Venus Uprising Bellydance New York City

FLUSHING LIBRARY CONCERT :: tanna

Last summer after a show with the live band at Mezzo Mezzo, I was approached by a woman who wanted to know if I was available to perform an hour-long concert at the Flushing Library.  After some conversation, I explained to her that my dancing for an hour was really not a viable option, but that I could contact other dancers and put together an hour-long concert format show for her.   While I knew this would be a lot of work and stress, it was a very inviting opportunity for me to expand my nightclub format, multi-dancer shows to a much larger stage and venue.  The Flushing Library Auditorium is a great space with a large raised wooden stage, theater lighting, sound booth, green room and 223 seats.  Ultimately I undertook the challenge, and the project came to fruition last Saturday afternoon.

When I realized that last Saturday was the first day of Passover I had some concerns about attendance, but the library program director Gina assured me that all the promotional materials for the concert had been taken within the first week or so of being placed out for the public, which apparently was a very good sign.  She was proved quite right!   Since the concert was free I guess it can't be termed a sell-out, but maximum capacity was quickly reached and people were turned away at the door.  Unfortunately, the success of the show did lead to some unintended drama when one woman refused to accept her dismissal and decided to strike the security guard and enter anyway!  The performers were unaware of this until our emcee, Andy Troy, came backstage to tell us that two police officers had entered the auditorium and were trying to remove this woman.   Well, the show must go on and that is exactly what we did.  New York's Finest sometimes get a bad rap, but I must say these were two of the nicest, most patient and diplomatic officers I have ever encountered (not to mention young and extremely good-looking!).  They kept the situation as unobtrusive as possible, and the woman, plus the officers, remained in the auditorium until well after we finished the concert.

The feedback from the audience was really great, and I was not surprised because I had hand-picked some top notch dancers to participate in the concert.   My goal was to showcase the varied styles that co-exist under the heading of "bellydance", and we definitely succeeded.  Shahira, one of my most favorite NYC dancers, did a very varied set that incorporated classical and modern Egyptian music plus wings and sword.  As an additional surprise, her lovely little daughter Athena joined her onstage, and was a huge hit with the audience.   Another of my favorites, Rayhana, exemplified the classic American Cabaret style of dance complete with her signature floorwork and veilwork.  Her sultry "come hither" projected easily to the back of the auditorium!   For the final big number of the show I was so fortunate as to have Manhattan Tribal .  Co-directed by Mimi Fontana, these girls are NYC's first American Tribal Style bellydance company.  Swirling and swaying in their bright, full-skirted costumes they made full use of the stage as they performed pieces from their new repetoire.  Last, but certainly not least, our emcee Andy Troy was a great help to the smooth running of the show, and another big hit with the audience.  Drawing on his background as a stand-up comic, he quickly had the audience eating out of his hand with his quips and asides.  One of my hugest pre-show stresses was finding someone to run the sound booth, so I must give a very special thanks to my co-worker Angela who volunteered to handle this.

At the end of the show the performers were slightly mobbed by the crowd, asking questions, wanting literature, and wanting to take pictures of and with the dancers.  It was fun, but a little overwhelming.  The most frequent question was "When are you doing this show again?", and we could not seem to make it clear that this was a one-time joining of artists, and not an ongoing revue.   Still, it bodes well for the future, and I am hopeful this was just the first concert that I will be organizing for the library system.

The Queens Botanical Garden is about 12 blocks from the Flushing Library and I had promised myself that if I survived this concert (did I mention there was a great deal of pre-show stress?!) I would reward myself by taking pictures of the beautiful blossoming trees.  So, since I do not yet have any photos from the concert itself, I am posting instead a picture of my slightly exhausted and very relieved self under such a tree.  Brace yourselves, because you know in the near future I will be posting a selection from the dozens of close-up flower shots that I took at the same time! 

ELSA LEANDROS ZILL WORKSHOP :: tanna

Last Saturday the walls of Room 4F at 440 Studios in NYC reverberated with the sound of 13 pairs of zills striking in (near) perfect harmony.  The occasion, of course, was Elsa Leandros' Zill Technique workshop.

A master zill player as well as a master zill teacher (and those two skill sets do not always come in one package!) Elsa utilized a very efficient lesson plan.  Attendees were introduced to the rythmns while seated, and with a carefully designed hand-out to assist them.  After some drilling, they were then given the option of incorporating dance steps with the zill patterns, or remaing seated to perfect their playing.

