#tulsa dance

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Stay tuned for more of their back story this evening :) 

 The group's travels took them out of France, across the Mediterranean, and along the coast of North Africa. They Moved through villages, cities, and caravan camps. They played and danced for peasants, chieftains, and even caliphs.They had close calls with brigands, raiders, and corrupt officials. Even innocent transgressions were fraught with danger, as they discovered more than once. However, through it all, the troupe would pull together and always found a way to escape to perform once more. Soon, Mina found that her red hair attracted enough attention among the locals that she became the focus of several offers to Aleeytis to sell her for a noble's harem. To her relief the offers were always politely, but firmly, refused. Eventually the troupe returned to the Atlas Mountains where they had landed the year before and, after a short hiatus among the Berbers, they boarded a ship and returned to France. Their road would now take them to Calais and England, but not before they visited some of the French cities and villages, including Dijon. Thus, Mina would once more have a chance to see her father and her little sister. Now they were only a short day's journey from the campsite she had left so long ago. She couldn't wait any longer in the wagon and decided to walk alongside to burn off her nervous anticipation. She had just run to the front of the wagons when she spied her tribe's encampment in the distance. No sooner had she begun to head towards the circle of wagons when one of them, slightly apart from the others, exploded! With a cry of anguish Mina raced towards the scene of smoking destruction, fearful of what she would find. She was partially relieved when she saw her father among the crowd of gypsies that poured out of the other wagons and the nearby woods. Frantically she scanned the locality for her sister's face, but to no avail.

An early snowstorm caught the tribe in northern France and left them immobile for a month. when the group finally reached their winter campsite they were nearly destitute and near starvation. To make matters worse, Mina's father had arranged a marriage for her without her consent. The groom to be came from a powerful tribe but had terrible manners and stank of garlic. Her stepmother was heartbroken and became ill, finally succumbing to a lethal fever. The tribal council blamed her father for bad leadership and called on him to find a solution for their disastrous condition. It was Mina herself who provided their salvation and hers from a terrible marriage. Knowing that her father lacked funds, even for her dowry, she proposed that she be sold to the next group of travelers who passed by. Even a life as a slave was more enticing that her present depressing situation. Luck finally seemed to smile on them as the very next day the troupe of Desert Wind camped nearby. Mina and her father approached the troupe's leader Aleeytis and offered her services for their use. Appearing thoughtful, Aleeytis suggested that Mina perform for her as a dancer while she deliberated. That evening Mona danced as the other dancers watched and the musicians played Middle Eastern rhythms. She finished and waited nervously with her father as Aleeytis spoke quietly with troupe. Finally, Mina saw her nod and come over to the pair. "You are indeed fortunate." Aleeytis said. "We have need of another dance and your daughter has skill. We can also afford to part with the amount of gold you require. Return here in the morning with your belongings and we shall have the money ready. Tomorrow you begin your training as a member of our troupe." Mina and her father returned to their camp sadly. Although they were grateful for their deliverance, both knew that their paths would now diverge radically. They might not see each other again for some time, perhaps never. Although the other tribal members celebrated her and her father, her sister Liynya was inconsolable and cried all night. She swore to Mina that she would find away to join her int he future. Both girls hugged each other and waited sleeplessly for the morning. Liynya finally nodded off just before dawn, exhausted by her emotional turmoil. Mina had covered her with a blanket and, gathering a few belongings, crept through the sleeping camp with her also sleepless father to her new home. The exchange was made and she climbed into a wagon with several other dancers. She adapted quickly to her new surroundings and within a few days formed friendships among the other members of the troupe. In the weeks that passed Mina learned quickly under Aleeytis's stern but patient tutelage

Aman has gotten into trouble.... (probably with some help from Badriyah) and has to talk Aleeytis in bailing him out.

Our amazing Drummers!!! For what would dancers be without music? Left to Right: Sabar, Kazaan, Aman, and Baba Taken at the RFFO 2013 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.