Countdown to Under a Desert Moon

March 24, 2009 11:14 AM

It felt as if last Wednesday night was a birthday celebration for the students in Colleen’s LI performance class. Before we began practicing our piece, Scheherazade, we each received a surprise: our costumes wrapped neatly in blue tissue paper and tucked into silvery bags. Our studio assistant, Annette, caught all of the action on film as we eagerly dug into our packages. Sahara Dance Central was soon a flurry of cerulean, lime and plum gypsy skirts, new hip scarves and jangling silver coins.

Receiving a costume is one of the most exciting parts about participating in a performance. When I slip on a costume, I leave behind the mundane chores on my to-do list like filing taxes, grocery shopping or cleaning the apartment. I’m able to “get into character,” as actors put it, and focus on developing a stage persona. I especially love belly dance costumes because they evoke a sense of fantasy and glamour that highly contrasts with DC’s business and politics-oriented personality.

Like the choreography for Scheherazade, our costumes are bold. They consist of a sheer gypsy skirt with a scalloped hem that will float up around our ankles during chaines turns and shimmies. Our tops are patterned with a blue, green and purple bohemian paisley print that is certainly bright but tasteful. These tops tie in the front right below the bra-line and expose the belly. (Guess it’s time to start doing those crunches!) Our hip scarves are white with silver coins sewn into intricate layers in the fabric. A silver colored coin necklace is also included with the costume.

Though our costumes are not covered in sequins and tassels the way costumes are for more advanced dancers, I think that ours are just as eye-catching. My favorite part about the LI attire is the vibrant colors that the skirts come in. A group of us received a jewel-toned blue skirt, another group received an elegant purple skirt and the third received a very summery, electric green skirt. I love the blue skirt that I received, but I am secretly coveting the lime green.

Decked out in coins and flow-y fabric, I feel a little bit more like Scheherazade. However, I have a long way to go before I’m completely comfortable with the choreography. My traveling camels, full body undulations and now the back bend that Colleen threw in last week are still challenging and need my attention. And so, I will keep practicing as I countdown the days until Under a Desert Moon.

-Lauren

Permalink →