Another fabulous day of shimmying....

Today was a spectacular troupe performance at another belly dance festival. =) After the troupe performed, there was time to watch other performers and shop for belly dance wares before attending a workshop class that I signed up for. Luckily I had a baby-sitting job yesterday that allowed me to be able to purchase a matching top and fringe hip scarf that will match a pair of turquoise pants that my Mom already made for me - so I'm very excited that I have another complete outfit!! =) I also picked up some really neat body glitter that I'll be able to use for some upcoming performances.

The workshop class was good but it didn't necessarily knock my socks off. It was a two-hour workshop (the length of belly dance class that I normally attend), but the time just seemed to drag on and on. I don't know if part of it was due to the instructors teaching style (we tended to do the same move over and over and over and over........) or if it's because the moves we were working on weren't some of my favorite to perform... Maybe that's part of my quest - be more open-minded to all of the varieties of belly dance.

Another facet of my quest is coming to terms with the event that's occurring in just under two weeks - - my thirtieth birthday. *ominous music here* It's not the fact that I mind getting older, I never really have. It deals with not fulfilling things that I wanted before I turned 30. I believe I've mentioned before that I wanted a husband and family by the time my thirtieth birthday came around. Well, husband is gone and all I have in the way of children of my own are my doggies. With the big 3-0 rapidly approaching, I have to come to terms with those things not happening along my timeline.

I don't know why I picked that age to be when I originally wanted those things to occur by, but I guess I need to let go of that notion. I don't necessarily need to let go of those hopes/dreams completely but the time frame needs to be altered and once it's altered, not necessarily set in concrete. Things you try to set in concrete have a tendency to break.

I guess I just need to try to put into practice something my college choir professor taught us - - that is the importance of looking at situations flexibly. It's not a concept that is always an easy one but it is something that I should work on doing again. I know there is the saying "don't sweat the small stuff" but for me anyway, it's always been easier to say than do. It's not that I can't be flexible, there are just certain things that I wanted and I have to learn how to alter my plans.

I guess that may not be a bad thing; good things can come when you're not looking for them, right?

Some firsts today

Today was a day of "firsts" for me. One of the exciting “firsts” of today was I attended/danced at my first belly dance festival (we danced as a troupe at a belly dance festival). Another first was going over the Golden Gate Bridge (wish it wouldn't have been so foggy but it was still really neat!!). I was also told today (by three different people) that they liked my color of costume best (my costume is lime, yes, LIME green!!) and I had three different people tell me that they enjoyed watching my dancing the best out of the troupe!

Well, I guess that helps with my wish of no longer wanting to be invisible when it comes to troupe dancing. It was really great to be noticed! =)

Even though it was a small belly dance festival, it was extremely exciting to be one of the members performing. We perform next week at an even bigger belly dance festival and I can't wait!! It was just so exhilarating being surrounded by such beautiful dancers and recognizing that I am one of them. It was fun to visit the different booths and see what people were selling too.

I bought a new dance top that's black velvet with rhinestone flowers/leaves on it. I also bought a camel marionette. I figured every belly dancer should have a camel so I bought one. =) I will say that my doggies do not like the camel! They were trying to use him as a chew toy... Belly dance Mama was not happy that the doggies were trying to eat the camel! =(

Days like today solidify my decision not to take the job that was offered to me. Granted there are times where I still wonder if I made the correct decision not to take it but days like today make up for those times. I have so much fun with my belly dance "gal pals" that it makes up for not choosing to advance my career at this point. Who knows; another opportunity may come my way, it may not right now...... But, at this moment, I believe it is more important for me to have my "gal pals" because they help to find "me."

It was fun to have a day of performing and then laughing/playing with the girls. That's something that I don't always allow myself to do. When I am at class, there are times where I take myself too seriously and become introverted (I know, I know.... surprise, surprise for me). Today, there wasn't time to take myself too seriously. Did I make mistakes in the choreography? Yes! But the world didn't end, the stage didn't swallow me whole, and most importantly, I KEPT SMILING despite the mistakes! And even now, hours and hours later, I'm not beating myself up for the mistakes that I made. See, I am making progress! ;)

Well, after the excitement/adrenaline of the day, I should probably try to wind down before heading to bed. Tomorrow I am sure will be another fun-filled/exciting/busy day with the two and three year olds.... =)