dancingleaf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dancingleaf) wrote2007-11-18 07:46 am
dancingleaf) wrote2007-11-18 07:46 am
babelesque b*tching
so... babelesque....
To start we had a b*tch of a time crossing the border. Backed up like crazy. So we finally crossed through just after 7 and the show was scheduled to start at 8. Construction at the bridge so we had to take some detours etc to get to the theater. Got there about 7:20. Sh*t! not enough time to eat dinner - saw that the theater had a sign up "the Jazz Cafe" - decide okay - we should probably be able to get food right? Go in. Guy takes our tickets - we ask about food he says yup - just go on in. We get in - no food. sorry - out of everything kitchen is closed. Lots of booze though... It is now 7:30. Cr*p. Go find our seats.
Of course the show doesn't start on time... About 8:10... some idiot from the theater comes out and starts talking about the history of the theater and the programs that they have 'specially selected' for this year's 80th anniversary scheduling... and how grateful they are for the support and sponsorship of their corporate sponsor GM and GMAC that make shows like this possible, AND how Miles Copeland who produces and manages big name rocks stars like Sting etc discovered bellydance and has modified it 'specially for American audiences. Then some guy from GM comes out and talks for 10 minutes on how GM is top selling automobile everywhere EXCEPT in the US & how we need to get the US to buy more GM cars. Enjoy the show.
now I have lived all my life in an automotive town. I understand the very fine point that my personal financial wellbeing is DIRECTLY related to the health of the North American Auto industry. but for the Price I paid for those bloody tickets!!! GM did not subsidize my seat.
Having said that. I was really really ANGRY to see blocks of unused seats in FRONT of me. Whole rows of empty seats. The audience had some bellydancers in it, I recognized a lot of area performers, people I've seen here and there or at workshops occasionally. But... I'd have to say the audience was around 1/3 bellydancers & friends and majority probably GM management people. Probably thats who got the subsidized seats. Probably that's who didn't use all those EMPTY SEATS!
If you come in LATE to a performance... they should make you wait in the back UNTIL intermission! The ushers should not escort you down to your seat and allow you to disturbthe entire audience ME and my enjoyment of the show. YOU SHOULD ESPECIALLY NOT CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT WHERE YOU WANT TO SIT AND SWITCH PLACES WITH YOUR FRIEND RIGHT IN F*CKING FRONT OF ME. especially not during one of the tribal pieces - I almost hit them with my program. If you really have to go to the bathroom - wait for intermission. Or at least don't come back to your seat until intermission.
And then the ushers decide to take advantage of some of those empty seats and walk down and grab them. And then later on... one of them decides to walk right through the empty aisle.
HEIGHT OF RUDENESS. I was APPALLED!
And about 20 or more people came in to their seats through the whole of the first post intermission number. AUUUUUAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!
total fan girl here - grain of salt may be necessary.
I missed Sharon Kihara. :( and Bozenka. Didn't miss Adore (who wasn't there either)
Rachel was fab. and Zoe. Mardi and Kami Liddle were there but I felt like I didn't really get to see their talents showcased?
A lot of repeat stuff that we saw with the Raqs Carnival and the one before that. Sonia & Issam. Jilliana's balance on the drum thing. Petite Jamilla's double veil (quadruple veil). The stick dance -boring-
They should have done more with the Voi. They just briefly used them for backdrop in the closing number for about 20 seconds.
Costumes were amazing. Serious Sparkle Envy. And those white tribal costumes. Gorgeous!
They used a lot of my favourite music. Which is nice. But then... I already own it so - nothing to add to my wish list.
Nothing quite like seeing really fabulous performers in person although I hope they come out with a video - I'd buy it just so that I can see my favourite performances again. I hope it's not just solos though. I like watching group numbers. I like to watch the background people PLUS I think it really adds to a performance when they each take a bit to solo and then step back rather than an entire song of just one performer.
