My Christmas 2010 Hafla

Twice a year I throw a hafla for all my students at Womboure Community Centre (where I teach my class) I have to confess I was not looking forward to the hafla this year.  Had so many people message me to say they were not coming due to illness etc and I myself felt quite poorly and I thought is it really worth bothering.  Well the answer to that was yes! it was the lowest turnout true - just 12 ladies but that made it a more intimate gathering and gave us chance to chat.  I am  always very heartened to see my students perform a solo at the end of term, my  belly dance classes tend to be all about learning my choreographies so I love to give the students chance to create and perform their own work and this year I was not disappointed.  We had Barbara  she did a feisty Zambra Mora style dance, Mary who smiled through a cheeky veil dance, Jan who did a short and sweet Tribal style dance, Maxine who had to be cajoled into getting up to perform her haunting Kate Bush dance, we had 2 duets from Max and Izzy and first timers Carol and Lynn - both very different acts but both in perfect time and with some lovely quirky moves, I performed my new Bolly Wood dance but was conscious that my coin belt was slipping down the whole time so do not feel I performed it well.  My favourite performance of the night was from Izzy, she choreographed a dance that started slowly, utilising some very graceful almost balletic moves but then hotted up with some Gypsy moves - it is so gratifying to see students utilise the moves I have taught them over the year and she really incorporated them well into her dance.  We sat in a circle eating and chatting and finished the night off dancing to Roberto's drum.....all in all, a good night, thanks to all who made the effort to come.