I recently had the chance to see the English Touring Opera’s dress rehearsal of Così fan tutte at the Hackney Empire. It’s a very exciting thing to walk into a working theatre for a rehearsal: for me there is a very strong sense of having crept into a secret world of esoteric delights. I haven’t … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Belly Dance
Belly Dance Indeterminacy: Reviewing the Barbican Duchamp Exhibition
I recently had a chance to see the Barbican’s new art exhibition, ‘The Bride and the Bachelors: Duchamp with Cage, Cunningham, Rauschenberg and Johns.’ Now, I’m going to be honest with you: I’m not very fond that particular period and style of modern art, so it probably wasn’t the most obvious choice for me to … Continue reading
Just Like Riding a…
Can I tell you a secret? I don’t know how to ride a bike. Somehow I just never learned when I was a kid, and then I managed to quietly avoid it, living in a serenely bike-free universe until…well, until I decided that there was a bike-shaped hole in my life. The main impetus for … Continue reading
My Brand New Book!
I can’t stop smiling. I look at my number of readers and I cannot stop smiling. I have just published my first book. Granted, it’s just an ebook, and it’s published on a small independent website called LeanPub, but still…it’s a book, and it’s mine. It is called, by the way, Global Moves: Belly Dance … Continue reading
Sewing Red
Late Friday night I found myself with a handful of red fabric in my hands, swearing under my breath and sewing furiously. I’d agreed (under a tiny amount of duress) to perform at the final Saqarah hafla in its monthly format. (There will be more Saqarah, just not monthly.) The performance was the following night, … Continue reading
This Milestone is Made of Diamonds: The Belly Dance Anthropologist Officially Earns that PhD
My dear Skirts and devoted readers everywhere, I am very pleased to share with you the news that my thesis revisions have been accepted and I will very soon hold a PhD in Arab and Islamic Studies! I found out on Monday and wanted to make sure the administrative paperwork was well under way before … Continue reading
In a Merry Hour: Caitlin E McDonald 