Nancy

Nancy was dancing at the Marriot hotel nightclub. A wonderful venue for dancers- huge stage with audience all around and lighting etc. Last dancer I saw there was Rhanda and I thought she was fantastic there. Nancy is very beautiful. Very sexy. Tiny costumes.

She as quite a variety of moves too, but for me there was something missing. Maybe it was to do with tottering around on such high heels. Maybe because you end up watching the costume more than the dance.

I couldn't fault her for anything at all- and in particular she had a lovely audience rapport and got Natalie and I up to dance and handled it very well. I felt she was a nice person. But I can't tell you anything specific about her dancing. I need to go back without the group there to watch more closely I think! It didn't help matter that she came on over an hour later than we had expected… so I was not at my most wakefulness whilst watching! I liked her when she performed at the Ahlan we Sahlan festival… and I'd be happy to go back to see her again….

Rhanda

Rhanda was dancing on the Nile Maxim when we went to see her last week. It was very busy… and the layout now there is that the dance floor is in the middle of the boat rather than at one end as it used to be. Rhanda is my personal favourite among the dancers here in Egypt and she is one of the very few where I would prefer to sit and watch than dance myself- so thats saying something!

The first time I ever saw Rhanda dance- about 7 years ago… was on the Maxim and I loved her then. Now however- after seeing her dance in many other venues I realise that that just isn't the right space for her. She needs a proper stage and lighting…. To be dancing right next to tables just isn't the right setting to show off her talents. (In my opinion!)
My group loved her- and as always was amazed by her costumes and in particular how she manages to stay in them!!!! I have waxed lyrical about Rhanda dance before…. And all of that remains true now. She is still stunning. She still has amazing balance and power and stage presence. I would just like to see her in a venue that didn't seem too small for her. Not that the Maxim is a bad venue- quite the opposite… in fact I would love to dance there myself! However…. Rhanda is better on stage than too close- maybe she is just too powerful to be right next to!!!

Photo Credit: Michele Dillon

Doaa

Doaa (hope I have spelt that correctly!) danced in the Nile Pharon. Very pretty, very elegant little dancer. I don’t know if she actually was little but I remember her that way- cute almost. Not powerful or striking with her moves or attitude (apart from when the waiter kept walking across her stage- and anyone can understand why she would rightly be upset about that!!!) A very pleasant dancer with beautiful costumes. There were 2 wedding parties in the night we were there and she handled them both very well. She also got our group up to dance and put Hamdi in the middle- much to his delight!!!

Hemis

Hemis danced as usual at the Windows of the World restaurant at the top floor of the Ramsis Hilton. She does a very good line in entertaining her audience and got the girls up dancing a lot which was fun for everyone! She also has 2 male backing dancers- and one of them was fantastic with a stick! Very impressive. Very smiley, very accommodating dancer although doesn't use a huge variety of moves… lovely spins and much better rapport with her drummer than I have seen in the past. I have to admit I didn't get to see most of the first half of her show- otherwise I'd give you a more detailed account!

The weeks schedule...

ok- so the running order of waht we did when last week has kinda got a bit mixed up as I put on photos as and when they came to me! so here is the itinery for our holiday last week....... just in case anyone out there fancies coming on one of my holidays in the future!

Sat night/sun morning- arrive at Hotel el Hussain at 4am- choose to go for cuppa til 5am as too excited!!!

Sun- Citadel, Mosques of Sultan Hassan and Rafai, lunch, wander through old Islamic Cairo- past Blue Mosque to tentmakers alley for a little shopping. Cairo Sheraton at night to see Suzie dance.

Mon- arabic lesson/ cultural exchange with Hoda in hotel. Egyptian Pancakes. Yassers and Mahmouds costumes shops. Party with lots of dancer and friends with live music at my flat!

Tues- Dance lesson with me (lorna) in Studio in the sky in Maadi. lunch, wander through Maadi. Metro ride downtown. More costume shopping in the Khan. Meal in Naguib Mahfouz restaurant in the Khan. Earlish night

Wed- Camel ride in desert,Pyramids at Giza, Saccara, lunch and Memphis. Sound and light show at Giza. Zar.

Thurs- Dance lesson in hotel with Sara, Museam with Hoda, Nile Maxim to see Rhanda. Ramsis Hilton to see Hemis.

