Finally we get to Mother's Ruin

[parasitegirl]

I'd been to Mother's Ruin once before, to see Anaan/Joe/Farasha perform as Harrissa. It's not a large venue, but it's a loveable one. It's one of two bar/cafes run by our DJ and his wife: Mother and Mother's Ruin. They took great care and thought in designing Ruin (I've never seen Mother). They didn't "find the space" they painstakingly built it. It's below ground, the walls are organic-looking stone with inset lights that shine through glass Aztec/Mayan faces. The floor is well worn wood. The benches and tables are all wood and also very organic looking...and there is the large copper lizard crawling across the ceiling. It's very cave/found looking.

 

It's not set up for dancers. There is one funky (in the good way) bathroom, which is the one place you can change. The whole mystery of the bellydancer thing is hard to maintain when you have to change first and hang around in front of everyone in a coverup. It's not a place you'd go for big bling and glam. If you come to Mother's Ruin in Glamazon mode you'll look a bit out of place. If you pack a lower-key costume you'll be set. It's the place to be a bit eccentric, low key, funky...and to play with a variety of world musics. It's the sort of place I'd love to try to organize an event with a few musicians there...if only I could figure out where to put them.

It isn't big, you don't get any wide-open spaces...but I'm not used to big. It does have tall ceilings (it has to to have the lizard!).

It has a great, warm, at-home atmosphere. You don't put on airs at Mother's Ruin.

I got there first. I was joined by guest tribal-fusion dancers Misato (she's the only place to get straight up ATS taught around here) and her Muppet-like partner JJ. Eshe and Anaan came a soon after. Sali and Suiren were last. We decided the first set would be Mistato & JJ, myself, and Anaan. (Tribal fusion, Balkan/Jazz fusion, Tribal fusion) and the second would be more Oriental (Pop/Oriental with Eshe, Indian and Gypsy inspired fusion with Suiren, and straight up joyous Egyptian Oriental with Sali). We took over one the table in the corner farthest from the door (and nearest to the bar/Dj) and stored our make-up, drinks, selves there.

Suiren worried that her Indian inspired costumes wouldn't be appropriate for her second song (a 9/8) so Anaan and I gave her a crash course in "that song is coming from a CD comp released by Dahlia Corella...so you're pretty safe in mixing those visual styles because Dahlia's style is a fusion of many dance forms including Indian dance, Romani dances, flamenco...blah blah blah." and my additional "and, as much as you might want to think that full skirts and tribal bras are authentic 'Gypsy'...er...well...it's fun and all...but don't think that just because most dancers here use it for "Gypsy style" that the look represents any Romani people...it's a social dance, you wear  the shirt and long skirt you came in and tie something around your waist, everything else involves some fusion/invention." I know everything I wear for Romani-inspired dance involves some fusion, I just try to keep from being some sort of parody/stereotype/Disney Gypsy and keep it respectful and also true to the other things I am using in conjunction with it.

Misato and JJ will be at Tribal Fest this year. We worked on JJ's ability to say "who the fuck are you?" like an American. We also all took pictures flashing original gang signs...which is the sort of pre-show behavior we usually don't do in front of customers and normal venues. We also all hit the glitter-infused Lush body bars in front of all and sundry.

Two of the previously MIA DJs dropped in, our beloved Elfin Dj Daishu (Dj Ahimsa) and Gio (Makyo)...but Gio was just stopping in en route to a party. In retrospect, I should have had the balls to suggest that if he couldn't stay, he could still donate to the cause...we need to get better at doing that. Daishu, within moments of entering and hugging us, had glitter stuck in his stubble for the rest of the night. Students/dancers/friends who had missed the Saturday show came. The place slowly filled. We still had some room to seat people when we started the first set.

I am very serious about JJ being a Muppet. Some existing Muppets remind you of people you know...but JJ makes me think of a Muppet that doesn't yet exist. When we were getting ready she would occasionally lift her skirts/bustles/layers and show us the animal print slippers and giant yellow leg warmers she was rocking below. This Muppet-y-ness is also part of her dance. When Misato and JJ go from straight up tribal to tribal fusion, it's a creepy/crazy doll fusion inspired by the gothic/lolita scene here. Our Gothic Bellydance scene exists but is a slightly different animal from what America has. Misato and JJ did duets and solos.

