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uberreinigerLast night was a special treat. mellifera and I joined kakita_shisumo. duendegrrl, arphaaxad, cherith, chade66 and some other people to see the Bellydance Superstars in concert. A lot of you probably don't know this about me, but I'm absolutely fascinated by bellydance as an art form (thanks in no small part to the influence ofduendegrrl, without whom I'd probably be as interested in it as I am in essays on ontological empiricism.) And the Superstars are pretty much the Rolling Stones of the professional bellydance world.
We had an awesome time, but I think I'm paying for it. I thought I was going to sleep a lot this weekend, but as it was, Saturday night was the only full eight hours I got. We wound up missing dinner with the gang before the concert because I had to work at midnight and poor Mel had worked ten hours the previous night and had not been to bed yet. We took a three hour nap but it wasn't enough for either of us. My muscles feel achy and I'm a little out of it. And I've got a few hours of work yet to go. And tonight is the start of dress rehearsal week for me too! Ah well, I'm sure the bellydancers would agree with me when I say that's showbiz.
mellifera and I joined kakita_shisumo. duendegrrl, arphaaxad, cherith, chade66 and some other people to see the Bellydance Superstars in concert. A lot of you probably don't know this about me, but I'm absolutely fascinated by bellydance as an art form (thanks in no small part to the influence ofduendegrrl, without whom I'd probably be as interested in it as I am in essays on ontological empiricism.) And the Superstars are pretty much the Rolling Stones of the professional bellydance world.The concert was held at the Uptown Theatre here in Kansas City. Given that the Uptown's interior looks like it could be a set from Moulin Rouge, it was the perfect complement to the colorful, sensual spectacle of bellydance. They've got over a dozen dancers on the tour right now and it's amazing how each one has something about her style which helps her stand out and become an individual rather than just blending in as members of large dance troupes often do. I came away suitably impressed by some of my standing favorite performers, notably the captivating Sharon Kihara and Petite Jamilla whose ability to twirl uninterrupted for extended lengths of time is not for the vertigo-prone. And I came away with some new favorites as well, notably Zoe Jakes (who doesn't seem to have her own website *frown* but is a goddess among women whom you can't not look at when she moves,) and Bozhenka (whose name I'm probably not spelling right,) and Stevie (whom, if she has a website, I'll look for it later,) who in addition to being a hometown girl from Kansas, also makes dancing on six-foot stilts look incredibally easy.
The only part I didn't care for was the troupe's de facto leader, Jillena. She's a great technical performer, but she never looks to me like she really feels what she's dancing. Her smile is exaggerated and forced and her eyes always look she's not in the moment, but trying to remember what her next move is. And then she did this bit where she danced with a Vegas showgirl-style feather plume on her head which was just painful to watch... Although I will admit, she really shines when she's riffing to the live drummers onstage. That's the only time she really seems to lose herself and even I got swept up in how cool it was. The troupe's live drummer, Issam, by the way, just totally rules the stage. He totally acts like the happiest man in show business - given that he tours around the world with thirteen or so gorgeous, scantily-clad women, I can't imagine why :)
Non-dancing highlight of the evening: our friend Etoille oohing and aahing over getting to touch Miles Copeland (Bellydance Superstars' manager/producer and brother of The Police's Stewart Copeland,) andkakita_shisumo and I patiently explaining to her that meeting Sting's former drummer's brother does not quallify as meeting a celebrity!
I always feel weird telling people that I love bellydance. I'm afraid they'll instantly think I'm just some pervo guy who likes to ogle dancing women. And I'm not going to lie, I find bellydancing damn sexually attractive. However, I really do think it's a fascinating, beautiful art form with amazing capacity for expression and conveyance of bright, joyful emotion and empowerment. The training and discipline required are pretty amazing as well. It's just amazing what you can train the human body to do. Sadly, a lot of people miscontrue it as being something akin to stripping or burlesque whose prime function is to titilate the male viewer. Think of it this way, if you like silly girls, then watch that stuff. When you're ready for real women, then come watch bellydancing.
The only part I didn't care for was the troupe's de facto leader, Jillena. She's a great technical performer, but she never looks to me like she really feels what she's dancing. Her smile is exaggerated and forced and her eyes always look she's not in the moment, but trying to remember what her next move is. And then she did this bit where she danced with a Vegas showgirl-style feather plume on her head which was just painful to watch... Although I will admit, she really shines when she's riffing to the live drummers onstage. That's the only time she really seems to lose herself and even I got swept up in how cool it was. The troupe's live drummer, Issam, by the way, just totally rules the stage. He totally acts like the happiest man in show business - given that he tours around the world with thirteen or so gorgeous, scantily-clad women, I can't imagine why :)
Non-dancing highlight of the evening: our friend Etoille oohing and aahing over getting to touch Miles Copeland (Bellydance Superstars' manager/producer and brother of The Police's Stewart Copeland,) and
kakita_shisumo and I patiently explaining to her that meeting Sting's former drummer's brother does not quallify as meeting a celebrity!I always feel weird telling people that I love bellydance. I'm afraid they'll instantly think I'm just some pervo guy who likes to ogle dancing women. And I'm not going to lie, I find bellydancing damn sexually attractive. However, I really do think it's a fascinating, beautiful art form with amazing capacity for expression and conveyance of bright, joyful emotion and empowerment. The training and discipline required are pretty amazing as well. It's just amazing what you can train the human body to do. Sadly, a lot of people miscontrue it as being something akin to stripping or burlesque whose prime function is to titilate the male viewer. Think of it this way, if you like silly girls, then watch that stuff. When you're ready for real women, then come watch bellydancing.
We had an awesome time, but I think I'm paying for it. I thought I was going to sleep a lot this weekend, but as it was, Saturday night was the only full eight hours I got. We wound up missing dinner with the gang before the concert because I had to work at midnight and poor Mel had worked ten hours the previous night and had not been to bed yet. We took a three hour nap but it wasn't enough for either of us. My muscles feel achy and I'm a little out of it. And I've got a few hours of work yet to go. And tonight is the start of dress rehearsal week for me too! Ah well, I'm sure the bellydancers would agree with me when I say that's showbiz.
