A Drummer's National Competition

I engage in very niche side activities. In Tallahassee I know only a handful of people who are interested in Middle Eastern Dance or Ballroom. Even fewer who are committed to them long term as I have. Most people take one or two lessons on a whim or out of curiosity. Others quit due to personal or family conflicts. My teacher used to say it has to call to you. It has something that the dancer needs in their life. Going on 16 years, I guess I could be an example of this. I couldn't imagine giving up on dance. It's become an important part of my life. It's a key avenue of self-expression. It keeps me healthy pshysically, mentally, and emotionally. It's just unfortunate that it's a bit of a challege finding like-minded people to share in the joy of this art form in Tallahassee. The majority of people I meet live in other cities. Social media is a major life-line for these connections. Facebook and Instagram allows us to maintain connections and support each other through successes and challenges in our artistic careers. Recently, I made an acquaintance with a doumbek drummer. The doumbek is a goblet drummer that is often featured in Middle Eastern music. Dancers and drummers often connect to perform together during live events. It is every dancer's dream to perform to live music. Improving and interacting with a musician provides another layer of energy and playfulness to an act. Plus live drum solos allow the dancer to showcase her skills. With all of this, connecting with the right drummer is key. The drummer messaged me one day telling me about a contest he entered. Winner gets $50,000, will be featured in a major magazine and will perform at a festival in New York City. I thought he was trolling me, but upon researching, the competition is recognized by major outlets. I'm still skeptical about but contest, but as a supporter of the arts and fellow Middle Eastern Arts performer, I voted for him. He's been notifying friends and acquaintances about his progress in the contest and posts direct links to his contestant profile on Facebook. He's now in the top 10 and results for the next round will bw released on June 19th.