Bellydancing in Kimono

Haha! I'm baaaaack...

2006-08-27T10:59:00.000-04:00

It's been a crazy couple of months, but Middlebury was fantastic.　日本語が話せます！ w00t and all that good stuff. Lots of pics, lots of kimono, some bellydance ga arimasu yo!

My psychadelic rooster obi to the rescue!

and last but not least:

blurry, but a decent action shot- I'm isolating so well my head and torso are moving and anything from my hips down isn't (yeah I'm humble, I know :P)

A bad week on ebay....

2006-04-13T21:58:00.001-04:00

I'm a horrible person.
Of course, I say this every time I have an ebay binge. It's not a real binge because I'm not going nuts and buying everything I think is remotely cute, but still, I feel a little crazy spending money at all.

I am so happy because my kitsuke book finally arrived here. It's Hiromi Ichida's book. My mom is so wonderful and said she will help me try my otaiko knot again this weekend and we can take some fancy pictures. I also promise to take a photo of my latest self-made bedlah.

What I bought this week was a haori for $9.96 (shipping included) which seems to be a cute dyed komon material made with a stencil. It's green and sweet.

Then I bought the most expensive book I've ever bought (aside from my Biology textbooks from college *shudder*). The book itself wasn't that expensive, but it's being shipped from Japan and it weighs 3000g. You get the idea. I had to have it because it's an art book about a Japanese woman artist who I had never heard of before. From the seller:

Uemura Shoen (b Kyoto, 23 April 1875; d Nara Prefect., 27 Aug 1949) became a member of the Imperial Art Academy in 1941, and in 1948. She was the first woman to receive the Order of Cultural Merit.

Maybe it was that feminist part of me that thought it was totally awesome that a woman in Japan actually received that high an honor. Or, it could just be also that she is a spectacular painter/printer (I'm not sure what she worked in yet).

OMG.

Ummm...

2006-04-07T23:27:00.000-04:00

It's been brought to my attention that people actually read my blog once in a while.
Eek!
I've finally finished a bedlah I've been working on for about a year. I still need to make some accessories, but I think it is way hot.
I promise I will post pics soon. Maybe even with my Isis wings (although there's not enough room for me to really even dance with them).
I've kind of been in a dancing rut lately. This damned winter has slowed me down. My weight never fluctuates, but I think I've gained a pound or two- at least I'm slightly softer than I was.I guess it's just more to shimmy with!
The dance community here is so annoying. They invite me to class, but then act like they are this big established group and imediately make me feel like an outsider. Then I'm invited to a day of workshops where I have to pay $60 for all the classes if I actually want to dance in the gala show that night. There is no f-ing way I am taking some crazy lady's "Goddess Dance" workshop or taking technique classes from lame dancers (I've seen them dance- I don't want them telling me how to "polish my performance"). Sorry about the rant. It's just such a small community, but it still feels exclusive and annoying. The event organizer made me feel like she only wanted my money too. >_< No one was outright mean or anything, but when you say "I'm not interested in paying for classes I don't have any desire to take" the response that I should come and pay more money to them so I could sell stuff to other dancers was less than exciting...

My latest kimono experiment:

Argh!

2006-01-16T18:52:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to finish my pink and orange bedlah, but it's taking longer than I would like. I just wish I could finish it, line it, and focus on the skirt and accessories.
I did score some perfect rhinestones oddly enough at Express. They had a huge sale and I found a crushed velvet vest with two strands of rhinestones edging the entire vest so about 4 or 5 feet of rhinestones!! All for $9. *drool*
My Isis wings have arrived but I need to get some plastic dowels to fit into the sides to make them gawgeous!
Pictures to come when I finish them.

Oooh! And I have a workshop I'm teaching at a nearby college. I'm nervous but excited at the same time.

My baby!

2005-12-24T21:07:00.000-05:00

Not my best kitsuke experience ever (there's no pic of my obi for a reason- I had to do a taiko musubi since I couldn't figure out any decent bows for fukuro obi) but I am proud of my low collar. I put a chukara nuno (sp?) on the juban which makes it sooooo easy to get a nice girly low neckline (that and a collar stiffiner). I also made my own han eri. I used Fraise's instructions for both on her webpage (Fraise you are a goddess!).
I love love love love my furisode. Can you see the shibori accents on the black flowers?! The rinzu weave?!
**sigh**

My furisode is here!!!

