The amazing improvised drum solo in Leeds

I really enjoyed myself in this dance...

we have only worked together twice before- and i didn't warn him about anything I was hoping or planning to do (as if i ever plan anything anyway!!!) and i just LOVED it! Well done 'Rhythmic Ginger' for keeping up with me and making it such a pleasure!!!!

more photos from London!

This lovely pink costume is by Amera el Kattan of pharonix costumes. Thanks again to Maani for the wonderful shots. I especially love the interplay between myself and Medhat, the drummer for The Nile Band.

Photos from London Performance

Thanks to Maani for these fabulous shots of my performance at Saqarah, London, 2 weeks ago. The blue and green rather funky design costume is by Eman Zaki.

Memorable moments.....

It seems my beloved blog has been used mainly as a marketing tool as of late. Hmm- that's not what it was set up for....!!!

so here's some waffle!

So far i have danced my way around England.... London (with live band), Leeds (with live drummer) and Birmingham (with live.... IPOD player!).

Its been fun and exhausting. I always get super nervous every time I come back to UK in case i don't live up to people expectations of me. I guess maybe there are some cases where i don't- but thankfully in the vast majority of cases, everyone seems to be wow'd and happy. Phew... not really sure what I am doing right... but something anyway it would seem. You'd think after dancing professionally for 13 years, not to mention in Cairo for the last 4 and half, all this stupid nerves stuff would just stop- well, it hasn't. I guess the higher I climb, then further there is to fall!

Highlights for me of my UK trip so far (in the order i think of them, not in order of preference!):

- Landing in Edinburgh to sunshine (it didn't last long- but it lifted my spirits after flying in from Hot and sunny Cairo)

- That drum solo in Leeds- where Rhythmic Ginger and i had such a laugh and really connected well on stage... as if we had rehearsed it all- but actually i had told him we'll start with a roll and just play from then on... poor boy- he did comment on my 'Egyptian' attitude to it all and compare to his more British one of wanting a little planning. Anyway- It was so much fun i did encore after encore....

- Talking of Leeds- the Enta Omri- where, mid dance, i found tears running down my cheeks! I wasn't the only sap in the crowd... and I got hugged by a few tearful women that night... It was incrediably powerful, all that emotion!

- A day spent with my little nephew (now 4 and a half!) born just a couple of weeks before i moved to Cairo I hardly get any quality time with him... that whole day: seeing shrek, going to soft play, reading stories..a special day in my life. just fabulous.

- Shopping in Primark in Birmingham. Why oh why do i love that place so much???? fab stuff dirt cheap!

- and on the shopping topic- Buying a new hair piece, also in Birmingham.... i sweat so much when i dance that although my hair is long enough without anything added... i tend to look like I have just stepped out the shower after a couple of songs unless i use extensions to bulk up the volume!

- fasting for Ramadan... ok so it was only 2 days... but I made the effort. Going without water all those hours was VERY difficult- i cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like in Cairo just now in 45 deg temperatures!!! Breaking the fast with muslims in UK, for the 1st time in my life... felt strange listening to the call to prayer played over the TV, in Birmingham!

- A bottle of Crabbies ginger ale in the sunshine in clapham common. Followed by a chicken shawerma from local kebab place!!!

- Missing the London flight (not a highlight of the trip!) but then getting out the bad mood by driving around the lovely countryside with fabulous tunes pumping out loud (including 'Mr Bombastic' and' i like to move it move it! )!!!!!!

- A comedy show in the fringe, with a good friend, where we saw 7, i think it was, stand up comedians in an hour.

- salsa with old friends... even it is have bruises and cuts on my feet to prove it!

- long phone calls with old friends- normally it's too expensive to catch up properly from Egypt!

- The feeling of power on stage in London... not for every song- but by the end it was feeling really good. I felt like I was really in 'my place' !!

- walking along portobello beach, in the sunshine!

- being the cause of burnt chickpeas..then being thanked for it!!!...... the chef was trying on costumes at the time!

- driving in my car , with my music blarring...

- time with good friends, and their families.... so many children growing up so fast!

...................... I think this is going to be a long list... I'll save some for another blog!

An intimate evening in Edinburgh with Lorna - oh er!!!

Very excited...

as If I already didn't have enough dates on my Ramadan Revelry tour this month- I have now added a NEW date!!!

In my hometown, Edinburgh. An unoffical fringe show , if you like!

Hope you can make it along....

when?- 25 August · 19:30 - 22:00

where?- Kitsch Coffee Bar, Bernard Street, Leith

"A special chance to enjoy the dancing of the fabulous Lorna of Cairo, plus support, in Edinburgh. Tickets £10 including nibbles.

This is a very small venue for an informal and intimate evening.

