Sunday, December 7th, 7pm-10pm
Dancing in Ranya's Holiday Gala
Lafayette Grill & Bar.
54 Franklin Street (3 block south of Canal), NYC
212-732-5600 call for table reservations!
TICKETS: www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/49829
or 1-800-838-3006 (24-hour ticket hotline)
or buy advance tix in person from me!
$15 advance / $20 at the door
No ticketing fee for first 50 people to buy online!
Thursday, December 11th, 10pm
Performing Stand-Up Comedy at Sheba Mason's Comedy Show
Joe Franklin's Comedy Club @ Charley O's
713 Eighth Avenue & 45th Street, NYC
Tickets: 212-352-3101
866-811-4111(toll free)
Info: 646-351-2904
$10 Cover/$10 Minimum
Friday, December 12th, 7pm-9pm
Meditative Dancing at the Middle Eastern Dance & Drum Concert with Sufi Master Adnan Sarhan
The Feldenkrais Institute of New York
The Chelsea Arts Building
134 West 26th Street, 2nd Floor, NYC
212-228-2459
$10 Admission
Saturday, December 13th, 2pm
Dancing in Shoshana's Bellydance Showcase
Queens Public Library, Arverne Branch
312 Beach 54 Street Arverne, NY (Take the A train to Beach 60th St in Far Rockaway... Oh, it's not that far, stop whining!)
(718) 634-4784
Free!
Tuesday, December 16th, 7pm-10pm
Dancing in Rayhana's Annual Rock Show
Lafayette Grill & Bar.
54 Franklin Street (3 block south of Canal), NYC
212-732-5600 call for table reservations!
Thursday, December 18th, 10pm
Performing Stand-Up Comedy at Sheba Mason's Comedy Show
Joe Franklin's Comedy Club @ Charley O's
713 Eighth Avenue & 45th Street, NYC
Tickets: 212-352-3101
866-811-4111(toll free)
Info: 646-351-2904
$10 Cover/$10 Minimum
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
September/October Events Archive
Thursday, September 11th, 7pm
Dancing at Karma for the September Concert Series.
51 1st Ave ( bet. 3rd and 4th sts,) NYC
212-677-3160
No Cover/No Minumum
Sunday, September 21st, 2:30pm-4pm
Teaching Bellydance at Greenhouse Holistic
88 Roebling Street (Williamsburg, near Bedford Ave Stop)
Brooklyn, NY
718-599-3113
$15 drop-in
Sunday, October 5th, 8pm
Dancing at with Efendi at The Grisly Pear
107 Macdougal St, NYC (between W 3rd and Bleecker - right next to Panchito's)
(212) 529-3808
No Cover
$20 Food/Drink minimum
Friday, October 10th, 8pm
Emceeing for Bellyqueen's 10th Anniversary Extravaganza!
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
199 Chambers Street, NYC (btw Greenwich & West Sts)
(212) 220-1460
$20/$25/$30
Friday, October 24th, 8pm
Dancing and Emceeing for Obama Raqs! Bellydancers for Obama Benefit
Je'Bon Noodle House
15 St. Mark's Place, NYC (btw Greenwich & West Sts)
(212) 388-1313
$10 Donation/$10 Minimum
Wednesday, October 29, 8pm
Dancing for Bellyqueen's Halloween/Scorpio Birthday Party
Je'Bon Noodle House
15 St. Mark's Place, NYC (btw Greenwich & West Sts)
(212) 388-1313
$10 Cover/$5 Minimum
Friday, October 31, 7pm
Dancing with Queen Mama Donna's Blessing Band
for the NYC Halloween Parade
Starting at Sixth Avenue & Spring Street, heading north up Sixth Avenue to 21st Street
Dancing at Karma for the September Concert Series.
51 1st Ave ( bet. 3rd and 4th sts,) NYC
212-677-3160
No Cover/No Minumum
Sunday, September 21st, 2:30pm-4pm
Teaching Bellydance at Greenhouse Holistic
88 Roebling Street (Williamsburg, near Bedford Ave Stop)
Brooklyn, NY
718-599-3113
$15 drop-in
Sunday, October 5th, 8pm
Dancing at with Efendi at The Grisly Pear
107 Macdougal St, NYC (between W 3rd and Bleecker - right next to Panchito's)
(212) 529-3808
No Cover
$20 Food/Drink minimum
Friday, October 10th, 8pm
Emceeing for Bellyqueen's 10th Anniversary Extravaganza!
