Gold Rush & Bellies

St. Lawrence Arts Center offers a couple events this week that are sure to tickle the history buff and titillate the dance fancier.

After a Deadwood marathon last month just about anything with the mention of a gold rush will catch my eye. "Gold Rush Girls," a musical set in 1898 is just a little ahead of Deadwood timewise, which was set in 1876. This musical, written by Karmo and Jerry Sanders is the story of a "few brave women who raced to the frozen Klondike to find their fortune in the gold fields" and will be presented as a reading at the St. Lawrence tomorrow, August 21. The twist is that in that time - with the exception of Calamity Jane - women didn't mine. They didn't have rights. They had babies, instead. The adventurous women in the play aren't your traditional baby-making, home-keeping women. They "stake their claim in Paradise, the fanciest dance hall in the territory. Stoking the fires of gold fever, celebrated by the men as angels, these entrepreneurs are living their dream. But even angels must face their demons." What that means exactly, I can't say. You'll have to hear for yourself. Tickets for the 7 pm reading are $10 and can be purchased a the door or by calling 207-775-5568.

Showing this Saturday, August 23, at the same venue is "Mirage," an evening of belly dancing with Naya's Trance and live music by Okbari, a music ensemble playing "Armenian and Anatolian folk music, classical Middle Eastern music and traditional folk and contemporary songs from the Greek, Arabic and Balkan traditons."

Naya's Trance, formed in 2001, is a local belly dancing troupe that has been performing for years at various fundraising events (A Company of Girls, RipplEffect, WMPG) and festivals (Portland Dances!, Old Port Festival and Pride Festival). The organization also hosts classes and workshops. The dancers specialize in prop work (veils, fans, canes and swords) and fire dancing in addition to their smokin-hot belly dancing. See for yourself. This is a video of last year's "Mirage" performance.

Tickets for the 8 pm performance are $20 and can be purchased online. Both events are held at St. Lawrence Arts Center, located at 76 Congress Street in Portland.