Leith Festival Halfa - Tuesday 11 June 2013

I'm really excited about this year's Leith Festival Hafla. I can hardly believe it's the third year we've had it!

Last year's poster! But this one is very similar, only the date has changed... JUNE 11TH!!

Once again I've invited some lovely dancers to come along to The Parlour Bar on Duke Street, Leith, to bring some shimmy and sparkle to the Leith Festival. Sadly the festival is a bit smaller this year, but as long as it's got some bellydance in it, I consider it to be small but perfectly formed!

This was me performing at the first Leith Festival hafla in 2011.

And this year our listing in the Leith Festival programme caught the attention of The Leither, our well-kent, idiosyncratic local publication. In the page 3 editorial, it says:

"Please allow me to indulge myself by invoking the spirit of the (never) bettered Travelling Vacuum Flask Museum from a few festivals back in offering up a few lovingly chosen leftfield choices from the 2013 programme which, I hope, tickle your fancy.

"Dance? Surely the promise of 'Cairo on Duke Street' meets all your terpischorean needs? A Hafla (get together), hosted by the wonderfully, if improbably, named, Elspeth SwishandHips, cries out for a well-choreographed stampede to the ticket office."

Isn't that nice? Although, of course, it's a free, unticketed event, so there's no need to stampede. Just turn up, grab a drink and enjoy the dancing and the atmosphere. I will be there to lead you through the evening's proceedings, teach you to cheer like a middle eastern crowd, and sell you raffle tickets for the brilliant Just Because charity.

The last two years have been packed, standing room only. So come along at 7.30pm for an 8pm start - or come later if you don't mind standing, it's very informal! and bring some money for drinks and raffle tickets. And feel free to get up and join in, if you feel inspired (but it's not compulsory!)

Hope you can come!

Flashmob!

I just realised that I didn't post about what an amazing success the Bellydance Flashmob was, back in July!

See for yourself! Thanks to Emma Chapman for filming and sharing this vid.

The Big Dance was a brilliant weekend in Edinburgh. There was dancing everywhere - although this was my favourite for sure! It was lunchtime on Sunday at the National Museum of Scotland, busy with families and tourists, and suddenly - there we were!

I'm the one in the blue trousers, by the way! I organised the event, and prepared the Egyptian and joint choreographies, which I taught to my student in class, and to anyone else who was interested via YouTube tutorials.

I feel so excited, privileged and lucky to have the chance to organise an event like this, and to have the chance to dance with so many great dancers. We have a great community here in Edinburgh, and it's great that Egyptian, Tribal and fusion dancers can work together to make something this good.

November Fun

There are so many bellydance events coming up in Edinburgh next month!

On the evening of Sunday 4th November, the lovely Pheonyx Dance is organising her second Masquarade Hafla at the Church of the Good Shepherd at Roseburn. We are to wear a mask and dress up for this halfa, because after all, it is Halloween!

The cause for the Pheonyx Masquarade Hafla will be orphans in Scotland and abroad. Proceeds will go to charities supporting orphans, including SOS Children's Villages and Mary's Meals. Donations of raffle prizes are welcome.

Bring your own food and drinks for this one, and there is also space for souks. More details are from neimahsafi@hotmail.com

 

The following week it's time for the Pyramid Awards 2012 at the Minto Hotel in Newington. As far as I know the Pyramid Awards have been the only bellydance competition in Scotland, and this is the third time they've taken place. The competition starts the evening at 8pm on Saturday 10th November, with competitors being asked to improvise to music of the judge's choice. Those who progress to round 2 then get to perform their own piece. There will also be a "star studded show, with International performers, selected dancers from Edinburgh and surrounding areas", and an Arabic Disco till 1am. 

 

There are also workshops the following day. You will find more details on Fereshteh's website.

The next weekend is even busier. On Friday 16th November the lovely Sara Gollan is organising a hafla to raise money for Alzheimers Scotland, as she will be taking part in a firewalk for that charity! The venue is The Quay in Musselburgh, and tickets are £8. I'll be compering the evening so come and give me big supportive zhagreets from the audience. You can get in touch with me for more details or if you want to dance!

Then you have the Saturday night to recover before the Edinburgh Egyptian Dancers Hafla on Sunday 18th November at Revolution nightclub on Chambers Street. This is Edinburgh's longest running hafla and is always smashing and recommended. Tickets are usually £10 and available on the door.

If you've never been to a hafla before, it's essentially where bellydancers go to dance and watch other dancers perform. They range in formality and variety but we usually wear lovely things, make lots noise and get a good party atmosphere going! You don't have to dance if you don't want to - it's fine to watch - but if you're having fun then clapping and cheering are compulsory.

 

What you waiting for? Find something to wear, bring a friend and get ready to dance or cheer!

