My Blog

Eastern Beats & Sinbad

mystiqueela — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:39:01 GMT

We're having a bit of a party and I kept meaning to post the flyer. Everyone welcome. Hope you're all well - am settling into the new house now and it's getting there slowly. My ratty Sinbad is 1 year old today! Happy birthday little baby! xxx

Arrrg

mystiqueela — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:28:52 GMT

Gothla 08 - grrrrreat (will write more soon) Today was supposed to be a relaxing unwinding type day but all this moving house stuff is a bloody nightmare - had the agency on my case, current landlord didn't get back to me before he left on holiday, need to sort stuff out. Need to pack mostly before he gets back for damage deposit tidyness purposes, find a fridge-freezer, book a van, loads of stuff and no time, arrrrrg. Agency want us all on the same utility co. so I'm having to change, which means the stuff I owe British Gas will all have to be paid up when I move out, arrrrrg I am so scared about all this stuff! I want to go to sleep, wake up in a month in the new house and with everything sorted, this is all hellish! Mood probably not helped by having nightmares about spiders all last night and waking up screaming twice. Bloody marvellous. Public angst moment over

Yatta! Janai's Hafla with Dondi

mystiqueela — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:07:07 GMT

I did it - I did my first solo. I was terrified but I did it... and I loved it so much - it was so much more fun than I thought it would be. As usual I have no memory from about half way through...I could have been standing there like a lemon for the last half - need to see the video to make sure but I think it went ok. I got a nice lot of applause so it couldn't have been too bad. I have uploaded a gratuitously posey photo of me in my costume to my tribe gallery. Here is a photo of us with Dondi. What a lovely woman - her workshops were excellent and as for her performance - I was almost in tears with the emotion she exuded, it was simply beautiful. And those shimmies - my jaw was hanging open and I couldn't shut up - god it was amazing! I've never seen shimmies like that. It was unbelievable. It was an important one for us as along with a duet and a solo we were performing our first ever ATS piece, which in the end went really well and I think people really enjoyed it. We have had a load of fantastic feedback and interest in the Eastern Beats evening too which is great. My mum turned up unexpectedly which after our horrid argument was a real nice surprise. Ian came and was so supportive and wonderful as ever. Ben and Harriet came as did Angie from work with her housemate Becky and friend who have been taking classes for a while now. Loads of people were out who I haven't seen at Haflas for a while and loads of new people too. So many cool people, so many friends, fantastic atmosphere. Best hafla yet. I am on such a dance-high at the moment, I feel a foot taller. I love what we have, I am so, so lucky. Thank you Janai for organising such a great evening.

It was bound to happen

mystiqueela — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:57:45 GMT

The nerves suddenly all made themselves thoroughly present, probably because Ian left to go sailing for a couple of days and I am pathetic when left alone, I ponder too much. First solo in 2ish weeks - scared I'm going to totally balls it up First pure ATS performance in 2ish weeks - scared it's all going to go hopelessly wrong and the audience will be confused rather than captivated FCBD General Skills - am I too shy / talentless to be even considering this Edit: Oh and the Police Gala Day in August (which last year had an estimated 20,000 visitors...) I'm excited about this, but pretty terrified. Arrrg Only other news is that Lou took too long to get booked for Tribal Pura so now it is sold out she is on the reserve list. Hoping she gets a space as she's the only one of us who didn't get her arse in gear in time...ah well, a lesson learnt I feel! Edit: Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate the reassurance. I've been working really hard at ATS and I am loving every second of it. I look back and see how far I've come compared to 2 years ago when I would never have got up on a stage let alone dared to dance a solo. I love this - I'm determined not to let nerves hold me back, but it is so tough! x

Zzzt zzzzzt zzzzzzzt

mystiqueela — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:19:49 GMT

I love my job, at least it is amusing. There was just a loud Zzzt zzzzt zzzzzzzzzt noise and all the managers lights went out. And the doorbell has stopped working. Heh. I grabbed everything and ate lunch outside, just in case. Got to get back on with work now though. Ho hum, hope the smell clears soon, it's giving me a headache.