Move fast to avoid disappointment! For tickets, contact Elspeth SwishandHips on 07748 183171 or on swishandhips@hotmail.co.uk . You can paypal if you have a verified paypal account, or post a cheque first class! "

This WILL sellout fast!

so............ Leeds and Birmingham this weekend.... Edinburgh mid week then Glasgow next weekend...

Lorna is officially DOING UK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and LOVING IT !!!

hehe........

Workshops in Edinburgh 4th sept 2010

Swish and Hips: Workshops with Lorna of Cairo: "Well, it's Ramadan and that means that the very wonderful, super-talented amazing dancer Lorna of Cairo is back in the UK for a few weeks! ..."

More video!!!

Yet another video of my emergance (entrance dance), wearing yet another Eman Zaki costume... a black one this time! I have been filmed dancing to this piece of music more than any other.... but I figured I'd add it here anyway- since its a very recent recording! I love that these had their titles in Chinese (or japanese??) and a dancer discovered them and sent them to me (thanks Barbara!!) Scary what might be on youtube and you never know about it!!!

Funky pink

somebody recently found this of me... dancing in my funky pink Eman Zaki trouser costume- which I LOVE- possibly my favourite costume to dance in ever! Wearing it I feel like I go a little crazy... see what you think!!!

Saqarah Show last Saturday... Lorna does London

Last Saturday night in London was the start of my Ramadan UK tour..... and it was a fabulous night...... Here is a snippet of most of the dancers who performed that night... only a tiny clip of me in there unfortunatly (because his camera battery died before my final set- grrr) but you get to see a rather nice wee impro oud takasim... with a lot of shimmy in it. Some of the cream of London dancers are in there too- check it out!



Dancing to a band other than my own was interesting... and I really missed my tabal especially... but overall i think it went ok... and the atmosphere was fabulous. Of course the time keeping wasn't, so many people missed my last dance... but that is pretty much what you expect working with Egyptian musicians!

Fingers crossed we can get some more video online soon from this event, especially that last set? - not to mention the workshop photos! I really enjoyed the workshops- The Place is such a lovely dance venue! We covered a lot and the brains sweated more than the bodies... but i think it went well!!!

Next weekend Leeds and Birmingham!!!

Confused audience

My last blog (that wasn't advertising for my upcoming tour!) was all about unappreciative audiences.... I just realised that I should write also about the good stuff too- cos it is way too easy to focus on the negative!

Tonight I had three seperate tables of people all come up to speak to me after my show... all of them (mixed groups from Egypt, Lebanon and Dubai) all asking where i was from because by looking at my face they were sure I was foreign, but then watching my show they were convinced i was Egyptian. Thank God! I can't do much about my face, well, I could but frankly the 'lets all get so much plastic so we all look like Nancy Agram' doesn't really do it for me! So I will stay looking non-Egyptian and confusing people by dancing Egyptian!

I love my job. I love dancing, even when my body hurts and my brain can't string a sentence together because I am so tired from shows every day... I still, when I am up on that stage, love it.

more dates for my ramadan revelry tour!

I am very happy to be able to announce a performance date in Scotland this tour...

Friday 27th August

Nur restaurant, Glasgow
( 22 bridge st, Glasgow, tel 0141 418 0990 )

from 7.30pm

A night of dance with me, Lorna, and a couple of local guest dancers too.

A chance to see all my lovely new costumes and eat fabulous Egyptian food too. It's a BYOB with no corkage too.... All that for only £22.50 if you buy your ticket in advance (£25 if you buy on the night- but since the restaurant only seats 50, there is a good chance it might sell out- so don't leave it til then!)

to book, collect your ticket from Nur, or call them on the number above and they can take payment by debit card.

check out their website; www.nur-restaurant.co.uk

Hecklers

I have just this second realised that my reduced number of blog entries over the last year directly corresponds to my increased use of facebook. I blurt out my news quickly there in a one line status, rather than using the experience to write a whole wee story about it! hmm- Will try to start putting MORE into the blog although the juicy stuff is usually here anyway. (If you want to join the facebook craze I'm there as 'Lorna of Cairo aka Bellylorna' )

So,I am currently sitting with my feet in a basin of iodine.... yet agian the floor at work has ripped my feet open .. and this seems to work calming down the infection quicker than anything else. It's not an ideal situation, but still better than dancing with shoes. i hate that.

Last night I had a HORRIBLE night at work. Really... i was so close to just walking away and not doing last shows ( although granted just walking off isn't exactly possible when you are on a boat in the middle of the Nile!). Anyway, it started with a young girl there with her family, she was maybe 12 years old. I go round all the tables at work to see if anyone wants a photo, and usually i pick out most of the children for a little special attention- that makes EVERYONE happy, and even the most jealous of wives soften when i fuss over their little darlings. Anyway, this little darling, wasn't. She looked me up and down, made a sneer and using her hand in my face waved me on by... the hand signal when you tell someone 'imshi' i.e. 'go away'! I repeated the hand signal to her, to make sure I had understood what she meant and i gave her a look to kill. But for the life of me couldn't find the right words in arabic to tell her parents to teach their children respect for others and their elders. Especially one who is smiling and sweating all night for their entertainment! You have to blame the parents really.

