Sunday's Jane Doe Inc benefit

I had a wonderful time at Zehara's 2nd annual Jane Doe Inc Benefit /Bellydance event: Sacred Woman weekend.

I got to see some of my fellow dancers show some amazing work. Especially exciting for me: The Goddess Dancing's "Crone" piece, and Badriya's Zar dance. It was also great to meet Judie Namey, mother of Melissa Namey, for whom the event was meant to honor. (The photo above is all of us together) It was a priveledge to perform, too.

Zehara reported that her event as a whole raised over $1200, all workshops were full, and we were featured in the Boston Herald the next day.
Lelelelelelele...!!!!!

Included in the program was a list from Jane Doe, Inc, of all the victims of domestic violence homicide over the last 8 months in the state of MA. 24 people. Wow.

To keep my love alive...burlesque!

So...invited to do so by the lovely burlesque beauty Vivian Vice of whistlebait Burlesque, I'm performing a solo Friday at a local show here in Portland.

I've danced burlesque before (I was the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker Burlesque, after all...:), and there's often been some burlesque-y-ness in some of the Bellydance pieces I've choreographed... but this'll be my first one that I choreograph----and perform solo--- with an old-timey style. I dance to "First Lady of Song" Ella Fitzgerald:

I've been married and married,
And often I've sighed,
I'm never a bridesmaid,
I'm always the bride.
I never divorced them-
I hadn't the heart.
Yet remember these sweet words
"Till death do us part."...

Now to work on my 40's hair...

My band playing in Northampton, MA this weekend

We're playing a rare show this weekend at the Eagle's Nest:

"A Night of Wyrdery and Cacaphony

featuring

Spires That In the Sunset Rise
( www.myspace.com/spiresthat...esunsetrise )

Aepril Schaile and the Judgement
( www.aeprilschaile.com and www.myspace.com/aeprilschaile )

Jow-Jow the Death Knell Rung
( www.myspace.com/sephirothmusic )

The Ancient and the Transmundane
( http;//www.myspace.com/theprimordia...etransmundane )

Sunday, July 15th
at Eagles Nest (upstairs at Eagles -- www.myspace.com/eaglesnestling )
270 Pleasant St., Northampton, MA
7 pm, 6 dollars, 21+ (alcohol is sold) "

(BTW, we are still looking for a place to stay in Northampton...)

We don't appear often these days, as I am working on bringing the music into some newer, more theatrical and dance realated directions!

the image is a wonderful new banner created for me by James Neely of Ddraig Grapics, who was kind enough to offer as I didn't know what the hell I was doing... ;)
www.ddraiggraphics.com

Review for The Furies Prayer in Morbid Outlook magazine

My CD was reviewed in Mistress McCutchan's (aka Orkideh) magazine Morbid Outlook

www.morbidoutlook.com/music/s...ion.html

reviewer: Andrew Fenner

"This album could justifiably be titled “Wrath of the Witch”, dealing, as it seems, with the twisted indignation of disenfranchised, murdered, tortured, downtrodden mystics, occultists, shamen, gods and goddesses, etc. refusing to stay dead and coming back from across the centuries with a terrific tumult of dark wings and in-your-face triumph. Many of the songs involve a spare, piano dominated arrangement featuring the leading lady more in the role of a vindictive, exhorting sorceress than a singer... though she definitely sings as well.
Other numbers include bass and drums with organ...even some bowed strings and trumpet. My only qualm, on the musical side, is that most of the songs have the same general format... proceeding from a slow, chantlike opening and rising to an intense, prolonged wail (though there is some variation), and even the melody lines seem very similar. However, this tends to amplify the sense of being at some kind of dark mass or demon-conjuring in the temple or forest of an ancient high priestess; thus I am not so sure it is a detraction, just as a tried-and-true gospel formula might work again and again for the congregation of an on-fire Baptist minister. No Baptist church service could be like this group live though, since Aepril Schaile is also into gothic bellydance. The effect must be stunning..."

read more: www.morbidoutlook.com/music/i...ion.html

New song uploaded from the Odyssey

I've uploaded a new song : "A Gathering of Shades"
its the song I wrote for Vivid Motion's production of The Odyssey, and its up on the Aepril Schaile and the Judgement myspace:
www.myspace.com/aeprilschaile

It was just AWESOME working on this project. It was so amazing to see the music become physical with the VM dancers, who brought a creepy, outraged, hungry, bloody, yet graceful and beautiful quality to the piece--- complete with fog, and deathly blue light, (except for the red light that washed over the shades as they drank blood....oh, to see it finally take form...their frenzy brough a tear to my eyes...) i hope to have some video soon.

