Just now dipping my toes in the water...

[Josephine Boone]

Hi lovely Merfolk!

After many years of performing as a professional belly dancer (and a few years of Polynesian dance), I joined a local pirate troupe and created a stylized "mermaid dance" using silk fan veils and wearing a costume with a fishtail style skirt. Then I started considering a more realistic tail for shows with my crew, and my research brought me here! Wow, there is SO MUCH GOING ON!
:jawdrop:

I've been watching Iona's and Raina's videos (and all others I can find,) bought Raina's book, and been voraciously reading the forum. For now I intend to make a simple tail & accessories to wear for "dry gigs" with my crew. I would love to eventually get a monofin and do mermaid swimming, but I would need to find someone who could go with me...and somehow find the time, lol!

I live in Arlington, MA with four roommates and my two cats. My interests include belly dancing, steampunk, ancient Egypt, historical & fantasy costuming, sci-fi & fantasy, and food. I have Asperger Syndrome, but easily pass for neurotypical due to my performer training and my Southern Belle upbringing.

So nice to meet y'all!

[Mermaid Lorelei]

It's a pleasure to meet you as well.

[Chrissy]

Welcome!!! Can't wait to hear more about your adventures!!!

[Josephine Boone]

Thanks y'all! Today my crew went costume shopping, and one of the things I got was fabric for tails in shades of rose and purple. :) We have a gig coming up on Saturday and I will be doing the mermaid dance I mentioned in my first post. If you want to see what it looks like and how it fits into the story, here is a video from a show we did last month. (The dance starts at the 8:48 mark)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No95lZtrIhQ

If the embedded video feature doesn't work, here is the link to it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No95lZtrIhQ

[SINicallyTwisted]

I've got to ask, did you go to the Watch City Steampunk Festival in Waltham, MA?

[Josephine Boone]

I've got to ask, did you go to the Watch City Steampunk Festival in Waltham, MA?

I was there last year and the year before, performing with Zyguneh/Diabolis in Musica! Did you go? Watch City is supposed to return Mother's Day weekend 2015, and my crew hopes to get some shows. Will we see you and your crew there?

When I was researching mermaid costumes a couple of months ago, I found pictures of your awesome steampunk mermaid costume from TempleCon 2013, but I didn't see you when I was there. :(

EDITED - I found pictures of you at Watch City...why do I keep missing you??? LOL

[shimmygoddess]

Welcome to the group! I am a professional bellydancer too located near Raleigh NC. I do some fire dancing as well.. :) Love the fanveils, I have some I need to work with more, my prop of choice is Isis Wings

[SINicallyTwisted]

LOL! Awww....Well you know, mermaids can be elusive creatures.

I don't know when I'll wear that particular tail again. I might wear it on one of the days of Boston Comic Con in August but I haven't decided yet. Hubby and I want to do some upgrades on it soooo we'll see.

[Josephine Boone]

Thanks Shimmygoddess, and it's nice to meet you! My younger sister in Leland did belly dancing and fire dancing a few years ago, but I don't think she is performing anymore.

SINicallyTwisted, that's so true! This year I will be attending AAC in October and performing with my crew at a couple of Secret Swan Society (steampunk group in NH) events in September & October, but I maybe can make it to AnimeBoston next year. Maybe us New England mers can plan to have lunch at the Boston Aquarium sometime? I haven't been there yet.

[SINicallyTwisted]

I won't be at AnimeBoston. So far in Sept. I'll be in NJ and in Oct. I have a parade. but we get booked at more things as the year progresses.

A lunch at the Boston Aquarium would be cool, if scheduling allows it. ;)

If you're interested, I'd be happy to bring my Steampunk tail into my work sometime and you could swing by to check it out. I work in Woburn. ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Josephine Boone]

I won't be at AnimeBoston. So far in Sept. I'll be in NJ and in Oct. I have a parade. but we get booked at more things as the year progresses.

A lunch at the Boston Aquarium would be cool, if scheduling allows it. ;)

If you're interested, I'd be happy to bring my Steampunk tail into my work sometime and you could swing by to check it out. I work in Woburn. ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm not sure when I can get to Woburn, since I don't have a car anymore. When I worked in Burlington, I drove through Woburn every time I went to the office. Does the bus go by your workplace?

[SINicallyTwisted]

I'm not sure when I can get to Woburn, since I don't have a car anymore. When I worked in Burlington, I drove through Woburn every time I went to the office. Does the bus go by your workplace?

I had to look up bus stops around my work to find the closest one to my work. I'll PM the info. ;)

[Aquarianne]

Hi Josephine! I just joined too! FIST BUMP (tail bump? Not sure of the merminology there.)

[Josephine Boone]

Hi Josephine! I just joined too! FIST BUMP (tail bump? Not sure of the merminology there.)

Yay, more new mers! *fist/tail/fin bump*

"merminology"! <3 <3 <3

[Aquarianne]

I wish to make up a secret mermaid handshake, and I shall call it the Fluke Juke.

Not sure what kind of handshake it will be, but I am VERY sure of that name. XD

[Josephine Boone]

I wish to make up a secret mermaid handshake, and I shall call it the Fluke Juke.

Not sure what kind of handshake it will be, but I am VERY sure of that name. XD

LOL! Love it! :D

[Kishiko]

It would be awesome if you could time it just right so that if two mers did back flips underwater at the same time you could slap flukes!

[Aquarianne]

It would be awesome if you could time it just right so that if two mers did back flips underwater at the same time you could slap flukes!

that should totally be it! Or just slapping tails together. FLUKE JUKE! *WHAP*.

[Josephine Boone]

It would be awesome if you could time it just right so that if two mers did back flips underwater at the same time you could slap flukes!

That would be an amazing trick. I'm just imagining all the ways it could go horribly wrong, lol.

[Aquarianne]

It will have to remain a dry maneuver then, I guess!

[Josephine Boone]

...now I'm imagining mermaid martial arts...

:jawdrop:

[SINicallyTwisted]

LOL! Best get to practicing! :highfive:

[Josephine Boone]

Ooooh...new idea...mermaid warrior with armor!

[SINicallyTwisted]

YAY! I wish we had more time but it was so epicly awesome meeting you! :highfive:

[Josephine Boone]

...has it been three years already??? Hello again! :pirate:

A few days ago a mermaid video popped up on my YouTube feed and I thought of y'all. After watching a bunch of the videos, I decided to look into swimming lessons. With the weather getting warm, swimming is starting to sound fun!