The workshop participants were an enthusiastic and hardworking group who were not afraid to ask pertinent questions and seek clarification when in doubt.  Elsa's teaching style included a strong dose of humor, and there were frequent outbursts of laughter during the afternoon.

Having studied with Elsa for several years I am perhaps biased in my very high opinion of her zill-teaching skills.  However, since the single recurring complaint was "I wish the workshop was longer!", the very nice and dedicated dancers who participated in this training would seem to agree with me.         

VASARIA! :: tanna

It was my privilege earlier in the year to be invited to perform with NYC's premier goth metal band Vasaria at their Europa Club show in late February.   The timing was tight because the gig was right after I returned from my California trip, but I was very interested in doing the show.  First of all, I had never danced live to this type of music, and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.  Second, I LOVE the Europa Club!   This great, multi-use (art gallery/stage/bar/ dance floor/etc.) Brooklyn venue is one of my all-time favorite clubs.   Lastly, but most important, I was sincerely impressed with Baron Misuraca, the multi-talented front man for Vasaria.   Despite his initially intimidating presence, Baron is an extremely pleasant person, and a serious, dedicated professional.   It is always a pleasure to work with competent and organized people, and despite the novelty of the situation, I felt very comfortable preparing for this gig.

When show time came, my expectations were actually exceeded.  It was a total blast!   Vasaria and their fans were wonderful!  I enjoyed myself tremendously throughout the entire evening, which included a very late dinner at Planet Thai after the show with my dear friend Lina Jang.    Of course, it is thanks to Lina's talent (and high-end equipment) that I have some photos to share!  The venue was obviously quite dark, and I had some difficulty staying in my spotlight.  Still, another benefit of this show was that it gave me the opportunity to wear my beloved "snake priestess" costume, AND to use my leopard-print wings for the very first time.

BDUC 2008 :: tanna

Subtitle:  Bellydancer of the Universe Competition 2008, or, How I Spent My Winter Vacation.

Succumbing to a rather unusual whim, this President's Day weekend in February found me in Long Beach, California, for the 18th Annual Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition.   This was unusual for me because competitions are not really my bag.  Admittedly, in 2004 I did compete in the East Coast Classic in Virginia Beach, which was a very satisfying and worthwhile experience.  In addition to achieving the personal goals I had set for myself, I was fortunate enough to walk away with a 2nd place finish in the Grand Champion category.  However, despite these positives, I obviously did not choose continue with similar events.

Until this February in California.  For some reason, I developed an insistent bee in my bonnet to experience this event, which, at least to the best of my knowledge, is the biggest and most glamorous bellydance competition in the country.    As with the ECC, I did set personal goals for myself, but, unlike my ECC experience, I went to the BDUC knowing that I had already failed to meet those goals.  Quite simply, I bit off way more than I could chew, and I just did not have sufficient time to properly prepare myself or my material for the level of competition that I knew would await me.  This knowledge caused me huge anxiety during the month before I left, and I thought about dropping out so that I would not make a complete fool of myself in front of so many dancers.  Furthermore, being slightly insane, I had also determined to make several new costumes specifically for this event, complete with custom-dyed silk veils.  Really, I need therapy.  People think I am kidding when I say that, but I know that I am not.  The financial aspect of this decision weighed on me, as did the fact that I really don't like to fly, and a 6.5 hour non-stop flight is something I have not attemped in years. 

So, with all this baggage of anxiety and drama (and bellydance costumes!), how was my winter vacation? 

 

Honestly, it was another very satisfying experience, and I am really glad that I followed through with it.  The weather was lovely, and the Convention Center area of Long Beach is quite attractive.   What truly made it all worthwhile however was the human element.  First of all, this event is MASSIVE!   I am in awe of the amount of time, labor, and attention to detail that goes into the production of the BDUC.  It is like having Rakkasah (including workshops & vending), plus a huge international competition, plus two big stage shows all rolled into one.  Despite this heavy load, everyone that I met working this event was wonderful.  The ticket ladies, the dressing room assistants, stage crew - every single person was helpful, friendly and supportive.  They dispelled anxiety, and made being there comfortable and fun.  My not-quite-finished costumes were held together with strategic safety pins, but I got very good feedback on them from dancers and crew alike.  It was particularly flattering to my designer-ego that several people came up to ask me if my black and rhinestone costume was an Eman Zaki.   

