Awwwwwwwwww thanks Elle
Have to say that it really was a great night for me also.
Anne White did a great work on the organizing part, and really enjoyed the back room waiting with the other dancers also. Loved that all of us was total different in style and this was Anne's selection.
The atmosfaire in Darbuka was FANTASTIC, and this is something that always make a dancer better.
Now if my friend that was with me, actually videotaped me, instead of thinking it's gonna be too dark grrrr it would be great, waiting Anne to send me the video (fortunately someone didnt heard her (she said no videotaping, unless have lisence) so i'm gonna have the video )
)
The first performance was from a song of the 30's era by Papaioannou, not the original version but the version of 1980. Actually I'm the dancer for the group that did the version of 1980, and Nikos Saragoudas who is now 77 years old and he is the virtuose of the Oud, give me some hard time on stage with his changes on the oud rythms. A very beloved song for me and emotional also to pay respect for his job.
Since greek chifteteli never went to the stage platform, i picked to wear clothes the most near to what normal women were wearing at this time. So it was just a kind of harem pants (popular at Ismir that era), a blouse on it, and a small head scarf.
The second song was the very well known from the greek and the arabic version .
Well "ta mavra matia sou" is the greek version of the arabic song.
It was sung by Manolis Aggelopoulos a greek legend born in 1939 at north Greece, from a gypsy family. From his childhood he was traveling Greece with the Caravan selling from carpets to watermellons lol, and you know the Caravan trucks had a microphone and he was singing selling them.
His big boom was at 1959 where he recorder his first 45 disc (the small ones) and he brought the mix of greek-gypsy-arabian in the greek music scene.
Ta mavra matia sou, is considered the anthem of the greek gypsies and one of the most favorite songs ever for all greeks for greek chifteteli. For greeks and special greek-gypsies he was like a king and a god, if we want to paralel he was the Oum Kalthum of Greece. Even in his funural (around 15 years ago) it was massive and crying for 3 days.
The lyrics are by Maro Bizani.
"Ta maura matia sou"
Mi figis - dont leave
ke pote mi m'arnithis - and never forget me
Ta mavra matia sou- your black eyes
otan ta vlepo me zalizoune - when i see them, i get dizzy
ke tin kardia mu sigklonizoune- and my heart is broken
otan ta vlepo mu thimizoune- when i see them, i'm remembering
kapia agapi mu palia.-of an old love
mesa sta matia sou - inside your eyes
kitazo kini pou agapousa mexri htes - i'm looking her that i loved till yesterday
ekini pou anikse sta stithia mou pliges- her that opened scars in my chest
ta mavra matia sou m'anaboun pirkagies-your black eyes are firing me
Ta mavra matia sou- your black eyes
otan ta vlepo me zalizoune - when i see them, i get dizzy
ke tin kardia mu sigklonizoune- and my heart is broken
otan ta vlepo mu thimizoune- when i see them, i'm remembering
kapia agapi mu palia.-of an old love
With this song wanted to show how Greece being in the same neighbourgh with Turkey and Arab world had influences and this goes both ways ofcourse.
Still in England but with 40 fever (well the difference from Greece at 21 C to 1 C in London, hit me hard) but surerly looking forword for the next time
I really loved the Freak Out performance !!!!
Kisses to all
Maria Aya
p.s. Elle, maybe you dont post so much over here, but the sweetness that is in your posts exist all over your face and your wonderfull eyes !! not to mention the sexy body and great dance !!!!