My Blog

It's Finally Here! Tribal Nights in Vegas!

Inara — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:30:26 GMT

******PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE TO JUNE 19!******* Come hang out with us as we present fabulous performances, play raqin' Tribal and Fusion dance tunes and celebrate all things Tribal (and Fusion!) If you want to perform pls contact me, Raven or Nisha. All formats are welcome (tho we'd prefer to steer away from High Caberet). Please keep all music, costumes, and performances appropriate for a Public venue...have fun AND BE CREATIVE! FREE SHOW OPEN FLOOR DANCING * COME EARLY AND GET A FREE HENNA TATTOO! SEE YOU THERE!

The Geminis take over Friday Night!!!!!

Inara — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:59:10 GMT

Last year's combined Birthday bash for Nisha and I was so much fun that we've decided to do it again! This year we're meeting at the Greek Village Cafe (On Eastern, right off the 215. Go South on Eastern. The restaurant is between Serene and Silverado Ranch (Left side) behind Makino Japanese restaurant). 18yrs+ only. @ 7:00pm for dinner, hookas, dancing, and a special performance by yours trooley at 8pm. Next, we're taking over Quinn's Irish Pub at Green Valley Ranch Resort for some rowdy, raucous saucy fun! The band starts at 10PM...Darby O'Gill & the Little People will rock your shalelles off, If you haven't seen them you are missing out on one of Las Vegas' best kept secrets! WARNING!! These guys get rather foul, so if you've got virgin ears then this is not the party for you. Personally, I'm saving the good clean fun for Sunday morning. Friday night,anything goes! Yes, there may be antics involving boobies, icing, and Guinness pounding. see you there!

The One Dollar TF08 Tour

Inara — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:16:26 GMT

Hang onto your seats, folks, it's gonna be a brief ride. Tribal Fest was awesome. The Shakra workshop was The BOMB DIGGITY! The hotel situation was infuriating, but finally resolved. The local beer brew was the TASTE. The performances...? Priceless. I am home and exhausted. In some ways rejuvenated and inspired. In some ways saturated and overloaded. Luckily my suitcase has enough pretty pretty shiny shiny in it to console the empty feelings left from leaving new and old friends that I only get to see briefly and brightly. These are the folks that rocked my TF: Raven and the Neens. you lady sistah muthas are my rock of Gibraltar. David. Am I the luckiest girl in the world? Yes, I believe so. Shalini. You were stunning, and I really appreciate having your energy around me. Thank you! Tamima...I said it earlier on your bloggie...seeing you again was a hilight for me. Shakra; Na'la, Bronwen, and Hil...wow...what can I say? Inspiring, uplifting, fun and bad(mutha-fuggin)ass! Kindred spirits indeed. I need more Shakra in my sphere! Dude. Ladies of Hiplash; Blume and Julia...sweeties and true friends. thanks Blume for my burfday treats! Ashara. damn. just GOOD GODDAM, girl. Hope you don't mind me STALKING you from now on. That shit was just fierce! *sigh* Frederique. Why oh why can't I tuck you into my suitcase and steal you away!?!?!? I don't even care if you belch and fart the whole way. Habi Ru. Ok, this was my first time with John Compton. wow. I never wanted it to end. *lights a cigarrette* Martina- beautiful dancer, kind soul, and cute as a pixie's ear! Grrr! squeeze the Martie! I'm serious about Vancouver. watch out! Rachel of Blue Damsel- dude. we need to hang out more. you totally get our weird jokes. Tai Chi! Poop! Thank you for the laughs and for being so classy ;-) Fat Chance- le sigh. Carolina was amazing. Brilliant, and breathtaking. I can never get enough. The Vegas Kru- DoD and Seraphina Fire! You girls make us proud to be Las Vegans! and finally- The indigo and Brass Menazerie. I'll never forget that show. you had me at Horsie heads. (actually...you had me waaaay before that, but I do love the 'heads.) Brilliant! I come away with lighter pockets and a full heart. Thank you thank you thank to everyone. till next we meet, blessings, all! Please exit to right. Make sure to hold small children by the hand while exiting, and please be sure to have all baggage and personal items with you. Thank you for choosing One Dollar TF Tours. We hope your visit was a pleasant one, and hope you will continue to use us for all your TF recap needs.

