First in a series. Any lapses of memory or reimagining of events are entirely my own.
In the summer of 1991, I found myself without a plan. The last four years were spent at Cal State Fullerton, interrupted with a semester internship in Sacramento, pursuing my degree in Political Science. My part-time job at the Los Angeles Times Poll was waiting for the next big news story before the election cycle picked up again. I had started teaching Sunday School classes for my college group at a church which was rapidly imploding.
I had no idea of what I was going to do with myself–go back to CSUF for a Master’s degree? Find a better, full time job? Get involved with the Orange County political scene? Finally move out of my parent’s house?
And then Karen asked me about going to a meeting with her friend Kim.
She explained that Kim was gathering friends and fellow Middle Eastern dance students at Orange Coast College to set up a group to attend Renaissance Faires. Kim was tired of paying to get into the events, and by forming a troupe she could get in for free. As they were all belly dancers, going as Gypsies would be a natural fit. They were seeking an announcer for their show–would I want to try it out?
Soon I found myself in the Laudermilk living room with friends of Kim, dance students, and recruits from friends of Kim. Karen and Kim had it nearly figured out; they had already secured a slot for next year’s Long Beach Renaissance Arts Festival from Sandy, an OCC dance student and the event’s entertainment director. All they needed to do was set up Gypsy characters, rehearse a dance skit from their teacher Angelika, and they even had a name: Roman Morga.
Our characters would come from two families, the Salazars and De La Vegas. I chose Gavril (“Man of God”) from the provided list of names, which fit my imagined persona of a duplicitous spice trader who excelled at relieving the gadje (non-Gypsies) from their gold. The two families were important, as it poorly explained why they were so many pale-skinned blonds in a Tribe.
Next was the music. Several recruits picked up Middle Eastern drums, led by Jon De Voss who worshipped at the altar of Neil Peart. Kim encouraged the rest of us to pick up finger cymbals and clack to the rhythm of beladi.
The dance skit was called “Zakir”, which was last performed at OCC’s annual dance showcase. One of my first tasks was to transcribe the show into something we could use. You may recall the story, which goes something like this…
A hapless beggar discovers a tarnished lamp, which when polished unleashes its genie. She grants Zakir’s wish to be surrounded by beautiful women by transporting him to the Sultan’s harem. The wives are excited with the presence of this newcomer, and they dance for him while feeding him grapes.
“Poor Zakir, the Sultan is coming!”
The Sultan’s imminent arrival forces the women to quickly disguise Zakir, filling his bodice with the proper fruit to complete the deception.
Smugly entering his harem, the Sultan demands his wives to dance to win his favor. Each wife competes in turn, until it’s Zakir’s time to perform–all goes well until a wardrobe malfunction spills the…apples. The Sultan angrily demands an explanation, and Zakir offers the lamp to the greedy Sultan. The genie reappears, gliding the Sultan away while Zakir assumes his place.
“It’s good to be Sultan!”
A year later at the Long Beach Renaissance Arts Festival, Tribe Roman Morga made its debut under the shadow of the Long Beach Convention Center’s giant Wyland Whaling Wall with a make-shift encampment using a borrowed pavilion and a collection of poorly-concealed camping tents. Our show was performed in front of the encampment, which started with the “beginning choreography” (renamed as Al Amar) before transitioning into our version of Zakir. Event patrons were enchanted, and Faire participants adopted the Tribe as one of their own.
Over next year the Tribe appeared at Renaissance festival gigs at Marshall Scotty’s (my next story), Ojai, Golden West College, and back at Long Beach. Meanwhile, current events ensured I was kept busy when I was not playing with the Tribe. I still did not have much of a plan, but I really did not care–Gavril was having too much fun.