Belly Dance classes, workshops, events and news. Videos, lessons,trips, health and ideas.

Iraqi Kawleeya dance

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:48:00 +0000

Recently, I have become aware of a particular form of Middle Eastern dance from Iraq called Kawleeya. There are videos of it on YouTube performed by Daila, who is an international award winner professional belly dancer based in the Czech Republic. You can see an example below.

When I first saw one of these videos, I was amazed. Daila is a great bellydancer and moves in ways that seem almost humanly impossible! As for the Kawleeya dance, it seems to be characterised by the shoulder shimmies and the head rolls and energetic hair flipping. Kawleeya are a gypsy group in Iraq and Kawleeya literally means Gipsy. An Iraqi friend of mine, Jeanan, told me that, before the war, Kawleeya was a disgraceful dance. It was only performed by common people, by gypsies or by prostitutes (many of which in Iraq were Kawleeya), hence the bad reputation of this dance.

However, as my friend tells me, after the war things have changed and the gypsies rose to become artists that represented Iraq. Now, all Iraqi women, according to my friend, want to dance like this and dance the Kawleeya way at social events. Personally, I like this dance and I think it is beautiful to watch, even though I would never attempt the energetic hair flipping for fear of injuring my neck :)

I have posted one of Daila’s Kawleeya performances above. Everybody I spoke to agrees that Daila is an accomplished dancer; however, some people think that the way she performs is not authentic. I personally like the way Daila dances, but she is a professional belly dancer based in Europe, hence she performs for the stage and her dance may be influenced by various styles she is accomplished in. The way Kawleeya people perform maybe be a bit different, but I have never had the chance to see them dance so I cannot tell.

Please feel free to comment with your opinions and give some information in case you know more about Kawleeya.

Find out more information on belly dance styles and bellydance classes in the Czech Republic.

Tips on marketing your belly dance classes on the internet

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:19:00 +0000

If you have just set up a belly dancing class, then the key to success is a high attendance. In today's technical age, one of the best ways to market a club or class is to do it online. There are websites and forums all over the internet, that are an ideal place to market your class such as Gumtree, and provide you to reach a potentially large audience.

Fitness and sports clubs have also found that a good way of attracting new attendees is to collaborate with local universities. Students are also willing to try something new, so it worth considering advertising your class on their site, or within the union, Many student unions rent out their rooms for hire to sport classes, and by doing so and advertising online, you can get information on your class to a large, youthful audience.

On top of that, social media is a fantastic way to market your class. Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are ideal ways to advertise local belly dancing classes for zero cost and reaching large numbers of people. Not just that, but if people join your class' Facebook group, their friends might become curious and do the same thing.

There are so many ways to market yourself online, that you no longer need to just have a website (of course this helps) with basic contact details on. Just make sure your site is optimised to rank for terms such as '(name of city) belly dancing class' and other popular terms.

Advertising your local belly dance classes on class directories such as on World Belly Dance or Belly Dance Org can also be a great and very inexpensive option.

Tips on starting your own belly dance event

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:52:00 +0000

If you are looking to start your own belly dancing event, then there are things to take into consideration. Firstly, a Hafla, or a Middle East dance party, can take many forms from an educational seminar to a 'disco', so make sure you know what kind of event you wish to organise.

Once you know that, you can start source a venue and everything else you need for the party, including food, drink and entertainment. Many Halfas are held during the Festive period as people are already in the mood for a party, and as such a belly dancing party is incredibly popular. Many belly dancing clubs use them as way to raise funds for equipment or for a local charity.

Like any party or event, you need to make sure you have the numbers to make it worth your while, so as well as pupils attending, encourage them to bring friends and loved ones. After all, you may find many of them enjoy it so much, they might become frequent attendees at the classes.

The venue is always the hardest thing to choose, as you need it large enough for the attendees, but such hired areas often have a cost. Doing it at your home or a friend's will result in problems, so it is worth biting the bullet and hiring somewhere for minimal fuss.