Gothla hi's and low's...mostly hi's

Inara — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:39:00 GMT

The Neens and I (read; Nisha) jumped in our majic spookmobile (aka my 02 white KIA Optima with the crusty backseats) and careened our way towards Fullerton for the convening of Bellydance's goofiest and spookiest souls. We make record time and slap on some black liner and flares and head over to the meet-n-greet. Our appetites dictated the evening...when hearing that food at the Commonwealth Grill was expensive and not likely to be forthcoming for quite a while we ditched the soiree and headed for cheaper munchies with Marjhani, Barrett, Beorn and Yasmin. One BLT and rootbeer later, Inara was a much friendlier kitty and the evening descended from there into deeper and louder debauchery....wheee! One crazy car ride into LA ( I think that's where we were headed) where I swear I almost killed myself and Neenerz on a few occasions (damn, Yasmin!...slow down betch! ;-) where we take over the Sake bar with our Karaoke stylings. They loved us! I discover that sake is my new favorite thing in the world and get an awesome foot rub to boot. OK, fun has been had, but this kitty is ready for a cat nap and she's thinking about butt-kickings to be had by Ariellah via workshop motif in the morning and she's a wee bit reticent to continue the reverie. Well, the party gods laid the smack down and it was determined that hot-tubbing fun was to be had by all...after all. Sleep was but a slip of the eyelids...needless to say I was out like a light come 3:30 am. Morning comes too early, but nobody ever said a bellydancer's life is easy, did they? Saturday is a whirlwind of delicious pain and exquisite beauty in motion. Ah! The very reason I wanted to come to Gothla...laid before me! Ariellah's workshop delivers...we rush back to the hotel to get ready. We get back, and I am informed my cd won't play. I panic...Marjhani keeps me from freaking wholesale...Nina rushes back to get her cd that has my song on it. On route back we discover I accidentally grabbed a copy of the DVD I had made for her...same case...same handwriting. Ugh! She has my cd in her purse the whole time! All's well that ends well, I get on and do mah thang. Nina does her thang and then we watch other people's thangs all over the mamma jamma. woot! So many inspirational performances! How can I list them all? Loved Se7ev, Edenia, Desheret Dance, and The Shimmy Sisters. What fun! What lovelies! Saturday nite is a bite to eat with the ladies of Se7en after getting politely kicked out of the Rock n Roll Cafe next to the Ballroom. They "don't have enough chairs"...whatev. Then we rush back for the Gala...whooooweee! What can I say? It's too much! Poetry in motion...Ariellah, Romka, Matjhani, Laura Rose, and Princess Farhana were personal faves. Everyone was superb. Drinks later at the grill next door with Ariellah et Co. listening and attempting (on occasion) to dance to the U2 cover band playing. Then time to yank my hair out of the rat's nest Hawk I made it into and go sleepies. Sunday. Girls are off for more Gothla goodness. I'm headed home. Not one hour out I pull over to look at my map and realize my check engine light is on. Ack! I check said engine...NO OIL CAP!! Thing is, I just got my oil changed right before heading out...muthafucking A! Roll into a KMart and get some oil. They direct me to auto parts store. No, they don't have that part. Apparently I can only get a freakin oil cap through the dealership. So I'm driving my ass all over some town I've never been in (think it was Pomona...not sure) looking for a dealership. *cue church choir music* and find one. *cue record screeching noise* but they can't help me cuz their parts department is closed on Sunday. Well, isn't that just a slice of good Goddam? Fine. I will take care of this myself. I go back to the parts store, buy some generic oil cap (which doesn't fit...I tried) and wrap heavy duty aluminum foil all around it and make a plug. THAT motherfucker aint goin no-where now. Drive out into the sunset. (OK, well actually I was going East, so I was technically driving AWAY from the sunset...but that's not as artistically pleasing.) The end, Gothla was awesome...driving home was not.

TABU THIS SPOOOOOKY-DOOOKY SATURDAY NIGHT!!!!

