(no subject)

Had a great time at the Middle East last night.  It's very educational to watch other dancers and see how the crowd responds (or not) to various stuff and think about what would have made a difference in each performance.  Not sitting around being judgmental, just learning through observation.  One dancer last night was really lacking faith in what she was doing and it deadened the room.  Those nights happen to everyone, but I know now just how it feels to be in the audience when it happens and am resolved to let it happen as little as possible to me.  nepenthe01  did a wonderful birthday presentation for Najmat--I would have been terrified to balance cake on my head but she did it with aplomb.  And I loved kinadancer 's set, especially her cane.  Her set was educational for me as well in knowing which guys will get up and dance nicely with you.  At this point I know who the regulars are, but I'm still learning which are the nice regulars and which are gropey regulars, given the chance.  (Big Lebanese guy outside the club watching a couple of men dancing: "That's not proper dancing.  Arab men dance just with their arms and feet.  They dance like they're gay. ... Or maybe they're Egyptian."  Spoken with, as far as I could tell, no irony whatsoever.  I don't know quite why it struck me as so funny, but it did.)

Drawback is that my knee is in surprisingly sharp pain today, and I've got a two hour dance class tonight.  Too much dabke, I'm guessing.  Luckily we've got tylenol here in the office in bulk.  Also only got about five hours of sleep last night, but I had a cup of tea in the afternoon, which I never do, so that I hope will get me through.

Made two more panels of my Voodoo Dolly belt yesterday, just two more to go!  Then I have to tackle the bra, which is a scary prospect.  I've got meddevi 's plan book though, so hopefully that will get me through...