Lara Adrienne

I got a job offer in Alanya. Should I take it? And just when this nomadic belly dancer was starting to put down roots. . .

In Istanbul, Tuesday through Friday, I spend two or three hours on two nights a week teaching dance classes, and three hours on two evenings week tutoring kids. I rehearse with my drummer and his violinist friend about once a week. On weekends, and less frequently, during the week, I have other gigs--last night was Monday, and I performed with nine or ten ...

After long post-New Year’s hiatus during January and most of February, my performance schedule started to pick up toward the third week of February, starting with my show in Van, then the listening party for a pop singer called Arman, where I performed with incredible percussionist Bünyamin Olguncan, and some other great musicians at Ghetto Music Lounge. (Don’t ask me why it’s called that, but it’s a cool place.)

This Friday and Saturday past, I performed with Besidos, the Balkan-gypsy-pop ...

It was perfect that I signed my gig contract two months before New Year’s Eve, because the two weeks prior to the 31st, when everyone is clamoring to book talent for the biggest night out of the year, I was to be in the US on holiday with my family, with my Turkish telephone turned off. My performance was to be in Adana, in southern Turkey, at Inci Hotel.

After what seemed like a never-ending intercontinental journey comprised of less than restful neck-lolling, open-mouthed plane ...

It's been ages since I've written something in my Bhuz blog, so here's an update:

I'm still in Istanbul. I'd have to rate my summer as "fantastic overall". There were of course some frustrating, disappointing, and stressful moments here and there, but I can't really complain. I performed at a casino in Montenegro, at a concert in Cyprus, on a cruise ship sailing Greek islands as part of a 10 day contract, and at a bunch of parties and a couple concerts here in Istanbul. ...

Life in Istanbul is a roller coaster of ups and downs.

1. Dancing is fun. (Up.)

2. There is an angry psycho agency manager harassing and threatening me because the dancer I recommended to him for a gig in Greece demanded to be paid in full as agreed. (Down.)

3. I have an awesome apartment and I made a most delicious vegan potato, broccoli, chard, coconut soup. (Up.)

4. I finished the soup last night and am now starving again. (Down.) ...

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