All told - I'm glad that we went. I admit to being disappointed but that was more to do with circumstances than the BDSS. It is going to get harder to justify paying the rising cost of tickets though. For two tickets with handling fees & taxes etc this cost me $120. And I'm not sure it was worth it.
Well it was - the performers were fabulous and we don't get to see that caliber of performer around here all that often but... ouch and seriously ticked off about the rudeness of some people. :{
To start we had a b*tch of a time crossing the border. Backed up like crazy. So we finally crossed through just after 7 and the show was scheduled to start at 8. Construction at the bridge so we had to take some detours etc to get to the theater. Got there about 7:20. Sh*t! not enough time to eat dinner - saw that the theater had a sign up "the Jazz Cafe" - decide okay - we should probably be able to get food right? Go in. Guy takes our tickets - we ask about food he says yup - just go on in. We get in - no food. sorry - out of everything kitchen is closed. Lots of booze though... It is now 7:30. Cr*p. Go find our seats.
Of course the show doesn't start on time... About 8:10... some idiot from the theater comes out and starts talking about the history of the theater and the programs that they have 'specially selected' for this year's 80th anniversary scheduling... and how grateful they are for the support and sponsorship of their corporate sponsor GM and GMAC that make shows like this possible, AND how Miles Copeland who produces and manages big name rocks stars like Sting etc discovered bellydance and has modified it 'specially for American audiences. Then some guy from GM comes out and talks for 10 minutes on how GM is top selling automobile everywhere EXCEPT in the US & how we need to get the US to buy more GM cars. Enjoy the show.
now I have lived all my life in an automotive town. I understand the very fine point that my personal financial wellbeing is DIRECTLY related to the health of the North American Auto industry. but for the Price I paid for those bloody tickets!!! GM did not subsidize my seat.
Having said that. I was really really ANGRY to see blocks of unused seats in FRONT of me. Whole rows of empty seats. The audience had some bellydancers in it, I recognized a lot of area performers, people I've seen here and there or at workshops occasionally. But... I'd have to say the audience was around 1/3 bellydancers & friends and majority probably GM management people. Probably thats who got the subsidized seats. Probably that's who didn't use all those EMPTY SEATS!
If you come in LATE to a performance... they should make you wait in the back UNTIL intermission! The ushers should not escort you down to your seat and allow you to disturb
And then the ushers decide to take advantage of some of those empty seats and walk down and grab them. And then later on... one of them decides to walk right through the empty aisle.
HEIGHT OF RUDENESS. I was APPALLED!
And about 20 or more people came in to their seats through the whole of the first post intermission number. AUUUUUAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!
total fan girl here - grain of salt may be necessary.
I missed Sharon Kihara. :( and Bozenka. Didn't miss Adore (who wasn't there either)
Rachel was fab. and Zoe. Mardi and Kami Liddle were there but I felt like I didn't really get to see their talents showcased?
A lot of repeat stuff that we saw with the Raqs Carnival and the one before that. Sonia & Issam. Jilliana's balance on the drum thing. Petite Jamilla's double veil (quadruple veil). The stick dance -boring-
They should have done more with the Voi. They just briefly used them for backdrop in the closing number for about 20 seconds.
Costumes were amazing. Serious Sparkle Envy. And those white tribal costumes. Gorgeous!
They used a lot of my favourite music. Which is nice. But then... I already own it so - nothing to add to my wish list.
Nothing quite like seeing really fabulous performers in person although I hope they come out with a video - I'd buy it just so that I can see my favourite performances again. I hope it's not just solos though. I like watching group numbers. I like to watch the background people PLUS I think it really adds to a performance when they each take a bit to solo and then step back rather than an entire song of just one performer.
All told - I'm glad that we went. I admit to being disappointed but that was more to do with circumstances than the BDSS. It is going to get harder to justify paying the rising cost of tickets though. For two tickets with handling fees & taxes etc this cost me $120. And I'm not sure it was worth it.
Well it was - the performers were fabulous and we don't get to see that caliber of performer around here all that often but... ouch and seriously ticked off about the rudeness of some people. :{