“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 953 (Wednesday) – memory lane

I wasn’t always a stay-at-home hermit, only venturing out for work, board meetings, monthly book club, and the occasional entertainment. Once upon a time, life was rich, full, and exciting and October was a month for big entertainment.

Zoe Jakes in Boston, 2013.

On October 21, 2010, I attended Bellydance Superstars at the Belcourt Theatre, one of two or three shows I saw staged by them during my time in Tennessee. BDSS was a touring group with a repertoire incorporating many different dance styles. And by different styles, they aren't kidding. There were all sorts of Middle Eastern belly dance, tribal, and fusion, and I once saw a dancer in one of their shows perform a belly dance in classical ballet pointe shoes. I wished I’d seen something like that as a teen studying dance.

On October 15, 2011, I saw Beats Antiques in Nashville, and then again on October 26, 2013, when I went with a friend to see them at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. In both Beats Antiques shows, the music was their fun, interesting, and quirky blend of experimental world fusion and electronic music. There are sounds of the middle east, klezmer, jazz, and everything else. 

Zoe and antlers, Boston 2013.

Zoe Jakes, who was a member of Bellydance Superstars, is a member of Beats Antiques as a composer, musician, and lead dancer.  Her pioneering fusion style incorporates styles including traditional belly dance, tango, and Indian dance. Depending upon the song, she might be playing a big drum, or dancing with fans. The costumes were creative, clever, and in some cases wild, and included a headpiece with large antlers in both shows I’ve seen. It’s quite a spectacle.

In October of 2013 and 2014, it was Cirque du Noir in Worcester. The wardrobe was black themed, the food and music were amazing, the artwork for the fundraiser auction was always varied and exciting. In 2017, it was the vacation trip to Jamaica.

Those were fun times. There isn’t much time left to beef up the entertainment plan for October 2022, but maybe next year I can get back into the groove. Adding it to the life goals list.