last week i finished another dress. it’s from this 1970’s mccall’s sewing pattern.
its made from interesting woven material that has a soft sheen. i really love it, though it’s far from perfect! i wore it to an indian concert over the weekend!
here’s the final result! 
next up? a chinese brocade 80’s prom dress!
long time no post! it’s been a super crazy few weeks and time has really flown by. last month i hosted my friend Astryd for a fab Raqs Sharqi workshop. two weeks after that, Sami hosted his friend Faisal Zedan for a workshop and bunch of shows one of which was Rakassah. Rakassah is a huge Middle Eastern dance festival in NJ. i have mixed feelings about rakassah these days. there is three times as much fusion as there is any kind of authentic Middle Eastern dance. We were they only Arabic ensemble! it’s a little bit disheartening. I don’t have a problem with fusion for the most part, it’s just there are so many baby dancers coming into it now, and have no idea what’s real and what isn’t. i guess i just feel like we are representing an already misunderstood underrepresented art so the least we can do is present it as authentically as possible. it’s ok to create your own thing, but maybe…call it something else?
the weeks before rakassah i did a pretty good job of stressing myself out (as usual!) i choreographed my first piece AND made costumes for the performance for yogi, me and sherine. they came out really beautifully, but i was literally sewing up until we hit the stage! immediately after i went back to my hotel room and took a 4 hour nap! i was so completely wiped out. as a result, i don’t think it was my best performance, but went over pretty well. the girls were really awesome and it was the most fun i’ve had actually in a long time. vive banat zikrayat!
here is dimitri doing a hilarious robot dance to tribal fusion music at rakassah while bridget looks on…
…and in case you’re curious, here are the actual lyrics…
one two three
my name is sarah palin you all know me
vice president nominee of the gop
gonna need your vote in the next election
can i get a ‘what what’ from the senior section
mccain got experience, mccain got style
but don’t let him freak you out when he tries to smile
cause that smile be creepy
but when i be vp
all the leaders in the world gonna finally meet me
how’s it go eskimo
(eskimos)
tell me what you know eskimo
(eskimos)
how you feel eskimo
(ice cold)
tell me tell me what you feel eskimo
(super cold)
i’m jeremiah wright cause tonight i’m the preacha
i got a bookish look and you’re all hot for teacha
todd lookin fine on his snow machine
so hot boy gonna need a go between
in wasilla we just chill baby chilla
but when i see oil lets drill baby drill
my country tis a thee
from my porch i can see
russia and such
all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up
when i say ‘obama’ you say ‘ayers’
obama. (ayers) obama (ayers)
i built me a bridge - it ain’t goin’ nowhere.
(ohhh)
mccain, palin, gonna put the nail in the coffin
of the media elite
(she likes red meat)
shoot a mother-humpin moose, eight days of the week
[three gunshots]
now ya dead, now ya dead,
cause i’m an animal, and i’m bigger than you
holdin a shotgun walk in the pub
everybody party, we’re goin on a hunt
la la la la la la la la
[six gunshots]
yo i’m palin, i’m out!
been working on a myriad of stuff.
for one, i just finished my friend judith’s website: jzqphotography.com
and i’m in a furious race to finish costumes for rakassah! pics of those forth coming!
speaking of yesterday we had a super rehearsal. i’m glad it went well. here are some pics from the car ride to the studio!
So last Sunday was my birthday and probably one of the best ever. I unofficially started celebrating on Thursday with a return to Indian dance. I have been desperately wanting to take classical Indian dance lessons for several months and I asked Sami to pay for my classes as part of my present and he obliged. I loved the class, but immediately remembered why I stopped! IT’S SO HARD! Physically, it’s such a challenge. I hope my thighs are still up to it!
On Friday night I met up with Yogi and we went to a fancy bar in the Hilton on 42nd street and then went to see that movie “The Women”, after that we went to Byblos to meet with Nicole and see Sira dance, but when we got there she had just finished performing…
Saturday night we went to visit the “two Elizabeths” and had some pretty nifty wine and snacks. Johnny and Maria and Christine stopped by as well. The ladies even presented me with a birthday cake! We left a little early to go to Symphony Space to see a Rajastani concert. I enjoyed it but Sami was a little bored.
Sunday, my actual birthday, we went and had brunch with the Elizabeth’s and Johnny and Maria before we headed off to the Cloisters Museum and Fort Tryon Park. I had never been there before, and I instantly fell in love. Here are some pics: (Sorry for the poor quality)
This week I am up to my ears preparing for Rakassah and Astryd’s workshop. I’m busy making costumes for the girls. Pics to come! 
