“Under a Desert Moon” Reflections

May 12, 2009 09:25 AM

My azure Scheherazade petal skirt and red folkloric debkeh dress are now hanging quietly in my closet, as if patiently waiting to be danced in again. The silver-coined necklace I wore onstage twinkles alluringly, and tempts me to put it on. Though over one week has passed since I left the Greenberg Theatre and the costumes, the dramatic makeup and the curling iron have been put away, I find myself still reflecting on what I learned this year through performing in “Under a Desert Moon.”

Keeping up with Raqs Caravan Folklore was, without a doubt, a challenge. Elysa created not only one, but two choreographies with intricate footwork. Being able to feel in command of the placement of my left and right feet was something I struggled with when I took jazz classes as a kid and teenager, and ultimately was so difficult for me that I was deterred from studying western dance. Belly dance, with its emphasis on soft rolling hips instead of skipping feet, came more naturally. When Elysa introduced the debkeh and especially, Port Said choreographies with the coordinated kicking and jumping, all my fears from jazz class came rushing back. There was no way I was going to learn these choreographies and look remotely decent, I thought! But I was having so much fun in class that I had no choice but to continue.

Elysa however, was patient and so were my fellow dancers. Throughout the course of the semester, I learned that I wasn’t the only one who struggled with complex footwork. Each week, Elysa drilled the parts we struggled with and over the weekends, a fellow “folklorette,” Ardelia, invited us into her home to practice. When the time came to take the pieces to the stage, I realized that I had proven my inner ninth grader wrong: I could learn fancy footwork!

My goal throughout Colleen’s LI performance class was to dance with my heart, not with the memorized choreography notes I kept in my mind’s eye. It must have been the supportive energy that filled our Wednesday night classes that helped me meet my goal. Close to the beginning of the semester, it became clear to me that our class was a safe place to try on new techniques, and it was O.K. if we didn’t look perfect during our first three ¾ shimmies or backbends. Once at ease, it became less of an effort to get out of my head and stop worrying about what other people thought of me. Knowing that my classmates and teachers would support me as long as they knew I gave the choreography my all, I was able to truly dance.

My costumes call longingly to me from my closet, but I know that I will find the opportunity to wear them again soon. I am now thoroughly addicted to Raqs Sharqi and will be joining Raqs Caravan Folklore again this summer beneath the spotlights of the Greenberg Theatre in “Sahara Dance Caravan: Exploring the Evolution of Belly Dance” on August 15.

By: Lauren

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