Either way, once all that is organised, you can sort decorations, food, invitations and entertainment. It is guaranteed to be a fantastic evening, so make sure you take care organising it.

Tips on teaching dance safely

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:54:00 +0000

If you are planning on teaching or organising a dance club, then there are several things you need to remember. Firstly, if you are the teacher, you are responsible for your pupils so you need to make sure that the venue has at least a basic first aid kit to look after any minor injuries. Depending on the type of dance that you are teaching, it may be worth looking into getting insurance cover for your classes. More strenuous types of dancing could potentially lead to injury, so to protect yourself and your pupils, consider getting some form of insurance cover.

As the teacher however, you will realise that injuries only occur through carelessness or through a lack of a proper warm up. Dance can be trying on the body, especially if it is unused to it, so it is important to warm up your pupils through a series of exercises in order to get the blood pumping and the muscles ready. This can be done through a series of basic stretches, or simple cardio exercises like star jumps or light jogging.

Next is ensuring your pupils are doing the various techniques correctly. This can be done by pairing your pupils up, so they have someone to train with as well as performing the various techniques yourself so your pupils know what they are meant to do and the correct way to do it.

The most important thing to remember is before teaching new pupils, discover whether they have any conditions that might cause problems in the future, such as back problems. That way you can make sure that they don't over-exert themselves. Find more tips on teaching belly dance and other forms of dance with some free guides on world belly dance. Also interested in belly dance holidays in Egypt? Looking for tips on learning belly dance to get started?

Tips on finding a good Venue for Teaching Belly Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:15:00 +0000

If you are looking to lead a belly dancing club or gathering, then the most important thing you need is a venue. Traditionally town halls, social clubs and health centres all rent out rooms to dance classes and clubs, so that is a good place to start.

Almost all of these venues will charge some sort of rental fee for your use of the room, but premium sports clubs are no doubt going to charge the most, however some may be willing to do some sort of deal where if you book in advance for a set number of weeks, they will offer a discount. Of course, this is all dependant on the club and isn't true for every sport centre.

Church halls and social clubs are also good, essentially anywhere with a large amount of room where you can spread your pupils out for the dance classes and lessons. Most of these venues will have wooden floors which can be easily swept in order to be kept clean, and are easy to dance and train on.

Alternatively, you can use the internet to see where other dance classes in your area go to train. Major cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham all have a number of dance centres that are routinely rented out by assorted clubs for competitions and classes. If you are unable to find a venue for yourself, sharing one with other classes is also an option. It is also a good bet that they will have facilities that will also be useful for your dance class, such as toilets and a kitchen.

Most popular Types of Finger Cymbals

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:17:00 +0000

Belly dancers often use finger cymbals in their routines. These cymbals, which are also called 'zils' or 'sagat', are held by dancers on each hand. One cymbal is placed on the thumb, while another is put on the middle finger. They are then easy to play, with various methods being used including a 'three finger' style.

There are many types of finger cymbal, in that they come in a variety of sizes, colours and materials. Traditionally, there are made of copper-nickel alloy, but can also be made of gold and silver, depending on the dancer's preference and dance style. There is also a difference in how certain finger cymbals are controlled. Some come with a hole at the top, through which elastic is threaded, while others have two slits at the top. These are generally preferred as, according to dancers, they are easier to control.

Apart from that, most finger cymbals are similar, it is just a little factor that can make a difference, such as the type of elastic used. A wide type of elastic makes the finger cymbals easier to manage as well as more stable, allowing the dancer to easily control the rhythm.

There are distinctive types of rhythm employed by belly dancers when using finger cymbals. They include Baladi Rhythm (made up of sequences of 'dums' and 'taks'), Karatchi Rhythm (that makes a noise much like the galloping of a horse) and Fallahi Rhythm (that originates from Egypt and makes a repetitive trilling sound).

4 Popular Belly Dance styles

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Belly dancing originated from the Middle East and as such, there are many different forms of styles that have developed in different countries and regions. The most popular and recognised style is Cabaret/Egyptian that is glitzy and flamboyant, however there are several other styles that are becoming more popular around the world.

