“Night in the Desert-So This is Belly Dance!”

As submitted by Nizana

    I had this vision of bringing the joy of the dance to the Moses Lake area on a bigger scale.  While I live in Spokane, I lived in Moses Lake for awhile at one time and commute there to teach quarterly belly dance classes.  While other geographical areas seem to be over saturated in “Belly Dance,” Moses Lake has me teaching occasional classes and Sabah Ensemble dancing at the Farmer’s Market once a year, and not much else has been going on there. While I have been involved with assisting with others’ dance events, I haven’t had the chance to produce my own in awhile and I had an itching to do one. Not just any show, but a special show designed to introduce the community to what belly dancing is all about, one with just about as many styles as I could put together.  From the feedback I received, I did just that. One audience member exclaimed “I had no idea this is what belly dance was about!!!” At the end of the night when I asked if everyone enjoyed the show, there was roaring applause. I feel great about it and want to share this exciting event that occurred on March 28, 2009.       

    I had decided it had to be a really classy venue to perform in. I wanted to provide the dancers great ambiance for their performances as I was making this a formal event. I researched several possibilities and chose the Wallenstien Theater, and it suited us perfectly. It has a large stage with entrances on both sides that Zahra and I decorated simply but elegantly. The dressing rooms were right behind the stage, but separated enough so you didn‘t have to whisper. A light and sound tech “came with the house” and aside from a couple of tiny glitches, did a really nice job and was nice to work with. We set up the Scabland Band back center stage and were able to leave them set up the entire show. I had bottled water and light snacks for the performers, and a table in the lobby for everyone’s flyers.  I provided programs with performer bios and pictures, and door prizes donated by Zahra and myself. I emceed at the beginning, intermission and end of the show, and also stage managed and really had a great time putting it all together.

Alwiyah and Scabland

    It’s funny because Amina, who has been studying with me off and on in Moses Lake and performed in the show, mentioned to someone who asked how long the show would be that “if Nizana is running it and she says it’s going to be 7 to 9, it will be 7to 9.” And darned if the show wasn’t exactly on time!!! I started it on time, I called the intermission in exactly the 10 minutes I said I would to draw the door prizes and start Act 2, and ended right at 8:59. One of the band members told me this is the first show she’s ever been to that ran this smoothly and was this organized. It really was a fabulous show if I say so myself!!! 

    So I started the show right at 7 pm with a few welcoming words to the audience and then Sabah Ensemble from Wenatchee took the stage to start off the show on a wonderful note! The group was made up of members of Sabah Ensemble and Sisters of Sabah dance troupes who were colorful and fun to watch.  They danced to three different numbers. First, the members of “Sisters of Sabah,” then members of Sabah Ensemble, then both troupes combined for the third number of American Style Belly Dance. They all looked so shimmery and beautiful on stage! Next up was Shenteelaa of the Tri-Cities dancing with sheer orange luminescent Isis wings and orange and yellow bedlah. A slow, beautiful song made good use of the wings as Shenteelaa spun and floated across the stage. Nizana and Zahra of Desert Silk Dance Company from Spokane performed a dance which Nizana choreographed where they used sheer veils and matching costumes of two different jewel tones.  Amina from Moses Lake was the next soloist, and performing in blue and silver bedlah and skirt, danced American Style Belly Dance Fusion, with emphasis on Tunisian moves. Next up was Troupe du Soleil from the Tri-Cities, performing a set that included two American style folkloric numbers and a group drum solo. Very cool costumes that were reminiscent of both Ghawazee coats and Egyptian Saidi dresses  They were white, over black pants and accented by double layered black and red hip scarves and matching head wear.  Kaela from Wenatchee was up next to perform an Indian Belly Dance Fusion dance in an elaborate blue and yellow costume with black and gold overlay panels. Her technique and execution of the movements were spot on.  She is a lovely dancer! Nizana and Zahra returned with their costumes modified from what they wore on the previous number and silk veils to perform another American style veil routine.  To close out Act 1 in a mighty fine way was Shaheena Safahri from Spokane in a two number Gypsy Fusion set. Wearing red, orange and yellow, her high energy numbers started with a tambourine and ended with fun skirt work and cool moves.         

                                                                                                        Mirabai

    Following the short intermission and door prize drawing, Sabah Ensemble and Scabland Band started off Act 2. Having live music by Roy and the band was a great touch! The troupe started out with a fabulous basket dance, followed by a zil karsilama. Again, a colorful and lively way to get things going!  Nizana and Zahra then performed a two number Latin-Arabic fusion set in black and red, and apparently we were having a blast doing it because we heard afterwards that we looked like we were so happy and having so much fun on stage!  Troupe du Soleil also came back for another set, this one American style belly dance in white skirts and cholis with gorgeous copper coin belts. Djimmah Karena, their Director, interspersed a couple of short solos including a saucy Raqs Assaya. Alwiyah, Director of Sabah Ensemble, was then joined by Scabland Band to perform a double sword dance that included floor work. Wow! You go, girl! Nuwaar al Sahraa from Tri-Cities was up next to perform a Tribal Fusion duet that was energetic and fun and cute all at the same time! I’d like to learn that choreography! Last but not least, Mirabai of Seattle closed the show with a spectacular set! Wearing a red and jeweled skirt and bra, she started out with a silk veil for the entrance, and danced Egyptian style to the first number.  Next, she added yellow silk fusion fans to a violin piece of music and made magic with the fans. (Mirabai is making an instructional DVD on silk fan fusion dancing this year! Watch for it!) And then she danced a drum solo, punctuated by coyly striding across the stage to pick up a dumbek and finishing the drum solo by dancing ON the dumbek. What a powerful ending to the show!!!!

Final Bow

    I then had the Band come back out as we gave Mirabai another round of applause and recognized the band and each of the performers to come out for a quick spin or two to the band for one last round of applause.  Everyone pitched in and made sure we left the place as we found it and we cleared out in plenty of time for everyone to be on their drives home.  I so appreciate and would like to thank all of the volunteers and the performers for a fabulous evening!