Shimmy in the City - competition report

I have competed, I have survived, and I'm going to tell you all about it.

The second Shimmy in the City bellydance festival was on 20-22 September 2012 in Croydon, London. I went last year and had a great time. This year, I took part in the competition as part of The Peacock Project, a six-dancer troupe from all over the UK (Edinburgh, London, Cambridge and Exeter). We were Caroline the Peacock, Emma the Peacock, Hannah the Peacock, Moyra the Peacock, Zafirah the Peacock, and me.

And yes, we know that Peacocks are really male, but Peachicks are babies and Peahens are dowdy, so we're happy to be female Peacocks!

Emma the Peacock has blogged about the Project before - her article  sums it up. We decided a year ago to compete this year, and started working on our choreography in early 2012. So, for about nine whole months, the Peacock Project has been a big part of my life. The Edinburgh girls have been practicing weekly for about the last four months. The six of us have got together for five full days of practice, including one day spent at The Big Dance, where we had our first performance.

At first I felt overawed to be part of the Project - four of the girls are experienced in  bellydance competitions, and they include my most favourite dancers I know! I didn't feel remotely confident about my dance abilities or my choreographing. I was really nervous when we got together for the first time. But as the months went on, our choreography took shape and I felt better and better - about my own contribution and about what we were creating. It was such a luxury. By being a Peacock, I got to know friends even better, learning about them by learning how they work. I got to work with and learn from some brilliant dancers whose work I really enjoy and respect. And I got to dance, dance, dance, and get to a place where I was being the very best dancer that I could be.

By the time the competition came round, I was really, really excited. I've been taking on board a lot of NLP thinking recently, and I've been a fan of Paul McKenna since I prepared to dance with the Baladi Blues Band in January. I know it improves my performance, makes me feel better about myself and helps combat my nerves. I felt really positive about the competition, and wasn't letting any negative thoughts get into my head.

For me, walking on the the dancefloor thinking "well, we probably won't win but..." would have made entering the competition pointless. As far as I was concerned, we'd already won, and this was effectively a pressure-free performance to be enjoyed! It worked for me, I didn't feel nervous and I danced to the very best of my ability. I suspect that I was getting on the nerves of some of the other Peacocks with my relentless positivity!

Our day started with make-up and general Peacock Preening at 9.30am, and I have no idea where the next four hours went - before I knew it, we were dancing for the judges in our gorgeous peacock costumes and a haze of glitter spray. The judges were Kazafy, Orit and Aziza - three brilliant dancers and teachers. Still, nobody was going to faze that day! There was a small audience - I'm sure almost all of them were there to cheer on particular dancers or troupes, but there was still a good response.

Last year there were plenty of UK entries in both the solo and group competitions, but this year I was surprised that we were the only group from the UK. Emma the Peacock also entered the soloist competition, and was the only UK dancer.

I don't have a photo of the Peacocks in our costumes to share, sadly - we were too busy thinking about the dance to have our picture taken.

When the competition was over, we went to the pub. It was so lovely to be with the Peacocks, enjoying a Friday afternoon beer and chatting. I still felt upbeat and positive about a job well done, and relentlessly happy!

The results were announced at the hafla in the evening, about ten hours after the competition. I was so tired by then, all I wanted to do was go to bed! So when we weren't the winners or the runners up, I was disappointed but my first thought was "okay, time to get some sleep!".

The next morning was different. I was crying into my breakfast. I was so very, very disappointed, and just wanted to be at home with my family instead of in a hotel in Croydon. I really, really wanted to win - why else would I have entered a competition? - so losing was really tough. My mum texted me with a message which was the closest thing to a hug I've ever had from a mobile phone - she said "what you're experiencing is a reaction to having given your all." Spot on - there is no shame in being disappointed when I haven't got what I wanted. I sat and read the sections about failure from one of my favourite books, Unlimited by Jillian Michaels. Although I still felt miserable, I was proud of how I felt.

And frankly, having 12.5 hours of dance workshops over the next two days was a pretty excellent way to take my mind off it!

A week later and I still don't feel that I'm back to myself yet. It was such an emotional experience, and I feel pretty washed out, like I'm not feeling everything properly. I'm better than I was, and I'm not miserable, just off-kilter.

Would I do it again? I will jump at the chance to keep working with the Peacocks if I can. What a group of women, what a group of dancers! We've built lots of bonds and I don't want to lose that.

Would I compete again? Actually, yes I would. I'm a little surprised at myself but here's my logic. Despite the limitations of competitons - you don't necessarily get feedback; the judges can (and do) change the rules at their whim; and dance is making something personal and expressive, not something that anyone can judge for other people! - there is a positive. A competition is a reason to be the very best dancer that you can be. I realise that every day, every hafla, every dance should be a reason to be that dancer, but in reality, I know I can't be that focussed every single time. Having that one-off critique is an opportunity to be, as Cookie Monster says, "the best Cookie me can be." And maybe, with the right support and coaching and practice (lots and lots and lots of practice), I might be up for that in the future!

