Tribal Fest!

I'm finally getting to posting about Tribal Fest. It was a whirlwind weekend and I feel like I still haven't come down from it! I'm already packing for my next trip too... this one is just to Ohio to see my family. Although, I received a very generous and last-minute invitation to dance at TABU's Tribal Nights showcase in Las Vegas before my flight out. I'll be there to celebrate Nisha's birthday, which is cool.

So... wow. Tribal Fest weekend. My boyfriend and I drove up Thursday to San Francisco for some dinner at the pier and then to see Le Serpent Rouge. I absolutely adore the Indigo and this was my first time seeing them perform live. Such an amazing, innovative, inspired show! I really enjoyed the whole thing. All three women are so incredibly beautiful and talented, it's almost overwhelming to see them all together. It's also always entertaining! It's great seeing dancers who just love to dance and have fun. The live band was quite awesome as well! Great music and variety acts. It was very much like being taken back into the height of Vaudeville. Just a really great time.

Friday, I got up for some breakfast with Tonantzin from She'enedra and her boyfriend and then I basically went into the first stage of prepping for my performance. This involved running through all the tricks I'd planned in my performance, running the music and improvising in a larger space than what I have at home, getting made up, etc. We then headed to the festival for the first time for my workshop with Asharah. Partway through some very bizarre 3 PM traffic in a tiny town, I realized I'd left my music at the cottage (I'd switched bags so I could bring clothes for the pre-party). My boyfriend is such a champion. He took me to my workshop and then turned around to get my music for me. The workshop was interesting. A lot about bringing darker emotions to the stage as a release and putting it into your movements. I was somewhat distracted by a phone call partway through with a bit of happy news... It was more something for me to take home with me and maybe work on for a future performance. Although, to be honest, I really like just being a happy bellydancer. I tried doing the dark mistress of pain, black-soul-infused performances to be a gothic bellydancer and... it just doesn't work for me. I really see nothing wrong with just enjoying dancing and having no purpose on stage but to entertain and share a little joy. It's still good to learn something a little different.

After the workshop, it was time to start freaking out over my performance, which was a little more than two hours later. I was definitely in the green room getting 1) starstruck (OMG, Rachel Brice is getting ready in the corner RIGHT OVER THERE!!!!) and 2) being terrified of going on that stage. Tribal Fest is a BIG DEAL. I was also in the midst of a LOT of instructors and very well known performers, so it was a very large crowd. I went out to see Zafira Dance Company and the Mezmer Society as well as TABU (awesome, awesome, AWESOME performances!!!). The TABU ladies, by the way, were AWESOME to talk with when I was getting ready. I knew them from Mythical Creatures (and even saw them way back when they won Hips of Fury's troupe competition), so I was comfortable talking with them. It really helped my nerves. After TABU danced, I figured it was time to zone in to Raquy and the Cavemen and get my groove. That wound up leading to sitting outside for air and chatting with Jeremiah Soto (the man behind Solace). I'm really excited about the Vaudeville compilation coming out (mine's pre-ordered!) and what he has up his sleeve for next year. Jeremiah's really sweet.

Then, I performed. Holy crap, I was terrified!!! I was very grateful to Onca O'Leary for making a funny face at me while I was being announced. It cracked me up and help alleviate my nerves. My music piped up and I took my sweet time getting to where I wanted to be. Thanks to Tjarda of Uzume for teaching me a tango step! Both she and Mira described it as "testing out" the area before stepping. It helped. I never lost connection with the floor, so I had plenty of time to register that I was on the Tribal Fest stage and, by golly, I'd sure as hell better finish out that 4:49 piece of music. Besides, I had a weapon. The video, in all its glory:



I have over 500 views at this time. That's definitely a "o.O" moment for me!! I refuse to critique this performance of myself. At least not yet. I danced, for five minutes, at Tribal Fest, in front of a HUGE audience that included dancers like Mavi (one of my sword dancing IDOLS), Aubre, April Rose, TABU, Tonantzin, and so many more! I didn't drop my sword, I managed to do slow level changes without losing balance or movement integrity. Yeah, overall? I think I can walk away saying I did good. By the way? Best. Audience. Ever. The video shows people getting up but all I remember is all the zaghareeting. Holy crap. I've never felt so loved on a stage as I did at Tribal Fest. I kind of think all performances are downhill from here on out. And watch out for my performance next year! I've got something crazy up my sleeve now.

