jebon

Oy, first big belly dance show coming up since the spring, and also the debut of my New Costume.

,,,which I have not put on since my mom sewed a new back into it (because flashing people is bad, thanks mom!), since I am scared. I’m eyeing it right now. It’s sitting in the corner, bein’ all green and sparkly and mocking me.

Some people in pole and belly dance (actually, scratch that, MOST people) completely live for the costumes. Both are glamorous, girly types of dance, with plenty of sparkles and boob-age allowed (nay, DEMANDED). So naturally, belly and pole alike tend to attract girly-girls who tweak out on that stuff. Cool, fine. Not me.

I am terrorized by it.

I’m always having a blast and totally confident right up until I have to put on the costume, and them I’m all, can’t I just wear what I practice in? Please? PLEAAAAASE?I’m kind of dreading the day where I’ll have to graduate to poling in a sports bra for the extra grip. Ugh.

Anyway, big show is WEDNESDAY. K and I always do a Final Video of where we’re at when we practice, so here is is… minus the dancing, because that ish is top secret! You’ll have to come to the show to see it 😉

How do you guys feel about costumes or cute dance gear altogether? I feel like a lot of girls get a charge from it, like Superwoman in her cape. It’s always kind of startling for me though, because it’s a huge reminder that PEOPLE WILL BE LOOKING AT ME. Ahhh. Spooky.

Okay, g/g ignore my costume and keep the dream alive via ignorance that I will look a certain way in it. Wish me luck for Wednesday!!

HT,

Cathy

So I was having a beer with a friend the other night.

After the show! (Re: sweaty, and I took my false eyelashes off :P) — After the show! (Re: sweaty, and I took my false eyelashes off)

Okay a couple of beers.

Okay, four.

But, he has a smartphone (like everybody else in the world, but to me that’s like having Google Glasses), and since he missed the February belly dance show in St. Mark’s Place, we looked up the video.

So, full disclosure, I had not watched the video.

This is not an accident.

I am terrified of this video. K has seen it and had a few mild criticisms (timing was off in a few places, hands didn’t match, she’s very contained in her style and I’m very showy). But every time I think of the show, I think of something the girl going on after us said backstage, as soon as we came off.

“Oh heeeey… that was really…. cute. How long have you been dancing for?”

If you speak dance you know that the translation back into normal English looks something like this:

“Oh heeeey… you guys are total amateurs. When did you take your first class? A week ago or just a few days? Now outta my way bitches, the show’s really about to be on.”

Okay, I’m exaggerating, but that’s how it feels when you’re already nervous to be half naked, you KNOW you blanked out on at least 4-5 seconds of choreo, and you’re having a fat day.

No bueno.

Anyway, I finally watched the video, and I saw some things that weren’t perfect, but I also saw a big smile on my friend’s face.

He liked it.

And you know what? I liked it too. It was cute, damn it.

The best part was, K and I looked like we were having fun. Somebody in the audience kept screaming “ME LIKEY” and I couldn’t help cracking up, which is so awesome and totally visible in the video. I think that’s what I’m going to remember most about this experience: being terrified under blinding lights, feeling nervous and shaky as hell, and then suddenly letting go and laughing at “ME LIKEY.” Because IT IS FUN TO DANCE. Go figure… through all the sweat and anxiety,long hours of practicing and criticizing and agonizing, it all becomes fun again when you share it with people.

Anyway, here’s just a short clip because this isn’t a pole show, but, it is performance oriented, and I learned a lot about enjoying dancing, regardless of perfection. (It’s surprisingly hard to remember sometimes that we do this because it’s fun, amirite??)