Hailstones and Hurry!

I am sitting here in Scotland writing this as the hailstones beat against the window. It’s very strange since the sun is shining at the same time. It took me quite by surprise! I am ok with it as long as it dries up by the time I have to head out of here to go and see a cuban band performing tonight. I have a hard life!

Just now it is also a fairly busy life! I have a list as long as my arm of things that need doing... some fairly urgently; like planning the workshop content for the 4 workshops this weekend in Manchester and in Glasgow and getting the papers together for my 2 month late tax return!

You want something done- ask a busy person. I seem to achieve so much when i am most time pushed. A lot of my life in Cairo I am working on gas mark 2, say... and of course 6 when i am on stage. Here in UK I feel often like the pot is bubbling over and the gas won’t turn off. Some of that is due to the fact that i have a limited time here to see everyone and do everything,  before i head back to Egypt. Some of it I think is just the way people live in the UK. There is a lot of pressure on achieving all you can achieve. Have the perfect home, job, family, looks, social life- oh and do that all at the same time- there is no room for any signs of ‘weakness’!!!

No wonder stress related illness is so huge. In Egypt there is massive poverty, and traffic and pollution certainly can stress people out too, even before you begin to discuss the political issues over the last year. However, people there seem to have more time, or make more time, to rest and see their friends and family in . For all the many things that I could pick out as problematic in that society, I have to say that we in the west, certainly in Britain, could learn a few things about prioritising people.

It is the same in dance. It is very, very easy to get caught up in politics of it all, the techniques and ‘execution’ of the dance but sometimes this unfortunately takes priority over emotion and interaction with the people you are dancing for. It is worth remembering that dance is a form of entertainment!

Bellydance, in my opinion, should be about your feelings and interpretation of the music and when performing, about how you put that information across to your audience. Don’t lose sight of the people element of dance. When you tackle dance as a project (and I am not suggesting that discipline and hard work don’t make you a better dancer, they definitely do!) but there is always a risk that you forget why you are dancing- because you love it. It makes you happy!!!

Take some lessons from Egyptians (and I don’t just mean in learning the latest step patterns) .... put your love into your dance and spread that love to the people you care about. That includes your audience!!!  Spread the happiness!!!

These are the places I intend to spread some of my happiness (as it were...) over the next two weeks here in the UK.....

Manchester- Friday 9^th - performance,   Saturday 10^th- 2 workshops.

 (contact Tracey for info and booking  bellydancer@btconnect.com  )

Glasgow- Sunday 11^th NADA AGM. 2 workshops and a talk

(contact Sarah sarah.pulman@ntlworld.com sarah.pulman@ntlworld.comsarah.pulman@ntlworld.comsarah.pulman@ntlworld.com  )

Edinburgh- Tuesday 13^th Performance (only a few places left- to book and for more info contact Elspeth swishandhips@hotmail.co.uk  )

Edinburgh – Saturday 17^th- workshops (to book contact Elspeth swishandhips@hotmail.co.uk  )

Dance and be happy!