Tonya and Atlantis, the mother-daughter duo that created the BDUC were amazing.  Serene and gracious at all times, they never missed a beat or lost their composure.  Atlantis in particular was unfailingly cheerful as she solved whatever problems arose (not that I saw many) and moved throughout the venue with her gorgeous mane of auburn hair floating behind her.  They both welcomed me with such warmth and sincerity that I really felt accepted as a newcomer to the California scene. 

My fellow competitors were another revelation.  The atmosphere in the dressing rooms was always pleasant and relaxed, and sometimes quite silly as like-minded dancers bonded and had fun (guess which group I was with!).  BDUC veteran Regine started me on a positive note by taking me under her wing as we waited on line to check in before the competition began.  During that first morning, I met the lovely and elegant Jane Yee Shan who had travelled all the way from Taiwan, and the sexy, earthy Turkish dancer Dilek from San Diego.  By evening we added my homegirl Nialee (from Montana) and Laila from Illinois to the crew.   On Sunday I met Lisa Zahiya from North Carolina, who kept me laughing at inappropriate times.   These girls were great, and I am sorry that we are so scattered geographically.

It wasn't all a bowl of cherries.  A tiny percentage of the dancers were a little scary under their veneer of politeness.  They wanted to WIN!  The serious competitors spend the whole year working on a single routine.  I had to laugh as dancers would claim that they did not really have a set choreography, then proceed to plug their Ipod into their ears and rehearse a routine where every beat had been carefully calculated.  I was embarrassed to admit my lack of preparedness.  The event itself was rather grueling, and it was difficult to get any sleep at my miserable hotel, especially since there was some type of reggae convention in town and EIGHT male reggae afficionados checked into the room next to mine.

So, while I was glad that I went to Long Beach, I was even happier to pack my bags and come back to NYC.   And yes, my bags were a little bit heavier on the flight home.  I had the tremendous good fortune to win the veil competition (by strange coincidence, this was the most prepared of my pieces!).  I had even more good fortune as I won two Miss Congeniality awards.  Considering how fun and nice I thought the other girls were, these two awards truly make me feel honored.

Photos by: Carl F. Sermon

AVERAGE BAD DAY FIX :: tanna

Today was an average bad day.  Stress and anxiety abound at work - non-stop teenage tears have been flowing in my office.  Many of these are the usual crocodile tears of kids that think they can play me, but some tears are unaccompanied by coherent explanation.  These are the ones that worry me.  If I can't get the child to articulate the problem, then I can't even begin to work towards a solution.  All I can do is stay calm and patient, and hope that I said the right things to the right child at the right time.   

And let's not even start on the topic of the parents crying in my office.  Usually it is the mothers, but I am no stranger to the sight of grown men in tears.  It used to make me very uncomfortable, but sad to say I am used to it now.  I have to keep piles of napkins on hand because we constantly run out of tissues.   When I leave the sanctuary of my office, and my very wonderful staff members,  I find myself dealing with entirely too many individuals that aggravate me.  It is difficult to tell if they are truly incompetent, or just uncaring, but the end result is that I am constantly explaining the same procedures over and over and over again.  When that fails, I end up doing the work myself, because otherwise nothing gets done.   Very frustrating and exhausting.

There is no less stress outside of work either.  Despite my good intentions (which by now have paved much of the road to hell) I'm in my usual mess of ridiculous over-commitment.  It's like a sickness.  I think I need therapy.  Just yesterday, despite being in full panic mode over the amount of tasks that I need to accomplish between now and the end of April, I accepted yet another project.   Why?  It's a venue and situation that I've never been in before, I'm impressed by the personality and professionalism of the musician that made the request, and I just could not say no.   Making matters worse, I was terribly sick last week which put me even further behind.  On the family front, today I discovered that my mother had minor surgery last week (she "forgot" to tell us!), and one of my sister's dogs just died.

On a positive note however,  Scott Schuster was kind enough to lend me a wonderful book titled "Getting Things Done", and I have faith that once I implement the suggested actions I will be able to function more effectively.   Of course,  I started this implementation process during the week of Christmas, and I still have multiple piles of papers spread out all over my living room floor.  Still, I really think this system will work for me, and I am not going to give up.