Fri- watch the morning prayers from balcony. Coptic Cairo (churches of st. Sergius and st. Barbara, ben ezra synagogue, coptic museam, hanging church) back to the Khan and Kushery. Nile Pharon to see Doaa, Marriot hotel nightclub to see Nancy.

Sat- Shop..... Al Azhar park for some. shop.... some shopping... meal at Naguib Mahfouz. Head to airport!


ok girls- I am bound to have missed out something..... let me know!!!! Now all I still have to write up about is the dancing we saw. Lots of photos to come with that too....... but have spent too many hours in front of this computer already today... so you'll have to wait for them!!!

A Night at the Museam....

ok- so things didn't literally come alive as they do in the film.... but our guide, Hoda (same woman who had given us a language and cultural exchange on monday and far right in the photo!) certainly made the Egyptian Museam come alive with explainations and stories about some of the exhibits.

Photo Credit: Norma Bain- although obviously she didn't actually take the photo herself since thats her in the centre of the group in the orange scarf!!!

Zar photos

More photos from the Zar......... the night we went there were quite a few Sudanese women in the crowd and the hand clapping, shoulder shaking and ulilations around added to the excitement of the night! Esp when this guy started shaking his belt made from goats hooves!!!!

Photo Credit: Norma Bain

Cairo Scenes

Peek-a-boo!!!! You know- sometimes when you are in Cairo and being watched all the time- by everyone, it becomes very oppresive.... but this childs innocent curiosity was just charming!


Bab Zuweila- one of the gates of the old city walls.... if you walk accross the green bridge from khan el Khalili and straight through the egyptian side of the market you'll come to this gate and on the other side there is the tentmakers alley- where a couple of the group had very lovely things made for them!



Now we all want to see what photo Sarah and Mags were looking at there don't we!!!!!!!!!!

Photo Credit:Norma Bain

Sara

Lost in music- Sara; my mentor and good friend. (photo by Michele.)

And here's a photo taken by Norma of Sara's husband, Sherif- also 'lost in the music' at my party last week (it is Sara on the other end of that stick in case you were wondering!!!)

Cairo life

Learning rhythm from an early age!



Cauliflowers as big as........ well, huge anyway!


Street life- warming your feet by the fire in front of the telly.


posture!

photo credit: Michele Dillon

Zar revisited

After a long day at the pyramids, Saccara, Memphis and the sound and light show- what better evening event to unwind but the Zar performance at the Makan centre. Amazing vibe- fabulous voices and charisma. Many of us end up with tears in our eyes; overwhelmed by the whole day and the hypnotic music.



photo credit: Michele Dillon

Me- Day and Night!

Daytime- me relaxing with friends in the Mosque of Sultan Hassan. One of the most beautiful spaces to be in Cairo.



Nightime- me enjoying the music and lighting on the dancefloor at the Marriot hotel nightclub!

photo credit: Michele Dillon

Mohammed Ali

The mosque of Mohammed Ali in the Citadel.

photo credit: Michele Dillon

lunch time dancing

Hamdi did a good job finding the girls a place to eat and dance at lunchtime- in between looking at very old bits of stone!!!


Rosita giving it her all...



Louise and Annie entertaining the musicians!



Sarah- lost in music!

photo credit: Michele Dillon

A day at the pyramids.............

The group on Camels and infront of the pyramids... at the beginning of the day!







Fun at Saccara

Sarah- the desert queen


Its a hard job............ making sure the pyramids don't run away!

photo credit: Michele Dillon






And here's a lovely one of mags- taken by Norma at Saccara - looking to see if she can see the Giza pyramids from there!!!

Flowers

My group from Scotland are all safely home and recovering from their non stop week......... we did so much... but I'll write some of that up soon- once I too have recovered from the week!!!! Today however the door bell rang and the girls had sent me this lovely bunch of flowers as a thank you for organising the holiday. I thought they and you might like to see the flowers- esp since its not often you get papyrus in your bouquet!! Thanks again girls!!!

Studio in the sky

It is wonderful having 2 professional photographers on this group! This is another of Norma Bain's shots- the studio liked the pic so much they bought it and are using it for their flyers!!!
This is one of the places I teach twice a week.It's in Maadi- although this is my group with me in the pic rather than Cairiens!!!

Arabic, Costumes and Party!

