Welcome to the Summer Issue!
Okay, I admit it I'm playing catch
up once again. Summer was busy, very busy. It started with
Cairo Carnivale, followed closely by Wiggles of the West and never slowed
down. So never having enough time to write I invoked my mother's
adage, " You don't find time, you make time." So I just
made time to write this issue.
Wiggles of The West in a New Location & Even Better!!
Wiggles of the West followed suit
and moved to Boomtown and what a joy. The entire staff was welcoming
and helpful. The area is spacious and the two rooms of vending were
close enough that no one felt left out. My booth was, of course in
the main room, being one of the Two Old Bags as well as a vender I have to
be where I can be found. I had a fabulous view of the stage, when I
had time to watch it. It was the largest contest we have had to date!!
Dancers from 8 states and 2 countries gathered for some friendly competition,
informative workshops, and SHOPPING! Also available were Wilfredo
to do professional make-up and hair & Barry Brown to do professional
portrait photography.
Friday night Siwa, who was the very first Headliner of the Year, came back and proved that she still had it all! In a very stiff competition amongst some very hot dancers, she won again!!! Then she came back with her partner Vashti as "Hermanas Gitanas" and they won the Mini Ensemble too. Which was no small feat considering the competition, a fabulous line-up.
Saturday started off with a fashion show, hostessed by Dawn Devine Brown. Thankfully I was not the host this year, last year I announced it and I found out that isn't my thing. I love making the costumes -- not announcing them. Midnight Mirage Dance Company won Ensemble. They were able to compete again this year, because last year the Ensembles were divided and this year Bags decided to make just one category again. Eleven fabulous troupes competed this year - WOW what a group! I'm glad I wasn't judging. Thirteen Entertainers, the professionals & advanced dancers, were narrowed down to seven in the preliminary round. It was not an easy job for the judges.
Sunday was yet another big day. Alouria of Oregon won Rising Star, Tannura won Wiggles and Giggles, and Calypso is the new Entertainer of the Year! For full results, I suggest you got to the Two Old Bags site at www.twooldbags.net You can also find order forms for the contest videos for 2003 and previous years, while you are there. Plus forms for entering the contest yourself!! The Two Old Bags already have entries for 2004, so don't wait too long!
Left: Calypso, Entertainer of the Year Right: Sumra, 3rd Place Entertainer of the Year
Left: Dance Talk pages Right: Check Lists
Friday night Siwa, who was the very first Headliner of the Year, came back and proved that she still had it all! In a very stiff competition amongst some very hot dancers, she won again!!! Then she came back with her partner Vashti as "Hermanas Gitanas" and they won the Mini Ensemble too. Which was no small feat considering the competition, a fabulous line-up.
Saturday started off with a fashion show, hostessed by Dawn Devine Brown. Thankfully I was not the host this year, last year I announced it and I found out that isn't my thing. I love making the costumes -- not announcing them. Midnight Mirage Dance Company won Ensemble. They were able to compete again this year, because last year the Ensembles were divided and this year Bags decided to make just one category again. Eleven fabulous troupes competed this year - WOW what a group! I'm glad I wasn't judging. Thirteen Entertainers, the professionals & advanced dancers, were narrowed down to seven in the preliminary round. It was not an easy job for the judges.
Sunday was yet another big day. Alouria of Oregon won Rising Star, Tannura won Wiggles and Giggles, and Calypso is the new Entertainer of the Year! For full results, I suggest you got to the Two Old Bags site at www.twooldbags.net You can also find order forms for the contest videos for 2003 and previous years, while you are there. Plus forms for entering the contest yourself!! The Two Old Bags already have entries for 2004, so don't wait too long!
Left: Calypso, Entertainer of the Year Right: Sumra, 3rd Place Entertainer of the Year
The Dancers Notebook is The Dancer's Friend
Okay I admit to being a lot prejudice
about this product, because I designed it, wrote it, collected all the information,
and I even was the artist behind all the large images (which are wholly owned
by me and may not be used without my permission) including the front and
back covers. This wonderful little binder can be used by all dancers
to keep themselves organized -- which was why it was designed. I used
the proto-type to keep workshop notes and class notes all in one place,
so I could find them.
As you can see in the above photo, there are over 40 pages
of lined paper for class notes, writing out choreographs, or whatever else
you can come up with. But not just plain lined paper -- each page has
one of five different images (and these are public domain images -- anyone
can use these) and a little dance saying like, "Belly Dancing burns 370
calories and hour". Also of general interest are the Class Check Lists
for Student & teacher, Performance Check List, Workshop Check List,
and the Dance Festival Checklist (gleaned from two articles I wrote for
Wiggle Hips).
The notebook is especially good for beginning dancers, because of the Dance Talk section. Five pages of the strange words students hear in class along with definitions, everything from Assuit to Zills. New students and long time students (you never stop learning) will also find the "Student Dance Class Check List", Publications, Internet Resources, and Regular Events very helpful as they venture further into this wonderful art form.
The notebook is especially good for beginning dancers, because of the Dance Talk section. Five pages of the strange words students hear in class along with definitions, everything from Assuit to Zills. New students and long time students (you never stop learning) will also find the "Student Dance Class Check List", Publications, Internet Resources, and Regular Events very helpful as they venture further into this wonderful art form.
Left: Dance Talk pages Right: Check Lists
All these goodies are stored in a narrow
binder, which allows you to add more to it as you collect hand-outs from
classes and workshops, or whatever you like. All your dance information
in one place -- easy to find when you need it. And all for just $12.00
plus shipping. Check out it and other books I have written on the "Books"
page of my web site at www.designsbyjanie.com