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!

Twelve Months, Twelve Sentences

2012 was the most amazing bellydance year I've ever had. This year when I was lucky enough to be part of Club Bellydance and got the dance with the Baladi Blues Band, and entered my first ever bellydance competition. Can I summarise it in twelve sentences?! 

January didn’t bring any bellydance workshops my way, but I enjoyed going to my first ever hooping workshop, taught by the brilliant Ann McLaughlin; and I spent a LOT of time dancing to Alf Leyla Wa Leila, because in...

 

In February I was lucky enough to perform with the Baladi Blues Band, my first time ever dancing with a live band which I LOVED, as well as being invited to compere the Edinburgh University African and Arabic Dance Society’s hafla, and starting work with The Peacock Project.

I worked so hard for this performance and loved doing it!

In March, the wonderful Lorna of Cairo came to Scotland and I was to dance at her classes, organise a performance for her and generally hang out.

The Beautiful Lorna of Cairo, in Leith. With me.

 April brought another hooping workshop with Ann, and I had an excellent weekend of rehearsals with the Peacock Project, working towards and completing the choreography for our entry to this year’s Shimmy in The City competition.

May was amazing, when I rehearsed hard for and performed in Club Bellydance at The Pleasance, with the Bellydance Superstars, the biggest Bellydance gig I’ve ever been involved in, which was a brilliant experience for the dancing, the learning and the new friends I made. Oh and I ran the Edinburgh Marathon two days later! 

In June (deep breath) I taught 2 bellydance sessions for children at the PLU festival, which was really interesting and fun; I performed sha’abi style at the GFAD hafla and got a good response; organised  & performed at the rather splendid Leith Festival Hafla, which was very successful; and organised, ran and compered the Musselburgh Hafla, which was a really good event.

July brought the Big Dance weekend, which was also rehearsal weekend for The Peacock Project, and I organised an amazing flashmob in the National Museum of Scotland as well as preparing 3 of my 4 classes to perform. I also organised a performance night for Lorna of Cairo at Mimi’s bakehouse, where we all had cake for dinner!

In August I returned to full-time study after 16 years away, as I began to study for an HND in Fitness Health & Exercise at Edinburgh College. 

September was the culmination of the year’s work for the Peacock Project as we competed at Shimmy in the City, in London, which was an amazing, challenging, growing experience, and I survived the terrible disappointment of not winning.

By October I was back to teaching four wonderful classes, in Musselburgh and Dancebase, with lots of wonderful women and a lovely man. 

In November I danced with the Helwa Hurdies at a Halloween hafla and enjoyed expanding our repertoire; I compered and performed at a charity hafla at The Quay, organised by one of my students Sara Gollan, which was a brilliant night; and did lots of preparation with the Dancebase Improvers class for the Dancebase Christmas show, including extra rehearsals and costuming.

The Helwa Hurdies in Halloween dress, I Dream of Jeannie style! (if you're too young, Google!!)

December brought the brilliant Dancebase Christmas Show, where both of the classes I teach performed and did really, really well.

The lovely ladies of the Dancebase Improvers, just before taking the stage for their Golden Era tribute dance.

Wow. What with studying full time now, I don't expect to have a 2013 as jam-packed with bellydance goodies as 2012 was. But it was such an amazing year and I'm so thankful.

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!

Summer term 2012

Get dancing with me this term!

 
Classes will resume in the week beginning 16th April. New students are welcome at classes at Dancebase and at the Fisherrow Centre, Musselburgh!

Wednesday evenings, 6.30 for beginners, 7.30 for improvers at Dancebase on Grassmarket, Edinburgh. Please book through Dancebase for these classes.

Some of  Fisherrow Improvers, aka the Helwa Hurdies

Thursday evenings 7.30pm for beginners and 8.30pm for improvers/performers at The Fisherrow Centre, Musselburgh. There are only 8 weeks of classes in Musselburgh so the term costs £38 (£35 concessions).

This term we have two haflas (belly dance parties) coming up so there's lots to work towards (although nobody *has* to perform if they don't want to, but it *is* fun!). On Thursday 3 May we will be raising money for The Moonwalk at The Meadows Hotel, and on Thursday 28 June it's the annual Musselburgh Hafla at Musselburgh Rugby Club.

Club Bellydance - get your tickets now!

There's no class at Musselburgh on Thurday 24 May because I will be performing in Club Bellydance at The Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh, along with other local teachers and some of the Bellydance Superstars. I hope you can come along, support me and enjoy the show!

The albums I've chosen for this term are available on iTunes. Students will not need to buy these, but if you'd like to practice or get into Middle Eastern music, these will be the tunes I'll be using in class.


