Countdown to Under a Desert Moon

January 19, 2009 09:11 AM

“I can’t believe I’m actually about to do this!” I thought, while I stood sheltered in the shadowy wings of the Greenberg Theatre. A nervous smile graced my lips, which were painted the deepest red I had ever dared to wear. My hips, which are normally hidden beneath the dark slacks I wear to work, were boldly adorned with gold tinkling coins. My stomach, always covered by a button down or tee shirt, was bare. For good measure, my face and belly were dusted with glitter. Before I left the backstage area, I had taken one last look at myself in a mirror and wondered, “Who is this girl with the confidence to draw so much attention to herself!”

Soon there was no time left for the jitters. Familiar drumbeats filled the auditorium and the melody of Tamra Henna lured me onto the stage. After four months of practicing, I was finally belly dancing with my fellow students from Rachel’s B1/B2 performance class in Under a Desert Moon 2008.

Greetings, Sahara Dance community! My name is Lauren and I have fallen in love with Raqs Sharqi. When I moved to DC in spring 2007, I barely knew anyone in the city, so I enrolled in classes at Sahara Dance to make friends and explore a new art. If anyone had told me then that I would soon belly dance on stage, I probably would have laughed and said, ‘yeah right.’ One year and a half later, I’ve performed in Under a Desert Moon, the Raqs Caravan Student Showcase and am excited to live it all over again this year while performing with Raqs Caravan Folklore, which is directed by Elysa, and the Low Intermediate performance class with Colleen.

I’ve learned that dancing beneath the spotlights is only half the fun of the performance. The other half is attending those weekly classes where you challenge yourself to learn choreography in a supportive environment, deepen your knowledge of Raqs Sharqi and develop friendships with your fellow stage mates. Not only did I finish by B1/B2 performance class with a beautiful costume and a greater sense of confidence for working up the nerve to perform, I also gained a wonderful new network of friends!

I have a feeling that Raqs Caravan Folklore and LI will be just as fulfilling as my first performance class and I’ve already learned something important about myself this week. At the beginning of my LI class, Colleen asked each student to identify a belly dance goal for the semester. When several of the other women revealed that they struggle to get ‘out of their heads’ when they dance, I wanted to cry out, ‘Really? Me too!’ As I listened to some of my classmates describe their frustrations with being unable to stop over-thinking the movements and allow the music guide them, I felt like I was listening to my own thoughts. It was soon time to share my goal and I revealed that my mind also fights with my body when I dance. My goal is to finally ignore that inner critic who speaks loudly in my ear, and follow the guidance of the music. My inner critic is tough and often gets the best of me; so if you have experienced a similar struggle, please share your tips!

This semester, I look forward to getting to better know the students and teachers who make our Sahara Dance community so vibrant. I’m eager to hear the stories of my classmates and am grateful for the opportunity to share mine through Hip Talk. Meanwhile, I’ll be dreaming of Under a Desert Moon and becoming that girl again who was brazen enough to wear red lipstick, bare her belly and take the stage.

-Lauren

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