1. Zambra Mora - 1 Zambra Mora is a form of belly dancing that is infused with flamenco dancing. Not only does it use Middle East styles, but the music is played on Spanish instruments such as guitar. Today Zambra Mora is famed for its chest circles and shimmies as well as the posturing associated with flamenco dancing.

2. Khaleeji - Originating in the Arabic peninsula, Khaleeji is different from the styles that are favoured in Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. Instead of hip movements, Khaleeji focuses on foot movement and well as spinning. There is also a lot of freedom in the upper torso and shoulders, allowing the dancers to toss their hair from side to side.

3. American Tribal Dancing - American Tribal Dancing was founded in California in the 1970s and is performed in groups as opposed to solo dancers. The group's head leads the dance signalling moves to the others via hand signals. Props are also used such as finger cymbals and even swords!

4. Gothic Belly Dancing - The bright colours of belly dancing may not be something that would have an immediate association with Gothic styles, but over the years a form of Gothic Belly Dancing has evolved. Known for their intensity, Gothic Belly Dancing incorporates elements of life and death into its styles making for a trance-like dance that utilises the styles of both the East and the West.

Places to see and learn belly dancing in Cyprus

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:09:00 +0000

Archaeologists have argued that belly dancing has been going on in Greece since ancient times. It is thought that the Tsifteteli (Greek belly dancing) was born when Greek women used to dance it for worshiping Aphrodite (Venus) thousands of years ago.

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has many Greek and Turkish influences despite being its own republic. Many tourists travel to the island every year in order to see the Greek and Turkish influenced belly dancing that goes on and many come to get involved and learn how to belly dance like the professionals!

If you are staying in Pafos, then there are plenty of bars and clubs to choose from if you want to watch belly dancing although it isn’t uncommon to come across a non-local performing a dance which for many tarnishes the experience. If you pick some of the lower end establishments, it is also fair to say that the quality of dancer can be hit or miss.

If you are looking for the ultimate authentic experience then a trip to Agios Georgios is highly recommended. Not only will you find a range of local tavernas to sample the local cuisine, in some of the more livelier bars (ask the locals where’s best on the night you are there) and you will more than likely see a local Cypriot lady perform a technically astounding and truly breath-taking performance. This has normally been laid on for the locals’ entertainment but they are always happy to welcome new faces!

If you are looking to learn the ancient art of belly dancing then Paphos is probably the place to go with many dancers offering tuition on most evenings. They welcome individuals and groups and are usually very reasonably priced. They welcome beginners and can be a nice way to get you in the mood for fun-filled night out. If you are away without your partner then the skills you acquire could also prove to be a nice ‘souvenir’ for them on your return!

Without a doubt, the best place to see belly dancing on the whole island is on Saturday at the Layali Café on Evagorou Street in Nicosia where they have Belly Dance Fever. You can see the many beautiful women shaking their stuff and if you are feeling adventurous (or you’ve had one too many) you can get involved and the dancers are always happy to share some techniques and tricks of the trade.

Many view belly dancing as an Arabian tradition but in actual fact (like most things) it was an advent of the ancient Greeks, therefore it makes sense that an island with such a rich influence of Greek heritage should produce some of the world’s finest displays of belly dancing.

This is a guest contribution from the team at Villas for sale in Cyprus). Do you hold Cyprus belly dance classes? You might also be interested in Venice dance events where Valeria Lo Iacono sometimes performs and teaches.

4 exercises to strengthen the muscles needed for floor-work

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:24:00 +0000

If you have taken up dancing having never done it before, you will find yourself using muscles you are unaccustomed to. These will ache at first, however after time and exercise, you will grow used to using them and build them up over time. Here are four exercises designed to strengthen these muscles:

1. Weight training - Dancers are incredibly strong and they need to be to be able to perform all the moves they do. Ballerinas, for example, need strong arms and legs in order to be able to hold positions and poses for long periods of time. In order to build up your limb strength, it is an idea to do some basic weight training. Now, we're not talking about massive dumb bells here, but light weights that will gradually tones your legs, arms and back.