10 Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know - Various Artists
Virginia Presents Khan Al Khalili - Al-Ahram Orchestra
Now That's What I Call Arabia 13 - Various Artists

If you're new to bellydance, have a look at my About Belly Dance section. In class we wear comfy clothes - leggings or joggers are fine - and dance in bare feet, dance shoes, or non-slip socks. Sparkles and sequins are very welcome too, as is wearing a scarf around your hips.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Forthcoming events

It's half way through term and the nights are fair drawing in! Thank you to everybody who's still making it along to class, I hope you agree it's a far better thing to dance and feel happy than to sit at home and let the Scottish climate get you down!

Here's a winter warmer - On 12 November is the Glasgow Festival of Arabic Dance, with workshops and a hafla - I recommend them both for a great day's learning and a splendid night's entertainment (which will feature the Helwa Hurdies and me, performing!)

I have something in mind for round about St Andrew's Night too, watch this space!

December 15th will be the Peebles Christmas Hafla, let's hope the snow stays away this year so that those of us from further away will be able to make it!

Back in the swing of things.

Well, teaching term is back in full swing and I'm really pleased about it! Dancebase have found another group of beginners for me to teach, the majority of whom have not bellydanced before - my favourite! - so it's my mission to make as many of them as I can fall in love with the dance! And it helps when there are so many good events to tell them about - this was a busy weekend!

Saturday night was a hafla organised by my friend Moyra Banks. Moyra is one of my favourite Edinburgh dancers, with musical interpretation I adore and a real passion for Egyptian-ness. Her hafla was wonderfully well organised - a real cut above many haflas with care and attention to details. She was hosting Washington D.C.-based teacher Artemis, who taught workshops over the weekend and performed at the hafla.

Moyra asked me to compere the hafla - a job which I enjoy [and people tell me that I do it well - blush - in a past life I did a lot of public speaking to audiences who were much less friendly than bellydancers!] It was great to get to introduce such a great line-up, not only the star guest Artemis, but 11 other performances, including Zafirah, who had come from London to close the show; the ever-gorgeous Sarasvati Tribal from Glasgow; Caroline Rose performing a spangly-gorgeous Randa Kamel choreography; and Moyra herself doing an amazingly beautiful baladi piece. It was a smashing night with a lovely, warm, friendly atmosphere, and Moyra deserves much credit for putting such a good event together.

Sunday was East Lothian Council's MultiCultural Day at Prestongrange Museum, and my Fisherrow dancers, the Helwa Hurdies, were peforming. It is an annual event, and this was the third time we have danced there. Last year the atmosphere was, well, somewhat lacking, and I had a bit of trepidation about it. The class had spent all of last term preparing a dance for the wedding of one of the Hurdies, and we'd put together a not-terribly-Middle Eastern piece for that occasion! I didn't want to dance to Akon at a Multi-Cultural event! So in the first three weeks of this term we worked on a khaleegy routine, to “Ahla Nazra” by The Miami Band.

In bellydance terms the word “khaleegy (khaliji, khallejy etc) refers to a style of dance and music from the Persian Gulf or Arabian Gulf region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Real women dance this style in pairs or groups of for their own entertainment at celebrations like weddings.The dancers wear bright, oversized overdresses called the thobe or thobe nasha’ar, worn without a hip belt. The dress is used as a prop, as is a headful of long, glossy hair! 

While not all of us are blessed with long glossy hair, we know that when we need dresses, the woman to see is Celia Buchan, bellydance costumier to the finely attired East of Scotland bellydance community! Celia helped us with our costumes for the wedding, and was on hand to run up some thobes for the Hurdies too. Lovely!

Well, the atmosphere was much, much better this year. The tent filled up as we began our slot (and the rain helped us make sure people stayed till the end!) and we got a lovely reception. I danced the Hurdies duet to Aayshalak with Laura

and then filled some more of our 15-minute slot with an improvised baladi piece, using music from my favourite baladi album, Baladi W'Bas! by Yasmina of Cairo. I recommend the album for anyone looking to get their baladi groove on, it's great.

I haven't danced in this old beady dress for a long time. Back when I started bellydance, in 1997, the beady dress was a staple of the dancer's wardrobe. It weighs a tonne and stretches to fit just about anybody.  But I was looking for something appropriate for a multi-cultural event - less showy, more folky. And I feel great dancing baladi in this dress - it makes me feel modest, grounded and slinky!

We saved the best for last though - nine of us took to the stage for our khaleegy fabulousness. It went really well, even if the stage was a bit too wee for us all. Nobody lost any hair, nobody was injured by anyone else's hair, and nobody fell over their thobe. For three weeks practice, that's a result! I'm looking forward to seeing some footage.

It was a great event, with a nice audience and lot of other great performances. The group of Maasai tribesmen who took the stage shortly after us were amazing! How great to share a bill with them!

