April Update

Feeling very happy today as I have finished my dark caberet choreography.  This dance has been 2 years in the planning! It has taken me that long to settle on the music.  I love the track that I found originally but I was hoping to find something similar but with a bit of a Middle Eastern vibe to it.  I searched long and hard but found nothing just right so settled for the track I found originally.  I have wanted to do a dark caberet dance ever since attending Merhahet's workshop on the subject at Fantasia 3 years ago.  I have long been a fan of the likes of Bex who dances wonderfully darkly but in a goth/tribal fusion style.  I came to the conclusion recently that Tribal Fusion just is not for me, I don't enjoy trying to dance it but I do adore watching my friends who can do it well.  Therefore I decided to do what I do well but add a dark flavour to it and have come up with what I think is a delightful dance.  It is caberet moves to very dark music, with steampunk costume, some burlesque touches and loads of drama.  It has taken me 2 weeks to complete the routine and I am extremely proud of it.

In other news I hosted the wonderful Galit Mersand last month.  This was a very happy day.  I think Galit is one of the best teachers in the UK and I wished she lived closer because I would love to attend her classes regularly.  She has a great formula for teaching because she teaches a workshop where she breaks down the moves and combo's and then she teaches a second workshop where she teaches the choreography using all the moves/combo's.  It takes 4 hours which I confess nearly killed me but I pretty much remembered all of the choreography by the end plus she sells the dvd so you can practise the dance back home.  The choreography was lovely, clever but achievable and it was loads of fun.  We had a lovely big group of ladies, including a lot of my belly dance friends, at one point we were all shoulder to shoulder doing choo choo shimmies, which was an awesome sight.  So a big thank you to Galit for travelling to Wombourne to teach us.









Lots of happy shimmiers.


I am very excited that Katie Holland is coming to teach us this weekend.  I attended a Bellybolly workshop with her 2 years ago and loved it.  It inspired me to put together my own Bollywood routine but I am looking forward to learning with her again.  Its always a worry when you commit to hosting someone for a workshop in case you don't sell enough places to cover the fee, travel expenses and room hire but I am pleased to say this workshop has sold out - I do have a lady who is looking to sell her place so if you are free this weekend and want to have some fun whilst learning a spicy dance then get in touch with me.

Next weekend I am going to the Safety Update day organised by Mosaic in Bristol.  I am looking forward to this and would urge any teachers who take the safety of their students seriously to go.  I have lots of plans for May, lots of performances for Shikidim and Raqs W2 show planning is keeping me busy too.  I am grateful that I have the good health to enjoy it all.