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
199 Chambers Street, NYC (btw Greenwich & West Sts)
(212) 220-1460
$20/$25/$30
Friday, October 24th, 8pm
Dancing and Emceeing for Obama Raqs! Bellydancers for Obama Benefit
Je'Bon Noodle House
15 St. Mark's Place, NYC (btw Greenwich & West Sts)
(212) 388-1313
$10 Donation/$10 Minimum
Wednesday, October 29, 8pm
Dancing for Bellyqueen's Halloween/Scorpio Birthday Party
Je'Bon Noodle House
15 St. Mark's Place, NYC (btw Greenwich & West Sts)
(212) 388-1313
$10 Cover/$5 Minimum
Friday, October 31, 7pm
Dancing with Queen Mama Donna's Blessing Band
for the NYC Halloween Parade
Starting at Sixth Avenue & Spring Street, heading north up Sixth Avenue to 21st Street
Saturday, November 1, 2008
My Halloween Birthday -- from Blessing Band to Cupping Room to Spiegelworld (to a diner at 6am)
Truly a birthday to remember...
I'm usually too lazy to organize my own birthday events; fortunately Halloween is kind enough to provide me with a read-made party day, letting me hop from ball to bash, dancing, drinking and partying my butt off.
Which I did this year... BUT...
I wanted to do something special since a lot has happened for me this year, creatively, emotionally and spiritually.
Queen Mama Donna, who was kind enough to lead PURE's Tree Dedication in Prospect Park this past summer, invited me to join her Blessing Band which, for the second year, led the NYC Village Halloween Parade, blessing the route, the crowd and the city.
Clad in silver and white, sparkles and bells, she gathered us at Spring Street and Sixth Avenue.
(She is on the right in this photo.)
Some of us had wands... and some had red umbrellas??
I was the only one with a hipscarf and a veil.
She guided us to our starting point and we formed a circle around her.
And then led us north...
And I danced and zilled and trailed behind...
Here is a fun video of the procession:
Afterwards, I met with my family and friends and we headed down to The Cupping Room where Rayhana and her students performed a special tribute to the immortal Serena Wilson.
Around 1am, my hardiest (and heartiest) friends, Kisha and Bill K, joined me to see Sarah Locke and Alchemy dance at Spiegelworld at the Seaport.
We thought we were way too late for their show, which was supposed to be before 1am -- but it turned out we arrived just in time for their first number.
By chance, we walked in the right direction and were ordering a drink when we heard a familiar Djinn song coming from the tent behind the bar. We dashed through the crowd and found the beautiful Sarah gliding forward with serpentine mayas.
And then we drank.
And danced.
And danced more.
And ended up in a diner at dawn somewhere near the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, raining glitter and good vibes in our french toast and coffee. Mmmmmmm.
I'm usually too lazy to organize my own birthday events; fortunately Halloween is kind enough to provide me with a read-made party day, letting me hop from ball to bash, dancing, drinking and partying my butt off.
Which I did this year... BUT...
I wanted to do something special since a lot has happened for me this year, creatively, emotionally and spiritually.
Queen Mama Donna, who was kind enough to lead PURE's Tree Dedication in Prospect Park this past summer, invited me to join her Blessing Band which, for the second year, led the NYC Village Halloween Parade, blessing the route, the crowd and the city.
Clad in silver and white, sparkles and bells, she gathered us at Spring Street and Sixth Avenue.
(She is on the right in this photo.)
Some of us had wands... and some had red umbrellas??
I was the only one with a hipscarf and a veil.
She guided us to our starting point and we formed a circle around her.
And then led us north...
And I danced and zilled and trailed behind...
Here is a fun video of the procession:
Afterwards, I met with my family and friends and we headed down to The Cupping Room where Rayhana and her students performed a special tribute to the immortal Serena Wilson.
Around 1am, my hardiest (and heartiest) friends, Kisha and Bill K, joined me to see Sarah Locke and Alchemy dance at Spiegelworld at the Seaport.
We thought we were way too late for their show, which was supposed to be before 1am -- but it turned out we arrived just in time for their first number.
By chance, we walked in the right direction and were ordering a drink when we heard a familiar Djinn song coming from the tent behind the bar. We dashed through the crowd and found the beautiful Sarah gliding forward with serpentine mayas.
And then we drank.
And danced.
And danced more.
And ended up in a diner at dawn somewhere near the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, raining glitter and good vibes in our french toast and coffee. Mmmmmmm.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
"39 Steps" 39th Halloween Birthday Celebration!!
This is a reprint of the mailing sent out a few days before.
In honor of my 39th birthday, and my current favorite Broadway play "Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps", I will be celebrating in a STATE OF CONSTANT MOTION (and wearing bits of actual costuming from THE 39 STEPS!)!
Please come join me for any or every part of the evening!
We will begin at the very front of the Halloween Parade, as I join Queen Mama Donna's Blessing Band.
7PM
We'll start at Spring Street & Sixth Avenue, moving north one to two blocks every five minutes. Please look for us!
We'll be dressed in white with sparkles and jingles, blessing the route, the crowd and the city in honor of Halloween and the coming year!
