Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Still Alive!



wow- 19 days without a blog entry- that MUST be a record for me! Sorry guys... Yes I am still alive and dancing!

It's been quite a month. London workshops went really well- we had a lot of fun and I recieved a lot of really positive feedback ( including a lovely review written by Nikki which should be out in Mosaic magazine soon- was very chuffed with what she wrote about my teaching!!!). The performances in London at the Saqarah Hafla were fab too. some really stunning dancers ( I esp liked a girl from Equador called Damiana- she had me glued to the spot with her drum solo!) Charlotte did a beautiful, graceful 'ana fintizarack' too. Good news about London is that they all want me back!!! so watch this space for info on workshops and performance in London in September 09 !!!

The weekend after that I was in Edinburgh teaching at the Edinburgh University. Wow- amazing memories. It was like stepping back in time. I was teaching in the very same room I taught my 1st bellydance class ever ever, way back 11 years ago!!!!!!!!!!! It was interesting because the girls who now run the 'African and Arabic Dance society' there didn't know the societies history... How I set it up with Kate, and Emily etc etc all those years ago. Emily is now one of the very top dancers in London and a master in Iraqi dance especially! How life moves on!

I came over all emotional when I saw everyone arrive especially for that 1st workshop in Edinburgh- so many people I had taught over the years , and a few new ones, all coming together- I felt like we should be opening a bottle of wine and celebrating the reunion rather than dancing- but of course they were having none of that!!!!
We danced our socks off- literally... and that was possibly the fastest 2 hours of my entire life! Forgive the Jean Brodie moment here.....- So proud of how far 'my gals' have come!!


Oh and I have had some photo shoots while home too.... posing around in my new lovely costumes ( which I wore at the London halfa).... Hopefully some shots to add here asap!

And then- as if that wasn't enough- i was in both Birmingham and Manchester this past weekend...

Birmingham workshop went really well too- a lot of fun... A lot of the local teachers attended too which was wonderful, and so lovely to see so many girls, who are becoming good friends, returning time after time.

However, I have discovered over the years that sometimes teachers do not advertise workshops to their students, because they want to go along and learn new things to teach on to their own students... however, if their students are in the class then they can't teach the new moves on.... a crying shame for the workshop teacher- at the same time as being a sort of a huge compliment somehow! So- my solution is that next time I am back in Birminham, maybe I will do a teachers only workshop.... plus a general level workshop too.... Hmm.... we'll see!!!

It's nearly a 2 hour drive from Birmingham to Manchester... but 4 of us decided it was worth it on sunday night when we drove to the Iguana bar to watch the Nile band perform.

The last time I went there it had a large bellydance following... this time was mainly arabs... and a different vibe. A lot of fun ( although too much Khaleegy for my liking!!!) and interesting seeing everyone getting up on the dance floor to do their bit. I enjoyed people coming up to me and speaking with me in Arabic alatool..( straight away)... it felt lovely to be welcomed so instantly into the community. I danced a little too... I just cant resist with live music! At the end of the night I was chatting with the band and venue manager and it looks like there will be an actual Lorna performance in Manchester during Ramadan, if we can get it organised! yet another 'watch this space' instruction!

There are photos of all these events.... but none of my own camera- so I have to wait to receive them in order to poast them!

So what next....

well, this weekend I am in Yorkshire , and the JoY festival.... looking forward to that and especially to meeting a lot of the other UK teachers....

and then, 10th April, back to Cairo............. back to my band and dancing on the Nile. I've really missed it. As wonderful as it it dancing here in UK and teaching and meeting so many lovely women who also love this dance as much as me... the Cairo pull is still there.... The force is too great- I cant resist!

The friends and family here in Uk will, as always be incrediably difficult to leave behind. I love that my life is in 2 cities, I know double the people and feel at home in both countries now.... but it also means that I am never fully in either, that there is always a bit of my life missing wherever I are. Strange.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Off to London... and EXTRA Edinburgh workshop! Birmingham info too.

I'm so excited...

about to head off to London to teach and perform there... and most of the workshops and performances are sold out (still some places on the sunday workshop I believe in case anyone else fancies a dance this sunday??? http://www.saqarah.co.uk/ ) Oh- and I am planning to bring a few costumes for sale too!!! Planning to wear my 2 new Eman Zaki Costumes... very excited about that!


Also I'm excited cos the demand for my Edinburgh workshops have been so high that I have had to put on ANOTHER workshop to avoid disappointment!


Lorna Madness!
4.45-6.45pm
Sat 21st March

Additional Cairo Groove workshop!!!
This is only 2 hours instead of 2.5 hours.... so we’ll be condensing much of the information into the time from earlier workshop... but adding ( if that’s possible!) to the fun! Not suitable if you have already booked to come on the 1.30-4pm workshop as we'll be doing moves and ideas condensed from the Cairo groove workshop earlier on saturday ( which is sold out!)- unless you want to repeat everything of course.
Lets dance and have fun Cairo style!!

