Just finished packing for my trip to the Salimpour mothership. Sadly, my dream of traveling with carry-on luggage only will remain a dream. I just need too damn much stuff to get through the week.

I fly out before dawn tomorrow. Considering the state of air travel in the US these days, let's pray I actually make it to my destination & home again.

I have returned from my Canadian sojourn and am mostly recovered. I lived on Tim Horton's, Indian food, Cadbury chocolates, and assorted maple goodies (considering I danced 5+ hours a day, I could get away with it). I resisted the lure of "Dirty Dancing: The Musical" and Kurt Browning in "Peter Pan." I was not so successful in resisting Canadian content television.

Suhaila Salimpour's workshops were their usual challenging, sweaty, painful good time. I think my body is starting to catch up with my brain in terms of getting her technique. At least I felt less like a spaz than in the past. I'm thinking of testing for Level 2 next year, but that will require me to fight my slothful nature and work my arse off. I have not had much success with self-discipline in the past. I need a drill sergeant.

I spent seven hours at the Toronto airport trying to get home, something I don't recommend -> Pearson International is an incredibly boring place in which to be trapped.

And now off to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving.

Packers!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*NOTE: friendly greeting in title is equally useful in Ontario, Wisconsin, and the upper pennisula of Michigan.

Heading up to Toronto before sunrise tomorrow for a butt-kicking from Suhaila. Back next week. You kids have fun!

Well, I've been home from Costa Rica for over a week and am finally getting around to a summary.

( for those who want to know )

Rachel has said that she doubts she'll be able to work another Costa Rica retreat into her schedule next year. EEK & I started talking about our next Costa Rican vacation on the first day of the trip this year, so we'll probably be back. Stay tuned :)

EEK's 2007 report.

Last year's reports.

Horoscopes for belly dancers.



( Joyful & Exuberant )

Another photo from the hafla, this one of the four librarian/archivist dancers in the show:



Denise A. is studying reference services, Nathalie is boning up on marathons, Giselle is stretching her mind with a yoga book, and I'm giving a Martha Graham bio a twirl.

I haven't been LJing much lately, partly from lack of motivation, partly from lack of time. I've got another busy week: today rehearsal & class, Tuesday/Thursday work on solo for Erika O's hafla, Wednesday rehearsal, Friday rehearsal & an audition, Saturday rehearsal & performing three pieces in the hafla, and Sunday up to WI for a belated birthday visit with my dad.

So let's chat about what I did over the weekend before I forget.

( An old broad schools the young'uns )

I've got fans AND enemies in the local dance scene. I must be doing something right.

I'm back from San Francisco with a bunch of memories, improved dance skills, and at least one of the nasty bugs being passed around Suhaila's studio (thankfully not the norovirus brought into the area when the QE II docked).

Oscillococcinum really shouldn't work, but it does. I wouldn't have made my flight home without it. Within 15 minutes of the second dose I felt almost normal. This morning after the sixth dose the only symptom remaining is a cough. Placebo effect or miracle? Why does it cost $11 in SF, but $16 in Chgo? Whatever. Buy stock.

I did not take Suhaila's Level 2 examination. I could have passed the written, but I am not ready for the practical yet. I have a better idea of what I need to work on though and some hints at what will be on the test. And I got my booty kicked 6 to 8 hours a day for 5 days, which I needed. For anyone planning to do a weeklong with her in the future: epsom salts, Tiger Balm, Emergen-C, magnesium supplements, and ibuprofen are your best friends.

I spent exactly one day being a tourist, which isn't nearly enough time to really see a city. I hit all the hot spots, bought the tee-shirt, yadda yadda yadda.

Now, back to work. Le sigh.

I'm about fly to San Francisco for a weeklong dance workshop at the Suhaila Salimpour School.

I have not yet decided if I'll be wearing flowers in my hair.

Anon peeps.

I'll be heading to the airport soon to catch my flight to Toronto for the Suhaila Salimpour Level 1 workshops & certification exam. Four solid days of butt-kicking: yeah!

I've really been looking forward to the trip, but this morning I woke up a little sad since this is the last day I'll see eeknight for almost two weeks. I fly back on Monday, but he'll already be on his way to visit his folks in Sarasota by the time I get home. I think this will be the longest we've gone without seeing each other since we started dating...more than five years.

I'm missing him already.

