"belly bhangra"

Well, here I am, back from the adventures into the unknown territory of the Indian performance. We performed 13th out of 16 at the dance recital. Recital is not really the right word--this was a full fledged belly dancing extravaganza. Our dance teacher Meher belly-danced while her friend did hip-hop and pop-and-lock moves, girls danced with swords, a nine year-old belly-danced, and then we went... the Americans doing "belly bhangra."

It was, to say the least, one of the best experiences I have ever had. The crowd went WILD and clapped along with us as we shimmed in our coin belts. It was absurd, fun, and distinctly Indian. I say that because everything took about 3 minutes longer than it should. The curtain wouldn't open, and the MC made terrible by endearing jokes, and the entire show started about 40 minutes late.

I have to run off to dinner with Aunty, then I'm going out on the town with the dancers.

There will be a DVD. Hopefully all of you will get to see me do one of the weirdest and most humiliating performances of my life.

Much love.