Highland room, The pleasance, Edinburgh university.
£20 ( £17.50 for AADS members)
General level (Improvers-Advanced.... ie you must have already mastered the basics!!)
Booking forms from bellylorna@hotmail.com


so.......... if you are in Edinburgh that weekend and interested in either the sunday 22nd march (musical interpretation- 12.30-3pm) , or the new sat 21st march 4.45-6.45pm) please email me asap for a booking form!

Birmingham workshops shaping up well too....
Saturday 28th March...
3-5pm.
Cairo Groove- Moves straight from the heart!
General level.
Fitness Firts, Lode Lane, Solihull, Birmingham. £20.
For more info and to Book contact sughrasultan@msn.com or lisamckain@hotmail.com .

It's all go! Fun- and I have so many observations about Cairo to make since coming back to UK. Things that I have taken for granted in Cairo, thinking they are normal... but then on return to UK finding actually... its very different and worth note... but these things need time ... something I haven't got at the moment- so you'll have to wait for those!!!

The only thing I am dreading about this weekend- is music- I HATE dancing to CD now... I am totally spoiled by having my own band. Even just down to practicalities never mind quality- having to decide in advance what I am going to dance to rather than check the vibe on stage on the night and putting my my request to the band then and there!!!

Better go choose some music I guess..................................

Monday, March 09, 2009

busy busy

Life in Edinburgh is different from life in Cairo for me- but at the moment not so very different.
I am making an effort to get out to party every night!!!! Life is tough i know - but someone has to do it! Off to Medina tonight- they play salsa music early in the evening- and then arabic and african later on... sounds like a perfect night to me!!!

I am very happy at the uptake for my workshop in edinburgh on sat 21st march- so far 18 people have requested booking forms and there are only 20 places!!! There are more spaces still available though for the sunday workshop.............. but guessing those might go soon too! all good.

Missing the sunshine of Cairo... here it is stunningly sunny- but freezing cold at the same time- no sitting on any balcony for me until I go back to Cairo in April!

Friday, March 06, 2009

Edinburgh workshops!

I know many of you have been asking me about this.... so the special announcment today is that, the Edinburgh University african and arabic dance society is hosting me to do workshops here in my home town- THIS MONTH!

The workshops MUST be booked in advance... and you can get a booking form by emialing me direct! bellylorna@hotmail.com

Sat 21st March
1.30-4pm

Cairo Groove
latest steps, ideas, stories from Cairo's bellydance scene.... dance like an Egyptian.

General level ( Improvers-Advanced.... ie not beginners!)
Highland room, The Pleasance, Edinburgh
£25 (£22 for AAD society members)
numbers limited- book in advance!


Sun 22nd March
12.30-3.00pm

Musical Interpretation
take your dance to a whole new level- how to bring the music to life with your dance!

Intermediate/ advanced level
Highland room, The Pleasance, Edinburgh
£25 (£22 for AAD society members)
numbers limited- book in advance!


Looking forward to seeing you there!

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Lorna's Spring 2009 UK Tour!

I'm Edinburgh based for the next month... I'll be doing private classes too.
Workshops dates over the next month are as follows………..

London.
March 14th / 15th.
I am so excited! My 1st time teaching in London (other than at salsa events!) and my 2 workshops on the sat 14th have SOLD OUT !
so......since there is demand we just have to try and meet it and we have decided to put on an EXTRA workshop on the sunday!!!!!
They did a lovely utube entry for me to promote these workhsops so people could see what they'd be getting! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGjVSN2CJCw )
I am also performing on the saturday night... really looking forward to it, sounds like a fun night.
check out the webiste for more info and to book a place. http://www.saqarah.co.uk

Edinburgh.
March 21st / 22nd.

ALL info still to be confirmed… but somehow, somewhere, I intend to be teaching in my hometown this weekend!! Hope you can be there too!

Birmingham.
March 28th / 29th.

Back in Brum to see all my friends there again. workshop info TBC.

JoY festival. Yorkshire
April 4th / 5th.

1st time for me to teach at this popular dance festival. Really looking forward to it too. I'm doing 4 workshops over the weekend.( http://www.jewelofyorkshire.co.uk/view-teacher/?teacherid=1 )
for full festival info and to book your place check out their website http://www.jewelofyorkshire.co.uk



If I am not teaching in your area this time round…. And you don’t plan on being in Cairo over this summer, and you fancy hosting workshops in your area this year-
then I am back in UK throughout Ramadan this year ( ie end August until mid Sept) !!!!