 JJ is also the best person to have in your audience. She has no ability or desire to mask her expressions. Her jaw drops, her eyes widen, she smiles the world.

I then danced to Besh O Drom's "Nekemtenemmutogatol Oro"  and "Le Mariage" by Golem. I'd chosen music that I've used in past events, but not for a long time. Very responsive crowd! Anaan then took the stage. She started with a taxism ( a slow instrumental solo) with her back to the audience..facing our table of dancers. While working her hips and arms, she treated us to an insane act that can only be described as "facial taxism" stretching and pulling her mouth and face all over the place. So while the audience only saw her curves undulating, we were doubled over in fits of giggles. Anaan feels like her following performance and drum solo got out of control...but the rest of us saw her go into "fuck-it, I'm gonna have fun and I don't care!" mode and enjoyed it

A full table of regular customers came at the start of the second stage..they hesitated and started to leave but the owner and Daishu brought them right back in and sat them down.

Eshe and Suiren were lovely. Eshe worked the crowd and then busted out some major CUTE. Suiren was lovely. Sali...well..Sali was transcendent. Egyptian style the way you want to see it. She just fills the room with emotion.

Then we all got up to jam and pull people up.

Now...at normal venues we don't goof as much when getting up and playing around...at Mother's Ruin we goofed, funned, and grabbed each other's asses more than should be admitted. Our Dj's wife/ MR's owner loved the show and asked if we'd be up for a third set because the place was now full and people wanted more. SURE!

I'd burned two CDs that afternoon, not knowing which one I would go with. My second one: Spiewaj Yidl Mitn Fidl performed by Justyna Steczkowska and Have a Beer by Slavic Soul Party. Sure, I'd use that for our third set. Other dancers raided Neil's music. Eshe, having already changed and forked over her white costume to a new owner (me performed in her street clothes. The rest of us stuck with the costumes we had on. Eshe, Misato, JJ, (Suiren?) and Anna soloed before me. The audience was wonderful. Really, despite not having live music or Nourah, this was the Charity Show to be at. Because of the lack of prep time (48 hours and then 15 minutes) we'd all grabbed music we loved, knowing the music would make up for the lack of practice, and we each performed the styles we are most comfortable in the sort of costumes we could assemble and travel light with....so the show really highlighted the range of dancers within the group while also stripping us down to the very basic core of the dancers/individuals we are.

I had a blast. The music I used had enough depth that I could have moments of quiet and introspection...but also enough drive and power that I could also do what I do best: run amuck! Wheeee! To kick and spin, and be a royal dancing imp that I am. I could flirt with my buddies and work the crowd. I messed up people's hair, blew kisses, winked, threw kicks over heads and went full throttle...only to rein it in abruptly and pull it inward.

I wish I could have stayed longer, but after our set I RAN to the bathroom to get changed before anyone else could. I hugged and said goodbye quickly. I'd be home by midnight if I caught the train soon. I wish I could have caught up with Daishu more, because it's been a while. I also regret not having time to drink and socialize with the other dancers (I stuck to Ginger Ale the whole evening). The owner talked to me about how much she enjoyed my performance and how she'd like me to come and DANCE there again. She's very particular about who she wants dancing there, she's not afraid to say no to potential dancers. I think I have now danced for the whole Mother's family: Neil, his wife, and both of their daughters. His older daughter Haruka (I think) got up and danced with me back when I had my first full 30-minute oriental set at Cozmos and I later burned her a copy of my music. The families of otehrs have seen me perform more than my own family.

 I was dead tired Tuesday morning. Three evenings of shows and one night of drinking...costumes everywhere...no set eating times...

It's Wednesday now. This morning The Milkman's Sister drove me to my school. If you need an example of how locked down the office is...this was the first moment in two days that we'd been together outside of city hall. In two days of working side-by-side with me she'd said nothing about attending the show aside from a smile and head-tilt. When we stepped outside today and headed to the parking lot she said (In Japanese) "We can talk!!!" She enjoyed the hell out of the two stages she saw on Saturday night. She even enjoyed people watching between sets. She had a lot of questions about what she saw, but over-all it was all lovely gushing. We talked about it the whole way to school and the whole way back. I did remind her that calling a dancer "the thin one" doesn't really help me narrow down who she is referring to when talkign about The Afet Collective