Then... in the same audience ( and i had six shows yesterday, so it's amazing that the two horrible people were in the same one and unrelated!) a man decided that HE was the star attraction , not me. He got on stage in the middle of my entrance dance and wiggled about. Then throughout my entire show he heckled, non stop, as in barely taking a breath. I wish I could understand what he was saying, actually, maybe its better that I couldn't. Basically he had the entire room in fits of laughter, at my expense. The only reason i know what he was saying wasn't complimentary was the looks on my musicians faces- they all looked like they wanted to kill him. It's like having 6 fathers all seeing it as their job to protect you. Bless them. Anyway- the only comment I fully understood was that my body was from the devil. So I presume that rest of the comments, which were constant, were sexual too, especially since it was the men in the room who were enjoying it most and the women were trying to give me encouraging smiles - and filming my dance. I don't know what i should have done... but I felt horrible after... like I had been abused- i wanted more than anything to take a shower and wash his comments off me. Now I wish i had walked off stage towards him, and told him in English to please respect my show and respect himself then returned to the stage. But I didn't think of that at the time...you never do , do you? ... I felt stuck, and humiliated. So much for my arabic being good, it's obviously rubbish, or he was intentionally pharsing things in a way so i couldn't understand. Somehow i had to regain enough confidence to perform two more shows last night after that. They probably weren't my best shows ever.

Anyway, today is another day and inshallah all my audiences tonight will be fabulous!

days off

What do most normal people do when they have a day off work? thats right, do something different than their job. Me? well... I dance!!! Hmmm

yesterday I went to a Zouk class (at Stilleto) . It's the 1st class I have ever done for this dance form, but it won't be my last. I LOVE it. The music is what motivates me.. I'd love to get really good at this purely becuase of the music! It's amazing, like a mix of salsa and african and r&b. Music to feed your soul.

so between sitting on friends balconies chatting about what might be the outcome in the country after Mubarak dies... i was swishing my hair around zouk style ( as much work as a khaleegy workshop I tell you!!!)

then today... another day off... and I have 2 private classes. One is for a friend who is shocked that she has lived in Cairo so long and never learned the dance- a taster session of the basic moves- that will be fun.. especially after a little drink first to loosen us up!!!
I also had a class this afternoon with a group of girls from Ukraine. (They had booked my studio to use it for a class with Donia, who is the sister of Amani Zaki, and when they discovered they were coming to my house decided to have a class from me too)
Wow those girls can dance! They were so good at following. In fact, was a very strange class... what they wanted , and what they got, was me dancing for the whole hour and them copying! I loved it- they loved it- and are coming back later in the week for more. For me it was an intensive hour of performance practise in front of the mirror, which I am way too lazy to ever do without an audience. For them they got to see how I interpret the music and how I dance, not just how I teach dance. One girl named me the 'master of improvisation' I was pretty chuffed with that title!!!

Anyway... for anyone who ever wondered what I do with my life when I am not dancing... the answer is obvious- I dance!!!!

Ramadan Revelry Tour- dates and contacts for workshops and performances

I feel like i haven't been blogging for ages- i miss it! This entry is going to be all about my Ramadan Revelry tour of UK and Ireland 2010.. since I have been receiving emails from people asking how to go about booking their place... and right enough- time is running out... ramadan is nearly here (you can tell because all the shops in Cairo have mountains of dried fruit and nuts piled outside their doors!).. but I promise soon I'll write more about life in Cairo!!!

So far... all the dates confirmed and contact details for booking are as follows......... If you are already friends with me on my 'Lorna of Cairo facebook page then you will be awware of all these events... but if not then here's the links so you can check them out!!!!

London- Sat 14th Aug- Workshops and Performance

performance info- http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100782573311918&index=1

Workshop info- http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100782573311918&index=1#!/event.php?eid=122324481131478&ref=ts

Contact- http://www.saqarah.co.uk/Lorna-Saturday-Workshops.html


Leeds- Sat 21st Aug- Workshops and Performance and Private classes


info on - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129992913680043&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=129997457019477&ref=ts

contact- Sabrina on banateshorouk@leedsbellydance.co.uk


Birmingham- Sun 22nd Aug- Performance

Hafla featuring Lorna and some of the Midlands best dancers
Sunday 22nd Aug, 7pm.
Erdington Conservative Club, Orphanage Road, Erdington
Tickets £10pp (£5pp performers) ...Includes Buffet at 6.15pm

contact- Lisa on lisamckain@hotmail.com

Glasgow- Sat 28th Aug- Workshops

for info- http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1428678272040#!/event.php?eid=146738692007638&ref=mf

to contact- Imman on bellystylin@gmail.com or Suraya on suraya1@hotmail.co.uk

Edinburgh- Sat 4th Sept- Workshops and Private classes

for info- http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100782573311918&index=1#!/event.php?eid=141426359220178&ref=ts

to contact- Elspeth on swishandhips@hotmail.co.uk
For private classes contact me direct!

