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".

14th Annual Arizona Asian Festival, Phoenix

Saturday, 19 April 2008

It was the 2nd of the 3 days festival. There were booths of different countries, displaying their respective products and food. What attracted most was the stage shows.

Doing the Tinikling, a traditional and popular Philippines Folk dance, that involves the hitting of two bamboo sticks by 1 person at each end.

This was not a dance. It was a Taiko performance - very interesting. Taiko drumming is a Japanese culture.

Indian dance

I would like to see Thai dancing because I think they are beautiful and very graceful, but the performance was only on Sunday, and I wouldn't be coming back. However I got to see Thai fashion. It is funny seeing non-Asian ladies modelling in Thai dresses, but anyhow both the models and the dresses are pretty.

What was disappointing for me is there were no Malaysian representatives? Someone told me there are Malaysians in their association but there is no director for the festival. I also noticed there weren't any Singaporean booths as well.

Stake Relief Society Birthday Celebration

Saturday, 8 March 2008

I thought the card was cute! White colored and in the shape of a women with a long dress, with the date and time of the function stamped on it.


I asked if I could contribute a dance to the Ward's celebration on the 21 February, and since the program had already been confirmed, the RS presidency said I dance for the Stake's celebration instead. I did the same dance that I did at the Gawai Dayak's talent show in the Miri branch in 2006.


This was a cultural dance by the San Luis branch. Reminded me of a Mexican dance that I did together with a few other ladies, in a talent show in the mid 90's. Our costumes then were so simple compared to these lovely ladies.



Lunch was served after the performances. These chairs are waiting for them to come back with their food!


Sister Lourdes and her daughter Sara waiting in the queue!


Me and the 'Mexican' dancers from San Luis branch! We are the only 2 branches that danced.

50's Sock Hop

Saturday, 8 February 2008

......... Be creative and decorate those feet, then plan to come and dance and eat ......... That magic word 'dance' - I am glad Mike & I were able to go this night.
......... Please bring a large bag to put your families shoes in .......... We were to leave our shoes outside the hall and enter with socks on.

The 3 Elders missionaries were the judges of which pair of socks is the most creative, beautiful, etc. etc.. I was asked to take part in the competition too even though I thought it was nothing. I wore a pair of purple colored lady socks over a pair of Mike's white socks.



Father with his daughter dancing to the music from the 50's!


She was the winner of the hula competition! I can hula too but didn't take part. Enjoy watching people hula instead.

It was good to see parents on the floor with their children, shaking simply to the music. I had a swell time practising my jive steps with Sister Ruth!

2008 New Year's Eve Dance

Monday, 31st December 2007

It had been so many many years since I attended a New Year's Eve dance with a man. I cannot even remember when and where. I think it was in my early 20's. Tonight, even though I have not fully recovered from a slight spell of cold, I wanted to attend the stake's dance because I have never been to one yet! I didn't dance as much I did when I was young, but I did enjoy as much as I did when I was young.

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.

Luyang's Ladies' Nite

Tuesday, 13 March 2007

I had a good time with members of the Luyang dance group this night.

Went to the Karaoke lounge at Blue Lagoon KTV lounge (Marina & Country Club, Sutera Harbour Resort). Didn't sing any song because I had not recovered fully from a week of sore throat and cough.







Reluctantly the joy of singing have to end because 2 other ladies were waiting for us to join them for dinner at a restaurant in Tanjung Aru. A different joy now - steamboat dinner - buffet style - choose whatever you like and eat how ever much you want!!





There was a party going on the other side of the long room. They were doing karaoke so if you want to dance, dance then. There were enough space to dance and the captain said it was okay to dance.

Luyang - Dance Routines

Monday, 12 March 2007

Full concentration on their routines.

Chern Xi - Celebrating International Women's Day

Friday, 9 March 2007

It was not 8 March but nevertheless it is not too late to celebrate the International Women's Day.

Likas Galaxy 2nd Anniversary - 2007

Thursday, 8 March 2007

Celebrating another year of fun!

Likas Complex Dance Group

Monday, 22 January 2007

Care to join them? They were doing the line dances when I visited them. It is good to see Ruby, their teacher again. She started this class in 2004 and I have not visited her there, until now.







I like the environment - shaded hall, surrounded by flowers and trees and facing a lake. This group is lucky they are allowed to use the place. Their session is from 7:30-9:30 am Monday-Saturday.