| Congress- Sunday |
[29th September 2009|10:04 am] |
I’d planned Sunday morning to be my lazy time, no workshop earmarked, and I wanted time to go over my dvds again (I like to be well-prepared when I’m teaching).
We had a slightly gut-watering moment, when I met up with the tech guy in the presentation room, and asked if it was at all possible that the video might play NTSC format vids, and he looked at me and said, "No-one told me you’d need a video player!" He’d only set up a dvd player. But he was able to sort one out very quickly, so no worries. It didn’t play the US videos but that was ok, they were for material that I would have loved to have shown, but knew I might not be able to. I had enough without them. For some reason, my Legends dvd wouldn’t play, but again, I still had plenty of material, it had only been included because it shows some very early Fifi footage. So no worries there either.
The talk/presentation itself was reasonably well attended, about 20 people there, and there was note-taking going on, and sensible questions. I showed tons of Fifi, especially my newly autographed Cherry-Picker, and the Shisha dance. I showed a couple of Suhair Zaki clips, Mona Said in the fishnet and massive gold fringing. I showed a bit of Hayatim, of Hala el Safy, a couple of Nagua Fouad, including the intro of Sit el Hosni. Apparently there was good feedback about the presentation, so that’s all good.
I then had to bugger off fast, because I was missing my latest niece’s baptism, (of the four possible dates she’d put forward for the baptism, this was the only one I couldn’t make, and when she said the service itself would be at 12, I explained that while I would normally have willingly deprived myself of half a day at Congress, to be there, that was the only time that I was contracted to be there. So she knew I wouldn’t be there for the mass, but I’d said I’d try & come over afterwards. So I dashed over to my sister’s house for an hour or so, to show my face and be in some photos. Of course I was in dance gear- my Maalima top, and mesh trousers, so the first thing my sister Steph says to me is "You look like a Lesbian Vampire Killer" and Charlotte (mother of the baptisee) said I’d have to stand behind someone in the photos so as not to show my legs! It’s so easy to embarrass my family. Eleanor was beautiful and smiley, in my grandfather’s christening robe, all lawn and handmade lace. But I had to push off pretty quickly to be back in time for Fifi’s final workshop.
Again, I wasn’t dancing, but taking massive notes. She is of the Follow the Bouncing Butt persuasion, and she was just improvising to a piece of music. There are those that may feel short-changed, because she wasn’t teaching massively sophisticated technique, or imparting Pearls of Wisdom of Oracular Proportions, but it was billed as Open level, and as "Fifi Style", and in all fairness, that IS her style. But the best bit was she did a Q&A, which was wonderful. The first question was from Charlotte, asking how did she feel coming down on that Cherry-picker! Scared because it was very high and very wobbly, but excited, from the adrenaline and from hearing the cheers and applause from the crowd. My question was what music did she love to dance to the most. It was a very quick answer, no thinking required- Oum Khalsoum. One of the pearls of wisdom that touched me was the importance of being a Performer- that people are expecting you to be smiley and entertaining. They don’t want to see your misery. She was turning in her seat, "here" *faces back* "you cry. Here" *faces front and beams* "you smile. Your mother is dead, here you cry, here you smile". She didn’t plan on being a dancer first of all, she wanted to be a model, she had the looks and the figure, but she ended up being drawn to acting and dancing. I tell you she got all the looks in the Abdo family- her sister was there with her and she’s a right sour looking mare. Fifi’s daughter, on the other hand, is a stunner.
And after that I was back in the main theatre, watching the Performance Platform, chatting, networking, soaking up that special bellydance festival vibe, and waiting for the show to start. And again, I haven't written the show post yet, but it was a Belter. |
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| Congress- Fifi |
[29th September 2009|09:27 am] |
I don’t know how to even begin blogging this. So it will be in chunks.
Meeting Fifi has been like meeting Elvis.
When Charlotte first told me who the big star was going to be, she asked "who do you think we’re booking?" And I didn’t even consider the possibility of Fifi. The biggest star I had thought they might have in mind was Dina, because a long time ago, Charlotte had said that the two teachers she desperately wanted to sponsor were Aziza & Dina. So when she said Fifi, I was gobsmacked.