2. Yoga/Pilates - Your muscular core is used extensively in dance and as such, many dancers do pilates and/or yoga to strengthen these muscles. By doing so, dancers are able to hold their body in positions for longer as well as minimising risk of injury. Yoga and pilates also allows you to build up muscles you might not otherwise use. (Learn more on Yoga and Relaxation).

3. Go swimming - Dancing not only works your muscles, but also your cardio-vascular system. It is therefore important to make sure you regularly work your heart. Jogging or running are good options, but swimming is probably the best as it not only exercises every muscle, but is an excellent way of keeping fit.

4. Stretching - Once you have worked all these muscles, the only way to improve your flexibility is to stretch your muscles. You can do this in everyday life by taking longer strides, holding your stomach in and reaching out your arms as far as they go. By doing a series of stretching exercises before and after dance, you will reduce the chance of injury.

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Where to buy Arabian music

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:19:00 +0000

Now of course, the best place to buy authentic Arabian music is the Middle East, but short of going on an expensive holiday to the likes of Jordan and Egypt for a shopping trip, then your best option to buy traditional music is online or closer locales.

In the UK, major cities such as Birmingham and London all have a large Middle Eastern population and there are many areas within them, where local markets and shops sell traditional products such as spices, clothing and even music. While you may not know where these shops are, a quick search in your local Yellow Pages may yield their location, so that you can go down and browse their selection of authentic, traditional music.

Alternatively, the easiest way is probably to buy online. Of course, unless you are familiar with the artists, you may not know what the music sounds like, but many websites such as Amazon have a 'preview' area where you can listen to certain tracks before you buy them.

There are also specialist websites such as BuyArabic.com and Maqam.com that will have large numbers of local artists and albums, as well as knowledge of the latest styles and hits. If you are a fan of Arabian music or need it for a party or a belly dancing class, then there are multiple options to find the music that you need. You don't have to go to the Middle East, unless of course you want to!

4 exercises to improve your balance

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:04:00 +0000

If you study dance or martial arts or any form of sport, then balance is key. Starting off, you may find your balance is all over the place, but there are several exercises you can do to improve it. This way, you will build up your core muscles, improve your leg strength and not fall over as much!

1. Standing on one leg - This is as simple as it sounds, but helps improve your balance. Stand and hold a chair or table and then stand on one leg. You can then alternate legs as you go. As your balance improves, you will no longer need to hold on to the chair or table and do it just standing up straight.

2. Walk heel-to-toe - You may have seen ballet dancers doing this as part of their warm-up. Simply walk by placing the heel of one foot in front of the toes of your other foot. Depending on your balance, this can be done using a chair or table to steady yourself.

3. Knee bends - Using a chair for balance, stand up and bend your knee slowly towards your chest. Hold in for a second and then lower your leg to the ground, before switching and raising your other knee. Try to do at least 10 bends with each leg.

4. Leg raises - Again using a chair for balance, stand with your legs shoulder-width apart. Then lift a leg out to the side by about 30cm. Hold it for several seconds, before returning it to position and then doing the same with the other leg. Repeat the exercise until you have done it 10 times with each leg.

By doing these exercises regularly, you should begin to build up your balance.

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3 Holidays if you love Belly Dancing

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:53:00 +0000

If you love belly dancing and are interested in it enough to want to learn, watch or participate in the activity, you should include it in a holiday planning. One of the best ways to learn belly dancing, as I know from experience is to visit a place where it is practiced and celebrated. There are different types of belly dancing that include Egyptian, Oriental, Turkish and Arabian and most belly dancing holidays offer classes for all these options.