Inara — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:48:33 GMT

<img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a22/vdalby/HALLOWEENBALL07.jpg"> ok, folks....your days of wondering what to do for Halloween this year are over. why? because Las Vegas' spookiest dancers are gonna be casting thier spell at Matteo's Underground Lounge THIS saturday in Boulder City....e-mail me or Nisha or Raven for more info...see you there!!!!! Come support Gothic Tribal Fusion troupe TABU, and hang out at one of the coolest retro lounges in town... (Nish and Rav...wondering if we should do the Zombie routine????)

it's been a while...

Inara — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:32:27 GMT

ok, so tonight I perform on the open stage for IBDC...sortof nervous cuz I didn't choreo at all for this number, but also kinda lax about it bc I figure who's gonna be there, really? Also, it's only, what...6 minutes? Still, I'm a bit nervous...so I decided to sooth my nerves by stealing this survey from Raven and filling it out: Three names you go by: 1. Virginie 2. Virgil 3. Inara Three Things That Scare You 1. Roaches 2. Hypodermic Needles 3. Turning into my mother Three of Your Everyday Essentials 1. Coffee 2. eyeliner 3. toilet paper. gotta have it Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now 1. adorable emroidered turqouise wedges that tie around the ankles 2. a bunch of bangles 3. two small buns in my hair Three of Your Favorite Bands or Musical Artists 1. Tori Amos 2. Tool 3. Muse Three Things You Want in a Relationship (other than Real Love) 1. Honesty 2. Respect 3. Dirty Sex Physical characteristics that appeal to you 1. well-formed mouth/ smile 2. strong but elegant hands 3. Eyebrows ( i know, it's weird...) Three of Your Favorite Hobbies 1. Bellydancing! 2. crafting 3. karaoke Three Things You want to do really badly right now 1. Sleep 2. Take a vacation 3. go shopping Three Places You Want to go on Vacation 1. anywhere in Europe 2. Egypt 3. Japan Three Things You Want to Do/Be Before You Die 1. pet a tiger 2. write a book 3. be a famous artist Three Ways that you are stereotypical of your sex. 1. I love to shop...especially shoe shopping 2. I like bunnies and kitty cats and anything small and cute 3. I have "OMG I'm so fat" days. ashamed to say it but it's true... Three Ways that you are NOT stereotypical of your sex. 1. I'm not a jealous woman 2. I have asick sense of humor 3. I am not high maintenance

Who doesn't love Pie???

Inara — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:49:25 GMT

Well, apparently I love it cuz I've got my fingers in so many I've got a stomachache just thinking about it. What a week this has been!...and what a month July is going to be! I'm performing at IBDC, my troupe is competing at IBDC, I've got the Henna workshop tonight, the UNMATA workshop at the end of the month (not to mention the Hafla) costumes to make, choreo to finalize and learn and PRACTICE, Birthday bashes, restaurant gigs, etc etc etc. In case you're curious here's what I've been baking up recently: Pie #1- LV Bellyancers Calander ...Barring any unlucky turns of events, I am slated to be featured in the fabulous and groundbreaking LV Bellydancer's Calander featuring the beautiful photography of and produced by Glenn of Beyond Pairadice Photography. I'm buying tons of them to give to fam and friends and SO SHOULD YOU! Go here: http://people.tribe.net/f10ebc5f-7c1b-4e7e-8df5-5ea1872cc326 or here: http://people.tribe.net/f10ebc5f-7c1b-4e7e-8df5-5ea1872cc326/blog/6d6028c1-992e-49a3-99f6-9be124734803 for info and other goodies. Pie #2 IBDC Performing on the open stage on Tuesday July 31 at 4:44. After much rumination, I've decided that I'm gonna do some Cabaret, since I always only ever perform Tribal fusion at Haflas and other events, and since my Troupie-troupe TABU is competing in the Tibal Competition at IBDC (inhales...) see below: and also since my boyfriend requested it. Picking a song was a bitch (esp since I only found out Tuesday that it's due by Sat. ugh!) but I picked out a cute flirty song by Rouby and I'll choreograph if I've got the time. If not, bah. I'll do an incantation before the show to channel the goddess of all that is beautiful and slinky and graceful and improvy. MOVING ON TO: the Supah-Dupah Queens of Slink and Shimmy otherwise know as "TABU" (collectively: Nisha, Raven and yours truly) will be offering up a TRIBAL SAMPLER for your viewing pleasure on Thursday August 2 nd for the Tribal Troupe Competition at IBDC. Not sure on the time (Maybe one of you other TABU-ITES can fill us in) but the competitions are between 6PM and 10:30. Come cheer us on and tell us how purdy we look! (it's at the South Point Hotel in Exhibit Hall A and D.) ALSO...this event is in our backyard Las Vegans!!! Let's show our support and excitement that this international event is in our fab town by doing all we can to keep it going! Sign up for a workshop, a show, go buy some things, watch some competitions, ANYTHING! But don't sit back and let this pass you by...this is history in the making folks! The biggest BD event Evah! (ok, shameless plug...but really worth it) Pie #3 UNMATA workshop and Hafla There's so much floating around on this one I don't feel the need to post more... just letting ya know I'll be flitting about at the Hafla, and going to the Saturday workshop. Oh, and I've stopped shaving this month in honor of those Femmes Au Naturel. (juuuuust kidding. I'm simply just lazy. I'll shave eventually.) :-P Also, I'm still performing regularly at Ali Baba restaurant at Eastern and Pebble (by Eastern and the 215) every Thursday night this month, plus Friday the 27th (which also happens to be Marisa's Birthday thingy, so I'm gonna try to go after my show, if possible!) If you want to see me and show some love AND get some really yummy lebanese food pls come by and I will lavish you richly with my cabaret stylizations. Bring out the dancing Girls!!! (That was for you Raven.) :-) Those of you going to Nisha's Henna workshop tonight will def see me cuz it's being hosted at my place...:-P All the rest of you betches who DIDN"T sign up for it are really missing out cuz ms Nisha is da shiznittle. ok, happy shakin' and I hope to see ALL of you guys soon!

