As Printed in the Quarter 4/2004 Issue of The Belly Dancer Magazine
ZAINA’S ZANY ADVENTURES * A Baker's Dozen Events
By Zaina Hart
Since my last report to you, I have managed to attend 12 events. So, in a three month period of time, that is an event every weekend. It wasn’t quite like that however, since there were a few that occurred the same weekend as well as one that occured over two weekends. I often wonder how I keep up. Even though it is a hectic pace to keep, with a full time job that is demanding of overtime. But I am still having the time of my life.
But - on with it! In June I managed to make it to Gaylene’s Annual Open House – right smack in the middle of the Pangia Pacific Northwest Tour, which I hosted along with Kashani of Olympia. Pangia played to a PACKED HOUSE on Thursday the end of June in Portland (Harry’s Bar and Grill) - a dozen dancers and open dancing to boot. Then they were off to Olympia on Friday morning to meet with Kashani and do an interview at a radio station there. That night they were on stage again, playing to another packed house and a half dozen more dancers. They slid back down to Vancouver on Saturday morning - and then we drove to Amity, Oregon so Denise Mannion could teach a workshop at Gaylene’s Open House.
That night we were back in Vancouver, WA for another show, to a third packed house at George’s Greek Cuisina. Sunday Pat Olson and Denise headed back home to Mt. Shasta and I headed to my eldest daughter’s birthday party. Whew - what a busy four days. So, there you have the beginning of this quarter’s adventures. We have had so many requests for Pangia to come back, I invited them to the Double Crown Belly Dance Competition (which will be in the next issue of adventures).
July brought the Med Fest - you will find a full review in this issue. This was one I could only manage for one day, although it is a 2-1/2 day event, with workshops this year by Suhaila Salimpour.
Next Stop: Summer Caravan in Oakland, CA - vending, dancing, touring, and more. Oberon and I started our trip off with a bang. We always pack “extra” fun into any dance adventure and we started right off at Starbucks. We were so excited to be on the road, we stood there holding hands, hugging each other and giggling like little girls. Of course this caused a bit of a “looky lue” session from other customers. But, off we went, with our next major stop at the “Olive Pit” in Corning, CA - - we needed to pick up supplies for the weekend of course. We drive to Shukriya’s California events rather than fly so that I can bring the magazine, videos and other vending items. I had of course warned Oberon (the owner of the largest suitcases in the world) to pack lighter than normal since we had to save room for vending. She was such a good girl “going”.
Once we got to Oakland and our hotel, we discovered we had some complications so chose to head to another hotel, which we thought was just up the road. We spent the next two hours, “lost” in various parts of Oakland and its surrounding cities. Oberon remained calm, while I, on the other hand, ranted and raived (so typical of an Arien); this of course only after several near collisions by folks who NEW where THEY were going. I just knew it would be days before my hair uncurled. Happy to say, we did finally find our way, got unloaded and checked in then went out for dinner and back early to be ready for the next day’s festivities - after all, I had scheduled a full blown tour of SEPHORA’s store in San Francisco.
So, bright and early the next morning, we were off again. Oberon attended Margo Abdo-Odell’s first workshop of the weekend while I set up my vending area. After the workshop – a very excited Oberon (she so loved the workshops over the weekend) and I headed into San Francisco with Cindy our tour guide and driver. She dropped us directly in front of Sephora - - and oh what a splendid time we had. We did not get out of that store for under a Five Hundred Dollar Bill. We oo’d, ahh’d, giggled and had a blast. They have everything a Belly Dancer could ever want in makeup - PLUS. David and Scott were our tour guides; we all looked a bit like children gone bad with their crayons by the time we were done though. You must try the lipsticks, shadows, liners, etc. - hence your hands, arms, lips, brows, and more are many colors of the proverbial rainbow. It was “fabulous”. Thanks to the troupes at Sephora for putting up with our many questions - - they are the greatest. We are so going back next year.
