As Printed in the Quarter 1/2005 Issue of The Belly Dancer Magazine

Zaina’s Zany Adventures

Quarter 1 / 05 – Jan/Feb/March 2005

In order: The 2005 Double Crown Belly Dance Competition in Portland, The Bedouin Bazaar in San Diego, Fatima’s Birthday Bash in Sacramento, ..........well, let me just get to it below.

 “Adventure” - according to Webster’s New Edition means; a dangerous or exciting incident, or a hazardous enterprise and/or a delightful experience. The word sits in the dictionary between the words “advantage” (something which gives benefit or profit) and “adverb” (a part of speech which modifies or limits a verb) WHAT? Okay, okay! Why the definitions? Well, because the last few months have been filled with danger, exciting incidents, hazardous, yet beneficial, but not necessarily profitable enterprises that were often delightful experiences when they were all said and done. So, you the reader is sitting there, in your arm chair, wondering “what in the world Zaina is drinking” as she writes this at 2:00 in the morning, after having waited until everything else in the magazine was finished-before she wrote her own article”? COFFEE - and lots of it. I finally gave in and bought stock in Starbucks (at least I think I did - - isn’t that what all those little cards at their counter are? STOCK, in $20.00 increments that last at least two or three trips in? But I digress (to wander from the main topic in speech or writing) (like I NEVER do THAT) <snickering>.

Okay forward James - to the Adventures.

First, in September, the 2005 Double Crown. This was our 9th year, having taken a year off since that very first DC in 1994, when Judeen won (by the way, she is one of our workshop instructors for the 10 Year Anniversary, 2005 Double Crown in September). There were a number of things that contributed to this being such a wonderful, adventurous year. We did have fewer attending the early morning part of the show - perhaps our audience had not yet had their coffee not having heard of the famous “triple shot”). However, by 1:00 each day we did have a full house, and by late afternoon, the audience section was packed. But again, I have digressed a little bit.

Zaina’s Highlights: The talent was absolutely PHENOMINAL. Our 2004 Belly Dance Performing Artist, Alimah, competed when she was 7 months pregnant. She did drop sits to the floor (slow and fast), a few leaps (now, THAT will make the sponsor go gray over night), and just wowed the audience. The addition of the Gypsy Stylist Category, while it had low attendance came with “raves” from the audience - so it is back in 2005. The Scarab Category on Saturday night nearly brought the house down. Hadika Jawhar received a standing ovation when announced as our winner.

The Big Hair Pose Down has become unbelievably popular and apparently one of the most sought after titles of the Double Crown. This year was UNBELIEVABLE. Fatima, try as she might – could not win that trophy away from “Maurice” who, in a last ditch effort to walk away (or shimmie away) with first place, lifted his shirt and rolled that six pack which of course had the audience (predominently female mind you) screaming, nearly bringing the ceiling down upon us. I am told we were heard on the other side of the hotel, in the lounge. Fatima vows she is already working on next year’s Pose Down and she and my Father schemed to bring you the all new DVD “Belly Dancers Gone Wild” which will be available at Rakkasah this year and will contain only the Big Hair Pose Down and all new “Zagareet” Award competitions.

After Saturday’s event, Pangia (who saved our collective fannies this year by providing sound) gave us all an impromptu performance (nearly 3 hours worth) in the lounge. Our after party was one of the biggest hits of the year - - the music was “perfection” and not many of us were “sitting”. This was a great year, with good friends, and tons and tons of fun. And as always, I did my best to support the vendors! <grin>

I didn’t have long to rest before the next Bill and Ted Style Excellent Adventure - - which had me headed to San Diego to Scottie’s Bedouin Bazaar, where I was teaching a workshop and had performances with “Desert Wind”. The adventure is always all the more “sweet” when you get to spend time with your favorite people, Alan and Andolin Bachman and Var and Cyrianna, Dawn, Rachel, Kamaal, Artemis, Hassan Deeb, Judeen, Alexandria King, and Jim Boz - - - they made my somewhat stressful weekend a truly magnificant adventure.

