I have been a fan of Pavlo and company since the first time I saw their concert three or more years ago and had met them all after the show to autograph my CDs.  There was one song in particular that I love to belly dance to, and use it at my restaurant gig often because it sounds very Greek and happy.  This time, at intermission, I went to buy Pavlo’s most recent recording and he was there behind the table.  I introduced myself and thanked him for this great song that I dance to.  We chatted and before you know it, he had invited me to dance and Lee to play the doumbek for this particular song in the second set.  “It’ll be great”, he says.  He told us that during the slow part, he would introduce us to come up and perform the second half of the song.  I was flattered but unsure, since I don’t like to be “unprepared”.  I was not in my dance head-space, so had to quickly get there, while creating up a belly dance look -  from my regular clothes.

 

It was tons of fun and a warm audience.  After the show ended, we jammed with Boris, one of the percussionists and shared some new techniques with each other.  I were chatting with the whole gang and Pavlo told me he had visited a great cafe where he was pleasantly pleased to hear his music playing and enjoy a fabulous lunch.  It was, of course, my place, The Fibonacci Roastery & Cafe.   He couldn’t believe the coincidence and we all had a good laugh.

 

Pavlo thanked me and asked if the next time he played in the area would I like to perform with them.  He started thinking when next that would be and suddenly exclaimed:  “Hey, why don’t you come to Vernon tomorrow night for our next gig and perform to the song with us!” (Vernon is two hours north of Penticton.)  How could I say no?  I agreed.  The next day at noon, before they headed to Vernon, the band stopped in at The Fibonacci for espresso.  The whole group are kind and charming, giving kisses to me on each cheek in greeting.  “We’ll see you tonight!” they exclaimed when they left.

 

I’d never before driven two hours to dance for 2 minutes, but it would be too fun to miss out.  Lee was excited about drumming with the band and it was a challenge to get out of work early enough to get there for a warm-up, which we didn’t make anyway because of traffic in Kelowna.  At the last minute the fellow who said he would come to video the performance jammed out, so we had to scramble to find someone.  Luckily, my very sweet friends Genevieve & Steve came with 30 minutes notice and did a great job.

 

The venue was the Vernon Performing Arts Centre and really nice.  Pavlo and his band were in the wings and greeted us warmly like we were old friends.  They gave me my own private dressing room with mirrored lights and all the trimmings and then we all hung out in the Green Room.  Pavlo agreed I should dance to the whole song which started fast, went into a slow section in the middle and then a windup.  I always improvise to this song when I dance it at Theo’s, but I know the music very well, so I had planned to do the same thing, improvise.  I was nervous the night before because of no warning and no costume.  But no nerves tonight - I was thrilled.  I didn't get changed until after intermission, since the song Tsiftetelli, would be third up in the second set.  We sat in the audience and enjoyed the show a second time.  (it was even better in a theatre setting!)

 

In the wings and Green Room there are video monitors and speakers everywhere in order to know what’s always happening on stage.  I felt totally spoiled!  We got back stage to wait and my drummer went on first to start the rhythm.  Pavlo had the crowd clapping for the intro and then it was my turn for the stage.

 

The audience was warm and happy; I felt them embracing me with their energy.  It was a roomy stage and people were snapping photos and cheering.

I had a talk with myself earlier about holding back (I tend to give it all away early) and knowing that there was a slow section coming, I had planned to do a series of big slow isolations followed by letting loose with the big stuff for the wind-up.  It was so much fun up there!  I started thinking that this slow section should have come by now, as it’s only a five minute song.  I was concerned that the band was drawing it out and I’d be too pooped for the wind up.  I glanced back at them inquiringly.  Afterwards, my drummer confessed it was him; he had no monitor and after a while could barely hear the music.  The band tried to slow down, but since he kept going, the band kept it up!  For me that meant no actual slow section and well, no wind up.  It was like dancing blind, in a way, although the song was still familiar.  Well, a dancer’s gotta go with the flow!  It was too bad I didn’t get to execute the many moves I had planned on.  But hey, that’s what improvising is all about.  Risk.  Apart from that mental glitch, all in all, it was a magical night and I feel I interpreted the instruments well.

 

 

I really, really loved dancing on a proper stage.  A nice change from cramped venues where it’s sometimes more like dancing through a labyrinth instead of full out performing.  I loved that stage and audience energy, it was like a drug!   And I got more than a two-minute fix; more like seven.  So, as the title of this blog indicates, I really did have in the back of my mind, a little day dream; where instead of dancing to the recording of this favorite song, I would get asked to dance on stage while the band performed it.  The dream came true . . . how serendipitous.

 

The band members are such gentlemen and bestowed many kind compliments.  Pavlo is a generous man and a true artist.  It’s obvious that he is passionate about his craft and also that he cares deeply for his band members.  Because I’ve been involved (in different capacities) quite a bit in the entertainment industry over the years, working with many musicians, and been in bands myself, I can truthfully say: this group of men are amazing; they respect each other, have a wonderful energy together and appreciate their audience and the talents of other artists.

 

Thank you Pavlo, George, Gino, Randy, Boris, Denzel and Lee.