Finally! Everything that I've been working towards for the last three months came together in the smoothest possible way--I am so thankful and happy. I couldn't have asked for things to go better--here's to lots of lists and plenty of helping hands.

What in the world am I talking about? The fantabulous Mira Betz came from San Francisco to Portland, Maine and gave a workshop & performance. I took a workshop from Mira in Boston in January that Alyssum sponsored. After I sent a thank-you email to Mira, the ball started rolling and this is where we ended up!

I was able to book the hot new space in Portland, The Empire, for the show and contacted various super local musicians and dancers, including Adira (Emma Holder) and Karina Khan--who we've recently "lost" to Boston ;) --the amazing Samuel James (who, ahem, happens to be my oh-so-obliging sweetheart), Over a Cardboard Sea Vaudeville Troupe, and the Portland Saw Orchestra, for a first-time-ever-in-Portland-sort-of-event. After weeks of promotion, people turned out in great numbers (despite an incorrectly-advertised price snafu!) and we generally had a ball.

The workshop was the next day. Mira proceeded to kick our butts in a great way with her workshop on isolations and layering. She brought lots of new concepts & inspiration to our town--hurray!--and throughly entertained us along the way. Given the months of preparation, I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see so many people there. We had 30 dancers present at the workshop! I met a lot of new people as well as seeing dance friends of a few years--all such fulfilling experiences. Again--hurray!

That evening, I had had the, ah, nerve to book a gig on Peak's Island... so straight from the workshop I flew home, put on my makeup and caught the ferry into the baywith Jaiyana and my sister Bragita, who, I'm thrilled to say, was on her first drumming gig with us! It was an outdoors, pre-summer celebration of friends and family. They had just the perfect evening--clear and comfortable weather, few bugs, lots of friends. We belly dancers were joined by a circus troupe of rope-dancers, jugglers, musicians, stilt-walkers & trapeze artists. The very best part of the evening was all of the families who came up to us, the children all wide-eyed and full of questions. :)

Now, of course, I'm recovering from a 3-day crash-after-the-end-of-it-all sickness... fever, cough, cold--the works. But the feeling-better-ness is in sight! Back at work today and happy.

I learned so much during this process. Got a lot of good advice from people all over the place--not least Emma here in town. Sam was incredibly supportive and just allowed me to ramble on, repeating my lists over and over... thank goodness for wonderful boyfriends! And my roommate was so lovely to put of with my madness. :) Made lots of lists, which saved my sanity... and managed to check everything off of them! I have plenty of things to *add* to the lists for next time (not least--allowing more than 3 months for preparations!). But overall, I feel darn good about this weekend.

Feedback is much appreciated. If you didn't attend, what factors contributed to your decision? If you participated--what worked? What didn't work?

But most of all--thank you to everyone!!