So what do I do to try to put myself in a better mood and get other people's drama and emotional garbage out of my head so that I can get some work done?  I look at my flower photos!  Or in this case, my autumn leaf photos.  I love to get shots from inside the tree, with the sun shining down through the leaves and intensifying the vibrant colors.  Looking at these photos also makes me smile because my baby brother was with me while I was taking them, and he always makes me laugh.  Many of my habits irritate him, but for some reason he gets particularly annoyed by my picture-taking.  Some of these trees were along Forest Park as we were walking to our aunt's house, and he was mortified when a city bus rolled by while I was busily shooting up into the tree.  I told him that if I was the strangest sight those bus riders had seen then they can't have been in NYC for very long.   

                      

FANTASY GEISHA :: tanna

Really, I am a fairly hard-core traditionalist when it comes to bellydance.  Just ask anyone who knows me.  But periodically I get very strong creative urges to develop a wildly alternative dance concept.  Last June, immediately upon receiving my treasured fanveils, I was struck by an overwhelming compulsion to use them in a “fantasy geisha” piece.  A suitable showcase vehicle was available to me as Yasmeen El Qa’hira was going to have one of her great haflas on the weekend before Halloween.

Lots of other projects were ongoing this summer, and I quickly realized that making the fantastic costume of my dreams was simply not going to be feasible.  Deciding to kill two birds with one stone, I hunted online for a suitable commercial “geisha” Halloween costume, figuring I could both perform in it and also use it as my actual Halloween costume.  My ultimate selection was an anime-inspired faux geisha robe with a mini-skirt.  I slit the sides of the mini-skirt so that I could wear the robe over one of my regular black circle skirts.  The wig was problematic, but I experimented with hair ornaments until I got a pleasing effect.  At Rakkasah, during my fanveil purchasing orgy, I chose a pair in a turquoise-purple blend that very closely matched the color of my robe.

Finding suitable music was really the hardest part of the whole project.  I will confess that I finally settled on a piece about 7 days before the hafla.  It was Chinese music, but it had the right vibe.

With all in readiness, I test-drove the costume by attending party promoter Andy Troy’s annual Halloween bash.  After checking my coat and hurrying to beat the rush to the bar I stopped dead in my tracks.  Standing right in front of me was my twin!  Yes, we were wearing the EXACT same costume.  After a moment of stunned silence we both burst into laughter.  It was so funny!  Eventually there ended up being at least 6 geishas at the party, but we had the privilege of being the only twins.  The costume was a visual success (one friend told me I looked like I should be placed under a glass dome, which also made me laugh), but the extra-heavy weight of the wig did give me a bad headache.

Undaunted, the following Sunday I arrived at Yasmeen’s hafla. Now, from the beginning of this project I had been under the impression that since it was so close to Halloween, this hafla was going to showcase alternative pieces.  Apparently I was the only person suffering from this delusion.   Everyone was doing solid cabaret, both AmCab and Egyptian.  I felt like a fish out of water, but as I said to my announcer Zobeida “Just tell them this is the Monty Python segment – ‘And now for something completely different, here’s Tanna!’”.   To add to my discomfort, while going backstage to change I discovered that I had forgotten my black circle skirt.  I truly felt foolish performing in my street skirt (stylish though it is!), but the show must go on.  And thankfully, one of the reasons why I love Yasmeen’s haflas so much is because she gets the very best audience of totally nice fellow dancers.  Everyone was warm and supportive, and I had a great time.  All of the performances were really lovely, and it was truly a perfect event.

I am not done with this geisha fantasy.  This was just the rough draft.  I’m taking it back to the drawing board now, with an anticipated revival in the early Spring.  My search for the perfect music continues, and I have now purchased enough gorgeous brocade fabric to make 4 geisha costumes.

RAKKASAH EAST 2007 :: tanna

I consider myself to be a "vendor veteran" of Rakkasah East.  While I was not at the very first event I have attended all the subsequent ones.  And attendance does not mean one afternoon of shopping and schmoozing.  Working with photographer Lina Jang, we arrive Friday before the Ukrainian Hall opens, set up, work from opening to closing, try to attend the infamous "after party", get some sleep, and repeat for Saturday and Sunday.    It is exhausting, but it is also a lot of fun, and I would really miss it if I did not go.   

