here's a fun bit.

i have been taking belly dance classes on a regular basis for a little over a year now, and the inevitable is drawing neigh.  i have to start performing.  my tribal fusion teacher announced that there may be a late spring hafla in the works, and that i may do a solo in it.  my classical egyptian raqs sharqi instructor is hosting a spring hafla in a little over 2 months, in which i will be performing in two group pieces.

i've already performed once, and was reminded of my tendency to have horrible nervous fits leading up to the first measure of song i'm dancing to.  the truth is, my hands and my thighs never stop trembling the entire time, and i continue to feel nauseous until i'm finished, and i hear applause.  at which point, the nausea becomes a tingling sensation that travels up my back to the base of my skull, and i start blushing.

in spite of my terror, there's also a part of me (the leo part) that just loves the attention, loves to be admired by an entire room of people(give or take a few), and loves being in my costume and makeup on stage.


ooooh the costumes.  that's the whole reason i started writing this post.  i'm extremely excited about the costumes right now.  i'm planning on making most of my costume components myself, as most costumes, especially in the classical egyptian style, cost upwards from $300 for a cheap one and as much as $800 for a nice design.  that is so far out of my budget that my jaw hangs when i think about it.  so i've decided that since i have the ability, and know how to do it, i'll make my own.

for the egyptian hafla, i'm thinking a red costume will look best.  the stage we're performing on is huge, and it's in a real theater... i'm getting butterflies just thinking about it.  the red costume will help me feel more confident i think, plus it will look good with my black hair and fair skin (i think i'm the fairest one in the bunch).  and i really love the more modern, asymmetrical costume pieces... so i'm going to try my hands at making a bedlah (bra and belt set) in that style.

something to the effect of the below is what i'll be shooting for:

of course, if i find myself ready to claw my eyes out after toiling on an asymmetrical bedlah... i may do something simpler, like this:

good lord the idea of shimmying in these skimpy egyptian costumes just seems so vampish to me. i'm so used to tribal fusion costuming... being more of an earth mother gypsy type than a glittery sparkly tart.

alas, i have to play the tart role... at least for a while, as i'm learning the authentic egyptian form of the dance.  i can have my tribal fusion fun later on in the spring.

i just love how avante garde i can be with tribal.  there aren't too many rules about costuming.  people do all kinds of different stuff.  i actually found a really interesting recording of rachmaninoff's vocalise played on a theramin, and i think my tribal solo will be to that.  it's so quirky sounding.  i love it.

expect some photo blogging in the future as i chart my progress with these projects.

love and love.