Dublin- Sun 5th Sept- Workshops

for info- http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125627300812527

to contact- Ciara on shahiradance@gmail.com or adele on adele.glenn@bt.com

Thats all for now.... althought there are a couple of potential things too to add- but will publish those detials if and when they happen!!!!

Saaidi

I am really loving performing saaidi just now... I think because I didn't have a stick for so long (mine was stolen from work). So now i can do it (bought new sticks!) , and i am loving it... esp in this costume by Amera el Kattan.... it just ripples with every movement!

Saaidi music works well with all the Arabs that have just suddenly appeared in Cairo too- this week. I guess they are making the most of the month before Ramadan, by the looks of it! Unfortunatly that means that a lot of Cairo's painted ladies have also become more apparent. It makes for a less than wholesome feel to a performance when you know who are in your audience! Ah well... there but for the grace of God and all that... Thank god i dance for the love of it, and not out of neccesity. The sights I see here! Scary!

Colours

What a day...

I felt so proud of myself, going through all my costumes and washing all the veils.. getting those impossible to remove lipgloss stains off them.... if anyone has any specialist tricks for doing that I'd love to hear them!!!

Unfortunatly, the stain remover i used... does actually say in bold 'not to use on silk'.... but I noticed that AFTER i took my lovely red SILK veil out the water where I had been lovingly washing it in said stain remover. Silly silly me. Also, i figured that if i machine washed veils that were all synthetic the colours wouldn't run... well they didn;t- apart from one..... onto a lovely cream/gold veil, which is now 'bambi' ie baby pink! grrr. I was incrediably annoyed with myself!!!

Anyway- i figured they all looked so pretty on the line that a photo was called for and only after i had finished i noticed that i had a washing line full of veils and bikinis.... oh what a life I have!!!!

Learn arabic with CD's

http://www.michelthomas.co.uk/arabic.htm


I love it.............. I can't recommend this course enough...

I am still working my way through it... but even the intial 2 CD's taught me things I didn't know after living here in Cairo for over 4 years. The instruction is easy to follow... and learn and use straight away. They use Egyptian 'ammeya' ie what you need for life and work in Cairo! It's worth every penny!

If you want to learn to speak arabic THIS is the way to do it!

I used this course (ie Michel Thomas) for french years ago... and it really worked... after 8 hours listening to the cd's in the car i could understand and speak passable french (its gone now- not used it for years- but thats my fault- not the course!) I have been waiting ages for the arabic version to come out and am so happy to have it now and that its in Egyptian dialect!!!

Sweat

Why can't i dance without rivers of sweat dripping from my chin???

I wish i could.

Some dancers don't sweat at all...

I am NOT one of those.

I've joked that all the water in the Nile is actually the sweat that has dripped off the bodies of all the dancers who have performed on the Nile over the years! Well... that would probably be cleaner that the actual Nile water anyway!

Some people have told me that if I dance with less effort i won't sweat as much.

If i dance with less effort i won't enjoy dancing and therefore people won't enjoy watching me.

so I'll keep on sweating.....................

................ sorry... i should say glowing shouldn't I?

I'll keep on glowing!


I guess the 40+++ tempratures don't really help. On saturday night at 1.30am it was 35deg. In the middle of the night! Thank god for air conditioning! Growing up in cold, wet Scotland all my life, I never thought I'd say that!

any tips for sw.... sorry... glowing less on stage I am happy to hear them!??? So far i wear oil free foundation so that my mascara doesn't end up on my chin... and lots of pressed powder so calm to waterfall..... but other than that- no ideas........ help?

Oh the joys of a dancers life!

Busy Back.

The tourists are here...

well, they always are in Cairo really, but recently we have started getting more and more coach loads of them coming to the Pharoahs boats for lunch cruises... so I have been performing a lot in the mornings too, not just at night!

Sorry to say it, and i don't mean to offend anyone, but I have to admit... I dread it when those buses are full of Russians. I am sure they are lovely people... but they tend to make for a very cold audience. Even the children often give me an icy glare when i smile at them. I find it amazing that people film my dance on their camerass and mobile's and then don't give anything back, good enough to film, but not to applaud? There have been lots of Italians too.... they love it when you pull someone from the group up on stage. The Americans usually make the most receptive audiences.... lots of loud applause at the end of each song- lovely. The Japanese of course give you lots of lens contact.... and the Brits are the ones who fully get my sense of humour.

Anyway... lots of work- thats a good thing right?