The result of the previous month’s stress caught up with me in SD making the “result” pretty darned funny and again, put me in one of those “wow was I lucky to be with friends and family” scenarios. First evening out (Friday) I discovered I was coming down with hives. Now, for most people this is not a big issue (no pun intended). For me, this time around - BIG PROBLEM. I managed to get some Benadryl down before going to bed that evening but I began coughing early the next morning, and when I finally tossed myself out of bed and took a look in the mirror - - well, face, neck, hands, feet, BODY swollen and red. Not red hives, but red welts the size of my hand. And my throat was swelling at a rapid rate.

            So, 6 am - on with clothes, off to the front desk, while calling Mom on the cell phone and coughing the entire way. Front desk staff took one look at me, put me in the van and off to the hospital. ER staff said, OMG. And I was blessed with numerous injections, steroids and Atovan (which when put together has your body unsure of whether it is supposed to pump iron or sleep). My blessed cousin Mary Jo who lives in SD, picked me up at hospital, helped me get my prescription DRUGS and had me back to the event in time for my performance that afternoon because THE SHOW MUST ALWAYS GO ON.

Now, let me give you a light warning: when the scrip bottle says “may cause dizziness and drowsiness”, and the doc says, the prednizone may cause you to feel really really good - - well, this is a dangerous combination. During my performance, I did in fact feel “really really good” (Uh yeah, REALLY GOOD - LIKE I COULD DANCE ALL NIGHT), however, those spins that I was so sure I was landing - - uh huh, stopped and the room just WASHED before my eyes. I am still unsure how I made it down the steps from the stage and to the outer room without either throwing up or passing out. I was told no one in the room even new that was not my normal style of dance. <grin> Perhaps I created something never seen before?

The workshop the next day was GRAND. I had a wonderful group of dancers and the show that night at the restaurant was tons of fun. Kamaal, Hassan Deeb, and I all performed to live music by Desert Wind and Var. Was just way fun and this was the first time I had attended the BB. Scottie is just a HOOT and I am so glad she invited me. I hope to go back next year - but will be sure to bring my now trusty security bottle of anti-hive Atovan. And of course, as always, I did my best to support the vendors!

So - we are on to the next adventure. FATIMA’S BIRTHDAY BASH. Oberon made this trip with me - being a huge fan of Yousry’s. (No, she did not bring the beast on this trip) <grin>. And she will tell you in fact, that because she didn’t, she did not have enough clothing/shoes/etc. So, in the future, we will only travel with the “Beast”.

Ladies and Gentlemen - this is a must attend event. Next year, Fatima will celebrate this event’s 15th year and Fatima’s 65th birthday. I will not miss this for anything. This year she brought Youssry Sharif - - and work us he did. Excellent technique and a shimmy that had me baffled.

Fatima offers two evening shows at her event along with a full package of workshops. Everything was FANTASTIC. Both evening shows are catered with hors d’euvres and Friday came complete witty a “bar”. The Saturday night show, however, is the birthday celebration night and, well, it never lacks for excitement. It is worth the trip just to see the presents people bring - nothing boring for sure (Siham and her troupe outdid themselves this year - - believe me). They gave a whole new meaning to

the word “flowers”.  Fatima brought this event to a new spot this year, in Folsom, CA, just outside of Sacramento. The hotel was just a few blocks away from “Old Town” - and on Sunday morning we were able to get away for a bit o’ vestigating (aka: SHOPPING). So, not only did we support the venue’s vendors, but the TOWN of Folsom as well. We really did come away with some goodies this time out.

I think what I enjoy best about this event is it is absolute fun. Don’t get me wrong, the workshops are always serious business, but the event is surrounded by an aire of FUN and FRIVOLITY that is hard to find elsewhere.

So, this all said, I do hope to see you all in Sacramento (or Folsom) next year for Fatima’s 65th!

Until the next Z’s Zany Adventures - HAPPY NEW YEAR and I hope to see you at an event near you SOON.