Monday was a day of many things…. I had a lovely girl- Hoda, come in to teach the group some basic Arabic for using in the street and shops…. Nothing I couldn't have done with them.. but its been my experience that it is really hard to meet and get to talk with Egyptian women- its all men in the hotels and shops and touristic places…. So this was the groups chance to ask questions they don't often get a chance to ask. So the Arabic lasted an hour- but the cultural exchange was another 2 on top of that!!! Very interesting. One question which had a few comments from it was, as a tour guide, what questions do her Egyptian relatives/friends ask about foreign women? Some of the things were a surprise- but others weren't!! It was also very interesting that before she had taught them yes or no, how are you, or many basic requirements- they knew how to say they were married and whether they had children or not! Different priorities!

After an Egyptian pancake (fateer) , we hit the costume shops…. Much fun was had by all (as you could see from the photos from the previous blog!!!) I had to leave early to go and teach a class so I didn't get to see all the purchases- but I am sure we will have a fashion parade at some point through the week!

The party was the best party I have ever thrown. I was very lucky that Romaya was able to cook for us… and Olivia did lots of shopping while I was out with the group, but what made it a pleasure was the guests- a real mix of interesting and social people. My group of course, my teacher, Sara, whose birthday it was and a couple other dancers- Yasmina and Caroline, some friends from salsa and from Arabic class too. Everyone just introduced themselves and got on with it. I didn't have to work hard as a hostess at all. Apart from organizing the musicians to come… who came eventually at 11.30- until 1.30am Great fun- everyone was up dancing…. Including the men. Sara and I danced together which was one of the main highlights of the night, for me anyway! That and my Salsa with Wael, and Saaidi with Waleed. It was good to see the whole group up and going for it, and to live music too- great! It was all good in fact. Got to bed at 5am (from 8pm) that’s a long, but very enjoyable night!!!!

Tuesday- Shattered!!!!!!!!!!!! What a shocker eh?!!!! The whole group came with me to Maadi and we had a couple of hours dance class in the beautiful studio I teach at there, and after a light lunch in Cilantros (the full ex-pat experience!!!) a wander down to the metro. It's always a nice experience for the group to travel in the women's only carriage. So we get back early- to have a rest before going out… but then the 3, nearly 4 hours of costume shopping started! Yasser and Mahmoud are 2 very happy men after all these girls are buying!!! Since they have an early start to their pyramids day, we spent a quiet evening having a lovely meal in the Nagib Mahfouz restaurant in Khan el Khalili. Was relieved to see they were all as shattered as me by this time. We'll just have to go see a dancer another night.

Beautiful Women

some costume shopping- well- some trying on anyway!!!



Margaret- looking like a star!


Sarah and Annie- 'oh- this old thing? I've had it at the back of the wardrobe for ages....'



Louise and Rosita- 'well........... hello!'

Thanks as usual to one of our resident photographers- Norma!

The party....

some photos (again by Norma- which Say it all......So no need for the story!!!)


The Birthday girl (Sara!) .... SO surprised at receiving a birthday cake!!!



Lorna with Hasan.. Charles looking on...


Zain and Aly-our musicians for the evening...





Saaidi.......... Lorna with Waleed (Shams!)

My Group arrived!

What a photo eh? headscarves, bellydance costumes and al Azhar mosque... all in one!


I'm just in from a very different but also wonderful night. My group from Scotland arrived last night- 10 girls…all interested in Bellydance (mainly dance students of mine from around Edinburgh) and out for a week of seeing the sights, and dancing and shopping madness. And what a lively fun bunch they are. Even though they didn't get through passport control, and baggage reclaim and all the hotel checking in business etc until 4am- they all still wanted to go out for a coffee!!!! Thankfully, they are staying in the El Hussain- then that was possible- and we popped down to El Fishawy for a sheesha, cuppa, and chat until 5am!!!