.... right.... when i am in full fitness. Which i was on friday. I'd been good- I'd had a class during the day, then done lots of stretching before going to work..... then on my 1st tummy pop in my 1st number... I popped my back instead of my tummy. I did the move right... but I think I must have been slightly twisted or something... anyway- my back felt like I had snapped something inside. However... i still have to complete that show, and do another 3 as well, that night!!!!!!!!!!!! 800mg ibuprofen didn't even take the edge off it..... It was NOT a good night. Especiallty since the last show was a massive crowd of Egyptian all celebrating a wedding.. and in party mood.. and i could only dance like a stick (or thats what it felt like to me) i was so disappointed with myself.

In the morning... no change......... still sore to walk, sit stand.... and of course hellish to sneeze (which i have been doing since i also have a cold- occupational hazard when you dance and sweat in a AC'd room each night). However, I had to go to work becuase I had an 11am sail in addition to my normal evening sail. Problem was, when I got there i go the news that it wasn't one sail... but 3 morning sails ( so that means 4 sails total in the day with the number of shows anywhere between 4 and 8).

I cried. Literally- when i heard what i was going to have to put my back through- I cried, and took more paracetomal!

In the end i did 6 shows...... and did a clenched teeth smile through them all........ I love my job , i really really do... but not when I am in pain! It hurt esp to do anything with any kind of forward back pelvic tilt.... so if you are a dancer, you can imagine that rules out a LOT of moves....

The positive slant on all of this? I played about with different angles to do moves and different moves to accent certain parts in the music where normally i would have done a camel, or twist or pelic tilt! In fact, it may, bizarrely enough have been a good thing long term for my dance since it forced me to explore alternatives... rather than choosing the move i would have gone for 1st.

Today I am still in pain. Still no rest (2 sails tonight).... although doing nothing all day and having a massage before work too, so fingers crossed that all helps.

I just have to say though, that i am not writing this blog to receive get well wishes or anything like that...or even to moan abotu what happened.... but because i wanted to tell you the Egyptian take on what happened.......

the 'fact'- I pulled a muscle/pinched a nerve- something like that- something physical- directly related to a movement i did and i felt it at the time!

the 'Egyptian fact'- you have a cold in your back.... what the....?

or...


the 'Egyptian fact no. 2'- the more popular one- wait for it............ Someone watching me dance had a bad eye. ie the evil eye, or envious eye. So many Egyptians will say it for anything that goes wrong; a shoe heel snaps, you trip on a paving stone, you pull a muscle in your back.... that it happened because someone is jealous of you!!!!! Hence all the wearing of turquiose, and the 'hand of fatima' or 'hamsa hamisa' and holding your hand infront of you with the fingers sprea- 5 - the magic number to confront all evil with?!!!!!!

hmmm...

fingers crossed, or maybe spread!!!!, that tonights shows go well, without any jealous feelings attached from any audience member who might wish me harm!

Lorna in London... in August!

London too are getting excited about me coming over- more workshops and performances! Here's a copy of their events page too!!!

Start Time: Saturday, 14 August 2010 at 10:00
End Time: Sunday, 15 August 2010 at 00:00
Location: Studio 6, The Place
Street: 17 Duke's Street
Town/City: London, United Kingdom

Description.It's almost been a year since the incredible Lorna Gow Star of Cairo was in London and we are delighted to announce 2 inspiring new workshops!

As always workshop places will be strictly limited to allow you the greatest learning experience with this experienced and generous dancer who is 'living the dream' as a professional dancer in Cairo!

The workshops will again be fast-paced and challenging, and geared towards at least intermediate/improver dancers.

Workshop 1: Making the Most of Your Floorspace

As dancers we often find ourselves performing in a variety of different dance spaces mostly in cramped conditions, and occassionally on a large stage.

Drawing on her own extensive experience as a professional performer, Lorna will show you how to include different step patterns, moves and turns to fit any dance space you may find yourself in!

Workshop 2: Adapt Your Dance to Different Music Styles

Don't get stuck a dance rut! If you find yourself lacking confidence to try new dance styles, this is the workshop for you!

Lorna will take some basic belly dance moves and show you how to easily adapt them to fit whatever musical style you are dancing to such as Shaabi, Nubian, Oriental, Saiidi, Alexandrian etc.

Both workshops will be taught in Lorna's dynamic and exhilirating Modern Cairo style!

Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to learn from a dancer who has an incredible insight into the Egyptian dance world and Egyptian culture!

Early Bird Discounts available!

After the workshop, Lorna will be performing exclusively for Saqarah along with a hand picked line up of dancers!

Please see the Saqarah website for more information and to book:

http://www.saqarah.co.uk/Lorna-Saturday-Workshops.html

Lorna in Leeds... this coming August...

