Rock Dances

There will be Rock Dances each night of the convention after the "Fireside Entertainment" on Friday night and after the Masquerade on Saturday night.   Shawn "Obi-Shawn" Crosby will be the DJ on Friday night.   "Lynx" Molisani will be the DJ on Saturday night bringing his own unique mix of goth/techno/rock.

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Belly Dance and Drum Circle

By popular demand  (and friendly pressure from Dr. Arizona *grin*)  I have been coerced into bringing back the Loscon Belly Jam I did for a brief year or two to entertain blood donors and people queded in line for the masquerade.   I will be adding a Drum Circle to this year's Jam, to be played at the Blood Drive and in the hallways at sporadic times when us belly dancers get bored with whatever else is going on at the time.

So far we have three dancers and one drummer that will be joining us from the membership.   I will also be bringing veils for those that don't have them, and two extra drums for the drummers.   Several of the members of Tribe Ban-dal from Orange County will be dancing for the blood donors on Saturday and the Masquerade line-up.   A short intro from their website, "Ban-dal is a Tribal-Fusion belly dance troupe from Orange County, California.   Originally based in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), Ban-dal fuses ATS improvisation with upbeat choreography."   Feel free to read more about them on their website at:   http://ban-dal.com/aboutus.html.

Our Con Chair, Dr. Susan Arizona, has also offered us changing room space so we won't have to cram into a small women's restroom (though the one on the convention floor is actually rather spacious).

DANCERS:  If you are interested in dancing with us you can email it directly to me at luna_the_moonwitch@yahoo.com.   Start looking now for veils and costume pieces.

DRUMMERS or if you know any DRUMMERS:  Ever been to a Drum Circle?   It is an awesome experience for listeners, dancers and drummers alike.   It has even been known to induce a Shamanistic trace-like state in it's participants.   If you have a drum, can get one or know a drummer that has participated in or wants to participate in a Drum Circle, please have them contact me at the above address.   Please note this does not include bringing a typical rock-n-roll drum set ... we are talking hand drums, congo drums, ethnic drums, cymbals or shakers.   If you have any questions as to whether something is included in this list, please email me and I will be happy to go over it with you.

)O(   Luna
Blood-thirsty native and Drumwhore

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Regency Dancing
by John Hertz

The English Regency period (about the year 1800)?   At a science fiction convention?

This colorful time has long fascinated s-f fans.   Its sense of whimsy appeals to us.   We probably started with the Regency romance novels of Georgette Heyer.   Sparkling, whitty, with a good sense of history and a light touch, their sense of humor is almost fannish.   Book dealer Marty Massoglia says Heyer is his best-selling author at cons.

Heyer's books are about Regency aristocrats.   From our point of view they're aliens.   Tor Books editor Teresa Nielsen Hayden says history is the secret weapon of science fiction.

We've had Regency Dancing at s-f cons for years.   I've just come back from Nippon 2007, the first World Science Fiction Convention in Asia; I taught it there.   Usually there's a mix of people who don't know how but think it might be fun; who've tried it before but can't quite remember; who are actually quite good at it; and who only come to watch.

Naturally we’ll have Regency Dancing at Loscon 34.   If you don’t know how, I’ll teach you.   If you’ve tried it but can’t quite remember, or if you’re actually very good at it, don’t worry about that either.   Historical costume of about the year 1800 is welcome, but not required.   When we do this at s-f cons people come in all kinds of costumes.   Or come as you are.

As an introduction try Heyer's Cotillion, just reprinted in October 2007, whose hero isn’t the protagonist and isn’t even a woman – Fuzzy Pink Niven’s favorite.   Arabella, a good introduction, has a fine meeting between the title character’s father and her unlikely sweetheart.   Everybody loves The Grand Sophy.

If you read fanzines - amateur publications by fans, for fans - you know I tried to explain in Mimosa; see it on the Web at  www.jophan.org/mimosa/m29/hertz.htm.

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