Britain's Got Talent

mystiqueela — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:06:38 GMT

So I have been watching this, off and on (more on than off I admit). As have various people at work. I got in today and people were talking about it - some of the comments saddened me a bit. Various things like "What on earth were they doing in the semi's", "They were too old", "That has totally changed my view of bellydance, it was rubbish", "Bellydance is just when you shake your chest around"... people have been very negative. I really didn't like Pierce's comments to them, I felt sorry for them - the stuff about almost being embarrassed for them, or that it was like when your mum gets up and dancers at a party... god. I was also saddened to read that some people online were slating Sophie for being sexy. The way she was portrayed _was_ a bit OTT, some of the comments by the judges and hosts were quite silly - but honestly - she looked pretty, confident and seemed to have a lovely personality to boot. I replied to some comments on YouTube that really p!ssed me off. Yes it wasn't the most technically outstanding performance and no I don't think muscle-bound hunks will ever become an established prop such as cane, finger cymbals or swords but hell I think she did great, all things considered. I must admit - and I'm sorry - but I didn't really like the Urban Gypsies performance. The one last night was better than the one in the auditions though. I guess maybe a lot of the fun of this kind of performance is experiencing it live - but then the audience didn't seem to be particularly enthralled either. I suppose I forget - the only time I see bellydancing is when I'm surrounded by bellydancers who are all generally supportive and encouraging (apart from our local Haflas which can be silent as the grave unfortunately - cos no-one dares make a noise and then no-one else has the guts to just zaghareet out of the blue - also some people seem to think it is rude to make any kind of noise when watching a performance) (On this topic quickly - Ian said that he doesn't like the zaghareeting. He said he thought it was like trying to steal the attention from the dancer. Why do some people do really long ones at random points? Maybe he's right in this case. I think showing encouragement and appreciation when a dancer pulls off a cunning stunt is fair enough - but some people do go OTT.) So, I think what was lacking (and I know I am no expert - hell I don't think I'm very good at all, but I have an opinion unfortunately) was dignity, posture and that strength and quality of precise movement that gives this style of dance its wow factor. Without it, it does end up looking like a bunch of middle-aged women leaping about. I liked their energy and I loved their costumes, but I do love the drama and the poise, and I think it lost impact because of that. But kudos to them for having the guts to go for it. I feel like a bitch for criticising, but I wanted to put my thoughts down. In other news, the lights here are flickering and the room smells of burning plastic. I'm getting ready to run...just in case...

Holy crap!!

mystiqueela — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:47:06 GMT

I'm on the General Skills course... blimey! I'm very much in shock. Talk about on a high. :oD

ATS with Moirai

mystiqueela — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:00:16 GMT

Wow it was fun. I had a great time. Shame we had to leave before the Hafla :o/ Hope it went really well - can't wait to see pics / vids! It really hammered home for me the desperate need to discipline ourselves to only study the FCBD format for a while. I can't distinguish any more and it is getting very confusing as when it comes to leading in ATS I am always having to filter movements between FCBD / GC / our random gumph - I'm not good enough to do this. Was lovely getting to move in and out of a big chorus line and I took away a lot from the workshops in terms of technique so thank you Neohips and Moirai for a lovely day. xxx

Swords banned!

mystiqueela — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:57:58 GMT

http://tribes.tribe.net/tribaluk/thread/8b3cb4fd-f5e6-4cf9-abfb-04248751bbfa This totally sucks!! I am so angry. Bloody place! Does anyone know more - are daggers ok? I have a workshop in July with Morgana and need to buy some. I hate this country sometimes!

Raqs Britannia 2006

mystiqueela — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:49:26 GMT

Anyone who was at Raqs B. 2006 (Manchester) - I remember I did two classes with Sharon Kihara and now I can't remember what they were called. Can anyone recall which workshops she did at that event? I am trying to note down every workshop I have been to, as I'm starting to get a fairly long list and it's nice to (try to) keep track of it... it was all going well until I got back a couple of years and now I don't remember! D'oh. Should have done this all along. In other news, work today is so damn frustrating it is unbelievable. Really looking forward to getting home.

Tribal Unity

mystiqueela — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:01:41 GMT

Wheee my first blog entry on here. I need to come up with some plan for when I update LiveJournal - bunging it on here if it's BD related. We went to Tribal Unity (hosted by the wondrous Neohips) last Saturday. It was so much fun, we met loads of people and performed two choreographies. The first one went pretty well, the second one felt a bit rusty and also it was probably the closest we've all danced next to each other! I think the flaming torches helped us stick together! We were a bit worried about the turns and things. I guess the experience has showed us how far we have to go. There were so many amazing performers there and it really inspired me to keep up with my practice. One day I'll be as strong and flexible as those lovely ladies... Had some pictures taken by Polstar who is lovely. I was a bit nervous about posing as I don't find it easy. I need to practice assuming the position! She was reassuring and definitely put me at ease. Thanks to Neohips for organising this and for all your hard work. xx