The weather was particularly beautiful this Rakkasah weekend, and both Friday and Saturday were quite busy.  I love getting to catch up with friends and colleagues that I rarely get to see.  Of course, it is difficult to chat against the backdrop of complete sensory overload that IS Rakkasah.   Piles of gleaming, glittering costumes distract the eyes while non-stop music fills the ears.  Many first-timers get completely overwhelmed.  Fortunately there is the interestingly furnished dining area when you can relax and eat a rather diverse assortment of food.  (I HIGHLY recommend the chocolate cake, and I don't even like chocolate cake as a rule.)

On Fridays we typically are more pumped up, plus it is the shortest vending day, so Lina and I had the energy to go to the after party at the hotel for a few hours.  We were well entertained by the Men of Rakkasah (we are eagerly waiting for the swimsuit calendar!), including of course birthday boy Carmine Guida and beat-boxer Pete List. 

Returning to work, I got to pose for a photo with my very respected and beloved master dancer and teacher Phaedra.  My new plan is to get pictures of myself with all my incredible teachers.  I still have a long way to go, but I want these memories captured!   Serpentessa also stopped by, accompanied by her reptilian companion.  Our outfits matched so well we had to take a picture.  While I am not a fan of snakes, I am not afraid of them as long as Serpentessa is around - her knowledge of snakes and their handling is unequalled.

Shopping-wise I was pretty good.  Buying 3 new pairs of fan-veils was a sound business investment.  Nothing excessive at all.  Ditto for the leopard-print wings.  Just because I rarely use the 3 pairs I already own does not mean I won't use these ones.  They can all keep each other company in my closet.

Lots of friends, lots of dancing, lots of noise, and eventual burn-out by Sunday.  It was great to go, and it was even better to come home.  But still,  I'm already looking ahead to Spring Caravan!

VACATION JOURNAL: BIG SKY COUNTRY :: tanna

Why do they call it "Big Sky Country"?

This is why.

Morning.

                                          Mid-day.

 

Sunset.

Yeah, I'm homesick.   

Again.

VACATION JOURNAL: THE VEIL EXPERIMENT :: tanna

Having recently purchased 3 commercial silk veils, and been quite disappointed in two of them, I decided to take advantage of my mother's large kitchen and outdoor clothesline to attempt to dye my own silk veils.

To that end, I ordered lengths of both 5mm and 8mm habotai (China) silk and an assortment of dye colors from Dharma Trading.

Mom lent me her huge canning pot for my dye bath, and I got to work.  At first it was a lot of fun, rather like dyeing Easter eggs.  3 days and 6 veils later however, it had become slightly tedious.  Still, it was enjoyable overall, and brought back memories of my high school art training - one of my professors was a noted regional fiber artist.

I would classify the experiment as successful, both because I now have 6 custom color-and-length (3.5-4 yards each) veils, but also because I learned a great deal during the process.  My decided preference is for the 5mm silk, and I will use that again in the future.  Although, for the smaller half-circle veils I can see the advantage of the heavier 8mm fabric.

There is quite a bit of dye powder remaining, and I estimate that I can experiment with another 12 veils.  The difficulty will be conducting the dyeing and drying in my one bedroom apartment.  Oh, and the fact that my stove has been broken for about 5 months. 

I ordered the new lengths of silk last night.  I guess it is time to call a repairman for the stove.

VACATION JOURNAL - MOM'S GARDEN :: tanna

In August I generally return to my native Rocky Mountains to spend a couple of weeks with my family.  Of course, given my flower-madness, one of the first things I do upon arriving home is grab my camera and head out into my mother's garden.

When we were growing up the garden was HUGE - really almost commercial size.  As children we did forced labor for hours, weeding vegetables, fruit and flowers.  During one bout of tearful rebellion I remember my youngest brother complaining to my mother "We're nothing but serfs to you!"  She calmly replied "You're not that good".  My mother took no prisoners!

The garden served us well, with fresh produce in season and pickled, canned and frozen produce out of season.  My mother deserves a lot of credit.  For a New York City intellectual/party girl, she adapted very well to semi-pioneer life.  Although, my grandmother in Queens was also an avid gardener, so maybe it was just in her blood.