Leeds are getting excited about my visit... and i am too...... Here's a copy of the facebook events page, I am guessing booking early is a good idea with the amount of interest so far!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, 21 August 2010
Time: 11:00 - 15:30
Location: Dance studio @ Fitness first, Redcote Lane
Street: Off Kirkstall Road
Town/City: Leeds, United Kingdom

Description.We are delighted to announce that Lorna of Cairo is coming to Leeds to teach and perform for us. Lorna currently lives and works as a dancer in Cairo and if you have seen Lorna perfom before you will know exactly why we are so excited about this event. For those of you who have not seen Lorna dance before here is a great opportunity to learn from her and get a glimpse into her fabulous style. Lorna is a fun approachable teacher and I guarantee you will get lots from these workshops

Workshop details

Golden Era Goes Modern
Lorna will explore the look and feel of the golden era dancers and how they still influence modern Cairo style today.

Time - 11am till 1pm

Lorna Style
Lorna has a distinct personal style that is a perfect mixture of drama, fun and power. In this workshop Lorna will be looking at these elements and how to incorpotate them into your own dance.

Time 1.15pm till 3.15 pm

Cost
One workshop - £20
Two workshops - £30

Please also see related event, "An Evening with Lorna of Cairo" - If you have seen her dance before you will not hesitate to come to this event, if you haven't seen her dance this is your chance and it's one not to be missed.

Lorna will be performing three sets for us with the lovely Adam Warne providing live drumming.

And there will be plenty of time to boogie the night away into the early hours.

What more could you want from a Saturday night??

When
Saturday 21st August 8 till late
Where
Mook wine bar, hirsts yard, Leeds city centre
How
The cost of the evening will be £10 in advance & £12 if you pay on the door on the night. Please see related event "Workshops with Lorna of Cairo" for offer on workshops and evening package.


The cost for the evening event is just £10 however if you are a Banat Eshorouk member you can purchase two workshops and the evening with ticket for just £35. Membership to Banat is £5 for lifetime membership so it's a bit of a no brainer as we offer discounts on all our events thoughout the year to our members.

How to Book
Please send a cheque made payable to Banat Eshorouk to the address below and include your contact details and a note of what part of the day you would like to attend.....

Sabrina Owen
1 Summerfield Gardens
Leeds
LS13 1AS

If you would like any more information please contact me on...
sabrina.bellydance@googlemail.com

audience participation

the latest youtube update of my dancing..... dont' you love an audiences attention span.... the drunk friend gets all the film footage- the dancer on her own isn't interesting enough to film. *sigh*. ah well..... it's all part of a night's work....

I love Paris in the springtime

....

....... but I'm not so sure about in the summer!

I danced for Paris Hilton last week. She hired out my boat... for her and her friends (and security) for a sunset sail.

It started out well... everyone looking and smiling... Paris herself (dressed like a 'normal' person in cap, tshirt and jeans) even filmed me on her iphone (which had a lovely sparkely cover). However... the concentration span was short and by the end of my 1st dance she had opened had laptop (apple mac) and was sitting with that in front of her and her huge dark glasses on.... for the rest of the sail! When I did a costume change she did pause for a second to take another snap (fashion ideas???) and then back to her computer.

No she didn't have the wee pooch with her.... maybe she was talking to him on msn?

It was a very demoralising show... thank god for the people she brought with her. There were 3 tables... Paris and her girls (all young and beautiful and cosying around her computer, one her photographer, the others i don't know who), one table of well-heeled young Egyptians and the table of security. Thanks god for the Egyptians and bouncers!!!! At least from their reactions i KNEW that the lack of interest from Paris wasn't anything to do with my dance!!!

I assumed that we wouldn't be doing the usual going around the tables to do photographs thing... but the photographer indicated that i should.... so I went up to Paris table and said, 'hello ladies....... would you like a photo?' well I was in work mode wasn't I? anyway- i didn't really think about the pause before they answered yes..... not until i was back in the changing room... but i am maybe the only person who has asked Paris if she'd like a photo with me!!!!! hehe

Anyway, it was an experience... and Paris has me dancing on her iphone.

Playing with Melaya leff

It took me ages to perform on the boat with Melaya- cos i always used to feel I *had* to wear those flowery short dresses to do it in.... which is ok for that one dance, but to then do anything after is limiting!..... then i decided on the trouser costume as an alternative- and i love it! I really do have so much fun when i dance these songs and play with the audience like this. Cheeky doesn't get a look in!

Thanks Adele for filming these when you were in town!

Dancing to Warda

I love this song...Ehdono-el-Ayam..... all about holding onto the good days, hug them to you, because the days of love can run away from you!

Latest Lorna video and warning to all female travellers!

This is the latest clip online of me performing.

The costume (Eman Zaki) looks lovely but the dancing is not in my opinion my best ever- but perhaps my opinion is swayed becuase i can't take my eyes off my huge (for me) belly!!!!!!! where did all of that come from? It's gone now- dancing over 30 shows in last 2 weeks has made sure of that! Amazing what Egyptian food can do to a body!

Think I might have to get into the studio for a stretch before work tonight...

