a performer's awareness: tribal versus oriental

I noticed something unusual while performing lately, about my real-time perceptions onstage and how they differ depending on whether I'm performing "regular" bellydance (choreography or solo improv), or TOBD (Tribal Odyssey Bellydance) group improv. It’s interesting to me because given how many times I’ve performed, it’s surprising to have a new experience. Not that I think I can't learn anything new about performing, I'm not saying that! It’s just that it doesn't happen very often.

I actually only realized this difference in awareness after I saw the ton of photos people posted on facebook and from watching the videos I took. After I saw the photos and videos I realized that while I was performing, I didn’t even notice the people around us - because I don’t remember them - even when they were really close to us! I didn’t even “see” the photographers right in front of us taking photos. I mean, I know I was aware that there were bodies out there around us or in front of the stage, but I didn’t notice what they were doing (or not doing). This is in STARK contrast to how my perceptions are during “oriental” style belly dance, when I’m aware of EVERYTHING.

From my expressions in the photos, of course I look like I’m “performing”, with my usual stage persona in place, smiling and looking at people, but now I realize my focus was really on our group. My eyes are looking and smiling at people, but my mind is on the other dancers!

"What photographer? I only have eyes for Akila!"

Maybe it’s because when you’re doing tribal improvisation you’re so inter-connected with your group and focused on what’s happening between everybody... plus, we were doing our newest feature, Tribal Sword, which none of us are really used to yet. This is reminding me of long, long ago at one of my first performances - actually my first performance for dancers - at a hafla for WAMEDA (Washington Area MidEast Dance Association). I did a short oriental solo I’d created; it went great, was well received, and the video shows me performing just fine, even my face; but afterwards I couldn’t even remember it! So I think something similar is happening, at least right now while we're still new at sword improv; I guess there’s just too much going on to process it all at once. Maybe it's always been like this and I just didn't notice until I saw the photos.
Does this happen to you too?

Anthea / Kawakib
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