A Day of Dance and Celebration

[shanmonster]

Yesterday was a crazy day. It was the 95th anniversary of Girl Guides, and approximately 2300 of them were gathered in the city for a day of celebration. It was a crappy day for it: cold and wet. That didn't stop them, though. snowy_kathryn and I set up shop on a wet lawn behind a basketball court and taught wave after wave of girls and their troupe leaders how to dance. I had my plastic-covered stereo on the back of my bicycle booming out music by Alabina, and bellydanced-up techno. All total, we worked with about 800 girls. We were a veritable assembly line of dance! I'd never tried teaching anyone like this before, and it was quite a challenge. Each troupe stayed for about fifteen minutes, so we had groups cycling in and out of our teaching station regularly. By the end, I'd figured out a few things we could do. The teaching was a constantly evolving process. At first, we started off with the alphabet game, writing out the alphabet with each hip and shoulder. But this grew tiresome. Not all letters are created equal. I narrowed it down to a few letters with maximum potential: Z, M, and O.

For a while, I had everyone writing ZOM with their hips. Then, I added another element. "Who can tell me what sound a cow makes?"

"MOO!"

"All right, let's all write MOO with our hips!"

Other words included ZOO, and ZOOM. I kind of liked ZOM, though.

After we'd taught for a couple of hours, we rushed off to get changed into performance garb. Kathryn wore Lola with a black bodice and green pantaloons, and I wore a red and black choli with my red, white, and black silk skirts, and silver pantaloons and circular veil. Then we trekked over to the stage by the Governor's Mansion. The stage was the back of a tall, flatbed truck. We had to climb a ladder to get to it. But before we took to the stage, we flung frisbees out at the thousands of kids in the audience. I actually think that was my favourite part!

When I climbed up onto the stage, I took the microphone and introduced ourselves to the enormous audience. Then I explained to them how to zaghareet. There's not much more intimidating than hearing over two thousand people zaghareeting at once. I felt like an Arabic pop star. Then Kathryn started dancing, doing Tarik Sultan's "Ya Ho" choreography. Lola spins out wonderfully on those quick turns. Then I danced to "Shik Shak Shok," and we ended it together with a drum solo.

Then Kathryn and I went back home, I did some housecleaning (how glamourous!), and then I prepared for my next dance gig: a birthday/retirement party in the Royal Suite at the Delta Hotel. I wore my bright red circle skirt with circular veil, my beaded red top, gold pantaloons, and my giant blue velvet hipscarf. I danced to a Warda song and followed it up with the drum solo. The guest of honour--who'd just turned 65--sat in his chair with his eyes wide open. I don't think he blinked for the whole performance. He was mesmerized.

Then, when it ended, I took my bow, wished him a happy birthday, and went back to get my cover up. That's when someone begged for a photo opportunity. Sure thing! So I trooped back out to the enormous living room, and that's when they asked me to sit on his lap. Er, no. I did sit on the arm of the chair beside him, but I wasn't about to set my jingly butt on a stranger's knees. Would people assume a ballerina or breakdancer will sit on the lap of an audience member? I don't think so. So why do they think that I'll do it? At least none of the girl scouts asked me to cuddle!

And then it was time for my birthday party to begin. f00dave, with Kathryn's help, made the yummiest cake I think I've ever eaten: a delicious black forest cake. I made sure a piece was saved for my breakfast for this morning.... And Kathryn made the most delicious stuffed mushrooms I've ever had. Oh joy! I also hade cherry cream cheese sandwiches, smoked oyster canapes, spinach dip, beetroot hummus, spicy tofu triangles, strawberries, a pear rum cooler, and a can of Strongbow. Delicious! It's a good thing I don't have birthdays all the time, or I'd be a tub of lard! And Lev, f00's thesis advisor, brought me a pretty stone bracelet.

Wacky hijinks ensued once my two boozie drinks kicked in (I've become such a cheap drunk). I did a wee spot of yogic flying in the living room, and then I brought out the piece de resistance: a brand-new horrific orange thong with quick-release snaps and a see-through glow-in-the-dark heart-shaped cutout on the front. I modelled them over my pants, and then discovered that yes, I certainly can take it off, stripper-style, while in the plough asana. Go me! Then Greg horrified us all by wearing the thong on his face and declaring it smelled like it had never been worn. Oh dear.

By this point, the party had bifurcated. Silly movie-watchers in the livingroom, and silly pontificators in the kitchen. They got to hear us watching Demolition Man, and we got to hear them saying things like, "Of course a church is not a physical manifestation of spirituality." André fell asleep on the couch, and I painted his purty mouth with a horrific pale pink lipstick. He sleeps with his eyes open, a la Gandalf. I stopped decorating his mouth when he started kissing the lipstick in his sleep.

Camelot is a silly place.

Comments

[fourcorners.livejournal.com]

For a while, I had everyone writing ZOM with their hips. Then, I added another element. "Who can tell me what sound a cow makes?"

"MOO!"

"All right, let's all write MOO with our hips!"


Definitely the most unique sentences I've seen in a while

[aberrantmist.livejournal.com]

Sounds like it was a blast! Happy Birthday, Shan! Now I have this intense craving for cherry cream cheese sandwiches *chuckles*

[hprynne.livejournal.com]

That was an extremely action packed day. Happy birthday!!!!

[superbrad.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good time was had by all. Sorry I missed it, but I really did have a terrible headache and the beginnings of whatever my leg-pain was, so I wouldn't have enjoyed it much if I'd showed up.

[f00dave.livejournal.com]

Perhaps not, though there's no reason we can't do something similar in another month or so. Next time, Gadget....

[pumagirl.livejournal.com]

They hope that you will sit on the lap of the old guy - for whom the dance was done - because you have just undulated your fit, womanly body in a sensual display of seduction for him... and they are men, yes? They are hoping their little hearts out - in a predictable fantasy - that you'll really like him... or at least feel sorry enough for him that you'll sit on his poor decrepit lap.

Sometimes I shake it while wearing these little jems... it's all about the jingly ass, isn't it?