random thoughts – Day 1,727 – (Sunday) – lotsa ladies dancing

Middle East,
Cambridge.

Today, Troupe Salaamati, the group I dance with, along with another 40 or so dancers from around New England and New York, performed in a show to benefit The Home for Little Wanderers. It was originally scheduled at a hotel in Woburn, but there was a double-booking situation and our event was bumped. The Middle East in Cambridge opened their doors to us. I’d never been there but I’ve heard of the place forever. Today was the day, and now I regret my tardy introduction to the place. 

The morning was spent drinking coffee and then putting on costume parts and makeup. There was eye shadow in three colors (green, pink, and pale gold) and poorly applied eye liner and false eyelashes and blush and lipstick which I wiped off after choosing the color and putting it in my bag to apply later. Then I neglected to apply it again, so that was dumb.

The show was divided into three acts and opened with soloists dancing to a live band (oud, keyboard, and drum). The dancers, costumes, and dance styles were beautiful. The second act was in a larger room and featured troupes and soloists dancing to recorded music while the band had a break. That’s where my dance sisters and I came onto the program. The third act was back in the room where it began and had more performances with the band.

Salaamati!

We were the second performance slot in the second act, and people who saw the eight of us lined up to enter wondered how we’d fit in the space. No worries. We had scoped the room out earlier and with one table relocated by the venue team, we were able to fit on a diagonal and reconfigure our entrance. We are used to checking space and making on-the-fly adjustments. It’s a handy skill.

After we finished our dancing and exited the performance space, there wasn’t an easy, immediate way back in without disturbing the group dancing after us. We dashed back through the maze of venue spaces back to the dressing room and changed out of our costumes and into street clothes. Then we grabbed our bags and slipped back in to see the rest of the troupe performances. 

There was a group dancing with swords (I always love seeing that) and another with glowing orbs in red and green. After the second act concluded, the dancers for the set were asked to gather for a group photo. Those of us still on site from my troupe formed the back row to hide our jeans and sweaters. We didn’t know there would be a photo when we changed. Oops.

I hate driving in a costume, because what if I get into an accident? This is fallout from that time I broke my leg in a roller derby event and went to the hospital by ambulance in tiny shorts, tights, and a tee shirt, plus a face full of camo makeup, and had to sit in a room dressed like that and freezing for hours. It lives in the back of my brain.

My friends and I left after the second act due to the distance and travel time from Cambridge to Lowell (me), Townsend, and other points (carpools). The traffic was not terrible, but still not enjoyable and now I remember why I don’t drive into Boston. Overall, the fun of the day far outweighed the "fun" of driving. 

Now it’s all over except for the unpacking and putting away of the makeup, costume parts, etc., and the Sunday chore of all chores – cleaning the litter box for Monday trash day. The glamour is fun, but always short-lived before reality rudely shoves it aside.