Yesterday I came home to find a rejection letter from the Lyric Opera. For some reason I found this highly amusing. Apparently they're keeping my info on file and if one of the ancillary dancers AND the alternate are incapacitated or meet untimely deaths I will be reconsidered for a role. Score! Heh.

eeknight & I went to Reza's Oakbrook for some delish Persian food and to check out the bellydancing. Our favorite waiter Birmac was in the house, as was Reza himself (who can really bust a move). In addition to house dancer Jamila Sharif, Sabah Saeed performed. We saw Sabah do ballet pointe-bellydance fusion when the Bellydance Superstars were in Chicago this year, but I wasn't a fan of that piece. Her traditional oriental dancing is much, much better IMO.

Both Sabah & Jamila got me up to dance during their sets. 'Twas fun. Birmac was amazed that I can dance Persian style. I walked into the ladies' room/dressing room--the life of a restaurant dancer is ever so glamorous--after Sabah's second set. She pointed at me and said "You are obviously a belly dancer. Where do you perform?" She lives in the OP and said she'd come to Khyber this weekend to see me. Then, having outed me as a performer, she started peppering me with questions about the brand new costume she wore in the second set: how it looked, how it moved, were the safety pins showing at all, did anything look funny or off, etc.

Was a fun night, but, alas, GQ summer break is over and Wednesday night rehersals resume next week so I don't know when we'll be able to do it again. Maybe the next time we have a houseguest.

Time for work, but one funny link before I go. I just laughed & laughed when I read this Snakes on a Plane review...because I am a nerd. Geoffrey Chaucer Hath Seen 'Serpentes on the Shippe' (spoylerez).

I kept meaning to do a post about the Costa Rica retreat, but it just seemed so overwhelming a task. I put it off again and again for two weeks. So here goes. ( Dance = Joy + Technique )

It was a great experience all around. I got to have a romantic getaway with EEK (our first non-scifi con, non-family vacation in three years), visit a new country, make new friends, escape Real Life, challenge myself in new ways, and study with a dancer I admire. I learned lots and hope to torture share with the GQs and my students.

RB & Sahara Dance are talking about holding another retreat at Pura Vida next year. After the first day, EEK & I had already talked about returning to Costa Rica so we'll be there, but probably take a few extra days to travel and see more of the country (though I'm amazed how much we did manage to see in the short time we were there).

And a note for the ladies: Costa Rica is a great place for an ego boost -> I was getting admiring glances & comments from costariquenos pretty much every day. ;^D

eeknight & I have been back from Costa Rica since Sunday (should have been Saturday *grumble* frikkin-frakkin airline *grumble*). I'll try to do a summary of the trip this week, but in the meantime check out our photos. Well...mostly EEK took the pics, but a few of them are mine.

Ok, so I thought the trip to Erika O's class would take 45 mins each way, daunting but doable.  How wrong I was: 1 hour there, 1 1/2 hours home.  Plus winter arrived while I was in class.  Really.  On the way there it was a pleasant autumn evening, nice enough to go without a hat and unbutton my jacket.  When I left the school about an hour later is was crazy windy and below freezing--the puddles from the recent rainstorm were ice already.  Oddly, the Brown and Green lines were packed, after 9pm on a weeknight no less.

Well, the class was fun anyway. It was essentially a reprise of the Sunday class, but I got to play with my skirt, so I'm happy.  There are about twice as many Level II students at Old Town than at GiM and the studio is much smaller.  Hard to do big turns and skirt work when your neighbors are mere inches away.  I've come to the conclusion that I should wear a gypsy skirt to practice ME dance more often -> I have to make all my hip movements bigger so they can be seen under all the 25 yards of fabric, which hopefully means they'll still be stronger when I'm not wearing that much skirt.  Plus skirts are purty...

Tonite is GQ practice and rehearsal for the Amaya show.  Must call Gab about a ride home.  eeknight is cat-sitting at my Dad's place, so it's either bum a ride or call a cab from the bar downstairs from the studio.  Still undecided about making up one of K's classes in the pilates class at DV tonite.  I'm feeling overextended, so maybe I should just skip it in favor of an hour of down time.

I am told there is now snow on the ground.  I knew I smelled it in the wind this morning.

Someone found the earring I lost yesterday! I just went into the washroom and there it was sitting atop a paper towel on the counter. Thank you anonymous finder.