And I’d been so excited ever since I heard, I was really scared that I’d be a pathetic girly and not be able to say anything (like that time I saw Lucy in the ladies at the Semiramis), but it was fine. And not only do I have Fifi molecules on my hand, I have her autograph on my Cherrypicker DVD!!!!!!!!! And I kissed her on both cheeks!!! I also checked with Yasmina that she hadn’t written "piss off you nuisance Englishwoman" and she’d actually written "with love from Fifi Abdo".
I liked her a lot. She was very real and earthy. |
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| Moar Congress |
[15th September 2009|09:57 am] |
I can post this publicly now, as it's been officially announced.
Planet Egypt unfortunately had to withdraw from taking part in the Bellydance Congress. I was gutted because I was due to be one of the performers, but I totally respect & understand Anne's reasons.
But, the powers that be found a good replacement haflah/show thingy for the Friday night, with Belly Dance Boogie from Benat Eshorouk from Leeds. Which will have a great atmosphere, I'm sure.
And the powers that be were also darlings in that they insisted on a couple of the original PE dancers being invited to perform, and so I am still going to be performing on the Friday night! Hurray!
Charlotte wrote on her twitter that Egyptian dancers are flying here to see Fifi as they can't see her in Egypt! |
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| Public Service Announcement |
[28th June 2009|02:13 pm] |
Good news on the Fifi workshop front for the keen but failed to book two when they could have and so got limited to one.
Charlotte posted on twitter:
Fifi workshop sales have calmed down now so we're going to open them up again soon so people can buy more than one of her workshops. |
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| Congress Open Platform |
[17th June 2009|12:10 pm] |
I need to settle a dance piece. I am torn. I'd like to do something Baladi and improvised, because I love it and it's very me. I'd like to do a stick piece, all Maalima-ish, which is also very me. But I've got this Enta Omri choreo now, that actually I quite like, that I wouldn't otherwise do anything with, so I'm almost tempted to put that one forward. Which would damn well force me to work on it some more, maybe do something more definite with the last section. Which would be very good for me.
Sigh. I wish I was better at decision making right now. |
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| Ouf! |
[11th May 2009|12:03 pm] |
I've managed to get my act sufficiently together to book my Congress ticket. Huzzah! |
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| Free at last... |
[22nd April 2009|04:03 pm] |
At last I can say what I've known in confidence for the last few weeks but had to keep quiet about...
Fifi is going to be at Congress!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so excited, I'm feeling quite tired by it all.
But I'm going to be able to fangirl Fifi!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| A bit of a catch up |
[20th July 2008|10:12 am] |
a) Friday night was lovely. I got to see Charlotte (who I haven't seen for ages), ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) artemisia_danst and wooglethealien. Artemisia was dancing at Shisha Oui in Purley, which is a delightful family run restaurant, and she was in cracking good form, very entertaining. Mwah! The new Pharaonics which I saw being fitted is beeyoootiful. I may suggest Shisha Oui as a possible class outing next term. It's very reasonable and they have dancers every Friday and Saturday. Charlotte's done a fantastic job in developping the community there. The only shame was that Razia couldn't make it.
b) Yesterday I had a productive meeting with Yvette about the Foundation Courses in London & Stroud. It was a shame the other two teachers couldn't make it. We got lots of practical stuff sorted out. I think the two courses will be quite different from each other. If only because of the numbers, which are (as was to be expected) considerably higher for London. But I suspect the people attending are likely to be two different crowds. Hey, we'll just have to wait & see.
c) Yvette was able to give me an idea of how the new style Fantasia will be. For those who were snarking about how Fantasia is all about Jo's cronies- pish! There are very few JWAAD teachers this time, and a much wider range of teachers/topics. I think a lot of them will be relatively unknown, so will hopefully get some promotion and wider recognition from it. And there won't be a Teachers Show as such, but there will be a hafla which the teachers are invited to perform at, either solo or with their students/troupe. Also, I'd been anxious to know who the top guest teachers were, because I'll be busy teaching the Foundation Course during the whole of Fantasia weekend- now that I know who the top teachers are, I'm less anxious, and I don't feel I am missing out on teachers that I couldn't bear to miss.
d) I also talked to Yvette about the Congress, and Jo was doing some major networking at Ahlan Wa Sahlan! The contracts are being sorted out and there should be more news on who'll be there imminently, once the ink is dry. My hopes are high.
e) The bra came from Mayaan. This is for the red costume I bought from her a month ago, which was being adjusted. The adjustment has been made and it's very well done. However, when I tried it on I realised it changed the interaction of the neck straps with the main body of the bra, pulling the centre up too high, so that the side bands gape between my armpits and my bust. So I need to add an extension to the neck strap, so it doesn't pull up so high, which is fairly easy.
