Dance has taken center stage since I finished my last painting a month ago. There were two large performances in March that the studio troupe and I were focused on for the first half of the month. The first was for a Burlesque show on International Women’s Day! We were just the openers, and by far the most tame, but it was a really fun night with a high-energy crowd.
I do not have full videos for you, but some teaser GIFs that I think sums up the whole vibe well enough. We’re well practiced enough to perform out, costume-changes and all. I do of course enjoy the costume aspect, the theatricality, but it there is a degree of stress that comes with having only one chance to get the look right. Despite that, I think we look pretty good, and I’m proud of myself for my lack of stage-fright and ability to retain such a large volume of choreography in my body.
The second show was a community showcase at the studio for friends, family, and other dancers. I am the shortest of the bunch so I often end up front and center in these group formations. With minimal break, we’re already choreographing and learning new dances, while also learning to balance swords on our heads. The troupe organizer is looking for more performance opportunities for the rest of the year while I work on a few new techniques.
I continue to practice the doumbek (a middle-eastern hand-drum), and hope to incorporate more of my own music into this dance hobby. Having a background in percussion is invaluable to dance! With so much going on, it’s impossible to give equal time to all hobbies at once. Pivoting is necessary; everything is seasonal. The nice thing about dance is that it ticks a few boxes at once: fitness, brain health, socializing, artistic expression, and sometimes even community service.