Never one to let anyone rest- breakfast at 9.30- with all the exchanging money etc etc…. then taxi's off up to the citadel.
( photo- from right to left- since we are doing it the arabic way... Sarah, Lorna, Michelle, Norma, Annie, Louise, Catherine, Margaret, Rosita, Sara, Olivia and Natalie)

It was a clear day so there was a lovely view of the pyramids. Then- walking round to the coffee shop for lunch- it started to rain…(Yes- rain!!!!!!!! Not much- just spotting really- but still- their first day in cairo and it rains!!!!) so we postponed lunch til after 2 more mosques- where we had a really good guide who had a lovely singing voice too!! By the time we'd had a rest and tasted the foul (pronounced 'fool' and far tastier than they sound!) and taamia sandwiches… the sun was low and bright in the sky and we had a wonderful wander down through Islamic Cairo- past the blue mosque and started on some shopping!!! The green robes in the citadel- for those 'naughty' 'indecent' women!!!

Found a lovely wee shop where you give your name- this guy, Ashraf writes it in Arabic then designs a fantastic piece of artwork out of it- a bird and fish… whatever. Very talented. We walked back to the khan after buying some scarves…. Seeing how the fez is made and being amazed at everything- even though almost al the shops were shut because it was Coptic Christmas day!!!!

The evenings entertainment as the Aladin restaurant in the Cairo Sheraton hotel…. To see an Egyptian dancer, I believe her name is Suzie. She had a very engaging smile, beautiful tight shimmys, and was very eager to please us (esp. Catherine!!) and the other table who were in (a large Christian family with lots of children who were up dancing most of the time- in to celebrate Christmas day!). She wasn't a bad dancer at all- needed (I felt) more strength in her balance, and arms ( but the balance may have been efected by the high heels she was dancing in!!!!). With training- she could be very entertaining. As she was; a pleasent evening's accompianment to a lovely mezze! Not a striking or powerful dancer- but seemed like she was a fun and nice person. It must be really hard to dance in that space... without PA for the band (who were very good when they wanted to be... but occasionally lacked enthusiasm when playing for her which was a great shame fo her) and for such a small audience.

We all had a dance… it felt so good to be dancing to live music again- it's been a wee while and I forgot what a buzz I got from it- talk about adrenaline rush- wonderful. Really glad they are here…. A teacher can never have a better audience than their own students. 'The encouragement' they gave me when I danced, which was hugely appreciated I have to say, was more like Hysteria!!! Thank god it was while the dancer was doing her costume change!
So good to share an evening with these girls and looking forward to the party we have planned for tomorrow night!

And that............... plus whatever adventures they had on the way home in taxi's which I'll hear about tomorrow no doubt- was their first day in Cairo. After only 4 hours sleep the night before, all that activity and senses overload- Walking zombies doesn’t quite cover it- more like stumbling!!!

Photos by Norma!

Merry Coptic Christmas to everyone!

A Sudanese Wedding in Cairo

A Sudanese Wedding
On Wednesday night I went with a friend to her cousin wedding. It was at the Grand Hyatt (VERY nice! Views of the Nile from the ceiling to floor windows and fairy lights everywhere). The couple are Sudanese so I was interested to see how this would be different from an Egyptian wedding. What they did was a mix of the two. There was still the Zeffa- with drummers and singers walking the couple through the foyer into the room- but they were singing and playing Sudanese rhythms rather than Egyptian- and the Zaghareets were more African screams than the usual Egyptian tounge waggling. The outfit was amazing- lots of beautiful woman in beautiful dresses and also some in the traditional dresses which have huge lengths of brightly coloured material wrapped around themselves. The bride worn an Italian cream coloured dress and was stunning. After the first dance- and the bride dancing with her father etc, there was the sherbit (sickly sugary drink to toast the bride and groom) It was a completely dry wedding- ie no alcohol. Then there was a bit of dancing with a mix of music- r&b into Egyptian. I escaped at the Egyptian part because I knew I wouldn't be able to resist dancing and want to save it for the performance. After the cutting of the cake… and the buffet being served I danced. It was a gift from me to the couple… ie not paid work… but I did wear a costume and did a 20min set. It went down very well and I got lots of compliments and photos taken (I'll attach them once I receive them!!!) then the bride and groom left and ther was an Egyptian singer performed (didn’t catch his name- just sang to a backing track) then 2 of the brides family sang solos- FABULOUS voices…. It was lovely to see talent being appreciated and given as a gift to the wedding couple. A nice idea. Then a Sudanese band played. They were ok to start with – nice backing music- but not lively enough to dance to – at that point. For the next half hour- 45mins the bride and groom had vanished to get changed into the traditional central Sudanese outfits for a wedding. I couldn't understand what could take so long in what was essentially a costume change- BUT them they appeared. WOW. She just looked like an Indian princess- with the gold headdress and chain that attached to her nose… huge gold earrings… and stunning lengths of red and gold material wrapped around. Her attitude and dance matched her dress- elegant and sophisticated- but 100% a woman, and not to be messed with! Inspiring! They had all the customs- incence… and strings of bead put over their heads etc etc- all of which it was hard to ee because of the crowds gathering round them… and since I don't know any of the custom or why these things are done- I'll save that for another blog, another day!. However- the night ended with lots of Sudanese music and dance (which is largely shoulder bouncing and shimmying- but often in a fantastic bent over position where you show off how long and strong your back is!!! A wonderful night!!!