It does look fabulous!
f) Mayaan also sent me a Khaled cd, which had been playing when I was round at hers and which I'd admired at the time (love him!). Which was so kind of her. I love it.
g) Who the flip is "Clara Bowen of England"? This would be in relation to the Aziza Birthday Bash list that Lauren posted. |
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| Congress Update |
[11th July 2008|03:34 pm] |
Info is online.
As I guessed, it's at Lakeside in Frimley, so no hotel bills for Béa!
The teacher line-up announced for now is limited, but has some favourites!
Yipppeee!!!!!!!!!!!
Edited to add- Raqia, Randa, JimBoz, Princess F, squeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!
Also Dr Mo (of whom I have heard nothing but good) |
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| Squeeing like a six-year-old girl |
[10th July 2008|04:37 pm] |
The Congress details are supposed to be posted tomorrow.
I know I shouldn't hold my breath, because they may be late in putting the details up, but I can't help myself. I'm just too excited about it. Which teachers can they invite, who I would love as much as the ones they had last year?.... |
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| Congress Debrief- part 2- Shopping |
[1st October 2007|04:29 pm] |
I was fairly restrained.
- 1 CD
- 1 DVD- the Beata & Horacio show "Enchanted Garden". It was a tough debate, between that (which is the show that I saw live a couple of years ago) and Egyptian Love Affair (which I may still buy, maybe at Fantasia)
- a new hairpiece- a clip-on ponytail. For those who are keeping track, Petula & Esmerelda have a baby sister, Isabella. |
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| Another Congress no-show |
[19th September 2007|12:32 pm] |
Looks like Nourhan's not coming either. I've just been checking the workshop schedule and I can't see her name anywhere. There's nothing on the homepage that mentions her.
Jo must be tearing her hair out. |
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| Interesting |
[8th September 2007|09:07 pm] |
Fahtiem and Yasmina are coming to the congress. Instead of Suhaila.
It's not clear which Yasmina they're talking about, but I'm guessing "of Cairo" rather than "Ramzy".
I'd been wondering who they would/could get at that sort of notice, who would have sufficient status. They haven't updated the workshops page, yet. That might make the decisions harder all over again. |
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| Yusss!!!! |
[21st August 2007|10:12 am] |
Got the confirmation from Jo for the Masterclasses- Randa & Raqia. I'll need to get to Bognor good & early on the Friday. In any case I wanted to get there in time for the early afternoon workshops. Khaled or Samasem, haven't totally decided yet- my heart says Samasem, because I know I will love it and learn a lot from her, but I still haven't taken any class with Khaled, and I would like to do that.
I am *so* excited about this.
M will be there, but kind of not there- she won't be dancing, because she'll be quite largely pregnant, but she'll go to some of the workshops and watch. So I'm not sure she'll have the same sense of excitement as me. She's also probably going to be more tired than me. She's far more grown up than me anyway, and she doesn't tend to squee as much as I do. |
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| Congress Shoes |
[15th August 2007|04:52 pm] |
I have been under instructions from Jo, from way-back, that I *have* to wear fantastic shoes to the Congress. (She likes my silly FMH&FM shoes). I have a couple of pairs that will pass muster, including the most outrageously expensive shoes I ever paid good money for[*], which are due a fourth wear.
But I really need several pairs of fantastic shoes. So today I went & had a wander around the cheap shoe shops of Woking. I got a plain pair of white wedge sandals. I also found in the tacky cheap Circle K shop, Craft Orchids & Daisies. I have a hot-glue gun that I've not used yet, and I feel shoe decoration coming on tonight. I will post Before & After pics.
