It's funny reading everyone's experience with the Northeast Belly Dance Association People's Choice Awards, because even though I was in the same room I might as well have been on another continent--I wish I could say all the contestants were wonderful, but I have no idea what anybody's performance was like as I spent the entire show in the back of the hall tallying votes and--gasp--doing math. Yes, somehow the math-phobic dyslexic ended up being the one responsible for declaring the winners. I can say though that everybody got great crowd response, and it sounded like people were enjoying the show from start to finish. And in most categories, the votes were widespread and winning margins were narrow, so obviously there were a lot of crowd pleasers. Even though I didn't get to see the show, I genuinely enjoyed being behind the scenes and helping to make things happen. That's part of being in a community too.

Carnal Carnival on Saturday was a great experience. I didn't realize how much I was missing performing until I started packing my gear bag on Sat. afternoon; I think it had been about six weeks since my last show. There were so many talented performers at the carnival, so much barely organized beautiful mayhem! I didn't get to see the long set by Emperor Norton's Stationery Marching Band, but they sounded great and I will make a point to go see them for real some time. Zehara was wonderfully slinky as a serpent loving vampire; she wore those fangs like a natural. Beth the belly dancing astrophysicist was charming with her parasol. There were some pretty impressive contortionists/acrobats/circus freaks there and entertainers of all sorts, from pirates to hula hoopers to giant bears and lions. As always, I loved love will love Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys, they make my days brighter and my nights darker. Or vice versa, I'm not sure. The show was so successful (there was a 75 person waiting list for tickets!) that we've been invited back for a 2-3 night run. Rest assured I'll post details when available.

I felt like my piece went ok--didn't drop my sword, so that was a plus. It was actually cool when I was whipping it around like a cane, I could see reflections from the blade cast all over the room. I've decided maybe I like this sword stuff after all, and have ordered Belladonna's new DVD for some ideas. My crazy Sayed Balaha drum solo (The Devil and the Dancer, the one with all the breaking glass and screaming) went over very well for this audience. Only minus of the night was skinning my knee and the top of my foot on the stage, but these things happen. All in all, it was an excellent evening and it was great to be a part of it all. The whole weekend was about community in a way...