In recent years age has taken its toll, and Mom has turned much of the garden into lawn.  The vegetables are all gone, and the flower beds have shrunken significantly.  Still, I found plenty of blossoms to occupy my time. 

And when I ran out of flower beds I wandered into our pasture land and took pictures of the native flora, or weeds, as my father defines them.

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.

MY NEW TOYS! :: tanna

It is so exciting to make a spontaneous purchase, and then have it turn out to be a totally awesome decision!  I first learned of these fans in March, and the novelty of them utterly captivated me, so of course I had to buy them.  They were created by Jenna Francis , a Los Angeles bellydancer, and they seem to be the hottest new bellydance accessory.  For once I am at the forefront of a trend!

After practicing with the fans for about 3 weeks, I decided to take a chance and debut them at Morgiana Celeste's monthly showcase at the Goat Cafe in New Jersey.  Normally I am very cautious, and like to study something for months before I dare to perform it.  For some reason however, these fans just felt totally right and natural to me  from the very first minute I opened them. 

Despite my pre-show nerves, this proved to be another good decision.  I enjoyed myself tremendously performing the number, and the audience was absolutely fascinated.  Jenna might end up with a flurry of new fan orders now!

FLOWER COSTUME :: tanna

The raw materials for my long-anticipated flower costume have been floating around my home for over a decade.  Actually, at this point I have accumulated the blossoms for at least two distinctly different designs.

 

Recently, my creative urge overwhelmed me.  During the very late hours of a Saturday night, I finally put needle to fabric and started covering the costume base. As a novelty costume, I wonder how sturdy the final product can possibly be.   Black silk roses are an important design element on my Gothic-Victorian costume, and they have proven problematic for long-term storage.  Furthermore, like my Gothic-Victorian costume, I question how many opportunities I will have to actually wear my floral creation.  Thus, my inclination is to create this costume very quickly, and with much less regard for my normally stringent longevity requirements.  Plus, I am just plain sick of making highly detailed costumes that involve excessive hours of hand-beading and ultimately take me years to complete.  When a project lingers too long it ceases to be a fun and creative activity and becomes just one more item on my never-ending “to-do” list.  I want to have some costume fun!

 

Ideally, I would like to wear this new creation for a live music show that I am performing in late July.  Flowers and summer go together, and I know if I wait much longer all the pieces will get put in a box and shelved again.  As always there are multiple demands on my time (I am currently altering two costumes for a show this Sunday), but I am going to make a sincere effort to focus, and achieve a wearable design in short order. 

DESPERATELY SEEKING PRODUCTIVITY :: tanna

As part of my ongoing quest to be more productive, I decided to sit down with a calendar, an assortment of brightly colored pens, and a package of loose-leaf, lined paper.  My goal was to a) identify all my upcoming projects for the next 4-6 months and b) determine a realistic timetable for the achievement of these projects.

 

That was almost 4 weeks ago, and so far my main accomplishment has been to create a pile of paper and pens that has taken up permanent residence on my sofa.  Perhaps that’s a little bit of an overstatement, but I certainly have not become the lean, mean, organized machine that I am striving for.

 

The primary culprit for this delayed progress is lack of time.  Putting aside time to simply sit down, stare at blank paper, think, plan and strategize seems almost impossible, especially in the frantic rat race that is called life in NYC.  Day follows day with dizzying speed – work, gym, family commitment, social commitment, dance commitment, deadline, wash dishes, clothes, etc. etc.  “I’ll get to it tomorrow” becomes my refrain, but tomorrow is usually just a repeat of today.  It’s the classic hamster-on-the-wheel syndrome.  I know that I need to break the cycle, but the compelling momentum is incredibly difficult to resist.

 

Still, I persevere in my efforts.  Strong-minded friends who know me well are a big help.  “Tanna, you need to focus on major goals.  You are a perfectionist, but you constantly distract yourself with projects of more immediate satisfaction (i.e. rearranging a sock drawer) rather than the harder, truly life-changing projects” (i.e. researching schools for a new career path).  Sad, but very true.  Or as my baby brother puts it “Why on earth do you need to plan something for every minute of every day?!  What is wrong with you?”  I wish I knew.

