Countdown to Under a Desert Moon

April 16, 2009 12:29 PM

One chapter in the version of One Thousand and One Nights that Colleen’s LI performance class has crafted this semester has drawn to a close. Our choreography set to Scheherazade, by Ahlam Jasmin, is complete and now it is time to grow confident and allow our personalities to shine through each figure eight, hip push and camel.

Confidence comes with practice, and Colleen has carefully scheduled how we will spend the rest of our time together in class to ensure that we are stage-ready by May 2nd. This month, sheets will be placed over the wall-to-wall mirrors in the Sahara Dance Central studio so that we can begin to trust ourselves when we dance, and break our collective habit of watching one another. Towards the end of the month, we will perform Scheherazade for each other and Colleen in pairs. The thought of performing without the comfort of my fellow stage-mates beside me makes my heart race, but I know I can do it because my class is a safe place to make mistakes.

The dance feels more fluid the more I rehearse. Movements that were once awkward in my body like the half-figure eights and even chaines, are coming to me more naturally. Class by class, I am realizing that I will soon be able to string together the challenging swirl of backbends, mayas and undulations that conclude our piece, with grace.

As I practice both in class and at home, I’ve realized that I dance my best when I’m able brush aside my worries about looking perfect, smile instead, and enjoy how wonderful the shimmies feel rolling from my hips. And that is the best advice that I can offer to any student preparing for Under a Desert Moon: have fun.

—Lauren

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