| Debka and Sabylla Caravan Dreams - February 24, 2006 |
 |  |  |
Carmen Who??
| Will the REAL Carmen Miranda please stand up? |
I knew the minute the words came out of my mouth that this idea, now unleashed and being tumbled about by
the crazy redhead sitting next to me, was something quite likely, that would take on a life of its own.
We were driving back from Charlotte, NC where we had learned an awesome Salsa choreography from
Bellydance Superstar Bozenka, and we were charged up creatively by the diversity of dance we had seen over
the weekend. I kind of tickled myself with the thought of doing the Salsa number ala Carmen Miranda, and
said, "Debbie, we could do this number with birds and fruit on our head!" And of course she burst out laughing
and said we could call it "Parrot Miranda."
Well, a little time passed, and I, being the busy person I am, found myself on a Carmen Miranda costume site. I
mentioned it to Debbie, and all it took for her was one look at the turban laden with fruit, and she knew the
destiny that stretched before us.
I'll never forget the uncontrollable cackling that turned into tears of laughter as we tried our turbans on for the
first time, and actually felt the presence of our dear, sweet, over-the-top Carmen.
And oddly enough, I now feel as if I am on some kind of holy mission to re-introduce the current generation to
this colorful and talented performer. She has become an icon, yet so many people were clueless when we would
refer to our dance as the Carmen Miranda dance. (In fact one audience member told me she enjoyed my "fruit
dance." Hey, I'll take a compliment anyway or where I can get one!) In any case, please visit the following website
and learn about this fabulous creature:
the crazy redhead sitting next to me, was something quite likely, that would take on a life of its own.
We were driving back from Charlotte, NC where we had learned an awesome Salsa choreography from
Bellydance Superstar Bozenka, and we were charged up creatively by the diversity of dance we had seen over
the weekend. I kind of tickled myself with the thought of doing the Salsa number ala Carmen Miranda, and
said, "Debbie, we could do this number with birds and fruit on our head!" And of course she burst out laughing
and said we could call it "Parrot Miranda."
Well, a little time passed, and I, being the busy person I am, found myself on a Carmen Miranda costume site. I
mentioned it to Debbie, and all it took for her was one look at the turban laden with fruit, and she knew the
destiny that stretched before us.
I'll never forget the uncontrollable cackling that turned into tears of laughter as we tried our turbans on for the
first time, and actually felt the presence of our dear, sweet, over-the-top Carmen.
And oddly enough, I now feel as if I am on some kind of holy mission to re-introduce the current generation to
this colorful and talented performer. She has become an icon, yet so many people were clueless when we would
refer to our dance as the Carmen Miranda dance. (In fact one audience member told me she enjoyed my "fruit
dance." Hey, I'll take a compliment anyway or where I can get one!) In any case, please visit the following website
and learn about this fabulous creature:
