How people keep up with blogs on a daily basis is beyond me. Nevertheless, I had a girls night out with my sister, two daughters and two of their friends. We went to BOCAfest. BOCA is a non-profit organization for Belly Dancers of Color.
At first, I felt uncomfortable, as you usually feel when you enter upon an unfamiliar culture, but by the time I took my seat I saw this experience in a new light. First, I was given an aromatherapy treatment by my sister's friend to help with my massive headache by sniffing peppermint scent from a kleenex. It worked!
Immediately, upon the first act, I felt it home. You see I've been listening to Gullah music ever since my little trek to South Carolina's sea islands. The first act reminded me of my history that I so desperately seek.
Another reason I began to feel at home is because I started to see this community of dancers in the same light as my scrapbooking community. People of color just wanting to spread their passion to thier home communities, yet incorporating ethnic dance of all persuasions. This relates to my mission of sharing Ethnic Scrapbooking.
Initially I thought I would feel uncomfortable watching the physically fit dancers spreading their energy across the stage, but I was quickly feeling at home with dancers many years my senior and belly dancers with bellies. Now that I can relate to!
One of my favorite group of Dancers were Bhangura Groove, Indian dance with a bit of hip hop...how ethnic is that!
As I expected, no flash photography was allowed, so I actually had to shoot in manual mode using my Tamron 330m lens that just came back from the shop. I am quite pleased with my shots considering the low light situation...a year ago none of these shots would have been worth a dime.
In the end, I was grateful for the opportunity to expose my girls (and friends) to something new, cultural and ethnic to boot. Leah woke up this morning saying that she wants to go again.
Right this minute the girls are wearing a hip skirt and giving belly dancing a try.
