Bombay to Bollywood
A Belly Dance Superstars Production
Spokane, WA Feb 11, 2011
Reviewed by: Nizana
The Belly Dance Superstars came back to Spokane with their latest production as they toured the nation. My troupe, Desert Silk Dance Company, made a night of it and had great seats to take it all in at the Bing Crosby Center. It’s been a couple years since the BDSS came through this way. This is the third time I’ve seen a BDSS tour, and while all around me I heard people saying they really enjoyed it, I have to say while I also enjoyed it, it was not my favorite BDSS show. It was colorful, fast paced and energetic (especially Petite Jamilla; she danced practically non-stop!) It had the Bollywood theme running throughout, and I appreciate that you have to change things up to keep audiences coming back for something new.
Having said that, I personally prefer a more Middle Eastern flavor than the Bollywood fusion flavor, and would have liked to have seen more actual Middle Eastern, or belly dance. There weren’t even zils in the show. The soundtrack seemed heavy on danceable electronica, the dancing heavy on theatrics and fusion. There were some lighted backdrops and the stage decorations were elaborately simple.
Live drumming with the talented Issam Housham, occasionally accompanied by some of the dancers as backup, was interspersed throughout the show. There were a few solos, and solos featured in group numbers, but most routines were done by groups of varying sizes. I really liked the dancers’ use of the stage and the smooth formation changes that sometimes interchanged them on and off the stage.
The costumes were very glittery overall, lots of eye-catching sparkle. I loved the veils tucked from on top of and behind the head to the belts. Even the tribal fusion was more glitzy than I am used to seeing. There were some costuming ideas that you don’t see very often, as well as a variety of modern props that included hula hoops, veils, streamers, silk fan veils, and Isis Wings. Sometimes it almost seemed too busy with numerous dancers on the stage at once doing different things in small groups, duets or solos.
While the show didn’t sell out, there was a good sized appreciative crowd. Issam was called out by a guy for ignoring the audience in the balcony. While Issam acknowledged him, it didn’t appear to change anything as he continued to ask for clapping on the “7-8” only to the audience on the first floor. Having performed on that same stage, I can attest that it is darker up in the balcony and hard to see up there due to the lights facing the stage, but as a performer, you also can’t appear to be ignoring half of your audience. Saw a few more dancer technical errors (such as timing, hand placement differences, costume stuff) than I’d expect from a show at this level but there was a lot for everyone to know and overall it was presented very well. Really missed Jillina!
Some of the highlights for me were the veil numbers, (especially the one done in the bedlahs of greens and browns) drum solos, the nod to the Melaya Luff, and adding a male dancer (a very flexible and fast spinning Samir with incredible control) to the show. Sabah did a lovely piece in the Isis wings routine and Meera’s Bollywood numbers were very expressive and clean. Petite Jamilla’s spinning multiple veil routine was impressive and mind boggling, especially with the other dancer floating by to give her more veils. The dancers overall did a very nice job with stage presence, versatility, and projecting emotion and connection to the audience. Both Sabah and Petite Jamilla were scheduled to teach workshops on Feb 12th in Spokane and then they were to perform in Seattle that night!!! Incredible stamina! I did have a good time out with the troupe and glad the BDSS came to town!