Turkey – Turkey is one of the best places in the world to go to learn the art of belly dancing. You can book a belly dancing holiday in Marmaris and enjoy learning authentic Turkish dance moves from professional dancers. You will also be able to pick up a beautiful belly dancing costume and choose original Turkish belly dancing tunes from a vast music selection, both of which you can take home with you. Many of these holidays include 5 to 10 days of belly dancing classes and tickets to evening shows where the dances are featured.
(More on Turkey belly dance trips).
Morocco – This is another great place to visit if you love belly dancing. A holiday in Marrakech will easily accomplish all that you have planned for your dream belly dancing vacation. This will usually include a week or more of dance class which will also extend to educating you on the culture of Arabian belly dancing.

Egypt – A trip to Cairo is a good idea for a belly dancing holiday and you will be able to avail of classes from professional and renowned belly dancers. You will also be able to visit belly dancing nightclubs, choose from a variety of inexpensive exotic dance costumes and even get them custom made. Egypt is also well known for its dance shows, local restaurants where these performances take place and impromptu classes are given.

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Call-out for participants for Nic Green's Trilogy

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Women of all ages, backgrounds, shapes, sizes, levels of fitness and ability are sought to perform naked in an ensemble dance celebrating the female form, as part of Nic Green’s extraordinary, multi award winning show Trilogy as part of this year's Mayfest programme!

Trilogy, one of the most talked about shows at Edinburgh Festival 2009, is a celebratory venture into modern-day feminism and examines and interrogates the joys and complexities of being a woman today whilst driving steadfast into the future with commitment and hope.

The first part ends with a high energy naked dance performed by the volunteers. It is a powerful and emotive moment, presenting the female form in an alternative, empowered way, and celebrating the difference and diversity of women. The performers will have taken part in workshop sessions beforehand, beginning monday!

To sign up, please contact Dion on assistant@mayfestbristol.co.uk

For more details, go to www.nicgreen.org.uk or http://www.mayfestbristol.co.uk/

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New belly dance shop available on Worldbellydance.com

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:23:00 +0000

As a belly dance enthusiast, I am always in search of new belly dance items to buy, such as books, DVDs, CDs and clothing and accessories. I have found that Amazon.com is a rich source of belly dance material to buy (it is also a reliable seller and easy to return items if there are any problems). I usually buy DVDs from them as they have more belly dance DVDs for sale then on Amazon.co.uk where the choice is still at the moment more limited.

Following this interest, I have decided to create on Worldbellydance.com a section where I have selected and added the best belly dance items available for sale on Amazon.com. Browsing Amazon.com I have added to this section my favourite DVDs and books, as well as Cds, MP3 downloads, clothes and accessories and also belly dance costume patterns for those who want and are able to sew their own costumes.

From this section it is possible to browse all these items, add them directly to a shopping basket and buy them from Amazon.com. In this section you will find only belly dance products for the enthusiast belly dancer to shop. Go on the Amazon shop section on Amazon shop section on Worldbellydance.com if you would like to take a look.

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Baladi workshop with Serena and Hossam Ramzy

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Yesterday I attended a workshop on Egyptian baladi with Hossam and Serena Ramzy. The workshop was very interesting as it was not so much about the movements, although Serena explained some shimming technique, but mainly about the culture that generated the Egyptian baladi style.

What was interesting was especially the fact that Hossam Ramzy broke down for us the structure of a baladi piece. He explained how it starts slowly with a taqsim, to then develop towards a question and answer part between the drummer and the other musicians, thus alternating melody and rhythm. The rhythm then goes faster and faster, until the fallahy is played and then after the music slows down again.

Understanding this structure is very useful for improvising to baladi, because the dancer will know what to expect. Hossam and Serena also gave us some tips on drum solo improvisations and rules that drummers and dancers adhere to when improvising a drum solo, in order to communicate effectively with each other. Overall the workshop was interesting and I gathered some useful information, that have changed the way I will be listening to baladi pieces from now on.

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How belly dance can help beat the ‘winter blues’

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:27:00 +0000

With Christmas and New Year festivities already behind us, and spring still a way ahead, February may seem a grey month for those of us living in the Northern hemisphere. I hate winter, but I find that hobbies, such as belly dancing, help me keep busy and in a good mood during the coldest month.