8-8:30PM
Meet around 21st Street between Sixth & Seventh Avenue (the Band will head West on 21st), and take the subway down to Soho. (Please call my cell 917-400-5244 if you would like to meet there, otherwise we'll see you later at The Cupping Room or Spiegelworld.)
8:30-11:30PM
THE CUPPING ROOM CAFE (W. Broadway & Broome) No Cover
We'll sit for dinner and drinks in this lovely Mediterranean Restaurant, enjoying live music and dancing. NYC bellydance legend RAYHANA will premiere a special tribute to the Great Serena Wilson, who left us too early last year.
11:30pm-???
VOODOO CULTURE CLASH
We'll head down to the spectacular Spiegelworld, Pier 17 @ South Street Seaport, Fulton & South St, for a "night of witchy devilry for globetrotting vagabonds."
Lots of dancing, food, drink, facepainting, and performances by Alchemy Dance Theater, Sub Swara, Samba Nation and many others.
Cover is $20, but if you RSVP and mention that the DANCE PARADE sent you, or buy a ticket online, it is only $15.
$20 penalty if you don't wear a costume!!!
Happy Halloweeeeeeen!! And hope to see you!!
-Carol/Tandava
Friday, October 24, 2008
Obama Raqs Fundraiser!
This evening's Obama fundraiser was a huge success, with a full house and over $800 raised for the campaign.
Check out some of the evening's highlights:
YES WE CAN!!!
Check out some of the evening's highlights:
YES WE CAN!!!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
New York Cares Day 2008!
In spite of today's sudden cold snap (and the nasty cold I've been fighting), I and a bunch of my co-workers enjoyed some major warm fuzzies volunteering for New York Cares Day.
Today's Mission: Paint giant, trippy technicolor murals in an elementary school.
The Victim: PS 84 in Williamsburg.
The Method: Grab a brush and get on a ladder!!
Basically, it was like paint-by-numbers -- only without the numbers, and with pretty cheesy paint (the art director remarked that next time we should get Benjamin Moore to sponsor us into some better materials!).
Using a colored sketch created by the art director, and a chalked outline, we mixed and matched colors as best we could, bringing foods, flowers, blocks and butterflies to life on the school's walls.
I focused on an anthropomorphic raincloud having what looks kind of like a happy accident on flowers and outstretched palms and cups, encouraging all to "Drink It" (trippy, right?).
On the cafeteria's adjacent wall, fruits and veggies offered themselves to toothy, grinning kids.
Outside, a bulbous caterpillar hugged the Pre-K wall.
And blocks & butterflies graced Kindergartenland.
I can't help wondering whether the kids will be delighted or baffled on Monday morning......
Or maybe a combination of both. Heck, that worked for me when I was a kid!
Today's Mission: Paint giant, trippy technicolor murals in an elementary school.
The Victim: PS 84 in Williamsburg.
The Method: Grab a brush and get on a ladder!!
Basically, it was like paint-by-numbers -- only without the numbers, and with pretty cheesy paint (the art director remarked that next time we should get Benjamin Moore to sponsor us into some better materials!).
Using a colored sketch created by the art director, and a chalked outline, we mixed and matched colors as best we could, bringing foods, flowers, blocks and butterflies to life on the school's walls.
I focused on an anthropomorphic raincloud having what looks kind of like a happy accident on flowers and outstretched palms and cups, encouraging all to "Drink It" (trippy, right?).
On the cafeteria's adjacent wall, fruits and veggies offered themselves to toothy, grinning kids.
Outside, a bulbous caterpillar hugged the Pre-K wall.
And blocks & butterflies graced Kindergartenland.
I can't help wondering whether the kids will be delighted or baffled on Monday morning......
Or maybe a combination of both. Heck, that worked for me when I was a kid!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Bellyqueen's 10th Anniversary Gala
After months of planning, preparing, promoting and perspiring, the Bellyqueen 10th Anniversary tour was a phenomenal success!
The astonishing troupe completed their six-city tour in the span of a week -- yes, that's right, they drove to five cities in five days, finishing up in Chicago. And then they drove all the way back on October 9th.
And somehow they managed to be in top form by noon on Friday when we all met for tech.
Brad and I held the fort in NYC, promoting the show like crazy -- which really paid off, as we sold over 400 tickets in under a week!
Thank you to everyone who came out!!
Here's a nice pic of me introducing the show. (Many thanks to Sal Romano for his excellent photos!)
I segued into a Twilight-Zoney spiel as the stage darkened and curtain creaked open... revealing....
"Carousel"!
This is one of my favorite BQ numbers, having seen it in various stages of development over the past few years. It is a delicious showcase of world dance styles alla bellydance where the dancers start as mannequins, then come to life amid fans, ribbons and cowboy boots, only to be pulled back into mannequin form at the end (hence my TZ connection).
