Must-Haves for Lebanese Fest

It's that time of the year again...Troupe Roja will be performing at the 17th Annual Lebanese Festival!

I'm especially excited about this year's performance. After last year's Roja debut at the Lebanese Festival, which included everything from Khaleegy dance to American cabaret to Flamenco-inspired fusion, I am relieved that we will not be fussing with so many costumes this year. (Nothing like frantic costume changes in under two minutes in 90 degree heat backstage while breathless from performing the previous number...) BUT the show will be no less spectacular; Roja will be debuting FIVE choreographies never performed at the Lebanese Festival, two of which are original and have not been performed anywhere yet! 

This year, we focused on the variety within the genre of Middle Eastern music. Our set will include an acapella zill (finger cymbals) number, the classic "Zeina", a fast accordion solo with Isis wings, a Hossam Ramsy drum duet, and a Lebanese pop song fused with Egyptian melaya leff dance and debke. And--I am very excited about this--Roja will have a special guest performing during the set. It will be her very first performance and what a venue to step out into the stage lights!

So, for her (and any other dancers wondering what to bring to an outdoor show in 80 degree weather) here is... 

Zattana's Top 10 List of Lebanese Festival Must-Haves for Performers

1. Costume (duh) that includes top, skirt, harem pants (required for dancing on the raised stage), dance shoes, and belly net cover (required for this show)

2. An adequate cover up/abaya/moo-moo (required for any show). A veil is NOT a cover up!

3. Jewelry (earrings, rings, bracelets, arm bands, and/or necklace) and bindis (if you like to wear them)

4. Makeup (you will need it for touch-ups), fake eyelashes, eyelash adhesive

5. A wash cloth to dab the sweat off your brow backstage between songs

6. A folding fan to use before/after the show and a water bottle (it is HOT, stay hydrated)

7. Safety pins, dress tape, industrial staples, or whatever you need to keep your costume in place

8. Zills and melaya (props of choice for this year's show), CD with music/announcer's notes, troupe sign, and easel

9. Clothes to change into after the show, including shoes and (ahem) under-things

10. (optional) Camera, sunglasses, cash for shopping, snacks, friends, family...

It helps to carry an "emergency kit" for the troupe as well (credit for that fantastic idea goes to Alan Louie) and I always bring it with me to shows when I'm performing with Egyptian Breeze or Roja. But that's a topic for another blog!

I hope you will come out to the Lebanese Festival on August 28th to see Roja's set at 8pm, to support our brave new mystery-dancer, and to see the other fabulous troupes as well. It's going to be a great show!