Someone should commit me

[zyada]

For many years I've wanted to start my own BD troupe. It is now time and past time to do so; I'm running out of excuses!

So I'm going to get the cliches rolling and pimp it to the bellydancing community, but I'd like some help to make sure the ad is complete. I haven't actually set up a space yet, but here is what I will be posting to get new dancers:




I want to create a new troupe called Arafeet. Arafeet is the plural form of Ifrit - a type of magical creature like a djinn. While some say that the Ifrit were evil, in truth, they were fire spirits who did not want to conform to the dictates of mere mortals.

Arafeet will be a group of dancers who can create magic with their performance. Our dance should set the stage on fire and challenge the audience's expectations of belly dance.

I envision this troupe to be cabaret/gypsy/modern/eclectic fusion - a very non-traditional style! Emphasis will be on performance, expression, and adaptability. While there will certainly be troupe routines, I will also expect troupe members to be willing to perform solos. Choreography will be at the intermediate/advanced skill level.


On ??? I will have an open house at the Bedford Boys Ranch for any dancers who are interested in joining my troupe. If you are looking for a new dance experience, please join me.

Do I need to add anything besides actual info on when this is?

Comments

[alyxyn.livejournal.com]

Errrr . . . weren't the Ifrit/Arafeet the evil djinns? Or am I getting my mythologies mixed up? Also, the last sentence is a tad redundant (sorry, it's the writer in me getting out [stuffs writer away]).

Would mentioning music (groups/styles/actual songs) help give a flavour of what you want to create? Maybe adding a line about "If you've ever wanted to dance to [fill in the blank here], this is your chance!"?

It certainly sounds very, very cool. I wish I were close enough to come watch a performance sometime!

[zyada.livejournal.com]

Don't stuff your writer away, that's what I need help with!

I didn't think that many people would have heard of the ifrit/arafeet. But you're the second person who has questioned me on the association, and I did look up something after the first person. I've changed the "ad" a bit to clarify this some more - could you take another look at it?


FTR, this is what I got from wikipedia and the encyclopedia brittanica websites:

Ifrits in common mythology are jinn spirits that embody fire. They consider themselves superior to all races because they supposedly "came first," and they resent deeply that humans have found magical ways to take control over them. Even when tasked, they show an ironic and malicious attitude, tending to subvert their masters' orders every time they can.

They often appear as individuals of superhuman beauty and strength, but are very difficult to deal with.

The rare appearance of the term ifrit in the Qur'an (the sacred scripture of Islam) and in Hadith (eyewitness narratives recounting Muhammad's words, actions, or approbations) is always in the phrase “the ifrit of the jinn” and probably means “rebellious.”

[waterlilly.livejournal.com]

"They often appear as individuals of superhuman beauty and strength, but are very difficult to deal with."

Sounds like a bunch of dancers to me. ::snrk::

Seriously, though. I like the name. And I knew what an ifrit was before.

[alyxyn.livejournal.com]

Oo! I get to get out the red pen! err, font. Something.

I like this take on it. Writerly nitpicks:

• take out the comma after "Our dance should set the stage on fire"
• insert a comma after expression in "expression and adapatability" (I love practising conservation of commas!)
• I think you could end the sentece at "please join me." You've already mentioned creating the troupe.

[zyada.livejournal.com]

Done. Anything else?

[nadalia.livejournal.com]

Well, I think you should put some information about yourself in it. How long you have been dancing, who you learned from, etc. If you are going to be a leader then the people joining will want to know your qualifications.

[zyada.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's a good point.

[bobkitty.livejournal.com]

My instructor is interested in re-starting her troupe (Life Issues got in the way a number of years ago, but she's back on the path now), and I was talking to her last night about this. I hope you don't mind, but I proposed the idea of "sister troupes"- where members could email back and forth for choreography ideas, questions, open invitations to attend classes/performances/even potentially a "crash space" if they were going to be in the area for some reason, etc. I was thinking it'd be cool for a new troupe to be able to advertise a service like that- being able to go outside the immediate area for ideas, plus not having to deal with the "competition attitude" that some too-close-to-each-other new troupes experience. Just one more thing that could bring the folks in.

What do you think? I can put you in touch with my instructor if you're interested- she liked the idea.

[zyada.livejournal.com]

This would be a good idea but I'm a horrid correspondent! I really couldn't commit myself to this idea, although I'm happy to answer direct questions.