Taly!
Taly's performance shook me from my rut and the effect lasted all the way till the end of the workshop the next day. At the very first set, I came to understand the meaning of
chantpleure because that was exactly what I wanted to be doing at that moment. Weep and sing at the same time from the sheer beauty of the dance. Not just the dance as performed by Taly but the entire being of the dance, its...I can't find any other word except قلب 'kalb' or heart/soul. I saw what the dance could be, I saw the spark in person and it is a million times better in real life than the effect produced from watching videos. Can you imagine the effect of watching one of the great legends live? Oh what I would trade for that opportunity.
My rut came about as a result of consuming too much instructional videos (and not enough of going for Shiblie's excellent lessons at Alhambra) where the dance is broken down to mere techniques, never being able to explain its soul. I caught a glimpse of it during jamming sessions at Alhambra but because I was too preoccupied in doing the techniques the best way, it never fully bloomed. Once in a while, when I let myself go and stop thinking about how I looked, it appeared again.
And bearing that in mind, I took to the workshop with a different attitude. Previously, I would have just not attended because the case of the nerves just got so bad that I wouldn't leave the house. This time I braved through it just so I could learn from Taly and hopefully leave with just a little bit of magic. So so sooo glad I attended. Wasn't tired, wasn't even hungry despite not eating at all the entire day. Just subsisting on the high from last night's show and a kind of star-struck admiration for the French bellydancer.
She was lovely, absolutely kind and friendly. The class was a delight because she was so funny and charismatic. The kind of lady I would totally want to be when I grow up! She taught us some sharqi techniques, veil, saiidi and sha'abi (my favourite!). The last 3 being the very first time I try them out. I really wish I'd brought a camera along so I could at least record some of the techniques we practiced.
I think another thing that contributed to the overall fabulousness of both days was that everybody was just so pleasant! I met the senior students for the first time and Miki, if I remember her name correctly, was very kind as she brought extras of the props and lent them out to those of us who didn't have any. The Japanese bellydancer is also the best from our school and watching her perform made me want sooo much to be able to be on stage as well.
Oh yes, the venue was also perfect and I looove the food especially because there was gado-gado at hand (although no keropok :( ) and pita. yum yum. There were some funny moments too like the three ladies at our table who were taking pictures cute because they were just like teenage girls on a night out and the little girl at my teacher Shiblie's table who fell asleep with her mouth open towards the end of the night and kept slipping off her seat until someone closed her mouth hahahha. I'm so glad my friend Rachel agreed to go with me because I think that made the night nicer too! Good company always makes a good outing.
I hope to be able to concentrate fully on the dance in the future, attend more classes with Shiblie and be able to perform too next year. One of the participants of the workshop, a very funny KL-ian who flew in specially to perform and attend the workshop, said that once you get on stage you just want to keep doing it. I can't wait for my turn!