Anyway, I ran across the front of the stage to catch Marjhani (who was AWESOME - I was really hoarse and my tongue tired from cheering and zaghareeting so much all weekend) and then went back to get ready for the pre-party, eat a bit, and join my boyfriend to see the rest of Friday night. That included the amazing ROMKA', Rachel Brice, Princess Farhana, Asharah, and closed with the Suhaila Salimpour Dance Company. It was a really amazing show. I can't believe I was a part of it!

We got our roommate, and headed to the pre-party. After driving a bunch, we got a parking spot and made our way in pretty much in time to see Mirabelle, She'enedra, and Deb Rubin (although the last was tough to see since she was just on a mini-stage in front of the DJ with people dancing in front of her - I had to push my way in, dancing, to see her). Really fun!! I was definitely enjoying the spinning. I need to remember who the DJ was that was up there...

Saturday, I had the day off from Tribal Fest. So, Michael and I drove our roommate to her workshop and then headed to St. Helena for a picnic at the V. Sattui winery (excellent wine, only available at their winery) and then to wine tasting at Grgich Hills (we're going through some poverty, but if you're only going to taste at one winery, make it Grgich Hills). As reference? If you've heard of Bottleshock (a pretty good movie, especially if you feel like going "Yeah, go California wines!!), Mike Grgich is the man portrayed as the producer of the award-winning chardonnay from Chateau Montelena. I don't like chardonnay. I wish I could buy Grgich Hills's chardonnay by the case. It's that good.

Anyway, it was a nice day for us. We then got back to the cottage with Michael driving and me sleeping. We got inside and I pretty much just fell onto the bed and fell back asleep with him joining me a bit after. I woke up to make dinner (we pre-bought at Trader Joes - they have an Indian dinner in a box that isn't too bad...) and got ready to perform at the after-party.

Now, for some reason, I thought I'd be in a large group of dancers. NoooOOOOoooo. It was She'enedra and me improvising to Amar's electric vardo, Zafira Dance Company (I saw them TWICE! I LOVE them and want their DVD), Circus Tribal (again, SO MUCH LOVE. They were very sweet and very talented), Cherchez Le Femme (the gorgeous, breathtaking, awesome Sherri Wheatley - she is SO SWEET!!!), Samantha Riggs (she freaking rules! More on that later), and Queen Harish (drag queen from India extraordinaire!!). Holy crap!!! Awesome freaking show and I DANCED in it. OMG. I love Amar!!!! And Sooz, our fabulous MC! Queen Harish completely owned an awesome show. He was AMAZING. I can't believe he was giving ME tips on spinning with double veil. He wound up turning the whole place into a Bollywood musical. I went to get air and chat with people and came back and he had a group on and in front of the stage dancing together to the beats from Cheb I Sabbah. Awesome! I had so much fun!! Plus, I got new music from Amar, yay!!!

Sunday was a sad day, for it was the last day of the Fest. Also a happy day that started with an AWESOME (the word is used often but not overused in this case - the whole weekend really was AWESOME) workshop with Romka on theatrical presentation. I really love Mavi and Belladonna. I study with them whenever I can and recommend anyone else do the same. They're an absolute pleasure to be around and really wonderful to learn from. I then actually had some time to walk around the festival for the first time all weekend. So, I said hi to my friends, made some new ones (even got stopped to get complimented on my after-party performance), and went in to see more great performers. I stayed for as much of Amar's Electric Vardo as I could before I had to run for Sam Riggs's workshop. She took the group (made much smaller by so many people not making it to that last workshop) from going "WTF are you doing?!?!" to dancing Bollywood/Bhangra at the end. With a disco ball (we found the switch to turn it on, very exciting). It was a GREAT workshop. I wish to study with Sam Riggs as often as possible now!!

Then, it was time for the Indigo. My wonderful boyfriend came through again and saved me a front row seat. I can't believe how spoiled I was seeing them twice in one weekend! Plus Rachel's solo Friday night! Really awesome performance (like they do another kind) and then the festival was over. Michael and I drove a friend out to downtown San Francisco (feeling a little like mice in a labyrinth trying and failing to find the cheese... that city is so hard to navigate by car if you don't know it), and then he was the champion who drove us all the way home while I slept.

Woo. It's kind of exhausting just reliving it to recap it! Hee! I really haven't stopped since I got back either. There's been a lot of catching up on sleep and things at home as well as videoing an audition piece (with a recommendation from Amar to go on top of it - he really is SO AWESOME), plus an ATS jam session with friends. I also was working up a quick piece for Vegas that should be fun. Oooh! I should go burn my music and pack now! Yay!