Carousel was an especially appropriate opener, as world dance through the b-dance lens was a frequent theme in the BQ show, and in their work in general.
Another lovely example was the quartet "Move" where tribal and cabaret bellydance are joined by flamenco and bollywood to stunning effect.
In keeping with the international theme, Australian beatboxer, hip-hop dancer and rapper Morganics joined NY's Hebraic didgeridoo-sporting rapper Baba Israel....
.... who immediately preceded Bellyqueen's hip-hop bellyesque "gang fight" finale, the Drum Battle!
On a personal note, this was an extraordinary event for me.
As many of you know, I started my performing career back in the 90s as a stand-up comic. Disheartened by the "scene" I joined a theater company for another bunch of years, until illness kept me off the stage.
I took up bellydance to recover from the illness (which included abdominal surgery and 3 herniated discs), only to be led straight back into comedy!
Because of my stand-up experience, I've been asked to emcee bellydance shows for about two years. Now, this is mainly extemporaneous patter ... I hadn't written any actual jokes or routines in over a decade.
Then, a few days before the show, Kaeshi told me she needed me to "fill" about 15 minutes while the band struck their setup.
Uh... huminahuminahumina....
Of course I said yes. And promptly broke into a sweat.
I'd had some ideas kicking around for a while, but never solidified anything -- until the night before the show.
It's always kind of amazing the way these things come together.
If you'd told me last year I'd be joining the prestigious Bellyqueen, doing a full stand-up set before an audience of over 600 ... AND that the performance would be filmed for an upcoming DVD release.... well, I don't know what I'd have said....
But I certainly would have wanted whatever drugs you were taking.
This has been an extraordinary year for me in so many ways. And I can't thank all of you enough -- teachers, fellow students, friends, family and (though I hate to use this word) "fans"! Your support, appreciation (yeah, and tolerance, sometimes :-> ) is so appreciated.
So, SO appreciated.
THANK YOU!
The astonishing troupe completed their six-city tour in the span of a week -- yes, that's right, they drove to five cities in five days, finishing up in Chicago. And then they drove all the way back on October 9th.
And somehow they managed to be in top form by noon on Friday when we all met for tech.
Brad and I held the fort in NYC, promoting the show like crazy -- which really paid off, as we sold over 400 tickets in under a week!
Thank you to everyone who came out!!
Here's a nice pic of me introducing the show. (Many thanks to Sal Romano for his excellent photos!)
I segued into a Twilight-Zoney spiel as the stage darkened and curtain creaked open... revealing....
"Carousel"!
This is one of my favorite BQ numbers, having seen it in various stages of development over the past few years. It is a delicious showcase of world dance styles alla bellydance where the dancers start as mannequins, then come to life amid fans, ribbons and cowboy boots, only to be pulled back into mannequin form at the end (hence my TZ connection).
Carousel was an especially appropriate opener, as world dance through the b-dance lens was a frequent theme in the BQ show, and in their work in general.
Another lovely example was the quartet "Move" where tribal and cabaret bellydance are joined by flamenco and bollywood to stunning effect.
In keeping with the international theme, Australian beatboxer, hip-hop dancer and rapper Morganics joined NY's Hebraic didgeridoo-sporting rapper Baba Israel....
.... who immediately preceded Bellyqueen's hip-hop bellyesque "gang fight" finale, the Drum Battle!
On a personal note, this was an extraordinary event for me.
As many of you know, I started my performing career back in the 90s as a stand-up comic. Disheartened by the "scene" I joined a theater company for another bunch of years, until illness kept me off the stage.
I took up bellydance to recover from the illness (which included abdominal surgery and 3 herniated discs), only to be led straight back into comedy!
Because of my stand-up experience, I've been asked to emcee bellydance shows for about two years. Now, this is mainly extemporaneous patter ... I hadn't written any actual jokes or routines in over a decade.
Then, a few days before the show, Kaeshi told me she needed me to "fill" about 15 minutes while the band struck their setup.
Uh... huminahuminahumina....
Of course I said yes. And promptly broke into a sweat.
I'd had some ideas kicking around for a while, but never solidified anything -- until the night before the show.
It's always kind of amazing the way these things come together.
If you'd told me last year I'd be joining the prestigious Bellyqueen, doing a full stand-up set before an audience of over 600 ... AND that the performance would be filmed for an upcoming DVD release.... well, I don't know what I'd have said....
But I certainly would have wanted whatever drugs you were taking.
This has been an extraordinary year for me in so many ways. And I can't thank all of you enough -- teachers, fellow students, friends, family and (though I hate to use this word) "fans"! Your support, appreciation (yeah, and tolerance, sometimes :-> ) is so appreciated.
So, SO appreciated.
THANK YOU!
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