(no subject)

[galadhir]

So, it was Louise's hafla last night, aka the 'Hob al Raqs' Hafla. I wonder if I can get a copy of the running list up here? Hm... but it's very big, so here is a link to the pdf instead.

After having been sick with nerves and dreading it for two days prior, the nerves cleared up on the day, and I gradually got ready by ironing my veil (for the Nawwarat group dance) and practicing putting on a dramatic blue eye make up look from YouTube.

(Did you know that you can use cellotape on your face to get a sharp wing to your eyeshadow? I didn't. But I do now.)

With that sorted we went out for a wander around town, then returned in time for me to prepare a salad and meal that we could take with us to eat for dinner. Louise had asked for people to arrive at 6pm to help set up, and it was a bit early to eat beforehand. Last year people had brought snacks, so we figured we would eat in one of the breaks, and I'm still dieting so taking a salad and some grilled halloumi was a better plan than crisps.

Anyway - I packed the salad into travel containers, put my actual makeup on, rolled my ironed veil into a towel and was ready to go.

I had been convinced that the running list would have my solo on early and the group dance on later because that was how it had worked the previous year. This would be good because it would allow me to do the majority of costuming at home at my leisure. However, when the running list did come out it was the opposite - Nawwarat first and solo second.

The veil dance went very well, even though ironing the veil had charged it with immense amounts of static and it clung to everything. I was barely paying attention to it because of being consumed with thoughts about the solo, but the people who had never danced at a hafla in the group were very happy and flushed with success. It was nice to see.

Then, since the solo was all about becoming inhuman, I had to spend the first interval I had to make myself look more alien. Unfortunately what I did first was to put on the false nails I had bought - pearly, iridescent sharp claws. They looked fantastically weird and had the unexpected advantage of making my fingers look longer and more elegant. However, I had never worn false nails before and I couldn't do anything with them on. It was like wearing sharp boxing gloves.

Suddenly I had to rely on DH to tie my hair back, come to the changing room with me and help wrestle me into my dress and change my jewellery. I was almost late on because of it, but we heard the announcer start up again after the break and ran down into place just in time.

I think the solo went fairly well. I didn't get the kind of panicky blackout that I used to - where time seems to pass instantly and you don't have time to think. This time I felt like I was in control of what I was doing, and that was a relief. I did choose slow music, mind you. I'm sure that helped.

When that was done I was able to relax, eat some dinner and actually enjoy watching everyone else. Some of Louise's advanced group had gone to Egypt with her the week previously and they all had very fancy, heavily beaded, new costumes. Louise had an amazing fully sequined peach coloured outfit with a neckline that was scooped down to below her belly button, and she of course had the skills to match it :)

Post solo Louise told me that she could see that I enjoyed Tribal Fusion, and introduced me to a woman who used to teach it. Now admittedly I had been inspired by Dana Beaufait. Specifically I watched this video over and over again and tried to model myself on her. But I didn't think it showed. How could she tell? Mysterious!

There was a bring-and-swap table for clothing where I managed to get rid of two of my coin belts and acquire an Indian printed, sheer, tiered, pink-and-orange skirt, a heavily beaded blue overskirt, and a bag full of random kuchi jewellery (coins that must have fallen off things, bits of chain and leather etc) which will come in very useful when I next try to decorate a bra. And everything was free except the skirt, which was a fiver. Result :)

The fibro generously stayed absent until the dancing at the end, when my ankle gave up in a flare of pain and then my back followed, but I consider that very good timing. I hobbled back to the car very happy with how the whole day had gone, asked DH to plait my hair for bed, (because nails) and went to sleep.

Woke up this morning with what felt like a hangover, even though all I drank was a can of kombucha and was horrified to read on the internet that false nails could stay on for 10 weeks or more. I couldn't even type on the computer with them on!

Further horrified to learn that you remove them by filing around the edges and then soaking them in acetone for at least half an hour. I didn't have any acetone.

Fortunately I then found a website that said no, just soak them in hot water with dish soap and olive oil, so I figured that doing the washing up might work. And indeed, I managed to pop them off in the washing up bowl in a matter of minutes.

DH is now working on post-production of his many photos. He says he enjoyed the night too because a) it allowed him to indulge his photography hobby and b) it felt a little like being a member of a secret society. It really does - unless you know a belly dancer you probably don't hear about the haflas, and you certainly don't get invited to them.

DH of course, who turned up with two huge cameras, (one for video and one for stills) was very popular and everyone wanted to pose and show off their sparkling outfits. There will be much excitement when he posts the finished photos to a friends-locked group on the web. I'm looking forward to that too. He is a treasure and everyone knows it :)

PS. The other lady from my class who said she might do a solo did not in fact do a solo despite being objectively much better than me. I don't understand - surely the point of practicing a dance is to perform it?

PPS. I wonder when I will feel as though I have the right to use the dance name I picked out? I mean I'm not good and I'm certainly not professional, but I am up there performing. Does that make me a dancer yet or is there another trial you have to pass first?