Visiting New York

Saturday 7th Jan.

Got up to head off to the airport.  We had spent some time working out what time to leave and get up and go.  Then had a panic.  Zak asked if we were going to Heathrow or Gatwick and I heard Kevin say that we were going to Heathrow - if it was Gatwick then we would already be an hour late.  I had thought it was Gatwick and when I checked I was right - so suddenly we are an hour behind already and I don't have time to eat, or brush my hair - just bundle everything and everyone out of the house and drive round the M25.  Arrived short of time to find huge Qs to get to departures.  Spent forever waiting with everyone and then I was towards the front and had to say my goodbyes.  Very tough to leave them all behind.

The flight was good - I was sat with a man who had a huge document to read and we had an empty space between us, so we could both stretch out a bit.  I was annoyed that the pilot woke us up to tell us we were passing Greenland - until I looked out of the window and saw how fantastic it looked in the light.  One of those moments when everything in the world looks beautiful….  Arrived at Newark mid afternoon and again had to stand for an hour or so at immigration, but then I had my bags, a taxi and was on my way.  For a moment my phone worked and I got a text, but then it died and never came back til I was back in the UK - so much for modern technology.

My first sight of NY had been from the plane, where I was struck by all the baseball squares and greenery!  Some contrast to the taxi ride where all I could notice was the traffic and the huge buildings.  Had no problem finding Leo house - seems like everyone in NY knows of it and was made welcome when I arrived.  My room was basic but adequate.  It had two windows each looking out onto the backs of other buildings, a very old bathroom, a spooky deep cupboard and a cross on the wall looking over my bed.  Seems like they know Bellydancers of old as a sign clearly stated no incense in the rooms, so I had to live with the smells already there (curse the return of my sense of smell).

I just had time to unpack and take a bath before the evening show to be held at the Studio a few blocks walk away.  This is when I started to get my taste for walking in NY - I headed off to take a roundabout route and see some of the sites.  It didn't take me long to get the idea of using the crossings, spotting the subways and keeping out of the way of the important people going important places.  I did a bit of window-shopping but mostly looked at the beautiful buildings and the general bustle.

There was some confusion about the timing of the show so I ended up waiting in the lobby for half an hour with many of the others who were there for the weeklong (Rocky's students seemed to know the "doors locked" rule and so arrived later) - but it did mean I had a chance to meet some of the others and find out something about them.  Angela had come from Springfield MO, where she teaches, while Emiline had come with her boyfriend Chris.

The show was a mix of MED and other styles and was opened by the Casbah Dance experience doing a Tunisian woman's dance.  This was followed by some traditional Hula, which I loved.  Tahya and Grant Smith followed with a mix of poetry, dancing and percussion.  After this we had expected some Tango by the American Creative Dance Theatre, but instead they presented a couple of alternative pieces.  This was followed by Karima Nadira dancing Esma Yalli, a dance we were to learn later in the week and Saqra who showed us some of her amazing veil work.

Bridging the break Robyn Friend presented two very different Uzbek dances and The Casbah Dance experience returned with a pair of Raks Sharki numbers.  We then had solos from Tarik Sultan and then the amazing Morocco herself - and finally a duet where they both showed how the movements could be used to frame and compliment each other's dancing.

Overall what stood out for me was the stage confidence of the soloists and the very "modern" style of both Tahya and American Creative Dance Theatre.  By the end my head was spinning and I was keen to find my bed and get prepared for the next day.

Sunday 8th Jan

Ate breakfast as I walked to the studio and arrived just after 9.  Rocky's space has wonderful light and is open, calm and well laid out.  There are two small changing/dressing rooms, toilets and then the rest of the space is all dance floor.  The room had been set up with a small platform stage in front of the mirrors leaving us plenty of room to move about.  Each day our warm up started at 9.30 on the dot and lasted at least 45 minutes.  It covered all the main moves and was aimed at warming the muscle groups.  The first thing I noted was how serious the whole group was and the pressure to perform each move very correctly and with perfect arms each repeat.  There was to be no half-hearted efforts in this room for the entire week!

Our first workshop was with Robyn Friend and we covered Khorezmi Lazgi dance that is a social dance of the region.  She broke down the moves that each part of the body is expected to do and then helped us layer them together.  In order to help us get used to the layering she gave us some interesting exercises in brain/body co-ordination (like pat your head and rub your tummy…).  By the end of the session she had us travelling in a circle with beautiful arm and headwork.

After lunch we returned to the studio to meet Saqra and learn more about her double veil techniques.  We started with some nice warm ups and then she broke down many of the movements, which she makes look so effortless, but we were soon to learn were anything but.  Many use the turning to help power the changes in shape and while some, like me, struggle to turn, others were soon making fantastic shapes with their veils.  Personally I felt this workshop gave me lots of ideas that I can pass on to students who love veil, but that I would find the number of turns required challenging for a double veil number.  But many of the moves would work as single dramatic moments and may be coming to choreography very soon.

We finished a little late (5.30) and headed off to our various hotels.  I had a feeling that perhaps I had taken on rather too much if the whole week was going to be this intensive.  I spent the evening getting my bearings and walking a few blocks in each direction.  And I had a very long soak in the bath!

Monday 9th Jan

In the studio again with plenty of time for the warm up.  Good to see that some of the others also had aches and pains.  I was struggling with the use of the knees in the undulations - done very slowly and precisely - where I would normally use my stomach muscles more.  Also many of the sharper moves were done using an outwards facing hand - something I did when I was first dancing, but now I notice that I am almost 100% inward facing - a habit I should try to grow out of!

Our first choreography with Rocky was a drum solo.  The session started with some time spent learning about the movements we were about to use and their context.  If you have never done a workshop with Rocky it is worth your money just for these moments.  She knows so much and is always happy to share.  Rocky taught by showing us the choreo through twice then breaking down the first section, getting us to repeat it and then moving on.  From there on we did section one plus two - then the first two sections with the new bit added on.  This way the opening gets imprinted in the brain and the progression becomes natural.  Sitting to watch her dance the choreography I felt disbelief that she was aiming to teach us such a long and complex piece in just a day.  The combinations were unbelievable - often with a move per drumbeat and many illogical combinations.  But as the day went on I started to hear what she could hear and realise that, while there was no compromise to pattern and learning, each move fitted perfectly with each phrase of the music until we truly were the drums.  The choreo included many travelling turns and times facing both the front and back so there was much confusion as we tried to pick up the beats.  Also much of the drum solo was movements' layered or interspersed with shimmies - by 3.30 my legs and knees had turned to jelly and I was happy to head back to the hotel for a bath.

That evening I set off to go up the Empire State building.  I had been warned of the long waits but actually walked right in off the street and was at the top within about 10 minutes.  If you ever get the chance I would say it's an amazing experience.  I found it hugely romantic (Sleepless in Seattle anyone?), breathtakingly beautiful and a fantastic way of getting to understand the layout of the city.  I bought some souvenirs and then took a McDonalds to bed.

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