2005-12-23T21:34:00.000-05:00

I want to put her on now!!! I don't have a furisode juban so I might have to go all ghetto and use a regular juban. I also need to learn how to tie my fukuro obi!
It is gorgeous. There's gold embroidery, gold foil or resin, yuzen, and shibori. I am in love. It works with my obi and it even fits. How can this be??
**Runs off to grab kitsuke stuff**

I'm a horrible person.

2005-12-16T22:39:00.000-05:00

I won a furisode off ebay (very reasonable I might add). Of course this means I'll need a furisode juban. At least I have a fukuro obi that should work (have to learn to tie that too). Spending money on kimono begets more money spending. Dammit.

Sewing Projects

2005-12-12T21:17:00.000-05:00

I've made friends with my serger and my sewing machine. Right now I'm working on a baby blanket for my coworker's new grandson. I bought this lovely fleece fabric that is kinda patchworked (with a serger)together with blue, green, and yellow squares. I added batting between two layers and quilted the blanket and now I just have to serge the edges to finish it. I think it wil look pretty cute.
My mom is giving me three serger feet for Christmas so I can do fancy ruffles and those pretty lettuce leaf hems using a rolled hem and fishing line. Like this dress' hems: http://www.rpmerleon.com/ishop/product_info.php/products_id/703?osCsid=3887cfb90a61db3f53578fbd5d1d1fb5

I bought some lovely moderately heaving microsuede-ish fabric that has a lovely japanese inspired print on it (flowing water and flowers on a black background). It has a nice drape and I think I'll make a skirt out of it.
I also found a really pretty color blue of stretch velvet and I bought a ton of it (can't beat $1.50/yard...) so I can make another belly dance outfit (maybe even a dress). I want to pair it with silver fringe which I think I'll actually purchase this time instead of taking months to string it myself.

I have some action shots of myself in my new egyptian bedlah which I want to put up sometime soon. I'm hoping my uncle can perform his Photoshop magic on it and give the pictures a new background instead of a view of his daughter's play-room (hey, you dance where you can...).

And, my last silly thing is that I pre-ordered silver Isis wings from Akai Silks. They won't get here til January or February, but they were very reasonable and I know the quality is very good.

Sewing Machine Madness

2005-11-27T19:09:00.000-05:00

I am now the proud owner of a Viking/Husqavarna mechanical sewing machine and a Baby-Lock serger. The possibilities are endless! Now I just have to figure out how they work.
Muahahahahaha!

ps. I want a furisode sooo badly...

A fangirl outburst....

2005-10-31T21:47:00.000-05:00

It's been a while, but I had to share. I went to an anime con a few weeks ago (the days and weeks are flying by lately) and had the fantastic opportunity to see Final Fantasy Advent Children on a big (but not theater big) screen! Let me just say that I was rather entertained and enjoyed it immensely. The only problems I had were not recognizing all of the characters (I didn't play all the games) and the scene with Sephiroth was a little bit of a letdown because he never stood still enough for me to appreciate his hotness! The animation was superior- utterly fantastical. From what I've heard, the film was helped along with some very complex motion capture from a large cast of models (the credits listed a whole bunch of people whose sole job was providing that footage). The bodies and the movements were very realistic- so much so my little fangirl heart was racing, but more in a real human being kinda aesthetic rather than an anime way. With the absence of Sephiroth eye candy, I found Reno to be topping off the hotness scale with Vincent coming a close second. Ridiculous isn't it?
That film made me want to have the FF victory song on my cellphone even more horribly than I wanted it before!

Hafla pics

2005-10-09T21:03:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pictures from the hafla. It was surprising well attended- 18 acts in total and a nearly full audience. This is another of my self-made costumes.

Evil speakers... getting in the way of a clean shot.

I love when they're absolutely transfixed.

Then they dance...

Great workshop and show and new costume!!!!