Back in Cairo

well... here I am again... back in Cairo. Unfortunatly my suitcase is still in London.... with all my make up in it and also the dress I was hoping to wear to the wedding I am going to tonight... but never mind....

I have a group coming out to spend week with me on saturday- so am really excited about that. The plan is to go see lots of dancers- as well as the usual tourist sites- so I will keep you posted will all the latest!

HNY !

Happy New Year to you all!

I hope 007 brings you happiness, good health, love and peace.

I also hope 2007 is the year of dreams coming true!!!!

all the best.... koolu sena wenta tayyib (may every year - or the whole year- be good!)

Out with the Old and in with the New...

It's coming to the end of 2006.... and if the weather is anything to go by, the end of the world too! New Year celebrations have been cancelled in Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast amoung other cities- but so far Edinburgh seems to be going ahead- although I am guessing that many people will opt for a 'night in' rather than challenge the gales raging through ther town centre as i type ( 6.30pm). Hopefully of course this will mean that lots of people will decide that Morocco Restaurant on Dundas street is where they want to see in the new year- then tonights party will go with a bang whether the fireworks go off as planned or not!

So how do i feel right now.... what has 2006 meant to me and changed me- and what do i expect and hope for in 2007?

The first 3 months of 2006 saw me announcing my plans to head to Cairo to all my students and then be flooded with good wishes and thanks and support ( as well as tears from people not wanting me to go). So much it still overwhelms me when i think back. The big halfa in March brought all of that to a head- and i still feel immensely proud when I look back at the DVD. The end of an era for me (nine years continual teaching) and the start of the next....

Just before i headed off to sunnier climes. My sister made me a very proud Auntie, and being there throughout the birth of Sam and trying to see him as much as possible took up a great deal of my last month in Scotland. Seeing my baby sister confronting motherhood, and handling it so well made me stop and think about what is really important to me and what i really want to achieve in my life. Good family ties is definatly part of that ( although my family would no doubt argue that moving abroad doesn't make that easier!) Thank god for Blog and MSN!!!

.... and then I went to Cairo. My initial 6 months there has been extended so far to 9 and since I am heading back the day after tomorrow.. for more time still. In fact, I don't really know when i will return to Edinburgh for good... but I know i can't until I have achieve or found what i set out to do back in March. Its been such a huge learning experience for me (as is a 'year out' for most people i guess!!) Learning what it actually means to live and work in a completely different culture. Dealing with people from all sectors of the community and learning to cope with difficult situations and look at others in a different way. Understanding that, what people mean doesn't always correspond with what they say, has been one of the most painful lessons. My patience has definetly grown. Although i suspect that dark side of that coin is that i also have less energy to push for things to happen, i expect set backs. When you are thwarted time after time, it is incrediably difficult to stay optimistic, hopeful and driven. But, I am going back for more so I guess that says I haven't let it beat me yet!

My arabic has drastically improved, and so has my dancing. My understanding of the culture, society, people and religion and how all of these things effect the music and dance is bound to have added to me as a person, never mind as a performer and teacher. Learning how to dance for Egyptian audiences trather than for British ones... very different qualities required- although the things which make a dancer really good, wherever they may be, is having confidence and compfort with their own body, and a good personality which wants to entertain and bring happiness to others.

I guess being able to recognise more of my own strengths and weaknesses too, partly from just living alone and not being able to hide in dance and the company of dancers. Realising I am stronger than i thought I was, but also that I have definate limits before i crack and that when i reach that point I am really not much fun to be around!

