July Update - Hen Parties, haflas and more.

Again it has been a busy month which started with my summer student hafla.  I always love watching my students perform their own choreographies it is one of the most rewarding things about being a teacher.  This year I was not disappointed, we had some fabulous performances and I would like to thank the ladies who attended and especially the ones who performed their own dance.

I also did a stage make-up workshop.  This was just loads and loads of fun! we had a lovely group of ladies sitting around a table playing with make-up - it reminded me of when I was a kid and me and my friend would sneak into Mom's room and play with her make-up.  However I do think the ladies who attended found it useful and they all looked fabulous at the end.  I received a lot of positive feedback afterwards so I may well repeat this workshop.

The gorgeous make-up workshop attendees.

Shikidim danced at Chelmarsh, this is always a lovely event to dance at but it was marred by the weather this year.  Our first set went down well but the weather deteriorated for our second set but a big thank you to anyone who braved the elements to watch us, the new dances worked well - its always a little worrying performing new dances in public for the first time but luckily they are now embedded into our body memory.

I also updated my First Aid Certificate.  I am very lucky that in all my years of teaching the only thing I have ever had to do is issue a plaster.  I live in fear of having to use First Aid but I do take the health and safety of my students very seriously and I would urge anyone who attends classes to make sure their teacher has this qualification.

Following the success of the hen party last month I was offered another hen party booking.  I decided to rethink my hen party strategy and use what I had learnt from the first one.  This involved choreographing a new dance - something fun/lively/fastish but easy.  I have not choreographed a new beginners rouine for a few years because my students skills have advanced and so my choreography has become more challenging accordingly.  This hen party was fabulous, they loved the dance and whilst having fun they also worked hard at learning the dance - they loved my idea of dancing it at the wedding and worked with me to make subtle changes to the routine and I also sold some tickets for my show, it really was a lovely day and I even found time to visit the rag market to buy lots of sparkly trims.

My summer classes held at Wombourne Community Centre have been well attended - its nice for me to not have to think about teaching something new for a few weeks and try to iron out any problems people are having with technique or choreographies.  I really must start to think of new stuff for September though.  At the moment I am thinking of a burlesque style dance but I also have a beautiful piece of music which I would like to do a veil dance to.

The last week of July has been taken up with non dance things for a change including a trip to the seaside, a day at a spa and 21st Birthday celebrations wih my lovely daughter.

Next month I am hosting Shafeek, I am very excited about this.  I did a workshop with him a few years ago and I am very happy to be bringing him to The Midlands - the lucky ladies who snapped up the workshop places are in for a treat.

I am also doing a costuming workshop next month.  I have become a dab hand at decorating belly dance bras and always receive compliments on my designs so I decided to share the knowledge.  The workshop will be on the 30th August, at Wombourne Community Centre 7.00-9.00 and costs £20 however that does include a goody bag with everything you need to decorate your bra - I still have places left so if you would like to book on this workshop please get in touch.

I am also performing at Carpe Somnium - this is way out of my comfort zone as the show will be full of dark/goth young fabulous dancers but I wanted to perform my new dark caberet dance and this seemd like a good place to do it.  I am nervous though - I like having my troupe with me but one has to take on challenges and this is my challenge.

June update

June was such a busy and great month for me.  I danced with some of my students at a Bollywood event in Wolverhampton town center, I was a little worried about performing at this event as the dance we performed is a Bollywood/Bellydance fusion and the audience was predominantly Indian but everyone seemed to like us.  The next day I went to a workshop with Hilde Canoodt - this was fabulous.  She had with her a live band and taught us some very lively gypsy dancing, I loved it and also loved watching her dance with the band at The Chaos Charousal Show.

I also danced with my student group at Kinver carnival - this was a nice event to dance at - very well organised and well attended and my students all got over their nerves and danced well - I was a very proud lady.  The following weekend was Willenhall Carnival where I danced with just 2 of my students - its nerve wracking dancing in such a small group but Liz and Andrea again did me proud.  The next day I danced with my troupe Shikidim in West Park for the Compton Hospice fundraising event.  We were all trying out our new tango costume but unfortunately we got soaked dancing - my troupe all continued dancing in the pouring rain with a big smile on their faces - true professionals!

This month I also did my first hen party.  I was a little nervous about this but figured I should just do what I normally do when I teach a workshop.  I very quickly realised that the group were not really interested in perfecting technique and so I adapted my plan to simply provide a fun session where they learnt a very simple routine to dance at the wedding - they all seemed very happy with this and I will definitely take more hen party bookings.

I am also happy to report that my new class in Kingswinford is going very well, the class is pretty much full every week and they are a lovely group.  They have learnt so much so quickly.  I am very thankful that all 3 of my classes are very well attended and would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the ladies who turn up come rain or shine.

I was glad of a few days away in Somerset - although some sun would have been nice but I enjoyed resting my body and planing all the events for July which is promising to be yet another busy month.  I have my summer student hafla where I am hoping to see lots of my lovely students perform their own work.  I am also teaching a make-up workshop on the 12 July, I still have a couple of places available for this.  My troupe will be dancing at Chelmarsh summer fete on the 14th July - this is my favourite booking of the year and will be about my 7th year of dancing there.  We will be showcasing all the new fusion dances that we have learnt in the past year.  I am also teaching another hen party in Birmingham on the 21st which I am very excited about.  Also I am teaching a costuming workshop on the 30th August.  This is kind of ironic as my sewing skills are not that good but lots of people have been urging me to teach them how to decorate their own bras so I am going to give it a go.

When I do this little review of the past month I always think to myself how lucky I am.  I am kept very busy by belly dance - I often wonder if I am getting too old but I am happy to say I am offered more work belly dancing these days than I ever have.