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First of all I want to apologize for not doing this before - as you could hear at the hafla I was all croupy and icky sounding and a couple of days after the show that icky flu bug that has been going around finally hit, so I have been out of commission for a few days. I even missed some work and I never miss work.
I was awed, amazed, and humbled by all the love, support, and camaraderie in that theater that night. As a new-ish teacher and troupe director throwing her first ever event I could not have asked for a better show. I have to say that one of my favorite memories of that night was going upstairs and seeing our dance studio chock full of dancers. I tried not to show it but I got a little weepy/vklempt and was totally feeling the love and the sisterhood that that room that night.
It was a good crowd and an awesome bunch of dancers. I love going to shows that have all sorts of BD, not one type over and over. I love that our dance can be so different but so inclusive at the same time. I find beauty in all sorts of styles of BD and I was happy to have so many fabulous ladies representing so many styles.
I have several thank yous to say:
First of all, huge huge huge thanks to my chock full of patience sister Suzie. She never got to get away from this because we share a house, so if we were home or together the topic of discussion was the show. 24-7, baby! She helped plan and organize. She worked on promo materials and ideas. She and "Troupe Husband" Vernon Haltom decorated the stage area. She is our costume mistress for both my regular and student companies and she made the fabulous red and silver costumes that Hadrah wore. I literally could not have done it without her.
Another lady due huge huge huge thanks is my dance sister Beth A. aka Pixie. Lady, you stepped up and you kicked ass. You rocked your local community connections and helped to get the civilian population in Beckley (especially at the YMCA) excited about our dance. Your program and flyer design was quietly elegant. You had fabulous ideas and implemented them so well. Again I literally could not have done it without you.
To the ladies of Hadrah/ZZ, it was a lot of hard work and I am so proud of you. You knocked it out of the ballpark. Especially Miki, Seby, and Mel - for it to be your first performance you were pretty fabulous. Beth G., you will be dancing next time! You are a champion "shh-er," though - downstairs would not have ran as smoothly as it did without you. Everyone has something going on - school, work, family - but you ladies gave it your all and I appreciate all the time and hard work you gave our routine. I love all you ladies with all my heart. I am so very lucky you are all a part of my life and I am honored that you let me be a part of yours. And thank you for not killing me. Lack of death is a good thing.
What's Shakin'? I got one word for your number - DAMN! You ladies rocked. I love good cabaret and that routine was fabulous and beautifully executed. Michelle, you should hire yourself out as a choreographer because that routine was simple yet elegant.
Samadhi - I have heard too many cab dancers moan "I don't like tribal, it's boring!" No, it's not, not if it is done well. And you ladies do it very very well. Earthy serpentine movements and crisp ensemble work mixed with playful hips is tribal at its best.
Samadhi Students - if I had not know you were students I would have thought that Amira had two main troupes. I have a special place in my heart for tribal and especially your group because you ladies worked that audience! You translated your joy to each audience member with a look, a gesture, a presence that was unmistakably unique and inspiring.
April - again DAMN! . I had never seen you dance before Amira's last Halloween hafla but you blew me away with the elegance of your dark fusion. You have charisma when you dance. Your audience was captivated by you. I think some of the civilians in the audience did not know what to expect when the music started but you drew them into your web and kept them there. Awesome.
M'Ali and Kaileena - I know I can always trust the both of you for solid stellar performances. You never fail me. You 2 are perfect examples of dancers who can combine femininity, confidence, and strength. Kaileena, I just wish Tashina hadn't pulled that hamstring so that we could have seen the routine you 2 were planning on doing.
Pandora aka "Slash the BDer," you know how proud I am of you. When you dance the playfulness of your soul shines through. I love you, man! And thank you for "loaning us" your brother Benji, the ever fabulous sound man. The event would not have been the same without his professional sound and his awesome after-show margarita drinking skills.
Amira, you were my sounding board as I worked on this show. You kept asking me "what can I do?" You listened to me whimper and whine and you cheered me on and kept reminding me that I could do it. Thank you so much for your love, friendship, and support. I appreciate you more than you will ever know.
Jenna, thank you for stepping in at the last minute. I don't know if everyone realized you had taught a workshop that afternoon and then came up and danced! Oh, and you have a new fan in Tom (the good sport I plucked from the audience) who teaches yoga at our local YMCA. Mwwwhhhhaaa! (big kiss)
Our drummers. OMG the drummers. I didn't know you were coming until Amira told me. You helped turn our event from a good one to one made of awesome. And thanks for letting this raw beginner jam with you.
Danielle. You traveled so far to support us and to share your great skill and passion for our dance. Gracious and elegant and so full of spirit and of fun. I have a new dance idol now. You were the perfect ending to a perfect night. (Plus you put up with 2 Mann women - me and my SIL! Extra points for that!) Can't wait for the Turkish workshop!
Lastly, I want to thank Sandy and Amie, my 2 teachers. Without you, I would be nothing. You were my beginning and I owe you both so much. It meant a lot to me to see the 2 ladies who have been 2 of the biggest influences in my dance life (and my civilian one as well). I looked at the two of you and then at my students and saw my beginning and my future and got a little weepy/vklempt. Thank you so so much.