BBC weather page says the max temp today is 40 deg- but i don't believe it- the wind is strong and its like a hairdryer on you constantly!


WARNING to all female travellers arriving esp alone at Cairo airport. DO NOT TAKE A TAXI FROM THE TOUTS WHO COME AROUND THE ARRIVAL ENTRANCE!

Instead go to the airport taxi/limo desk. The prices are the same, usually... and the saftely is the amin thing. Above all never get in a private car that is not even marked taxi!

A guests arrived yesterday but did get in a private car, not realising she shouldn't, since the driver was laughing and chatting with the police, which assured her that things were ok. I won't put details of exactly what happened.... but lets just say he was a pervert and she was very upset by the time she eventually arrived to my house. I think she was actually lucky that things weren't actually worse than they had been, becuase he drove her, intentionally, out of town into a deserted area 1st, knowing she wouldn't be able to attract attention or get help. PLEASE take care. Even if you end up spending a few extra pounds on an airport taxi- it is worth it! The police take a register of the taxi number and the nationality of the people in it, so you are protected..... unlike private cars where they don't even check who you are and no-one has a note of anything!

The sparkle cycle!

My friend Emily (a top dancer in London) sent me the following tips for washing bellydance costumes.....I figured it was only fair to share it with the world and hear your experiences!!!!

' I discovered a great way to wash costumes. It sounds scary but works a treat as long as they don't have feathers or anything like that on them. Put them in a pillow case and safety pin it shut then put them in the washing machine on cold/express wash with non bio detergent, spin on a gentle cycle and hang to dry! I've done Bellas, Emans and Amiras this way and they all came out clean and smelling fresh with no damage (ok so 1 Eman lost a few stick-on stones which I just reglued). ' Emily.

I have since tried this out and my 1st 2 attempts have been perfect (waiting to get home from work to check 3rd attempt which i left in the machine!!!). Just a handful of the glue-on stones have come off... so will have to reglue. I guess its not worth doing it most of the work is glued rather than stitched!!!

I also guess if you just dance occasionally at a halfa or 2 then its not worth the risk... but if you are a professional dancer like me, dancing serveral times in one night... then a good , affordable, safe way to wash the cossies is a godsend.

Thanks Emily!!!!

Please do feel free to give me your costume care tips?!!

Farha Festival, Luxor. 22nd - 29th September 2010

The most exciting festival of 2010!!


Classes are designed to be of interest to dancers, whatever their personal level of ability.
If you love Egyptian music and are interested in how a band and dancer work together, this is for you.
If you love the older, softer style of the 40's and 50's, we have the incredible Eman Zaki teaching.
If you want the more modern Cairo style, we have the dynamic Lorna Gow.


For contrast, through the week, we have the wonderful Mohamed Kazafy teaching Reda style folklore.
Most professional dancers started with a folklore troupe before going on to be solo cabaret dancers.
The stepping patterns and combinations can be used to create a more dynamic solo - and can be really good for troupes.


Mohamed Kazafy will also teach a piece of choreography which you can choose to perform at the party night if you like.
A lot of folkloric dance is with boys and girls ... we rarely get the chance to explore this side of things in the UK.


We have a troupe of Saidi boys who will join us to give you the opportunity to do some fun partner work!!!
Last year we had girls of all levels learning and/or performing this and they had a whale of a time!!


It's about taking part and having fun!!


Suitable for Improver + level and upwards.
Also suitable for higher level dancers who want to explore working with live music.


If you love live music and want to learn more about the background and musicality of the dance, this festival is for you.
As well as classes, we have talks with our teachers to give you a deeper understanding of the dance.


The opportunity, for delegates who want to, to rehearse with a band - and perform solo on our party night.


This is not an opportunity you get often - so grab it whilst you can!!


Partners are also very welcome.
There is a day off mid week to enjoy sightseeing and you have several evenings free to go and explore Luxor.


The Farha Timetable will be on our new website soon!



Included:
7 nights Bed and breakfast at the 5 star Sofitel, Karnak http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-5552-sofitel-karnak-luxor/index.shtml
Transfers to/from Luxor Airport
20+ hours of tuition, talks etc. - most dance classes with live music
Performances/talks by teachers
Rehearsal time with live band - opportunity to perform solo or work with Folkloric troupe to perform on the last night
2 dance shows
Party/performance night with delicious buffet
DVD of performance night


Price:
Only £600 for dancers (in a shared room - £10 supplement per night for a single room), £400 for non-dancers/partners
Flights not included


To book:
Send us an email or letter with the following information:
Your name, address, daytime telephone number and email address
Would you prefer a single or shared room?
Do you have special dietary requirements?
Would you like to book a dancer's place or a non-dancer/partner place?


Payment:
Send a cheque for £100, made payable to 'Farida Adventures' along with the booking information above to:
Farha Festival
9 Ferndale Avenue
East Boldon
Tyne & Wear NE36 0TQ
If you are booking from outside the UK, please email and we can send you our bank details to make a transfer.


