I survived my dance recital

I don't remember if I've mentioned it here, but I've taken up belly dancing at the wonderful Euphoria Studios run by the wonderful Jane Archer. Last night I had my first recital. And I survived it.

The style of dancing we do is called Neo-Tribal. Unlike the belly dancing you probably think of when you hear the word, tribal styles are usually danced in a group. We wear a lot of bling, but not the gauzy stuff the cabaret-style dancers wear (cabaret being what most people think of as belly dancing). We look more like gypsies on an acid trip: at least one voluminous skirt, big yarn tassels, conch shells, beads, flowers, coin belts--coins everywhere--chunky jewelry, velvet, fringe, turbans, feathers--it's awesome...

Another difference, and this is the scary one: tribal styles are primarily improv. So we had a choreographed bit to begin with, but then we broke out into classes and each class did an improv bit. We follow a leader and do what she does. And our teacher, gods bless her, chose all the steps I'm not very good at yet. Once all three classes had finished their improv bit (while the rest of us vamped, again all improv), my teacher led the entire group in a single improv to finish the dance.

Today I'm suffering from adrenal fatigue, not helped by more of the abrupt weather changes we've had this summer. (Summer, she says. Ha!)

I only have one picture of myself from last night; I was so flustered, I didn't get a picture in all my regalia, and John couldn't get a very good shot as I was in the back. But when I get it, I'll post it.