Antares Dance

I haven’t forgotten! Lack of updates happening mostly because I’ve got a lot of life stuff going on. Everyone’s having to be frugal in this economy and I need to be as well. It’s hard to take a break from so many of the classes that I love…but it’s only temporary. I’ll be back!

I perform with my class and Raqs Steady Eddie tonight at Skylark Cafe in West Seattle for Alauda! The show starts at 7:30 and we’re doing our “Southern Girl” routine to Erykah Badu.  Late reminder notice I know, but if your plans are open tonight please come!

Luna Fey may be taking a small breather for October, but the Tempting Tarts are putting on a hell of show on the 22nd at their gritty and glittery home stage the Rendezvous Jewelbox Theater!  Kitty Baby, Morgan La May, Roxy Ruby, are performing…it’ll be a scream!

2 shows, the first one at 7:30pm and the late show starts at 8:30pm. I’ve seen some of the acts and they are fantastic! What a great warm-up for Halloween. Go check it out!

This past weekend I performed for the Burlesque Babes stage for the first time and it was a wonderful experience. I was spoiled! There was food and champagne and a great stage all decorated for Halloween. I was invited to do some shows in the winter so I may be back in Renton for some of those dates.

Mollie scheduled an informal performance at the Baltic Room for our class on December 12th. The time will probably be about 9pm or just prior to I Heart Shiva.

More details later!

Date change announcement for the performance at Skylark Cafe. It’s going to be the 20th of October (not the 6th). I’ve updated the Events page with the new information.

Here’s a link to Skylark’s calendar. Our performance is part of their new monthly Alauda event that will be every third week monthly.

Last night I started a new bhangra/bollywood session with Mollie at her new location: Motion and Rest in Ballard.

Apart from dance moves, you get to learn a choreography for the second half of each class session. This session we’re learning a dance to Chaiyya Chaiyya (click through to see an epic music video). Motion and Rest is a nice big space and already we’re seeing a great turnout. But there is still room! Check out her website for more information.

I just found out that the next performance will be at the Skylark Cafe on October 20th. I don’t see it on the events calendar yet, but this will be a performance of a bit of choreography by Raqs Steady Eddie.

More details as they come, but it will probably be sometime around 7:30pm.

UPDATE: Date changed to October 20th!!

Over the weekend I added a few new things to the site: a photo gallery for the Luna Fey page, and a gallery for events (still working on that one).

I’m very excited for October this year, and besides the fact that Halloween is my favorite holiday, the two shows planned for next month are going to be fantastic. I have the new costume for the Lilith/gargoyle act almost 100% put together and I gotta say, I think it’ll be impressive. I wanted to improve upon a few things I did in the act before, and some things that I didn’t get to do because of time constraints last time.

I have been tossing around a few ideas with my friend (and future co-performer) for a two-person cabaret act. This would be a new thing for both of us, and hopefully something happening in the very near future.

It’s very late and I’m still up and still winding down after tonight’s performance. It was my first group belly dance fusion piece and I often forget how nerve-wracking group choreography is. When you’re up there by yourself it isn’t so obvious when you miss something or come into a move late.

Overall I’m proud of how we did. I think that there was a bit of weird energy but like Dahlia said, the only thing that is certain about a performance is that something isn’t going to go quite right.

Nerves and self-criticism aside, I felt that we projected the flowing vision that we intended. I do know that there was video being recorded so hopefully I can get my hands on that or some photos. I know that Katrina took some fun ones backstage!

I saw some excellent Mediterranean folk dances and beautiful performances by Artemisia, Sahra Saeeda, and Amel Tafsout. It was a big theater and an impressive stage, though the speed with which the choreography and performance came together is still making my head spin! Zero to big stage time with only 4 days to learn. That’s something I am learning to adjust myself to.

Sometimes you don’t get a lot of time to put something together, and really it doesn’t take long to learn a piece if you just do it over and over and over again in a single session. If you want to get invited to dance you have to be prepared to be ready quick, fast, and in a hurry. In class you get to go over it with your instructor, but the burden of preparation lies with you. Visualizing the choreography in your head when you can’t get to a studio to practice can help speed the process. Ah…the bumps and bruises of learning.

I am so proud of my friend Erin, this was her first stage performance EVER, and she was the embodiment of calm and collected. I know that she was nervous but she handled it like a pro and she’s already well into planning our next act together. Stay tuned!