turn out great. I bet you cen't wait for the next show now...

Lucie said...

I am impressed in all that you do and all that you want to do... that is the life I yearned for while writing my blog... you opened up a whole new thought pattern for me today....

Hope said...

Sounds absolutely awesome and like a great deal of fun!

Anonymous said...

I am so happy for you that it all came together while on stage! Nothing beats the exhilaration you feel when you exit, and know that you gave a great performance!
You have a very sext torso, for a spider ;)

Huggerzzzz....

Sameranda said...

Thanks for your comments on my blog! I had a sneaky look at yours too and you sound like you have a lot of fun!!
I went to the Jersey zoo years ago and I remember the gorillas were very cool. I think they also have some big spiders so you definitely have to come and visit at some point to say hello to them.
xx

BostonPobble said...

YAY! It came together!!!! Yay!!! And it is a very sexy picture. :)

Crazy Me said...

Wow! You look great. It sounds like so much fun. I wish I were still taking classes.

Zambo said...

Hi Spider Girl!

I'm glad to hear it went well!

Looking good!

I've got more of your stuff to read.

Take care out there!

Your Pal,

Zambo.

Josh said...

Bravo!! I knew you could do it.

C said...

That is AWESOME!!! You ROCK!! :-)

tsduff said...

congrats - wish I could do that :-)