Well, tonight I make my semi-professional debute again!

We had our dance department dance review Wednesday night, and pix will be forthcoming. We were great, several people told us that we were the best group on stage, so that was awesome!

I went out on stage, in front of an audience of maybe 300 or 400 people, and I OWNED the stage. I wasn't the slightest bit nervous, and I'm quite amazed at that, believe you me! I made eye contact with many of the audience, and I had the biggest smile on my face the whole time. Not only did I look like I was having a great time, I WAS having a great time!

The next NSV is my costume... my top was a crop tant top that I've added bead work too to make it sparkle. But the important part of that sentence is CROP TOP! Yes, that's right, I was wearing a belly shirt on stage, exposing my ample belly to the public, with my surgery scars clearly visible! And I did it on purpose!

Okay, this next one isn't an NSV, not really, and it properly goes on the "Skniny Bitches" thread, but here it is We had just come off stage after doing our two numbers and we were all still amped up on adrenalline. We were talking about how we had done, bla bla bla. A group of ballet dancers were there, I mean, right there and one of the skinny blond said to another skinny blond the snottiest comment I've heard in a long time. Okay, all the ballet dancers were skinny blonds, but that's besides the point. She said, in a loud voice "well, at least we weren't shaking our Bon-Bons." In the snottiest possible voice mind you. So, I simply said, with sugar in my voice, "well that's because you can't shake your Bon-Bon." And then I smiled so sweetly at her. (then she said that I was probably right, and the group of them walked away) So, I suppose that makes me a fat bitch, but I just decided that I wasn't in the mood to take crap from anyone.

So, the next part of the Bellydancing NSV is that I'll be dancing againg tonight at a local restaurant, and yes, I'll be dancing for tips, so Big Paul, you'd better leave now so you get here in time, and yes, you'll probably need to take out a second mortgage

So, finally, I'm doing this when I weigh 240 pound and not waiting until I get closer to goal. I'm doing this at size 22/24 and not when I get to my goal of 12/14

All I have to say is that you are a brave, brave woman.

That is SO cool!

Brake a leg

LOL -- that's great that you called her on her non-existent bon-bon. Congrats on the success of your performance!

Congratulations!!! on your performance and best of luck on your performance tonight...I hope you come home with bags full of tips from belly dancing and shaking that "bonbon" tonight! Please be sure and update us on how it went.

You go girl-- Shake that Bon Bon

Hi Vine,

I agree with Alex. You are extremely brave. You go girl!!! shake your groove thang...

Babs in TX

LOL -- that's great that you called her on her non-existent bon-bon. Congrats on the success of your performance!

Actually it was a shot at her rigidity, because ballet dancers have the most diffiuclt time learning to move with great Fluid motions in their torso. We had a couple of women in ballet as well as bellydancing, and they couldn't move their hips or chest in isolations. Not sure what a Bon-Bon is, but apprently it's something that bellydancers have

I think BonBon must be skinnycuteblonde for "tush" or "Booty".

Really, they speak a whole different language, I swear.

GO CRYSTAL!!! I hope you make so much money you can give up your aspirations to work for the Gov'mt and become a true professional Belly Dancer and Dance Instructor.

:]

Yikes! One fat bellydancer!

I am so so so proud of you!! You look fabulous, and you know what makes it even better? You look so flippin' happy! Bravo!!!!!

Could someone please do the picture magic and tile/resize the pix as needed? Pretty please?

This is a pix of my teacher and me.

two more, and that's all, I promise.

These two are from Wednesday night after our performance. See if you can pick me out...

I think BonBon must be skinnycuteblonde for "tush" or "Booty".

Really, they speak a whole different language, I swear.

GO CRYSTAL!!! I hope you make so much money you can give up your aspirations to work for the Gov'mt and become a true professional Belly Dancer and Dance Instructor.

:]

Ah, good point, since we sure were shaking our collective booties on stage!

Oh, and Beanybaby, there is little chance that I'll give up my plans to go work for the government, after all, it is my solem duty to protrect this great nation of ours. My way will be to strengthen and protect our infrastructure against hackers, both foreign and domestic.

Of course, after I'm done with my service, I'll sell out and go to work for some fat cat multi-national making the big bucks, protecting our critical infruastrucre in a different capacity.

Very sexy, lady!

Where can we go to download the video?!

Sadly, there is no video. Only stills. But the good news is that I've been invited to come dance at the restaurant again.