Louisville KY
with Il Troubadore
1/27/07

Last night I experienced something wonderful. Dancers and musicians from Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio preformed white goth belly dance. A sight to see let me assure you. If you are unfamiliar with white goth get acquainted. Goth belly dance deals with personal issues of sadness and discovery of the human experience. “The kid at the prom dressed in all black, leaning thoughtfully against the wall.”  White goth is appropriate at such a bleak time of year.

Dancers dressed in white, gleamed in the dark, crowded Jenicca’s café. With a packed house I was fortunate to sit at the bar. Other areas were standing room only five deep, at times. The bands squeezed into an area no bigger than my laundry room. However, the music from Snakes Rising and Il Troubadore was radiant.

Jenicca’s Wine Bar and Café is located downtown at 636 E. Market Street. The atmosphere was laid back and dim with romantic lighting, candles and art for sale on the walls.  The prices are fair and the food is fresh and very tasty. The cheesecake sampler is decadent. On this night my only complaint was the understaffing. Two hands on deck were simply not enough to keep up with a packed house. Also the limited room of the dancers made it impossible to serve anyone not at the bar. In fact the show sold out of tickets, plus some- a huge success.

Art Sanctuary provided an exhibit upstairs with a white theme. Art Sanctuary was started two years ago and consists of over two hundred artists. They pop up at events around town and deserve a look.

If I could type forever I would go into more detail about the costumes, makeup, music and dancing. However this is art and reading about art and feeling it are two separate things. I have no words to replace the sensations felt by everyone in that little café. I must give a heart felt thank you to the dancers; Zarhara, Taletha, Raymere, Laura, Qumara, Hadara, Jajira Lena, Salima, Oriris, Angel deMont and Mystic Hips.

For the musicians Snakes Rising and Il Troubadore the energy never wavered; it was fantastic. Last but not least the people behind the action TL2Productions and who ever else was involved in setting the show up. These are the benders and shakers that my not make art but they make art happen. This kind of culture makes Louisville a better place to live. I hope other towns take the hint and incorporate the entrancing, empowering, ancient art of belly dance.