We stopped off at The Betelnut Chinese Restaurant for a late lunch, then decided we wanted to take Bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit) back to Oakland. Now, we had a great time ON Bart, but were not apparently smart enough to figure out how to get our tickets to get “on” the train. We held up the line, and had to ask for assistance, not once, not twice, not even three times - - we just kept going back to the window for more help. We had a handful of tickets and then didn’t know where or how to find the train. We were so thankful for “Shirrell” who was the Station Agent at the window. She finally just giggled at us, asked us where we were from, and we all became fast friends.
The next few days of dancing, workshops and friends was simply too much fun. Oberon took two more workshops and I performed with Pangia whose antics behind me were apparently too funny. We met some of the girls for dinner, and others for breakfast. Oberon and Margo disappeared for Margo’s interview (see Dancer to Dancer articles herein) for several hours on Sunday. They returned with sore feet and a full understanding of where things are in Oakland (they walked 6 miles or better I am told).
We were loaded up and headed back home way too soon. Of course our trips are never over until we hit the door. We managed a stop off at Chandani’s to see Tina (on University in Berkeley), then to Ross’s department store - - where Oberon purchased a brand new “Beast” complete with elephant motif tapestry fabric (now that just suits the suitcase). The problem, asalways, was where to put it, how to fit it in. But if you have ever travelled with Oberon, what you would here and what I did hear was, “Oh Zaina, honey don’t worry, we can make room”. She just put her other suitcase inside this one. <grin> Of course, we made another stop at the Olive Pit for additional supplies and then headed straight home.
HAWAII - DA KINE
So, what was next on the list? HAWAII and Erna Woo’s 2004 Hawaii Belly DanceFestival and Retreat. This trip is designed to give you more than just a quick glimpse of the island/s and there is no better person to give you the full tour than Erna Woo. She is a Native Hawaiian whose vast understanding of these beautiful islands gives you more than any tour guide could. My saying now is, “You haven’t seen Hawaii unless you see it with Erna”.
Erna started us off with a three day festival in Hilo at the famed Naniloa Hotel. The glorious view from our window was worth the trip alone. There were two shows - - both packed and leaving standing room only. And four workshops over this first stretch, taught by Yours Truly, and Erna Woo. The workshop attendees were absolutely wonderful. We all had so much fun, and on the second day decided to take it outside - veils in hand. Nothing like veils blowing and moving in the wind as the palm trees sway and the bellies undulate.
After the festival on Friday/ Sat/Sunday, we were on a 5 day retreat around the Big Island of Hawaii. From Hilo to Kona and back. Erna had us smack in the middle of the lava fields, up on the volcanos and around the craters (the Halema ‘uma’u Crater and the Kilauea Caldera where yours truly had a serious drink with Madam Pele, while Erna chanted), in caves, hot ponds, at Rainbow Falls, Macadamia Nut Farms, Coffee plantations, a winery, and a beautiful lodge. We attended not one, but two luau shows (and pulling our Lori away from that was a task for sure - she buddied right up to one of the dancers - painted face and all).
Peke and Erna called in the turtles at Hale O Keawe and we sat at the Hilton in Waimai to watch the Dolphins. And Erna and I taught class every day outside, with the sun high, under the palms. We went to the Lava Tree State Park and stood under a beautiful canopy of African Tulip Trees. We visited Erna’s Parent’s home, where they had Avocado trees with fruit half the size of footballs, passion fruit, guavas and Papayas. I still can’t believe we did so much in those 5 days. This was truly the most magnificant trip I have ever been on. I will be eternally grateful to Erna for the many lessons, and for showing us the real “Hawaii”.
Now all that said, I have never seen real, true to life POWER SHOPPERS until this trip. Lori and Peke (Peggy) can shop like you can’t imagine. Every place we went, they were shopping, they even shopped at the gas station’s convenience store. Truly one of the most amazing things seen on our trip. <grin> Erna is even considering changing the name of next year’s event, in honor of course to Peke and Lori, to: The 2005 Hawaii Shopping Extravaganza, Festival and Retreat. ahahahahahaaaa “just kidding”!
So, until Zaina’s next Zany Adventures, ALOHA!