( Weekend: fandom raks, flamenco arabe, return of the prodigal patrons )

( Monday: what was I thinking? )

What a gloomy, blah day. Somehow I must convince myself to make the trek to Old Town School tonight to make up for missing Erika 's class last week. It's a 45-minute commute each way just for a 1-hour class. And I'll have to do it again this session because I'm skipping her class this weekend in favor of going to the Amaya workshops. Well, I'll love dancing during the class and will just have to stuff an interesting book or two in my bag to pass the time.

( dancing girls )

All my activities and two late nights are finally catching up with me (hey, i get up around 4:30 am...10 is late, 12 is insane...well, during the week at least).  Tonight we have nothing to do, thank goodness. I am soooooo tired.  I just want to lie on the couch under a pile of cats, dozing and watching movies with EEK.

One link: a gamer rock video (sound & geekiness warning). 

Hurrricane Wilma has finally hit Florida.  The eye passed through Naples and it looks like she's taking Alligator Alley to Miami.  FL is getting off much easier than the Yucatan: Wilma should pass by this afternoon.  Still no word from my mom & stepdad, but I'm going to assume they're all right--either still in calm waters at sea or dry in their inland home.

Busy weekend. ( the deets )

And now here I am at work.  Bah!

( Hm, I'm a bit tired )

My knees are red & raw and soon the muscle aches will start.  Must take anti-inflammatory ASAP and go for a walk later to get things moving properly. It would be very bad to be all stiff for the two hours of class at DV tonight. Oy.

Finally, a mathemagical video link: Pi.

I'm performing with Sam at the grand opening of Inner Metamorphosis University tonight.  Since it takes 1.5 to 2 hours to get ready and S is picking me up at 6:30, I have to start pretty much as soon as I walk in the door tonight.  S chose the music for the set and, while I like the songs, they have African rhythms with which we're not accustomed.  The rehearsal did not go well on Wednesday.  Hopefully that means a good performance (but I'm kinda doubting it).  Can you tell I'm dreading this gig?  Gods, I'm already dreaming of how good it will feel to scrape off the spackle and climb into bed tonight.

Amazingly, I have Saturday free. I may prepare the manse for the impending visit from eeknight's mom, or I may be a big lazy ass. I think we all know which horse to bet on in that particular race.

Sunday afternoon I have class with Erika O. and then a workshop with the fabulous haflagirl.

If you're looking for a movie to see this weekend, I give two paws up to Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. EEK & I saw it last Saturday. It was teh funnay!  I thought the Madagascar penguins holiday short shown before it was pretty lame though. The only penguin I want to see at a W&G film is Feathers McGraw.

It's Monday and it seems like half the city has the day off, yet here I sit. Isn't it about time we dispensed with Columbus Day? The man didn't discover anything anyway.

Karen, Sharon & I arrived at Unity a little after 9 on Friday. We checked out the drum circle briefly where we saw an older woman wearing a beledi dress dancing in the circle. She wasn't doing bellydance per se, but the object of the circle is moving meditation or trance dance, not perfomance anyway. I still found it odd and a bit offensive. (Explanation for those not in the bellydance community: it is considered bad manners to appear in costume unless you are perfoming. It distracts from those who are performing, not to mention ruins the mystique of your own perfomance.)

Then we trooped upstairs to the main area where we noted that the crowd was much smaller than at the September circus. S asked one of the organizers who said the church had been hit hard by the flu that's going around Chicago; in fact, they nearly cancelled the event because the DJ had been ill. We changed into our costumes (I discovered that one bit of ribbon on my new bra was not sewed down--safety pin to the rescue!), touched up our hair & makeup, lit our "candles"--cotton balls soaked in kerosene and tucked into brass candlesticks--and went out to the performance area.

We danced to the Butthole Surfers song "Mexico," which has a recurring chant-chorus invoking God, Buddha, Zeus, and Allah. Our dance was more modern or gothic, than tribal, though we used a lot of the new floorwork variants we've been working on since the Hipnotic tribal dance workshop. Arianne Monti, a former Read My Hips dancer who just moved back to Chicago from New Mexico, was in the audience and was crazy for us. The DJ was also nuts for us: every time we walked in the room--costumes properly covered of course--he'd pick up the mike and say "let's hear it for the Gypsy Queeeeeeens!" and then the crowd would clap and cheer and even attempt to zaghereet all over again. You don't get that much adoration at restaurant gigs, let me tell you.