Fela!

How AMAZING!

I was in New York F'n City to bring in the New Year and along with hitting a few parties I really wanted to go and see Fela! I am SO happy that I got to see it.

Me and my girl braved what had to be the coldest night EVER to see the magnificentity that is the story of Fela Kuti - multi-dimensional musician and human rights activist. We walked the 7 blocks from the subway station to the TCKTS Discount booth. The winds were so powerful I didn't think we would make it there alive. My face and hands were numb despite my wool scarf and gloves. I was actually trying to walk with my eyes closed because I thought my contacts were going to turn into icicles. I kept bumping into the tourists who were caught up in the amazement of Times Square but I was too cold to even utter "sorry" (I feel bad about that now).

I was delighted to see that the line wasn't that long and even more happy when we got our balcony seats for just $67...regularly priced $125...score! Even though there was more than an hour 'til show time we decided to just walk to the two blocks to the theatre and wait inside the corridor where it was warm(ish). There stood some other eager patrons waiting for the doors to the auditorium to open. I had the pleasure of chatting (after macco'n) with a long time dance teacher. She beamed when she explained that she was Sahr Ngaujah's (who stars in the show as Fela Kuti) first dance teacher. She spoke of him like he was her child. It was wonderful. Some young dance students were in the line too and took the opportunity to ask Ngaujah's dance matriach insightful questions. She graciously spewed out names and numbers and websites of the essential...

When the doors finally opened we danced our way to the balcony to the rythms of an Afro Cuban band - sssssick! I surveyed the room as cool New Yorkers and tourists alike made their way in. I loved loved LOVED the decor of the auditorium filled with bright colours, grafitti and portraits. I took out my camera and started snapping away and behaved surprised when the handsome attendant told me, "Ummm...excuse me Miss...but there is no picture taking allowed". Right. Anyway, soon thereafter the music was getting louder I could see that the dancers were warming up ready to make their entrance. Excitement! Right away I noticed the friend of my AMAZING dancer-sistah-friend whom I had met yeeeeaars ago. I told my girl, "Look! There's Nicole!" We started clapping feverishly and I made a mental note that I need to 'up' my whine'ing skills. She was moving wid such ease and fluidity and I wanted to mimic every gesture! Dancers sprayed across the stage...climbed ladders...sang and high fived eachother. Fela Kuti made his way to center stage and welcomed us, to the Shrine! His opening monologue explained how he went to England to study medicine but fell in love with music and worked his way into the night clubs instead of libraries. I just adore how good music always errs on the side of rebellion and the movements of the dancers behind Fela demonstated just that - smoking and gyrating, slithering and grinding...

I wish I could have documented every note and tune and play it over and over. There was so much inspiration for me from this show...both new and nostaligic. I loved the make-up that the dancers sported - gave me ideas Carnival or just for a fun night out. The clothing was so beautiful and one could 'hear it' much like a Carnival costume too. The music and movements are a reflection of how strong and relevant our lineage is. Awesome.

The moments of love and hate, happiness and sadness, triumphs and failure were all savoured but yet gone too soon. I was sad when the show was coming to end. When each of the dancers came out for their final bow I yelled out, "Nicole!". She didn't hear me but I beamed the same way the dance teacher did of her student...

Scene.