Antares Dance

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!