I have read so many books this year , mainly by arabic authors, and this has really helped open my eyes to factors in society- both in Egypt and in UK, which i may otherwise not have noticed. Writing this blog has been a revelation to me too. I am always surprised at just how many people actually read it and often find myself throughout the day thinking- i must remember that thing that happened so i can write it up in my blog. So Egocentric- to imagine that people really want to know how you are feeling about everything that happens in your life... but I guess its like reading someone elses diary. I just wish i could put absolutely everything in it... but that just wouldn't be possible... for legal reasons!! I really enjoy writing.

So what does the New hold in store....? if only we knew eh?!

My immediate plans; after return to Cairo... enrol in the next level of arabic classes, plan the weeks events for my group coming over to see me (10 bellydancers in Cairo!) and spend a week with them- having fun and seeing as much of that 'senses blowing' city.

Then what? Ideally dancing lots.... but if the papers part of it doesn't sort out soon, then i am really going to knuckle down to the learning part- with lessons as much a possible... so that, if I am forced to return to Uk in Feb for good, ie when savings run out and can no longer pay my rent, then at least i feel that i have achieved even more before i do return. After all the support and encouragement I have recieved from my students and fellow dancers and teachers back here in Scotland over the whole time I have been away... I really want to feel confident i can do that justice and give back lots. Stubborn eh?!

So- that truth is- I really haven't a clue what 2007 will hold. Or even which country i will be living in for the majority of it... but time will tell... and hopefully luck, fate and/or 'Allah' will be on my side.

so now I am off to brave the Edinburgh Gales... and dance the night away in Morocco restaurant, nice and cosy... til 3am (or when the last person leaves!!!)

I wish you all the very best for 2007. May all your (our!) dreams come true!

Happy Holidays

That sound really American doesn't it?!!! Ah well- it covers a multitude...

anyway- hope you all had a fabulous Christmas- I did... was lovely to spend quality time with Khalid and my family and to share baby Sam's first christmas with him too!

Eid Mubarak for those of you that will be celebrating Eid this weekend.... both in Egypt and here in Edinburgh....

and Happy New Year when it comes to everyone!

so much going on.... no time to write much just now- but I am sure there will be plenty blog entries next week when i return again to Cairo on the 2nd Jan 2007 (next year!!!!)

All the best to you all- enjoy this festive season..!

Back in Edinburgh

What can I say? Thank God my flight today was via Amsterdam and not Heathrow which is closed due to freezing fog- all those poor people stuck in airports- nightmare. Anyway- I arrived safely- even though my suitcase hasn't shown up yet...........

So- I am in Edinburgh til the 2nd Jan... lots of nights performing at Morocco restaurant (including Hogmanay) and already have a few private classes booked up too- oh and then there is Christmas and New year to fit in too!

I have already discovered that my attitutdes to life- and in particular, driving have changed. On way back from airport Khalid was- 'look at that- he didn't even indicate' etc etc - various comments- and i had been oblivious to it all and stunned by how safe and uneventful the drive was! No mad tooting horns or hours of traffic jams or sheep by the roadside. Mind you- he was behind the wheel- it may well be different when I am!

Glad to be back..... despite the cold!

Rugby Club

On Thursday night I went out with a few friends to the Cairo Rugby Club in Maadi. Mostly ex-pats there, almost all Brits… although the choice of music from the DJ could have given that away – Abba, Cheesy pop, 'I will survive' etc with a handful of Latin tracks thrown in for us salsa dancers in the crowd…

Unfortunately they only played one Arabic track- but that was dedicated to 'Lorna- the professional bellydancer' I swear I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me! Esp. since he said it about 6 times through the song- which wasn't even a very good one for dancing! If I ever find out who told him………. Anyway- what was fun was watching all the Brits flee from the floor when it (the Arabic song) came on and all the Egyptian (guys mostly) flock to it (the dance floor I presume- rather than to 'me' since I was dancing for me and very self consciously and with red face, NOT performing for the crowd!) Oh and I met the Finnish girl, Anke (not sure of spelling!) who teaches bellydance in Maadi too- very pretty, blond and nice rhythm. Didn't get to see her bellydance though so can't comment on that! Think she teaches rather than performs anyway.