MOOOOAAAAAAAAAN!!!

Inara — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:58:17 GMT

*cracks a crusty eyelid open* good lord! what a weekend! Started off by racing home to practice with Nisha and Raven for IBDC (they liked my costume design...which is a HUGE relief...) then right after that it was a rush to do hair and make up and then over to Sunfyre's to finish getting ready fo First Friday. I danced with SUnfyre on a cute little tribal number I choreo'd for us, and then did a solo (...'meh....not my best, but I was tired...) and then watched NIsha and Ethnophonica rock the joint...(You were all amazing BTW!!!) Saturday rolls around and I have to get up to drive my ass into Boulder City to borrow my ex-father-in-law's van (jeez! say THAT 10 times fast!) to go pick up these mirrors I found for sale on Craig's List. The guy was renovating a house he bought and had 6 HUGE beautiful mirrored sliding closet doors and he was asking $20 apeice. Now I know from doing some research that each mirror alone would be almost $200 by itself, but I got the guy to sell four of them to me for only $50. HA!!! The down side is, this guy lives all the way on the North West side of town, 45 minutes away. So I go out there, drive them them home, return the van in BC, go back home, set up the dance room, then get ready for a private lesson....followed by MORE practice with the girls for IBDC... I practically danced (or dragged huge mirrors around) all DAY Saturday. Having the mirrors there is GREAT...I have a whole wall covered with mirrors, it's a dream come true...but it's hard not to dance when I walk past that room... I am getting worn out!!! :-) I don't even know where Sunday went, but I did some work on the music, then cleaned up and gave my dog a bath, and then crashed. I am dragging ass today. and I'm sore! I need a vacation!

a day late and a dollar short so that makes 98 cents minus my proverbial two...here goes!