Information:
For more information please go to www.farhatour.com
or email kay@faridaadventures.com
or call Kay on 0191 519 0305
You can also see the latest updates on our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=310025273694&v=app_2373072738&ref=ts#!/group.php?gid=290707709950&ref=ts



We hope to see you there!!

How it happened... my story so far...

This post has been inspired by a question from one of my blog readers (thanks Anya!)who wanted to know how I came to be where i am! Since I have published so many posts now on this blog, over the years it might not be apparent to new readers how i came to be where i am today. So this is for you guys!!!

Bascially my story is this...

I was teaching Bellydance throughout Scotland for 9 years full time. Every year I came to Cairo at least once, although eventually up to four times in a year, just to buy costumes, music and see dancers and be inspired. To learn more so i could teach my ever hungry students even more!

On one trip, I had at least 4 different people within 4 days saying to me.. but why don't you work here... and me constantly saying 'i'm not good enough'. I decided to listen to people instead of my own self doubts.. and tried out for a couple of auditions... and was offered 2 jobs instantly! I was overwhelmed and very happy. However I was also very commited to my students (over 400 of them by this time!) and to my Edinburgh fringe festival show which was already selling tickets. So I declined both job offers but told them that I would be back in the spring to work.

So thats what i did. I told all my students, friends family etc etc that i was moving to cairo to try my luck at performing over there for 6 months... and then I'd be back again to resume normal life and show them all what i had learnt!

As you can see, over 4 years later ,I'm still here- things didn't really go to plan.

You see , the problem was, that laws changed about foreign dancers work permits... and it became very difficult for any new dancer to get a license to work. You needed a work visa to get a contract, and a contract to get a visa. In those 1st 6months I did get work for a while...good work... in a couple of 5 star hotels... but without work papers. So i was continually looking over my shoulder, scared I would be discovered and possibly deported! I couldn't even advertise the fact that I was working on my blog in case anyone told tales on me to the police!

After a year I was ready to quit and come home... feeling myself a failure. I hadn't achieved what I had gone there for. I had worked.. but couldnt tell anyone about it... I was the lowest emotionally I have ever been in my life. I had come from Scotland where I was a big fish in the pond, to Cairo where i didn't even feacture as a tiddler. My self esteem was at an all time low. I even had quesitons about how I could go on. I was also financially low, having spent my entire lifes savings just living, rent, food, arabic lessons for a while. Things couldn't have been much worse in fact. The only thing that really kept me going that year was the fact that not one single day went by in the entire year, where I didn't get some email of support from my friends and students back home. All proud of me... and missing me, and wishing I'd come home but also encouraging me to keep at it and stick to my dreams. Women telling me how I had inspired them to start up their own businesses, to follow their dreams. I felt I had let them all down. I had failed.It felt really awful.

The day I was set to pack my bags... i got offered 2 contracts!!! Never rains but it pours, and couldn't have been even a day later, i was at the very end of my tether and 5 days away from my final plane ticket! I refused the contract at the Sheraton and accepted the one at the Pharoahs boats. I was at last legal!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been dancing at the Pharoahs ever since.

There are still problems of course. The main one is that foreign dancers are only permitted to perform at the venue written on thier contract... so that means scouting about for other work is difficult. The beauracracy is always a nightmare, with all my work papers having to be renewed everytime I leave the country. Even to the point of having to retake an aids test every time!!! (bizarre law!). I hope the future gets brighter for other foreign dancers wanting to work here too because at the moment it doesn't seem great.I don't know of anyone else who has got a work visa since I did 3 years ago, unless they are married to an Egyptian. It's even harder now to make it here than when i first arrived. The pay is good by Egyptian standards, but not very good if you are trying to cover flights 'home' and rent and of course the ever needed new costumes. Which is why i rent out my 2 spare rooms to visiting dancers, to help pay my rent.

That said, i really enjoying having people stay- meeting likeminded women from all over the world and showing them 'my' Cairo. Its great. Also , despite doing it for over 3 years, I STILL get a buzz dancing on the Nile night after night, with my own band. I do what i love. Its a great feeling. I also love that everyday i am learning something new about the culture, the language, the music, the dance. Everyday!

Of course i still have greater aspirations. To be known more and working more , teaching and performing on the international circut. To be performing here on a larger stage with a larger orchestra. However, I am also very gratful to be in the very fortunate position of being content with my life. There are not many who can say that i know.

so... Thats my story so far............

how long I'll stay in Egypt? as long as i can keep performing..I love it so much.... after that, who knows?

Lunch time cruise on the Nile

One of my friends just sent me a link to this latest clip on youtube. It's a bit scary what i almost show during my saaidi steps in that high cut skirt!!!!

Hope you enjoy........... enjoy the dance that is.... not the 'almost' view!!!!!!!