I'm looking forward to dancing with the Hurdies again soon.

Leith's Awesome Hafla!!!

What an amazing night! My first Leith Festival event, A Bit of Cairo on Duke Street, was a success! The Parlour Bar turned out to be a great venue with very helpful staff. And Leithers turned out to be a brilliant audience.

So, hours before the event, two of the performers pulled out - I guess it's not a real hafla without last-minute stress! By 7.30pm I was very nervous but as the bar started to fill and the atmosphere began to build, I calmed down a bit. There were dancers, bellydance students with their friends and families, and a good number of people who'd come along after seeing the listing in the Leith Festival programme. There were also a few slightly perplexed locals. But it was a really good mix, in total about 60 people, and the atmosphere was just amazing!

When I was performing, the speakers tripped and my (already too quiet) music disappeared entirely. I was gutted because I was really enjoying myself and the audience response was so good. But everybody was already clapping along, so I got them to keep it up and danced to the rhythm of the clapping instead, until the [sterling] bar staff got the music on again. Not every audience would have managed it, but this was a hell of a crowd!

We had nine performances, a lovely variety of dancers and styles - and because our dancefloor was the bar area, and we couldn't dance while customers were being served, nine performances was just the right number for a two-hour show. As it was a free event, everybody had a few quid available for raffle tickets, with a bottle of Baileys and a term of classes as prizes - and £100 was raised for Just Because.

I am really chuffed with how the night went, and would love to do it again next year! A big thank you to you if you came along, and especially to the performers and The Parlour.

A Bit of Cairo on Duke Street!

In the last few years I've looked at the brochure for Leith Festival and been disappointed there's been no bellydancing events.

Last year I was lucky enough to see the Twisted Tails and my own wonderful performance group the Helwa Hurdies performing at the opening of the Leith Festival, along with students of Leith teachers Shelley Dance and Hilary Thacker, which was much better.

This year I decided something else had to be done, so next week you are invited to A Bit of Cairo on Duke Street: Leith Bellydance Hafla!

The venue is The Parlour Bar on Duke Street, a smashing, friendly pub which serves smashing tea, coffee and cupcakes, as well as the usual shandy-business (they call it "boozy goodness"), plus Monster Munch (all flavours). During the day they regularly entertain smaller customers with boxes of Lego and colouring-in. This is not the smelly old man's pub of its previous incarnation! The Parlour also hosts Open Mic nights so they know how to treat performers.

If you would like to come along and enjoy the performances, it's free entry, just hitch up and get yourself a comfy seat (there are settees as well as bar stools). If you'd like to dance, let me know and I'll add you to the programme. Just watch you don't catch your veil on the popcorn wagon! Oh, and the changing facilities are a wee bit scarce, but the atmosphere will make up for it. Come on out for a fun, schoolnight hafla and enjoy the Leith Festival ambiance!

Preparing the Hafla programme

I have a fun job tonight - I'm busy with some paper and scissors trying to sort out the running order for this Thursday's Musselburgh Hafla! I'm trying to balance the oriental and the tribal, the solos and the groups, the mainstays and the show-stoppers to make the very best show. I have each name of a slip of paper, and I'm fiddling them around to get the best running order! It is truly exciting!!

We're also going to have a Bellydance Bring-and-Buy sale at the hafla, where dancers can sell their previously-loved items, be they costumes, coin belts or accessories. If you want to sell anything, you need to label it with your name and how much you'd like to get for it (and 'or nearest offer' if you're open to haggling!)

There will be a raffle too, hopefully raising more money for our chosen charity, Children 1st.

What's probably causing more stress is my own performances - making me wish it was a month away instead of just 4 days!!

I hope you can come along - this Thursday, 1st July, at Musselburgh Rugby Club, Stoneyhill Farm Road, Musselburgh. Doors open at 7.30pm, dancing to start at 8pm. All tickets are £5 on the door.

The Musselburgh Hafla - 1 July 2010

I am excited as it's only SEVEN DAYS till the Musselburgh Hafla!

Thursday 1st July
Musselburgh Rugby Club
Doors 7.30pm, dancing from 8pm (we hope to be finished before 10.30pm)
All tickets £5, raising money for Children 1st

We are going to have such a good line up. There's a terrific variety of oriental and various tribal styles, groups and solos. Last year we got a lot of feedback on how fun and friendly the hafla was, so we hope to be even more fun and even friendlier this year!

Please come along and bring your friends and family for an enjoyable, relaxed evening - it's not an expensive bar! Children are welcome to come along - after all it is the last day of term! - as long as they keep out the bar.
 
We will have a raffle and a Bring and Buy Bellydance sale. If you have any goodies to sell, label them up with your name and how much you want for them, and we'll display them for other dancers to peruse.

See you next Thursday!!