Springfest pics

There is a very large bellydance community here in Utah. Most of the performances that happen are either A) restaurant gigs, B) student recitals put on by individual dance companies, or C) big shows with headliners brought in from out of state. There are very few festivals that welcome dancers from throughout the community, including beginners through professional level dancers. One of these festivals is Thia's Springfest. Registration is first-come first-serve, and as long as you get your form in early you get a five minute time slot in which to perform. It's really a great opportunity for dancers throughout Utah.

I've performed at Springfest since 2007, after I joined the student troupe here. Every year I've gone and danced with my troupe, then stuck around to see the huge variety in bellydance styles. This year, however, I stepped it up a notch.

I did a solo.

It actually went pretty well. I know I wasn't as relaxed and comfortable on stage as I could have been, but really, I did well. I didn't drop my sword, I didn't run off stage crying. I completed my dance, and am now a little more comfortable being the ONLY ONE ON STAGE (yes, it's so intimidating it warrants all caps).

Luckily, there was a photographer in the audience who took a ton of pictures at Springfest, then posted them online for the bellydance community to enjoy. Here are a few of my favorites from Springfest. The pink and silver costume with silver wings was from my troupe performance. The sword: my solo.

back...kinda.

Wow, I've been gone from blogging for what seems like forever. Sorry about that. Things have been busy around these parts. Bellydance choreographies have been polished and performed, thesis edits have been made (and made again, and made again), along with grading, baking, cleaning, rearing of the Doodle, and the occasional basking in bits of spring sunshine.

Oh, and gestating.

I'm nearing the 12-weeks-pregnant mark, and the news is starting to spread. We see Melissa, our wonderful midwife, this Friday. I'm excited.

I'll be back soonish to post some photos of my solo and troupe performances at Springfest.

Blogging hiatus

This (probably temporary) blogging hiatus is brought to you by:

• the need to make progress on my &*#@$ thesis,
  

[Editor's note: just sent off a manuscript to The Advisor. Hopefully in good enough shape to be submitted to A Journal for publication soon. Yay me!]

• an impending bellydance performance with an unfinished choreography,
• another impending bellydance performance with no choreography and no music (yet),
• books I got for my birthday that I really REALLY want to read right now,
  
• and other odds and ends adding to a lack of enough hours in a day.

I'm around, and will be back to post stuff as the urge strikes. But if it takes a little while, you know why.

It's coming...

The Chocolate Festival is tomorrow!

Hope to see you there!

27

As of today I am 27 years old.

No big, contemplative posts for you... I'm busy enjoying Doodle and the sunshine, and pondering what this year will bring.

Photo from Flickr.

Groundhog Day

Punxsutawney Phil says we're in for six more weeks of winter?!

Damn groundhog.

Skiing!!!

Okay, so remember my whining about how I haven't been skiing since 2003, and aren't I pitiful?

No longer!

I went skiing yesterday. It was great.

Saturday we were at a friend's 8th birthday party. J and I were chatting with the parents, and he asked them if they would be skiing on Sunday. They said yes. J asked if I could go with them. They said yes.

I said "what? But... but..."

J said "you want to go. You should go. You're going."

And so I went.

It was great. Nice and sunny and clear, and not too cold. The snow was nicely groomed and not icy. I did maybe 10+ runs... I lost count. That's how much fun I was having.

Oh, AND I'm actually an okay skier. I really didn't know how I would do, since it had been so long. But I did really well. No falling. Went fairly fast. Even tried a couple black diamonds, and *had fun* on them. I think maturity and a better sense of my own body has really helped my technique. Which is nice.

So I did it! I went skiing! Now I definitely won't wait so long to go skiing again. Thanks, friends!