2005-10-03T21:10:00.000-04:00

I had a great time at the workshop and at the show. I tried to post a nice long entry about it but it kept getting demolished since Blogger was buggy yesterday. Suffice it to say that I learned about turning, balance, and breathing and have lots to practice. The show was a success and I received many compliments about my costume and my performance. One lovely dancer said everyone was asking "Who is that girl! She's so good. Where did she come from?" I met some very nice women and had a great time. I was very badly behaved and bought a new costume from Egypt. It was pricey, but actually quite reasonable for the fabulous beadwork on it. It fit almost perfectly when I put it on and I didn't want to take it off. I'll post pictures soon, when I get a chance. I have a hafla next week, but I'm wearing another self-made costume. I'm just gonna have to wait til I have a paid gig to wear the new egyptian cossie (pardon the Bhuz.com ism).

I also found a reasonable juban and a lined synthetic kimono on ebay. I'm planning on dressing in kimono for the upcoming anime convention (also dressing up my sister, hence the need for another juban). You don't get too many excuses to wear kimono in public so I have to take what opportunities I can get. Plus, I have nothing to cosplay in...

Dance dress pics

2005-09-26T16:37:00.000-04:00

These are some pictures that I'm considering using for my business cards. This dress was originally a prom dress, but I added the sequins and the beaded fringe and removed some of the lining to expose the stomach area. I also added new straps for better support. Which one would make the best business card? Opinions welcome.

Cool kimono accesories! w00t

2005-09-24T13:09:00.000-04:00

I'm amazed. My package came already! What I thought were two datejime and a padding belt were actually one datejime, an obi ita that velcros shut, and a padding belt that looks to be washable and has removable pads. I am more than happy. I can't wait to try everything on. But, my first order of business is to take pictures for my business cards. I have to finish up my dance dress first so I'd best be off! I get to watch a documentary about regional japanese cuisine while sewing...
Also, I won a juban off of ebay last night. It's lined and a light pink, which might harmonize better with some of my other kimono.

Kimono pics

2005-09-22T20:25:00.000-04:00

I think it's probably not hitoe season anymore, but one last hurrah before Fall starts officially. This is my purple hitoe kimono and my tsuke obi. I need another obiage baaaad, but I like the rest of the ensemble. I like my collars :)

Paypal disaster averted- I think...

2005-09-22T12:13:00.000-04:00

I think everything is cleared up so hopefully I can get my datejime soon! They are the velcro stretchy kind and one even has padding so I don't have to make one out of a towel. I'm very excited. I'm hoping to take some belly dance pictures today for my business cards. I have a workshop and a hafla coming up next month and I want to be able to hand out business cards if there is an interest (maybe I can take on some beginner students ). If I have the energy, I also want to put on a kimono so I'm not tempted to buy another one online... It sucks. I'm trying to save up for a new pair of nice tabi, a book about kitsuke, another juban, and maybe another fukuro obi that would match better with my houmongi.

Paypal crap

2005-09-21T14:07:00.000-04:00

I'm in the middle of paypal drama. I hope it gets resolved quick! Bleh! I just want my datejime...

Fun at a hafla and other stuff

2005-09-11T22:52:00.000-04:00

Hafla or hafli is the arabic word for party. I went to one last night downtown and had a pretty nice time. My parents came with me which was cool since I've always wanted them to see that there are other weirdos like me who love this dance (that and convincing my mom she could dance if she wanted to- some of the ladies are so old and so large but they pull it off and since mom is neither...). It was good my family came since it was not a well-attended event. But it was nice b/c there were some live musicians playing the dumbek, tabla, oud, mizmar, etc.
I dressed up in a cabaret fantasy sort of thing because I was worried my bedlah would be too dressy and it was a pretty good call because all the ladies were wearing ghwazhee type clothing or galabia, etc. More folkloric or tribal as you can see in these photos. Kudos to my dad for being the photographer.

Me mugging for the camera. I shoulda taken off my glasses...

Playing "follow the dancer" with Pacita.

More playing around.

Requisite action shot.

And last, but not least, my lovely mom and sis.

