Samanyolu with JVC Force Tyo
Ok. It's 3:30 am monday morning. I got up at 9 am. On Saturday. So I'm a wee bit tired. So is intrepid reporter Jamie. I've got one last review to do, Samanyolu. Shawn's bailing on me. Jamie's trying to. But I think I know how to get him to keep me company. Jamie, come here. Have a quick look at the next act on, up in five minutes. Samanyolu. That's one of them waiting to go on. They're belly dancers. OK says Jamie. Because you're a mate, I'll hang with you for a bit. What a guy.
I've seen Samanyolu dance before. Their style of bellydance is oriental fusion. But not tonight. No. Tonight, JVC Force Tyo is on the decks. Not Makyo. Not Ahimsa. Not b.Kurishita. No, tonight it's DJ Noriko, and she spins a little differently!
So this evening (morning?) we start the show with the Doors, Break on through. Sped up just a little, and sexed up with a little reverb. Nice. Out come six of the best bellydancers you're likely to see in Japan. Hell. Anywhere! I've not seen anyone dance to this track before in a way that didn't look like they were about to fall over. Not these girls though. Tanishq leads the group out onto the stage, and there is nary a foot out of step here. No stoners on stage tonight! There is a push to the front. Not everyone here was aware of what was to come, but now they all want a look, girls and boys alike. I'm suddenly three rows back. "Excuse me, I'm a journalist. Just doing my job!"
Rolling Stones up next, Under Cover of the Night. The girls are in their cabaret costumes to start, tight sequined numbers. All looking great. DJ Noriko is bouncing up & down, she's having a great old time. Wakako, Hayati, Yuki, Yildiz, Latte, and Nourah round out the dancers. After this, they're off stage for a full costume change. One track is all it takes. It takes me 10 minutes just to put my jeans on at 3am. That's in the unlikely event I'm lucky enough to be putting jeans on at 3am...
Back out now, and the costumes are modern oriental. Lots of veil dancing here, nice. A flowing performance. Out comes the sword, and from my now well rearward stance I believe it's Nourah who does the balancing act. Ooohs and aaahs from the crowd show their appreciation for this difficult style of dance. A Turkish drum solo (the only bow to traditional bellydance music tonight) is next, followed by The Clash with Rock the Casbah to finish.
It's all over, a scant half hour. But it's my last show of FujiRock 08, and it's a damn good way to finish up. The party's not over yet, but the performance are. I still have a few more drinks to drink. A few more peeps to speak to. And a whole lot more to write. But, until next year, have a rockin good time!
Photos by suguta
Reported by Dominic Raos (2008.07.30 / 23:57)