They operate the same system there are they do in the other club in Maadi I went to. You pay an entrance fee- which is not expensive, but then to buy drinks you need a card which cost 50le and your drinks get marked off on it each time you go to the bar… It means you can buy your cards at the start of the night and not have to work with loose change I guess- but I found it just makes you drink more! Of course- Rugby club crowd much the same here as anyway… Lots of beer consumed, bad dancing impromptu karaoke on DJ's mic, a fight, people getting cosy on the dance floor, a man falling down a hole…. You know- the usual. They do actually have a Rugby team, so I believe, and they play and compete here and in other countries eg Dubai etc…

A fun night- I felt like it was my Christmas party here…… or nearest I'll get to it anyway- esp. when they were playing all the cheesy Christmas songs…… first I have heard them here (I bet all of you in Scotland are jealous of me for that!!! Since I am sure they have been in the shops since Nov!!)

Rhanda Kamel workshop

Wow… you know- there are some things you do and really regret- then there are those where you know your life would never have been the same if you hadn't. At the risk of hero worship I would say Rhanda Kamel's workshop this afternoon feel into the second category!! She is the true queen of Egyptian dance. Such poise, power, control and life, And all in a beautiful and fun form. WOW again!

She did bits of technique with us… and did part of a choreography.. but she place more emphasis on the 'feel' of the music than the steps- which was a lovely refreshing change, although that’s not to suggest that she doesn't wan the technique itself to be just so! I liked the way when she taught that she didn't rush from move to move but did it over and over- first with her- but then many times with her watching us- so she could correct mistakes. Her Body does it so much more efficiently and proficiently than mine, but I love her dance and classes because I feel she often interprets and feels the music in a way I can relate to. Maybe because I have thought for 9 years now that she is the best in Cairo- so I guess If I was modeling myself on anyone it would be her. Not that you should try and be someone else when you dance, that’s not what I mean- but Rhanda defiantly inspires me! Really chuffed too- I got 3 ''Really good... Excellent'' s from her! I know that says a lot more for her teaching skill than it neccesarily does about my dancing but still- I'm easy pleased me!!! Favourite piece of technique from today… chonk LRL then chest shimmy (not shoulder shimmy!!) with R knee up and R foot up at L knee. Elegant and cheeky at the same time. But that was just one thing- I loved it all!

I wish I could have attended this whole course (Raqia Hassan's professional course for teachers at Intercontinental Hotel at Pyramid Park) because it is lovely to be taught at such a standard by such good teachers and in such a small class! You could see the teacher easily and she was able to give individual feedback to us all. Fantastic. To any teachers out there- I recommend it! (Only thing stopping me doing the whole thing is the fact I don't have an income at the moment!!!) I am planning on going to Suraya's workshop on Tuesday- so I'll let you know how that goes!

Home For Christmas and New Year!

Well…….. this wasn't defiantly not in the plans……… but there was yet another problem about getting my work papers complete in time for me to work New Year here- so I am coming home!!

Really excited about happy about seeing Khalid and all my family again…….. and if any of you feel like a night out at Morocco (the new name for Morocco Walima) I will be performing a few dates there over the 2 weeks I am home (with new costumes!!!) I know it’s a busy time of the year for everyone- but it would be fantastic to see as many of you as can make it along (I suggest you book early though since it is fairly busy in the restaurant too!)

Fri 22nd Dec
Sat 23rd Dec
I'll be there Christmas day with my family for a meal- but not necessarily performing.
Thurs 28th Dec
Fri 29th Dec
Sat 30th Dec

And…… Sun 31st Dec
If you don't yet have plans for Hogmanay…. Why not spend the evening with Khalid and I at Morocco in our annual celebration of the turning of the year. The tickets must be bought in advance… and are only £40 each, which I am sure you will agree is a fantastic price for New Year esp. when you know it includes such wonderful Moroccan food (4 course!) and a complimentary glass of champagne at midnight. The night can be as long as we wish to party since we have a late license for it (9.30pm- 3am!!!). Last year many of us stood on Dundas street with our champagne watching the fireworks on the bells, before heading back inside for a dance. I'll be performing all night and generally having fun and helping create a relaxed but lively atmosphere! - why don't you and your friends/family join us??? Get your tickets from Khalid at Morocco, 3a1 Dundas St, Edinburgh or give him a call on 0131 652 3764.


Oh- and if any dancers would like a private class (maybe as your Christmas treat to your self?!!!) I will be available between Christmas and New Year- so let me know!

See you soon!- and to those I don't get to see- have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!