A weekend with my relatives

2005-09-05T20:07:00.000-04:00

I always get irritated when people chalk my dancing up to my syrian heritage (I'm only a 1/4 sryian, mind you). But over the weekend, I went and visited with my aunt who just moved near my grandmother (my sitou) and my great aunt (we call her GG) who are both full syrian 1st generation. I remember my grandmother talking about bellydancing when I was younger, but I think it was just a fad for her like it was for many women in the 70s. Since I started dancing, I had heard whispers from my grandmother and my great aunt about how they were never allowed to move anything below the waist (no hip movements, etc) when they danced with family and friends and that all they did was debke. What was amazing was when I came over this past weekend, my great aunt gave me a bunch of old tapes she had from a long time ago. When I looked at them I almost fell over: the tapes had handwritten jackets with "Port Said," "Sultan of Baghdad,"Najwa Fouad: Belly Dance," "Super Belly Dance!" and "Maya Yazbek"! The latter has the best version of "Ya habibi ya aini" I've ever heard that even ends in a drum solo. I told GG that these were classic albums and she said "Oh really?" It was hysterical. I made her listen to some of the music I had on my computer and although she never remembered the names for the songs, she would say "that's a very old song" or "that's familiar" (she said that about oum kalthoum). I actually did a full routine complete with costuming for my family before dinner. My grandmother and GG said my dancing was great and "really modern." It was so much fun. When I told them I was going to a hafla at the end of the month, GG got all excited. She said "A hafli?!" (apparently syrians say hafli too) Then she said the greatest thing I heard all day: "I went to a hafli when I was little. I saw a man eat glass!"

AAAAAAaaaaaagh@!!!!!

2005-09-01T20:56:00.000-04:00

Today was one of the crappiest days I've had in a while. It's better now, but I went on the job hunt today (one interview and to get an application from a bakery). The bakery job did not exist even though it was in the latest weekly newspaper- go figure.

Things went from bad to worse when I got to the interview. The lady sat me down and was immediately irritated at me and told me I had to fill out a desired salary. I said it was negotiable but she insisted saying that she had to find out my "specific needs", etc. (My resume says I'm planning on going back to grad school in the near future HINT HINT) Then she told me that I needed to fill out more of the application that I had left blank because I had appended a resume. Her dog barked really loudly at me. The lady shushed her dog and she resumed barking at me. She said my resume was too generic and said I had to fill out the form, which mostly included details about my starting and ending salaries, starting and ending dates of employment, and my reasons for leaving the job. It seemed so irrelevant since my last three jobs were two NSF-sponsored scientific interships with stipends and my graduate assistantship (the job I was applying for is in a cheese and wine shop, mind you) and I also didn't want to write that I left my last job because of sexual harrassment and verbal abuse. She told me we couldn't have a "meaningful" discussion until I filled out the form. Then, in a moment that sealed the deal for me, her dog BIT ME. It didn't break the skin or anything, but the damned thing BIT ME! I hadn't done anything but pet the dog and let it sit next to me. I don't even remember her saying sorry, but instead asking if it bit me (DUH!). She then asked the dog what was wrong with it and told it that she would take it outside. Then she pushed a clip board at me and told me to fill out the rest of the form outside the shop- she wouldn't even let me fill it out in her office. The entire interview occurred in the span of about three minutes. I ran outside with the clipboard, got into my car, flipped out, ran back and deposited the clipboard on the bench outside the shop and got back into my car and drove away. F*** that!

I cried on the way home- I just couldn't believe that someone could dish out so much crap in three minutes. Even if her dog hadn't bitten me, I would have been upset and probably not taken the job even if it were offered to me. I was completely stunned. My mom said the lady was a control freak and that I wouldn't have wanted her for a boss anyway. I think agree since she was gonna be damned if I didn't fill out that crap form. I would have never expected someone to prefer a hand-scrawled record of dates and salaries and addresses to a formal resume with essentially the same info (minus $- not her business :P). It didn't say anything about what kind of an employee I am or what I could add to her company. I'm still job-hunting, but hopefully I don't meet anymore crazies or be attacked by anymore hell-hounds...
Stick a fork in me... I'm done.

No "Forum" for me...

2005-08-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

I decided not to take the part they offered me in "Forum." I would have been a nameless courtesan (mind you there are 8 courtesans and only 2 lack names). I can't understand why they wouldn't want me in a name role with some solo dance time and I don't think I ever will. Yesterday I kept wondering why they even bothered to cast me in any role if my special skill as a bellydancer would not be utilized at all! I mean, the general public is mystified by the concept of a belly dancer and it would certainly add to the exotic atmosphere of the musical. I dunno. People are dumb sometimes. My parents tried to console me saying that the choreographer had probably promised roles to her students or something like that. I dunno. I don't care. On to greener pastures and better dancing. I have a workshop and a hafla in October so that will be a full month. Weeeee!

More photos!