Please keep in mind as you listen that it was written and recorded for the theater production, not as a stand alone track, so there may be things about it that work best in that context. (Maybe even try to imagine Odysseus sacrificing the ewe in the beginning (the underworld screams), or the shades slowly emmerging, chanting ..... or the Ghosts of the dead each coming forward to tell their indiviual story... later to converge on the blood for which they hunger...)

It was my intention with this piece not only to create something that complimented this production, but also to see what it might be like to write music for dance and theater. The result? I LOVED it! As a musician and a dancer, i often find myself trying to run paralell pursuits; my longterm aim is to combine the two, and create something from there. This is my first attempt. I'd like to be bringing more mid east sounds into my work; with this piece i briefly introduced a Saiidi rhythm into the song, and I stole some Exquisite Corpse choreography (Karina Khan's ;) and had the shades dance as one snakey organism. etc.

Go here to listen if you like
www.myspace.com/aeprilschaile

Odyssey article in Portland Phoenix

The picture is of Cory Bucknam (costume designer, a choreographer AND dancer) and David VanDuyne in the studio

Check it out here:
thephoenix.com/article_ektid41375.aspx

There is a pic, of Trevor Bean (Odysseus) and I, in the print version; I'm rehearsing in a lovely pair of sweat pants, so methinks it was for the best that it was omitted here. ;)

The Odyssey

Vivid Motion presents: The Odyssey

At St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center, Portland, ME

Friday June 8 at 7:30 pm
Saturday June 9 at 7:30 pm
Sunday June 10 at 1:30 pm.

Tickets on sale now!: www.vividmotion.org/tickets/...sSS06.php

The Odyssey, the classic tale of one man's journey told through music, motion and magic---with Sirens, Cyclops, goddesses, sailors, and shades....Aepril composes music and choreographs a piece for "The Land of the Dead", with a recorded performance: "A Gathering of Shades", by Aepril Schaile and the Judgement. Aepril also dances in Ino's Veil. But there's so much more from all the many talented people of Vivid Motion! come see!

Fusion of the Dark Muses: Serpentine presents EAST:MEETS:WEST 6/1

It is an honor to have been invited to perform at the 4th annual dark-theatrical Bellydance showcase EAST:MEETS:WEST in Portland OR! (NOT Portland Maine, Portland OREGON)

This will be my first time performing on the west coast, and I am so excited to meet all the dancers involved, especially the GORGEOUS women of Serpentine, ReneeLucretia and Aradia, who are presenting, and performing at, the event!!

I am also excited to be on the west coast, spending some time with my dear longtime friend, Alix, who I rarely get to see otherwise! (thank you, love you--can't wait!!!) And, having once lived in the Pacific NW, it will be nice to visit again!

The show is Friday, June 1st. Get more info at
www.myspace.com/eastmeetswestpdx

Check out the EAST:MEETS:WEST 2006 YouTube teaser by Jeffe.
www.youtube.com/watch

From the website: "Serpentine presents... EAST:MEETS:WEST 2007- our 4th annual bellydance celebration. EAST:MEETS:WEST 2007 will feature ten innovative theatrical bellydance performances followed by an epic dance party. Each soloist and troupe will dance their interpretation of the 2007 theme: Fusion of the Dark Muses. Serpentine, Portland's premiere fire fusion bellydance duet, will conclude the performance portion of the evening. The dance party will feature the hottest DJ's within the tribal bellydance scene. Please join us June 1st at Outlaws, 722 SE Burnside. Performances begin at 9pm sharp. $13 cover, 21+/with ID. Outrageous dance costumes encouraged."