The below photo is a shot that I took at this years St. John's Lantern Festival (Check out the website for more info http://www.fovp.org/lanternFestival/index.shtml). The ladies above are known as The Neighbourhood Strays. They highlighted this years festival with a pre-dusk dance show, following with a stroll through the park's lanterns, and ending with a fire spectacle.
It was the first time for some of the newest strays to perform in public making their solo appearances and dance personas. The energy was high and they all looked quite spectacular. Being on the sidelines I got to experience not only a great performance but the audiences' experiences as well.
Being the sociologist that I am I had a surreal sense of sitting in between 'not quite an audience member', not a dancer, and not exactly what you may call a professional photographer. Peoples reactions to the troupe were quite interesting. For example, there were a bunch of young girls sitting in the front row in awe of my lovely friends. They would look and stare as I would zagareet and yip wondering what in the world I was doing. I explained in the simplest manner that these sounds were of respect and enjoyment and that they too could call.
The second experience was not as enjoyable, there was another young girl walking past when the show was over. Her mother explained that the young girl thought the belly dancer bellies were too big. Her mother laughed as if she didn't know about the acceptability of the statement jeering on her young daughter. The young girl replied "It's true, they do have big bellies. Bellydancers are not supposed to have bellies." I was initially enraged by this statement. I wanted to tell the young maid that this is not so, that her mind had been polluted with sexualized images. It was when my young friend, who is the daughter of one of the strays, started to speak in contrast to the girl that I was awakened from my stupor. "No" I said, "They do not know the difference." But, they should know the difference. Education is the best remedy for this young person who is unaware of the constraints she is placing upon the world and thus is placed upon her. Will they be able to learn? My young friend replied to my statement saying "I know." and rolled her eyes. If this is any indication then I think that YES people can learn about such cultures of femininity.
So, let us talk about the fire. Once darkness fell, the troupe entered into the park area designated for the fire jugglers and stilt walkers. They Zill-ed and danced amongst the flames. They finished their performance in flames as Lori picked up a fire sword and danced among her mates. Awe was sought and found in this performance. Though The people were hard to see due to the dark.
Drums rang out and all the world seemed a blaze with the energy of the festival.