Oh, BTW, the last of our corporate contributions has came in. the total raised for Soliders' Memorial Theater Arts Centre was $600!
I was awed, amazed, and humbled by all the love, support, and camaraderie in that theater that night. As a new-ish teacher and troupe director throwing her first ever event I could not have asked for a better show. I have to say that one of my favorite memories of that night was going upstairs and seeing our dance studio chock full of dancers. I tried not to show it but I got a little weepy/vklempt and was totally feeling the love and the sisterhood that that room that night.
It was a good crowd and an awesome bunch of dancers. I love going to shows that have all sorts of BD, not one type over and over. I love that our dance can be so different but so inclusive at the same time. I find beauty in all sorts of styles of BD and I was happy to have so many fabulous ladies representing so many styles.
I have several thank yous to say:
First of all, huge huge huge thanks to my chock full of patience sister Suzie. She never got to get away from this because we share a house, so if we were home or together the topic of discussion was the show. 24-7, baby! She helped plan and organize. She worked on promo materials and ideas. She and "Troupe Husband" Vernon Haltom decorated the stage area. She is our costume mistress for both my regular and student companies and she made the fabulous red and silver costumes that Hadrah wore. I literally could not have done it without her.
Another lady due huge huge huge thanks is my dance sister Beth A. aka Pixie. Lady, you stepped up and you kicked ass. You rocked your local community connections and helped to get the civilian population in Beckley (especially at the YMCA) excited about our dance. Your program and flyer design was quietly elegant. You had fabulous ideas and implemented them so well. Again I literally could not have done it without you.
To the ladies of Hadrah/ZZ, it was a lot of hard work and I am so proud of you. You knocked it out of the ballpark. Especially Miki, Seby, and Mel - for it to be your first performance you were pretty fabulous. Beth G., you will be dancing next time! You are a champion "shh-er," though - downstairs would not have ran as smoothly as it did without you. Everyone has something going on - school, work, family - but you ladies gave it your all and I appreciate all the time and hard work you gave our routine. I love all you ladies with all my heart. I am so very lucky you are all a part of my life and I am honored that you let me be a part of yours. And thank you for not killing me. Lack of death is a good thing.
What's Shakin'? I got one word for your number - DAMN! You ladies rocked. I love good cabaret and that routine was fabulous and beautifully executed. Michelle, you should hire yourself out as a choreographer because that routine was simple yet elegant.
Samadhi - I have heard too many cab dancers moan "I don't like tribal, it's boring!" No, it's not, not if it is done well. And you ladies do it very very well. Earthy serpentine movements and crisp ensemble work mixed with playful hips is tribal at its best.
Samadhi Students - if I had not know you were students I would have thought that Amira had two main troupes. I have a special place in my heart for tribal and especially your group because you ladies worked that audience! You translated your joy to each audience member with a look, a gesture, a presence that was unmistakably unique and inspiring.
April - again DAMN! . I had never seen you dance before Amira's last Halloween hafla but you blew me away with the elegance of your dark fusion. You have charisma when you dance. Your audience was captivated by you. I think some of the civilians in the audience did not know what to expect when the music started but you drew them into your web and kept them there. Awesome.
M'Ali and Kaileena - I know I can always trust the both of you for solid stellar performances. You never fail me. You 2 are perfect examples of dancers who can combine femininity, confidence, and strength. Kaileena, I just wish Tashina hadn't pulled that hamstring so that we could have seen the routine you 2 were planning on doing.
Pandora aka "Slash the BDer," you know how proud I am of you. When you dance the playfulness of your soul shines through. I love you, man! And thank you for "loaning us" your brother Benji, the ever fabulous sound man. The event would not have been the same without his professional sound and his awesome after-show margarita drinking skills.
Amira, you were my sounding board as I worked on this show. You kept asking me "what can I do?" You listened to me whimper and whine and you cheered me on and kept reminding me that I could do it. Thank you so much for your love, friendship, and support. I appreciate you more than you will ever know.
Jenna, thank you for stepping in at the last minute. I don't know if everyone realized you had taught a workshop that afternoon and then came up and danced! Oh, and you have a new fan in Tom (the good sport I plucked from the audience) who teaches yoga at our local YMCA. Mwwwhhhhaaa! (big kiss)
Our drummers. OMG the drummers. I didn't know you were coming until Amira told me. You helped turn our event from a good one to one made of awesome. And thanks for letting this raw beginner jam with you.
Danielle. You traveled so far to support us and to share your great skill and passion for our dance. Gracious and elegant and so full of spirit and of fun. I have a new dance idol now. You were the perfect ending to a perfect night. (Plus you put up with 2 Mann women - me and my SIL! Extra points for that!) Can't wait for the Turkish workshop!
Lastly, I want to thank Sandy and Amie, my 2 teachers. Without you, I would be nothing. You were my beginning and I owe you both so much. It meant a lot to me to see the 2 ladies who have been 2 of the biggest influences in my dance life (and my civilian one as well). I looked at the two of you and then at my students and saw my beginning and my future and got a little weepy/vklempt. Thank you so so much.
Oh, BTW, the last of our corporate contributions has came in. the total raised for Soliders' Memorial Theater Arts Centre was $600!
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