PROJECT (BELLYDANCE) RUNWAY :: tanna

Well, with the June Luau, Café Bellydance and July Flamenco events behind me, there is one last project to complete before I can get a little rest.  (Or at least move on to other projects hovering in the wings!)  The Decotach Fashion Show, scheduled for tomorrow night, is by far the most complicated and difficult of the lot.

 

Decotach, for the uninitiated, is the design house created by Noora/Angela Lambru.  A noted NYC dancer and a worldwide performer, Noora was always known for her creative and very light-weight costumes.  Her design concept is simple, yet revolutionary.  Create elegant, contemporary costumes, with interchangeable and reversible elements so that dancers can get maximum flexibility for their money, plus washability for the interior elements of costumes.  Noora has further expanded her line by creating wonderful halter tops, belts and reversible skirt/shawls that are all totally fabulous as daywear.

 

The fashion show is an ambitious undertaking.  Noora and I have spent several months planning this event. Feature garments had to be determined, and appropriate models had to be cast. The clothes were grouped in segments, and background music for each segment had to be chosen and then mixed for continuity. Noora in particular has been working tirelessly – coordinating 14 models and their schedules, creating runway choreographies, arranging rehearsal times, etc., in addition to the physical labor of altering and prepping the garments. She also has been busy writing press releases and promotional materials. My responsibilities have been more on the administrative side - trying to locate sufficient changing space in the venue, ensuring that the stage will be set up properly, attempting to solve the ever-present lighting issue at Taj.

 

That last problem is what I am supposed to be working on right now. During the flamenco show I experimented with utility clamp-style lights (a sharp-eyed friend in attendance pointed out that there were electrical outlets in the 2 columns that face the stage area). The lights worked, but were too harsh, so I was planning to run into Manhattan and get colored gels today. I arrived at my subway stop only to be informed that there are no trains running. The wild thunderstorms that blew through this morning have completely flooded the Queens lines! This means I either need to make a 2nd trip into the city tomorrow morning, or wait until the absolute last minute and stop at the lighting supply store on my way to the event (when I will be burdened with lights, costume, etc.).

 

Either plan is inconvenient, but this problem must be solved.  It is amazing to me that no matter how often I plan an event, even in the same venue, a new problem always manages to arise. To date, most issues have been taken care of behind the scenes, and I sincerely hope that this trend of successful resolution continues tomorrow night. A whole lot of hard work has been invested in this project, and especially for Noora’s sake I want this to be a really great event.

Comments

[Blanca]

Can't wait! I will see you tomorrow night!

[Neon]

See the info about the fashion show location/time here:
http://www.venusuprising.com/events.html

[Blanca]

Bravo!!! Great job everybody... the designs are beautiful and everybody looked gorgeous!