[*] This was money that I might have well thrown straight down the drain, because they fell apart on the second wear- they've never even seen daylight those shoes, I only ever wore them indoors, they have no scuffing on the sole whatsoever. They do have a Story, but it's really rather dull. |
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| General Dancey stuff |
[27th July 2007|10:45 am] |
No more teaching till September. I'm going to have to get some rehearsal time sorted out for the Farnham girls, but I'm going to worry about that when I get back from the hols.
I got the reservation confirmation email for the Congress masterclasses. I may be a fool to myself, but I'm going for both the Randa *and* Raqia ones. I have nerdishly highlighted all the workshops on the schedule that I would like to do, so that I know what my various options are in each timeslot. Mostly I'm aiming for the Egyptian stylings- Raqia, Randa, Samasem, Khaled, Beata & Horacio- but I've also included some of the Americans- JimBoz, Suhaila, Nourhan, depending on what the topic/level is. I'm viewing this as an opportunity to do loads of Taster sessions. If I don't do at least three workshops a day, I will feel like I have wasted this golden opportunity.
I haven't done any prep for performing at the Congress. I'm really not feeling good about performance generally at the moment. I hated the dvd of my bit at Egyptian Moonlight, and it's really put me off my stride. So when Jo announced the Competition, there was no way I was going to go for that. I'll try to use some of my spare time on holiday, to work on my choreo. Part of my difficulty with it is that, much as I adore my music, I haven't had any blinding flashes of inspiration about it.
Oh and I need to work on Batwannis Beek too (I've got a couple of veils packed. Officially they count as sarongs, but they're my Akais so if I feel the inspiration rising, I can whip them out and have a twirl on the beach. And I need to work on a Beginner version of Ah Wa Nos, but that should be ok, it's mainly dumbing down the Intermediates level choreo for it.
And a final muse... I teach Posture right from the off, we go over it in every class, I use the same formula of words to describe the stance, mostly I see the students making the effort to do what I'm asking them to do. So why, when I ask them to tell me what the Posture should be, when I ask them to repeat it back to me, why can they never remember it as I teach it? |
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| Congress workshops Ahoy! |
[13th April 2007|04:45 pm] |
Seeing as I've been working like a slave all day including my lunch time, I'm allowing myself to ease up for the rest of the day and as long as I'm here to answer the phone, I can't *actually* be expected to work at this time on a Friday afternoon. So I'm checking out the workshop schedules. Oh happy happy joy joy!
Ideally, I want to do:
Masterclass with Randa (so that's Sunday afternoon definitely taken care of)
The other masterclass possibility I'd asked for was Beata & Horacio, but they aren't down for one.
workshops with Raqia, Randa, Beata & Horacio, Samasem, JimBoz, Suhaila, Nourhan.
Um, that's seven workshops & a Masterclass. Can I do it? Doesn't matter...
But, but, but... *whines* There are still others that I want to try as well!
All that lot, and three amazing shows, all for a measly £119. God is good! |
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| Congress |
[14th March 2007|11:27 am] |
I've just emailed to say I'd like to do the Open Platform. I now have to trust that I don't get scheduled for the same time as any of the Masterclasses I want to be doing. It will also mean that I do have to get my arse in gear and choreograph that piece I've been promising myself I'd do. |
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| IBC shows |
[10th February 2007|02:23 pm] |
This is going to be so fantastic...
Friday night: Oriental Fantasy ‘Talisman’ with Beata & Horacio Cifuentes
Who I love. I may occasionally have a laugh about Horacio and his amazing torso, but they do put on a fantastic show. Including last time they were here, unexpected pyrotechnics, which I hope for their sake, we don't get a reprise of!
Saturday night: ‘East Meets West’ with Suhaila Salimpour, Nourhan Sharif, Jim Boz, Frederique and many more.
Which will be very interesting, and I can't wait to see the Americans in real life.
Sunday Night: ‘Egyptian Night’ with Randa Kamel, Leila Haddad, Khaled Mahmoud, Samasem, Shafeek and many more.
Which I can't help feeling will be my top favourite. So I shall have to try not to wear myself out too much over the weekend in case I'm tired & unable to enjoy it. |
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| Oooh oooh oooh!!!! |
[17th January 2007|04:20 pm] |
Beata & Horacio now showing as artistes on the IBC site- this is getting better & better! |
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