My regular belly dance practice and teaching oriental dance every week are things that help me stay active and positive. It is sometimes hard to motivate myself, especially on the coldest days, but it is always worth the effort. Belly dancing is known to provide several health benefits, for the body as well as for the mind. Just like every other form of physical exercise, practising belly dance causes the release of endorphins. In addition to this, the social aspect of dance helps improve people’s mood. This is also the subject of a relatively new discipline, called Dance Therapy, which I find fascinating.

Do you also find that belly dancing improves your mood and joy of living? Please feel free to send comments with your experiences.

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A belly dancer’s New Year resolutions – January 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:34:00 +0000

Welcome to my first belly dance blog for 2010. As a belly dancing enthusiast, my plan for the New Year includes some resolutions to do with my favourite dance form.

My first resolution to do with belly dance is of course to practise more and if possible attend private lessons with some famous belly dancers. Also, I would like to go to Egypt at some point if finances and time allow.
I also would like to try and perform more often and also try and listen to more Arabic music to see if I can discover new tracks I like. I would like to attend more events and workshops and, finally, I would like to really learn how to play sagat properly. This is not easy as it requires a lot of practice and I do not want to upset my neighbours with the noise…however, the sound of zils can be muffled somehow. It would be great to play finger cymbals freely, but playing them muzzled is better then nothing. If I ever move to a detached house, then, who knows, I may be able to let myself go!

I wonder what other belly dancers’ resolutions for 2010 are. Please feel free to send me your comments!

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Workshop with Sadie, American bellydancer, in September 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:06:00 +0000

During the International Belly dance Congress in Frimley, UK, in September 2009, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop with Sadie. Sadie is a well known American bellydancer, who is famous for her impeccable technique and perfect isolations.

I attended one of Sadie’s workshops on isolation technique and drills and I have to say that hers was one of the toughest belly dance workshops I have ever attended. Sadie made us focus on upper body and lower body drills, combined with footwork at the same time. Some drills were easier than others, but after repeating drills for about three hours, we could really feel that our muscles had worked! The fact that some drills were carried out in addition to travelling steps around the room (i.e. chest lifts while doing Arabic walk), it meant that Sadie’s workshop was challenging for the mind as well as for the body.

During the International Belly dance Congress Sadie performed on one of the evenings. Sadie’s performance was great, technically perfect and you can tell she is a very skilled dancer who has worked and still works hard to achieve that level of fitness. Sadie has made some instructional DVDs, which I am thinking of buying in the future.

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Christmas presents for belly dancers.

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:36:00 +0000

We are just over two weeks away from Christmas and, if you have not yet bought a present for your belly dancing friend, partner, wife, mother, relative and you need some ideas, here is a brief list of items they will like.

· Belly dancing items of clothing, such as costumes, hip scarves, belly dance tops and skirts.
· Accessories and props, i.e. swords, zils, veils, canes or jewellery such as anklets.
· Belly dance resources, such as DVDs, Arabic music CDs or books on bellydance.
· You could even pay for them to attend a workshop or you could pay for tickets and go with them to a show or an hafla. They will appreciate it.

As you can see there are a lot of presents you could get for a belly dancer, in addition to the greatest present of all, which is your support and appreciation for their art!

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Khaled Mahmoud - Male Belly Dancers

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:48:00 +0000

Khaled Mahmoud is arguably one of the top male belly dancers in the world and based in London, he holds a number of workshops each year. His classes tend to be excellent and I highly recommend signing up for one of his events if you can.

He normally teaches Egyptian folk style as well as raqs sharqi. You can find his latest workshops on World Belly Dance Events.

Below - an introduction to Khaled Mahmoud:

New belly dance events on worldbellydance.com

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:23:00 +0000

This is just a short post to highlight some new events that have been added to the events page on worldbellydance.com. On the events page you will be able to find belly dance related events, such as haflas, workshop, festivals, shows and more taking place all over the world.

