Overjoyed and sad at the same time. Overjoyed because we’re only 48 hours from the hafla. These are the hours when my adrenaline gets pumping and I start worrying about all the things that need to be done. The sad part is because our beloved out-of-town guest and MC, Marjhani can’t make it due to family emergency. We’ll miss her and wish her the best for her and her family!
Everyone’s coming, right?! I’m looking forward to seeing performances from Olu, Tonantzin, Karma, Marguerite, Aspasia, Jessica, Yasemin, and of course Sherri. I have the pleasure of doing a duet with my first tribal teacher, friend, and fellow wanderer, Ayse. We’re doing something non-bellydanceish, believe it or not! Doing a duet with her seems so natural and yet it was only four years ago that I was performing as part of the chorus with the Sisterhood Dance Collective cuz’ I had only been in Ayse’s class for about 2 months at that point. I still view her and respect her like a teacher but this time around we are co-performing and in fact, doing a piece that I choreographed! It’s such an odd feeling!
More than anything I am looking forward to having the self-serve photo booth and watching as many people as possible take advantage of having their photo taken with a snake. The self-serve photo booths generally generate a lot of silliness and the results are always super fun. Our first time doing this was at Cairo Caravan and we have several hundred photos from the weekend that remind us how it’s all about being part of the community rather than being witness to it. Selfishly, I also hope that many people buy the calendar because it’s discouraging to have them just sitting in our garage! I feel saddened by the fact that economic times are hard for everyone, and I try to tell myself this is why the calendar isn’t selling as much as we’d hoped. We live in a technology-driven era where there’s very little left that can’t be blasted out into cyberspace and while I appreciate the beauty and convenience of an electronic calendar, tell me one electronic calendar that has such rich, interesting and beautiful imagery such as what’s in the All the Pretty Snakes calendar? We know that those who purchase this calendar are not going to throw it away at the end of 2010. It will still be up on walls or taken apart to frame individual months, inspiring conversations, photographers, dancers, and snake lovers everywhere!
Well in the end, money lost or recovered, we’re extremely proud of having completed the calendar and all the beautiful shoots. And in two days we’ll just be in our element with friends and newcomers celebrating!
See you there! EPICA studios, 840 Mitchell Road, 91320, 7 pm on. $10 admission or $25 admission + calendar!