Inara — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 20:24:02 GMT

Haven't blogged in a long time, but some things have been happening lately and well, I have just about had it and I have to say something. When I started bellydancing I fell in love with this beautiful dance because of the way it made me feel...I had just had a baby and I had a horrible body image and felt dumpy and unattractive. Bellydancing gave me the confidence and self-respect I needed, and made me see by body as a beautiful thing...something I will always be grateful for. It turned into an obsession and 4 years later, I'm more into the dance than I have ever been before... I was also touched by the sense of community and inclusiveness that dancers seemed to have with one another. Everyone was encouraged to dance, and talent and expression were rewarded equally among dancers, regardless of body size, shape or age.... At least, that's how it seemed back then. I am always heartbroken when I hear of how some members of our community, for reasons I cannot understand, decide to try to bring one of thier own down. It shocks me to hear a dancer say to another dancer "you won't ever be a professional" because of thier body type, or when money and profit becomes more important than people. It's hard to have to witness this in your own community, and even worse among your freinds. I like to think the best of people, but this has turned out to be a bit of a weakness of mine. Devisiveness regarding dance styles, and posturing among dancers who turn what are supposed to be opportunities into competitions...I guess none of it is new, but it's still hard for me to swallow. When it all boils down, I think the ones who are the most critical of others, and the ones who are the most controlling end up being the most insecure. I can't think of any other reason why anybody would want to bring down another member of thier community, but I see it happening a LOT lately...just as this community is beginning to grow and spread its wings. And it seems that most of the time it's those doing the most to help grow the community who are attacked and criticized. I don't relly have a point, except to say that I'm saddened and troubled by some of the things I've heard have been going on...some privately and some publicly. I won't throw fuel on the flames by getting into specifics, but I had to say something. I hope we can grow up and be adults and see the forest for the trees...we ALL benefit when we support each other!

Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome!!

Inara — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 20:43:44 GMT

The universe must have really smiled at me because I have some of the best friends in the world. I've been going through a rather tumultuous time lately and not feeling very good about my life and myself, you know, the usual crap...It seemed like life was just piling on the shit day after day... So, what do I do? What any red-blooded American woman with credit does...I go buy some shoes. Alas!!! I go through the entire mall and am absolutely horrified at the atrocious styles being proffered this season. What?!? Fur-lined stilletto pumps that are supposed to look like eskimo boots from the front?!?! Huh? Oddly shaped wedge heels that look like an emergency room visit waiting to happen? Heels that look like sneakers from the front...I mean is it just me or shouldn't a pump look like a pump and a sneaker look like a sneaker?? Who, I ask, is saying to themselves "I need a pair of shoes that can go from the boardroom to the basketball court"???? Where are the classics? Where are the shoes that will make my knobby lanky boatlike tootsies pass for pretty? Where are the stout but sassy fall offerings of yesteryear?? I was rather disgusted at not only the styles but the prices we are suggested to pay for them. Ugh! Do NOT get me started on shoes. Buying shoes, to me, is just about on par as great sex...almost. But oH what a high when you land the perfect pair!! Depressed, I moved on. Luckily, fall fashions this year are more up my alley than most years, and I soothed my frazzled sould with them. Not wanting to give up, I moved on to Payless. Yes, Payless. That is the depth to which my despair had landed me. To my surprise, I found two pairs I liked, though I am ashamed to admit it. Bought a pair of pumps and some sneakers. The fashion gods decided to smile on me then, becasue I hit the jackpot at Ross with two other pairs of delicious footwear at half the cost of the dept store sales prices. Yeay! And a cute pair of pants and a top... Went home feeling pretty damn good, and not a tiny bit guilty about the money spent. OK, back to the friends. Like I said, I have some wonderful friends and that night just proved it. I get home, and get ready for the other two installments of "The Tribes of Wadi Annar" to come over (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you will later. RIght now only two other people know what i'm talking about and only one is actually likely to read this...) Jessica has a present for me. My absolute favorite movie, Cabaret...which she had bought for me for Christmas but was too excited to wait to give to me. What a masterpiece! What a goddess Liza is in it!! it brings tears to my eyes...anyways... I've watched it over and over since, so thanks Yessie, you are a true friend...I don't know what I would do without you... ...and shoes of course...

Suhaila!!!

Inara — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 20:20:12 GMT

Yippeee yippee yaaaay! This Saturday I will be spending the entire day gleaning precious drops of dance wisdom from the queen herself...I hope I don't make an ass of myself. And I hope I can stand up to the rigourous workshop. Bring on the Ben-gay!!! Raven, we are definitely going to have to plan a trip to the Sauna the next day. Lets hope we aren't completely useless at Yoga! Things have been a bit crappy lately so I hope this will be a little bit of something positive. Lord knows I need something to feel good about these days...