Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

My belly dancing instructor, Salome

Last Sunday, after leaving Philcon we drove to the belly dancing hafla, which is a celebration. It was being held at Casablanca on Haverford Avenue.

We got there right at quarter of 4, when the doors were supposed to be opening. We were right behind some fellow members of my belly dancing class, so when the waiter came to seat us, we asked if we could sit by them.

One by one, other members of our class filed in and were seated in the same section, including a belly dancer who had once taught our class as a substitute.

We made small talk and got to know each other a bit better. Aside from names, and sometimes not even that, I really didn't know the other people in my class that well. We went around the table, sharing our occupations and our names. Interestingly, at least three people were in the health field.

People kept arriving and soon, even though we'd relinquished our coats to a coat rack, we couldn't make enough room for everyone in our class. Two of them had to sit on pillows on the floor, but fortunately, they were both wearing pants.

The waiters came out with a tureen and a water pitcher to wash our hands. Then they gave us each clean towels to put on our laps. You see, this was a Moroccan restaurant, and you eat with your hands.

The first course came out soon. That was a plate with appetizers. They brought out a bowl of baba ganouj, which is a dip made out of eggplants; a bowl of hummus, which is a dip made from chick peas; carrot salad; cucumber and tomato salad; and eggplant salad. Then they came out with big baskets of pita bread, which we could use to eat the salad and dip.

We were all hungry, because most of us had eaten lightly that day, knowing it would be a large meal. The pita bread and the baba ganouj were especially delicious. We all chatted as we ate.

One person at our table, however, wasn't eating. When we asked her about it, she said that she's a "very picky" eater and has some food allergies besides. Apparently, she'd had a grilled cheese sandwich before she came to the hafla. (Of course, that's not much of a meal, even so.) I felt a little sad for her. Even though I'm dieting, I'd rather participate in the feast, in moderation, than sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else eat.

The next course they brought out was bastilla, which is a traditional Moroccan pastry dish including chicken, eggs, almonds, a variety of spices such as ginger and cinnamon and topped with confectioner's sugar and cinnamon. The filling has a very light consistency, like a spongy custard.

This dish was difficult to eat with your hands, but we managed. One of the people at our table was vegetarian, so they gave her a smaller version of the bastilla, without the chicken.

Next was our main entree. We got to choose two, and we chose chicken with olives and garlic, and chicken with apricots. I tried some of each, and they were both great.

At this point the dancing began, starting with some students of Najia, who is a friend of my belly dancing instructor, Salome. Najia had organized the hafla. Considering some of these students had never performed in public before, they did a great job. They did a very beautiful slow dance in a circle, holding candles. They were all dressed in really modest black costumes with mesh showing off their bellies.

The next course was a chicken shish kabob, and that had a definite grilled taste. Meanwhile, more dancers performed, including more students of Najia's and also another belly dancing instructor who's been performing for decades.

Najia did a duet with one of her most accomplished students, both wearing bright red and pink. Another belly dancing instructor, whose name, I believe, is Emmeline, performed. She had also once substituted for our class.

There was a break in the food, and Najia herself performed. She impressed us all by dancing with a tray of candles on her head, even getting down on the floor with them! It was hard for us to see her on the floor because of where we were sitting. The restaurant has three separate sections, separated by short walls and beaded curtains. We were on the far end away from the dancing area, so we really couldn't see the floor work.

But she also came into our section and danced for us. At the close of her performance, she put some fast music on and invited us to get up and dance with her. All of her students did so, as well as some from our class, including me.

There was a break from the dancing, and the waiters brought out the next dish, which was a couscous dish. If I hadn't eaten so much already, I would have had more. This was the only course eaten with spoons. Each of us had a small amount.

Then my instructor, Salome, performed. As always, she was terrific. She can be both mysterious and joyous, and she's always fun to watch. She did some floor work, too, involving her veil. I stood up and managed to see a bit of it.

At the close of her performance, she also invited people to get up. This time, no one in our class had any excuses. They all got up and danced, which was a lot of fun. It also probably helped us work off some of the food.

The meal wasn't over yet. First they came out with the tureen and pitcher again to clean everyone's hands. Then they brought out bowls of fresh fruit. They always have the best fruit; sweet and fresh. And finally, they brought out the dessert, baklava. It was heavenly.

We hung around for a short while afterwards and socialized, congratulating the dancers on their performances. Najia gave bunches white roses to all the performers.

Then it was time for The Gryphon and I to go collect Una, who'd been at the pet sitter's this weekend. We got there a little earlier than we'd anticipated. Una was very happy to see us, but we were told that she'd had a good weekend and been very well behaved, enjoying her time to socialize with the other dogs as well as with the pet sitter and her husband.

Seems like we all had a good weekend.

Copyright 2004 by Alyce Wilson

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