Wild and organic times with Lorna of Cairo

Lorna of Cairo has been back in the UK for Ramadan, and included in the dates for her UK tour were a performance and an afternoon of workshops in her home city of Edinburgh. I was lucky enough to organise them, as well as enjoy them!

The lovely ladies at Lorna's "Organic Style" workshop

There was sunshine on Leith when Lorna performed at Mimi's Bakehouse on The Shore, Leith. The sun was blazing through the window as Lorna danced and a wonderful audience of her hometown fans enjoyed.

Lorna and cake, in the sunshine at Mimi's.

Lorna dances saidi-style with a stick, which pretends to be a cakestand.

Even better, it was cake for dinner! Mimi's specialises in afternoon teas - scones, little sandwiches with no crusts, and cakes, on a tiered cake stand, with lovely tea. The only difference for this performance was - it was the evening, not the afternoon! What a luxury - not only wonderful bellydance, but cake for dinner!

Lorna also spoke to us for a while about the changes she's seen in Cairo as a result of the Arab Spring revolution in Egypt last year. Sadly, the changes have not been all good. Feelings of hostility towards non-Egyptian women have increased, and many ex-pat women have felt less safe and less welcome in the country. It was sad to hear that people who have chosen to live in that city, because of their love for the city and its way of life, are feeling less comfortable as a result of what has effectively been, increased democracy.

Lorna's workshops were fantastic.  There were two sessions: Organic Style, and Wild Saidi: Swing your Stick with Style, and both were well-attended and very well recieved.

For me, the key message of Organic Style is about letting your own background, dance style and personality determine your bellydance. We worked on leading the moves from the solar plexus as well as the pelvis and core, and on how to build your own moves, getting away from the "stock phrases" that most of us continually fall back on. Lorna showed us so many beautiful arm movements which evade me so often, and Lorna suggested that this is because I am more inclined to think about arm positions rather than movements. A lot of work is needed - for me, at least - to really incorporate what I learned into my dance. So much food for thought.

Lorna is one of the few dancers working in Cairo at the moment who has developed her own defined style of saidi, and she taught us the principles - finding th heart and essense of saidi dance, and making it your own. We had a wild time, going right from stick basics to, in the end, working on our own stick work in not just saidi style, but in baladi, pop, ballet and even sha'abi style.

I feel, again, very lucky to have the chance to work with such a giving, helpful and talented dancer and teacher - and to be lucky enough to count her as an extremely good friend.   

Bellydance Flashmob (and how you can join in)

If you don't already know about the Bellydance Flashmob planned for Sunday 1 July as part of The Big Dance, this is your invitation to get involved!

What is a flashmob? It's when a group of dancers turn up unannounced, dance, then leave. Have a look at this one:

Our flashmob will happen in Central Edinburgh at lunchtime on Sunday 1 July. I will tell you the exact time and location shortly before it happens - it's important that we surprise the public!

There will be:

• a veil introduction, and dancers with veils will gently "clear" the general public away from our performance area (30 seconds)
• an opening Egyptian-style bellydance choreography (1 minute)
• an improvised American Tribal Style section (1 minute)
• a bit more Egyptian style choregraphy (40 seconds)
• a tribal fusion/Bollywood section
• and finally everybody will dance together for another half minute, before posing for rapturous applause and leaving, as suddenly as we appeared.

Fancy it? I hope you do! You can dance as little or as much of the flashmob as you like.

As many people are possible are invited to get involved. The choreographies are designed to be easy-peasy - so that anybody - beginners, improvers or advanced dancers - can learn them, turn up and join in.

You can wear whatever you like - full costume, jeans and a hip scarf, or just your everyday clothes. It's up to you.

If you'd like to learn the choreographies (apart from the Americal Tribal Style section, which will be improvised), they are available on a playlist on my YouTube channel.

If you want a written note of the Egyptian-style choreographies, get in touch with me.

There will be a rehearsal for the Flashmob, at Dancebase on Sunday 24 June, 3-5pm (tbc).

I really hope you'll get involved and help make it a success that people won't forget! And please, feel free to invite anybody you know who might be interested. The more dancers who learn the choreography and join in, the better.

The choreographies have been put together by me, and Roberta Beakbane; Susan Tonner is in charge of the ATS section, and Moyra Banks is heading the veil girls.

If you want to know more about The Big Dance and the myriad of events taking place over the weekend of 31 June/1 July, visit bigdanceedin.co.uk