2005-08-26T23:20:00.000-04:00

This is another ebay conquest! This kimono came with 4 obis, but I like this obi best with the colors. I'm not sure if the kimono is synthetic or silk, but it is one of the few lined kimonos I own. I really love it...

Yay for casual kimono!

I found these shoes a few years ago at a DSW- they're not actually geta, they're a kinda foam shoe that looks like geta, but I think they're pretty cute.
I tried padding my waist again with some success (I have no chest now) and this is the first time I've ever used eri shin (collar stiffener)- I just cheated and slid in up underneath the white date eri. Maybe that's how you're supposed to do it, I have no idea (although I did read Fraise's page on how to sew it on with the date eri). But there was space to slide it up underneath the layer so I did! :P It makes the kimono look so much better! I'm still battling with my ohashori (Misuchi- I tried your trick, which helped a little, but I realized I'm tying the himo too low around my hips) and this kimono's collar did not have snaps on it but it was not pre-folded so I just folded it and prayed it stayed in place (haha...). Now I know why I was tying my ohashori too low- when I first learned kitsuke, it was when I was in a kyogen play as a male character. I didn't practice kitsuke for a long time after that play so when I did remember what I had learned, I think I was applying my male kitsuke skills. If I remember, you put the himo lower around the hips, especially under the belly (we had a portly actor who really needed it or the kimono wouldn't have stayed in place at all...) plus we were wearing hakama, which might have had something to do with it.
On a random note, I love when the actresses who come on Iron Chef wear kimono. I get all happy...
Anyway, my kitsuke today wasn't the neatest ever, but I just wanted to put on a kimono and feel pretty (a kimono hime hehe) after the insane day I had today.

I had two job interviews and I met with a prospective advisor at the University. One interview went very well and looks like a lot of fun if I get the job - it entails working at a really popular (read: busy) gourmet chocolate shop and also giving tours of the factory and lecturing about chocolate. The professor at the University seems like a great guy and he'd probably make a great advisor. He doesn't have room for a grad student now, but next year he'll probably have a spot, which is good because I can't apply for this year and they are moving their lab to another building in the spring which will be a major headache and not fun to work during...
It was also a crazy day because we had to fire a man who was supposed to do some tile work for us- he was drinking on the job yesterday and was really creepy. Our plumber who hired him took care of everything, but he did tell us that the tile guy wouldn't have been able to come in to work today anyway since he wrecked his truck last night (presumably in an alcohol-related accident that left him unhurt but his truck totalled). >_<

Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum!

2005-08-24T11:45:00.000-04:00

I auditioned for local theater show of "Forum" last night and I had a blast! I think I showed some people some decent dancing and maybe even exploded some heads with my solo. I hope I get a part- I think I will since I did pretty well on my vocal audition and my reading and the choreographer wanted to chat me up after I danced. Anyway, I'll know by Friday or Saturday if I am cast or not. So excited!

Spam comment???

2005-08-17T21:57:00.000-04:00

Has anyone ever gotten a spam comment? It sucks. I just deleted it. I hope more aren't in store...
Does anyone know how to keep it from happening?

pictures! w00t!

2005-08-16T21:34:00.000-04:00

I finally have some pictures of the white houmongi from Yamatoku! Weee! Pardon my mild disheveledness because it was another battle to get the obi to submit! It's looks ok in my opinion, but it's not my best work by any means hehe. I love this kimono! I think I need a slate grey obi (maybe a payne's grey) or something because the obi is a little too pink for pairing with the pretty cream and black ensemble. I need another obiage, too...

I love the sleeve! It's just too cool. Thumbs up to whoever did the yuzen.

My collar is not as low as it should be in the back and my ohashori is weird. I have this pokey part by my right hip that I couldn't get to lay flat even when I stuck my hands inside the kimono to pull the fold over the himo at my hips. I experimented with padding myself this time: I wrapped a hand towel around my middle (went from underbust to hips) and actually held it in place with an old tube top (so ghetto!). I think it worked out ok- the obi fit a little better and I don't look like a skinny tube with hips and a chest. I wish I had some ready-made padding with velcro or something because it was a pain. It was rough today- I sweated so much that I think I actually stained my juban despite airing it out after I finished taking pictures. I wore a shirt and a slip under the juban, but maybe I need a real hadajuban.
Mo' kimono, mo' problems...