Planning
I ordered a few albums from Peko Records yesterday. I'm excited to have some new music. I might start selling CD's to my students at the studio I teach at as well. I've sold a few hip scarves there, which people really seem to like.
I'll be working on a new piece for performance in the next month or so, so I'm eager to get my music.
There are so many events going on! It's dizzying trying to keep up with it all. Some of the workshops are very similar. And it seems that it is difficult to get people not to plan events close to (or on) the same date as another person.
Unfortunately, I couldn't, or can't, attend them all. I would like to because I like to support other people.
Now that I'm planning the Classic, I realize how much work it is. Before, competing was enough to focus on without wondering how the event was put on. Although I really had no criticisms of how things were done, which seems to differentiate me from other people. I had an appreciation even then that there was a massive amount of planning. I just had no idea how much.
I don't think I'd criticize someone's event unless they asked for some constructive criticism. But I understand that my point of view is unique now.

Zuleika
www.zbellydance.com
www.ecclassic.com

The Pink Rhinestone Sweatshirt
I would never have worn this before becoming a bellydancer. A sweatshirt, for lack of a better term, with a zipper pull at the neck that comes down a few inches. The zipper pull has little rhinestones on it in the shape of what looks like the Eiffel Tower. Then there are some rhinestones all along the front of the sweatshirt. In my defense, 1) I rarely wear it outside the house and 2) it was a gift. Actually, it was a hand-me-down, which is even better. Or worse...I can't decide. But it's very comfy and my friends say it's "bedazzled". It's also too big for me and I feel like I'm swimming in it!

Zuleika
www.zbellydance.com
www.ecclassic.com

I like this song by India.Arie.

Bellydancers are known for spending time on our hair (um, understatement of the universe), so I thought it would be interesting to post this take on "hair" in general.

I'm thinking of getting a weave. My friend says African-Americans call it a weave, white people call it extensions. Hmmm.

This is a lovely song which is very thoughtfully done and introspective. Buy her album!

Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
At fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and went all natural
February two thousand and two
I went and did
What I had to do
Because it was time to change my life
To become the woman that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlock all gone
I looked in the mirror
For the first time and saw that HEY....
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within
What'd she do to her hair?
I don't know it look crazy
I like it.
I might do that.
Umm, I wouldn't go that far.
I know .. ha ha ha ha
Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get in on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
If its not what's on your head
Its what's underneath and say HEY....
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend?
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
I am expressing my creativity..
Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY...
If I wanna shave it close
Or if I wanna rock locks
That don't take a bit away
From the soul that I got Dat da da dat da
If I wanna wear it braided
All down my back
I don't see what wrong with that
Dat da da dat da
Is that India.Arie?
Ooh look she cut her hair!
I like that, its kinda PHAT
I don't know if I could do it.
But it looks sharp, it looks nice on her
She got a nice shaped head
She got an apple head
I know right?
It's perfect.

Being a contest sponsor
This is just a list of things I did today...
Today I talked to the friend of a bellydancer in Canada that is thinking of coming for the Classic. I wrote some promo materials so that they can apply for a grant for the travel costs. This person mentioned Belly Dancer of the Universe to me, so I looked at that website. It made me feel good because their registration process is similar to mine, but I had no idea. I felt bad for not having had the idea to check this earlier. Mental note to go back and see if they have any more ideas I haven't thought of.
One vendor told me they won't be able to come. I wrote to a new vendor I'd been trying to get a hold of. Another vendor sent me their check today, which I photocopied so I can deposit. I still have to file her contract and e-mail her to tell her I got it.
I received four DVD's from Michelle Joyce that will be prizes. They looked so good; I really wanted to open them but didn't!
I'm finalizing the last judge. I fielded a few e-mails people had about questions on the competitions. I remembered I want to add an audio clip, if I can, of the feedback people get when they compete so people can hear a sample. I searched East Coast Classic on YouTube to see if anyone had posted footage from previous competitions and found nothing bellydance related. (This is actually good because the DVD footage isn't permitted to be posted unless it's your own.) I requested some more friends on myspace and tribe to promote the contest. I updated my calendar with some bellydance events coming up.
I e-mailed the sponsor of a show I'm thinking of being in. I wrote and sent a proposal to a person out of state who asked my group to dance. (I had to consult with my dance partner and another person to check the rates were fair. I had to try to figure out how much gas will cost in June.) I said yes to dancing in the lineup at an event in May. I talked to my dance partner to make sure all of this works for her. I e-mailed my measurements to someone who will probably make some costuming for me.
Weeee! That's just one day!

Zuleika
http://www.zbellydance.com/
http://www.ecclassic.com/
http://www.ecclassic.eventbrite.com/

Waiting

I'm waiting to find out if I passed a certification test for my non-bellydance career. If I pass, I'll make a decent amount of money and be able to continue in this career. If not, I'll have to re-evaluate and see if I can still make it financially without the higher pay certification brings. I should find out about the results at the end of January, or maybe the first week of February.

It definitely helps my bellydance career to be self-employed. I'm able to answer a lot of inquiries about the Classic within a very short period (usually a few minutes, sometimes a day, depending.) I hope the speed of responses gives people a good impression.

Being self-employed definitely requires organization. I'm constantly evolving the way I keep track of things. I don't know how I was self-employed when I was younger. I think I was way too immature to handle it. This time, I'm keeping better track of things. But I still could stand to be more organized.

Oh, I'm tired of waiting! If you have any pull with the "guy upstairs", or your higher power, say a little prayer for me!

Zuleika
www.zbellydance.com
www.ecclassic.com
www.ecclassic.eventbrite.com (online registration)