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I'm back from Pennsic War!
What is Pennsic War? Well...for those who dont know, it's a 2 week long event run by Aelthemarc, a kingdom in the SCA. (Society for Creative Anacronisms) held in Slippery Rock, PA. There is shopping, and lots and lots of classes on tons of different topics from cheese making to basic conversational russian...and lots and lots and LOTS of dance classes. The second week of the event is the "War". Fighters in armor go and beat eachother with padded sticks...I'm not kidding.
Basicly, it's a huge encampment, with many smaller camps inside the large. I say camp, but it's far from just tents. People go all out, they build kitchens, showers, even bars inside their camps. It's pretty nuts the extent some people go to.
It's a really great experiance for anyone who's interested in the medieval world, or even just belly dance. You'll find classes on just about every sort of belly dance, even costuming classes. It's worth the money to go, and there's a party someplace every night, so you can dance, dance, dance and dance some more!

I had a good time...was kinda lazy...but I got to perform 4 times in one week...well...5 if you count the 2 performances in one show. Whoo...worn out.

Sunday I got to perform with Ishtar.
If you havent checked out the band yet, you really need to. They're fricken awesome. Our newest member was very late...which wasnt good. We were third in the line up. >_>

Monday we had a show at a troupe mate's camp...which sucked balls. >_>
We waited around for over an hour for the people she invited to show up. When they finaly did, it was getting close to dark and we had to perform to torch light on very uneven ground. I ended up tripping on my new skirt while crossing during a routine, and while I didnt fall, I did twist my ankle. NOT fun having to walk back down to my camp...which was down a 90 degree hill. Because of that, I missed Fire dancing at my instructor's camp. Very sad.

Tuesday was the Middle Eastern Dance Expo. I had a solo to Heir Mannaling, a version done by InExtreamo. It was my husband's favorite song, and I dedicated the dance to him (It was our anniversary after all!). It was a very "awwww" moment. Had some troupe drama, because our newest member (who's camp we had danced at) was extreamly late showing up AGAIN...About half an hour. It wasnt a huge deal because the troupe didnt go on until the 17 spot, but still, how was SHE to know? We could have been first. So I was pretty pissed. Troupe's dance to Poder by Rupa and the April Fishes went really well. I'm super lucky I packed an ace bandage in the med-kit. My ankle held up and I was ok at the end of the day.

Wednesday I took a class taught by Melissa from Ishtar. It was called "Galloping is for Horses". It was on Zilling to Middle Eastern Music. She taught us the drum rythems and how to zill them to 4 common songs, one of which we perform on a regular basis! So that was AWESOME.

Thursday, another show! Sort of a surprise. Melissa invited one of my troupe mates and I to perform at the Ishtar student show (Since we had been at the Zill class!). The best part of the entire show, was that she had all her students from the week up on stage performing with her band, and it was all being recorded. (Sound wise, not video wise.) Now, normaly this doesnt whip dancers into a tizzy...no video...But it just so happens I also sing...And the last song they performed was called Jai Chikoria (I prob'ly spelt that wrong)....AND it has VOCALS!!! So not only did I get to dance to it, I also got to sing along! So now my vocals are on an Ishtar recording!! I almost died of happiness!!

I also took a class on Classic Indian Dance on Thursday...
Whoooooo....that didnt last long! lol I ended up bailing about 40 minutes into the 2 hours. Why? A couple reasons. 1. I have asthema, and the humidity was wreaking havok with my lungs and thus my muscles didnt want to streach because they wernt getting enough oxygen. Indian dance has alot of insane poses...alot like tai-chi. And I just could keep up. 2. She was teaching "48 of the 300 poses". 48 poses in 2 hours...? She was going so fast you couldnt really absorb anything, so it wasnt worth it. I left my email address and she promised to send the hand movements and poses to everyone. (I really only took the class for the hand movements to use in an upcoming Bollywood number.)

The rest of the week had nothing to do with dance...so I wont bother posting it. lol
Tho Sat. Night I did go to a party at the Lost Boys camp, and danced around the fire a bit.

Got some good shopping done...alot of good deals.
I baught a pretty jedzebel skirt for 15 dollars (Normaly they're like 39 in the shops around here.). Got a kuchi head-dress which will be turned into a bra, and then a kuchi pendent with of all things some sort of add insted of the normal jewls on it. It was so kitchy I had to have it...(and I need to find out what the "add" says. It says JTH and then has writing...which isnt arabic...so says one of my camp mates.) I got 4 kuchi mini pendents, and some feathers to make a fasenator with.
Baught a "choli bodice". They're all the rage around here right now...I got it for 30. (They run between 35 and 50 normaly, depending on where you buy them.) It's a little small, but it ties up the sides, so I can just extend the laces and it'll be just fine.
Baught some curry...mmm...curry...
Baught a new drum with a riq in it! It jingles when you tap it.
Got myself some HUGE a** zills. They're super big, super thick, and super loud...and cost me 20 bucks...but they were well worth it.
Baught a little "tasting" ceramic mug...So when someone offered me a drink of something to "try" I could just say "Poor it into my mug please." It's very cute and goes on a string around the neck.
Baught a 2 liter of orange blossom mead from the camp next-door!



So happy to be home and to have clean feet. My skin was so dark from my ankles down I looked like I was changing ethnicities at the ankle.
When I got home I showered, took a bath, showered again, napped and then showered. lol

I still need to unpack. lol

Your solo rocks!!!