In which ShireDancer gets to dance...

[shiredancer]

Three times this week, actually, and despite sore feet and really sore calves, I am *so happy*!! And just what kind of dancing is this? Last weekend, it was the Greek Festival, twice: endless tsirtos and hasapikos and tsiftitellis, and a glass of retsina chugged between dances that made the hot sun and sweat just tolerable, and the dancing seem like floating. Then again mid-week: plain old folk-dancing under the stars for the first time in about two years, and thus pure joy.

Well, yes, I do dance. Quite a variety of ways, and none of them classically trained at all -- no ballet, modern, jazz, tap, ballroom, or even the Santa Barbara stand-by, flamenco. Most of my dancing is distinctly... ethnic. I mentioned hula once in my LJ, and that wasn't a joke: I was in a Polynesian dance group for a number of years, and yeah, I did luaus. That included Hawaiian (both ancient and modern), Tahitian, Samoan, and some Maori (poi balls, anyone?). I've been a folk dancer all my adult life: Balkan, Scandinavian, Turkish, Scottish, Greek, Israeli, and well, all the rest. I met my husband folk-dancing, and I would give anything for more opportunities to dance the hambo or vasarol (sp?) with him. We also do American: contras, squares, and reels; waltzes, polkas, and the Salty Dog Rag. I've done stage dancing in local theater, including (get ready) almost ten years of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas; mostly of the heel-toe-slide-slide variety, but the Cachuca in "The Gondoliers" was so deliriously fun I could have done it forever. And then... well, then, there's the 28 years of belly dancing. And before there are *any* misconceptions... I was never the cheesy, embarrass-the-birthday-boy, jiggle-and-wiggle type of dancer, and believe me, I've seen plenty of them. And I didn't have it in me to pull off the steamy, sexy, quivery stuff. I guess my dancing is, um, sprightly, folkloric, definitely with a light touch. It is the best source of alter-ego satisfaction I know of; with make-up, curls, costume, and a studiously-applied dance persona, I am unrecognizable as myself. I performed with a troupe for a long time, never had a paying gig and didn't care; I just loved it. Still do, in fact. There you have it: ShireDancer does love to dance.

Comments

Oh Sally

[haleth.livejournal.com]

That sounds wonderful.

I've always wanted to dance. Or maybe I've wanted to want to dance? Not sure. But... I was always told I was not musical, and very clumsy, and I'm very self-conscious, and and and... ok, excuses, but I'd be too much afraid of making a fool of myself to go do it. Blah on me.

But that sounds so lovely for you, count me jealous.

*sigh* I wish you were closer, maybe you could teach me. And maybe I wouldn't be too... intimidated. :-)

Re: Oh Sally

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

(((((Haleth))))) Thank you for being such a sweetie, and so supportive! I was a little unsure about outing myself as a belly dancer, because the whole world seems fairly finished with that whole phenomenon and there are such stereotypes about it.

And don't let others tell you you're not musical etc... go ahead and try whatever you want to try; usually the "others" are wrong.

(((((Sally)))))

[haleth.livejournal.com]

You're nice. :-)

Well, I can't really stop people from saying things, and once they're said - how can I not believe? Especially when I was very young, something said by an adult, particularly a parent, defines truth... hard to get over that.

But belly dancing! Do people think something about it? I just think it would be fun. And good exercise, which I need, and I don't get, cause it's not fun. *eyes belly dancing tape on the VCR* I should pop that in and try (again)... but I'm afraid someone will see me LOL.

AHHHH!!!

[chrystimd.livejournal.com]

You are wonderful! This was a scintillating, enlightening post. I'd like to point out that I never took it as a joke that you did hula, I completely believed you. You know, of course, you will now have to dance for me when we meet? Bring whatever music you need and/or costumes. I can be quite persuasive, you know. You are so neat and interesting! There is so much I want to ask you about all this, like how in the world did it get started and where all have you danced (did your troupe travel much?) and more about how you met your man...your story sounds much more romantic than mine. This is just lovely! Although, Sally, I'm slightly disappointed you never even TRIED the jiggle at the birthday boy thing. I'd have thought your loverly man would have insisted!! But maybe you are just being shy and protecting the innocent? Hee! Just teasing, sweeting. Have a good one!

Re: AHHHH!!!

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Thank you muchly, sweeting!! ((((Chrysti)))) You *always* make me feel good about my posts. I see we're going to have a lot to talk about, not the least being the relative merits of performing in, what, a hotel room??? Oi. As for romantic meetings, I still think *yours* sounds the more romantic... all those pictures he took, without you even knowing. Oh, and disappointed, are you? I'll get you for that, Chrysti-love. Hee! Meet you in chat sometime soon (I hope). Love you!