For November 2009 there are events such as the Flying Carpet Party in London (UK); the Pyramid Awards in Edinburgh; Ahmet Ogren Turkish Dance Workshop in the Netherlands and more. If you like to plan much earlier in advance, there are already events advertised for 2010, such as Incanto D’Oriente (Italy), Majma (UK) and Tribal Massive (USA) in March, or the 8th Annual Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive and Festival (USA) in September 2010.

New events will be added shortly and more are being added all the time; also, you can add your own belly dance event, show or workshop for free by filling the form on worldbellydance.com. All you need to provide is original text (not copied from an existing website) with about 150 words, including the event’s location, time and various details. So, if you are interested in attending belly dance events click here, or here to add your own event.

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2009 International Belly Dance Congress in Frimley, UK

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:02:00 +0000

Last weekend, I attended the second International Belly Dance Congress in Frimley, UK, organised by Josephine Wise, Kay Taylor and Charlotte Desorgher. I attended several workshops, for a total of 8 hours dancing every day for 2 and half days, and at the end I was exhausted but happy!

This year’s teachers and performers included amazing dancers such as Randa Kamel and Khaled Mahmoud from Egypt, Sadie and Anasma from the US, Leyla Jouvana and her husband Roland from Germany, Nawarra who performed traditional Moroccan dances and many more great belly dancers from the UK and abroad. On top of this great line up, Kay Taylor managed to persuade the legendary Fifi Abdo to come to the Congress (this was Fifi’s first time performing and teaching in Europe).

Two years ago the International Belly Dance Congress
was held in Butlins, but many people did not like the venue, so this year it was held in the Lakeside Complex. Personally, I preferred the rooms where the workshops took place this year, but in Butlins I liked the fact that accommodation was cheaper and included breakfast and a buffet dinner. Overall, I liked the food in Butlins and the range of choice (it was good value for money). The Lakeside resort instead, food wise was not great and the service was very slow. What is your opinion? Please feel free to comment, as I would like to hear other belly dancers’ points of view.

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Belly dancing in Barcelona

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:52:00 +0000

Having lived in Barcelona, Spain, for one year, I was able to experience how popular belly dance is in that city. In Barcelona there are belly dance classes available in every gym and cultural centre all over the city. I do not know how many years ago belly dancing started being so popular in Barcelona, but the fact is that it is extremely popular.

When I lived in Barcelona I attended two different courses, around the Sagrada Familia area, which is where I used to live. I studied with Aida, who has her own studio, and with Cecile in the cultural centre ‘Fem Cultura’. According to my experience, belly dance teachers and students take this discipline very seriously and courses are well structured. For example, most courses cover all the basics , plus how to use all the main belly dance props . Also, at the end of every course, most belly dance teachers in Barcelona organise performances with their students, held in proper theatres.

In addition to cabaret belly dance being so popular in Barcelona, a fusion style between belly dance and flamenco has developed. This is called zambra mora and it is now taught by various teachers worldwide.
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Forum on Worldbellydance.com

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Recently, a Forum has been added to Worldbellydance.com for belly dancers to chat and exchange pieces of advice. I find that a forum is particularly useful when you are going to a belly dance event and would like to share transportation or accommodation, as it is not always easy to find people attending the same event amongst the ones you know.

Similarly, sometimes it is nice to ask for other belly dancers’ opinions when it comes for example to tips, opinions on past workshops or haflas.
This new belly dance forum includes many sections, such as learning and teaching, share transportation to workshops/events, belly dance costumes and make up, styles of belly dance and more. Take a look at the worldbellydance forum

Sky1 new dance competition – Just Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Valeria) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Through my website worldbellydance.com, I have just been contacted by Sky1, to make me aware of a new programme they are launching. So, I have decided to make every belly dancer who may be interested aware of it.

Sky1 are about to launch a new programme, called Just dance, where dancers of every type and style of dance will compete for a final prize. Sky1 are interested in every type of dance from, for example, flamenco, to ballet, tap, tango, salsa and of course belly dance.

Auditions will take place from September 2009 in all major cities in Ireland and the UK. Dancers can audition regardless of their level and the programme is open to soloists as well as couples and groups. If you are interested you can apply on Sky1 website

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