 

The constant pressure of self-inflicted guilt for not being more productive is also very wearying.  I am tired of running myself ragged and ending up with very little to show for it.  I am even more tired of worrying about it.  Yet the fault is mine.  My life is really quite unfettered.  No one controls me.  The only restraints are the ones that I place on myself, and it is up to me to loosen them.  I have the tools – brightly colored pens and lots of lined paper.

 

Hope does indeed spring eternal.  I am going to sit myself down right now, and try one more time.

SPRING COMES TO NYC! :: tanna

This is my favorite time of year in New York City!    The dreary winter with its slushy, dirty sidewalks is finally over, and the misery of the hot and humid dog days of summer has not yet begun.   (Can you guess that fall is my second favorite time of year in New York City?)

Driving during the spring is hazardous for me as I cannot resist gaping at the spectacular explosion of blossoming trees throughout the city.  Yes, it's brutal for allergy-sufferers, but what astonishing beauty!  After anxiously watching the budding branches for a drizzly and gray work week, I was rewarded with a Sunday that dawned bright and glorious.   I grabbed my trusty little digital camera, a bag of extra batteries, and headed for the Queens Botanical Garden, located in the heart of Flushing.

Taking pictures of flowers is one of my passions.  Some people find it a little odd, but it gives me tremendous and endless satisfaction.  I have archived hundreds of pictures of flowers, and I never get tired of looking at them.  And no matter how many pictures I take, I am always hungry for more.

This Sunday I was able to indulge myself to my heart's content.  The cherry trees were just starting their   frothy pink display, but the magnolias were at their peak.  Many other lovely flowers also contributed to the color and enjoyment of a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.   Tulips, daffodils, jonquils, hyacinth and grape hyacinth bloomed in abundance.   Even the greenery was captivating - the delicate new leaves of a giant weeping willow tree sent delicate streamers towards the ground.

 

MACY'S FLOWER SHOW :: tanna

Tons of soil, thousands of blooms and hundreds of hours of labor create the Macy's Annual Flower Show.  This  dazzling spectacle draws natives and tourists alike.  After years of having this show on my "to-do" list, I finally managed to attend in person.

The 6th Avenue windows were amazing, filled with lavish displays of flowers-as-fashion.  Inside the store, the scent of fresh greenery was pervasive and wonderful.  Bowers of blossoms and leaves were massed up high, while two huge topiary giraffes flanked the entrance, and exotic orchids bloomed amid expensive jewelry displays.

It was an enjoyable spectacle, and well worth seeing.  Unfortunately, the crush of other onlookers, and the height of many of the flower banks made photography difficult.  It was also difficult to just stand still for a few minutes and take in all the details. 

Ultimately, my favorite display was the main window featuring a gorgeous full-length gown composed of peach and blue hydrangea blossoms.  For years I have been planning to create a costume made of flowers.  Some of the silk flowers patiently residing in my "projects-in-progress" box have been with me since college!  In fact, I have  accumulated the blooms for two distinct costumes, possibly three.   But, what on earth am I going to do with three flower costumes?

Well, let's see if this window inspires me to finally complete at least ONE of my flower-visions. 

MANNAHATTA! :: tanna

So it’s 10 p.m. on a chilly Tuesday, the first night of Passover no less, and I’m carrying my (heavy!) bag of bellydance essentials around Alphabet City. Why? Well, upon arrival at my live-band booking I found another dancer already in place (and none too happy to see me I might add!) While this was clearly the result of poor club management, I can’t deny I felt somewhat put upon as the innocent victim who had wasted too much time with the whole mess.

Fortunately, several great friends were with me – fellow dancer Mary, Dr. Meng Law, and fitness expert and party promoter Andy Troy. We decided to just chill out and enjoy our Tuesday night. The beauty of NYC is that you never know what you will find on the next block. On this evening, we discovered a great place called “Mannahatta”. The space was quite nicely laid out and decorated – warm colors with some Art Deco lines – a very suitable backdrop for the live jazz that is a regular feature. While I’m no jazz fan (except for Dixieland!), even I enjoyed the music. As a further bonus, the staff were personable and attentive. And y quickly got to work talking with the manager, and it seems likely that we can expect an event (maybe a wine-tasting?) to occur in this lovely space in the near future.

Score for this Tuesday night? Live bellydance = 0, Live Jazz = perfect 10!
BELOW: Meng, Mary, Tanna, Andy