Thanks for the nice words, y'all...
Seriously, this was my fave DID yet - what a pleasure to be somewhere that I could be a dancer, artist, mom, friend, lover an citizen all at once.

We had an awesome time! I love the energy of Darbukistan! The people are so wonderful, kind, welcoming, and friendly!! It is such a positive environment for learning and growing!! Just watching the dancers and musicians interact, under a warm night sky, surrounded by friends and smiling faces... its really memorable and something i hope to share with more friends. I'm always awestruck by the level of talent in the wonderful dancers who teach there... The joyful intensity of Zafira!! I loved the classes with Christine and Olivia, such truly special ladies! Every single student felt special and took away something unique from each class, everyone felt included and involved, and when I had pushed past my own limits and just watched the classes, I was impressed to see the improvement in each dancer as they moved around the room and noticed EVERY person and helped each one do the movements correctly! Onca and Claire, from Baraka Mundi were amazing! Onca's playful energy fills a space, each person, each individual feels like she's let them in on a little secret, like they are sharing a joke, and each dancer goes away feeling acknowledged and inspired to create and communicate with an audience in the amazing way that she does! Claire's stretching class was really inspirational, she is such a beautiful dancer, lithe and flowing. I felt like we, the students, all took away very helpful stretches and ways to build and strengthen ourselves so that we could do the moves we dream about! Belly rolls to die for!! LOL... Roxanne's class (not the veil, because I didn't make it through the mud and rain to that one, sorry) gave me ideas and things to think about, her hands are beautiful! no matter what she is doing, what kind of transition, her hands stay powerful and expressive. I loved the power in her veil dance, raw energy pulled into a vortex of whirling silk! The dancer's anatomy class, taught by Jen Speiden(sp) was so very helpful... my friend and I have sustained the exact same injury in the lower back/IT bands junction, and the stretches and tips she gave us have already helped me, after I pushed myself further than I should have (dancing with lower back injuries sucks, i want to dance so badly, but the pain leaves me almost unable to walk, it is ridiculously frustrating and exasperating!!).. I tried some of the stretches to try to loosen the muscles that were spasming and felt the beginnings of relief.. I'm confident that if i keep it up every day, i'll be back to dancing like i used to in no time! Sheque and Kay are such wonderful people, their whole family is truly amazing, to open up and have all these people in their home!! And to maintain a great mood and friendly faces, even when you know they were tired too! I look forward to seeing them again at Pennsic, and at next DID!

This year I had the treat of bringing some friends for their first time (my second) and to see it all through new eyes again is just as good as the first time!! With all of the politics that can come from the dance world, all the unpleasant stuff that can brew.. it is so refreshing to be surrounded by such wonderful and warm people! I'm really thankful that my friend Rajni invited me to be a part of it last year, and that I can bring more new folks in and share the wonders with them!!

Thanks to all the Darbukistanis, old and new, for being the special and incredible people that you are!!

Thanks to every one for such a great time this year as I think this one went very smooth(other than late drum shipments that got lost and instructors that got delayed) Enjoyed the new faces and the food of those great gals at the Spice Cafe! Loved both nights of playing as the energy was great. Missed Jessica, Daveed, Emyrss, Wuz and the other regulars that could not come this year and hope to see them next year and all those first timers back again. Thanks to all for recharging the batteries for me and putting me back in that space that DID always does.
your friend and temporary minister of the treasuray,
Chris

Ted and I had a great time this year at DID! Thanks to everyone who came to contribute their energy to a kick-ass guedra. Scott and I are working to add a teacher for next year that will be teaching Turkish Rom style dance.
Can't wait!