The Anaconda Night Show by the Jewels of the Desert

Saturday, 12 July 2008

Except for the lightings, I really enjoyed watching the belly dancing show, put up by the Jewels of the Desert, last night in San Luis, Yuma County.

Can't see all the dancers clearly, especially those in the 2nd row! Teacher Shirley, who was dancing on the stage, later expressed the same feelings too. She said she almost collided with another dancer on the stage.

They have only colored lights beaming onto the stage and only a few minutes during the whole 1 hr show were a few of the ceiling white lights switched on. I guess it was better that way, with their kind of dressing and movements.




Can't help smiling so widely when the guy, taking this picture, said "Kung Fu". My oriental look must have spurred him to utter that word! But when he assisted to take another picture for my white looking teacher, he said "cheese".

Belly Dancing Nite

Thursday, 28 June 2007

I had an enjoyable time tonight even though I came in to watch only. It was a beautiful night - dancers were beautiful, costumes were beautiful, performance were beautiful. And I got to savour the different types of food that the members brought.

Didn't watch the first performance as I was busy choosing what food to put on my plate but manage to catch this last pose - covering their faces with the scarfs.



My teacher "Raven" was leading the next performance. I think she is the most beautiful dancer tonight.









Next performance. The costume of the leader was different from my teacher but equally unique and beautiful. Interestingly she sew the costume herself.







See the tattoos on their backs! Maybe not tattoos, just stick-ons. I have to ask teacher Raven



Beautiful postures of a beautiful dancer









Me and my belly-dancing friends





The belly dancers of tonight.

Jingling Away with that Belly Dance Wraps

Tuesday, 5 June 2007

It is getting more interesting as time goes. More moves and more steps. This was the 5th session. This 8-sessions of Beginners' belly dancing will end the 26 June 2007. The next 8 sessions will start on the the 3 July 2007 and registration/payment will start next week. We were advised to continue taking the Beginners' classes over and over, before we move to the Intermediate stage. There will be different moves taught each time.

Our beautiful teacher just before the class started.

The Egyptian basic moves - good exercise for the hips! You can hear the tangling beads and coins from the belly dance hip scarfs and belly chains, worn by a lot of the members, jingling as we make the various moves!

Belly Dancing

Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Back in Miri, a friend asked whether I would like to join her belly dancing. Thinking of my belly being exposed and the hips moves didn't appeal to me then, eventhough it was new thing and picking up in Miri. My mind would link "belly dancing" to the errotic Arabian dancers that I have seen in movies.

Curiosity got me. Here I am in Yuma and since there is a belly dancing class, I decided to try. Mike signed me for a 8-week beginners' class in the Yuma Adults Center. starting tonight.

The teacher was using the belly dancing costume. Yes, belly was showing. However the belly was actually covered by a skin-colored stocking like material that joins the top wear and the bottom Arabian trousers.

The basic moves were okay and they are good for toning up the muscles anytime. I have done some of the moves when I did aerobics and Tai-chi before. Our homework for the week is to practise our standing posture and practise tugging in our bottom muscles!

It was not as bad as I thought. I was exhausted after the 1 and a half hour session, but satisfied. Hope it would be easier that Tuesday.